Welcome to a world where the colours are more vivid, where the landscapes are bolder, the coastline more dramatic, where the history is more compelling, where the tastes are more divine, where life is lived in the fast lane. This world is Vietnam, the latest Asian dragon to awake from its slumber.
To escape the buzz of millions of motorbikes, head west to the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages in the Mekong Delta. There’s adventure galore to be had on Phu Quoc Island and stunning white-sand beaches to relax on. Back on the east coast at Mui Ne Beach, you’ll be faced with a similar dilemma: action or inertia?
MeKong Delta : Tours detail and Booking
Phu Quoc Island : Tours Detail and Booking
Mui Ne Beach : Tours detail and Booking
Hoi An might weigh you down – but in a good way – you’re bound to add kilos of made-to-order clothing to your luggage. With an estimated 300 to 500 tailors working in this beautiful city, this is fashionista heaven.
Hoi An Ancient town
To feel the intellectual, cultural and spiritual heartbeat of Vietnam, make a stop in the old imperial capital, Hué. Home to palaces and pagodas, tombs and temples, and host of the biennial arts festival, the Festival of Hué, it’s the place to go for historical, cultural and culinary stimulation.
In Hanoi, the country’s captivating capital, rise early to watch the city exercise by Hoan Kiem Lake, then pay your respects in person to Uncle Ho at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (a truly surreal experience).
Hoan Kiem Lake
Eventually you’ll be enticed out of the city by the stunning offerings of the country’s northern provinces. Nothing can prepare you for the beauty of Halong Bay and its 2000 limestone karsts, or the experience of trekking around mountainous Sapa.
HaLong Bay
Sapa Tours
Vietnam has it all. Go expecting the unexpected, be ready for an adventure as much as a holiday, and Vietnam will deliver.
Tourist visas allow visitors to enter and exit Vietnam at Hanoi, HCMC and Danang airports or at any of its plentiful land borders, shared with Cambodia, China and Laos.
Tourist visas are valid for a single 30-day stay. The government often talks about issuing visas on arrival to certain favoured nationalities ( citizens of Japan, Denmark, Finland, Norway, South Korea and Sweden visiting Vietnam for up to 15 days are exempted from visas), but as yet this sensible scheme has failed to materialise beyond the immediate Asean neighbours.
If you plan to spend more than a month in Vietnam or travel overland between Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, it is possible to get a three-month multiple-entry visa.
Tourist visas are usually granted at the Vietnamese embassies or consulates and completing the visa application remains expensive and unnecessarily time-consuming.
vietnamtravelindex.com is possible to arrange a visa on arrival. We will need passport details in advance as below:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Passport number
- Date of issue and expiry
- Nationality ( original and current)
- Date of arrival and departure Vietnam
- Place for visa collection
After receiving the completed form we will send you the ‘Visa upon arrival’ approval letter, approved by the Vietnam Immigration Office by email or fax, within 5-6 working days. Upon arrival in Vietnam you will get your‘visa upon arrival’ at the airport or at the border gate.
The climate of Vietnam varies considerably from region to region. Although the entire country lies in the tropics and subtropics, local conditions vary from frosty winters in the far northern hills to year-round, subequatorial warmth in the Mekong Delta.
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 center of the country, see very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures reaching the mid-30′s°C, 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 hovering around 28°C and a warm rainy season from May to November. In the rainy season, most rain comes in short, heavy bursts.
There is good weather somewhere in Vietnam all year round! 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 daily 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 or Tet holiday (Vietnamese New Year falls between late January and February). Tet is the most important period of the year for many Vietnameses 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.
If you enter Vietnam by air, the customs inspection is usually fast and cursory. However, if you enter overland, you will be under the rigorous search.
On arrival in Vietnam, you must complete a white and a blue duplicate arrival-departure form. The blue one is to be kept with your passport at any time. Without it, hotels and guest houses can not register your provisional residence at the local police station.
