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TOURIST ENTRY AND EXIT PROCEDURES
Any foreigners of overseas Vietnamese wishing to visit Vietnam
shall fill in three regular application forms for an entry visa, enclosing three
4cm by 6cm photographs. They should be of the head and shoulders only, taken
without a hat and should show the person concerned facing the camera, (and taken
no more than one year before the application).
The applicant shall send one of the three forms with a photograph to a
diplomatic representative office, or consulate of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam, in the most convenient country.
The remaining two forms with photographs should be carried by the applicant and
handed to the tourist agency on arrival at the first point of entry in Vietnam.
In order to obtain early entry-exit visas, travelers should send the application
forms to Vietnam Embassy.
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CUSTOMS
FORMALITIES
- All visitors to Vietnam, should fill in declaration forms
and show their luggage to Customs officials on request.
- Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam
in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among
noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax.
- Travelers' luggage as declared at Customs offices on
arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for
articles which have been consumed or given as gifts.
- Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts
of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and
gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in
detail on their customs forms.
Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese dong (VND) at the banks,
hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country.
Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping.
- Travelers can take with them unlimited amounts of souvenirs
bought with receipts.
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GMT plus 7 hours
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All Government offices are open eight hours a day from 7.30 to
16.30 (except for a one-hour lunch break) on Monday to Saturday. Sunday is a
holiday.
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January 1: New Year Day, one day holiday.
April 30: Saigon Liberation Day, one day holiday.
May 1: International Labor Day, one day holiday.
September 2: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one day holiday.
Vietnam Traditional lunar New Year Festival
(Tet Nguyen Dan): Four day holiday.
It often falls between January and February. The holidays begin on the Eve and
the first three days of a Lunar New Year.
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OTHER MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES:
February 3: Anniversary of the Founding of the
Communist Party
May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh
December 25: Christmas
The following major traditional festivals are listed by lunar calendar date:
- The 15th of the 1st moon: Tet Thuong Nguyen.
- The 2nd day of the 4th moon: New Year Festival of
the Khmer ethnic minority people.
- The 8th day of the 4th moon: Buddha's Birthday.
- The 15th day of the 7th moon: Tet Trung Nguyen.
- The 15th day of the 8th moon: Mid-Autumn Festival
- The 29th day of the 8th moon: New Year Festival of
the Cham ethnic minority people.
- The 15th day of the 10th moon: Boat-racing festival
of the Khmer ethnic people in the Mekong River Delta.
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SOME POPULAR CULTURAL FESTIVALS (BY LUNAR
CALENDAR DATE)
The 2nd day of the 1st month: Wrestling Festival in
Lieu Doi, Nam Ha.
The 5th day of the 1st month: Festival of Dong Da hill, Hanoi: celebrate
the anniversary of King Quang Trung's victory over 290,000 Qing invaders to
liberate Thang Long (now Hanoi).
The 6th day of the 1st month: Festival of Eel-Catching in Pot in Ving Lac
district, Vinh Phu province. This reflects the farmers' love for labor and the
joy over bumper crops.
The 10th day of the 1st month: Festival in Trieu Khuc village, Hanoi.
Cultural activities of a traditional handicraft village.
The 13th day of the 1st month: Lim Festival, Ha Bac. Festival of quan
ho folk song singing. Boys and girls meet on river bank, on hill or in the
yards of village's communal house and pagoda to sing and exchange emotions.
The 15th day of the 1st month: Festival of Spring on Ba Den mountain.
The 15th of 2nd month (formal date): Festival of Huong Pagoda, Ha Tay:
Traditional festival lasting over 2 months.
Spring festival of buffalo fighting in Tay Nguyen Highlands highlighting the
martial spirit of the ethnic minority people.
The 10th day of the 3rd month: Festival of Hung Temple celebrating the
death a anniversary of Kings Hung.
The 9th day of the 4th month: Giong Festival, Hanoi, commemorating Saint
Giong, a legendary child hero who defeated foreign invasion and saved the
nation.
The 26th day of the 4th month: Festival of Queen Su in Chau Doc.
The 5th day of the 5th month: Water Festival in Nha Trang. People in the
city go to the beach and have a bath for health improvement.
