Archive for month: August, 2014

The Skyscanner has just released a list of the 10 craziest, most colorful festivals around the world to visit in 2014, and Vietnam has its honor to have its Tet Nguyen Dan or Vietnamese Lunar New Year named in the list.

Originating from the Chinese New’s Year, but Vietnam has its own version, known as Tet, lasts for three days but preparations start up to two weeks before the three day event. It involves lots of delicious home cooking, family reunions and giving money to little kids to wish them good luck.

Many foreign travelers staying in Vietnam during this period have expressed their impression and passion on the environment of Tet holiday in Vietnam. Many says that while in their countries, holidays are the time for them to travel to their desired destinations, even all over the world, in Vietnam, Tet is the time for all members coming back to their home and stay with their beloved.

In addition to the Tet Nguyen Dan of Vietnam, the Skyscanner also list some other colorful festivals in the world including the Las Fallas in Valencia in Spain, the Festival of Snakes in Abruzzo in Italy, the Elephant Festival in Jaipur in India, Days of the Dead in Mexico, etc.

The National Assembly of Vietnam approved the new immigration law in June 14, 2014. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2015.  Following are the key changes in this new Immigration Law of Vietnam:

1/ A complete new structure of visa types with 20 different categories of visas and new durations:

	Categories of Visa	Description / category of applicant entitled to	Duration of Visa	Duration of Temporary Resident Card
1	NG1-NG4	Diplomatic	Up to 12 months	Up to 5 years
2	LV1-LV2	Working with Vietnamese authorities/parties	Up to 12 months	Up to 5 years
3	ĐT	Investors/foreign lawyers	Up to 5 years	Up to 5 years
4	DN	Working with Vietnamese enterprises	Up to 12 months	NA
5	NN1-NN2	Chief Representative Office, Head of Project Office of foreign NGO), Chief rep of rep offices in VN.	Up to 12 months	Up to 3 years
6	NN3	Staffs of NGO, Rep office in VN	Up to 12 months	NA
7	DH	Students/ interns	Up to 12 months	Up to 5 years
8	HN	Attending meeting	Up to 3 months	NA
9	PV1	Journalists with permanent residence in VN	Up to 12 months	Up to 2 years
10	PV2	Journalists with short term residence in VN	Up to 12 months	NA
11	LĐ	Foreign workers	Up to 2 years	Up to 2 years
12	DL	Tourists	Up to 3 months	NA
13	TT	Dependents of 2,3,5,7,9,11	Up to 12 months	Up to 3 years
14	VR	Visiting relatives, other purpose	Up to 6 months	NA
15	SQ	Related to MOF, Consulate with the purpose of market research, visiting relatives, tourist, medical treatment	Up to 30 days	NA

2/ According to article 7, point 1 of the new law, the purpose of Visa may not be converted from one purpose to another. Our interpretation is that, for instance, someone entering Vietnam with a tourist visa (DL) may not be able to convert it to a work visa in country (LD)

3/ New prohibited conditions for entry and exit:

Prohibited conditions for entrance:

–       Any person that was deported from Vietnam within the last 03 years;

–       Any person that was compelled to leave Vietnam within the last 06 months;

–       Any person Presenting forging paper or providing false information to obtain entry/exit/residence permit.

–       A child under 14 years of age traveling without an accompanying parent or custodian; etc

Prohibited conditions for exit: A foreigner’s exit will be suspended (up to three years) in the following cases:

–       His or her tax obligations have yet been fulfilled;

–       He/she is obliged to comply with an administrative sanction;

–       He/she has been criminally charged or must serve a criminal sentence;

–       He/she is a defendant or a person with related rights and obligations in a civil, economic, labor, administrative or marriage litigation case

Hi Vietnamvisa.sg. I want to apply for a visa on arrival. But I want to know is there any restriction for Vietnam visa on arrival? Thks!

Hi,

Thank you for contacting us.

Be kindly informed that:

1. Vietnam visa is applicable to those who travel to Vietnam by air only. So if you don’t travel to Vietnam by air, please contact the nearest Vietnam Embassy to apply for a visa
2. Not all nationalities are supported with Vietnam visa on arrival. Please send you nationality to our email [email protected] and our staff will confirm whether the visa on arrival is applicable to your nationality or not.

We hope this information is clear to you.

Have a nice day,

Vietnamvisa.sg