INFORMATION & TRAVELER'S TIP
  

   Embassies & General Consulates of Vietnam

    Air access  -    Currency  -  Overland  -  Securities  -  Entry Formalities  -  Languages -  Customs Regulations  -  Drinking
 
   Climate -   Film & Developing  - Health equipment  - Shopping  -  What to take with you -  Others  -What to wear
 
 
 Air access
Vietnam has three international airports: Hanoi (Noi Bai), Danang (Danang) and Saigon (Tan Son Nhat). Noi Bai Airport is 34 km from the downtown of Hanoi whilst Danang Airport and Tan Son Nhat Airport are almost in the centre of the cities.

Cities with directs flight to Hanoi/Noi Bai Airport are Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Nanning, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Vientiane.
Airline Companies currently serving in Hanoi are Aeroflot, All Nippon Airway, Air France, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air,  Laos Aviation, Malaysian Airlines, Pacific Airlines,  Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines. 

LCCs ( low cost carriers ) have flights to Hanoi is Air Asia and Nok Air, mainly serve en route Bangkok - Hanoi - Bangkok.

Cities with directs flight to Saigon /Tan Son Nhat Airport are Bangkok, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Melbourne, Osaka, Paris, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Siem Reap, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Vienna, Vientiane and Zurich.
Airline Companies currently serving in Saigon are Aeroflot, All Nippon Airway, Air France, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Southern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Lauda Air, Laos Aviation, Lufthansa, German Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Royal Khmer Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swissair, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, and of course Vietnam Airlines.

LCCs ( low cost carriers ) have flights to Ho Chi Minh city is Tiger Airways with route Singapore - Ho Chi Minh - Singapore and Jetstar Airway with route Sydney - Hochiminh - Sydney

Domestic flights are served by Jetstar Pacific Airlines, Indochine Airlines and Vietnam Airlines (mainly). Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Indochine Airlines are LCC.

Vietnam Airlines
Hanoi:  1 Quang Trung St., Hanoi, tel: (84) 4-8320 320
Saigon: 116-118 Nguyen Hue Blvd., tel: (84) 8-8292 118
 
Jetstar Pacific Airlines
Hanoi: 152 Le Duan St., tel: (84) 4-5181 503
Saigon: 77 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1, tel: (84) 8-8231 285 

Indochina Airlines
Hanoi: 63 Ly Thuong Kiet - Tran Hung Dao Ward - Hoan Kiem district
Saigon: Floor 9 – C.T Plaza Building 60A Truong Son, Ward 2, Tan Binh District.

Overland
You can also get into Vietnam by land from China, Laos and Cambodia but the Visa must be indicated clearly by Vietnamese Embassies with one or two of the below Entry Points. Tourists can pass the border at the following Entry Points
From China:

Huu Nghi in Lang Son province, Northeast Vietnam - connect Guangzhi province, China.

Mong Cai in Quang Ninh province - Northeast Vietnam - connect Guangzhi province, China

Lao Cai in Lao Cai province - Northwest Vietnam - connect Yunnan province, China

From Laos:

Tay Trang Border Gate in Dien Bien Province - Northeast Vietnam - connect to Phongsaly province, Laos.:

Na Meo Border Gate in Thanh Hoa Province - north Centre of Vietnam - connect to Samnua province, Laos.

Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An Province - north Centre of Vietnam - connect to Xieng Khoang province Lao

 Keo Nua ( Cau Treo ) Border Gate in Ha Tinh Province - north Centre of Vietnam

Lao Bao Border Gate in Quang Tri Province - north Centre of Vietnam - connect to Savannakhet province Laos.

Cha Lo Border Gate in Quang Binh Province - north Centre of Vietnam

Po Y Border Gate in Kon Tum Province - Central highland of Vietnam - connect to Attapeu province, Laos.

From Cambodia:

Le Thanh Border Gate in Gia Lai Province - Central highland of Vietnam - connect (Ratanakiri, Cambodia):

Moc Bai Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province - South Vietnam

Sa Mat Border Gate in Tay Ninh Province - South Vietnam

Dinh Ba Border Gate in Dong Thap Province - South Vietnam - Mekong delta - connect Prey Veng, Cambodia.

Tinh Bien Border Gate in An Giang Province - South Vietnam - Mekong delta

Xa Xia Border Gate in Kien Giang Province - South Vietnam - Mekong delta -  connects Kampot province Cambodia

Entry formalities
Entry visas are obtainable at Vietnamese diplomatic missions and required for all visitors with valid passports irrespective of nationality. Please allow 3-7 days for processing. Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.
Bilateral visa exemption agreement

Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos holding valid ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days.

French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges.

Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other's territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.

Unilateral visa exemption agreement

Visa with 30-day validity is exempted for officials from ASEAN secretariat holding different kinds of passports.

Citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan and South Korea holding different kinds of passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 15 days.

In case visa approval is arranged by Vietnam Adventure Tours .

IMPORTANT: Please take a note that visa on arrival in Vietnam means visa stamped on arrival. Guests must get visa approval by Vietnam Immigration office in advance. Being misunderstood, many tourists must spend at least 1-2 day at entry gates to arrange the visa.

Customs regulations
Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in Declaration Forms and show their luggage to Customs Officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms.
ENTRY: Tourists are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free: Cigarettes: 400 pieces; Cigars: 50-100; Tobacco: 500 gram; Liquor: 1.5l.

Personal effects of a reasonable quantity. Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 500.

Note: There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems people can bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 must be declared.

