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Traveling to 100 countries is probably a lifelong dream for many, and Nguyen Hoang Bao (born 1976, Vinh Long) has achieved it. With the ambition of "Painting portraits of Vietnamese people across 5 continents," lecturer Hoang Bao still harbors the intention of continuing to explore more interesting things in the remaining countries of the world. Travel blogger "Những bước chân" (Footsteps) has embarked on a journey full of rich experiences over the years, enriching his travel expertise. So how did Hoang Bao succeed in obtaining visas to so many countries? This secret will be revealed below.
On February 4, 2023, travel blogger Nguyen Hoang Bao (Những bước chân) officially set foot in Kazakhstan, marking a milestone in his journey to 100 countries worldwide.
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT TYPES OF TOURIST VISAS
When planning a trip abroad, the first thing to consider is visa policies. Therefore, you must be familiar with the different types of visas currently available, along with the specific regulations for each type.
- Paper tourist visa
This is currently the most common type of visa. For this type, you will prepare the required documents and submit them directly to the Embassy or Consulate. Once your application is successfully processed, the Embassy/Consulate will affix the visa to your passport. Some countries, such as the UK and the US, still require this type of visa application.
- Electronic tourist visa (e-visa)
Instead of queuing to submit your application in person at the Embassy/Consulate, you can apply for an e-visa from anywhere. Simply access the link, submit the required documents, and your visa will be issued to your personal email upon successful approval. For convenience during your trip, you should print out the visa details and bring them with you. Currently, you don't need to go directly to the Embassy/Consulate to apply for an e-visa to travel to several countries such as Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Jordan, etc.
- Visa On Arrival (VOA)
You don't need to go to the embassy/consulate, nor do you need to apply for an e-visa. When entering some countries such as Bolivia, Nepal, Uganda, Maldives, East Timor, India, etc., you will be issued an e-visa and VOA at border crossings/airports. Note that you will need to pay an additional fee for the visa. For example, to enter Nepal for tourism for 15 days, you have to pay 20 USD. The cost for a 30-day visa in India is 60 USD.
- Tourist card
This is a rather special type of visa, simply a stamp. For example, when traveling to Cuba, you can purchase this travel stamp at the airport beforehand. Normally, when traveling to Cuba, you would fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Toronto, transit and purchase the travel stamp there, and then continue flying to Havana. In Hoang Bao's case, he transited in Mexico, purchased the travel stamp, and then flew to Havana, Cuba.
Airline staff are selling Cuban tourist cards at a Mexico airport before a flight to Cuba.
- Visa-free
Currently, many countries grant visa-free entry to Vietnamese citizens. Several countries in Asia offer visa-free entry to Vietnamese citizens for a limited period: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Similarly, in the Americas, Panama, Ecuador, Haiti, Dominica, and Turks and Caicos do not require visas for Vietnamese tourists.
With a Schengen visa, Hoang Bao can travel to 26 member countries; the photo shows Iceland.
Additionally, you should regularly update yourself on visa application information if you intend to travel to any country in the world. Obtaining a visa is not easy, but you can absolutely succeed with thorough preparation.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL VISA APPLICATION?
Typically, you will need to prepare the following three sets of documents for a visa application.
First, there are the documents proving identity, including: Passport, birth certificate, ID card/citizen identification card, and marriage certificate. Previously, you needed to prepare a passport separately, but now this document is integrated electronically into the citizen identification card chip.
Next, financial documentation also needs to be carefully prepared to increase the success rate of the visa application. This section includes notes on different types of documents for three different groups of applicants.
- For independent travelers: Employment contract, leave application, salary certificate, and proof of valuable personal assets registered in your name (car, house, rental agreement, savings account). Note that the savings account must have a minimum term of 3 months (the longer the savings period, the more it demonstrates a stable financial source).