The 16th day of the 6th month: Festival of Nghinh Ong in Tien Giang - Ben
Tre.
The 30th day of the 7th month: Festival at Lang Ong, Ho Chi Minh City.
The 9th day of the 8th month: Buffalo fighting festival, Do Son, Hai
Phong.
The 13th day of the 9th month: Festival of Keo Pagoda, Thai Binh. Traditional communal festival.
The 22nd day of the 11th month: Festival of Dong Quan in Chan Tien
Pagoda, Hanoi.
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Electric current in Vietnam is mostly 220 Volts.
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Tap water in urban areas in Vietnam is chlorinated, but it is
recommended that it should be boiled before drinking.
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The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong
(abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used uniformly throughout the
country. Bank notes in dominations of 100d, 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2,000d, 5,000d,
10,000d, 20,000d, and 50,000d are presently in circulation.
At present only certain travelers' cheques and credit cards are acceptable in
big cities, including Visa, Master card, American Express.
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Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Foreign
language learning, particularly English, is currently in vogue among young
people in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang and other cities.
Tourist guides can speak English, French, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
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TOURISM SEASONS:
Vietnam is a country where tourists can visit in all four
seasons. The country's tourism service offers a range of programs convenient
to your circumstances.
In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the next
year. Spring time is especially pleasant because of the cooler, drier climate.
Also at this time there are a lot of ritual ceremonies and folk festivals of
many diverse forms; such as: Festivals to commemorate national heroes and
heroines, folk cultural festivals, spring festivals, as well as prayer
ceremonies for good crops, to cite just a few.
The most interesting one is the Lunar New Year Festival.
Visiting Vietnam in that season, you are recommended to bring along warm
clothes. The temperature in Winter is around 10-15 degree Celsius. It becomes
warmer in March and April.
Meanwhile in the South, the average temperature throughout the year is about 27
degree Celsius, so you just need thin garments, sun glasses and may be a hat or
two.
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POSTAL SERVICE
A regular international post service is available. In addition
there are some new, special services: Express Mail Service (EMS). The domestic
EMS ensures that letters and small parcels are delivered within 24-48 hours.
International EMS has relations with nearly 30 countries world-wide, with a
delivery time ranging from 2 to 10 days.
Air mail and small parcels must however be subject to additional charges.
Express money transfer: Money is delivered to the receiver within 24 hours.
Flower delivery on order by telephone: This service delivers messages of
greetings or condolences, together with flowers, money or goods (allowed in
circulation) to the receiver by order of the sender.
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
Telephone
International long-distance calls (direct): To make an international direct dial
(IDC) call you must first dial the international prefix (00) followed by the
country code, area code and the local number. In case you fail to contact the
required number, dial 110 for the operator's help.
Domestic long-distance calls: To place a domestic long-distance call you must
first dial the national trunk prefix (0) followed by the area code and local
number. If you fail to get the required number, dial 101 for the operator's help
Facsimile (Fax): Fax machines are quickly proliferating in Vietnam. public and
registered fax machines are available in hotels, business and public offices.
Also available are local and international cardphone on socioeconomic and
cultural information. This service also runs advertisements and business
self-introduction scheme.
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USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
| Police |
113
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| Fire brigade |
114
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| Ambulance |
115
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| Telephone directory |
116
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| Time inquires |
117
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| Telephone repair service |
119
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| Domestic long distance
telephone service |
101
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| International telephone
service |
110
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| Inquiries on
socioeconomic, cultural information |
108
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VIETNAM RADIO AND TELEVISION
RADIO
At present Radio the Voice of Vietnam broadcasts on several channels for 68
hours a day, including:
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42 hours of domestic service: There are diversified
programmes to serve people of all walks of life: children, the elderly,
young people, women, the armed forces, the police and ethnic groups... There
are daily programmes broadcast in the languages of such ethnic minorities as
the H'Mong, Ede, Khmer (of South Vietnam)... on the 49 meter band (74 KHz).
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26 hours of international service in 11 foreign languages:
English, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Indonesian, Lao, Thai, Khmer
and Chinese (Beijing and Cantonese). In addition there is a special
programme for Vietnamese living far from the homeland.
