FAQs Vietnam

Step 1:  Prepare the required materials: 

• One 4x6 passport photo in .jpg format with a white background, without glasses.

• One photo in .jpg format of your passport data page.

• Passport valid for at least six months.

• Your temporary address in Vietnam and points of entry and exit.

• Debit or credit card for payment.

Step 2: Click this link or access https://immigration.gov.vn/ and go to 'E-visa Issuance' then click on the link for 'Outside Vietnam foreigners'.  

Step 3: Upload your .jpg images (passport data page and passport photo) and fill out the required fields on the form completely. Submit your form.

Step 4: Pay the e-Visa fee of 35USD. Copy down the document code provided. 

Step 5: Within three working days you should receive news of your e-Visa application via email. If not, you can also run a search for your e-Visa at this link. 

Step 6: Use your document code to locate your e-Visa online. Download and print the e-Visa in two copies for extra safety. 

The process of getting a business visa or a tourist visa is generally the same. Most tourists get their visa through a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate office in their country of residence or in their travels country before entering Vietnam.

For a tourist visa, you will need to submit:

1) Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another).
2) Two photos (usually 4cm x 6cm or 3 cm x 4 cm)
3) Your original passport
4) Visa fee

The form and the fee can vary by country, so please check directly the Vietnamese embassy or consulate to which you are applying.

A business visa usually also requires a letter of support from your sponsor agency or company in Vietnam. In person, the process usually takes 2-3 days, and by mail, the process usually takes 2-3 weeks, depending on the service you use, although times can vary considerably by embassy or consulate. If you are mailing, please note that you need to make arrangements to have your passport with visa returned to you.

Banks: The safest locations to exchange foreign money and cheques include Vietcombank, Vietinbank, Agribank, etc. There is a low commission rate of 0.5% to 2%. Moreover, you will be charged an extra 2% of the coin's value if it is damaged. Opening time is from 8:00AM to 5:00 PM on Weekdays and the morning Saturdays. 

Hotels: You can exchange currency at a rate that is more favorable than the bank by going to a high-quality hotel. Small hotels could also impose a service charge. Tourists need to check with receptionists whether or not the hotels are available to exchange your national currencies. 

Airports: When landing at the airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you will see some currency exchange shops. Nevertheless, this exchange rate is not desirable. It is therefore recommended to exchange a small amount to pay for your car cost and travel into town for a meal.

Gold and jewelry stores: The exchange rate is far better than that in hotels, banks, and airports when there are no costs involved.

In recent years, the US dollar has fluctuated between VND 23,400 and 23,700 the Vietnam Dong. 

Do cards work in Vietnam?

Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards are frequently accepted in Vietnam, particularly in motels and shopping areas, or even street vendors. If you use a plastic card to pay, you can be assessed a 3%–4% commission.

Vietnamese law states that ATMs can only  withdraw Vietnamese Dong (VND), regardless of whether a tourist's account was opened in the other nations and currencies. 

Travelers can access a cash machine daily and 24/7 hours per day. Along the main street or adjacent booth to the Bank, visitors are able to find  ATMs as convenient as possible.
There are some frequent banks for tourists to take their transactions. 

Vietcombank: 50,000 VND for each transaction

Agribank: 22,000 VND per transaction

BIDV: The exchange charges 30,000 VND.

Sacombank: 30,000 VND for the transaction

Citibank: 55,000 VND for the transaction

Transaction fees are 40,000 VND (ANZ).

There are different methods to classify Vietnamese cuisine due to lots of introverted and extroverted criterias such as Geography, Weather, Immigrant culture (Chian, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, French and America) and primary ingredients like rice.

Traditional Vietnamese cuisine is harmonized with 5 flavors and follows Yin and Yang rules, which boost special primary taste stronger and emphasize authentic  ingredients features. Vietnamese gastronomy is well-known for its Fish Sauce with diverse versions. As a result, there are numerous dishes made from rice and those seafood sauces throughout regions namely Pho, Banh Canh, Cao Lau, Banh Xeo, etc. 

Some representative Vietnamese Culinary is special traditional dishes made in the Tet holiday festivals including Nem (spring roll), Banh Chung, Banh Giay, Bong Soup.  

Attention: In Vietnam, we often use Sodium Glutamate (Mi Chinh or Bot Ngot). If you have any known food allergies or do not like it, you should require gluten-free dishes at the restaurant.

While not required or traditional in Vietnam, tipping is always preferred. The best way to express your gratitude for the service staff, drivers, and other suppliers is by giving a little tip. Although it might not be commonplace to you, the individuals who look after you when you travel find it to be quite important. Tipping is a well-established part of the travel sector in many International destinations and fosters future excellence in service.

For International tourists, the minimum tipping rate is from $5/ passengers. Those tipping will be shared to both tour guide and drivers or those who take care of your tour. This is a popular mandatory tipping rate for most land tour operators.