You must also fill in a yellow and a white duplicate customs declaration form. The yellow one is attached to your passport until departure. Do not lose it! In the yellow and white customs form you are expected to declare:
- Cameras, camcorders and other electric equipments not for personal use
- Currency : unlimited amount of foreign currency but it must be declared on the custom form upon arrival
- Jewelry not for personal use
- Video tapes may be kept for a few days for creening
Duty free
You are permitted to bring in a duty-free allowance of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 2L of liquor; and a reasonable quantity of luggage and personal effects.
Banned materials
Items that you cannot bring into Vietnam include opium, weapons, explosives and cultural materials ‘unsuitable to Vietnamese society’ (e.g. pornographic or seditious publications). CDs and tapes are often retained for screening and returned after a few days. It is also illegal to take antiques out of Vietnam. Exported handicrafts, especially those look old, must be accompanied by a receipt and declaration of the shop.
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for traveling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat and umbrella are a good idea in the rainy season and an umbrella can also offer useful shade from the sun.
Evenings in the north and the center can be quite chilly so bring a sweater and a good jacket especially from November to February. Visitors should not wear shorts, short skirts or other revealing clothing when visiting pagodas and monasteries. Shoes must be removed before entering some religious building or a private home. It is therefore useful to wear shoes without too many laces and which can easily be taken off.
Water Borders : There is a river border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam on the banks of the Mekong. Regular fast boats ply the route between Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Chau Doc in Vietnam, with a change at the Vinh Xuong–Kaam Samnor border.
Land Borders : There are currently twelve international land borders: three each with Cambodia and China and six with Laos.
Cambodia
Moc bai–bavet
The most popular border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam is Moc Bai, which connects Vietnam’s Tay Ninh province with Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province. There are several buses daily between Phnom Penh and HCMC (via Moc Bai), usually departing around 8am, taking about six hours.
Vinh Xuong–Kaam Samnor
A more pleasurable alternative to the Moc Bai crossing is the Vinh Xuong–Kaam Samnor border near Chau Doc. This offers the advantage of a leisurely look at the Mekong Delta without the bother of backtracking to HCMC.
Tinh Bien–Phnom Den
This border crossing point sees little traffic, as most visitors in Chau Doc tend to use the river crossing direct to Phnom Penh. It’s relatively remote but the roads are in better shape than they used to be, so this crossing may start to see a trickle of travellers or cyclists.
China
There are currently three border checkpoints where foreigners are permitted to cross between Vietnam and China: Huu Nghi Quan (the Friendship Pass), Lao Cai and Mong Cai
Youyi Guan–Huu Nghi Quan (friendship gate)
The busiest border crossing between Vietnam and China is located at the Vietnamese town of Dong Dang, 164km northeast of Hanoi. It connects Hanoi with Nanning and is on the overland route to Yuanshou and Hong Kong. Dong Dang is an obscure town, about 18km north of bustling Lang Son.
Lao Cai–Hekou
The border town on the Vietnamese side of this border crossing is Lao Cai, 294km from Hanoi. On the Chinese side, the border town is Hekou, 468km south of Kunming.
Mong Cai–Dongxing
Vietnam’s third (but seldom-used) border crossing to China can be found at Mong Cai in the northeast of the country, opposite the Chinese city of Dongxing. It might be useful for anyone planning to travel between Halong Bay and Hainan Island, but otherwise it is well out of the way.
Laos
There are six overland crossings and counting between Laos and Vietnam. Thirty-day Lao visas are now available at the busier borders, but not currently at Nam Xoi, Na Phao and the Attapeu border.
Tay Trang–Sop Hun border near Dien Bien Phu (northwestern Vietnam) opening up to foreigners. This has been rumoured for years, but it might just happen this time.
Lao Bao–Dansavanh
Known as Lao Bao–Dansavanh, this is the most popular border crossing between Laos and Vietnam and is usually the most hassle-free. The border town of Lao Bao is on Hwy 9, 80km west of Dong Ha. Just across the border is the southern Lao province of Savannakhet; the first town you come to is Sepon.
Cau Treo–Nam Phao
Vietnam’s Hwy 8 hits Laos at the Keo Nua Pass (734m), known as Cau Treo in Vietnamese, Kaew Neua in Lao.
