Vietnamese Embassies Abroad: Collecting Your Visa

An approval letter can name either a Vietnamese border gate or a Vietnamese mission abroad. If it names a mission, that is where the visa is issued — you cannot switch to the airport afterwards without a new letter.

When the embassy route is the right one

The airline requires a visa before boarding for your nationality
You want the visa in the passport before travelling
You are applying from a country where the e-visa route has been unreliable for you

What missions typically ask for

The approval letter reference (they receive their own copy from the Immigration Department)
Form NA1 and passport photos to their specification
Original passport, valid at least six months
The visa fee in local currency — often higher than the fee at a Vietnamese border gate because of local surcharges

Timing

Allow a week at the mission on top of the five working days for the approval letter. Confirm the mission opening hours and appointment system before travelling to it — many now work by appointment only.

Alternatives

Route	Where issued	Best for
Approval letter, airport pick-up	Vietnamese border gate	Travellers already booked to fly in
Approval letter, embassy pick-up	Named mission abroad	Visa needed before boarding
E-visa	Online	Stays up to 90 days, no sponsor