Visa Vietnam and Cambodia?

[Panache]

So, what is the difference between getting an e-visa online for these countries vs. getting the visa upon arrival?

The e-visa seems to cost more but saves time by not needing to stand in line at the airport? Or is there some other angle?

We are entering Cambodia through REP, staying 5 days and and then continuing to PQC (connect in SGN), and enjoy a week at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc.

Per Phu Quoc Tourism websites, a Vietnam visa is not required for Phu Quoc, but I can't find info whether connecting in SGN would then require a visa.

 

[Hanoi IG]

Unless things have changed in the last few months there is no visa on arrival in Vietnam, unless you have it approved in advance. Many years ago, we got confused and arrived sans visa and they were going to send us back to Singapore.

Luckily, we had a travel agent friend who was able to convince them to "quarantine" us near the airport in a rat hotel until he could get our visas!

I believe that cambodia has true "visa on arrival" which means pay $ get visa.

 

[Maverick17]

REP is a true visa on arrival. It's only about 5 minutes wait, maybe 10 max, for it. Just show up with whatever the current requirements are. I did this, and many do it, and it's very easy.

Vietnam is a bit different. First, PQC does not require a visa if you're only going to PQC. Transfer in SGN is allowed theoretically. But few reports of how it works and if all the immigration agents know about it, so YMMV. At the very least you would need copies of your hotel and departing and returning flights, and be prepared to explain it and build enough time in your itinerary for a slight delay getting next door to your connecting flight. If there is any type of escort from the int'l terminal to the domestic (3 minute walk), IDK, or if they use the door from the airside of intl, IDK.

Second, the visa options if you want to make it a little less hectic. E-Visa advantages are it's easy and cheap and avoids the queue. The VOA - not a true VOA, you need an invite letter - is a few dollars more by the time you pay for the invite letter, and you have to wait in a line for 10-45 minutes. The advantages with the quasi-VOA are multiple entry or longer duration - 90 or 365 days - and also it's faster if you forget about it, as the invite letter can be procured "rush" in a matter of 2 or 3 hours.

 

[Panache]

OK, so for going to PQC and just connecting in SGN, no visa is necessary:

https://www.phuquocislandguide.com/phu-quoc-free-30-day-visa-exemption-case-study/

and also confirmed on FT:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29077411-post340.html

So in short, one gets a 1 day stamp in the passport to move from international to domestic terminal.

Still debating on whether to get e-visa for Cambodia, is it worth the money to save 15 minutes in line?

 

[Maverick17]

The island guide post has been around for a long time, and is quoted by everyone who asks about PQC without a visa. I assumed you had seen it before asking. It's an example of how it should/might go for you. As with everything in Vietnam, YMMV and just be prepared for the unexpected as best you can.

 

[Panache]

We did the trip without a visa and did exactly what was shown in the Phu Quoc guide. However, checking in on the REP-SGN leg, the airline attendant would not allow us to check in without a visa in the passport. After much back and forth with manager, we were allowed to board after signing a waiver.
Once in SGN, we went to the Vietnam Airlines transfer desk, got our PQC boarding passes and showed those to immigration. The officers did have a small conversation and took photocopies of the passports, but then stamped the passports. Walked over to the domestic terminal and checked in with no issues.