Frequently Asked Questions

HAPRO TRAVEL JOINT STOCK COMPANY Address: 11 B Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Tel: + 84 4 936 5139; Fax: + 84 4 828 8645; Email: [email protected] Website: www.haprotravel.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Please click into this page and scroll until you reach the end of the page)

Question: Is there any airport departure tax to be paid when leaving Vietnam? Answer: No, departure tax of all airports is included in the price of your flight ticket. Question: How can I get to Vietnam by air? Answer: Hapro Travel offers special rates for international flights with Vietnam Airlines. Please contact us for your flight advices. Alternatively, depending on your country of origin, consult your national carrier who may have convenient flights for you. You can also consult your local travel agents for routes, fares and availability on flights to Vietnam. Websites and flight search engines may offer some good deals. Major airlines flying to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City include: Aeroflot

Air France

All Nippon Airways

Asiana Airlines

Cathay Pacific

China Airlines

China Southern Airlines

Emirates

Eva Air

Garuda Indonesia

Japan Airlines

Korean Air

Lao Airlines

Lufthansa

Malaysian Airlines

Pacific Airlines

Philippines Airlines

Qantas

Shanghai Airlines

Singapore Airlines

Thai Airways Intl.

Tiger Airways

United Airlines

Uzbekistan Airlines

Vietnam Airlines

Air Asia

Code shares are possible with fellow Star Alliance, One World or Sky Team members. If you are a frequent flyer, check directly with one of the members to see what best suits you. British Airways, Air France-KLM and Austrian Airlines have representative offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Major airlines flying to Danang International Airport include PB Air from Bangkok and Silk Air from Singapore. Question: How can I get to Vietnam by land? Answer: Three countries share borders with Vietnam: China in the north (three border crossings), Laos in the west (three border crossings) and Cambodia in the south-west (two border crossings). From China: Trains from Beijing to Hanoi pass by Nanning and Pinxiang in China and enter Vietnam at Dong Dang (north of Lang Son). There is also a road crossing known as Huu Nghi in Lang Son province. Trains coming from Kunming cross the border at Lao Cai (a north-west province of Vietnam). From Guangzhou, you will cross the border at Mong Cai, a four-hour drive from Halong and its spectacular Bay. From Laos: If you travel from Laos by road via Savannakhet and Sepon, you will get to Vietnam by the Lao Bao (Vietnam) border crossing. This crossing links Laos to central Vietnam (Danang and Quang tri Provinces). If you travel from Vientiane, you will cross Lak Sao before entering Vietnam by Cau Treo border crossing, in Ha Tinh Province (Vietnam). Nam Can border crossing connects Nghe An Province (Vietnam) and Xieng Khuang Province (Laos). From Cambodia: If you travel from Phnom Penh by speedboat, you will enter Vietnam at Chau Doc – a south-west province of Vietnam

in the Mekong Delta area. If you arrive from Cambodia by road into Ho Chi Minh City, you will enter Vietnam at Moc Bai, which connects Vietnam’s Tay Ninh Province with Cambodia’s Svay Rieng Province. NOTE: It is impossible to obtain a visa on arrival at land border-crossing points (with the exception of Moc Bai border crossing). If you enter Vietnam by land, you must obtain the visa before arrival. Please find our VISA section below for further information. Question: Do I need to have any vaccinations to enter Vietnam? Answer: No vaccinations are mandatory except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions, especially if traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are rather limited and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed. NOTES: You should consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial tablets and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst traveling in Vietnam. Some vaccination courses may need time to be completed. If you plan to take anti-malarial tablets, you usually need to start one week before arrival. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any other personal medical requirements. Question: What is the local currency in Vietnam? Answer: The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). However, US Dollars and Euros are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops. Banks are open from Monday to Friday and some on Saturday morning. In major cities there are exchange bureaus and most hotels will change US Dollars and Euros. Vietnamese Dongs come in the following forms: Bank notes: 200; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000; 50,000; 100,000; 500,000. Coins: 200; 500 (silver) and 1,000; 2,000; 5,000 (gold). Notes: Most hotels offer the opportunity to change USD and Euros at a reasonable exchange rate. Check at the reception of your hotel or ask your Hapro Travel guide for assistance. If you pay a bill calculated in VND by using USD, ask for the exchange rate. Alternatively, ask your Hapro Travel guide for assistance. Question: Is it better to use Vietnamese Dongs or US Dollars? Answer: For daily expenses, you are recommended to carry a mix of US Dollars and VND in cash. For larger items or when the exchange rate works in your favor, use US Dollars. For cyclos, local food stalls and small purchases, it’s better to use VND. In either case, make sure you always have a stock of small notes so that you don’t have to worry about change. Question: Are Travelers’ Cheques accepted in Vietnam? Answer: Banks such as Citibank, ANZ Bank. HSBC and Vietcombank can change your Travelers’ Cheques for VND or US Dollars but a commission applies (1% to 2%) whilst very few shops, hotels or restaurants accept Travelers’ Cheques. Note: It is difficult to change Travelers’ Cheques outside of the major cities. Question: Can I use credit cards in Vietnam? Answer: Most credit cards are accepted in Vietnam. VISA and MASTERCARD are the most widely accepted. JCB and AMERICAN EXPRESS are also accepted in some outlets. Not all hotels, commercial centers, shops and restaurants accept credit cards. Check with the cashier whether card is accepted. Bear in mind that a surcharge usually applies for credit card purchases. VISA and MASTERCARD: 2.5 % surcharge; JCB: 2.75% surcharge; AMERICAN EXPRESS: 4% surcharge. NOTE: Surcharges can be changed without prior notice. Check the percentage charged before you buy. Question: Where can I withdraw cash? Answer: ATMs for withdrawal of Vietnamese Dong are available in major airports, hotels, towns and capitals of provinces throughout Vietnam.

