Photo: Collected

Those holding APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) are exempted from Vietnam visa requirements for a stay of up to 60 days, as stated clearly in Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014. 

But, is it possible for business travelers to extend their stay in Vietnam on ABTC after the 60-day visa-free scheme? Let’s find out in this article!

1. What is an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)?

APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to increase economic collaboration and commercial exchange between countries located in the Asia-Pacific region. Its members strive to promote sustainable economic progress, free and open trade, and investment in the Asia-Pacific.

Source: X @POTUS

Possessing an ABTC facilitates the entry of business travelers and senior government officials into APEC economies, including Vietnam. Successful applicants receive a five-year card, acting as an entry authorization to Vietnam with pre-clearance granted and a 60-day stay duration - eliminating the need for a separate visa application. 

2. What are the benefits of holding an ABTC?

The ABTC gives frequent business travelers:

• Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports;
• Multiple, short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

An example of an APEC Business Card (ABTC)(Source: Collected)

3. How to extend

Fortunately, you can extend your stay in Vietnam after the expiration (60 days) for a two-time limit. Each extension will grant you the right to stay for up to 3 months. Therefore, to remain in Vietnam without leaving for another country in the use of ABTC, you have to follow these steps:

Step 1: Prepare the required documents along with the extension fee

• Your original passport

• Photos of both sides of your ABTC

Step 2: Receive your passport with the extended stay within 8 – 10 working days.

*Note: The Immigration Department of Vietnam is the authority in charge of evaluating and informing of this process in Vietnam.

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Foreigners who wish to extend their stay in Vietnam but are unable to do so for a variety of reasons. A visa run is one of the best options at that point.

A visa run is a way for travelers to remain in a country without having to go through the traditional visa extension process. Generally, visa runs involve traveling to a nearby country where you can easily renew your visa and then returning. Some countries require you to stay for a certain amount of time before you can return, while others simply require that you leave and return on the same day. 

The majority of expats choose Vietnam visa runs for the following reasons:

• Cost-effective: Taking a bus or flight to a neighboring country can occasionally be much less expensive than extending a visa, especially if you can look for cheap tickets;

• Numerous types of visas are available: therefore, you have a wide range of options for your new Vietnam visa, including 1 month, 3 months, single entry, and multiple entry;

• Travel possibility: Since obtaining a visa requires leaving Vietnam for another nation, you will have the option of traveling there provided you have the necessary time and funds;

• Flexible entry port policy: Vietnam visa run can be used for entry at both airports, and land ports so expats will have many more options which are suitable for themselves.

1. About the process: 

Currently, foreigners in Vietnam can apply for two kinds of visas, which are Visa run by air, and Visa run by land.

Visa run by air means foreigners will exit Vietnam and re-enter Vietnam by air. This is the run visa form chosen by many foreigners in Hanoi.

Visa run by land means the foreigner will exit to a neighboring country that has a land border gate with Vietnam such as Laos or Cambodia, then re-enter Vietnam through that land border gate. This is the form chosen by many foreigners in the Central and Southern provinces to apply for a cheap run visa.

What you have to do are…

2. Required documents:

Please carefully prepare the following documents before performing a visa run in Vietnam:

• Original airline or bus tickets; an original (if entering through a land port) or printed (if entering through an airport);
• E-visa/ Vietnam visa exemption certificate or Vietnam Visa Approval Letter;
• Original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and two blank pages;
• Vietnam entry and exit form;
• 02 passport-size photographs with a white background, taken recently, showing the front and both ears.

3. Before you leave, grab some advice:

• Verify Visa Requirements: Make sure you are familiar with the most recent visa requirements for both Vietnam and the country where you are applying for a visa. Because regulations can change, it's important to be knowledgeable and ready.

• Make Your Travel Plans: By adding some sightseeing or exploration to your trip, make the most of your visa run. Make the most of your time abroad by researching popular attractions along your chosen route.

• Essentials to bring: Don't forget to pack all the required paperwork, including your passport, any necessary visa application forms, and supporting documents. Bring enough money, cozy clothes, and any necessary medications, in addition.

• Budget considerations: Keep in mind that visa runs come with additional costs, such as travel, lodging, and visa fees. To prevent any unforeseen financial expenses during your trip, plan your budget appropriately.

Vietnam visa run is a popular way for travelers to extend their stay in the country, but it’s important to remember that visa run is not always successful and can be expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, making an informed decision and understanding the risks before attempting one is a must.

Photo: Collected

ESIM is no longer a new concept for technology users in Vietnam. Since put into use, eSIMs have become increasingly popular because of their convenience. What’s more, users of Apple Watch eSIM can also synchronize their smartwatch with the iPhone and can use it to make and receive phone calls and exchange text messages without having to carry their phone with them all the time. 

