VISA Almost all visitors are required to have valid visa to enter
Vietnam-Cambodia and Laos, except citizens of countries which are granted visa
exemption such as Thailand, the Philippines, Cuba, Japan, France… Entry visas
are obtainable at Vietnam Embassy/Consulate/Diplomatic Mission, passports of
6-months’ validity are required. A 30-day tourist visa is usually sufficient for
visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month or 6-month multiple entry
visas for business people. In order to conveniently obtain a visa, each visitor
is kindly requested to send the following information to Viettours at least 2
weeks before the entry date:
- Full name
- DOB (dd/mm/yy)
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Passport number
- Date of issue/Expiry date (dd/mm/yy)
- Arrival date (dd/mm/yy)
- Departure date (dd/mm/yy)
- Place where you will pick up your visa
After 3-4 working days, the visitor
will receive a faxed letter of visa approval from Viettours. The applicant has
to fill out 2 application forms and present his/her valid passport and the visa
approval upon collecting his/her visa at Vietnam Embassy/Consulate/Diplomatic
Mission concerned. In emergency cases, Viettours can arrange visas on arrival at
international ports at 24 hours’ notice. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Visitors must fill
out customs declaration forms on arrival. The copy should be kept for departure.
Entry: Tourists are authorized to bring
the following items duty free: Cigatettes:400,
Cigars: 50-100, Tobacco: 100gr, Liquor:1.5 liters. On the customs declaration
forms, you are expected to declare:
- Cameras, camcorders, and other electronic equipments
not for personal use.
- Jewelry not for personal use.
- Cash of US$7,000 or equivalent.
- Video tapes (they may be kept for a few days and
screened).
It is prohibited for any
visitor to bring the following items to Vietnam:
- Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
- Opium and other narcotics.
- Cultural material unsuitable to Vietnam
society.
- Infected animals, plants or foodstuffs.
Exit: 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. TRAVEL
DOCUMENTS The Travel Planner you will receive
after reserving your Viettours vacation contains details about documentation
required for your trip. International travel requires a valid passport and U.S.
citizens may also need to obtain a visa for certain countries. If you do not
have a passport and/or need a visa, contact the appropriate consulate nearest
you.
U.S State Department Passport Services Online passport information and applications for U.S.
citizens. If you need your visa expedited, please contact Zierer Visa
Service as soon as possible. Zierer Visa
Service can help obtain your passport, visa or birth certificate. ZVS
specializes in fast, dependable, overnight and same day passport and visa
services. After 50 years of being in business, and the experience gained by
processing millions of travel documents, you are guaranteed to have your visas
and passports handled quickly, accurately and professionally. Service fees do
apply. CLIMATE Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate that varies significantly from the
North to the South. Please go to the previous web page for further information
about weekly weather forecast or visit the weather websites for daily weather
forecast: www.cnn.com or at www.weather.com. Average temperature in major cities in Vietnam:
| Destination |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
Apr. |
May |
Jun. |
Jul. |
Aug. |
Sep. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| Hanoi |
16.6 |
17.1 |
19.9 |
23.5 |
27.1 |
28.7 |
28.8 |
28.3 |
27.2 |
26.6 |
21.2 |
17.9 |
| Halong |
16.2 |
16.4 |
19.1 |
22.6 |
26.4 |
27.9 |
28.2 |
27.6 |
26.8 |
24.4 |
21.1 |
17.7 |
| Dien Bien |
16.3 |
17.8 |
20.2 |
23.4 |
25.5 |
25.7 |
25.7 |
25.5 |
24.8 |
22.6 |
19.5 |
16.5 |
| Sapa |
8.90 |
9.90 |
13.7 |
16.8 |
18.8 |
19.7 |
19.8 |
19.5 |
18.2 |
15.7 |
12.4 |
9.80 |
| Hue |
20.1 |
21.4 |
22.9 |
25.9 |
28.1 |
29.2 |
29.2 |
28.9 |
16.9 |
25.0 |
23.3 |
21.0 |
| Da Nang |
21.4 |
22.5 |
23.6 |
25.7 |
27.7 |
29.0 |
28.8 |
28.6 |
27.0 |
25.4 |
24.0 |
22.0 |
| Qui Nhon |
22.8 |
23.8 |
25.1 |
27.1 |
28.5 |
29.6 |
29.7 |
29.6 |
28.1 |
26.3 |
25.2 |
23.6 |
| Pleiku |
19.1 |
20.4 |
23.0 |
23.3 |
23.6 |
22.6 |
22.2 |
22.6 |
21.6 |
21.4 |
21.1 |
18.8 |
| Da Lat |
16.7 |
16.9 |
18.2 |
19.2 |
19.8 |
19.6 |
19.1 |
19.0 |
18.8 |
18.3 |
17.7 |
16.2 |
| Nha Trang |
23.8 |
24.5 |
25.8 |
25.6 |
28.1 |
28.2 |
28.0 |
28.0 |
27.2 |
26.3 |
25.2 |
24.4 |
| HCM City |
25.8 |
26.7 |
27.9 |
29.0 |
28.1 |
27.3 |
26.8 |
27.0 |
26.6 |
26.6 |
26.4 |
25.6 |
| Can Tho |
26.5 |
27.0 |
