Is there any airport departure tax in Vietnam? Yes, an international departure tax is payable by all travellers leaving Vietnam. It is not included in the price of your flight ticket and must be purchased at the airport before departure.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the International departure tax is USD 12.
In Hanoi, the International departure tax is USD 14.
In Danang, the International departure tax is USD 12.
Domestic flights are not subject to airport tax. It is already included in the price of your ticket.
NOTE: You can purchase your international departure tax in US$ or in Vietnamese Dong. Airport tax is subject to change without prior notice. Check with your local guide or an Vietnampathfinder travel consultant before your departure
++ Pre-trip information, Please click here!
What are the best bargains in Vietnam?
What are the best bargains in Vietnam?
In a word, EVERYTHING.The average wage is 3-5 dollars a day in the North and not much more in the more westernized south.Things that are labor intensive like jewelry, sculpture, art, find tailored clothing, silk items, and almost everything else is so inexpensive you are almost on a guilt trip paying so little.We promised ourselves when we went that we wouldn’t buy anything.Well, we came back with two suitcases full of stuff, and it all cost about 10-40% of what the same thing would be in the USA.Silk, jewelry and art are probably the best bargains. But then I have to add that everything is a bargain.You can bring $800 worth of merchandise into the U.S. duty free.Save your sales slips, in the unlikely event your bags are checked (ours weren’t and we didn’t see anyone who was upon our return to Los Angeles )so you can prove that you paid practically nothing for what you brought home. You can buy gifts for everyone for the next five years that will save you enough to pay for the trip.
Written By: Buckley and Marcia Jensen P.O. Box 608 Monticello, Utah84535 Phone:435-5066 E-mail-buckleyjensen@hotmail.com
Vietnamese health care is not yet up to Western standards. However,
there are competent medical clinics in Hanoi and Saigon
with international, English-speaking doctors. The same clinics have dentists.
If your problem is serious, it is best to get to either one of these cities as
quickly as possible.
The clinics can arrange emergency
evacuation. If the problem is minor, ask your hotel to help you contact a Vietnamese doctor. He or she will probably speak some English, and
pharmacies throughout the country are surprisingly well stocked and require no
prescriptions (check expiration).
Hospitals
-- In Hanoi, International SOS medical services can be found at 31 Hai Ba Trung St.; call
the 24-hour service center for emergencies at tel. 04/934-0056.They have both Vietnamese and foreign doctors.
In Ho Chi Minh City, International SOS is at 65 Nguyen Du St., District 1 (24-hr. hot
line tel. 8/829-8424
).
The FrenchHospital,
at 1
Phuong Mai St.Hanoi,
(tel. 574-0740
), provides fine medical attention at a fraction of
the cost of SOS. ++ Pre-trip information, Please click here!
Do's and Don'ts in Vietnam ?
Do's and Don'ts in Vietnam ? - Tipping: It is customary, though not
compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of tours. Hotel porters
and restaurant waiters should also be tipped.
- Don’t miss Vietnamese food when traveling to Viet Nam. Some of famous dishes are
steam rice (Com), noodle soup (Pho or Hu Tiu), fried spring rolls (Cha Gio).
- Be at the airport 02 hours before departure time for International flights
and 01 hour before departure time for domestic flights
- Taxi with meter on always required. If not, amending another cab is
necessary.
- Do not exchange money on the street.
- All other currencies except US dollars as EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, BAT, AUD, CAD,
and SGD are available to exchange to VND.
- Printing and developing films are available at cheap price and high quality.
Digital is also available but it is more expensive a bit than regular films.
- Please bring with you an umbrella and raincoat in rainy season.
- Pharmacy is available everyday from Monday to Sunday.
- Antiques are easy to buy in Viet Nam
but It does not allow bringing out of Viet Nam.
- Spa and body massages in Hanoi
is advised at :VIETNAM SPA CENTRE
Vietnamese
people Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with offici als
who will often be very rigid. In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the
best policy. Small gifts such as cigarette lighters,
pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated
by anyone you wish to make friends with in Vietnam.
Out of politeness, always ask permission
before taking photos of people. The same rule of thumb also applies to photos
taken in places of worship. Permission will almost always be granted.
A gentle handshake is the most
appropriate manner of greeting.
