If you are planning a trip to Vietnam in the near future you need to obtain a tourist vista. Tourist visas for Vietnam are valid for 30 days within the country before you need to renew it. You should obtain the visa before leaving, since obtaining a visa once you arrive in the country is a bit of a hassle. If you are currently living in North American or Europe you can do so with a local travel agent.

Request Vietnam Visa

Stop by a local travel agent. The travel agent can work directly with a Vietnamese embassy to obtain your tourist visa. Typically this process is going to take a week to complete. This is a task you are unable to perform on your own and even if you have purchased your plane tickets through an online agency you need to stop by a local travel agency for this process.

Give the travel agent your passport. This is the only major documentation you need to bring although it is a good idea to bring other forms of state issues identification (such as a drivers license).