Neighboring countries: China to the north, Cambodia to the southwest, and Laos to the west. The South China Sea borders the country to the east.
Area: 331 041 km²
Population: 98.17 million (2021)
Capital: Hanoi
Time Zone: GMT+7 hours. Daylight saving time (DST) is not implemented in Vietnam.
Religion: Buddhists (75 %), Catholics (7%), Caodaïstes (2 %), Hoa Hao (2%), Protestants (0.75%), Muslims (0.1%)
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: Vietnamese Dong VND ($1 = 24.780.02 VND – November 2022)
Electric plug used: 220 Volts at 50Hz. Plugs type A (two flat vertical pins), type C, and type F (two round pins) fit most Vietnam electrical outlets. If your power plug has 3 pins, you would need an adapter as most electrical outlets here do not include grounding holes.
- Visa Exemption
Vietnam visa exemption (visa waiver or visa-free policy) is Government’s policy when a foreigner can enter and stay in Vietnam for a certain period without applying for a visa and paying related visa fees. Regarding Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP issued on 15 March 2022, there are a total of 25 countries that are exempted from the Vietnam visa with the conditions below:
Conditions
- Effective from 15 August 2023, regular passport holders from 13 countries of Belarus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K are exempt from visas for Vietnam for 45 days instead of 15 days.
- According to Vietnam’s immigration law, a traveler’s passport must have at least six months of validity to be eligible for a visa exemption following the date of arrival in Vietnam.
- This visa exemption can be applied for at all official international border checkpoints.
- Travelers wishing to enter Vietnam using this visa exemption must show their return air ticket.
- British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders are not eligible for the Vietnam visa exemption. So, they need to apply for a visa to visit Vietnam.
- APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders with valid passports are exempt from Vietnam visa requirements for a stay of no longer than 60 days.
- The visa-free stay period is counted from the date of entry.
Procedure
Traveler’s entry into Vietnam: go to the immigration booth to complete the immigration procedure with passport and return ticket ready. Airport customs police will stamp passports twice: 1 stamp at the entry point and the second stamp for the time that visitors are allowed to stay (day of entry plus 45 days)
- Electronic Visa (E-visa)
The Vietnamese government has made e-visas available to citizens from 199 countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. The application can be processed through this website: https://dichvucong.bocongan.gov.vn/bocongan/bothutuc/tthc?matt=26277
The e-Visa is an electronic travel authorization from the Vietnam Government for up to 90 consecutive days, issued in PDF format. It is the equivalent of a visa, but no stamp or label is placed on the passport. Visitors with e-Visas can touch down at any of Vietnam’s 13 international airports, 16 land border gates, and 13 sea border gates.
Applicability
- Travelers who do not belong to the list of visa-exempt countries like Switzerland, Ireland, etc.
- Travelers who are from visa-exempt countries but wish to apply for a multiple-entry visa or need to travel to Vietnam for more than 45 days.
Remarks
- Travelers who can apply for an e-Visa but already have the immigration department dispatched can choose between continuing with the regular visa procedure or converting to the e-Visa. However, it is advised that travelers should consider changing to the e-Visa application to reduce the visa fee. This conversion would take a little longer as the submission process has to start over again.
- The traveler must present a printed copy of the e-Visa (with Vietnamese national and Q.R. codes) and a passport upon entry to Vietnam.
- The visitor should re-check the permitted residence time on the stamp (with the “E.V.” sign) at the Immigration Booth in case the officer forgot to stamp the time into the visa exemption.
- The visitor should also re-check all personal information on E-visa to ensure all is correct in case the Immigration Office can refuse entry.
The visa fees are published as follows:
- Single-entry: 25 USD
- Multiple entries: 50 USD
Important notes:
- Visa fees for foreign children under 14 years old shall not be different; the entry fee is 25 USD (25/2021/TT-BTC – 07/04/2021).
