There is almost every reason for you to visit Vietnam.
The country is filled with beautiful landscapes of rice paddy fields and tea hills, with world class beaches and globally renowned cuisines. Vietnamese people are famous for being hospitable and friendly. The culture is rich. The history is long and dramatic enough for you to spend years understanding. You won’t be disappointed should you expect something radically different from your country of origin. Yes, every country is different but Vietnam is unique.
If you are a solo traveller who wants to trot the globe, you find a milestone in your trip. Vietnam is a must-come destination for many individual who seek to see the world with their backpack and Birkenstocks. Food and accommodation are competitive both in price and quality compared with other popular countries. You will find yourself having a beer on the pavement with someone else and soon making plenty of local friends all around.
If you are looking for honeymoon opportunity, Vietnam can be second-to-none. There are five-star hotels and resorts near the world most beautiful beaches, side by side with wild experience of climbing the Fansipan- the highest mount in Indochina. You can have a romantic dinner on a sailed boat along Perfume River or walk hand-in-hand along the Love Valley in Da Lat.
If you think holiday is time for your spouses and kids, bear in mind that Vietnam is one of the most family-friendly spots in the world. There are many family-oriented activities such as going camping in national park, bird watching, having a boat ride around Halong Bay or even simply taking a peaceful walk in world heritage site of Hoi An. You will learn and enjoy as much as your children do.
Whoever you are, whenever you think of your next destination, consider Vietnam.
Money and Costs
One of the constant worries for non-package tour travellers is to budget for the trip. The good news is, it is relatively cheap both to live and to travel in Vietnam. A 5 star hotel in major tourist destinations in Vietnam would cost you the same as what you pay for a 2 star hotel in New York or Toronto. Here is a basic glance of how much things cost in Vietnam. The rule is that Hanoi and Hochiminh City will be more expensive than smaller cities like Hue or Hoi An and much more costly than the countryside area.
Accommodation:
It depends on how much luxury you want but you can find a hostel dorm for as little as $5 and a five-star resort for as much as $500. The condition varies greatly but in general, staffs are friendly and welcoming across the country.
Food:
"The cheaper the food, the better it is”, say a Vietnamese expat in Hanoi. Believe it or not, street food is a culture thing that you can’t afford to miss when visiting Vietnam. A bowl of Pho (which is filling for a meal) costs about 15,000 in local place and 55,000 in upper scale restaurant. A set menu in high-end restaurant is about $15-$30, depending on restaurant venues and chefs’ prestige. For budget travellers, you will be pleased to know that you can get by a day with $10 spent on food.
Museum entrance fees:
Most museums and arts galleries cost you less than $2. There is no discount for students with valid card or for seniors. Depending on site, admissions for children less than 12 years old are free.
Entertainment:
The most luxurious movie ticket will cost you about $5, well below the Western standard. For music shows it depends on where you go- a concert at Hanoi Opera House vary between $10-30 while a show at tea house will cost you only drinks.
If you plan to go out for the night, avoid bringing excessive money in case of theft. A cocktail will not cost you more than $5.
Thanks to policies to promote tourism, custom regulations in Vietnam today are getting simpler than ever before. However, as a sensible visitor, you should pay attention to basic information about essential documentation and things you are obliged and not obliged to bring along on arrival at and departure from Vietnam.
Documents:
For a start, even though valid passport and entry visa or visa approval letter to Vietnam are generally required for all visitors; travelers of some countries such as Finland, Norway, Japan, Korea and members of ASEAN are exempted from visa with 15-30 day validity according to unilateral and bilateral visa exemption agreements of Vietnam government. Others visitors may obtain visa at Embassies & General consulates of Vietnam, travel agencies or on arrival. Visa on arrival means that you attain visa approval by Vietnam Immigration office in advance and get visa stamped on your arrival. For more detailed information, please check our pages about visa to Vietnam.
Goods and products:
Please be noted at things you are allowed and not allowed to bring in and out Vietnam:
Duty-Free
You are able to bring the maximum amount of the followings; otherwise, it is mandatory to declare and pay import taxes:
Cigarettes: 400, cigars: 100
Tobacco: 100 gram
Liquor: 1.5 liters
Perfume and jewellery for personal use
Souvenirs and gift items valued at not more than US$ 300
Materials Under Declaration
There are no restrictions on the amount of currency, gold, precious metals and stones; however, you have to declare on the customs forms provided that your luggage includes:
Foreign currency: in excess of US$ 7,000
Vietnam Dong: in excess of VND15.000.000
Gold: in excess of 300gr
Gold and jewellery not for personal use
Video tapes, CDs… (CDs and tapes are often kept for screening and returned to you after a few days)
Banned Materials
Things below should be excluded from your luggage:
Weapon, ammunition, explosives and inflammable objects;
Military technical equipment; drugs, opium and other narcotics;
Anti-government literature; pornographic literature, etc.
On top of this; antiques, some types of precious stones, wild animals, rare and precious plants listed in Vietnam’s red-book could not be exported.
Visitors are normally required to fill in arrival-departure forms and also custom forms on condition that you bring things that require declaration or exceed duty-free norm. Nevertheless, from 15 November 2010, arrival-departure forms are exempted for all visitors in all international airports and 12 border checkpoints in Vietnam. Thus, it is likely that may not have to fill in any form when you visit Vietnam. Just go and enjoy your trip!
Please be noted that this is only a brief summary and that customs regulation in Vietnam are subject to change at any time. So, always double check all information before making any important decisions. The Vietnamese Customs maintain an extremely informative website which you can refer to: http://www.customs.gov.vn/English/Lists/CustomsFormalities/Traveller.aspx
Airlines:
Vietnam Airlines(Hanoi): (84-4) 3832 0320
Singapore Airlines: 844. 38268888 7
Vietnam Airlines (HCMC): (84-8) 3832 0320
Thai Airways: 844. 38266893
Vietnam Airlines (Danang): (84-511) 3811 111
United Airlines: (84 8) 38234755
AirAsia: (84 4) 39 28 82 82
Qantas Airlines: 844. 3934247
Air France : 844. 38253484
Malaysia Airlines: 844. 38268820
All Nippon Airways: 844. 39347202
Japan Airlines: 844. 38266693
British Airways: 844. 39347301
Cathay Pacific: 844. 38267298
