VISA CONDITION AND FEES

A 30-day tourist visa is obtainable at the Vietnamese Embassy or Vietnam diplomatic missions abroad, upon presentation of a passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining, however, as the cases may be visas can be obtained with passport validity remaining at least 30 days plus proposed visa duration. In order to facilitate obtaining a visa, travelers are encouraged to apply through their travel agency. We can take care for the formalities if the traveler provides us with his or her passport details, arrival date and point of entry at least seven days before the anticipated arrival date in Vietnam.

CURRENCY

The local currency in Vietnam is the Dong. The official exchange rate as of May 2006 was approximately 15,978 VND/USD. US dollars are also widely accepted. Major credit cards such as VISA, American Express, Master Card and traveler’s cheques are accepted in hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and more up market establishment.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

Although the entire country of Vietnam lies in the inter-tropical zone it has a remarkably diverse climate between north and south. In the north, there is a winter season from November to April, with frequent cold drizzle during February and March. Summer is from May to October. The annual average temperature in the north is 21°C. The southern part of the country enjoys, sub-equator warmth all year round, with an annual average temperature of 27°C, marked by two seasons, rainy from June to October and dry from November to May.

GETTING TO VIETNAM

Airlines currently operating to and from Vietnam are Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Air France, Aeroflot, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Eva Air, Emirates Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordania, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Siem Reap Airways, Thai Airways and United Airways.

From April 2006, American Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have entered into a code sharing agreement for US-Vietnam services. Vietnam Airlines would place its “VN” designator code on American Airlines flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and Frankfurt from the US, with the services continuing on to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by Vietnam Airlines. In a later phase, American Airlines will place its “AA” designator code on Vietnam Airlines’ services from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and Frankfurt.

AIRPORT TAX

The departure tax for international flight is US $14 at Tan Son Nhat airport (HCM city) & Noi Bai airport (Hanoi). Departure tax for domestic flights is included in the air fare.