- If the children are on the same passport as the father/mother, they are not required to pay the stamping fee. However, if they have their own passport, they must pay the stamping fee to get their Vietnam visa.
- For citizens who must apply for visa/visa on arrival
Apply for a Tourist Visa From your home country
The standard visa is a tourist visa, valid for a 1-month stay. You can apply for a tourist visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your country. Be aware that your passport must be valid for six months beyond the last day of your stay in Vietnam and that you must have one blank page left for the visa stamp.
With our assistance, directly from a Vietnamese embassy
Easia Travel can obtain a visa authorization for you that the Immigration Ministry in Hanoi will process. To have such permission, you must send us the details of your passport (name, surname, date of birth, passport number, nationality, profession, issuing and expiring date of the passport) to
- uk@easia-travel.com (U.K. & Ireland market)
- Europe@easia-travel.com (Eastern Europe Market: Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia markets).
- Poland@easia-travel.com (Poland market).
- Nordic@easia-travel.com(Scandinavia markets)
- Benelux@easia-travel.com (Benelux market)
Easia Travel will send the authorization to the Vietnamese embassy of your country, and when ready, you will be able to collect it before your departure to Vietnam. The cost of such a service is 15 USD per person. However, you must still pay the visa fee when you collect it at the embassy. The time needed for the entire process is around 15 days.
With our assistance, obtain a visa on arrival at one of the international airports in Danang, Hanoi, or Saigon.
Easia Travel can take care of the visa procedure upon arrival at the following airports: Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. Just follow the procedure described below.
Procedure for visa on arrival:
Requirements:
- Ensure each passport has two blank pages for the necessary visa stamp.
- Validity of passport: In Vietnam, a passport must be valid one month after departure from Vietnam; for other Asian countries, the passport must be good at least six months after the planned departure date from Asia.
- The traveler’s passport number must appear on all documents: the Excel file and visa forms.
Step 1. Request for Visa authorization:
Take note of the information on the travelers’ passports: full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of issue, etc. This information must reach us at the following address at least 21 days before the date of the traveler’s departure:
- uk@easia-travel.com(UK & Ireland market)
- Europe@easia-travel.com(Eastern Europe Market)
- Poland@easia-travel.com(Poland market)
The Ministry of Public Security in Vietnam for a visa application requires this information. The time limit to obtain a visa is 24 hours for an urgent procedure with an added surcharge applied or five working days for regular tourist visas.
If you do not use a computer, kindly mail us a copy of your passport with a legible passport number.
It is essential to indicate the specific airport in Vietnam where travelers will get their visa, including airline, time, date, and arrival flight number.
Our authorized staff in the Hanoi office will send you the visa permit by fax and email.
Step 2. Fill in the NA1 forms of visa request:
At the same time, each traveler must fill in one (1) form NA1, a visa request, on which they must attach a recent identity photo (less than six months old). Photocopies of photographs are not accepted.
Attention: Using the same passport number on the Excel file and the visa request form is vital. You must keep this form which will be requested at the time of checking-in at airports and on arrival in Vietnam.
Do not send the NA1 form to the embassy of Vietnam in your country; keep this document with you.
To download the Visa form for Vietnam, please Click Here
Step 3. Regularization of passports:
When you check in at the departure airport, you must show a copy of the authorization, the NA1 form (completed with a photo attached), and your passport.
Warning: if you do not have the authorization letter to show the airline check-in staff, you will not be permitted to board the plane.
When you arrive in Vietnam, you must present yourself and the NA1 form to the visa upon arrival desk before proceeding to the immigration desk.
At this point in the process, you have several possible choices:
- You prepare everything by yourself, including the visa payment. In VND or preferably in USD. Paying in Euros is possible but not encouraged.
- You can ask for help from our staff (pre-arranged): our team will wait for you at the airport within the immigration area with a board showing your name and will take care of the whole process with the immigration service. Your passport will be stamped when going through immigration. You won’t have anything to pay at the airport. After, you can collect your luggage at the luggage belt before proceeding through customs.