Moreover daily music and news
programs are pm FM, 100 kHz,
from 07 am to 12 pm. All provinces and cities have their own radio stations with
their own programs.
TELEVISION
The Central Vietnam Television Station broadcasts three
programs daily through
the Starcionar 13 transmitting station:
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Program 1: In the morning from 6 am on Channel 9 in the
evening from 7pm
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Program 2: From 7pm on Channel 11.
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Program 3: From 4 pm to 6.45 pm on Channel 9 and Channel
11.
At present all provinces and cities have their own stations
and programs.
T.V.R.O.: Vietnam now has some 1000 parabolic antennae to directly receive
satellite programs. These antennae are installed on the roofs of hotels, guest
houses, houses for rent to foreigners and some public offices. However, a TVRO
is expensive, and consequently the Vietnamese government is presently
considering setting up a cable television service.
Multi-channel Microwave Distribution Services: The service can simultaneously
transmit several TV programs including a news service, an economic broadcast,
a science and technology service, as well covering educational issues,
entertainment and sport. It operates from both local and international stations.
This kind of entertainment is currently under test and it will soon be
operational, to satisfy both Vietnamese and foreign viewers.
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ROAD, RAILWAYS AND SEA TRANSPORT NETWORK
THE ROAD NETWORK (RUNNING NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST)
NORTH-SOUTH ROADS
National highway 1: From the Huu Nghi Border Gate in Lang Son Province to Ho Chi
Minh City and down to Go Dau Ha. This is the trans-Vietnam North-South high way.
Highway 14: Running along the Central Highlands from the ancient capital city of
Hue to Kontum-Pleiku meeting Highway 1 at Bien Hoa.
Truong Son Train: Beginning at Tan Ky, Ha Tinh province, it runs in parallel
with Highway 1 through the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands down to the east of
South Vietnam.
WEST-EAST, SOUTH-EAST AND NORTH-WEST ROADS:
- Highway 2: Linking Hanoi via Vinh Phu to Meo Vac
(Tuyen Quang).
- Highway 3: From Hanoi to Thuy Khau
(Cao Bang).
- Highway 5: Hanoi to hai
Phong.
- Highway 6: Hanoi to Lai
Chau.
- Highways 4B and 4A: From the Ngoc peninsula in Mong Cai
(Quang Ninh) through Dong Dang (Lang Son) to (Cao Bang).
- Highway 4: From Ho Chi Minh City through the Mekong Delta
to Nam Can, the southernmost part of Vietnam.
- Highway 20: From Xuan Loc to Da Lat.
- Highway 9: From Quang Tri to Lao Bao Gate.
- highway 19: From Quy Nhon to Pleiku
RAILWAYS
NORTHERN LINE:
- Hanoi-Lang Son: 148km in 5-6 hours.
- Hanoi-Lao
Cai: 296km in 9-10 hours
- Hanoi-Thai Nguyen: 75km in 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Hanoi-Uong Bi: 130km in 4 hours.
- Hanoi-Hai
Phong: 102km in 3-4 hours.
SOUTHERN LINE:
From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: 1,730km, through Nam Ha (Nam Dinh, 87km); Thanh
Hoa (187km), Nghe an (Vinh 319km); Quang Binh (Dong Hoi 522 km); Quang Tri (Dong
Ha 622km); Hue (688km);Da Nang (791km); Quang Ngai (928km); Phu Yen (Tuy Hoa
1,197km); Nha Trang (1,315km).
Hanoi Railway Station
120 Le Duan Rd, Hanoi
Tel (84-4) 8252628
Saigon Railway Station
01Nguyen Thong St, Dist 3,
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84-8) 8245585
MARITIME WATERWAY:
Maritime communication and transport in Vietnam has also been developed. Hai
Phong is a major port lying on the East-West and North-South international sea
lanes. In recent years, the ports of Hai Phong, Da Nang and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh
City) have received many international tourist ships each with between 300 and
500 tourists on board.
MAJOR SEA PORTS:
- Hon Gai
- Hai Phong
- Da Nang
- Vung Tau
- Saigon
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DOMESTIC AIR SERVICE
From/To HANOI
- Hanoi-Hue: Daily
- Hanoi-Da
Nang: Daily
- Hanoi-Nha
Trang: Daily
- Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City: Daily
- Hanoi-Buon Me Thuot: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun, Buon Me
Thuot-Hanoi:
daily
- Hanoi-Pleiku: Mon, wed, Thu, Sat.
