VISAS
 |
A visa is needed for foreigners to enter Vietnam.
Different types of visa - one-month or six-month
- can be obtained at Vietnamese Embassies abroad.
For those tourists who have a guarantee letter by
a local tour operator in advance, one-month visa
can be collected upon arrival at Vietnam’s
international airports in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City
and Da Nang. |
|
It is possible to get a “multiple entry”
or “single entry” visa and it should be
clearly requested upon your application for a visa.
A multiple entry visa is usually for business people
or those tourists who would like to make a visit
to neighbouring countries of Vietnam and then come
back to Vietnam for returning home. |
|
The gateways for entering Vietnam by air are in
Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang which are usually
stated on the visa approval letter. If you travel
into Vietnam by overland, make sure that you get
the name of the entry point on the visa approval
letter. It is easy to extend visas while you are
in Vietnam. |
 |
CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
|
On arrival in Vietnam, foreigners must complete
the white and blue duplicate arrival-departure forms
of which the blue copy is to be finally presented
on your departure from Vietnam. |
|
White and yellow duplicate customs declaration forms
must also completed and the yellow copy must not
be lost as it also has to be submitted upon departure. |
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It is compulsory that tourists declare foreign currency
in excess of 7,000 USD, gold and jewelry not for
personal use and video tapes. Vietnam has strict
laws on bringing in anti-government literature,
pornography, firearms and weapons. CDs and tapes
are often retained for screening but will be returned
after a few days. It is illegal to bring antiques
out of Vietnam so make sure you do not buy any items
called “antiques”. Although the sellers
provide you with receipts, these antiques will be
confiscated upon your departure. |
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CURRENCY
|
The official currency issued by the State Bank of
Vietnam is the “dong” (abbreviated as
“VND”) which is nonconvertible outside
of Vietnam and used throughout the country only
in the forms of bank notes. The current exchange
rate is around 14,000 VND to 01 USD. It is easy
to change cash at airports, banks and hotels in
all cities and towns. 100USD or 50USD bills earn
a higher exchange rate than the smaller denominations. |
|
Major credit cards (American, Visa, MasterCard,
JCB) are accepted more and more at hotels, restaurants,
shops and travel agencies in big towns. A fee is
to be imposed to the card holder on the payment
by credit cards. |
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GETTING TO TOWN
|
As Noi Bai Airport is far from downtown, Airport
Taxis charge a flat rate of 10 USD (one-way) for
a car from Noi Bai Airport to central Ha Noi. The
drive takes about 45 minutes. |
|
In
Ho Chi Minh City, a metered taxi from Tan Son Nhat
Airport to downtown costs around 50,000 VND and
the drive takes about 20 minutes. |
|
There is now a wide choice of meter taxis in Ha
Noi and Ho Chi Minh City as well as in other big
cities. |
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HEALTH
|
No
vaccinations are officially required for foreign
tourists to enter Vietnam. However, it is advisable
that precautionary measures be taken for diarrhea,
malaria, hepatitis A & B and other vaccine-preventable
infections. |
|
Although
international medical centres are available in Ha
Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, it can be expensive for
emergency care. Therefore, health and emergency
medical insurance prior to visiting Vietnam is highly
recommended for foreigners. |
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WHAT TO BRING & DRESS
|
The fact that Vietnam stretches from the subtropics
to the tropics makes it rather complicated to determine
what to bring. It is recommended that light and
easy clothing be brought. However, when travelling
in northern Vietnam in winter months (November to
March), a jacket or sweater would be useful. |
|
Despite of hot and damp weather, shorts and tank
tops are considered inappropriate in sacred places
like pagodas, temples and churches and at formal
events. Guests should ask whether it is alright
to wear shoes when entering private homes. |
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ELECTRICITY
|
Electric
current in Vietnam is usually 220V although you
can sometimes find 110V. Most plugs are two-pinned
with rounded pins except in international-standard
hotels. |
|
.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
|
It is possible to make IDD calls from Vietnam by
dialing the international prefix 00 followed by
the country code, area code and telephone number.
To make domestic long-distance calls, the prefix
01 must be dialed first and is followed by area
code and telephone number. |
|
Fax and e-mail services are available in hotels,
post offices and internet cafés. |
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CLIMATE
| Northern
Vietnam |
| Ha
Noi |
Jan
-Mar |
Apr
-Jun |
Jul
-Sep |
Oct
-Dec |
| Rain
fall (mm) |
92 |
511 |
887 |
190 |
| Temperature
(ºC) |
17.8 |
26.4 |
28.1 |
21.2 |
| Humidity
(%) |
84 |
84 |
84 |
82 |
|
| . |
| Central
Vietnam |
| Danang |
Jan
-Mar |
Apr
-Jun |
Jul
-Sep |
Oct
-Dec |
| Rain
fall (mm) |
148 |
110 |
646 |
1070 |
| Temperature
(ºC) |
22.5 |
27.4 |
28.1 |
23.8 |
| Humidity
(%) |
86 |
81 |
79 |
86 |
|
| . |
| Southern
Vietnam |
| Hochiminh
city |
Jan
-Mar |
Apr
-Jun |
Jul
-Sep |
Oct
-Dec |
| Rain
fall (mm) |
30 |
593 |
918 |
438 |
| Temperature
(ºC) |
26.8 |
28.1 |
26.8 |
26.2 |
| Humidity
(%) |
75 |
82 |
87 |
84 |
|
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