Entry Visa trauma

Research thus far:  I read the overview of Vietnam.  South, Middle and North.  Sounds like South and Middle are where I want to be.  Now to narrow it down a bit more (parks, cities, islands; how to get from one to the other, where to stay, eat, view relax - OK, i have to read past page 7).

Entry Visa:  From what I understand, there are three ways to go.
1.  Show up with no visa.  This is a terrible idea.  Will not do.
2.  Get a proper visa through the Vietnam Embassy in Ottawa.  This seems safest but online blogs (Trip Advisor) and Rachelle tell me this is easily the most expensive way to go.

Sub-options for entry visa from the embassy are

2A. in person in ottawa (no)

2B. By mail.  Send in visa form, picture, passport, an open invitation to take as much money off of my credit card as they deem fit.  According to Rachelle this is upwards of $200!  They do not list the cost on their website. 

2C. by email.  Pretty much the same as mail but I send in a scan of my passport and photo but still with the unknown cost.

3. Give my info and six bucks to some completely sketchy sounding 'agency' who will email me a letter with up to 20 peoples names on it called a Visa on Arrival (VOA) which I will then stand in line when I get to Ho Chi Minh City (forever after to be called HCMC like the cool kids on Trip Advisor do).  Once in Vietnam, I pay $25 US for a single entry stamp, or $50 US for a multiple entry stamp.  So, way cheaper than option 2 but somewhat sketchier.

I think I am going with sketchy and cheap.  That's sort of my jam.

UPDATE:  I just went in and applied for the VOA.  And then I actually gave my credit card number to an email that started with this:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Warmest greetings and thanks for your concerning with us on viet namvisapro.net

Well, it's just $6 (and my Financial identity) so what can go wrong?

Damn, I just read the next line of the email.  What does this mean!?  Do I have to email them!?

This email confirms that we received your application for Vietnam Visa Aprroval Letter. If you still not finish the payment, please make the payment for visa service fee, after that send your receipt of payment my email which we can track and proceed your visa approval letter in time.

I'm pretty sure I blame Rachelle for this too.

I was going to tell you about my Black Friday shopping for the trip but I am too traumatized by the visa business (plus, as usual, this is getting too long).  Next time.