Passports and Visas

It's highly recommended that you obtain your visa before you head for Vietnam; it's easy to apply for one online, with a standard turnaround time of three business days. As of this writing, the cost for American citizens is $80 for a one-month single-entry visa, $135 for a one-month multiple-entry visa, $110 for a three-month single-entry visa, $160 for a three-month multiple-entry visa, and $170 for a six-month multiple-entry visa.

Make two photocopies of the data and visa page of your passport (one for someone at home and another for you, carried separately from your passport). If you lose your passport, promptly call the nearest embassy or consulate and the local police.

U.S. passport applications for children under age 14 require consent from both parents, or legal guardians, and both must appear together to sign the application. If only one parent appears, he or she must submit a written statement from the other parent authorizing passport issuance for the child. A parent with sole authority must present evidence of it when applying; acceptable documentation includes the child's certified birth certificate listing only the applying parent, a court order specifically permitting this parent's travel with the child, or a death certificate for the non-applying parent. Application forms and instructions are available on the website of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs (www.travel.state.gov).

Visas for Cambodia are available online at www.evisa.gov.kh. The fee is $36. Allow at least three days for processing, after which your visa will be emailed to you. Print it out and bring it with you.

Information

Embassy of Vietnam. 1233 20th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036. 202/861–0737; www.vietnamembassy-usa.org.