Useful Tips
What to bring
Personal papers:
Passport / Visa for Vietnam / Travel insurance / Flight tickets / All confirmation vouchers / Passport photos for different needs / Last updated information for your trip.
Clothing and luggage:
Depending of the seasonal time of the year, you will have to bring suitable clothings. Light windbreaker / Comfortable walking shoes / Convenient clothings for different time zones, weather and temperature / Suitable clothings for temples and pagodas (ex: no shorts, skirts or revealing sleeveless shirts or blouses, etc…
Money:
ATM machines are available everywhere in Vietnam and AGRIBANK has the best services, exchange rates and fees and works with all international ATM cards. Keep small amounts of Vietnam Dong with you at all time for daily activities and transportation.
Personal travel items:
If needed, hair dryer, beach towels, shaving kit, toiletries, etc can be purchase anywhere at hotels or shoppes in Vietnam.
Electric equipment:
Internet connection and Wi-Fi is available free of charge everywhere in Vietnam. Voltage is 220V so you ought to bring electrical adapter if necessary. Chargers and pre-charged batteries are necessary on a long trip.
Quick facts
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PASSPORT VALIDITY: |
Must have 6 months’ validity remaining |
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BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: |
One visa page required for entry stamp |
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TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: |
Necessary |
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VACCINATIONS: |
Not required |
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CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY: |
None. However Vietnamese Dong in excess of 150,000,000 VND or foreign currency up to the amount of 10,000 U.S. dollars or equivalent must be declared. |
Weather
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Month |
Average sunlight |
Min |
Ha Long Temp. |
Max |
Hanoi Temp. |
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Northern Vietnam ( Hanoi – Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay ) is monsoonal with hot and rainy season from April to September and cool dry season from October to March. October and Novembeare the best months to visit since you avoid the flow of domestic tourists and also experience a more comfortable temperature and humidity compared with other months.
Central Vietnam ( Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An ) received dry and hot Southwest wind which makes it strenuous for any brisk walk during the day. Closer to the beach, the level of severity reduced and the dry wind is replaced by cool ocean breeze. Because of the limited land area, central Vietnam is also most susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricane or flooding. The paradox is it is also where most beautiful beaches lie.
Southern Vietnam ( Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Can Tho, Phu Quoc ) is typically hot all year round with two main seasons: rainy and dry. It is also the mosst predictable region in terms of weather. Summer months from May to August might not be the best time to hit the road since most tourist destinations are packed with tourists and downpours happen quite frequently.
The Mountain area in Northwest, Northeast and South Central Vietnam see little fluctuation in weather conditions. It is fairly cool all year round and a great place to escape the heat from cities. The rainy season is also from May to September. At the extreme you can see snow or flurry in December or January in Sa Pa.
Traditional Vietnamese Food
In the past few years Vietnamese food has become more and more popular around the world. Food lovers may have tried the two best known Vietnamese dishes – spring rolls and bread rolls. Rice, noodles, fresh vegetables and herbs all play big roles in Vietnamese food, making it one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.
Pho
This simple staple, consisting of a salty beef or chicken broth, fresh rice noodles, a sprinkling of herbs and chicken or beef, features predominantely in the local diet. Its cheap, tasty and widely available at all hours.
Bun Cha
Small patties of seasoned pork and slices of marinated pork belly over a charcoal fire. Once they’re charred and crispy, the morsels are served with a bowl of a fish sauce-heavy broth, a basket of herbs and a helping of rice noodles. Bun Cha sets often come with the delicious Nem Cua Be – fried crab spring rolls.
Xoi
Savory sticky rice, a glutinous staple with any number of mix-ins ( from slivers of chicken or pork to fried or preserved eggs), but almost always with a scattering of dried shallots on top.
Banh Xeo
A crispy crepe bulging with pork shrimp and bean sprouts, plus the garnish of fresh herbs that are characteristic of most authentic Vietnamese dishes. Cut it into manageable slices, roll it up in rice paper or lettuce leaves and dunk it in whatever special sauce the chef has mixed up for you.
Goi Cuon
Fresh spring rolls, translucent parcels packed with salad greens, a sliver of meat or seafood and a layer of coriander, before been neatly rolled and dunked in fish sauce. In the north these fried parcels go by the name Nem Ram, while southerners call them Cha Gio. The crispy shells surrounds a soft veggie and meat filling.
Bun Bo Nam Bo
Bowl of vermicelli noodles, comes without broth, keeping the ingredients from becoming sodden and the various textures intact. The tender slices of beef mingle with crunchy peanuts and bean sprouts and are flavoured with fresh herbs, crisp dried shallots and a splash of fish sauce and fiery chili pepper.
Banh Mi
Sandwiches. In the north, chefs stick to the basic elements of carbohydrate, fat and protein ( bread, margarine and pate ). In the south, it may contain a more colorful combination of cheese, cold cuts, pickled vegetables, sausage, fried egg, fresh cilantro and chili sauce.