28.1 |
28.8 |
27.7 |
27.2 |
27.5 |
27.4 |
27.1 |
27.3 |
27.2 |
26.2 | Humidity, Rainy Season, Dry Season, Annual Rainfalls in major cities in
VNM:
|
City/Town |
Humid (%) |
Rainy Season |
Dry Season |
Annual Rainfall |
Hottest Month (°C) |
Coldest Month (°C) |
|
Hanoi |
83 |
May-Oct |
Nov-Apr |
1680 mm |
Jun/32.8 |
Jan/13.8 |
|
Halong |
82 |
May-Oct |
Nov-Apr |
1994 |
Jul/31.6 |
Jan/13.5 |
|
Dien Bien |
84 |
Apr-Sep |
Oct-Mar |
1567 |
May/32.2 |
Jan/11.0 |
|
Sapa |
87 |
Mar-Nov |
Dec-Feb |
2769 |
Aug/23.2 |
Jan/06.2 |
|
Hue |
88 |
Jul-Jan |
Feb-Jun |
2890 |
Aug/34.5 |
Jan/17.2 |
|
Da Nang |
83 |
Jul-Jan |
Feb-Jun |
1974 |
Jun/34.2 |
Jan/19.0 |
|
Qui Nhon |
81 |
Sep-Dec |
Jan-Aug |
1647 |
Aug/34.5 |
Jan/20.6 |
|
Pleiku |
85 |
May-Oct |
Nov-Apr |
2684 |
Apr/30.7 |
Jan/14.0 |
|
Dalat |
84 |
Apr-Nov |
Dec-Mar |
1820 |
Apr/26.8 |
Feb/10.0 |
|
NhaTrang |
82 |
Sep-Dec |
Jan-Aug |
1441 |
Aug/33.2 |
Jan/20.5 |
|
HCM City |
82 |
May-Nov |
Dec-Apr |
1979 |
Apr/34.8 |
Jan/21.0 |
|
Can Tho |
82 |
May-Nov |
Dec-Apr |
1560 |
Apr/33.9 |
Jan/21.9 | WHAT TO WEAR Throughout the year, it
is advisable to wear summer clothing: thin clothes in light color. In December
and January, warm clothes are recommended for visits to the Northern provinces.
It is advisable to bring umbrellas or raincoats in the rainy season from May to
November in southern, Northern Vietnam and Cambodia, from August to January in
Central Vietnam and Laos. The wearing of suites for business is now common in
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Vientian. Dress should be respectable,
especially if entering religious premises such as temples and pagodas.
CURRENCY
The currency of Vietnam is the dong, Cambodia is the real
and Laos is the kip which should be used for all shopping and business
transactions. Dong notes (there are no coins) come in dominations of 200d, 500d,
1,000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d and 500,000d. Credit
cards (American, Visa, Master, JCB) and travelers’ cheques are accepted at
hotels, restaurant, souvenir shops, banks or authorized foreign exchange offices
at the airport. The U.S dollar is also widely accepted. SECURITY In the big cities,
do not bring along valuables as you go shopping or sightseeing in the street. It
is dispensable to give alms to beggars and banks or authorized exchange bureaus.
Do not change money in the street. It is advisable not to ride on pedicabs or
“honda-om” (motorcycle taxis) on your own. ELECTRICITY Electricity current in
Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos is usually 220v although you can sometimes find 110v.
Plugs can be of the American flat pin design or the European round pin variety.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes
from hotels and post offices although be warned these services are expensive.
Cyber cafes are becoming popular in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phom Penh and
Vientian. Post cards can be bought at all the main tourist sites and stamps are
available from post offices and some hotel reception desks. Please note that the
AT&T worldwide phone card does not work in Vietnam-Cambodia&Laos, you
will be charged 2 times if using it. LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the national language in
Vietnam, Cambodia has its own language and Laos has the language which is quite
similar to Thai. Beside, English, French, Cantonese and Japanese are spoken by
hotel staff. RELIGION Buddhism is the dominant religion in Vietnam-Cambodia and Laos
usually combined with elements of Confucianism and Taoism. About 10% of the
country’s population are Catholic and there are also communities of Protestants
and Muslims. Vietnam is also home to a unique religion called Cao Dai, a
religion cocktails of all the world’s major faiths. TAXI Taxis with meters are available
in big cities. The current price is about US1.00 per kilometer. Most metered
taxi drivers can speak a little English. FILM
AND DEVELOPING Negative film is widely
available. Popular brands are Fuji, Kodak, Agfa, Konica,... Positive color print
film is only obtainable in HCM City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh and Vientian. One-hour
service photo shop are ubiquitous in tourist areas. Positive film can be
developed only in big cities. SHOPPING
The following items are preferred by
foreigner travelers:
- Caved wooden furniture, fine lacquer wares (these
can be shipped home on request).
- Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk dresses,
kimonos, embroidery, etc.
- Simulated antiques, fine ceramics, old watches or
zippo lighters, etc.
- Copies of famous paintings.
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