Nam Can–Nong Haet
The Nam Can–Nong Haet border links Vinh with Phonsovan and the Plain of Jars. Cha Lo–Na Phao
There is a border at Cha Lo–Na Phao that links Dong Hoi and Tha Khaek, but very few travellers have used it until now.
Na Meo–Nam Xoi
Arguably the most remote of remote borders is the Na Meo–Nam Xoi which connects Thanh Hoa, a transit town 153km south of Hanoi, with the town of Sam Neua and the famous Pathet Lao caves of Vieng Xai.
Bo y–Attapeu
This is a new crossing that links Kon Tum and Quy Nhon with Attapeu and Pakse. The road and border only opened in mid-2006 and at the time of writing the crossing had still to be given a name. Lao visas are not available at this border.
Note : You cannot obtain a visa on arrival at land border-crossing points. If you enter Vietnam by land, you must obtain the visa before arrival.
Vietnamese cuisine reflects on many gastronomic cultures which satisfy any gourmet. Famous specialities such as nem (spring roll), cha ca (fish cake), banana flower salad and pho (rice noodle soup) are always highly appreciated by most foreign visitors.
Meals will usually include rice or noodles as staples along with a vast array of vegetables, and meats like chicken, duck, beef and pork. Dishes feature a wonderful fusion of flavors and you will find that fish sauce is a condiment accompanying almost every meal. Anther unexpected delight is the availability of good quality seafood (fish, calamari, prawns and crabs) which is caught along Vietnam’s extensive coastline.
Freshness is of paramount importance in Vietnamese cooking, so ingredients are bought fresh from local market on a daily basis. A strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam means that vegetarian food is also widely available.
Some of the legacies left over from the French colonial period include crispy baguettes, pate, hard boiled quail eggs, crème caramel, and banana flambée. An amazing assortment of fresh tropical fruits is usually on offer which will round off a meal perfectly.
It is not advisable to drink tap water but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. All hotels provide a complimentary bottle of local mineral water per person in the room. Ice cubes in drinks is generally okay in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas. Some minor stomach problems are always possible when travelling in exotic countries. Bring a supply of your usual anti-diarrhoea medicine.
The national official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese.Vietnamese has six different tones, it is a difficult language for most foreigners to speak despite the fact that the Roman alphabet is used in modern Vietnamese. The same word can have six different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. In big cities and in places with many tourists, people will speak basic English. The younger generation will be more adept at speaking English, while the older generation still speaks some French. Russian and Chinese are also spoken by some people.
The Vietnamese currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND). US dollars are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops. Banks are open Monday to Friday 08:00 – 17:00 and some on Saturday morning. In the major cities there are exchange bureaus and most hotels will change US dollars although for other currencies it is usually necessary to visit a bank. Exchange rates are more or less the same in banks and exchange bureaus and slightly higher in licensed gold shops. Travelers cheques can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureaus but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. Visa Card and Mastercard are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops but US dollars cash are still the most reliable form of money to carry. There are ATM machines in major cities.
Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 07:30 or 08:00 until 17:00 or 18:00 and often close for lunch between 11:30 and 13:00. Post offices keep longer hours and are generally open from 6.30am to 9pm. Banks are generally open from 8am to 11.30am and 1pm to 4pm during the week and 8am to 11.30am on Saturday.
Most museums are closed on Monday while temples and pagodas are usually open every day from around 5am to 5pm. Shops open early and close any time between 18:00 and 22:00. Most shops are open 7 days a week.
| January 1 | New Year’s Day – one day |
| February 2 – 5 | Tet or Vietnamese New Year. The actual dates vary from year to year according to the lunar calendar. Tet usually falls in late January or early February. This holiday includes the last day of the lunar old year and the first three days of the new year – four days |
| March 10 | Hung King’s Birthday – one day |
| April 30 | Liberation of Saigon Day – one day |
| May 1 | International Labor Day – one day |
| September 2 | National Day – one day |
Buddhism is the dominant religion in Vietnam and is usually combined with elements of Confucianism and Taoism. About 10% of the country’s population is Catholic and there are also communities of Protestants and Muslims. Vietnam is also home to a unique religion called Cao Dai, a religious cocktail of all the world’s major faiths.