- Hanoi-Dien
Bien: Tue, Fri, Sun.
- Hanoi-Nasan: Thu.
From/To HO CHI MINH CITY
- Ho Chi Minh City-Buon Me
Thuot: daily
- Ho Chi Minh
City-Da Nang: daily.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Da Lat: Tue, Thu, Sun,
- Ho Chi Minh
City-Hai Phong: daily
- Ho Chi Minh City-Hue: daily
- Ho Chi Minh
City-Nha Trang: daily
- Ho Chi Minh City-Phu
Quoc: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat,
- Ho Chi Minh
City-Pleiku: daily
- Ho Chi Minh City-Quy
Nhon: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat,
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INTERNATIONAL AIR SERVICE
From/To HANOI
- Hanoi-Bangkok: daily
- Hanoi-Guangzhou: daily
- Hanoi-Dubai: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun.
- Hanoi-Hong Kong: daily
- Hanoi-Osaka: Mon, Wed, Sat
Osaka-Hanoi: Tue, Thu, Sun.
- Hanoi-Kuala Lumpur: Mon, Wed, Fri.
Kuala Lumpur-Hanoi: Wed
- Hanoi-Melbourne: Wed
Melbourne-Hanoi: Thu
- Hanoi-Phnom Penh: daily
- Hanoi-Seoul:
Tue,Thu, Fri, Sun
- Seoul-Hanoi: Mon, Wed, Thu,
Fri,Sat, Sun
- Hanoi-Singapore: daily
- Hanoi-Moscow: Thu, Sun
Moscow- Hanoi: Mon Fri
- Hanoi-Sydney: Wed
Sydney-Hanoi: Thu
- Hanoi-Berlin: Tue, Fri
Berlin-Hanoi: Wed, Sat
- Hanoi-Vientiane: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun
Note:
- Hanoi-Amsterdam: Daily: one way
- Hanoi-Paris: Daily: one way
- Hanoi-Manila: Fri, sun: one way
From/To HO CHI MINH CITY
- Ho Chi Minh City-Amsterdam: Mon, Wed.
Amsterdam-Ho Chi Minh City: Tue, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Bangkok: daily
- Ho Chi Minh City-Guangzhou: Tue, Fri.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Paris (Charles De Gaulle): Tue, Fri, Sun.
Paris-Ho Chi Minh City: Wed, Sat, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Dubai: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun.
Dubai-Ho Chi Minh City: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Hong Kong: daily.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Kaohsiung: Wed, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Osaka: Tue, Thu, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Kuala Lumpur: Mon,
Wed,Fri.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Los Angeles: Tue, Fri, Sun.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne: Wed.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne-Ho Chi Minh City: Thu.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Manila: Fri, Sun
- Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh: daily
- Ho Chi Minh City-Seoul: daily.
Seoul-Ho Chi Minh City: Mon, Wed, Fri.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Singapore: daily.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Moscow: Mon, Fri.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Sydney: Wed
Sydney-Ho Chi Minh City:Thu.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Taipei: daily.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Berlin: Tue, Fri
Berlin-Ho Chi Minh City: Wed, Sat.
- Ho Chi Minh City-Vientiane: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun.
- Vientiane-Ho Chi Minh City: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
VIETNAM AIRLINES MAIN BOOKING OFFICES:
 In Ho Chi Minh City:
116 Nguyen Hue St
Tel: (84-8) 8292118,and
15B Dinh Tien Hoang St
Tel: (84-8) 8299910
In Da Nang:
35 Tran Phu St
Tel: (84-512) 821130 or 822094
In Hanoi:
01 Quang Trung St
Tel: (84-4) 8250888 or 8268913.
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USEFUL ADDRESSES
HANOI
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 1 Ton That Dam St
- Tel: (84-4) 8258201
Central Overseas Vietnamese
Board
- 32 BaTrieu St
- Tel: (84-4) 8257354 or 8264867
Ministry of Commerce
- 31 Trang Tien St.