Visa VIP B: The same service as above, but the process is much faster, as you won’t queue and take a private way to the luggage belt where you can collect your luggage. Time: about 5-10 minutes (versus 60 minutes)
Visa VIP A: In this case, you won’t have anything to do and will go directly to your hotel room. Our staff will take care of the visa process, collect your luggage (you must give us information about it), and bring it to you. This service is only available at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
President VIP Visa: Our staff will wait for the traveler directly outside the plane with a car to go to the hotel. Our team will take care of the visa process and will collect the luggage to bring them to the hotel. This service is only available at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
Note: For children under 12 in Vietnam:
If a child is present on their parent’s passport, the child won’t have any fee, but it is still necessary to give all the information about them to apply for visa authorization.
Special cases:
Multiple Entry Visa:
If the traveler has to exit Vietnam and re-enter the country several times during their stay, they will have to apply for a multiple-entry visa.
When a multiple-visa is granted, the traveler can enter Vietnam as often, without limitation, as the number of entries or the length of stay for each entry within the granted visa allows.
- Transit Visa
Following Law No. 47/2014/QH13 on entry, exit, transit, and residence status of foreigners in Vietnam, which takes effect on January 1st, 2015, transit through Vietnam is dictated as follows:
- Foreigners that travel by air are required to obtain the Official Transit Dispatch from Vietnam Immigration Department.
- The maximum length of stay is 72 hours.
- Requirements for entry and exit and one international airport gate. Does not apply to land border gates.
- The visitor must travel to a third country, which cannot be the country of arrival (for example, from Bangkok to Hanoi to Singapore – the visitor cannot travel back to the country they started in, like Bangkok to Hanoi to Phuket).
- URGENT VISA
Suppose you do not have any authorization or visa before arriving in the country. In that case, Easia Travel can handle the situation upon your arrival at the airport. Some fees will be charged over and above the usual prices for this service.
For citizens of “sensitive” nationalities: For example, Iran; Iraq; Sri Lanka; Kenya; Turkey; Bangladesh; Jordan; Pakistan; Syria; Togo; Saudi Arabia; Samoa; Nigeria; Lebanon; Yemen; Ecuador, Turkish, and Bangladesh:
The same procedure as “regular” nationalities apply. Still, instead of providing only the information on the participant’s passports, such as full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of issue, etc., the travelers must also have the documentation outlined below to obtain the Visa authorization:
- A scan of the passport
- Confirmation of hotels booked during the entire stay
- Proof of international and domestic airline tickets for the whole the trip
- The tour program
- A guaranteed document by the travel agency
Easia Travel can provide the last four papers.
The fee for the service will be higher (about 80 USD in addition to the standard price). The visa authorization time is also longer (about ten working days).
LAND BOARD CHECKPOINTS
A Visa for Vietnam can be obtained during your visit to some border posts. You will find the list of land border checkpoints below. However, we strongly advise all travelers to take care of Visa formalities in advance:
| China – Vietnam | |
| Hekhou – Lao Cai (Yunnan to Lao Cai Province) | No visa on arrival |
| Friendship pass (Guangxi to Lang Son Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Laos – Vietnam | |
| Panghok – Tay Trang (Phongsaly Province to Dien Bien) | Visa on arrival |
| Namsoi – Na Meo (Huaphanh to Thanh Hoa Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Namkan – Nam Can (Xieng Khoang to Nghe An Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Nampao – Keo Nua (or Cau Treo) (Bolikhamxay to Ha Tinh Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Napao – Chalo (Khammouane to Quang Binh Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Dansavanh – Lao Bao (Savannakhet to Quang Tri Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Attepeu – Bo Y (Attapeu to Kon Tum Province) | No visa on arrival |
| Cambodia – Vietnam | |
| O’Yadaw – Le Thanh (Rattanakiri to Gia Lai Province) | No Visa on arrival |
| Trapeang Srer – Hoa Lu (Kratie to Binh Phuoc Province) | No visa on arrival |
| Trapeang Phlong – Xa Mat (Kompong Cham to Tay Ninh Province) | No visa on arrival |
| Bavet – Moc Bai (Svay Rieng to Tay Ninh Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Khaam Samnor – Vinh Xuong (Kandal/PNH to Chau Doc) | Visa on arrival |
| Phnom Den – Tinh Bien (Takeo to An Giang Province) | Visa on arrival |
| Preah Chak – Xa Xia (Kampot/Kep to Ha Tien) | No visa on arrival |
Phu Quoc Island Visa Regulation
According to overseas entry, exit, and residence regulations for Phu Quoc Island, foreign visitors, and Vietnamese nationals holding foreign passports are permitted to stay on the island without a visa for not more than 30 days. Foreigners who come to Vietnam via an international air border, stay at the transit area at the gate, and then travel on to Phu Quoc Island are also exempt from visa requirements by this regulation.