Most ATMs have an English language version. Ask your tour guide for assistance when you need to locate an ATM. Look at the following links for global ATM locations: Visa

Mastercard

Amex

Question: What is the exchange rate for Vietnamese Dong (VND)? Answer: Commission rates are slightly lower if changing Travelers’ Cheques into VND rather than USD. Vietcombank does not charge any commission when changing US Dollars cash into VND, though some banks do. You receive a slightly better exchange rate for $100 and $50 notes than for smaller denominations. When cashing Travelers’ Cheques you may be asked for your passport. For up-to-date official exchange rates and currencies converter, click here. Question: How safe is Vietnam? Answer: Vietnam is a relatively safe country to visit. As a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags. Avoid taking cyclos late at night and do choose reliable metered taxi companies. Ask your Hapro Travel guide for advice on safety issues. Question: How can I get in touch with my family, workplace and friends? Answer: Telephone: Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices. You may find prepaid phone cards in some post offices to use at public telephone boxes. It may not always be possible to make international calls in remote areas. The charge for a call may be expensive in Vietnam. There are some ways to make your calls cheaper, for example, add 171 or 178 before 00 + your country code + your number, or asking your guide for an advice. If you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your own mobile phone and use it to make domestic or international calls. Check with your mobile phone provider for the costs before using it abroad - it may be expensive. Internet: Major hotels have Business Centers with PCs connected to the Internet. Some of them have wireless broadband access in rooms or public areas. Cyber cafes are becoming popular and are easily found in major towns and cities. Prices are reasonable, usually below US$1 per hour. In various Internet cafes or stationeries, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafes are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones. Mail: Postcards are sold at all main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks. A postcard to Europe costs VND 9,000 to send and takes around two weeks to reach the country of destination. Notes: If Internet connections at hotels are important for you during your visit to Vietnam, please advise your Hapro Travel consultant. Hapro Travel will provide you with the names and contact details of all hotels you will be staying in, should you need to be contacted while on tour. Question: What is the time difference in Vietnam? Answer: Vietnam time is GMT + 7 and does not operate daylight-saving system. Question: Can I rent a car and drive myself? Answer: Vietnamese law does not allow foreigners to rent and drive a car. It is highly advisable to rent a car with a driver who knows the roads and can speak Vietnamese in case of any problems. Traffic and roads conditions may be very different to what you are used to. Question: Can the driver speak English and act as a guide? Answer: No, he cannot. In Vietnam, drivers are just drivers. Tour guides need to be licensed by the National Tourism Authority. Tour guides are the only persons legally entitled to escort tourists. Hapro Travel specializes in arranging tours with private drivers and qualified professional tour guides. Question: Do I need to get a tourist visa for Vietnam?

