Are you curious about Asia? Have you always wanted to travel abroad but wasn’t sure where? Then I would highly recommend you to go to Vietnam! Not only is it very affordable to travel in, but the culture, food, people, landscape and cities all make a great combo for the perfect vacation. About 10 million international visitors came to Vietnam in 2016 and the numbers are just rising each year. Be one of the lucky ones and come see it for yourself!
Vietnam has a stunning coastline for those who loves to relax on the beach, do watersports, read a book or go swimming. Nha Trang is one of the most popular beach destinations in Vietnam and a beautiful place to spend a few nights at. If you prefer to be more active, there are a lot of hiking spots in the country, mostly up north. Sapa is for example one of the most popular places to go hiking and is undoubtedly one of Vietnam’s most scenic places. Come here to take in the scenes of rice terraces, wonderful mountain villages and get to know Vietnam’s ethnic minority who lives here. It is nature at it’s finest!
The Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City
But let’s not forget about the cities… Asia is known for having big, international cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam has just as much to offer as these cities. At night the cities light up, the restaurants get crowded and the nightlife is also worth mentioning. There really is so much to do in Vietnam that you should try to set aside at least one month in order to see a lot of what the country has to offer. Once you have decided to go to Vietnam, you will need to apply for a Vietnam visa.
As a citizen of Senegal, you are obligated to get a Vietnam visa in order to enter the country. But fortunately the process is both easy and affordable. You can choose to either apply for a Visa on Arrival or go to your local Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in order to get a visa. Here is how you apply:
I heard about Vietnam e-visa. Can I apply for Vietnam e-visa if I am citizens of Senegal? (No, Senegalese citizens are not eligible for Vietnam e-visa)
From 01 Feb 2019, under Decision 17/2019/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, there are 80 countries which citizens of it are eligible to apply online for an e-visa of Vietnam online (e-visa is a single entry valid for staying 30 days). We check but not found Senegal national in this list, therefore, Senegalese citizens should choose two options below to get a visa for Vietnam.
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA) – Apply online for pre-approval then pick up your visa on arrival at the airport of Vietnam
Vietnam visa on arrival office in Da Nang Int’l Airport, Vietnam
This option is preferred by many foreigners who comes to Vietnam. It is easy to apply to, convenient, quick and it saves you time. You can also apply for the VOA from anywhere in the world. All you need is your computer and internet. If you apply for this visa, you are allowed to enter Vietnam through any of the 5 international airports in Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong city. You can only travel by air if you get a VOA, meaning you can’t enter Vietnam by bus, car, et cetera.
The process is very easy. What you need to do is fill out the Online Application form where you state your date of birth, and other relevant information. Then you wait for a confirmation email that will come in around 1-2 working hours. Normally you will receive an Approval Letter within 2 working days. When the letter comes, don’t forget to print it out so the immigration officers in Vietnam can stamp your passport. If by chance you need to get an emergency visa, it will cost you more money, but you will be able to get it faster. It will take from 30 minutes to 4 hours.
On arrival support for fast check-in at Vietnam Airports
You now also have the option to buy “On Arrival Support”, which is a very good option for those who wants to check in to Vietnam faster:
- Standard Support : +US$20/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, then take care all procedures necessary to get the visa stamped on your passport. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for visa stamp fee.
- VIP Support : +US$35/pp
Our staff will meet you in front of the “visa on arrival” desk with a welcome board, receive your passport and give it back with the visa in 5-10 minutes, then escort you to check out via the VIP gate. Please prepare 25 USD/person and give it to our staff to pay for visa stamp fee.
2. Apply for a visa through the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the nearby countries of Senegal
Vietnamese-visa-sticker-in-a-passport
The second option is to apply for a visa in the closest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in Senegal. The reason why this option might not be recommended is because it’s not as convenient if you don’t live close to the embassy. It means you will have to spend time on transportation and money. You will also need to remember to bring all the necessary documents, such as passport, and if you by any chance forget anything, you need to start all over again with the process. It is time consuming and you usually need to pick up your passport in the embassy or consulate.
