Moving to Hoi-an

DylanG wrote:

1. i know i can get my 3 month visa renewed with ease at least twice while I'm living there, but after that i need to plan a trip to Cambodia i believe, trying to get my budget as strict as possible(reason being i plan to be working what i assume a very low paying job) how would i go about doing this?, bus to Saigon, then to Cambodia? and do i have to spend overnight there id rather return to hoi-an as soon as possible

Da Nang is the place to renew twice then you do a border run to Laos via HUE.

The Laotian Consulate issues visas:
Laos Consulate General Vietnam
12 Tran Quy/Cap
Da Nang
Phone+84-5-821-208

DylanG wrote:

2. is it possible to find work in Hoi-an if not Da Nang, as a bar tender or are they very strict on having a working visa, i don't mind low pay

Likely yes.

DylanG wrote:

3. can i get a working permit if i open up a tailor-shop in Hoi-an as a business owner, also that being said this special little lady of mine is a owner of a tailor shop in hoi-an if we was to get married could she add me as part of her business thus making it suitable for me to obtain a working visa or something better.... thanks - Dylan

She can be President and you can be her help.

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

1. i know i can get my 3 month visa renewed with ease at least twice while I'm living there, but after that i need to plan a trip to Cambodia i believe, trying to get my budget as strict as possible(reason being i plan to be working what i assume a very low paying job) how would i go about doing this?, bus to Saigon, then to Cambodia? and do i have to spend overnight there id rather return to hoi-an as soon as possible

Da Nang is the place to renew twice then you do a border run to Laos via HUE.

The Laotian Consulate issues visas:
Laos Consulate General Vietnam
12 Tran Quy/Cap
Da Nang
Phone+84-5-821-208

^^ helpful infomation thanks , but how much would i expect to spend on this trip?(visa's/travel), also after i exit and re-enter i can renew normally for 2 times again right?, or do i need to keep making this visa-run every 3 months from then onward.

DylanG wrote:

2. is it possible to find work in Hoi-an if not Da Nang, as a bar tender or are they very strict on having a working visa, i don't mind low pay

Likely yes.
^^^ good news

DylanG wrote:

3. can i get a working permit if i open up a tailor-shop in Hoi-an as a business owner, also that being said this special little lady of mine is a owner of a tailor shop in hoi-an if we was to get married could she add me as part of her business thus making it suitable for me to obtain a working visa or something better.... thanks - Dylan

She can be President and you can be her help.

^^^ and this would allow me to obtain a working visa?, or would i still need a degree of sorts?, thanks for all your helpful information appreciate it.

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

1. i know i can get my 3 month visa renewed with ease at least twice while I'm living there, but after that i need to plan a trip to Cambodia i believe, trying to get my budget as strict as possible(reason being i plan to be working what i assume a very low paying job) how would i go about doing this?, bus to Saigon, then to Cambodia? and do i have to spend overnight there id rather return to hoi-an as soon as possible

Da Nang is the place to renew twice then you do a border run to Laos via HUE.

The Laotian Consulate issues visas:
Laos Consulate General Vietnam
12 Tran Quy/Cap
Da Nang
Phone+84-5-821-208

Why Laos, Jaitch? He's asking for Cambodia.

Scarletvn wrote:

Why Laos, Jaitch? He's asking for Cambodia.

Because, if you look at a map, it's closer. And quicker.

Hue >> Khe Sanh >> Lao Bao / Dansavanh >> Savannakhet

Vietnamese Consulate General
418, Sisavangvong
Khanthabury
Savannakhet
Laos
Tel: (+856) 4121 2418
E-m: tlsxavan@laotel.com
Web: www.vietnamconsulate-savanakhet.org

OK? Scarletvn (There's also a Border Gate at La Lay)

Scarletvn wrote:

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

1. i know i can get my 3 month visa renewed with ease at least twice while I'm living there, but after that i need to plan a trip to Cambodia i believe, trying to get my budget as strict as possible(reason being i plan to be working what i assume a very low paying job) how would i go about doing this?, bus to Saigon, then to Cambodia? and do i have to spend overnight there id rather return to hoi-an as soon as possible

Da Nang is the place to renew twice then you do a border run to Laos via HUE.

The Laotian Consulate issues visas:
Laos Consulate General Vietnam
12 Tran Quy/Cap
Da Nang
Phone+84-5-821-208

Why Laos, Jaitch? He's asking for Cambodia.

yeah im just asking for the quickest way to renew my visa, aka a visa-run, only reason i said Cambodia was because that's what everyone says , but i guess most people i spoke to was located in Saigon.

