Visa Information For Mekong River Cruises
Mekong River Cruises are popular these days between Cambodia and Vietnam. And with foreign visitors, getting a visa is one of the most important steps prior to taking this voyage. So how can you apply for a Vietnam Visa or Cambodia Visa to enter these two countries via the river border with a Vietnam Cambodia tour? The specifics are provided below:
1. What is a Visa?
Visa is a legal document granted by a country’s governmental offices that allows you to travel to and enter that country. Visas are usually stamped on passports. If you’re an international traveler sailing between Cambodia and Vietnam, concern yourself with both Cambodia Visa and Vietnam Visa.
2. Cruising from Vietnam to Cambodia
* Vietnam Visa for Entering Vietnam via airport
If you enter Vietnam via the airport, some countries are exempted from visa. Please check if your country is exempted of entry to Vietnam here:
If not, you will have 2 options to get your Vietnam Visa:
Option 1 - Physical Visa from Embassy
Obtain Visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your home country. The visa must be attached in your passport. Please inform your travel plan and you will be advised to make a single-entry visa (valid for 30 days) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for 90 days).
Option 2 - Vietnam E-Visa
A Vietnamese visa is issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department via electronic system. The country now offers a single-entry e-visa, valid for a maximum of 30 days and available to citizens of 80 countries.
Please check if your country is permitted for entry into Vietnam with e-Visa here.
How to Apply for Vietnam E-Visa:
* Open the official website for Vietnam’s E-Visa Application here:
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
* Upload .jpg images of your passport data page and passport photo
* Fulfill all required info from your passport data page
* Fulfill all required info regarding your trip
* Pay the E-Visa fee (25 USD) using any of the payment methods offered
* Receive your registration code and save the number
* Enter registration code, registration email and date of birth to check result in E-visa search menu: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc
Approval of a Vietnam E-visa typically takes 03 working days excluding weekends and holidays. However, it is highly recommended to apply for an e-visa early to avoid overcrowding, sometimes it takes a week or more to receive the visa. You must present the printed e-Visa and valid passport at the airport upon arrival.
Notes:
* If requiring multiple entries to Vietnam, you are advised to apply for visa multiple entries at the Vietnamese embassy in your home country
* Vietnam multiple entries E-visa are NOT available.
* Please note the port of EXIT on your E-visa application is Song Tien Landport
* Cambodia Visa for entering Cambodia by river border on Mekong River Cruise
If you travel from Vietnam to Cambodia with a Mekong River Cruise, ask your cruise line to arrange Cambodian Visa onboard (single entry, 1 month). Please prepare one passport photo for processing and a visa fee of 35- 50 USD per passenger.
Please be advised that Cambodia E-visa is NOT acceptable for the waterway border if you are traveling from Vietnam to Cambodia.
3. Cruising from Cambodia to Vietnam
* Cambodia Visa for Entering Cambodia via airport
If you are entering Cambodia via airport, there are 3 options for your Cambodia Visa:
Option 1: Physical Visa from Embassy
You can obtain a visa at the Cambodia embassy in your home country. Tell them your travel plan for helpful advices.
Option 2: Visa on arrival
You can apply for a Visa on Arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airport with a visa fee of 30 USD in cash only. You will need to fill out the application form and submit 01 passport photo with 2*2 inches. (Some countries cannot use Cambodia visa on arrival: Afghanistan, Algeria, Arab Saudi, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Nigeria)
Option 3: E-Visa
Apply for Cambodia E-visa here: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/. After getting your approval letter, download and print 02 copies of your e-Visa for safety when traveling and show the print at the airport upon arrival.
* Vietnam Visa for entering Vietnam by river border on Mekong River Cruise
If you will be entering Vietnam via river border, there are 2 options for your Vietnam Visa:
Option 1: Physical Visa from Embassy
You should obtain a Physical Visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your home country. Tell them your travel plan and you will be advised to make a single-entry visa (valid for 30 days) or a multiple-entry visa (valid for 90 days). The physical visa must be in your passport prior to boarding the cruise and crossing the border.
Notes:
+ The correct port of immigration: Song Tien Landport
Option 2: Vietnam E-Visa
A Vietnamese visa is issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department via electronic system. The country now offers a single-entry e-visa, valid for a maximum of 30 days and available to citizens of 80 countries.
Please check if your country is permitted for entry into Vietnam with e-Visa here.
How to Apply for Vietnam E-Visa:
* Open the official website for Vietnam’s E-Visa Application here:
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/khai-thi-thuc-dien-tu/cap-thi-thuc-dien-tu
* Upload .jpg images of your passport data page and passport photo
* Fulfill all required info from your passport data page
* Fulfill all required info regarding your trip
* Pay the E-Visa fee (25 USD) using any of the payment methods offered
* Receive your registration code and save the number
* Enter registration code, registration email and date of birth to check result in E-visa search menu: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc
* Approval of a Vietnam E-visa typically takes 03 working days excluding weekends and holidays. However, it is highly recommended to apply for an e-visa early to avoid overcrowding, sometimes it takes a week or more to receive the visa.
Notes:
* If requiring multiple entries to Vietnam, you are advised to apply for visa multiple entries at the Vietnamese embassy in your home country
* Vietnam multiple entries E-visa are NOT available.
* When applying for your Vietnam E-visa please use the following entry point in the section 'Allowed to entry through checkpoint': SONG TIEN LANDPORT
Please kindly NOTE that Vietnam visa on arrival is NOT accepted to enter Vietnam via river border and all guests must have paper visa or E-visa to enter via the river border.
4. Important Notes
Please use the same passport to enter Vietnam and Cambodia, if you are cruising between both countries. Otherwise, the port authority may deny your entry during river border crossing, thus affecting your trip.
You are advised to apply for a visa as early as possible because there are delayed and limited services due to current demand.
Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of your arrival in Cambodia and Vietnam, and include at least two blank pages for admission stamping.
All information pertaining to visa requirements for Mekong River cruise passengers between Vietnam and Cambodia has been provided above. For more information on Visa applications and Mekong River Cruise, please feel free to contact us.