Small donations placed in the boxes found
in temples are appreciated. Never let the soles of your feet face other people
or any sacred monument, such as a statue of Buddha.
Tipping
Tipping is common in Hanoi and in Saigon.
In a top-end hotel, feel free to tip bellhops anywhere from 10,000 VND to
15,000 VND (about US$1). Most upscale restaurants throughout the country now
add a service surcharge of 5% to 10%. If they don't, or if the service is good,
you might want to leave another 5%. Taxi drivers will be pleased if you round
up the bill (again, mainly in the big cities). Use your discretion for tour
guides and others who have been particularly helpful.
Safety
How safe is Vietnam?
In a word, you are probably safer anywhere in Vietnam than you are in most American Cities.In Vietnam, if natives are convicted of a crime like shoplifting it is an automatic three year prison sentence.With that kind of a consequence, stealing and petty crime are almost unheard of.It simply is not worth taking the chance. Furthermore, Communist prisons are not as user friendly as American prisons or so they tell me.The marketplaces are huge, with tons of valuables out in the open where thieves would have a heyday in the U. S.There have been instances of pick-pocketing and drive-by grabs, but if you wear a zippered fanny pack or backpack you really do not need to worry as long as you carry your valuables on your person.The odds of anything happening go way down when you are with a group.I(Buckley) walked by myself almost every day and several nightsin the large cities, and I never felt threatened.Indeed, people are friendlier in Vietnam than in almost any country I have ever been in.
Written By:
Buckley and Marcia Jensen
P.O. Box 608
Monticello, Utah84535
Phone:435-5066
E-mail-buckleyjensen@hotmail.com
Telecommunications
How can I get in touch with my family, workplace and friends?
Telephone: Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices although these services are expensive. It may not always be possible to make international calls in remote areas.
If you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your own mobile phone and use it to make domestic or international calls. Check with your mobile phone provider for the costs before using it abroad - it may be expensive.
Internet: Major hotels have Business Centres with PCs connected to the Internet. Some of them have wireless broadband access in rooms or public areas. Cyber cafes are becoming popular and are easily found in major towns and cities. Prices are reasonable, usually below US$1 per hour. In many Internet cafes, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafes are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones.
Mail: Postcards are sold at all main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks. A postcard to Europe costs VND 9,000 to send and takes up to two weeks to reach the country of destination.
NOTES:
If Internet connections at hotels are vital for you during your visit to Vietnam, please advise your Vietnampathfinder travel consultant.
Vietnampathfinder Travel will provide you with the names and contact details of all hotels you will be staying in, should you need to be contacted while on tour.
What is the time difference in Vietnam? Vietnam is GMT + 7 and does not operate daylight-saving system.
Transportation
Can I rent a car and drive myself? Vietnamese law does not allow foreigners to rent and drive a car. It is highly advisable to rent a car with a driver who knows the roads and can speak Vietnamese in case of any problems. Traffic and roads conditions may be very different to what you are used to.
Can the driver speak English and act as a guide?
No, he cannot. In Vietnam, drivers are just drivers. Tour guides need to be licensed by the National Tourism Authority. Tour guides are the only persons legally entitled to escort tourists. Vietnampathfinder Travel specialises in arranging tours with private drivers and qualified professional tour guides.
Do I need to get a tourist visa for Vietnam?
Most visitors to Vietnam require a visa to enter the country. Since the 1st of May 2005, nationals from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland travelling to Vietnam and staying for 15 days or less no longer need to apply for entry visas, provided that their passports are valid for at least three months and they can show their return ticket. Those who wish to stay longer than 15 days will need to apply for a visa. Tourists holding Thai, Indonesian, Lao, Malaysian and Singaporean passports do not need a visa for a visit up to 30 days. Philippines passport holders do not need a visa for a visit up to 21 days. Japanese and South Korean passport holders do not need a visa for a visit up to 15 days.
NOTES:
A tourist visa is a single entry visa which means that if you exit Vietnam, you will require a new tourist visa to enter Vietnam again.
All travellers must have a passport valid to 6 months after their planned exit from Vietnam.
The above information may change without prior notice. It is your responsibility to check whether or not you are subject to a tourist visa for Vietnam.
