VIETNAM Pre-departure
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Before you leave home Thank you very much for choosing HAPPY TRAVEL Asia. To help you prepare your trip and make the most of your time when in Vietnam, we would like to give you this pre-departure document. It will provide you a comprehensive guide to Vietnam before starting the tour with us.
PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS • Passport: Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Vietnam with at least two blank pages for Vietnam visa. • Visa: Vietnam Visa can be obtained prior to your trip to Vietnam Embassy/ Consulate in your country or obtained on arrival at International Airports: Noi Bai - Hanoi (HAN), Tan Son Nhat – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Danang (DAD), Cam Ranh – Nha Trang (CXR). • To get Vietnam Visa on arrival, please prepare these documents before flying to Vietnam: - Printed Vietnam Visa Approval Letter (*) - 02 passport-sized photos (4x6cm) - Filled Vietnam Visa Application Form with glued photo - Visa stamping fee (cash – US Dollar): 25.00 USD for the single entry visa, 50.00 USD for multiple entries visa (for 01 month and 03 months)
• Please be aware that there may be long queues at the airport when obtaining a visa on arrival which normally takes you around 15 to 30 minutes to finish the procedure. (*) HAPPY TRAVEL Asia is able to apply for Vietnam Visa Approval Letter for you. Please work with your Travel Consultant to get this document before starting your tour in Vietnam
WEATHER Vietnam has a diverse climate varying from region to region
NORTHERN VIETNAM (HANOI, HALONG BAY, SAPA, ETC)
CENTRAL VIETNAM (HUE, DANANG, HOI AN, ETC)
April - Sep: hot, rainy, humid (~26°C - 35°C) Oct - Mar: cold and drizzly (~ 10°C - 25°C)
Jan - April: sunny (~ 25°C) May - Sep: hot, rainy, humid (~ 35°C) Oct - Dec: rainy (~ 15-20°C)
SOUTHERN VIETNAM (HCMC, MUI NE, PHU QUOC, ETC)
May - October: hot, heavily but briefly rains (~ 35°C) November - April: hot and dry (~ 30°C)
CLOTHING • Comfortable lightweight, loose-fitting, cotton clothing, open-toe sandals, walking shoes, hat are recommended for comfortable traveling. Shoulder cover T-shirts and knee-length shorts are acceptable for visiting temples or pagodas. • If you travel to the North of Vietnam right in the winter time (from end of November to end of March), please remember bring some warm closes (light coach, scarf, gloves, socks, etc). If there is trekking part in your tour, please bring comfort shoes to for a good trekking trip.
MONEY CURRENCY You can bring foreign cash (USD, AUD, GBP, CAD) and change it into local currency: Vietnam Dong
VIETNAM Vietnam Dong (VND). Main notes are 10,000; 20,000; 50,000; 100,000; 500,000. Please kindly note that 20,000 and 500,000 are quite similar in color and may cause confusion.Â
ATMS Easily found in big cities. Please make sure you have enough amount of money when going to the countryside because of there are fewer ATMs there.Â
CREDIT CARDS
Widely accepted in big cities and big shops or restaurants. For exchange rate of currencies, you can check in this website: http://xe.com/
ELECTRICITY The electric current in Vietnam operates mostly on 220 volts. Two rounded pin or flat pin are the most common electric plugs
HEALTH – MEDICAL – INSURANCE HEALTH Please consult your doctor to discuss your particular health or immunization requirements. If you have any medical problem, allergy, dietary restriction, please let us know so we can inform our guide and relevant suppliers.
MEDICAL The quality of medical services in Vietnam varies. In big cities such as Hanoi, Danang or Ho Chi Minh, international hospitals can be easily found. However, in public and rural hospital, facilities are basic. Please kindly contact the hotel or our guides when you are in need of medical attention.
INSURANCE
Travelers are highly recommended to purchase appropriate insurance packages as a cost effective way for unexpected events like tour cancellation, accidents, property loss or medical evacuation.
ARRIVAL • After luggage and visa procedures, you will walk through the exit gate. Look for our tour guide holding a welcome sign with your names. • If you are unable to find the HAPPY TRAVEL Asia welcome signboard, please request the airport supporters to call us for immediate assistance on local emergency number listed on your tour itinerary and at bottom of this document for assistance.
TRANSPORTATION WALKING
The easiest and cheapest way to explore the surrounding. The traffic in Vietnam is busy which may impress you as chaos but don’t be frightened to cross the road. Simply walk straight confidently, don’t run, don’t step backward, your hand up as “stop” gesture so that the drivers will slow the speed or avoid hitting you.
TAXI A popular way of getting around streets. Please make sure you use reputable companies such as Mai Linh, Taxi Group.
MOTORBIKE The most popular vehicle in Vietnam. It would be fun to join a tour to explore the street by when sitting at the back of the motorbike.
FLIGHT • It is recommended to fly with Vietnam Airlines – the national airlines. • The luggage allowance policy for a domestic route is 20kg checked baggage and 7kg carry-on. Excess baggage is charged at a specific rate depending on the route and airline. • There are other low-cost airlines: Vietjet Air, Jet Star Airlines (The price normally includes only 7kg hand luggage. Please carefully check the baggage allowance before flying)
TIPPING TIPS Tipping is not compulsory but greatly appreciated throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the tourism industry. For reference, we have provided a tipping suggestion as below. - Guides: $5 - $10/traveler/day (depending on group size and performance) - Drivers: $3 - $7/traveler/day (depending on group size and performance) - Restaurant staff: 5-10% of the total bill - Porters: $1 - $2/time/room. - Chambermaid: $1/day/room - Overnight Cruises: $10 - $15/night (Please note that all prices are in US dollars. You also can tip in local currencies.)
PACKING LIST Our packing list should be used as a packing guide for you. Any other items that you wish to pack are at your own discretion but please always keep in mind the baggage allowance of airlines (20 KG allowance when for a domestic flight with Vietnam Airlines). It is recommended to check carefully the activities details (biking, trekking, walking, etc) and weather of your trip when deciding what to pack.
SUGGESTED PACKING LIST • Passport & Copies of passport • Travel Insurance • Flight tickets • Emergency contacts • Personal Medication & First aid kit - with international doctors’ note to ensure easy passage of medication across international borders • Personal hygiene
• Appropriate clothes • Comfortable shoes for walking/trekking • Visa • Mosquito spray & insect repellent • Sun cream, sunglasses and sun hat • Adaptor – 220V, 50Hz; 2 pin plugs (both flat and round pins) • Camera, battery and charger • Cash in USD small notes
CONTACT US If you have any questions or encounter any problems please contact us immediately at our Vietnam office so we can provide an immediate solution
HAPPY TRAVEL Asia Joint Stock Company Hotline 24/7: (+84) 916 999 668 Email: info@happytravel.asia Website: www.happytravel.asia Head Office: Suite 316, G3CD Bld, Vu Pham Ham Str, Hanoi, Vietnam HCM Office: Suite A703, Khang Gia Building, Go Vap Dist, HCM City Tel: (+84) 2462-698-528 or (+84) 243 99 88 668 | Fax: (+84) 462-691-690