Goods prohibited exporting: weapons, ammunition, explosives, military technical equipment, antiques, drugs, toxic chemicals, wild animals, rare and precious animals and plants, documents related to the national security, etc.
HEALTH DECLARATION
From April 2003, on arrival you also required to declare your health upon check-in.
GOODS and MATERIALS IMPORT
Duty-Free
Cigarettes: 400; Cigars: 100; Tobacco: 100 gram; Liquor: 1.5 liters.
Perfume and jewelers for personal use
Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 300
Materials under Declaration
Foreign currency: in excess of US$ 7,000.
Gold and jewelers not for personal use
Video tapes, CDs… (These items are may be retained for screening within few days).
Materials of high values
Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam’s red-book will not be brought out of the country. Goods with high value may require export permits issued by the customs authorities. So when buying these goods, ask the retailer a receipt and ask if the good can be exported or not.
AIRPORT TAX
The airport tax can be paid in VND or US$ at airport only.
International flights: US$14 per adult and US$ 7 per child.
Domestic flights: US$2.5 per adult at Hanoi & HoChiMinhCity airports
Children Policy: Children aged 2 to 12 will be subject to a 50% charge of the airport taxes
ARRIVAL-DEPARTURE CARD
On the plane, passenger will be given the Vietnam Arrival - Departure Card to complete. This form includes customs and health declarations. Upon arrival, the form will be checked by an immigration officer who will take one copy of the form. The passenger retains the other half. The passenger proceeds to the luggage belt, then to customs. The passenger shows the customs form to the Customs Officer who will stamp and return the form. Passengers must keep this form and keep it for use at departure.
MEET & GREET
After completing all necessary procedures and leaving room, passengers will be welcomed by a Sunviet guide or Sunviet Staff holding Sunviet Travel sign board with your name. Then, you will be taken to hotel for relaxation.
PASSPORT AND VISA
Passport and Visa are two necessary conditions for tourist to enter Vietnam. A regular tourist visa is valid for up to 30 days. However, some Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are exempted from visa for entering Vietnam. Besides, Other countries such as Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland can stay for up to 15 days without visa.
There are two kinds of tourist visas. The first can be obtained from the Vietnamese Embassy or the Consulate in the travelers' home country. The second can be obtained at the international airports (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang) on arrival in Vietnam provided that it has been pre-approved by the Immigration Office. Our Sunviet company always will to assist you to apply for visa. The procedure is as follows:
REGULAR VISA
Passport details and arrival and departure dates for each traveler are sent by e-mail or fax to Sunviet no later than 7-10 days prior to their departure date to Vietnam.
We submit the details to the Immigration Office, which takes between 3 to 5 working days to process the same.
The Immigration Office notifies Sunviet of the visa approval and sends a fax/telex approval code to the Embassy or Consulate in the travelers' home country.
Sunviet sends a faxed copy (or emails ) of the approval letter directly to passengers.
The clients should submit the passport, photographs and faxed copy of the approval to the local Vietnamese embassy or consulate of the client's home country. The Vietnam Embassy or Consulate will then stamp / stick a Vietnam visa on the client's passport and collect the VISA STAMPING FEE directly from the applicant.
VISA ON ARRIVAL
Passport details, arrival and departure dates for each individual are sent by e-mail or fax to Sunviet no later than 7 working days prior to departure date to Vietnam.
Sunviet transfers the details to the Immigration Office, which takes 4 working days for processing. The Immigration Department notifies Sunviet of the visa approval and returns an approval number to us. Our company sends a faxed copy (or email) of the approval letter to clients. The traveler or tour-group operator must show these visa approval codes at the airline check-in counter before flying to Vietnam. Upon arrival, the group or individual will need to go to "LANDING VISA" counter where their visa will be processed. They need to fill in a form (photo required) and get the visa stamped by Immigration Officer.
The visa gets stamped in the passport. "
Requirement:
to process a visa for you, we need the following information:
1. your title (Mr. /Mrs. /Ms.)