Ca Phe Trung
Vietnamese “egg coffee” is technically a drink, but we prefer to put it in the dessert category. The creamy soft, meringue-like egg white foam perched on the dense Vietnamese coffee will have even those who don’t normally crave a cup of coffee licking their spoons with delight.
Ha Long – Quang Ninh Traditional Food
Cha Muc
Squid Sausage. Cha Muc is the most famous food of Quang Ninh province and also in the top 50 specialties of Vietnam. The crunchy and delicate texture of this specific variety of squid from Ha Long, and the juicy flavor and attractive aroma of this dish goes perfectly well with Xoi (boiled rice, sticky rice) or Banh Cuon (a type of thin, steamed rice cake).
Bun Tom
Rice vermicelli noodle. Served with lettuce and some slices of red chili, this soft, white thread of rice vermicelli noodle harmonized with reddish shrimps and tomatoes, together with green onion, taro and yellow grilled chopped fish make a colorful, attractive and lively dish. More special is a sour taste of tamarind broth seasoned with common spices like vinegar or lemon.
Banh Gat Gu
Cake from steaming rice flour mixture. The cake is dipped in a special sauce, along with a piece of caramelized pork. The feeling of cool, soft cake and juicy pork is an enchanting culinary experience.
APPLYING FOR A VISA TO VISIT VIETNAM
Step 1: Complete the online application form.
You will apply online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam website. You may complete the application in English, German, French, or Vietnamese.
During the application process, you will select the consulate where you will submit your application. Select the one in your country of citizenship or country of residence.
Step 2: Print out the completed application.
Once it is printed, you will sign it at the bottom in the block marked “applicant signature” in blue ink to indicate an original document and attach one copy of your passport-sized photograph, and your original passport.
Step 3: Pay the processing fee.
Fees may vary depending on the country where you are applying. To confirm the exact fee, including any special services, contact the consulate where you will be submitting your application.
The fee must be made payable to the “Embassy of Vietnam” and paid via money order or cashier’s check in the currency of the country where you are applying.
If you do not include the correct fee, your application will be returned unprocessed or denied.
Step 4: Include a prepaid return enveloppe.
In order to have your passport returned safely, along with your visa, use a secure service with tracking information such as Federal Express or others.
The recommended envelop is either a 9 X 12 inch manila envelope (or equivalent) or the standard document envelop provided by the secure shipping service.
The return postage amount for the consulate to return the package to you will be the same amount as you had to pay to send it to the consulate.
Step 5: Receive your visa.
Once you submit your completed visa application to the appropriate consulate, expect the processing time of five working days. Adding in time for return mail, you should have your passport with your visa to visit Vietnam affixed to it within two weeks. You may now proceed with finalizing your travel plans.
Completing your application online will avoid the most common mistake, which is omitting required information. If you have left a required field blank, the application will ask you to fix the error.
If you have a valid passport and completed every section of the application, you should be granted a visa. If you are denied, contact the consulate where you applied for an explanation and ask if you can reapply. If the authorities refuse to give an explanation, it is likely that your visa has been denied for a political reason and will not be granted under any circumstances.
Preparing to apply for a visa
Step 1: Obtain a passport from your home country.
If you do not already a valid passport, you will need to get one before you apply for visa to visit Vietnam. Most state departments will require your birth certificate, proof of residence, headshot photos, a completed application, and the appropriate fee. Some countries may require an in-person interview.
Processing time will vary, but you should allow four to six weeks.
If you already have a passport, it must have at least six months of validity past the date you expect to exit Vietnam.
Step 2: Secure computer access.
In order to apply for a visa to visit Vietnam, you must have access to a computer with reliable Internet access to fill out the application form. Once you begin the application, you must complete it within 15 minutes or it may time out and you will lose your work.
You must have an e-mail address to receive your application confirmation and other documents.
The computer must have Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF-compatible software to open the documents.
You will need to be able to print your visa application and other documents.
Step 3: Take your visa photo.
To complete the visa application, you will need a photo that is less than one year old. The photo must have physical measurements of 4 X 6 cm (or approximately 2 X 2 ½ inches). This is a standard passport size.
The photo must have a white or light background and show your full face. You cannot be wearing a hat or tinted glasses. Both of your ears must be visible.
If you are having photos taken for your passport application, you can use the same photo if it meets the specifications.
Step 4: Detail your travel plans.
To complete your visa application, you will need to know your entry date and your exit date, if you will be leaving the country during your visit and the address where you will be staying. You will also need to give the name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of an emergency contact.
If you are travelling for personal reasons, such as tourism, you can receive a visa for either 30 days or 3 months.
You can apply for a visa up to six months before your departure date. While visas can be expedited for emergencies, for a standard travel visa, apply at least 30 days before your departure to leave time for processing.
Do not finalize your travel plans until you have your visa in hand. Applications are occasionally rejected for reasons that the Vietnamese authorities will not explain. If you are rejected, there is no appeal. If you need an emergency visa, contact the Vietnam embassy in your home country for procedures and fees.