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Re: Visa categories in Vietnam, Cambodia-- a question Posted on: 04 Mar 2004 21:59:00 GMT

"Matt Kelly" wrote:
>
>Later this spring I'll be traveling to Cambodia and Vietnam for three weeks.
>I mostly plan to see the countries and enjoy the sights as a tourist, but
>here's the catch-- I am a freelance writer, and often research articles on
>travel or business while I visit foreign countries.
>
>Does anyone have advice on whether to apply for a journalist's visa for
>Cambodia and Vietnam? Or should I simply go as a tourist and do my
>occasional news-gathering anyway?

I can only offer an opinion for Vietnam. If you get what is called a "Press Visa", it
will cost you upwards of $100 per day while in Vietnam, as you'll have to pay for a
person from the Press Office, who will accompany you while you do your stories. The
cost covers his/her lodging and meals, and some administrative fees.

I'm going to guess this won't be acceptable to you, so . . . . .

Just get a tourist visa. Don't mention that you're a writer, and do whatever you do
as, well, someone who is doing research, or someone who is interested in beginning a
business, etc. Since you're a print journalist, you can get away with that. If you had
cameras (film) with you, like 60 Minutes, then there'd be no choice, and a Press Visa
would be a must.

Doug Reese
Vietnamtourism
Washington DC

>I don't know how seriously these countries
>enforce their visa policies, and I wouldn't wan to run afoul of local
>authorities if they catch me interviewing locals about, say, leftover
>landmines in Vietnam or economic conditions in Cambodia.
>
>Advice? I've only traveled to counties that don't require visas for U.S.
>citizens so far, and don't know how to proceed here.
>
>-Matt
>
>