Currently, eSIM is supported by the 3 leading network carriers in Vietnam, which are Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone. In this article, let's learn about carriers that support eSIM in Vietnam.

1. Viettel

Viettel is the pioneer in bringing eSIM to Vietnam in February 2019. Initially, Viettel only supported converting physical SIM to eSIM on eSIM-supported devices. Currently, Viettel also offers eSIM subscriptions. 

Source: Collected

Viettel eSIM is supported on many devices such as iPhone 11, iPhone 11 ProMax, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPad mini 2019, Samsung Note 21, Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 5, iPhone XS, Galaxy S20, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Huawei P40 Pro, P40 Pro+, and some smartwatches.

Viettel eSIM price is just like a physical SIM, specifically 50,000 VND for a prepaid eSIM and 60,000 VND for a postpaid eSIM. The fee for converting from a regular SIM to an eSIM is 35,000 VND.

How to convert Viettel physical SIM to Viettel eSIM at home

Viettel SIM subscribers can convert their physical SIM to eSIM at home through the My Viettel application without having to go to Viettel physical stores. Here's how:

Step 1: Install My Viettel on Google Play or App Store

Step 2: Log in or register for My Viettel with your phone number

Step 3: In the Menu section (top left corner), open Add-ons. Select Change SIM > Change eSIM.

Step 4: Fill in the required information. Pay the service fee to complete.

2. Vinaphone

Vinaphone is the next carrier to introduce eSIM starting from March 2019. Vinaphone allows its users to choose an eSIM number and also supports converting physical SIMs to eSIMs.

Vinaphone eSIMs can be used on some models of iPhone XR, XS, XSMax, iPhone 11 and above, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy S21 5G, S21 + 5G, S21 Ultra 5G,...

Source: Collected

Up to now, Vinaphone does not support converting physical SIMs to eSIMs at home, so those who want to have their SIM converted shall go to Vinaphone transaction points. Below are the documents that need to be prepared:

• Citizen ID card

• The physical SIM card that needs to be converted

The teller will check and receive the request if personal information matches the eSIM subscriber information.

After registering, you can ask the teller to activate your eSIM at the counter or do it yourself by following these steps:

Step 1: Turn on Wi-Fi on your mobile phone. Make sure your device has a stable Internet connection.

Step 2: Go to Settings > Mobile > Add Cellular Plan.

Step 3: Scan the QR code containing eSIM information.

Step 4: Select a mobile package to continue the profile download process.

3. Mobifone

Mobifone supported eSIMs in June 2019, initially on iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, and Google Pixel 2. Up to now, Mobifone eSIMs are available on iPhone 15/14/13/12/11/XS series, iPhone XR, iPad Pro 12.9/11/10.5/9.7/10.2, iPad Air 3, iPad mini 5, Samsung Galaxy Fold 3/2/1, Z Flip 3/2/1, S21/S20 series, Note 20 series, Book 2/1, and other phone lines such as Google Pixel 5/4/3/2 series; Oppo Find X3 Pro; Motorola Razr 2019; Microsoft Surface Duo; Huawei P40, P40 Pro,…

Source: Collected

Users can register for an eSIM at Mobifone stores, or through the My Mobifone application (for iOS devices).

How to convert a Mobifone SIM to eSIM at home

Step 1: Download My Mobifone on App Store.

Step 2: Log in to My MobiFone with your phone number.

Step 3: Go to Other. Select Customer Information

Step 4: Select Change to eSIM and click Agree

Step 5: Complete all the next steps as instructed by the application

Above is an overview of some carriers that support eSIMs in Vietnam, as well as how to convert a physical SIM to an eSIM. Hope this helps.

Photo: Collected

ESIM has become popular with tech-savvy users because of its convenience. ESIM is especially helpful when you travel abroad as you only need to set up the eSIM of the country you are visiting in a few simple steps on your smartphone, instead of having to remove and insert a physical SIM. However, eSIMs sometimes can be troublesome because of errors stemming from the network operator, SIM supplier, or device configuration. 

In this article, we are going to look at some common errors in eSIMs, as well as how to fix them. 

The most important thing to bear in mind

When your eSIM encounters an error and is temporarily unusable, you may feel uncomfortable and want to fix it quickly. Please keep in mind that errors on eSIMs can come from many causes, so there are different ways to handle the errors. The first thing to remember when an eSIM error occurs is NOT to delete the eSIM from the device, because doing so will make the eSIM no longer valid for use, and you must buy a new eSIM if you want to continue using the service.

Some common errors when using eSIM and how to fix them

Below are some errors that may occur when using eSIM

1. Errors related to device configuration

• Unable to connect to an eSIM

This error can be due to two reasons: the Access Point Name (APN) has not been changed, or Data Roaming has not been enabled.

