A few words for our case Vietnam
Because we bought tickets from Vietnam, we had to fly from Bangkok to Hanoi. But we had to solve one thing. If we must have some kind of visa when we only change a plane. We looked at some websites, including the official Hanoi International Airport, and we read here that if we only change a plane, we don´t need a visa because we don´t leave the airport – only change a flight. After our arrival to Hanoi, we held the arrows with the TRANSFER pointer, which led us to immigration office and problem started here.
We said that we only have a transfer, that according to the information we don´t need visas. Due to the level of English, the worker invited a colleague who took us aside and then she went to the clerks. After a short time, they announced us that we must have a visa, even if we only have a transfer – and it will be for USD 150 per person. After this information, we clearly told to the staff, that so much money for picking up the backpacks and transfer to the next airplane, we would not pay. In addition, we told them an information that we applied for visas, but they came too late. Martin showed the visas in his phone. Worker borrowed the phone and went back to an immigration officer. After a while she called us and said that we have a visa but we have a different entry point to the country (YES – originally, we wanted to go by bus at the beginning of April if they did so in time!), So that change of entry will be 25 USD / person. Again, I asked if the problem was really so big that we have another entry point when we will just pick up the backpacks and we will go back to the another plane? Yes … she said that the change just needs to be done for $ 25 / person. Eventually we agreed with anger, because we wanted to go away. We sat down because it took some time. During this time we said that we don´t even want to go to Vietnam anymore … … such a mess here.
After about 10 minutes, one immigration officer called us out of the counter and asked us again how long we plan to stay in Vietnam. We told him that the time is 22:30 and we have a flight to Dubai at 1:30, so we will only be here for a few hours (less than a day). Then he showed us our e-visas that he printed them, added a stamp and said that we can go.
So after that, I just said, “what was it? Such unnecessary guesses and suddenly it was OK without paying …..
We went through the passport control, picked up our backpacks, and went back through the passport control. I went the first, the officer looked at me strangely and showed me that he doesn´t understand why I have a visa when I´m entering and leaving on April 17, 2018,… I just shrugged. He shook his head and let me go … what to say.
Finally, we said that when we didn´t pay for the visas, there is a chance that we will come here in another time. We again appreciated it with the words that it was a good experience, and that it was good that we weren´t afraid on the beginning when they tried to earn 300 USD from us. Don´t be afraid for the fight!