2. Your name exactly as it appears in your passport
3. Date of birth
4. Nationality
5. Passport Number (Valid at least 06 months)
6. Date of Passport issuance
7. Date of Passport expiration
8. Proposed date of arrival
9. Flight Reference
10. Port of arrival - Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or other
11. Purpose of visit (Vacation/Business/Visit family)
12. Type of service (Visa approval code or Visa on arrival)
VIETNAM
TRAVEL HEALTH
Travelers tend to worry about contracting infectious diseases when in the tropics, but infections are a rare cause of serious illness or death in travelers. Pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, and accidental injury (especially traffic accidents), account for most life-threatening problems. Becoming ill in some way, however, is a relatively common thing. Fortunately, most common illnesses can either be prevented with some common-sense behavior or be treated easily with a well-stocked traveler’s medical kit. Below are some hospital’s address for
unexpect
ed cases:
HOSPITALS CONTACTS
HANOI
|
ORDER
|
HOSPITAL’S NAME
|
ADDRESS
|
TEL
|
EMERGENCY TEL
|
FAX
|
|
1
|
Bach Mai
|
Giai Phong Street
|
84 (4) 869-3731
84 (4) 869-3732
|
|
|
|
2
|
Vietnam
International
|
Phuong Mai – Dong Da
|
84 (4) 574-0740
|
|
|
|
3
|
Vietnam-Cuba
Hospital
|
37 Hai Ba Trung St
|
84 (4) 825-5954
84 (4) 825-3304
|
|
|
|
4
|
Vietnam
French
Hospital
|
1 Phuong Mai, Dong Da
|
84 (4) 574-0740
|
84 (4) 574-1111
|
84 (4) 869-8443
|
|
5
|
International SOS
|
31 Hai Ba Trung
|
84 (4) 934-0555
|
|
84 (4) 934-0556
|
|
6
|
Huu Nghi (Friendship)
|
1 Tran Khanh Du St
|
84 (4) 825-2231
|
|
|
|
7
|
Viet - DucHospital
|
40 Trang Thi St
.
|
84 (4) 825-5912
|
|
|
|
8
|
Saint Paul
Hospital
|
59 Tran Phu St
.
|
84 (4) 823-064
84 (4) 823-3073
|
|
|
|
9
|
Hanoi
Family Medical Practice
|
Van Phuc, Bldg A1 Suite 109-112 Kim Ma Road
|
84 (4) 843-0748;
84 (4) 846-1748
84 (4) 846-1749
|
0903-401-919
|
84 (4) 846-1750
|
HO CHIMINHCITY
|
ORDER
|
HOSPITAL’S NAME
|
ADDRESS
|
TEL
|
EMERGENCY TEL
|
FAX
|
|
1
|
Cho
Ray
Hospital
|
201B Nguyen Chi Thanh, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 855-4137/8
|
|
84 (8) 855-7267
|
|
2
|
International SOS
|
65 Nguyen Du, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 829-8424
|
84 (8) 829-8520
|
84 (8) 829-8551
|
|
3
|
DIAG
Center
|
146 An Binh St. , Dist. 5
|
84 (8) 838-1551
|
|
84 (8) 838-1554
|
|
4
|
Emergency Centre
|
125 Le Loi St.
, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 829-0898
|
|
|
|
5
|
Dentist: OrthodontologyCenter
|
263 Tran Hung Dao, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 829-8520
|
|
|
|
6
|
Central Medical International
|
1 Han Thuyen St.
, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 827-2366
|
84 (8) 865-4025
|
84 (8) 827-2365
|
|
7
|
Franco-Vietnam
Hospital
(FV Hospitals)
|
236 Le Thanh Ton Ward Ben Thanh, Dist 1
|
84 (8) 827-4113
|
|
84 (8) 827-4114
|
|
8
|
Columbia
Gia Dinh Clinic
|
01 No Trang Long, Binh Thanh Dist
|
84 (8) 803-0678
|
|
84 (8) 803-0677
|
|
9
|
Columbia
Saigon Clinic
|
8 Alexandre De Rhodes St., Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 823-8455
|
|
84 (8) 823-8454
|
|
10
|
Heart Institue
|
520 Nguyen Tri Phuong St.
, Dist. 10
|
|
84 (8) 865-4026
|
|
|
11
|
Institute Pasteur
|
167 Pasteur St.
Dist. 3
|
84 (8) 823-0352
|
|
|
|
12
|
HCM Family Medical Practice
|
34 Le Duan, Ben Nghe, Dist. 1
|
84 (8) 822-7848/49
|
|
|
|
13
|
VNSERVICE
|
236 Dien Bien Phu St., Dist. 3
|
84 (8) 932-0496
|
0903-947-702
|
84 (8) 932-0232
|
CURRENCY
Vietnamese dong (VND) is the official currency in Vietnam.