The above information is provided to the best knowledge of Easia Travel specialists and will be updated regularly.
BY AIR
Traveling to Vietnam by air is quite easy as many airlines offer direct or indirect flights and more and more airports in Vietnam are open to international destinations. Today, the international airports are: Noi Bai in Hanoi, located around 45 minutes from the city-center (45km), Cat Bi in Hai Phong, Danang airport only 4km from the city-center, Cam Ranh located at around 40 minutes from Nha Trang city-center (30km) and Tan Son Nhat located just 20 minutes from the center of Ho Chi Minh City (6km).
BY LAND
You can also travel to Vietnam by land, with the bus being the best means of transport to travel from Cambodia or Laos for example. Vietnam has land borders with China, Laos and Cambodia.
Land borders China/Vietnam: (you must have a visa before going through immigration and customs)
- Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) – by land: located at the northeast end of the country, this land border is accessible by road.
- Huu Nghi (Lang Son) – by land: located 18 km from Lang Song city.
- Dong Dang (Lang Son) – railway
- Lao Cai (Lao Cai) – by land or railway: accessible by train from Hanoi, the route goes via the Hekou bridge.
Land borders Laos /Vietnam (land): (visa available at most land borders)
- Cau Treo (Ha Tinh): located 80 kilometers from the city of Vinh on the route to Vientiane (Laos’ capital city).
- Cha Lo (Quang Binh): in Dan Hoa province, accessible via the road 12A from Ba Don – Quang Binh province.
- Lao Bao (Quang Tri): at 150 km of Hue, on the route to Savannakhet in the South of Laos.
- Tay Trang (Dien Bien Phu) : from Diên Biên province
- Na Meo (Than Hoa)
- Nam Can (Nghe An)
- Bo Y (Quang Toum)
Land borders Cambodia /Vietnam: (visa available at most land borders).
- Moc Bai + Sa Mat (Tay Ninh) : at 70km from Ho Chi Minh this land border is accessible by bus and taxi and is located on the route between Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh (capital city of Cambodia)
- Vinh Xuong + Tinh Bien (An Giang): enables access directly to the Cambodian seaboard.
- Bo Nue (Binh Phuoc)
- Thuong Phuoc (Dong Thap)
- Xa Xia (Kien Giang)
TRANSPORT IN VIETNAM
- BUS
Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel around cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Nha Trang etc. The tickets usually cost 7000 dong ($0.35)
The bus network is fairly well developed in big cities and is also a good way to get out of the inner city to visit some villages or other sites located in the suburbs and beyond. The inconvenience is that long distance buses usually depart from bus stations located some kilometers from the city center, so it is necessary to take a taxi to first reach the bus station.
The bus is also a good means of transport to travel from one city to another and discover other outlying regions of the country. Many private companies offer bus services. Most of the time, buses are minivans, but you can also take night buses (buses with bunk beds) for longer trips.