- Tel: (84 - 4 ) 8254915 or 8254904.
General Department of Customs.
- Chuong Duong St
- Tel: (84-4) 8263961 or 8263948
Central Foreign Trade Bank
- 49 Ly Thai To St
- Tel:(84-4) 8257563
Vietnam Post and Telecommunication
- 18 Nguyen Du St
- Tel: (84-4) 8259519
Hanoi Post Office
- 75 Dinh Tien Hoang St
- Tel:(84-4) 8254543
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- 33 Ba Trieu St
- Tel: (84-4) 8253961 or 8252962
Vietnam Insurance Company
- Ly Thuong Kiet St
- Tel: (84-4) 8262792
Hanoi Customs
- 159 Ba Trieu St
- Tel: (84-4) 8257224 or 8262829
Department of Border Gates Management
- 40A Hang Bai St.
- tel: (84-4) 8255798
Hanoi Police
- 87 Tran Hung Dao St
- Tel: (84-4) 8253131 or 8253132
Entry - Exit Procedures Bureau
- 89 Tran Hung Dao St
- Tel: (84-4) 8266472
Expatriate Affairs Bureau
- 79 Tran Hung Dao St
- Tel: (84-4) 8253076
MAJOR HOSPITALS IN HANOI
Friendship Hospital
- 1 Tran Khanh Du
- Tel: (84-4) 8252231
Viet - Duc Hospital
- 40 Trang Thi St, Hanoi
- Tel: (84-4)
8255912
Bach Mai Hospital
- Giai Phong Rd
- Tel:(84-4) 8693731
International Department, Bach Mai Hospital
- Giai Phong Rd
- Tel:(84-4) 8522083 or 8522089
This department is reserved for foreigners for medical
examination and treatment. The Department is staffed with experienced experts,
doctors and nurses who are able to treat serious cases.
HO
CHI MINH CITY
Viet Nam
Foreign Trade Bank in Ho Chi Minh City
- 29 Ben
Chuong Duong St, Dist 1
- Tel: (84-8)
8225705
Branch of
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- 171 Vo Thi
Sau St, Dist 3
- Tel: (84-8)
8230339
Foreign
Trade Development Centre
- 96 Nguyen
Hue Blvd, Dist 1
- Tel: (84-8)
8290002 or 8290072
City Tourism
Office
Commerce Office
- 45-47 Ben
Chuong Duong
- Tel: (84-8)
8292991
Foreign
Office Service Company
- 124 Nguyen
Dinh Chieu
- Tel: (84-8)
8295794
City Finance
Office
- 140A Nguyen
Thi Minh Khai St
- Tel: (84-8)
8292141
City Police
Headquarters
- 268 Tran
Hung Dao Blvd
- Tel: (84-8)
8398880 or 8398881
City Customs
Office
- 2 Ham Nghi
Bvld, Dist 1
- Tel: (84-8)
8290095
International
Express Mail Service
- 253 Hoang
Van Thu St, Tan Binh Dist
- Tel: (84-8)
8443873
Entry - Exit
Visa Service Centre
- 333 Nguyen
Trai St, Dist 1
- Tel: (84-8)
8325491
Post Office
- 117-119 Hai
Ba Trung St, Dist 1
- Tel: (84-8)
8332170
MAJOR HOSPITALS IN HO
CHI MINH CITY
Cho Ray
Hospital
- 201 Nguyen
Chi Thanh Rd - Dist 5
- Tel: (84-8)
8254137 / 8258074
This is a large hospital with more than 1000 beds. On 10th floor, there are
rooms reserved for foreign patients. The hospital is staffed by experienced
professors and doctors. Most of them were trained abroad and they can speak
English or French.
Nhi Dong
Hospital
- No.2 Ly Tu
Trong Rd, Tan Binh District
Thong Nhat
Hospital
This is a modern hospital which consists of five buildings
situated at the junction of Ly Tu Trong Rd and Cach mang Thang Tam Rd, Tan
Binh District.
In Ho Chi Minh City, There are thousands of pharmacies, and many
private consultation rooms Equipped with modern medical instruments.
Health
insurance cards have been issued by the government. The card bearers can have
medical checks and treatments in registered hospitals without paying any
additional charges.
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