General Information on Vietnam
Forewarned is forearmed: Please read our Scams and Annoyances article to make your stay more pleasurable.
Weather-wise: When to go to Vietnam
Vietnam has essentially two seasons, which affect the northern and southern portions of the country differently.
In the south, monsoon rains come from May to November, bringing brief but strong daily showers.
Late February to May tends to be hot, humid, but dry.
The north experiences its winter season from November to April, with cloudy conditions and misty rain common on most days.
May to October is hot and dry, with the occasional summer typhoon.
Visas
You may secure one in your own country from the Vietnamese embassy (prices and approval times vary according to country) or get one in Bangkok.
Bangkok is the easiest, because you can have your travel agent do it for you.
In Bangkok, two passport photos are needed, plus your passport.
Your agency can offer you one to four-day service, at prices ranging from 2800-1900 baht (approximately $75 for one day service, to $50 for four day service) for a single-entry 30 day visa.
Passport
We'd suggest making a photocopy of the data page from your passport, before you leave your own country.
That way, if it's ever lost, you'll have proof, and your turnaround time for getting a new one will be greatly reduced.
Veteran travelers are also scanning their air tickets, saving them as jpegs, and emailing themselves images of their passports and tickets.
If either is lost, they can open their email and print out the jpegs, which eases the process for reissue.
Customs and Immigration
On arrival, complete the arrival-departure forms.
The yellow copy should be kept with your passport, as hotels must register overnight guests with the local police and the form is needed.
You will also need to show the yellow form when departing the country.
You will be asked to declare currency, if over $3000 USD, cameras, computers, and electronic equipment.
Upon leaving the country, you pay a $12 USD exit fee.
Exporting older Buddha images from Vietnam is prohibited, so savvy travelers ship items back to their home countries directly from Vietnam, where the shop you've purchased from can ensure that all Vietnamese government paperwork is done correctly and legally.
If you return to Bangkok with goods you've bought in Vietnam, expect to have Thai customs inspect your bags, as exporting older Buddha images from Thailand is also not legal.
Banned items
Vietnam has strict laws on importing goods interpreted as being anti-government literature or pornography, so "clean house" before you pack.
You are not allowed to export antiquities, so ensure that you receive a receipt and declaration that your goods may be exported when buying crafts that appear to be old.
Currency
Most purchases can be made in either Vietnamese dong or US dollars.
The largest bill in circulation is 100,000 VND (about $6 USD), and ATMs are easy to find in most cities.
Dong are good for small purchases, as vendors may not always have change for USD in large denominations.
Traveler's checks (in US dollars only) may be cashed at most banks and at upscale hotels.
At the latter, expect to pay a 5% commission. Also, expect to pay an extra 3-4% on credit card transactions.