- Paper notes include: VND 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200. Coins include VND 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200.
Cheques with value as Vietnamese dong include: VND 1,000,000 and 500,000.
- Foreign currencies and tourist cheques can be exchanged into Vietnamese Dong at banks or foreign exchange agencies.
- Credit cards are popularly used, especially in cities and big tourist centers.
Before leave Vietnam, Vietnamese dong can be changed into foreign currencies at the airport.
POST AND COMMUNICATIONS
A regular international post service is available. In addition Express Mail Service (EMS) is available to more then 30 countries world-wide with a delivery time of 2 to 10 days.
International telephone charge has recently been reduced considerably however it is still expensive compared to other regional countries. It is important to check the exact amount with the hotel before making a call, as hotel surcharges are often imposed.
SECURITY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Vietnam
is a peaceful and hospitable country. In all cases, Vietnamese is willing to welcome tourists as their friends. However, pick pockets always exist in large cities so the carefulness and heighten vigilance are always put the top of position.
All valuable properties, including passport and air ticket, should store in the in-room safe at hotels or at the front desk. It is best not to bring expensive jewelry to Vietnam. Do not carry unnecessarily large amounts of cash with you at any time.
Children & Beggars
Foreigners walking through the streets of Vietnam occasionally find themselves surrounded by a throng of curious children. Saying a quick "hello" with a smile will satiate their curiosity. Beggars are part of the streetscape of any major city, including those in Vietnam.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS & HOSPITALS CONTACTS
|
0
|
National Domestic Direct Dialing Access Code
|
|
00
|
International Direct Dialing Access Code
|
|
113
|
Police
|
|
114
|
Fire Brigade
|
|
115
|
Ambulance
|
CUISINE
Vietnamese Cuisine is especially varied and there are said to be about 500 different traditional dishes ranging from exotic meats to fantastic vegetarian creations often prepared to replicate meat and fish dishes. Despite the local delicates, the staple diet of most Vietnamese is actually rice complemented by vegetables, meat, fish, spices and dipping sauce. Spring rolls and steamed rice pancakes are popular snacks and you’ll find a wealth of tropical fruits as Longan, Star Fruit, Mangos teen, Rambutan, Papaya, Water apple…
TIPS AND BARGAINING
State-run hotels and tourist restaurants usually add a 10 per cent government tax and 5 per cent service charge to bills so there’s no need to tip. Leaving a small tip in other restaurants in generally appreciated by staff, but not expected. Hired drivers and guides usually expect a tip, and it’s considered polite to leave a donation when visiting pagodas or religious sites. Most will have a visible donation box. Bargaining is common-place and more a means of happy social discourse than an opportunity to rip you off. Offer a price about two-third of what’s quoted.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
It's in your best interests not to drink the tap water, especially after flooding!
Avoid cyclo ride after dark.
Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc.
Leave your valuables behind before a night out on the town, or going to the beach.
When crossing the road, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly!
Do not offer money directly to minority people - instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
Try at least once the delicious, local street food.
Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority areas.
THINGS DO NOT TO MISS
Sleeping out on deck on a boat in HalongBay
Ordering custom-made clothes from the local tailor shop
Taking a slow cyclo ride through the French Quarter of old Saigon
Eating pho ga (chicken noodle soup) at a street side noodle stalls.
Watching the traditional water - puppet performance in Hanoi
Experience the full moon festivities in the ancient town of Hoi An.
Drinking rice-wine in the minority villages of the north
Taking a boat along Hue's Huong (Perfume) River, visiting the Royal Mausoleums
Overnight in a home stay in the Mekong Delta's riverside orchards
Bartering for a bargain at Saigon's largest market, Ben Thanh Market
Taking a stroll through Hanoi's Old Quarters
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