How to change APN

Note: Not all eSIMs need changing APNs, please check the information sent with the eSIM before performing this change.

How to change data roaming

Note: make sure your device is connected to a compatible Carrier at your destination

• Notification displays “Cellular Plans from this Carrier Cannot be Added”

If this happens, check to see if your device is network-locked or not. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to Settings, select General Settings

Step 2: Select About. At Carrier Lock, you will typically see a message that says “No SIM Restrictions.” If the message won’t show, contact the device carrier to unlock your device.

This error also occurs when the eSIM has been installed before but you didn’t know it.

This error can also occur when the download of the eSIM configuration from the server is interrupted due to connection loss, or the eSIM configuration is not retrieved for some reason.

Please check to make sure the eSIM is installed successfully on your device. Follow the instructions:

On Android: Go to Settings, select Connections, select SIM Card Manager to see if there is an eSIM or not

On iOS: Go to Settings, select Mobile, then select Cellular Plans to check.

If you have checked and found that the data is not used and the eSIM is not working, please provide us with your Phone Number and Order ID if you purchased the eSIM from our website. We will reach out and help.

• Notification displays “Unable to Complete Cellular Plan Change”

This notification is often displayed in the following cases:

• • There are too many eSIMs installed on the device

Some Apple devices like iPhone 13 and above allow installing multiple eSIMs and using 2 eSIMs at the same time. This allows you to use multiple eSIMs. In case your device only supports one eSIM, or you have used up the current eSIM’s data plans, delete that eSIM and install a new one.

To delete an eSIM on IOS, go to Settings> Mobile> your eSIM, there is an option that allows you to delete the eSIM.

• • Cellular Data is turned off. You just need to go to Settings and reopen it.
  • Your eSIM is already installed. Most eSIMs can only be installed once. In this case, check whether your eSIM is installed or not.
  • Poor connection when installing eSIM. To avoid this error, please find a place with a stable Wi-Fi connection or use high-speed mobile data when setting up your eSIM.

• Notification shows “PDP Authentication Failure”

This error occurs when the network settings on the phone are incorrect. First of all, please check APN, data remains on eSIM and network connection. If the error persists, try turning on Airplane Mode for a few seconds, then power off your phone and restart it.

• iMessage cannot be used

If your eSIM has a phone number, you can use that number to exchange text messages on iMessage. However, please remember to reset iMessage after installing eSIM. Here's how:

Step 1: Go to Settings, select Messages

Step 2: Turn off iMessage and then turn it back on

Step 3: Select Send and Receive. Uncheck your number and make sure your email address is checked.

If you want to use iMessage on your Primary SIM instead of eSIM, go to Settings > Messages > Send and Receive, and check your phone number again.

2. Error related to network operator

• ESIM has no signal

First of all, check if you are within the network coverage area. If yes - but the eSIM still has no signal, this error is most likely caused by the phone's operating system. Please update the operating system of the device you are using to the latest version. You can also try restoring all settings to refresh the eSIM settings to help fix the signal loss error.

• Slow network speed

Slow network speed can be handled in some ways as follows:

• • Reinstall the device's APN
  • Temporarily put the device in 3G mode
  • Switch data mode to 3G Only
  • Turn on Airplane Mode for a moment

• Notification shows “No Service” after eSIM installation

This error may come from the carrier, or due to a device configuration problem. You can restart your device or reset the eSIM configuration using a new QR code from your service provider.

3. Error from the eSIM provider

• Unable to scan QR code

First, please check to make sure your device doesn't have a camera error that prevents it from scanning the QR code.

If your device is still working properly, then it may be because the QR code provided by the network has defects such as being blurred or missing components, causing it to not be scanned.

You can try installing the eSIM manually as follows:

• Notification displays “Invalid QR Code”

This message appears when your eSIM has already been installed, or you scan the QR code when the network connection is poor, or you have installed too many eSIMs on the device. First, check if your eSIM has been installed (see instructions in the above sections). Delete eSIMs that are no longer used. Please be aware that a deleted eSIM cannot be reinstalled.

• Unable to set up Personal Hotspot

When buying an eSIM, you should know whether the eSIM you buy is allowed to share mobile data or not. If the eSIM is not allowed to share mobile data, you cannot set up a Personal Hotspot with this eSIM. If your eSIM has data sharing but you can't set up a personal hotspot, check your APN again.

On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Network > Mobile data network. Enter the APN provided by your provider.

On Android: Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > Mobile Network Settings > Access Point Names. Enter the APN provided by your provider.

Above are common errors encountered on eSIM and how to fix them. Hope you find it helpful.