Speaking at the Zhangjiajie - Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference held on March 20, Mr. Xu Zhou, Deputy Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnamese tourists can now apply for Chinese tourist visas on their own or in groups at Chinese Visa Service Centers in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Prepare your own visa application
Contacting the China Visa Service Center in Hanoi, this unit said that Vietnamese tourists can apply for tourist visas on their own from March 15. Tourists can also apply at the centers in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, depending on where they live.
Currently, the website of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam has not updated the new requirements for visa application. Visitors need to prepare the following documents:
- Passport valid for more than 6 months, original passport with blank pages and a photocopy of the information page with photo, a photocopy of citizen identification card.
- One visa application form and one recent, front-facing, color (light background), no-hat passport photograph affixed to the application form. The information on the application form must be written truthfully and completely. The application form must be signed by the applicant.
- Documents proving legal residence or stay.
- Documents regarding the itinerary such as round-trip flight ticket confirmation and hotel reservation confirmation or invitation letter from the organization or individual in China.
- In case the first-time visa applicant holds a passport without entry and exit records, it is necessary to provide additional proof of residence or proof of local unit.
China is a destination that has received the attention of many tourists after reopening.
The Chinese tourist visa (L) issued to Vietnamese tourists is valid for 3 months, with a maximum stay of 15 days and a single entry. Currently, the processing time may be longer than before due to the increased travel demand of Vietnamese tourists.
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.
Apart from the Visa Service Center, the Chinese consulate does not authorize any other intermediary agency or individual to receive consular applications.
When arriving in China on direct flights, Vietnamese passengers are allowed to use antigen test results (including self-testing with test kits) instead of PCR tests to enter China. The test results must be performed within 48 hours before departure to proceed with customs declaration.
China has also restored visa-free entry policies for Hainan province, visa-free entry for Shanghai cruise ships, visa-free entry for Guangdong for foreign tourist groups from Hong Kong and Macao, and visa-free entry for Guilin and Guangxi for tourist groups from ASEAN countries.
Applying for a group visa is simpler
Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, General Director of Lien Bang Travel Company, said: "Currently, the procedures for tourists applying for a tourist visa in a group are very simple. If they apply on their own, the procedures will be somewhat more complicated."
Vietnamese tourists can also enter some provinces in China with a passport.
The reporter contacted a Chinese visa service provider to ask about applying for a tourist visa on your own.
In cases where there is a complete labor contract, leave application and has traveled to some countries in the Southeast Asia region, this company commented that the application is still quite empty, the acceptance rate is still there but not high.
Regarding flight tickets or hotel reservation proof, the company will prepare for tourists. The visa application fee will be 160 USD (about 3.7 million VND).
When a visa is not granted, the service providers will refund the money to the tourist or apply a lower fee. With this form, the tourist is the one who suffers more because the plan can be "broken".
Vietnamese tourists can also travel to China with a travel document, without needing a visa, in the northern border areas such as Dongxing (Mong Cai border gate), Pingxiang (Lang Son border gate) and Hekou (Lao Cai).
Procedures for obtaining a travel pass include a citizen identification card and two portrait photos with a white background, wearing a collared shirt, and neat hair. The travel pass is valid for one month for out-of-towners, with no limit on the number of trips per day, but must return before 9 p.m.
