Entry formalities

All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam, except citizens of countries which are granted visa exemption such as Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Entry visas are obtainable at Vietnamese diplomatic missions and passports of 6 months’ validity are required. A 30-day tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month or 6-month multiple entry visas for business people.

In order to conveniently obtain a visa, a visitor who is going to travel with Saigontourist is kindly requested to send the following information to the Saigontourist Travel Service Co. at least 10 working days before the entry date: the passport details, the arrival date and the point of entry. After 7 working days, the applicant will receive a faxed letter of visa confirmation from Saigontourist. Each applicant must fill out 2 application forms and present his/her valid passport, 2 passport (4x6) photos and the letter of visa confirmation upon collecting his/her visa at the Vietnamese diplomatic mission concerned.

In emergency cases, Saigontourist can arrange collection of visas on arrival at international airports, sea ports and border crossings.

For transit purposes, a transit visa is granted to enter and depart Vietnam at the same check point (at international airports and sea ports only). Changes of purpose are not allowed. The transit visa is valid for direct transit only for a maximum period of 5 days. A confirmed airline ticket for the onward journey is required. For a stay of more than 5 days, an appropriate visa should be obtained.

Visa fee: Single entry visa: US$25, multiple entry visa: US$50-US$100, transit visa: US$5.

Getting there

• Air: There are 3 international airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Danang (Danang). More than 25 international airlines fly into and out of Vietnam, i.e Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines (Vietnam), All Nippon Airways, Air France, Aeroflot, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Eva Air, Emirates Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Lao Aviation, Lauda Air, Lufthansa German Airlines, Malaysia Airways, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Siem Reap Air, Royal Air Cambodge, Thai Airways, Tiger Air and United Airlines.

For information and bookings with Vietnam Airlines, please contact: 116 - 118 Nguyen Hue St., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, tel: (84-8) 829 2118; with Pacific Airlines: 77 Le Thanh Ton St., HCM City, Vietnam, tel: (84-8) 823 1285 or through the Vietmark Co. at: 166D Tran Hung Dao St., Floor 1, District 1, HCM City, Vietnam, tel: (84-8) 404 3939, email: info@vietmark.vn.

• Land: Along the borders with China, Laos and Cambodia, there are international border crossing points into Vietnam. On Chinese – Vietnamese border: Mong Cai (Quang Ninh Province), Huu Nghi (Lang Son Province) and Lao Cai (Lao Cai Province). On Lao – Vietnamese border: Tay Trang (Dien Bien Province), Na Meo (Thanh Hoa Province), Nam Can (Nghe An Province), Cau Treo (Ha Tinh Province), Cha Lo (Quang Binh Province), Lao Bao (Quang Tri Province) and Bo Y (Kontum Province). On Cambodian – Vietnamese border: Moc Bai & Xa Mat (Tay Ninh Province), Vinh Xuong & Tinh Bien (An Giang Province), Thuong Phuoc & Dinh Ba (Dong Thap Province), Ha Tien (Kien Giang Province), Le Thanh (Gia Lai Province) and Bonue (Binh Phuoc Province).
• Sea: The following sea ports from north to south are used as ports of call for foreign cruise lines: Halong (Halong), Chan May (Hue), Tien Sa (Danang), Quy Nhon (Quy Nhon), Nha Trang (Nha Trang), Phu My (Ba Ria – Vung Tau) and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

Customs regulations
Visitors must fill out customs declaration forms on arrival. A copy should be kept and handed in on departure.
A- Entry: Visitors are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free: cigarettes (400), cigars (50-100), tobacco (100 grams), alcohol (1litre). Personal belongings of a reasonable quantity and small gift items valued at not more than US$ 300 are allowed.

Note: There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems that visitors may bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 and VND 15,000,000 must be declared. The following items are prohibited:

• Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
• Opium and other narcotics.
• Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.
• Infected animals, plants or foodstuffs.

B- Exit: Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the customs authorities. Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam’s red book may not be brought out of the country.

Climate
Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate that varies significantly from north to south:

• In the north (Hanoi & its vicinities), winter is from November to April and is characterised by cool damp weather (15 – 20oC), and summer lasts from May to October and is hot with periods of heavy rain (25 – 28oC).
• Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City & its vicinities) has a more tropical climate all year round (25 – 30oC) with a dry hot season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November.
• Northern central Vietnam (from Thanh Hoa to Danang) may have heavy rain from September to February and occasional typhoons along the coast from September to October.
• Southern central Vietnam (from Quy Nhon to Phan Thiet) is endowed with a long dry season from December to September and a short rainy season from October to November.
• The highlands have a temperate climate but it is cooler and temperatures can be freezing in winter from December to February. Temperatures may range anywhere from 15-18°C in the central highlands to 7-10°C in the northern highlands with heavy rain from May to November.

