I'd like to share our experience with the DTV visa application process in Ho Chi Minh City.

I'm choosing to post anonymously because my past interactions haven't been positive. Although some responses to my questions were kind, I encountered a few rude and mean individuals, with some even accusing me of copying other people's content. Despite that, I simply wish to share our journey.

While many say it's an easy application, we opted for Watt, a highly reputable visa agent from

[members only]

for our peace of mind. I believe it was 100% worth it. Although abundant guidance exists online, I'm not particularly adept with documents and tend to over-submit, so I entrusted Watt with the process.

We are e-commerce business owners; my husband is the CEO, and I am the operations manager. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on June 4th, and Watt submitted our documents on the same day.

Here's a breakdown of the documents submitted:

Passports with visa stamps

Passport photos

Business registration documents and licenses

A concise employment verification letter, co-signed by both of us for each other

Six months' worth of personal checking account statements showing over 1 million Thai Baht. We met the 1 million Baht requirement for two people in the last two months. Since we are business owners, Watt suggested applying separately, which we did.

Timeline:

June 4th: Paperwork submitted online to the Ho Chi Minh City embassy.

June 7th: Supporting documents requested:

Proof of residence for me, for which I resubmitted my visa stamp along with two receipts bearing my full name (from nail and massage services, easily obtainable).

CVs or business portfolios with two work samples were requested for both my husband and me.

After submitting these additional documents, we traveled to Hoi An and Da Nang with our son. However, our Airbnb was in Ho Chi Minh City, so if further inquiries about our primary residence arose, we could confirm it was Ho Chi Minh City.

June 11th: My visa was approved.

June 19th: My husband's visa was approved.

The entire process was systematic and straightforward. Yes, we paid an agent's fee, but it was minimal and, as mentioned, 100% worthwhile.

Now, we're packing our bags and ready to head to Thailand! ❤️ If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Looking for feedback on those that applied for a Non-O Thai Family in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, are there many differences in requirements? Processing time, document uploads, length of visa..

Or would it be better to go to Vientiane, Laos seeing as they offer more convenient options?

Hi everyone, I’d truly appreciate the group’s help.

I submitted DTV applications for my wife and kids (as dependents) at the Thai Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City 21 days ago (I already hold a DTV visa as a remote worker).

After 5 days, their applications changed to “Pending Approval”, and they’ve been stuck there for more than 2 weeks.

I’ve tried calling the consulate (no answer) and sent emails (no reply).

Does anyone know how to expedite this process? Or can anyone recommend an agent who has a direct line to the consulate?

Thanks so much in advance!

Hello everyone i applied for the dtv in ho chi minh on the 29th of April on the 6th of may changed to pending approval 😀

hey guys. I submitted my application in Ho Chi Minh City, on April 17th. And On April 18th, the status changed to ‘pending approval’, and there has been no progress since then. It has now been more than 10 workdays. Is anyone else experiencing the same situation? What should I do? Should I contact the embassy?

Anyone else waiting on a DTV visa in Ho Chi Minh?

I applied on April 1st and it’s still showing as “pending approval”… anything I can do to speed things up?

Has anyone got DTV approved email in these days form Vietnam Ho Chi Minh embassy ?

Hi everyone. I am thinking of going to Hanoi to apply for the DTV, because I have heard they are less strict than in Ho Chi Minh city.

But I was wondering after sending the application online in Hanoi, can I go to another city like Da Nang for example?

I ask this because Da Nang is part of the Ho Chi Minh Thai embassy area, so I don't know if I can move around Vietnam like that.

Thank you so much 🙏

I am currently in Vietnam. I was planning to apply for my DTV in Ho Chi Minh City (where I am currently), but would it be better to apply in Hanoi? I don’t mind paying for a flight if the process is easier/faster there. Thanks!

DTV approved in Ho Chi Minh!

I meant to post this earlier, but I’ve been traveling by bus and things got hectic—sorry for the delay!

Application submitted: Late night on March 11

I submitted documents including a Vietnamese investment account (not a stock trading account but a foreign investment account) with approx. 700,000 THB.

I included a bank balance certificate and 6 months of transaction history, showing an average of 350,000 –400,000 BHT and topped up to 700,000 THB a week before applying.

I also submitted Airbnb booking documents in Vietnam and my passport stamp showing entry into Vietnam.

March 13 (morning): I was asked to submit additional documents

They wanted to know about my income or how I plan to sustain myself in Thailand, and requested a full copy of my passport.

I responded within 3 hours with another bank account holding over 500,000 THB (balance certificate only),

and mentioned my YouTube channel with around 2,000 subscribers to show how I could sustain myself.

I also had a lot of travel stamps in my passport from a bus trip across Southeast Asia last year, so I explained each one just in case they got suspicious.

March 18: Visa approved!

April 1: I entered Thailand via Mukdahan from Savannakhet and received a 180-day stamp without any questions.

I applied with Muay Thai Fever in Chiang Mai under the "soft power" category.

I actually visited them in person back in February, checked out their facilities, and talked with the manager. They were super helpful and quick with paperwork. I highly recommend them!

Bonus tip:

If you fail in hcmc, don’t go to Hanoi.

Instead, take a 3,4-hour bus to Can Tho—weirdly, it's still under Hanoi’s jurisdiction, but many people have better luck there.

Good luck everyone!