Vietnam is GMT plus 7 hours and does not operate daylight-saving system.
Vietnam mainly uses 220V but in some areas, 110V is also used. A mixture of flat and round 2-pin outlets are used throughout the country. It is recommended to bring a universal plug adaptor.
Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices although be warned these services are expensive. Away from the major cities it may not always be possible to make international calls. Cyber cafes are becoming popular in the major cities in Vietnam, and many travelers now prefer to keep in touch by e-mail. Post cards can be bought at all the main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks.
No vaccinations are mandatory except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions, especially if traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are limited and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed.
We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements.
Taxi: If you have not arranged for an arrival/departure transfer, you can always take a cap which is available at the airport and at the hotel. Whether you are arriving at Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city it is best to take a metered taxi to the hotel. Driver may want to negotiate a price before leaving the airport, but do not agree to this. Rather you should make sure they switch the meter on and pay the amount it displays when you reach your destination. Taxi fares vary according to the type of vehicle (i.e. a modern A.C car is more expensive than an older non A.C vehicle).
Flight: There has been a lot of progress in Vietnam’s air-transport. A wide range of flights bridges most of the big cities in the country.
Airport procedures are straightforward and Vietnam Airlines is recognized as one of the best firms in the world. This classification is essentially based on the safety records and the service quality. Please note that around the public holidays, flights are often fully booked and this sometimes causes changes in the schedules.
Train: Vietnam’s railway system is mainly built in the early years of the 20th century. Since then Vietnam Railways have been improved a lot. Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh city Reunification Express E1 trains take 30 hours, equivalent to 55 km/h. It is still rather slow, but more and more travellers use trains for sightseeing on the way, and importantly, for lower fare. It is also a good chance to get more knowledge of local people.
Jeep: For individual travelers, it is better to rent a car or a 4×4 with a driver. The traffic in Vietnam can be scarry and thus you are recommended not to drive yourself while being new to the country and not knowing how the traffic works.
Motorbike: This vehicle is a favorite of adventurers. It is very convenient to travel by motorbike in the cities and rural areas. Motorbikes for rent are available in the big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Danang and Sapa. Renting requires your passport or a deposit.
Waterway: Most travel by water is for sightseeing or on ferries – there are no routes that link more than a couple of coastal centers. Where water travel is essential, there is usually a choice between fast and slow boats.
Vietnam is a safe country to visit. As a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags. Avoid cyclos late at night and choose reliable metered taxi companies as they are really cheap and air-conditioned.
Vietnam offers a wide range of shopping centers in the various local markets around the country. Bargaining is a way of life in Vietnam, but should always be conducted in a good-natured way. You will have a more pleasant experience and stand a better chance of negotiating a lower price.Here are some of the items which make their way onto many people’s shopping list: clothes (e.g. T-shirt, polo-shirt, trousers, shorts, skirts,) beaded shoes, conical hats, single-cup coffee filters, Vietnamese tea and coffee, sleeping bags, CDs, embroidered table cloths, carving in wood or marble, ceramics and pottery, lacquer ware (e.g. pictures, trays, trinket boxes), and traditional style paintings and sketches. Handicrafts produced by the people of the hill tribes in the north are also very popular. These include fabrics, jewelry, embroidered bags, and wickerwork. It is also possible to buy tailor-made cloths. These are made to order and are usually available for collection within 24 hours. Once of the best places to buy tailor made items is Hoian.
There are plenty of entertainment options in Vietnam and restaurants, bars and nightclubs open until late at night/early in the morning. A wide variety of restaurants are on offer, with everything from Vietnamese, Asian, Italian, French cuisine, etc. to fast food.
Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in a country where the average annual income is quite low compared to Europe for example. It is customary to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped. Do not let the guide talk you into tipping more than you plan to. It is totally up to you who you tip, when and how much.
Note : Our prise doesn’t include tips because it depends on your satisfaction
