No,
an international departure and Domestic flight tax are
included on the tickets by all travelers
leaving Vietnam. Not need to pay any more for airport tax fore
departure.
How can I get
to Vietnam by air?
Hand
in Hand Travel Vietnam enjoys special rates for international
flights with Vietnam Airlines. Our office forair tickets.
Contactone of our travel consultants to assist you in your flight
arrangements.
Alternatively,
depending on your country of origin, ask your national carrier
- they may have convenient flights for you. You can also
consult your local travel agent for routings, fares and
availability on flights to Vietnam. Check on the Internet:
discount websites and flight search engines may offer some
good deals.
Major
airlines flying to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi
Aeroflot
Asian Airlines
China Southern
Airlines
Garuda Indonesia
Lao Airlines
Pacific Airlines
Shanghai Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Tiger Airways
Air France
Cathay Pacific
Emirates
Japan Airlines
Lufthansa
Philippines Airlines
Singapore Airlines
United Airlines
All Nippon Airways
China Airlines
Eva Air
Korean Air
Malaysian Airlines
Qantas
Thai Airways Intl
Uzbekistan Airlines
Code
shares are possible with fellow Star Alliance, One World or
Sky Team members. If you are a frequent flyer, check directly
with one of the members to see what best suits you.British
Airways, Air France-KLM and Austrian Airlines have
representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
Major airlines flying to Danang International Airport include
PB Air from Bangkok and Silk Air from Singapore. Vietnam
shares a border with China in the north (three border
crossings), Laos in the west (three border crossings) and
Cambodia in the south-west (two border crossings).
From
China:Trains from Beijing to Hanoi pass by Nanning
and Pinxiang in China and enter Vietnam at Dong Dang (north of
Lang Son). There is also a road crossing know as Huu Nghi in
Lang Son province.
Trains
coming from Kunming cross the border at Lao Cai, in north-west
Vietnam.
From Guangzhou, you will cross the border at Mong Cai, a few
hours drive from Halong and its spectacular Bay.
From
Laos:If you travel from Laos by road via
Savannakhet and Sepon, you will get to Vietnam by the Lao Bao
(Vietnam) border crossing. This crossing links Laos to central
Vietnam (Danang and Dong Ha)
If you travel from Vientiane, you will cross Lak Sao before
entering Vietnam by Cau Treo border crossing, in Ha Tinh
Province (Vietnam).
Nam
Can border crossing connects Nghe An Province (Vietnam) and
Xieng Khuang Province (Laos).
From Cambodia:If you travel from Phnom Penh
by speedboat, you will enter Vietnam at Chau Doc, in the
Mekong Delta area.
If
you arrive from Cambodia by road into Ho Chi Minh City, you
will enter Vietnam at Moc Bai, which connects Vietnam`s Tay
Ninh Province with Cambodia's Svay Rieng Province
NOTE:You
cannot obtain a visa on arrival at land border-crossing points
(with the exception of Moc Bai border crossing). If you enter
Vietnam by land, you must obtain the visa before arrival.
Refer to our VISA section below for more information
Do I need to have any vaccinations to enter Vietnam?
No vaccinations
are mandatory except for yellow fever if you are coming from
an area where the disease is present. However visitors should
be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B,
tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region
and it is advisable to take precautions, especially if
traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are rather
limited and it is essential to take out a good medical
insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed
NOTES: Consult your doctor for up-to-date information
and prescriptions for vaccinations,
anti-malarial tablets and any reasonably
foreseeable illnesses whilst traveling in
Vietnam. Some vaccination courses may need
time to be completed. If you plan to take
anti-malarial tablets, you usually need to
start one week before arrival. We recommend
that you carry a first aid kit as well as any
personal medical requirements (including a
spare pair of glasses)
The currency in Vietnam is
the Vietnamese Dong (VND) although US Dollars and Euros are
accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops. Banks are open
Monday to Friday and some on Saturday morning. In the major
cities there are bureau de change and most hotels will change
US Dollars and Euros, Vietnamese Dongs come in the following forms:
Coins:
200; 500 (silver) and 1,000; 2,000; 5,000 (gold)
NOTES: Most hotels offer the
opportunity to change USD and Euros at a reasonable exchange
rate. Check at the reception of your hotel your guide for
assistance.Shall you want to pay a bill calculated in VND by using
USD, ask for the exchange rate.
is it better to use Vietnamese Dongs or US
Dollars?