For visa information, click here to contact your nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate.
Only citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without an entry visa (valid for visit within 30 days). Those countries include: most Asean countries, Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (2005). All other citizens are required to get an entry visa before departure (visa issued prior to departure by Vietnamese consulates or embassies) or a pre-approved entry visa (visa is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s International Airports) supplied before arrival in Vietnam.
VISA EXEMPTION INFORMATION - No visa required for travel less than 30 days: Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.
- No visa required for travel less than 15 days: Citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.
- No visa required for travel less than 90 days or several visits within 6 months: Citizens of France holding valid diplomatic or official passports - No visa required for travel less than 60 days: Citizens of Chile holding valid diplomatic or official passports. - No visa required for travel less than 60 days: APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies - Special Phu Quoc Exception: Foreigners and Vietnamese nationals bearing foreign passports who enter Vietnam through an international border gate and then travel to Phu Quoc Island and stay in Phu Quoc less than 15 days will also be exempt from visa application. Passports must be valid for at least 45 days. After arriving in Phu Quoc Island, if visitors want to travel other localities or stay in the island for more than 15 days, the immigration department will be responsible for issuing visas right on the spot.
- No visa required for Japanese citizenswho hold valid diplomatic or official passports
When entering Vietnam to implement diplomatic or Government’s official tasks without concerning about the time of stay. For those who entering Vietnam not for the diplomatic tasks but hold valid diplomatic or official passports can be exempted from entry visa and permitted to stay within 90 days.
How do I apply for a Vietnamese visa?
There are 2 ways to obtain a visa:
If you arrive to Vietnam by land, it is NOT possible to get a visa on arrival. You must obtain the visa beforehand, as outlined in Case 1. (The one exception is the Moc Bai land crossing, at the Cambodian border –see Case 2).
Case1: Collect your visa before arrival from your closest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. For a complete list of Vietnam’s embassies and consulates worldwide, please click here
Case 2: Collect your visa on arrival at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Danang International Airports.
In both cases, Vietnampathfinder Travel Vietnam can help you obtain your visa prior to arrival or upon arrival. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU OBTAIN YOUR VISA BEFORE ARRIVAL TO AVOID LONG DELAYS AND POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS AT THE AIRPORT.
Vietnampathfinder Travel Vietnam can process your visa application and obtain the necessary visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. For this, we need the following details from all applicants:
Full name as it appears in your passport
Date of birth DD/MM/YY
Gender
Passport number
Issue date and expiry date of your passport
Place of issue (e.g. New york)
In Case 1 only: Location for you collection of visa, e.g. Vietnam embassy in New york
In case 2 only: Arrival date in Vietnam and flight number (e.g. 24th of March 2006 by Vietnam Airlines flight VN532) and Port of entry (e.g. Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat airport)
The process usually takes about 5 working days after we receive the above information. After this, we will send you the official document approved by the Vietnamese Immigration department.
The official document in Case 1 is an “approval letter”.
The official document in Case 2 is a “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter”.
Case 1: Visa before arrival
Bring the “approval letter”, your passport and two recent passport-sized photos to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. The person collecting the visa must also complete two application forms at the embassy or consulate. A visa stamping fee is charged by the Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Fees vary from one country to another.
NOTES: Vietnampathfinder Travel charges a service fee to obtain your “approval letter” from the Vietnamese Immigration Department if you do not book other services with us.
Case 2: Visa upon arrival
Please remember to take your passport, 2 recent passport-sized photos and the “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter” with you to check in for your flight to Vietnam. NOTE: if you do not have this letter at the time of check-in, the airline staff will not allow you to board the aircraft. Before departure, prepare some bank notes in USD to clear visa stamping fees on arrival. On arrival at Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Danang International Airports, head to the Landing Visa Counter. Present your “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter”, passport and 2 pictures to the officer who will charge you a Visa stamping fee. Then, head for the Immigration desks.
NOTES: Vietnampathfinder Travel offers free of charge for service to obtain your “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter” from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. What are the immigration procedures on entering Vietnam?
On entering Vietnam, all visitors must complete an entry/exit form including a customs declaration (white/yellow colour). It is important that the bottom copy (yellow sheet) of this form is kept safe with your passport while in Vietnam and is presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure. Other useful information: ++ Vietnam cuisine, Please click here!
