Trip Preparation For Vietnam Travel

Any foreigner or overseas Vietnamese wishing to visit Vietnam must fill out one 1 entry visa application form. The paperwork must be sent to a Vietnamese diplomatic representative office (the embassies), or consulate general of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in the most convenient country.

This rule may not be applied for citizens of countries with which Vietnam has bilateral agreements for visa exemption. (Please contact the Embassy of Vietnam for more information)

Making Transportation Reservation

Get in Hanoi

By plane

Most folks arrive at the Noi Bai International Airport, 35 km (45-60 minutes) north of the city. Several airlines run flights from Noi Bai, including:

Get in Ho Chi Minh City

By plane

Tan Son Nhat (IATA: SGN | ICAO: VVTS) is Vietnam's largest international airport. Immigration is notoriously strict and can be time consuming, but if your papers are in order you should be fine. Note that the all-white departure cards are only for those without the 'yellow paper' received upon arrival.

The recently introduced No. 152 air-con airport bus is the cheapest way into the city, and will drop you off on the west side of the Pham Ngu Lao area, or at the bus terminal on the south side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout. The price was recently increased to 3000 dong - still a bargain by any measure.

Taxis from the airport to the city centre take 30 minutes and cost US$3-5; make sure the driver uses the meter. However, if you want to avoid the trouble of bargaining and negotiating, you can just buy a "Taxi coupon" near the exit of the airport terminal for US$5.

You can change money at the airport, but you're probably better off paying for your first trip with US$ and exchanging in the city as the exchange in the airport may charge a commission as high as 3%.

Taxi drivers get commission for taking customers to certain hotels so when arriving at the airport be explicit about exactly which hotel you want to be taken to. This may be harder than expected if the hotel is one that doesn't pay commission.

When going to the airport, taxi drivers often attempt a scam involving an airport entry tax; it's their job to pay it. As of November 2006, international departure taxes should be included in the price of your ticket. Check with your airline before leaving, however, as some tickets (including any bought before the November 2006 change) do not include the tax, and you'll find yourself faced with a 240,000 dong suprise at the check-in counter.

China, Japan, Korea, and Russia have direct flights to and fro Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

Cheap airlines: Air Asia operated between Hanoi and Bangkok, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, Jetstar between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney, Tiger Airway between Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.

Lodging In Ha Noi

Budget

The Old Quarter is littered with guesthouses and hostels catering for budget travelers.

Mid-range

Splurge

Lodging In Ho Chi Minh City

Budget

Pham Ngu Lao in District 1 is the main backpacker hangout, just a short walk (10-15 minutes) from Ben Thanh Market. The lanes and alleys in the area between Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien are jammed with 5-10 room mini-hotels offering prices around US$6. Don't be dismayed if every place seems full, you can be assured that vacancy is virtually unlimited at this price. Keep heading southwest away from the backpacker hustle closer Ng Thai Hoc, you'll likely find that as the alleys get smaller the rooms get quiter and owners more friendly.

Mid-range

The area around Ben Thanh market along Le Thanh Ton and Ly Tu Trong has many reasonably priced hotels with clean rooms in the US$25-35 bracket; some provide free wi-fi.

Many of Saigon's historical hotels are in the hands of Saigontourist, the former state monopoly. Thanks to recent competition, service and facilities are adequate, although not quite up to modern standards; but if you want to experience a little colonial atmosphere, these remain far and away the best choices at the moment.

Splurge

Luxury hotels are popping up faster than mushrooms in the monsoon rains. Expect to pay closer to US$200 a night for any of these.

Special Tour

Planning a Trip - Money

The East Asian financial crisis is now a distant memory, and Vietnam is generally gaining economic clout in the world; but the rate of exchange, not to mention the price of most goods and services, means that travel in Vietnam and throughout the region is very budget-friendly. Especially in smaller towns, you'll find that you can live quite well on very little, and Vietnam's resort destinations and luxury accommodations in general come at a fraction of what you might pay in your home country.

ATM service is good in most cities, but if heading off into the countryside, bring cash. Note that the U.S. dollar is used widely in both Vietnam and Cambodia: In fact, the dollar is the de facto currency in Cambodia, and packing some U.S. greenbacks will come in very handy. Traveler's checks, an anachronism elsewhere in the world, are still not a bad idea, though expect to pay a 2% or 3% commission to exchange them into U.S. or Vietnamese currency. All hotels can do business in U.S. dollars. In some parts, everybody down to the smallest shop vendor quotes prices in U.S. dollars, and particularly the big-ticket items are best handled with greenbacks instead of large stacks of local currency.