Dollars and VND in cash. For larger items or when
the exchange rate works in your favor, use US Dollars. For
cyclos, local food stalls and small purchases, it’s best to
use VND. In either case, make sure you always have a stock of
small notes so that you don’t have to worry about change.
Are Travelers’
Cheques accepted in Vietnam?
we
can change your American Express Travelers’ Cheques for
Vietnamese Dong or US Dollars. Note that a 3 % commission is
charged.
Banks
such as CitiBank, ANZ Bank. HSBC and Vietcombank can change
your Travelers’ Cheques for VND or US Dollars but a
commission applies (1% to 2%). Very few shops, hotels or
restaurants accept Travelers’ Cheques.
NOTE:
Travelers’ Cheques can be difficult to change outside of the
major cities.
Can
I use credit cards in Vietnam?
Most
credit cards are accepted in Vietnam. VISA and MASTERCARD are
the most widely accepted. JCB and AMERICAN EXPRESS are also
accepted in some outlets. Not all hotels, commercial
centrals, shops and restaurants accept credit cards. Check with
the cashier whether card is accepted. Bear in mind that a
surcharge usually applies for credit card purchases. VISA
and MasterCard: 2.2 % surcharge JCB:
2.75% surcharge . American
Express: 4% surcharge.
NOTE:
Surcharges can change without prior notice.
Check the percentage charged before you buy.
Where
can I withdraw cash?
ATMs
for withdrawal of Vietnamese Dong are available in major
airports, hotels, towns and capitals of provinces throughout
Vietnam. Most ATMs have an English language version. Ask your
tour guide for help when you need to locate an ATM.
Look
at the following links for global ATM locations:
How safe is Vietnam? Vietnam is a relatively safe country to
visit. As a global rule, never leave your belongings
unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on
cameras and shoulder bags. Avoid cyclos late at night and
choose reliable metered taxi companies. Ask your Travel
guide for advice on safety issues.
How can I get in touch with my family,
workplace and friends?
Telephone:Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to
send faxes from hotels and post offices although these
services are expensive. It may not always be possible to make
international calls in remote areas. or though internet phone
called.
If
you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your own mobile
phone and use it to make domestic or international calls.
Check with your mobile phone provider for the costs before
using it abroad - it may be expensive.
Internet:Major hotels have Business Centers with PCs connected to the
Internet. Some of them have wireless broadband access in rooms
or public areas. Cyber cafes are becoming popular and are
easily found in major towns and cities. Prices are reasonable,
usually below US$1
for 4hours. In many Internet cafes, you can
buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer
to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafes
are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones.
Mail:Postcards are sold at all main tourist sites and stamps are
available from post offices and some hotel reception desks. A
postcard to Europe costs VND 9,000 to send and takes up to two
weeks to reach the country of destination.
NOTES:
If
Internet connections at hotels and internet café are
popular in Vietnam at everywhere and easy contact during
your visit in Vietnam,
Can I rent a car and drive myself?
Vietnamese law does not allow foreigners
to rent and drive a car, just Motto
cycle only . It is highly advisable to rent a car with
a driver who knows the roads and can speak Vietnamese in case
of any problems. Traffic and roads conditions may be very
different to what you are used to.
Can
the driver speak English and act as a guide?
No, he cannot. In
Vietnam, drivers are just drivers. Tour guides need to be
licensed by the National Tourism Authority. Tour guides are
the only persons legally entitled to escort tourists. Hand in
Hand Travel specializes in arranging tours with private
drivers and qualified professional
tour guides