Those night buses are generally a very good alternative to the train which is often substantially more expensive. You can buy tickets and ask information at travel agencies and hotels in order to choose the bus service that matches your requirements (time of departure/arrival, place of departure/arrival, price etc).
Please bear in mind, that even though the bus network is quite well developed, roads are often in bad condition and buses have to go slowly sometimes and stop often to pick up and drop off passengers. Transfer times are usually counted in hours and not in kilometers.
- MOTO-TAXI
Moto-taxis (Xe Ôm) are everywhere! On any street corner, parked on sidewalks, moto-taxi drivers will enthusiastically offer you their services wherever you want to go. Moto-taxis are a good alternative to a car taxi as they are more able to infiltrate the dense traffic of cities such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh and can save a lot of travel time. Besides, travel by motorbike taxi is fun and a great way to get up close and personal with the sights and sounds of Vietnam. Please be aware that you should fix the price before the departure. Don’t hesitate to bargain.
Caution: the driver should provide you with a helmet for the ride as helmets have been compulsory since 2007. If the driver does not give you a helmet, just find another driver. If you are overly concerned about comfort and safety, moto-taxis aren’t really made for you, however, if you are in a hurry and a bit intrepid, moto-taxis will be one of your best friends.
- MOTORBIKES
Motorbikes are the main means of transport in Vietnam but even though most locals drive them, the law clearly forbids any foreigners without a valid Vietnamese license from driving a motorbike (international licenses do not apply in Vietnam). Indeed, traffic is really dense and the risk of accidents is real. Besides, most travel insurance policies do not cover travelers for motorbike accidents. However, if you really want to move around and drive like the Vietnamese do, you won’t have any problem finding an agency or a hotel that rents motorbikes (automatic or semi-automatic) with helmets to foreigners.
- BIKES
If you want a means of transport more peaceful you can also rent a bicycle. However, be aware that as for motorbikes, biking in the dense traffic of city-centers may be a bit scary and potentially dangerous. This is why we recommend you to wear a helmet and limit your bike riding to the countryside and suburbs, and outside of rush hours. One thing is for sure, riding a bike in the countryside and through villages will definitely be appreciated by the local people somewhat bemused to see foreigners making such an effort. Expect lots of smiles and happy hellos, even the occasional invite to stop and share a cup of tea.
- TRAIN
The train is a convenient means of transport in Vietnam. Transfers are secure and quite comfortable if you choose the “soft seat” or “soft bunk” classes. However, the railway network still has to be improved and travel times remain quite long (even really long). Thankfully, some Express railway services have been created, like the one between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, called the Reunification Express. We recommend you to preferably choose trains registered as SE rather than those registered TN, if you want to save time (a lot of time).
- CAR
Renting a car is forbidden for foreigners to drive (apart from expatriates with a Vietnamese license); however it is possible to rent a car with a driver if you want to travel alone or with your family.
- PLANE
Flying is the fastest and most convenient way to travel long distances in Vietnam. Moreover, airline tickets purchased in Vietnam are quite cheap, whether you want to take a domestic flight within the country or an international flight to a neighboring country.
Before the departure, it is always better to let your guests know about the culture and traditions of their destination to ensure they will have a pleasant trip. That will help them avoid offending the local population as well as have a better understanding of their new environment. Regarding Vietnam, have a look below to discover the DOs and DON’Ts
Greeting & interactions with Vietnamese
- For a Vietnamese, it is important to know the age of a person, before their job or even their wealth, as it is what defines their status. Thus, being ‘old’ is a positive attribute in Vietnam and asking a person how old they are is something common and well appreciated.
When out in public - Please ask permission from locals before taking a photo. Particularly in the countryside or in the highlands.
- Keep smiling. Being rude to bargain/negotiate prices won’t help you. Traditionally, people in Vietnam (as in other Asian countries) are conditioned to control their emotions and keep calm in order to save face.
