Common Travel Mistake You Won’t Want to Make- I Was Denied Entry to Vietnam

As an experienced travel writer with over 7 years of globetrotting under my belt, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. But none quite as memorable – or stressful – as when I was denied entry to Vietnam due to an expired visa. Read below about “Common Travel Mistake You Won’t Want to Make- I Was Denied Entry to Vietnam”.

It was the tail end of a three-week backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia. I had already visited Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. My grand finale was going to be Vietnam, where I planned to spend a week exploring Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and more.

Common Travel Mistake You Won’t Want to Make- I Was Denied Entry to Vietnam

When I arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the immigration officer took one look at my passport and shook his head. “Your visa expired yesterday,” he said matter-of-factly. “You cannot enter Vietnam.”

My stomach dropped. How could my visa have expired already? I was certain I had done my due diligence in applying for the appropriate visa weeks in advance. I scrambled to explain myself, but to no avail. Rules were rules. And I was unceremoniously escorted to the next flight out.

As I sullenly boarded a plane back to Bangkok, I reflected on where I went wrong. And how other travellers can avoid making the same mistake as me.

The Importance of Visa Rules & Regulations

Each country has its own visa system and regulations. As travellers, it’s our responsibility to understand what’s required for entry. This includes visa types, validity periods, eligible ports of entry and other stipulations.

I clearly didn’t do enough research on Vietnam’s visa policies. As a British citizen, I’m eligible for a single-entry visa with a 30-day validity period. I had applied for my visa a month in advance of my trip. But I didn’t realize the 30-day window technically started as soon as the visa was issued.

By the time I finally arrived in Hanoi, 29 days had already passed. The immigration officer informed me that single-entry visas must be used within 30 days of being issued. No exceptions.

This was an embarrassing and costly mistake. The flight I had just taken from Laos to Hanoi was now useless. And I had to book a new flight back to Bangkok so I could try again with a fresh visa. Not to mention missing out on my dream week of exploring Vietnam.

How to Avoid My Mistake

Don’t let my blunder stop you from visiting this amazing country. Just be sure to avoid my errors by:

1. Researching visa requirements early: Different countries have unique visa rules around validity periods, eligible entry points, extensions and other fine print. Understand Vietnam’s policies well in advance.
2. Applying close to departure: While it’s good to apply early, don’t apply too far in advance either. Submit your visa application 1-2 weeks before your trip to maximize the validity window.
3. Confirming visa accuracy: Double and triple check that all details on your issued visa match your travel plans, including validity dates and eligible ports of entry.
4. Carrying proper documentation: Have printed copies of your visa, passport, travel itinerary and other supporting documents in your hand luggage. This will save hassle if any questions come up during immigration.

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My Second Attempt to Enter Vietnam

Luckily, the rest of my time in Southeast Asia was already booked as part of a guided tour. So I was able to carry on with my itinerary before circling back to Vietnam later.

A few weeks later, I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City armed with a brand new visa. This time I had been extra vigilant:

• Researched Vietnam’s visa policies extensively, noting the 30-day restriction
• Applied for my visa just 1 week before my trip
• Verified all dates and details on my issued visa
• Printed copies of my visa, passport, travel plans to have on hand

As I nervously approached the immigration counter at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the officer scanned my documents…and stamped my passport with a smile!

Conclusion

Finally – I was officially allowed to enter Vietnam. And let me tell you: it felt amazing.

Of course it wasn’t quite how I had originally envisioned my grand finale. I had to sacrifice visiting the north and could only spend a few days hitting the highlights in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

But I vowed to return to explore more of Vietnam properly in the future. I hope you like reading “Common Travel Mistake You Won’t Want to Make- I Was Denied Entry to Vietnam”.