What to wear

• Throughout the year, it is advisable to wear summer clothing: thin clothes in light colours. From December till February, warm clothes are recommended for visits to the northern provinces or the highlands.
• It is advisable to bring umbrellas and/or raincoats in the rainy season from May to November in southern and northern Vietnam, and from August to January in central Vietnam.
• The wearing of suits for business purposes is now common practice in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Dress should be appropriate at religious sites such as shrines, temples and pagodas.

Currency 

• The currency of Vietnam is the dong, which should be used for all shopping and business transactions. Dong coins come in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. Dong notes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000. 
• The US dollar is also widely accepted. At the time of printing (December 2007), the official rate of exchange is approximately VND 16,200 to one US dollar and VND 23,500 to one euro. 
• Credit cards and travelers’ cheques are accepted at hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Security

• In big cities, it is advisable not to bring along valuables while going shopping or sightseeing. 
• It is dispensable to give alms to beggars or to buy souvenirs from street vendors. 
• Foreign currencies should be exchanged at banks or authorized exchange bureaus. Do not exchange money in the street.
• It is advisable to ride on pedicabs or “honda-om” only after agreeing on the fare.

Language

English, French, Cantonese and Japanese are spoken by hotel staff. Guides and interpreters speaking English, French, Russian, Japanese, German, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Thai, Italian, Spanish, etc. are available from the Vietmark Co.

Film and developing

• Fresh negative film is widely available. Popular brands are Fuji, Kodak and Konica. Positive colour print film is only obtainable in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 
• One-hour service photo shops are ubiquitous in tourist areas. Positive film can be processed and printed only in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 
• Digital cards can be printed and made CD burning only in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Internet

Internet service is popular in most cities. Visitors can access the internet at hotels, internet cafés or computer service centers. The following websites provide useful information on Vietnam: www.vietnamtourism.com, www.saigontimes.com.vn, www.vneconomy.com.vn, …

Shopping

The following items are preferred by foreign travelers:

• Carved wooden furniture, rattan furniture, fine lacquerware and fine ceramics. They can be shipped home on request.
• Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk dresses (ao dai), kimonos and suits. They can be made to measure in 1 day or half a day.
• Embroideries, embroidered pictures, etc.
• Simulated antiques, old watches, Zippo lighters, etc.
• Copies of famous paintings.

Local markets, supermarkets and department stores are plentiful in major cities, where visitors can find almost anything from simple gifts and souvenirs to sophisticated electronic products.

Health

• No vaccinations are presently required for visitors to enter Vietnam. However, it is advisable that precautionary measures be taken against cholera, malaria, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tuberculosis. 
• Although international medical centres are available in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, they can be expensive for emergency and/or intensive care. Therefore, health and emergency medical insurance prior to visiting Vietnam is highly recommended.
• Clinics with qualified Vietnamese and foreign doctors to treat foreign patients:

Hanoi:
Viet Duc Hospital 40 Trang Thi St., Hoan Kiem District Tel: (84-4) 8253531
Asia Emergency Assistance 31 Hai Ba Trung St., Hoan Kiem District Tel: (84-4) 9340555

Ho Chi Minh City:
Columbia International Healthcare 08 Alexandre de Rhodes St., District 1 Tel: (84-8) 8238455
Asia Emergency Assistance 65 Nguyen Du St., District 1 Tel: (84-8) 8298520

National holidays

• January 1: New Year’s Day
• February 17-20, 2007 : Lunar New Year (Tet)
• April 30 : Saigon Liberation Day
• April 26, 2007 : King Hung’s anniversary
• May 1 : International Labour Day
• September 2 : National Day

Other useful tips

• Business hours: (GMT + 7)
  - Offices: 08:00 a.m to 12:00 a.m and 01:00 p.m to 05:00 p.m, closed on Saturdays & Sundays.
  - Banks: 08:00 a.m to 03:00 p.m, closed on Saturdays & Sundays.
• Airport tax for every passenger on every departure
  - International flights: US$ 14 at Noi Bai Airport, US$ 14 at Tan Son Nhat Airport, US$ 8 at Danang Airport.
  - Domestic flights: included in airfare.
• There are no sky train and subway in Vietnam. Cyclos (pedicabs/ rickshaws) are not allowed in most major cities, except tourist cyclos. Taxis and city buses are popular. The taxi fare is around US$ 0.40 - 0.50/km depending on the taxi company and the type of taxi used.
• Electrical current: 110-220 volts A.C.
• Long distance calls should be made at post offices, hotels or telephone booths (phone cards are available at post offices). Postcards and stamps are available at all post offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
• A tip for good service might be about 5% of the bill.
• 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.
• Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.