Useful tips for the first time having Vietnam Holiday Packages
Posted By : Threeland Travel / Vietnam Travel Guide
The new place is always something mysterious and interesting that attracts you to discover right away. But without good preparation, your trip can become a terrible disaster. Today, this article will provide you some useful tips for visitors that first time come to Vietnam.
1. Passport and Visa
Passport and visa are always the first things you have to prepare for traveling abroad. If you don’t know, foreign visitors from most countries in the world are required a valid visa to come to Vietnam for any purposes. Luckily, there are still exceptions for citizens of certain countries. In some cases, they don’t need a visa to enter Vietnam:
- Brunei: temporary stay maximum is 14 days.
- Japan, Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Finland, Germany, French, England, Italy, and Spanish: temporary stay does not exceed 15 days.
- Philippine: maximum of 21 days.
- Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos: 30 days or less for a temporary stay.
- One special thing is if you visit Phu Quoc Island for under 15 days no matter where you come from, the visa is not required (for other destinations outside Phu Quoc Island, tourists ought to have a visa)
Easily access to get a passport and visa in Vietnam
Notes: To enter Vietnam without a visa, your passport has to be valid at least 6 months, and more than 30 days since the last time depart from Vietnam. On the other hand, if you are out of the list above, there are three ways for
you to get a visa to enter Vietnam.
- Apply at Vietnam consulate or Embassy: you will have to go to consulate or Embassy of Vietnam in your country and do some necessary procedures. If your letter is approved, you will get your visa after 3 – 7 business days.
- Get e-visa: with 10 minutes filling some information and a couple of days waiting, you will receive your e-visa and ready to head to Vietnam.
- Get Vietnam visa on arrival: if you don’t have time to go to the Embassy and not good at technology stuff, this third way is an ideal solution for you. You can contact to reliable travel agencies in Vietnam and they will help
you get approval letter to enter the country (this way is only accepted if you enter at Vietnam’s four international airports: Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City), Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi City), Da Nang airport and Cam Ranh
airport (Nha Trang).
SEE MORE: Time of best weather also best festival in Hanoi 2019
2. Currency and money
The currency of Vietnam is Dong. You can get an exchange at the airports or banks, and many sometimes in gold and jewelry shops in big cities Vietnam. Due to the unique situation, everyone is “millionaire” in Vietnam. The smallest value of Vietnam currency is 1000 VND, with that you can only buy a pack of chewing gum or tiny pack of snacks.
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Currency exchange in Vietnam
Maybe too much 0 will make you confused at first, and the color of some currency is very similar, for example, the 20000 VND note and the 500000 VND are blue while the 10000 VND note and 200000 VND note are the same
tan. Take your time to divide all the notes in order in your pocket avoid handing the wrong note while rushing, and if you can’t handle too much 0 like that, remember there is always a calculator app in your phone and Vietnamese
people are willing to help. You can use the card in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and modern convenience
stores. But cash still domain the daily life of Vietnamese, keep some inside your pocket in case you want to buy some souvenirs or try foods on the streets where definitely don’t exist card swipe machines.
Notes: after exchange money, remember to check, the note must be clean and intact, not torn and to dim or it can’t be used. You can require changing the note if it is not qualified.
Don’t forget to ask the price before buying anything or use any service if there is no sign or menu outside avoid the price increase because you are a foreigner. You can bargain with sellers for a good price, just do not do it in
the morning since it is a jinx.
3. Learn Vietnamese
Although English is an international language in the world, not everyone in Vietnam can speak it fluently and confidently. Learn some basic words Vietnamese to communicate is a good idea for the first time traveling, and you can get sympathy from the locals, they are love to speak with foreign visitors. But it is not an easy language to learn with an alteration of a sound and pitch. So the best idea is taking a dictionary of Vietnamese basic to communicate with you everywhere you go in case you need it.
Learn some Vietnamese word
Some words and phrases you can learn:
Hello: Xin chào
Thank you: Cảm ơn
Sorry/ Excuse me: Xin lỗi
My name is…: Tên tôi là
How much..: Bao nhiêu
What time is it: Mấy giờ rồi
SEE MORE: For Australian: Guide and Tips of traveling to Vietnam - Visa, Flight, Money
4. What to wear and bring
Although has a small acreage, the weather in Vietnam is different from North to South, it can be rainy and cold in Hanoi although sunny and dry in Ho Chi Minh City. So due to destinations that you come, have research about the temperature first then choose suitable clothes. But one thing must be on the list for sure is pants and long sleeves.
In Vietnam, there are thousands of pagodas and temples stretching all over the city. It will be considered rule and you maybe are not allowed to be in if wear shorts or tank tops to the pagodas or temples. So remember to bring
along some pants, trousers and long sleeves. And remember to remove hat while going in.
Some rules of wearing clothes when going to the church or pagoda
Besides, Vietnam has many incredible scene destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Sapa or Ninh Binh. So don’t forget to bring along travel cameras or mobile phones to save those stunning views. On the other hand, since August 21, 2019, Mac book Pro 15 - inch of Apple which produced and consumed from September 2015 to February 2017 is banned from checked-in luggage on planes. So you should have another choice to bring along if you are having it.
5. To do and not to do
Here are some small notes for your first trip to Vietnam
To do:
- Learn how to use chopsticks, in some cases or in remote areas, you can not find forks or knives.
The significant cuisine in Vietnam - Pho
- Try to finish all the food on your plates, it will be impolite if you leave too much, especially if you are in local families, it seems to ridicule the host.
- Have a map or hotel business card when going out in case you get lost.
- Because traffic in Vietnam is chaotic, remember to raise your hands while crossing the road. It is considered a sign of the other vehicles to avoid you.
Not to do:
- Show public personal affection to your loved one or have aggressive behavior in public. Vietnamese are quite closed and conservative so don’t show too much.
- Take pictures of military sites in Vietnam.
- Rush the local, they really hate being rushed.
- Touch the other head, even if it is children.
Above is some advice for your first trip to Vietnam, don’t be so nervous if you make mistakes, Vietnamese people are usually kind and generous, they will forgive and remind you. Have an incredible journey in Vietnam!
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