- Any affectionate physical contact between men and women is not appropriate in public. It is better to avoid showing your affection in public.
When visiting a temple or a pagoda - Take off your shoes and socks before entering any religious place. Let them both at the entrance and walk barefoot in the temple or the pagoda.
- Wear tee-shirt and shorts hiding at least your shoulders and your knees. Ideally, to avoid any problem wear trousers.
- Don’t wear hats or caps in the temples and pagodas.
When invited to someone’s home - Traditionally, when you want to offer something to someone or when you receive a gift/object from someone, you have to use both hands.
- Never hammer (tap) your chopsticks into your food (rice). This gesture reminds people of a ritual performed during a funeral.
- Follow ChildSafe Policy
LOCAL CURRENCY: VIETNAM DONG (VND)
The money in Vietnam is the Vietnam Dong. You can find notes of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000, 50 000, 100 000, and 500 000 VND. The official exchange rate is $1 = 24.780.02 VND (November 2022)
MONEY SUGGESTIONS
Major currencies can be exchanged practically anywhere in Vietnam, but not all exchange facilities are created equal. It can be easily exchanged in authorized shops and banks (Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank, etc.). Banks in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will exchange foreign currencies and most travelers’ cheques.
Continually bring new notes; any damaged or dirty notes will be charged an additional two percent of the note’s face value.
ATM AND CREDIT CARDS
International credit/debit cards such as VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted in most ATMs and shops/stores that accept card payments. With a foreign card, a small percentage of the amount withdrawn/paid will be charged; however, this amount remains relatively low. The money withdrawn at ATMs is always in Vietnam Dong.
TRAVELER CHEQUES
Only banks in big cities such as (Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh) keep accepting traveler cheques. We recommend you have another means of payment.
BARGAINING
Bargaining is part of the Vietnamese tradition. You have to remember that everything (or almost everything) is worth a specific price, but the price varies (sometimes a lot) according to the client. You can be sure that with your foreign face, you won’t be offered the best price…so bargaining is essential! You can even halve the price or even more sometimes. Be careful, however, not to offend the vendor, keep smiling, and stay polite in any circumstance. Don’t push too much, and do not bargain in any place. It is not welcome: shops with fixed prices are not open to negotiation.
TIPS
Tips are not part of the tradition of Vietnam. However, tipping is becoming more popular in some situations thanks to the many generous travelers that have preceded you.
For example, you can tip your guide after a day or several days of travel. You can also tip luggage porters and taxi drivers.
It is not usual to tip a waitress/ waiter.
When visiting temples or pagodas, you will usually see donation boxes near the entrance/exit where you can place some money. In this case, we do not call it tips but donations dedicated to the maintenance of the site. Vendors and other people within the venue may also invite you to pray with them with an incense stick, but if you accept, some of them will likely ask you for some money in exchange.
Overview:
The following items may be freely imported into Vietnam by travelers without incurring customs duty
1. For passengers 18 years of age and older:
a. tobacco products: 200 cigarettes, or 20 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;
b. alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages:
- liquor at 20% volume and above: 1,5 liters; or
- liquor below 20% volume: 2 liters; or
- other alcoholic beverages (excl. wines) and soft drinks: 3 liters;
c. tea, max. 5 kilograms; coffee, max. 3 kilograms;
2. A reasonable quantity of perfume and personal belongings;
3. Other goods, total value of which is not exceeding ten million VND (Vietnamese Dong).
Banned imports
Prohibited imports include weapons, ammunition, explosives, military equipment, antiques, drugs, toxic chemicals, immoral products, firecrackers, more than 200 cigarettes, and raw gold.
Banned Exports
Prohibited exports include weapons, ammunition, explosives, military equipment, antiques, drugs, toxic chemicals, wild animals, endangered plants and animals, documents related to national security, and raw gold.
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Vietnamese Dong-VND): no restrictions. Amounts exceeding VND 15,000,000.- must be declared on arrival.
