Vietnam visa
Q. Do I need a visa for a threeweek visit to Ho Chi Minh City?
What about vaccinations?
- J.E., San Jose
A. You'll need a visa and vaccinations.
Call the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco - (415) 922-1577 - for visa information, but be forewarned: We've had trouble in the past reaching someone in that office, so getting them to process your application may take time.
You can download a visa application at www.vietnamembassy.
us. Expect to pay $65 for the visa. If you use a visa service, those fees are additional. Processing time is about four days.
Talk to your doctor about vaccinations, but you'll likely need shots for hepatitis A and B, polio and tetanus. A typhoid immunization can be taken in pill form - three pills over five or six days, we were told by a colleague who has visited Vietnam.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov - you should get your shots four to six weeks before traveling to ensure they take effect.
Travel, Pages 92 on 05/18/2008