extra visa charge for non VN

[andrew va thuy 0]

I have bought my ticket at Universal Tours in Seattle last year. Allegedly because I was neither VN or Chinese born they charged me an additonal 50$. Still the price I got was the best I could find.

This year I am getting stuck with the same story ( Ticket quote for Mar 21 at 825 incl Visa ( 775 for Chin/VN ) on Asiana ). Does this make sense to others ?

I may not be able to shake the 50 $ charge and come out ahead but I really wonder who's policy it is.

[dalegg 143]

I have bought my ticket at Universal Tours in Seattle last year. Allegedly because I was neither VN or Chinese born they charged me an additonal 50$. Still the price I got was the best I could find.

This year I am getting stuck with the same story ( Ticket quote for Mar 21 at 825 incl Visa ( 775 for Chin/VN ) on Asiana ). Does this make sense to others ?

I may not be able to shake the 50 $ charge and come out ahead but I really wonder who's policy it is.

That's about as low as I ever paid through Asiana, although I always used to stop in Inchon, not China

[wait4ever 0]

That actually sounds like a really good deal. And they take care of the visa too? I would go for it. When they talk about Chinese& Vietnamese getting a lower price, they must mean nationals of those countries, who would not require a visa to return home. You are paying the same price for the flight as they are, you just have to pay $50 extra for a visa. That makes sense.

[jdogcisco 0]

Did your ticket price include the VN visa? If so, then the price is higher because non-VN must pay more for their visa than an overseas Vietnamese.

Did your ticket price include the VN visa? If so, then the price is higher because non-VN must pay more for their visa than an overseas Vietnamese.

Oops, ya already said that. Sorry.

[andrew va thuy 0]

Thanks ! I am not complaining about the price, as I said its still the best I have been able to get. But what I understand is previous VN - now with a US passport get charged less. That seems a weird policy to me - and I wonder if it really did originate at the VN consulate.

But then I am not surprised when life is unfair ... It was just a curiosity.

[dalegg 143]

Well you know how Vietnamese people have the uncanny knack of sniffing out the lowest possibe prices for anything. Nothing goes without bargaining.

[Lurker 0]

Well you know how Vietnamese people have the uncanny knack of sniffing out the lowest possibe prices for anything. Nothing goes without bargaining.

So true...so true. That is why my Vo handles all the money stuff...I just sit back and be entertained.

[scy 0]

Thanks ! I am not complaining about the price, as I said its still the best I have been able to get. But what I understand is previous VN - now with a US passport get charged less. That seems a weird policy to me - and I wonder if it really did originate at the VN consulate.

But then I am not surprised when life is unfair ... It was just a curiosity.

The communist government in Vietnam considers all native born Vietnamese, whether they are citizens of another country, citizens of Vietnam. So technically, a Vietnamese-American with a US passport who was born in Vietnam, is treated like a Vietnamese citizen, hence the lower visa rate.

This makes for a sticky situation when a Vietnamese-American gets in legal trouble while in Vietnam. They might be denied consular services since they are "Vietnamese citizens".

[David-Hien 11]

The communist government in Vietnam considers all native born Vietnamese, whether they are citizens of another country, citizens of Vietnam. So technically, a Vietnamese-American with a US passport who was born in Vietnam, is treated like a Vietnamese citizen, hence the lower visa rate.

This makes for a sticky situation when a Vietnamese-American gets in legal trouble while in Vietnam. They might be denied consular services since they are "Vietnamese citizens".

You are wrong in this details, the Vietnamese - American is streated as foreigners as well, they only can have the advantage as they are fluently in Vietnamese. When you wife have visa to go to USA and leave Vietnam, her citizenship will be removed automatically eventhough she is not American citizen yet. All of properties (such as house, motobike...) under her name will be controlled by government if she doesnot sell to others.

I don't like this regulation as well. The Vietnamese authorities only lie to people to make them misundertand about their citizenship and their rights in Vietnam.

Hien

[ridejewel 0]

Yeah, Wait4ever, Universal Tours seems to always have the best price. Ive been using them for the last couple years. Definitely check them out if you ever need tickets. http://www.uttours.com/ If anyone does use them, ide ask for CJ, he's also Vietnamese and knows what he's doing when booking for this region.

[andrew va thuy 0]

Thank you ( SCV ) also Hein for not only answering my question but ALSO providing a broader understanding of the current govenment policy in VN. Your insight and comment is very much appreciated ! BTW Anna is managing my ticket purchase at Universal Tours - I am not sure who did it last time, but it was more than a bit confusing because that person definately had difficulties speaking English. Fortunately it all worked out as I am sure it will this time.