Population: 95 million

Capital City: Hanoi

People: 54 ethnic minorities

Language: Vietnamese

Currency: Vietnam Dong (VND)

Time Zone: GMT +7 Hours

International Dialing Code: +84

Lying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S” which borders China to the north, and Laos and Cambodia to the west. Its natural borders include the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest, the South China Sea, and the Gulf of Tonkin off the eastern shores. The country’s total length from north to south is 1,650 km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600 at the widest point in the north, 400kms in the south, and 50kms at the narrowest part, in the center, of Quang Binh Province. The coastline is 3,260 km long and the inland border is 4,510 km. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

I. PASSPORT

Passports should be valid for six months from the date of entry into Vietnam. We recommend you make a photocopy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate or scan it and keep it in an accessible email account. PLEASE MAKE SURE NONE OF THE PAGES IN YOUR PASSPORT ARE TORN OFF OR MISSING AS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE COUNTRY

II. VISA

Visitors must have a visa before entering Vietnam, and a visa on arrival can only be obtained with a letter of approval. A visa on arrival is granted to many nationalities for stays of 15 days or less. VAC Travel can arrange this for you. Otherwise, you must apply online or at the embassy for all 30- to 90-day single or multiple-entry visas. Some nationalities are eligible for visa exemption. Please click here and check your condition for the Vietnam entry visa here with the link. https://www.vietnam-immigration.org.vn to see if you are exempted from a visa to Vietnam.

If you are not close to a Vietnamese Embassy to personally apply for your visa, please share with us and we will support you in getting the arrival visa at the international airport in Vietnam ( look at the visa service detail Here).

III. PHONE & INTERNET SERVICES

The Vietnamese postal service is reliable and there are also courier services widely available. Do not put postcards into letterboxes. Please give them to your hotel to post or go to a post office. Telephone connections to the rest of the world are widely available, however, they aren’t cheap. A Vietnamese SIM card is a less expensive way of calling other countries. However, your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work. 200,000 VND ($10) worth of phone credit can last for up to 25 minutes to the US. Internet access is available in all major hotels and WiFi can be found in most cafes in developed areas.

IV. TRANSPORTATION

At a first, glance, crossing the road in Vietnam may seem impossible. Newcomers can spend a considerable amount of time trying to find a gap in the stream of motorcycles, only to be led across the road by a sympathetic local. After a bit of practice, most travelers realize it is much easier than it looks. There is a rhythm to Vietnamese traffic that, with a predictable stride and a bit of bravery, will flow around you like water as you cross to the other side unscathed.

V. TAXI

Taxis can be easily found in Vietnam’s major cities and are a popular means of transportation for visitors. The most reputable companies include Thanh Cong and Taxi Group in the north, and Vina Sun, and Mai Linh in the south. Motorbike taxis, or “xe oms” are not recommended for tourists. Pricing is unregulated and commutes are often dangerous. This mode of transport is not recommended by VAC Travel and there is no travel insurance policies with this option.

VI. WEATHER

Vietnam lies in the Southeast Asia inter-tropical monsoon zone. There are neither good nor bad seasons to visit. When one region is wet, it is sunny and warm somewhere else. The average temperature ranges from 20°C/68°F to 32°C/90°F. The hottest seasons are March and April in the south (Ho Chi Minh City), and June and July in the north (Hanoi). The rainy season is from May to October in the south. The Central Highlands enjoys a milder climate year-round. Vietnam is a long and narrow country in a tropical region, and the climate can be different between Northern, Central, and Southern regions. Therefore, don’t expect the same weather while traveling in the country. You may have warm, beautiful weather in the South, but it can be cold in the Northern border regions, so please pack properly before traveling to Vietnam. 

VII. CLOTHING & MISCELLANEOUS

Know where you are traveling and the weather you should expect. Traveling to a tropical area you will expect to see mosquitoes, so bring some long-sleeved shirts and long pants for evenings. Traveling to Asia it is frowned upon to wear shorts that are 6 in. above the knee, especially when visiting temples or places of worship. Wearing a dress is fine if you plan to dress lightly.

VIII. HOLIDAYS

There are many holidays in Vietnam, almost one for every occasion. Western holidays are celebrated in Vietnam but not as official national holidays.

TET: The Lunar New Year. The celebration of the Lunar New Year falls between January and February on the Western calendar and changeable dates year after year. Officially three days long, but Vietnamese will spend for weeks. It is a time for the spirits of ancestors home and make temple pilgrimages. TET holiday is also a time for Family reunions to eat, drink, and cheer for the best luck of the upcoming year. We suggest you visit Vietnam before or after TET for a week. Because of the actual date of the TET celebration most stores and shops are closed and food prices are much higher than usual and fewer choices of services.

IX. FOOD

Vietnamese cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients and health. The national dish is Pho, or noodle soup, spring rolls which are very popular on any menu at any restaurant even a small store on the street.

X. HEALTH

Travelers are advised to be up-to-date on pneumonia, tetanus, typhoid, and polio immunizations. Bottled water is available throughout the country. Always keep hydrated as you are traveling in a warm humid region where you can lose fluids quickly from perspiration. There are still some issues regarding sanitation and tropical diseases, such as dengue fever in some periods of the year, but Vietnam is less susceptible to malaria due to the local government’s constant educational awareness of malaria prevention. Tap water is not potable anywhere but it’s safe for brushing teeth. Bottled water is abundant and can be purchased anywhere in the country (foreign and local brands). Avoid eating raw (uncooked) vegetables for the first 2 or 3 days until your body adjusts to local cuisine. The restaurants in larger cities like Hanoi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), food preparation is to world standards.

XI. SHOPPING

Vietnam is a shopper’s paradise. Here are a few tips before making purchases: Wood products are better purchased in the south, and ceramics in the north. Fine handicrafts, embroidered articles, rattan and bamboo products, lacquerware, and marble carvings of high quality can also be found. Silk in Vietnam is of some of the highest quality in the world. Women and men can have clothing custom-tailored in a day or two. Jewelry can also be made to customer specifications. Precious stones should only be bought from the government jewelry company (SJC) as they have certification of origination, which you will need when you leave Vietnam and reenter your home country. Please let us know if you would like recommendations. If fine jewelry is too cheap to be true, then it’s too cheap to be true! Negotiation is part of the culture in Asia, mostly in the markets or small shops (starting at 20-30% below).   It can be fun to negotiate on items without a price tag. In the end, it comes down to what the seller is willing to sell and what the buyer is willing to pay, so don’t stress over good deals or bad deals.  But do be aware that precious stones should be purchased from a government-certified shop with the certification of authentication. 

XII. TRAVEL INSURANCE

XIII. TIPPING

Tipping is always a sensitive matter for visitors to a country with different cultural expectations than the country you are from. You don’t want to overtip, but at the same time not under the tip. Some countries don’t accept tips. Our philosophy for tipping in Vietnam is, if someone has done a good job it’s always nice to acknowledge their service. Our friendly suggestions: Tipping 2 USD (50,000 VND) for hotel porters are welcomed. Tipping Guides (2 travelers): 15-20 USD/day; (4-6 travelers): 30-50 USD/day. Drivers (2 travelers): 10-15 USD/day; (4-6 travelers) 20 USD/day.. Tipping is not expected but appreciated. Tip only if they’ve done a good job, and tip as you feel at the end of their service. Tipping in restaurants is not expected either but if the waiter provided good service then you can leave a tip in the local currency of about 2 USD (50,000 VND).