- Freelancers often face more difficulties obtaining visas due to unstable employment. Firstly, embassies/consulates may be concerned about the possibility of returning to Vietnam without having job ties to their home country. Regarding finances, you can demonstrate income stability through bank transfers. This should be accompanied by similar documentation proving assets, as is the case for independent travelers.
- For business owners: business license, tax documents for the last 3 months, company asset certificate.
Finally, you need to pay close attention to the documents proving the purpose of your trip, as this is considered the most important factor determining the success or failure of your visa application.
You need to prepare supporting documents for your trip, including: airline tickets, hotel reservation confirmations, entrance tickets, train/bus tickets, and travel insurance. With such concrete evidence, you can demonstrate that you are serious about your plans and ready for your upcoming trip.
The more detailed and specific the planning, the more convincing the legitimate purpose of the trip becomes.
In addition, you absolutely must have a detailed itinerary for your trip. This itinerary should include: departure time, sightseeing locations, accommodation, dining options, and transportation. Remember to be completely truthful, as the Embassy/Consulate can easily "verify" the information you provide with just a phone call to the service providers.
In addition, you can demonstrate the "credibility" of your legitimate purpose by reviewing your previous travel history to other countries. The number and "quality" of these trips can also be considered quite important when evaluating your visa application.
Note that you may be required to provide a 'motivation letter' for some countries with stricter visa requirements. In this letter, you should clearly state your purpose for traveling, highlight your strengths, and commit to returning to your home country after your trip. Besides thorough preparation, you should also pay attention to several other points to increase your chances of a successful visa application.
TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR A VISA AND SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
"Actually, when you provide all the required information, especially have a clear itinerary, and demonstrate a genuine desire to travel, no visa is difficult to obtain," travel blogger Nguyen Hoang Bao shared with Travellive readers.
Getting a visa can be a bit difficult, time-consuming, and require a lot of effort, but be brave and determined to achieve your dream of traveling.
With thorough preparation in both form and content, you've already taken the first step in impressing the Embassy/Consulate. Pay special attention to even the smallest details in your application, such as ensuring the photos you provide were taken within the last six months. For US visa applications, the Embassy/Consulate will require you to provide your personal Facebook profile for investigation. Therefore, they may detect irregularities and refuse your visa application if you overlook these minor details.
Prepare ample financial resources to demonstrate your ability to afford (and still have some surplus) your travel expenses. Clearly, no country wants to welcome tourists with limited funds. They will immediately question your purpose and may refuse your visa application if your financial resources do not meet the minimum requirements for the trip. Most importantly, clearly understand the purpose of your trip so you can present it smoothly during the embassy/consulate interview.
You should start building your travel profile with visa-free destinations, then move on to countries with easier visa application processes. As your travel history becomes more substantial and impressive, countries with strict visa requirements will be less suspicious about the legitimacy of your travel.
Travel blogger Hoang Bao is at an Indian airport going through airline procedures to prepare for a flight to Oman without needing an Omani visa, as he already has a valid Canadian visa.
Furthermore, applying for a visa in a third country is easier than applying in Vietnam. During his 2015 trip, Hoang Bao didn't apply for a visa to Uzbekistan in Vietnam; he only started applying for one upon arriving in Iran. "When you just 'sit at home' applying for a visa, you only show them your desire to travel. But when you start your journey, you can prove your legitimate aspirations and purpose. You can create an itinerary that facilitates exploration and allow you to apply for visas in stages in third countries. It won't take much time and effort to get a visa if you arrange your travel schedule appropriately," Hoang Bao shared.
Travel blogger Hoang Bao believes that applying for a visa yourself is a rather interesting experience that you should try. He also suggests that if you encounter difficulties in preparing the documents, don't hesitate to seek help from experienced people or find visa service providers to realize your travel dreams.
Of course, if you are unfortunately denied a visa on your first attempt, you will have to put in much more effort on subsequent attempts. Therefore, thorough preparation is essential, and don't forget to apply some visa application "tips" from experienced people to successfully obtain a tourist visa.
