Job Discussion Forums

[akmassager]

Title says it all.

[inky]

Yes.

[shanewarne]

No, there are a number of ways to get to vietnam. For example by plane, boat, car, donkey etc.......

[BenE]

Bicycle as well?
And never forget using a motorbike...
I wonder if you could get a Xe Om across the border as well?

[shanewarne]

[owly jr]

To give you a proper answer to your question, no you cannot enter Vietnam on a one-way ticket unless your employer has pre-arranged a visa which you can collect on arrival at the airport (as happened in my case!). I researched this pretty thoroughly.

[akmassager]

Inky says yes, owly says no. Who to believe?
First, is it possible? Forget about employment. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

[Phinaes Gage]

I've entered Vietnam many times. No one has ever asked to see my plane tickets, or what kind of ticket I was using at any point. I have flown on one-way tickets into Vietnam from abroad and never had any problems. A visa has absolutely nothing to do with what kind of ticket you have, and at no point in the visa process do they ask what kind of ticket you have. Whether you get a visa on arrival (which can be arranged beforehand by a travel agent here in vietnam), or a visa beforehand it does not matter what kind of ticket you have. Click this link
http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/ and you'll see that there is no mention of what kind of tickets you need.

[inky]

People pass through Vietnam Immigration every day with one-way tickets. I did it. Immigration doesn't ask to see your plane ticket on entry, they check your passport, visa, and customs/immigration form (you get that on the plane). Tens of thousands of visitors fly in and leave by land, purchasing an onward flight in another country later. Many more enter by land and have no proof of onward travel plans.

[mach114]

I have been told by a travel agent in San Jose, Ca that I need to buy a round trip ticket. However, this is simply not true. I have entered Vietnam myself on One-Way tickets several times, mostly because I wasn't sure when I was coming back. I think the confusion is that on your Visa application and customs paper I believe it asks for a departure date. This date is meaningless, it does not effect any future Visas or when you actually have to return. Just put down a date. I think the travel agent either doesn't know better or just uses this as a sales tactic.

[roadwalker]

It's an international standard that the airline that flew you into a country is responsible for bringing you out if you are not accepted by that country's passport control/customs/immigration. So the airlines want to cover their a's. That will be you challenge.

If you have a one way ticket and at the counter to get your boarding pass the agent tells you you can't fly without an onward flight, you may be able to convince them otherwise. However you will probably end up buying a FULLY REFUNDABLE onward flight or return trip if you have cash or room on your credit card. Buy the cheapest possible in case you have trouble cancelling for a refund. Say HCMC to Bangkok. Or check out airasia.com or other discount airlines for very cheap flights (non-refundable) in the area.

[inky]

That's inaccurate. The fact is that you won't be allowed to board the flight if you don't have a valid visa. You'll never be allowed to depart.

To repeat what I wrote earlier, you do not need a return ticket to enter Vietnam.

[owly jr]

Well I spoke to several travel agents and phoned the Vietnamese embassy back home (South Africa) and they all told me a round-trip ticket was necessary, unless in possession of a working visa on arrival. Maybe it's a South African thing? My girlfriend ended up buying a round-trip ticket.

[BenE]

I got a business Visa a one-way ticket and no job at the end.

No hassle. I was even told by the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK to go for the 3 month and extend and have fun.

Now I've just gotta pass this damn CELTA......