While dealing in U.S. dollars can make things less complicated, always keep in mind local currency values so that you know if you're being charged the correct amount or are given the correct change (usually in Vietnamese currency). In this guide, we've listed hotel, restaurant, and attraction rates in whatever form the establishments quoted them -- in U.S. dollars (designated by the dollar sign: $) where those were quoted, and in local currencies (with U.S. dollar equivalents) where those were used.

Be sure to check the currency's current status. CNN's website has a convenient currency converter at www.xe.com/ucc.

Currency--The main unit of Vietnamese currency is the dong (noted as VND), which comes in notes in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000, as well as the new 500,000 note. There are now also 200-dong coins. Most tourist venues accept dollars, and even in small towns you will at least be able to exchange greenbacks, if not use dollars directly. The exchange rate is approximately 15,000 VND to $1.

It's unlikely that you'll be able to get your hands on any Vietnamese currency in your own country when planning for departure to Vietnam, but it's easy to get started with a handful of U.S. dollars or traveler's checks that you can easily cash at an airport kiosk upon arrival. ATM service in the larger cities and towns is growing exponentially.

ATMs--The easiest and best way to get cash in Vietnam is from an ATM (automated teller machine) and you'll find an increasing number of machines throughout the country. Most tour centers at least have a branch of Vietcombank with an international ATM (for a fee, of course) and the number of international banks is growing year by year.

The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe; look on the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Also keep in mind that many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions (up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $1.50). On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee. To compare banks' ATM fees within the U.S., use www.bankrate.com. For international withdrawal fees, ask your bank.

You can also get cash advances on your credit card at an ATM. Keep in mind that credit card companies try to protect themselves from theft by limiting the funds someone can withdraw outside their home country, so call your credit card company before you leave home. And keep in mind that you'll pay interest from the moment of your withdrawal, even if you pay your monthly bills on time.

Traveler's Checks--Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency, but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.

These days traveler's checks are not necessary because most cities have 24-hour ATMs that allow you to withdraw small amounts of cash as needed. Rural stops in Vietnam are less likely to have ATM service, so carrying some traveler's checks as a backup isn't a bad idea.

Note: Most retailers don't accept traveler's checks in Vietnam, which means you'll have to pay a commission to exchange them. Using ATM machines is preferable, where service is available.

You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank. American Express offers denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and (for cardholders only) $1,000. You'll pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%. You can also get American Express traveler's checks over the phone by calling tel. 800/221-7282; Amex gold and platinum cardholders who use this number are exempt from the 1% fee.

Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide, as well as at several other banks. The service charge ranges between 1.5% and 2%; checks come in denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for information. AAA members can obtain Visa checks without a fee at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. MasterCard also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location near you.

If you choose to carry traveler's checks, be sure to keep a record of their serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Credit Cards--Credit cards are a safe way to carry money. They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one, call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell them your mother's maiden name or some other personal information.

Keep in mind that when you use your credit card abroad, most banks assess a 2% fee above the 1% fee charged by Visa or MasterCard or American Express for currency conversion on credit charges. But credit cards still may be the smart way to go when you factor in things like exorbitant ATM fees and higher traveler's check exchange rates (and service fees).

Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted cards throughout Vietnam; American Express is often taken as well at more high-end spots.

This information is current as of today, Sun Jul 15 2007 15:53:18 GMT-0700 (US Mountain Standard Time).

Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medications, business equipment and other items . It is advisable to contact the Embassy of your destination country in Washington or one of that country’s consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. A current list of those countries with serious problems in this regard can be found here. U.S. Customs and Border Protection may impose corresponding import restrictions in accordance with the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act. (Contact CBP at 202-344-1000 or Internet http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ for further information). For general travel information, visit the CBP web site at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/.

Document Requirements

This rule may not be applied for citizens of countries with which Vietnam has bilateral agreements for visa exemption. (Please contact the Embassy of Vietnam for more information)

Applying for Visa

Making Transportation Reservation

Get in Hanoi

By plane

Get in Ho Chi Minh City

By plane

Lodging In Ha Noi

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Lodging In Ho Chi Minh City

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Activity Reservation

Travel Tour

Adventure Tour

Bike Tour

Special Tour

Planning a Trip - Money

Document Requirements