DylanG wrote:

yeah im just asking for the quickest way to renew my visa, aka a visa-run, only reason i said Cambodia was because that's what everyone says, but i guess most people i spoke to was located in Saigon.

DA NANG has a large Visa (Immigration) Office (for VN Visa extensions) and DA NANG has the powers of a city + provincial powers - such as Ha Noi and HCM. This means it can, to an extent, vary national rules.

DA NANG also has the LAOTIAN CONSULATE for when your VN visa has to be renewed. The visa run route I listed above is way, way quicker than anything in Cambodia.

There is a Vietnamese consulate in Pakse Laos. There is a bus from Hue to Pakse.

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

yeah im just asking for the quickest way to renew my visa, aka a visa-run, only reason i said Cambodia was because that's what everyone says, but i guess most people i spoke to was located in Saigon.

DA NANG has a large Visa (Immigration) Office (for VN Visa extensions) and DA NANG has the powers of a city + provincial powers - such as Ha Noi and HCM. This means it can, to an extent, vary national rules.

DA NANG also has the LAOTIAN CONSULATE for when your VN visa has to be renewed. The visa run route I listed above is way, way quicker than anything in Cambodia.

I think Laos have just start an online VOA, need to check for which border crossings though, I'll find out more, I want to get away from the Tet madness, and go to Laos myself next year.

bluenz wrote:

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

yeah im just asking for the quickest way to renew my visa, aka a visa-run, only reason i said Cambodia was because that's what everyone says, but i guess most people i spoke to was located in Saigon.

DA NANG has a large Visa (Immigration) Office (for VN Visa extensions) and DA NANG has the powers of a city + provincial powers - such as Ha Noi and HCM. This means it can, to an extent, vary national rules.

DA NANG also has the LAOTIAN CONSULATE for when your VN visa has to be renewed. The visa run route I listed above is way, way quicker than anything in Cambodia.

I think Laos have just start an online VOA, need to check for which border crossings though, I'll find out more, I want to get away from the Tet madness, and go to Laos myself next year.

if you could share your knowledge that would be great , i also saw you have mainly been living in SA while in Australia, that's where I'm currently living

bluenz wrote:

Jaitch wrote:

DylanG wrote:

yeah im just asking for the quickest way to renew my visa, aka a visa-run, only reason i said Cambodia was because that's what everyone says, but i guess most people i spoke to was located in Saigon.

DA NANG has a large Visa (Immigration) Office (for VN Visa extensions) and DA NANG has the powers of a city + provincial powers - such as Ha Noi and HCM. This means it can, to an extent, vary national rules.

DA NANG also has the LAOTIAN CONSULATE for when your VN visa has to be renewed. The visa run route I listed above is way, way quicker than anything in Cambodia.

I think Laos have just start an online VOA, need to check for which border crossings though, I'll find out more, I want to get away from the Tet madness, and go to Laos myself next year.

No luck, as of Jul 2014 , still no online Visa, looks like a trip to DN for me, 60 days BEFORE application.
  Yes Dylan, Adelaide would be my favourite Aus city, had 3 years in Darwin before moving here, what an expensive shit hole it's turned into )

so from what i've gathered (sorry im new and stupid at this )

i have to travel from da nang to Hue >> Khe Sanh >> Lao Bao / >> Savannakhet

which should take me roughly 8 hours to get there... according to google maps

once im there i have to go to the Vietnamese Consulate General, and ask for a visa for entry to Vietnam?, now if im correct so far, is there any steps prior to the road trip i need to take?, like when i landed in ho chi minh, i had to arrange a VOA, but whats the process for a boarder visa run.

also when entering my first time to Vietnam should i apply for single or multiple entry, and what does each 1 imply, thanks.

DylanG wrote:

so from what i've gathered (sorry im new and stupid at this )

i have to travel from da nang to Hue >> Khe Sanh >> Lao Bao / >> Savannakhet

which should take me roughly 8 hours to get there... according to google maps

once im there i have to go to the Vietnamese Consulate General, and ask for a visa for entry to Vietnam?, now if im correct so far, is there any steps prior to the road trip i need to take?, like when i landed in ho chi minh, i had to arrange a VOA, but whats the process for a boarder visa run.

also when entering my first time to Vietnam should i apply for single or multiple entry, and what does each 1 imply, thanks.