It is prohibited for any visitor to bring into Vietnam the followings:

* Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
* Opium and other narcotics.
* Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.

EXIT: Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Office. Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam's red-book may not be brought out of the country. 

Climate

Health equipment
No actual vaccinations are officially required. Malaria prophylaxis is no longer recommended but visitors are advised to check with their doctors or travel immunization clinics regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A & B.

What to take with you
There are a few things you should not travel without:
* A map, certainly
* Photocopies of your passport and visa.
* Cash in US$ 20’s and $ 100’s.
* A folding umbrella if you plan to visit during the rainy season. The wettest months are July and August.
* Zip lock bags. They are cheap, disposable, and keep all kinds of things fresh and dry.
* Hotel cards: You should keep your hotel cards or brochures to show people to get guidance in case of missing way back home.
* Business Cards. You will discover that practically everyone in Vietnam has a calling card of some kinds. The proper way to offer your card is to hold it by the corners with both hands.

What to wear
Appropriate dress differs from North to South. Southern Vietnam is tropical year round and people dress comfortably and casually. Lightweight cotton and wool fabrics will be comfortable at any time of year. While they may resist wrinkles, synthetics and are blends miserably hot. Generally, short pants are inappropriate anywhere but a beach resort or a farm and you will look like a foolish tourist on the streets of most cities. Jeans are almost always fashionable except for business occasions.

Winter (November through April) can be cool in Hanoi, and a coat may be necessary. Dress here is a bit more formal and somber than the fashionable South. If traveling on business, jackets and ties are usually appropriate, regardless of the weather. Saigon’s business community is very image oriented. It’s alright to ask your business partners here what kind of attire is appropriate and expected.
Remember that Vietnam is a tropical country. Most of the year it is warm and humid. If you are not used to tropical weather, be prepared to shower and change your clothes two or three times a day. During rainy season in Saigon the rain is often short (20-30 minutes) and some times quite sudden. Practically every hotel in Vietnam has laundry service, which is usually quite inexpensive.

Currency
The currency of Vietnam is "Dong" (abbreviated "d" or VND). Bank coins are 200d, 500d, 1000d, 5000d. Bank notes are 1,000d; 2,000d; 5,000d; 10,000d; 20,000d; 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d. Unlike most of Vietnam's neighbouring countries, the US Dollar is widely accepted. At this the official rate of exchange is approximately VND 16,000 to USD 01.

Credit Cards and Travellers' Cheques are accepted at most of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops but in major cities only. Visitors are recommended to carry US Dollar in small notes. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese Dong (VND) at banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country.

Security
In big cities, do not bring along anything valuable as you go shopping or sightseeing on the street.
It is dispensable to give aims to beggars and to buy souvenirs from street vendors.
Foreign currencies should be exchanged at banks, or authorized exchange bureaus. Never exchange money on street.

Languages
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam but there are various dialects spoken by hill tribe people in remote areas. Learning foreign languages, particularly English and French, is currently in vogue among young people in Hanoi, Saigon, Hue, Da Nang and other cities. Guides and interpreters speaking English, French, Japanese, German, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Russian etc. are available from us.

Drinking
Bottled water and mineral water are obtainable at any shops in most cities. It is advisable to drink boiled water and not to drink ice and tap water. The most reliable local brand is LA VIE (Don’t confuse them with the imitations such as La Ville or La Vierge). Aquafina of Pepsi and real Evian also available at many shops.

Film and developing
Fresh negative film is widely available. Popular brands are Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and Konica. Memory cards for digital camera could be found easily, but be careful with its quality. Image printing from both negative film or digital file are obtainable in cities and towns. The tourists say that the negative film is cheaper than abroad.
One-hour service photo shops have become ubiquitous in places where tourists abound. Positive film can be developed only in Saigon and Hanoi. Most reliable and centered-located Film developing shops are 19 Nguyen Cau – Ba Trieu St. and Photocen – 77 Ly Thuong Kiet in Hanoi and Shops on Nguyen Hue Blvd., District 1 in Saigon.

Shopping
The following items are quite unique and have good quality:

* Carved wooden furniture, fine lacquerware (these can be shipped home upon request).
* Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk, linen and cotton dresses, kimonos, embroideries, etc.
* Simulated antiques, ceramics, old watches or Zippo lighters, etc.
* Copies of famous paintings.

Others
Taxi: Taxis with meters are available in big cities. The current price is about US$ 0.5 per kilometre. Most metered taxi drivers can speak a little English.

Business hours: (GMT + 7)

* Offices: 07:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 01:00 p.m. to 04:30 p.m., closed on Saturday and Sundays
* Banks: 08:00 a.m to 03:00 p.m, closed on Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday.

Electrical current: 110-220 volts A.C.

Telephone: Long distance calls should be made at post offices, hotels or telephone booths (phone cards are available at post offices). Normally, hotels will get 15-20% service charge of the bill. Internet phone is an alternative choice and much cheaper, with around 0,1USD/minute to Europe or America

Internet: Internet cafes with ADSL can be found easily in Vietnam. Cost for an hour is around 0,5US$.

Tip: Tipping is not obligatory in Vietnam, however, if you meet with exceptional services or kindness, a tip is always appreciated. A tip for good service might be about 5% of the bill.

Bargaining: Bargaining is a way of life in much of South East Asia. In Vietnam shops don't have fixed prices so the shop keeper will start with a high price which you are then expected to bargain down until you reach a fair price. Bargaining should always be relaxed and can be a lot of fun but you should remember that it is considered disrespectful to agree a price but then walk away