Foreign currencies: no restrictions. Amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) must be declared on arrival. Amounts under USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) to be deposited in credit institutions and branches of foreign banks must also be declared on arrival.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Vietnamese Dong-VND): no restrictions. Amounts exceeding VND 15,000,000.- must be declared on departure.
Foreign currencies: no restrictions. Amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) must be declared upon. Proof of expenses is required.
Vaccinations
Officially, no vaccinations are required to enter Vietnam apart from travelers coming from countries with yellow fever transmission risks. However, if you travel to Vietnam you should do everything possible and take all required precautions to avoid becoming ill during your trip. Make sure that all your vaccinations are current and that you are vaccinated for Tetanus, Polio and Diphtheria. Other vaccines recommended include Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B (if you are in-country for over 3 months), Typhus and Tuberculosis, vaccinations against rabies and Japanese encephalitis are also advised.
Health Advice
- Drink plenty of fluids during the day (2 liters).
- Do not drink tap water in Vietnam. Only bottled water is drinkable.
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid eating unpeeled fruit or raw vegetables and ice.
- Most important: trust your gut feeling. If you don’t like your food, stop eating and do a double check when eating from street vendors.
– Keep a pull-over with you to cover yourself when the air conditioning is too cold or for cooler nights outside
Police: 113
Ambulance: 115
Fire department: 114
Pre-Departure Tasks
Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months before the expiry date and that you have the correct visa. Have a look at the visa requirements for more information. Consider medical, baggage and trip cancellation insurances.
Check with your doctor the vaccinations and medicines needed.
Clothes
- Clothing should be lightweight and of the drip dry variety. You will be in the sun a lot so long sleeves and a wide hat would be more suitable.
- Underwear should be synthetic and easily washable.
- Sleepwear.
- Shirts should be long sleeved and lightweight with lots of closed pockets.
- T-shirts, short sleeved and again with pockets.
- Cool evenings necessitate the need for pullovers or a lightweight jacket.
- A lightweight vest with lots of pockets will be handy for carrying your camera (and film) and binoculars.
- Long trousers made from a lightweight, quick-drying fabric should have multi pockets for day trips. Long trousers that turn into shorts are ideal.
- For trekking lightweight long shorts (for modesty purposes) are acceptable.
- Bathing suit should be modest so as not to offend the locals.
- Hat for protection from the sun. Should have a wide brim and a strap.
- A sturdy poncho or parka will help to keep your gear dry in case of rain or waterfall spray.
- Footwear: You will need some sturdy comfortable boots for trekking or just walking around. They will need to support your ankles as well as having a nonslip sole.
- Waterproof sandals for those short trips and boating.
- Some smart casual clothes for the evenings and visiting restaurants.
Pharmacy
- Insect repellent with the percentage of DEET recommended by your travel medicine physician. It’s important that you bring an ample supply of good quality repellent.
- Antiseptic wipes for hand washing and emergency toilet paper.
- Personal First Aid Kit (bring in small amounts and in small containers)
- Aspirin/ibuprofen, etc.
- Cold-symptom relief tablets, antihistamine, cough drops. Adequate quantity of sweat-resistant sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 rating or higher, and lip balm with sunscreen.
- Prescription medicines in their original bottles. Acidophilus enzyme (available in capsules in health-food stores). This often helps your digestive system get in shape for “new” flora.
- Immodium, Lomotil, or similar anti-diarrhea medicine. Pepto-Bismol.
Vaccinations
Officially, no vaccinations are required to enter Vietnam apart from travelers coming from countries with yellow fever transmission risks. However, if you travel to Vietnam you should do everything possible and take all required precautions to avoid becoming ill during your trip. Make sure that all your vaccinations are current and that you are vaccinated for Tetanus, Polio and Diphtheria. Other vaccines recommended include Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B (if you are in-country for over 3 months), Typhus and Tuberculosis, vaccinations against rabies and Japanese encephalitis are also advised.
