1.Visa and Documents

Most visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have signed a bilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, including Thailand, Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Laos. Vietnam also made a unilateral decision on visa exemption for the Japanese and Korean citizens. Tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days.

Tourist visa can only be obtained in Vietnamese embassies, consulates abroad. Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are travelling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies. To apply for a visa, the requirementsare as follows: Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another, two photos (4x6 or 3x4), original passport, visa fee.

You should send your application and photos to a Vietnamese embassy or consulate abroad, which is most convenient to you. On your requirement, the reply will be returned by post (you must provide stamped envelopes with your name and address).

It is easier to get your visa from a Vietnamese travel agency. The necessary information to the travel agency include: full name, birthday, place of birth, nationality, title, number of your passport, entry and exit dates, in which country you pan to receive you entry visa from the Vietnamese embassies or consulates.

Visa extention: This service is available at all travel agencies.

2. Entry and Customs procedure

You are required to fulfull entry and customs form when entering Vietnam. A new form (CHY2000) is currently used for entry and exit procedure. In cases of re- entry or re- exit without any must be declared items, you simply submit the copy of your entry and customs form (yellow paper) or make a new one. Cross(x) and fill the first up to the sixteenth boxes in the form. You must submit this form to customs and immigration officers.

To save your time, in the entry and customs form, you should clearly note down :

1.Camera, recorder and other electric equipment not for personal use;

2.Jewelry (especially gold) and precious stone not for personal use;

3.Foreign currency (cash, coin and tourist cheques): over US$3,000 or other foreign currency of the same value, or over 5 million VND in cash;

4.Video- tapes will be checked and returned in several days;

5.Gold (over 300g): If more than 3,000g, you are required to deposit and re- export the surplus;

6.Other commodities out of duty- free luggage.

When entering Vietnam, visitors are permitted to bring in a duty-free allowance of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 150g of tobacco; 1,5l of liquor; and other items (not forbidden goods) of the total value beneath US$300.

Items that you cannot bring into Vietnam include weapons, munitions, explosives and inflammables, firecracker of all kinds, opium and drugs, toxic chemical, and cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society (pornographic seditious publications, films and photos), harmful child toys. Breaking these rules, you will be punished by Vietnamese laws.

When leaving Vietnam, a quantity over 300g of gold must be declared and be permitted by the State Bank. You are not allowed to bring out weapons, munitions, explosives, drugs, antiques, live wild animals, rare plants, and documents relating to the national security. Breaking these rules, you will be punished by Vietnamese laws.

3. Money

The currency of Vietnam is the dong(VND). Notes are available in paper denominations of 500,000; 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 VND and also in metal denomination of 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 and 100 VND. Throughout the country, American dollars are widely accepted. However, the bills must be relatively new with no markings or tears. Several big cities are used Euro currency (EUR). Traveler’s cheques are easily exchangeable in banks. Credit cards are becoming more popular, especially in the major hotels and restaurants of Hanoi, Hue, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

One US dollar is equivalent to about 16,000 VND of July, 2007. Exchange rare is variable.

4. Language

Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Learning foreign languages, particularly English, is now in vogue among young people in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Danang, and other cities. Tour guides speaking English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese are available.

5. Electricity and Water Supply

The voltage system in Vietnam is 220 volt. Tap water is already filtered and sterilized, but it should be boiled before drinking.

6. Shopping

Vietnamese arts and crafts products have been displayed at many international fairs. Articles made of lacquer, rattan, bamboo, and palm are quite popular. Vietnamese are also experts in making items out of wood, animal hide and horns, tortoise and oyster shells. Other items such as embroidered articles, objects inlaid with mother - of - pearl, ceramic objects, gold and silver jewelry, and paintings are also very popular. These can be purchased in shops directly from the manufacturers. Especially,in Hanoi you will find a lot of antique shops along Hang Khay and Trang Tien St., which sell silver ornaments, porcelain and jewellery. There are silk shops on Hang Gai St. in the Old Quarter . Around the corner from Hang Gai, along Luong Van Can St., traditional Ao dai dresses are made.

7. Time and Business hours

Vietnamese time

GMT plus 7 hours

Office hours

All Government offices are open Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm (with an one hour lunch break). Saturday and Sunday are holidays.

Banks are open from 7.30 am or 8.00 am to 3.30 pm. They are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Private shops are open from 8.30 am to 9.00 pm or 10.00 pm.