NewStats: 3,259,436 , 8,170,110 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 01:03 AM 6e1b4a

I flew 33 hours to Vietnam but was denied entry because of a common travel mistake I'll never make again

After nearly a day and a half of flights from Phoenix to Dallas to Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I was exhausted but thrilled to finally reach my destination.


.I travel often, but my recent trip to Vietnam was the first time I had issues entering a country.

.I was denied entry because my visa didn't have my middle name, but my port did.

.I was able to buy an emergency visa because I had cash on hand.

It'd been six months since I last visited Vietnam, and I was looking forward to exploring new cities in the beautiful country.

Upon deplaning, I headed to the port-control area with my port and a printout of the visa I'd applied for and been granted about six weeks earlier.

When I got to the front, I handed over my two documents and awaited the inevitable stamp of approval. Instead, the employee handed them back to me and said, "Denied."

I was so confused — I've traveled to 46 countries and had never had issues gaining entry to any of them before.

After bouncing around the airport and waiting in lines, I found an employee who would review my documents to tell me what the problem was.

It turns out the two documents didn't match: My middle name was on my port but not my visa.

I couldn't believe such a tiny error would cost me

When the author landed in Ho Chi Minh City, she couldn't leave the airport.Prasit Rodphan / Shutterstock

Visa applications can be denied if your name doesn't match the one on your port, and I'd missed this discrepancy.

The employee told me I had two choices: I could fly back to Japan, where I'd just arrived from, or pay for a "very, very expensive" emergency visa.

I knew flying back to Japan wasn't an option, as I was embarking on a river cruise out of Vietnam in less than 12 hours. So I chose the latter.

I let out a sigh of relief when I learned my new visa would be $130 — I'd expected it to cost much more. But I panicked again when I pulled out my credit card and the employee told me they only accepted cash.

I found a few $20 bills shoved in my bag. After a stressful wait, I had my new visa and was free to go.


I learned 2 valuable travel lessons I'll never forget
I still don't understand how my visa application was approved in the first place — I had to submit a photo of my port to get it — but I now know to be extra vigilant.

Later, I also realized why I'd forgotten to include my middle name: The electronic visa application didn't have a specific spot labeled for it.

The form says "Given name" and "Surname." I didn't think to include my middle name in the same spot as my first because I'm used to seeing a separate spot for it on applications.

From now on, though, I'll that names on a port and visa must match perfectly, which includes every detail — even if the application doesn't ask for it in a way you'd expect.

I'm glad I was able to continue on my trip, and I'll never travel again without money on hand for emergencies. Cash is still king in most places, and I'm lucky this mistake only cost me a few bills and a few hours

https://africa.businessinsider.com/news/i-flew-33-hours-to-vietnam-but-was-denied-entry-because-of-a-common-travel-mistake/9vvpgsh

With which port were you travelling with, to all these countries?

You should have a wider experience as a traveller of 46 countries, including the ones you mentioned above, and you didn't know middle name discrepancy can deny you entry anywhere.. Even a mis-spelt name will definitely land you a 'No entry'.

Oga no dey whyne my people oo

Whenever you are filling a form and you see;

Sur/Last name:

Other Name:

Let's assume your surname/Last name is Mikel

The middle name is Daniel

First name is Idris

Using the above, you fill it this way:

Surname/last name: Mikel

Other name: Idris Daniel

That's the right way.

TinkTwice:


With which port were you travelling with, to all these countries?

46 countries, including the ones you mentioned above, and you didn't know middle name discrepancy can deny you entry anywhere.. Even a mis-spelt name will definitely land you a 'No entry'.

Oga no dey whyne my people oo

You are not a traveller and has never stepped a foot off your local domain. Why not stop exposing your ignorance and primitive nature....am 💯 % sure you have never owned a port

Swear affidavit

Who put this on front page

There's a reason y I like the diary section, it gives people the opportunity to tell their story without getting interrupted

Imagine telling your own story n narrating what u went through n viam someone comes n say it's a lie

As in imagine how annoying it will b

TouchNfollow:


https://africa.businessinsider.com/news/i-flew-33-hours-to-vietnam-but-was-denied-entry-because-of-a-common-travel-mistake/9vvpgsh

Women n name change constantly....e get repercussions

Nothing concern me but E dey mind

Oh, this is very educative.

Kpele

Hmmm

Why was the visa approved in the first place?

Sheistoopretty:
Nigerian men are u$eless...... All of them

Who's dis Pained , bittered imbecilee

Hmmm, every detail is important.
Your name must be properly arranged.
If your paspport says your name is AYO OBI LAWAL.
and your birth certificate says
AYO LAWAL OBI, you're seen as fake and will be denied visa or entrance.

Lol.
33 hours?

Middle name? That's not enough reason one should be denied entry. Once you genuinely have the visa and your purpose of visit is confirmed, middle name shouldn't b enough reason.

Let's hear word abeg today is Nigerias birthday 🎂🥳🎂

Nothing concern us

Most online forms have spaces for just first and last names.
It's therefore imperative to always include your first and middle names in the space for first name

Agagurap:
Just because of middle name... Na wao

Ask him his colour and birth place. They just used that has an excuse.

How can you tell me my middle name is the problem when you have readily available resources to my visa.

Crap!

. I m like wetin this one go find for Vietnam 🤔? Than God, I read it all.Make I keep this lesson. I had similar experience @GTB..Those 9ne nearly turned person to Emergency Mad man with their attitude(Bring this today,that tomorrow. This one don expire .

It is a very important mistake. There is a reason it is labelled in the plural as " given names". It has to match exactly what you have on the port.

Sheistoopretty:
Nigerian men are u$eless...... All of them

Na wa for you oo. How this post come take relate.

Great learning here.

Wifey had a similar experience with an airline company (name witheld). I mixed up the order of her names on her flight ticket, switching first name with middle name and making it inconsistent with what she has on her port.

The lady at the counter refused to board us because of the name inconsistency. I explained persistently that we have flown with the airline several times, and the system just auto-fills our data, and that this was the first time someone is bringing this up. I explain tire, no evidence.

She then referred us to another staff (a guy) behind her to go pay $50 to get it resolved. I just weak. When we got to the guy's counter, the guy was unavailable as he had gone to pray.

We observed the checking process for a while and decided to approach a lady at another counter. She spotted the same error, but she said she could resolve it. Thankfully, she did and I happily got her dinner.

First thing I did as soon as I got to the hotel was to begin the process of correcting the name difference. I agree that one has to be very careful in situations like this as any correction will cost you precious dollars, if not even entry denial

Godwin4444:
There's a reason y I like the diary section, it gives people the opportunity to tell their story without getting interrupted

Imagine telling your own story n narrating what u went through n viam someone comes n say it's a lie

As in imagine how annoying it will b

It’s a lie!

Agba7617:
Good afternoon people.
I'm speaking out for help pls. There is an uncontrollably tormenting Hunger. Haven't eaten for days here in school. I need your help Pls 🙏🙏

Fasting occasionally is good. Enjoy your fast.