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EN
Speaking at the Zhangjiajie - Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Tourism Promotion Workshop held on March 20th, Mr. Xu Zhou, Deputy Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that Vietnamese tourists can now apply for Chinese tourist visas independently or as part of a group at Chinese visa service centers in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Prepare your application for a self-sponsored visa.
Contacting the China Visa Service Center in Hanoi, they stated that Vietnamese tourists have been able to apply for independent tourist visas since March 15th. Applicants can also submit applications at centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, depending on their place of residence.
Currently, the website of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam has not updated the new visa application requirements. Tourists need to prepare the following documents:
- A passport valid for more than 6 months, the original passport with blank pages, a photocopy of the information page with photo, and a photocopy of the citizen identification card.
- A visa application form and a recent, frontal, color passport-sized photograph (with a light background), without a hat, must be affixed to the application form. The information on the application form must be truthful and complete. The application form must be signed by the applicant.
- Documents proving legal residence or domicile.
- Documents related to the itinerary, such as confirmation of round-trip flight bookings and hotel reservations, or an invitation letter from an organization or individual in China.
- In the case of first-time visa applicants whose passports do not have entry and exit records, they must provide additional proof of residence or proof of their place of residence.
China has become a popular destination for many tourists after reopening.
The Chinese tourist visa (designated as L) issued to Vietnamese tourists is valid for 3 months, with a maximum stay of 15 days and a single entry. Currently, processing times may be longer than before due to increased travel demand from Vietnamese visitors.
According to information on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, the cost of applying for this type of tourist visa is 60 USD.
Aside from the Visa Service Center, the Chinese consulate does not authorize any other agency or intermediary to receive consular documents.
When arriving in China on direct flights, Vietnamese passengers are permitted to use antigen test results (including self-testing using test kits) instead of PCR tests for entry into China. The test results must be obtained within 48 hours before departure for customs declaration purposes.
China has also restored visa-free entry policies for Hainan province, visa-free entry for cruise ship tourists in Shanghai, visa-free entry for foreign groups from Hong Kong and Macau in Guangdong, and visa-free entry for tourist groups from ASEAN countries in Guilin, Guangxi.
Applying for a visa as part of a group is simpler.
Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, General Director of Lien Bang Travel Company, said: "Currently, the procedure for tourists applying for group tourist visas is very simple. If you apply independently, the procedure will be somewhat more complicated."
Vietnamese tourists can also enter some provinces in China using a travel permit.
The reporter contacted a company that provides Chinese visa application services to inquire about submitting an application for a tourist visa under the self-sponsored category.
Even with a complete employment contract, leave request form, and prior travel to several Southeast Asian countries, the company noted that the application was still quite blank; the approval rate was still possible but not high.
Regarding airline tickets or hotel reservation proof, the company will prepare them for the traveler. The visa application fee will be 160 USD (approximately 3.7 million VND).
When visa applications are rejected, visa agencies will refund the traveler's money or apply a lower fee. With this method, the traveler is the one who suffers more because their plans may be disrupted.
Vietnamese tourists can also travel to China using a travel permit, without needing a visa, in northern border areas such as Dongxing (Mong Cai border gate), Pingxiang (Lang Son border gate), and Hekou (Lao Cai).
The procedure for obtaining a travel permit includes a citizen's identity card and two passport-sized photos with a white background, wearing a collared shirt, and neat hair. The travel permit is valid for one month for people from outside the province, with no limit on the number of trips per day, but you must return before 9 PM.