++ Hanoi old quarter, Please click here!
++ Things not to miss when travel Vietnam, Please click here!
++ Boat trip on Halong bay, please click here!
++ Pre-trip information, Please click here!
++ When is the best season? Please click here! ++ Foreign Embassies in Vietnam, Please click here! ++ Vietnam Embassies and Consulates in Oversea, Please click here!
Weather
What is the weather like in Vietnam? Hanoi and the north of Vietnam have distinct winter and summer seasons. The mainly dry winter lasts from November to April with average temperatures of 18-20°C. Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid with temperatures around 30°C. Hue and Danang, in the centre of the country, have very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures reaching the mid 30's Celsius, but can experience some heavy rainfall between September and January. Ho Chi Minh City and the south have a hot, dry season from December till April with average temperatures around 28°C and a warm rainy season from May to November. In the rainy season, most rain comes in short, heavy bursts.
Hanoi and around
Minimum average
temperatures in °C
Maximum average
temperatures in °C
Rainfall in mm
January
14
19
18
February
15
20
28
March
18
23
38
April
21
27
81
May
24
32
197
June
26
33
238
July
26
33
322
August
26
32
343
September
25
31
252
October
22
27
98
November
19
25
42
December
15
22
21
Danang and the Centre
Minimum average
temperatures in °C
Maximum average
temperatures in °C
Rainfall in mm
January
19
25
101
February
20
26
31
March
22
29
12
April
23
31
18
May
25
33
47
June
26
34
42
July
25
34
99
August
26
34
117
September
24
32
447
October
23
30
530
November
22
27
221
December
19
25
208
Ho Chi Minh City and the South
Minimum average
temperatures in °C
Maximum average
temperatures in °C
Rainfall in mm
January
21
32
15
February
23
33
4
March
24
34
13
April
26
35
42
May
25
34
221
June
25
32
331
July
24
32
314
August
24
31
268
September
24
31
334
October
24
31
268
November
23
31
114
December
21
31
56
When is the best season to travel to Vietnam?
All year round is the good season somewhere!
Vietnam stretches over 2000 km from North to South. The climate differs all year round from one region to another. The North can be chilly during winter months (December to March). North and Central Vietnam can encounter tropical storms and typhoons from October to January. Overall, the north of Vietnam experiences more marked seasons than the rest of the country with two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The South, including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, benefits from sunshine and warm weather all year round. However, the rainy season lasts from May to November (with showers once or twice in general) and a dry season from December to April. The Central Highlands can be chilly. Nha Trang has warm – sometimes hot - weather all year round, with a rainy season from the end of September until December. Unless you intend to visit friends, relatives or your family, we do not recommend visiting Vietnam during the Lunar New Year, Tet holidays (Vietnamese New Year falls between late January and February). The Tet holiday is the most important period of the year for Vietnamese people who take time off to visit their families in the countryside. All hotels, buses, trains and flights are full, and there is almost no activity in the markets and shops. Some hotels and restaurants are under-staffed and in some cases the quality of the service may suffer. This period of reduced activity may last from a week before and a week after the Tet period. It is also impossible to get a “visa authorization letter” processed during this period.
NOTE: As a reminder, the peak season lasts from October to May. To avoid disappointment because hotel rooms or domestic flights are fully booked, reserve your travel arrangements early. Contact us to discuss your travel plans ++ When is the best season? Please click here!
Food
What about the food?May I have a vegetarian diet?
The food is one of the best things about the trip.And yes you can be a vegetarian with no problem.The French colonized Vietnam for 150 years, and of course French Cuisine is recognized across the world as one of the best.The Vietnam learned a lot from the French, and I think you will be amazed not only at the quality and variety of food, but at the exquisite presentation.Behind the friendly people and the unbelievably low prices of consumer goods, the food was the best thing about our tour.
The Vietnamese government wants hard western currency in the worst way.They carefully monitor all licensed Tour Operators, and they are doing everything they can to encourage more tourism.No legal Tour operator would dare do anything dishonest or illegal because they know what the swift consequences would be from the Vietnamese Government. .Frankly, I trust Pham Phuc as much as anyone I have ever dealt with.
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