Comprehensive Guide to Ho Chi Minh City Entry and Exit Medical Check-ups

I embarked on a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City, only to discover upon landing that I needed a separate visa on arrival, despite already having an e-visa. At the counter, I presented the e-visa I had printed in advance. The Vietnamese immigration officer, noticing I lacked a photo, promptly snapped a headshot of me with his phone. Surprisingly, this entire process didn’t require any payment.

After obtaining the additional visa, another immigration officer inquired if we wanted expedited clearance, suggesting we could slip 100 RMB in cash inside the passport. Since I rarely carry RMB, 10 USD was also acceptable, offering a significant discount (around 72% [embarrassed]). The regular exit queue, however, stretched for at least 40 minutes.

Upon exiting, I was greeted by long lines at immigration. It’s advisable to arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance. Fortunately, a colleague with an APEC Business Travel Card allowed us to bypass the queues and exit directly through the ABTC lane, then proceed through security and wait for our flight.

Overall, the experience highlighted a system where inefficiency and corruption often go hand in hand, making life more challenging for the local population. Given this, I have no plans to return for a personal vacation in the next decade.