Resort selection
People go to Vietnam, as a rule, just for a beach holiday. Of the many beach resorts in the country, Danang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Vung Tau, the Vietnamese Riviera, stand out. If you are interested in excursion tourism, then you should definitely visit Hanoi, Sapa, Hue, Ho Chi Minh and Dalat. Dalat also has excellent climatic conditions.
- Jibin123: Provides information for visa application to enter Vietnam, as well customs regulations and import restrictions.
Brief information about the country
Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia, on the Indochinese Peninsula. More than half of the country is covered with hills. In the north, Vietnam is washed by the South China Sea. The capital of Vietnam is the city of Hanoi. There are few large cities in Vietnam, only the capital and the city of Ho Chi Minh City can be classified as such. Time in Vietnam is ahead of Moscow by three hours.
From May to October in Vietnam is the rainy season, but it is characterized by only short heavy showers – it does not rain all day. From the end of summer to November, especially in the northern part of the country, typhoons rage. In general, the weather in the country is warm and comfortable for recreation all year round.
The official language in the country is Vietnamese. Part of the population speaks English, French and Chinese. In the resorts, you can easily find Vietnamese speaking Russian.
81% of the Vietnamese population are atheists. Of the believers here, most of all are Buddhists and Catholics.
Holiday seasons
Winter-spring is the high season, the best time for a beach holiday;
May to October is the low season, coinciding with the rainy season and typhoons;
The beach season lasts virtually the whole year, but swimming at different times is possible only at certain resorts;
Scuba diving can be practiced almost the whole year, except for the winter period with too rough seas;
September to April is the surfing season;
September to April is the fishing season;
Before the trip
Before traveling to Vietnam, doctors recommend vaccinations against malaria and jaundice, although there are very few cases of these diseases in Vietnam. In addition, if you are traveling to Vietnam from a country where there is currently jaundice, you will be required to document that you have been vaccinated against this disease. It is better to consult a doctor before traveling.
In connection with frequent thefts, it will be useful to purchase a waist bag-purse before a trip to Vietnam – this way you will protect your money from intruders.
Road
Several times a week there are direct flights from Moscow to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nyan Trang. There is a plane from Novosibirsk to Ho Chi Minh City. From other cities, you will have to fly with transfers, usually to Dubai. In general, most often they go to Vietnam through Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Taiwan or Malaysia. A direct flight from Moscow will take 9-10 hours. Flight from Novosibirsk takes 7.5 hours. The duration of the flight from other cities is much longer due to transfers and can reach 16-20 hours.
If you first go to China, then from there you can get to Vietnam by train.
Flight
Since the flight to Vietnam takes quite a long time, you need to figure out what to do during the flight. If you plan to sleep, be sure to bring an eye patch with you – the light can prevent you from falling asleep.
Visa, customs
Since 2009, Russian tourists have been allowed to enter Vietnam without a visa for up to 15 days. The purpose of the visit does not matter. You only need a passport to enter.
If you want to enter Vietnam for more than 15 days, you need to get a tourist visa issued for one month. It can be obtained after arriving in the country in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. To do this, you will need a passport valid for three months after the expected end of the trip, a copy of the invitation from the Vietnamese side (issued by the tour operator), return tickets and two color photographs 4×6 centimeters. You will also need to fill out a form. A visa is issued in 30-60 minutes, completely free of charge for Russian citizens. You can also apply for a visa in advance, at the Vietnamese embassy.
If a child under 18 years old is traveling to Vietnam accompanied by only one parent, then a notarized power of attorney from the second parent will be required, or a document confirming the impossibility of obtaining it (certificate of a single mother, death certificate, etc.). If the child travels without parents at all, then a power of attorney from both parents will be required.
You can bring an unlimited amount of currency into the country, but the amount above 3 thousand dollars will need to be declared. You can also enter duty-free 400 cigarettes, one hundred cigars or 500 grams of tobacco, 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of alcohol with a strength of less than 22 °, three kilograms of coffee, five kilograms of tea and other personal goods with a total value of not more than 5 million VND. All digital and household appliances must be declared – otherwise it will not be possible to take them out without a purchase receipt.
It is strictly forbidden to import drugs and narcotic drugs without a doctor’s prescription. The punishment for this is up to death. It is forbidden to import firearms, explosives, pornography and materials that offend the local culture.