I can't see why you can't do an online VOA, for your return,  ( just check the border crossing you use will accept this ), depending on where you want to go in Laos, there is another crossing at Po Y, ( go through Quang Ngai, Kon Tum )
  I saved some info on a trip that was done last year, they took their VN bikes across, ( PM me if you like ),
  You can actually see the new border crossing offices at Po Y..on Google Earth 
Take travel times given with a grain of salt, there will always be some delay, ( buses stop about every hour. )., roadworks, animals on the road, accidents, etc, etc, ( don't travel by bus at night if you can help it ).

bluenz wrote:

DylanG wrote:

so from what i've gathered (sorry im new and stupid at this )

i have to travel from da nang to Hue >> Khe Sanh >> Lao Bao / >> Savannakhet

which should take me roughly 8 hours to get there... according to google maps

once im there i have to go to the Vietnamese Consulate General, and ask for a visa for entry to Vietnam?, now if im correct so far, is there any steps prior to the road trip i need to take?, like when i landed in ho chi minh, i had to arrange a VOA, but whats the process for a boarder visa run.

also when entering my first time to Vietnam should i apply for single or multiple entry, and what does each 1 imply, thanks.

I can't see why you can't do an online VOA, for your return,  ( just check the border crossing you use will accept this ), depending on where you want to go in Laos, there is another crossing at Po Y, ( go through Quang Ngai, Kon Tum )
  I saved some info on a trip that was done last year, they took their VN bikes across, ( PM me if you like ),
  You can actually see the new border crossing offices at Po Y..on Google Earth 
Take travel times given with a grain of salt, there will always be some delay, ( buses stop about every hour. )., roadworks, animals on the road, accidents, etc, etc, ( don't travel by bus at night if you can help it ).

oh i was under the impression, VOA's to Vietnam was strictly for travel via air.

DylanG wrote:

bluenz wrote:

DylanG wrote:

so from what i've gathered (sorry im new and stupid at this )

i have to travel from da nang to Hue >> Khe Sanh >> Lao Bao / >> Savannakhet

which should take me roughly 8 hours to get there... according to google maps

once im there i have to go to the Vietnamese Consulate General, and ask for a visa for entry to Vietnam?, now if im correct so far, is there any steps prior to the road trip i need to take?, like when i landed in ho chi minh, i had to arrange a VOA, but whats the process for a boarder visa run.

also when entering my first time to Vietnam should i apply for single or multiple entry, and what does each 1 imply, thanks.

I can't see why you can't do an online VOA, for your return,  ( just check the border crossing you use will accept this ), depending on where you want to go in Laos, there is another crossing at Po Y, ( go through Quang Ngai, Kon Tum )
  I saved some info on a trip that was done last year, they took their VN bikes across, ( PM me if you like ),
  You can actually see the new border crossing offices at Po Y..on Google Earth 
Take travel times given with a grain of salt, there will always be some delay, ( buses stop about every hour. )., roadworks, animals on the road, accidents, etc, etc, ( don't travel by bus at night if you can help it ).

oh i was under the impression, VOA's to Vietnam was strictly for travel via air.

Yes you are right, but why can't they do this, maybe one day they will?

For Vietnamese travellers, visa is not required to cross Laos’s border but for international tourists, they can obtain visa on arrival at Immigration checkpoint on the border with requirements of a legal passport, one visa-size photo (3x4) and USD 20 for visa stamp. Tourists travel on tour agents' buses can have the procedure handled by the bus providers with an extra payment of USD25.

If you cross the border from Laos to Vietnam, you need a visa in advance, since Vietnam visa-on-arrival is applicable to air travel only.

bluenz wrote:

DylanG wrote:

bluenz wrote:

I can't see why you can't do an online VOA, for your return,  ( just check the border crossing you use will accept this ), depending on where you want to go in Laos, there is another crossing at Po Y, ( go through Quang Ngai, Kon Tum )
  I saved some info on a trip that was done last year, they took their VN bikes across, ( PM me if you like ),
  You can actually see the new border crossing offices at Po Y..on Google Earth 
Take travel times given with a grain of salt, there will always be some delay, ( buses stop about every hour. )., roadworks, animals on the road, accidents, etc, etc, ( don't travel by bus at night if you can help it ).

oh i was under the impression, VOA's to Vietnam was strictly for travel via air.

Yes you are right, but why can't they do this, maybe one day they will?

For Vietnamese travellers, visa is not required to cross Laos’s border but for international tourists, they can obtain visa on arrival at Immigration checkpoint on the border with requirements of a legal passport, one visa-size photo (3x4) and USD 20 for visa stamp. Tourists travel on tour agents' buses can have the procedure handled by the bus providers with an extra payment of USD25.

If you cross the border from Laos to Vietnam, you need a visa in advance, since Vietnam visa-on-arrival is applicable to air travel only.

