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1. VISA
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Most visitors are required to obtain valid visas to enter Vietnam. Entry visas
can be obtained at Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in many countries.
The requirements to obtain visas at Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam will
include:
Original passport
02 passport-size photos
Visa fee
Application forms (Please contact any Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam most
convenient to you)
You are required to send the above documentations and payment for visa stamp
fee to the Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam which is most convenient to you. You
will be replied by post, therefore, make sure you provide stamped envelops with
your name and correct mailing address.
Visas may also be obtained upon arrival for those who are invitees of competent
Vietnamese companies or for tourists traveling on package tours organized by
Vietnamese tour operators.
It is easier to obtain visas by using visa arrangement services provided by
Vietnamese travel agencies. The necessary information to be provided to the
travel agencies include:
Full name >
Date and place of birth
Nationality
Profession
Passport number, place of issue, date of issue and expiry date
Entry and exit dates Country you plan to receive your entry visa from the
Vietnamese embassies or consulates
For overseas Vietnamese overseas, the following information is required:
Year and reason to leave Vietnam
Leave Vietnam by means
Full names and addresses of relatives in Vietnam
Visa Extension: this service is available at all travel agencies.
Visa Exemption: Visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which
have signed a bilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, including
Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Laos. Vietnam also
made a unilateral decision on visa exemption for citizens of Japan and Korea.
2. AIR ACCESS
Apart from Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines, there are a number of
international ones having access to Vietnam All Nippon Airways, Air France,
Aeroflot, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific
Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Czech Airlines, Eva Air,
Emirates Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,
Korean Airlines, Lao Aviation, Lauda Air, Lufthansa German Airlines, Malaysia
Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Cambodian Airlines,
Singapore Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airways, Siem Reap Air,
Swiss Air and Thai Airways International, United Airlines, etc.
3. CLIMATE
Vietnam is located in both the tropical and temperate zone. The annual average
temperature is between 22oC and 27oC. The average rainfall is from 1,500 to
2,000 mm and the humidity ranges around 80% In general, there are big
difference in climate between the South and the North of Vietnam. While there
are only 02 seasons (rainy and sunny) in the South, the North of Vietnam is
strongly influenced by the temperate zone climate with 04 distinct seasons.
4. CURRENCY
The Vietnamese unit of currency is DONG. There are both notes and coins
currently in use. Notes are in denominations of 500,000; 100,000; 50,000;
20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 1,000; 500 and 200 dong. Coins consist of 5,000; 2,000;
1,000; 500; 200 and 100 dong.
US dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted even at local shops. It
is recommended that all foreign currencies should be exchanged at hotel
cashiers, banks or other government's authorized agents.
5. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
All visitors are required to fill out customs declaration forms upon their
arrivals. A copy of the customs declaration form should be kept and handed over
to the customs officers on their departures
On arrivals, visitors are allowed to bring in the following duty-free items:
Cigarettes: 400
Cigars: 50-100
Tobacco: 100 g
Liquor: 1.5 l.
Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 300.
Note :
There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems that
visitors may bring in, but amounts of over US$ 3,000 must be declared.
The following items are prohibited:
Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
Opium and other narcotics.
Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.
Infected animals, plants or foodstuffs.
Upon departures, please note that goods of commercial nature and articles of
high value require export permits issued by the customs authorities. Antiques,
some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam's red-book may not be
brought out of the country.
6. LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. In major cities and tourist
destinations, a large number of local people can converse in English. Most
travel agencies can also provide experienced tour guides fluent in English,
French, Russian, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), etc.
7. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1, 2005
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New Year's Day (One day holiday)
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February 9, 2005
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Lunar New Year (Four-day holiday)
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April 30, 2005
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Saigon Liberation Day (One day holiday)
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May 1, 2005
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International Labor Day (One day holiday)
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September 2, 2005
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National Day (One day holiday)
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8. OTHER USEFUL TIPS
Apart from Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines, there are a number of
international ones
Vietnam time: GMT + 7
Office hours:
All government offices are open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00
p.m. (with one-hour lunch break) and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
All government offices are open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00
p.m. (with one-hour lunch break) and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
In local areas, offices are open from 7:00 am to 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00p.m.
to 5:00 p.m.
Banks are open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m and closed on Saturday afternoons and
Sundays.
Private shops are open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. ciated
Electrical current:
220 volts A.C.
Airport tax:
Airport tax is applied to every passenger on every departure International
flights:
US$ 14.00/person (Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi)
US$ 12.00/person (Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City)
US$ 8.00/person (Da Nang Airport, Da Nang)
No tax for children under two.
Domestic flights: included in airfares.
Important telephone numbers:
Police : 113
Fire brigade : 114
Ambulance : 115
International operator: 110
Gratuity is not a must and highly appreciated
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