Vietnamese people are very friendly, polite and generous. In general, we will make every effort to have foreign guests feel comfortable. In the cities and countryside towns, do not be surprised to be invited into a home to meet the family of someone you may have just met. These are the experiences that will enrich your visit to Vietnam.

VIETNAM TOURIST VISA

Vietnamese entry visa is required for all foreigners wishing to visit Vietnam except citizens of countries having visa exemption inclusion in bilateral consular agreements with Vietnam. Visas can be applied by mail or in person at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate Office in your countries.

Entry visas to Vietnam can be applied BY POST or IN PERSON (by the applicant or anyone on his/her behalf) at the Embassy.

Applying by post:

First, request us for the visa application from. We will be sending in 24 hours.

Second, the Applicant must submit or send by registered/express  post to the Vietnamese embassy the following documents:

    1. Original and valid PASSPORT which must have at least one-month validity after the expiry of the visa  and one blank page left. Please keep note of your passport details in case you might need them while your passport is with the Embassy;

   2. One completed APPLICATION FORM  with one passport-size photo affixed on the Form. Please fill the form eligibly and accurately to avoid misinterpretation and to facilitate the visa processing. You will be responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide in the Application Form;

   3. If you require your passport(s) to be returned by post, please send in a return self-addressed ENVELOPE (Express post or Registered mail is recommended)

   4. VISA FEE must be paid in cash, money order or bank cheque payable to the Embassy of Vietnam.  Visa fees are various and depend on the length of stay and visa types, please contact the Embassy for further information. 

Applying in person:

Alternatively, if you wish, you can come to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate office in your country, please check and make appointment with them.

Visa processing:

• Upon receipt of the application, it takes THREE  working days by normal service for your  passport(s) with the visa(s) to be ready for collection at the Embassy or for return by post in the return envelope you provided.  EXPRESS SERVICE is available and incurs extra cost. If you need Express Service, please contact the Embassy for further information. 

• Delivery time by the post office is not included in the processing time above and dependent on the Post.

• Once you have received your passport(s) with visa(s), please check carefully all the details. Should there be any discrepancies or errors, such as the dates of arrival/departure, the types of visas, please notify the Embassy immediately. 

• Visa application for children should follow the same procedures  if the children hold their own passports. Children are under 14 years of age are not required to sign the Application Form.

- ALWAYS drink plenty of bottled water. During the summer months you should be drinking a minimum of 2 liters per day. If you drink tea, coffee & alcohol you should increase you water intake accordingly as these will dehydrate you.

- Before venturing out from your hotel, ensure you have a hotel business card from the reception desk. This will make your return to the hotel in a taxi or cyclo much easier.

- For longer excursions from your base hotel, it is always a good idea to carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack. You never know when you will need it.

- Always dress appropriately. Not only for the prevailing climatic conditions, but also not to cause offence to the local people. Vietnamese have conservative dress codes and it is only in larger cities that these codes are relaxed a little.

- Always leave your excess cash, airline tickets, passports and valuables with the hotels safety deposit facility.

- Always be aware when entering someone’s home as at some homes it is a must to remove your shoes at the front door.

- Always ask his or her permission first when taking a photograph of someone. If they indicate that they do not want you to, then abide by their wishes. DO NOT push the issue or offer money.

Hanoi and the Northern Vietnam have a distinct winter and summer season with a dry winter lasting from November to April with average temperatures of 18 - 20ºC. Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid with temperatures around 30ºC.

Hue and Danang in the center of the country have very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures reaching the mid 30ºC, but can experience some quite heavy rainfall between September and January. Ho Chi Minh City and the south have a hot, dry season from December till April with average temperatures around 28ºC and a rainy season lasting from May through till November. It rarely rains for long periods even in the rainy season with most rain coming in short, heavy bursts.

The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market. Food is usually prepared with a minimal amount of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam.

International phone charges are steep in Vietnam and many hotels, especially up-market ones, add extra fees.

Faxes can be sent from hotels, business centers and post offices. Again, rates vary. To rent a mobile phone call 821-8465 in Hanoi or 824-2382 in Ho Chi Minh City.

A suggestion for making international calls is to log onto an internet phone provider before leaving home. There are also ones that have been recently set up in Vietnam.
Email and interent is readily available in almost every hotel. Although, a times it can be a little tempermental as the servers tend to be overloaded.