^^^ this is just the process for getting into Laos, correct?, and once im through i need to visit the Vietnamese consulate to obtain a full visa, before traveling back through... correct?

is it easy to get a visa for Vietnam while in Laos, is it generally a fast process?, do they speak good English?.

maybe i should just do a round trip flight instead.... with a Vietnam VOA as i only have to leave the country once per year, from what i can tell you can renew twice per year without leaving..

grand total should be like $800 total in expensives to visas thats with air travel to laos and back.

DylanG wrote:

bluenz wrote:

DylanG wrote:

oh i was under the impression, VOA's to Vietnam was strictly for travel via air.

Yes you are right, but why can't they do this, maybe one day they will?

For Vietnamese travellers, visa is not required to cross Laos’s border but for international tourists, they can obtain visa on arrival at Immigration checkpoint on the border with requirements of a legal passport, one visa-size photo (3x4) and USD 20 for visa stamp. Tourists travel on tour agents' buses can have the procedure handled by the bus providers with an extra payment of USD25.

If you cross the border from Laos to Vietnam, you need a visa in advance, since Vietnam visa-on-arrival is applicable to air travel only.

^^^ this is just the process for getting into Laos, correct?, and once im through i need to visit the Vietnamese consulate to obtain a full visa, before traveling back through... correct?

is it easy to get a visa for Vietnam while in Laos, is it generally a fast process?, do they speak good English?.

maybe i should just do a round trip flight instead.... with a Vietnam VOA as i only have to leave the country once per year, from what i can tell you can renew twice per year without leaving..

grand total should be like $800 total in expensives to visas thats with air travel to laos and back.

Everyone's saying 3 times on here,  I don't know for sure, I had what you should get, after you make an honest woman of your girlfriend, a VEC, or you go the business way with her,  a TRC.
  A round trip ticket sounds like a good idea, but then you miss out on all the scenery and " excitement,  " of traveling there, especially if you went by bike.

bluenz wrote:

DylanG wrote:

bluenz wrote:

Yes you are right, but why can't they do this, maybe one day they will?

For Vietnamese travellers, visa is not required to cross Laos’s border but for international tourists, they can obtain visa on arrival at Immigration checkpoint on the border with requirements of a legal passport, one visa-size photo (3x4) and USD 20 for visa stamp. Tourists travel on tour agents' buses can have the procedure handled by the bus providers with an extra payment of USD25.

If you cross the border from Laos to Vietnam, you need a visa in advance, since Vietnam visa-on-arrival is applicable to air travel only.

^^^ this is just the process for getting into Laos, correct?, and once im through i need to visit the Vietnamese consulate to obtain a full visa, before traveling back through... correct?

is it easy to get a visa for Vietnam while in Laos, is it generally a fast process?, do they speak good English?.

maybe i should just do a round trip flight instead.... with a Vietnam VOA as i only have to leave the country once per year, from what i can tell you can renew twice per year without leaving..

grand total should be like $800 total in expensives to visas thats with air travel to laos and back.

Everyone's saying 3 times on here,  I don't know for sure, I had what you should get, after you make an honest woman of your girlfriend, a VEC, or you go the business way with her,  a TRC.
  A round trip ticket sounds like a good idea, but then you miss out on all the scenery and " excitement,  " of traveling there, especially if you went by bike.

yeah I'm sure we could take a few days off work and make a little holiday of it , she said she would be more then willing to come with me when i had to leave the country to renew my visa, but i didn't wanna hassle her with that burden .

also what does "VEC/TRC" stand for, (sorry) .

At least she won't have any hassles with Visa's.
  VEC, 5 yr Visa Exemption, for spouses of VN's,   ( but still has to be renewed every 90 days , 210 k , but you don't have to leave VN ), TRC , Temporary Resident Card, for people with Work permits, or Owners/Partners in a Limited Liability Company, these usually need a minimum amount of capital, in your case, if your girlfriend has a small registered business, ( in VN they are usually LLC's ), you could be registered as a Partner. ( be prepared for a mountain of paperwork  though), she must own 51%.

bluenz wrote:

At least she won't have any hassles with Visa's.
  VEC, 5 yr Visa Exemption, for spouses of VN's,   ( but still has to be renewed every 90 days , 210 k , but you don't have to leave VN ), TRC , Temporary Resident Card, for people with Work permits, or Owners/Partners in a Limited Liability Company, these usually need a minimum amount of capital, in your case, if your girlfriend has a small registered business, ( in VN they are usually LLC's ), you could be registered as a Partner. ( be prepared for a mountain of paperwork  though), she must own 51%.

you're just a mountain of knowledge , thanks for all your help, i feel like i now have a better understanding of how things are "currently" working in Vietnam which of course is constantly changing but hey!, it gives me peace of mind...