Answer: Most visitors to Vietnam require a visa to enter the country. Since the 1st of May 2005, nationals from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland traveling to Vietnam and staying for 15 days or less no longer need to apply for entry visas, provided that their passports are valid for at least three months and they may need to show their return tickets. Those who wish to stay longer than 15 days will need to apply for a visa. Tourists holding Thai, Indonesian, Lao, Malaysian and Singaporean passports do not need a visa for a visit up to 30 days. Philippines passport holders do not need a visa for a visit up to 21 days. Japanese and South Korean passport holders do not need a visa for a visit up to 15 days. Notes: A tourist visa is a single entry visa which means that if you exit Vietnam, you will require a new tourist visa to enter Vietnam again. All travelers must have a passport valid to 6 months after their planned exit from Vietnam. The above information may change without prior notice. It is your responsibility to check whether or not you are subject to a tourist visa for Vietnam. For visa information, click here to contact your nearest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Question: How long is a tourist visa to Vietnam valid? Answer: A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas. Question: How do I apply for a Vietnamese visa? Answer: There are 2 ways to obtain a visa: If you arrive to Vietnam by land, it is NOT possible to get a visa on arrival. You must obtain the visa beforehand, as outlined in Case 1. (The one exception is the Moc Bai land crossing, at the Cambodian border – see Case 2). Case1: Collect your visa before arrival from your closest Vietnamese embassy or consulate. For a complete list of Vietnam’s embassies and consulates worldwide, please click here Case 2: Collect your visa on arrival at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Danang International Airports. In both cases, Hapro Travel Vietnam can help you obtain your visa prior to arrival or upon arrival. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU OBTAIN YOUR VISA BEFORE ARRIVAL TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY DELAYS AND POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS WHICH MAY OCCUR AT THE AIRPORT. Hapro Travel can process your visa application and obtain the necessary visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. For the purpose, we need the following details from all applicants: Full name as it appears in your passport Date of birth DD/MM/YY Gender Passport number Issue date and expiry date of your passport Place of issue (e.g. London, United Kingdom) In Case 1 only: Location for you collection of visa, e.g. Vietnam embassy in London. In case 2 only: Arrival date in Vietnam and flight number (e.g. 16th of February 2006 by Vietnam Airlines flight VN532) and Port of entry (e.g. Hanoi, Noi Bai Airport) The visa process usually takes about five working days after we receive the above information. Afterwards, we will send you the official document approved by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. The official document in Case 1 is an “approval letter”. The official document in Case 2 is a “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter”. Case 1: Visa before arrival Bring the “approval letter”, your passport and two recent passport-sized photos to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate. The person collecting the visa must also complete two application forms at the embassy or consulate. A visa stamping fee is charged by the Vietnamese embassy or consulate. Fees vary from one country to another. NOTES: You should always allow plenty of time for your visa arrangements to ensure a good start to your trip. Hapro Travel charges a service fee to obtain your “approval letter” from the Vietnamese Immigration Department if you do not book other services with us. Case 2: Visa upon arrival

Please remember to take your passport, 2 recent passport-sized photos and the “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter” with you to check in for your flight to Vietnam. NOTE: If you do not have this letter at the time of check-in, the airline staff will not allow you to board the aircraft. Before departure, prepare some bank notes in USD to clear visa stamping fees on arrival. On arrival at International Airports of Hanoi, Danang or Ho Chi Minh City, head to the Landing Visa Counter. Present your “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter”, passport and 2 pictures to the officer who will charge you a Visa stamping fee. Then, head for the Immigration desks to get your passport back with stamped visa. NOTES: You should always allow plenty of time to check your visa arrangements to ensure a good start of your trip. Hapro Travel charges a service fee of USD 10 per applicant to obtain your “visa picking up upon arrival approval letter” from the Vietnamese Immigration Department. Question: What are the immigration procedures on entering Vietnam? Answer: On entering Vietnam, all visitors must complete an entry/exit form including a customs declaration (white/yellow color). It is important that the bottom copy (yellow sheet) of this form is kept safe with your passport while in Vietnam and is presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure. Question: What is the weather like in Vietnam? Answer: Hanoi and the north of Vietnam have distinct winter and summer seasons. The mainly dry winter lasts from November to April with average temperatures of 18-20oC. Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid with temperatures around 30oC. Hue and Danang, in the centre of the country, have very hot, dry weather from May to August with temperatures reaching the mid 30's Celsius, but can experience some heavy rainfall between September and January. Ho Chi Minh City and the south have a hot, dry season from December till April with average temperatures around 28oC and a warm rainy season from May to November. In the rainy season, most rain comes in short, heavy bursts. Hanoi and around (North); Danang and around (Centre); Ho Chi Minh City and around (South). Minimum to Maximum average temperatures in °C Month

North

Centre

South

North

Centre

South

January

14 – 19

19 – 25

21 – 32

18

101

15

February

15 – 20

20 – 26

23 – 33

28

31

4

March

18 – 23

22 – 29

24 – 34

38

12

13

April

21 – 27

23 – 31

26 – 35

81

18

42

May

24 – 32

25 – 33

25 – 34

197

47

221

June

26 – 33

26 – 34

25 – 32

238

42

331

July

26 – 33

25 – 34

24 – 32

322

99

314

August

26 – 32

26 – 34

24 – 31

343

117

268

September

25 – 31

24 – 32

24 – 31

252

447

334

October

22 – 27

23 – 30

24 – 31

98

530

268

November

19 – 25

22 – 27

23 – 31

42

221

114

December

15 - 22

19 – 25

21 – 31

21

208

56

For live weather forecasts, click here. Question: When is the best season to travel to Vietnam? Answer:

Rainfall in mm

All year round is the good season somewhere! Vietnam stretches over 2000 km from North to South. The climate differs all year round from one region to another. The North can be chilly during winter months (December to March). North and Central Vietnam can encounter tropical storms and typhoons from October to January. Overall, the north of Vietnam experiences more marked seasons than the rest of the country with two distinct seasons: wet and dry. The South, including Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, benefits from sunshine and warm weather all year round. However, the rainy season lasts from May to November (with showers once or twice in general) and a dry season from December to April. The Central Highlands can be chilly. Nha Trang has warm – sometimes hot - weather all year round, with a rainy season from the end of September until December. Note: As a reminder, the peak season lasts from October to May. To avoid disappointment because hotel rooms or domestic flights are fully booked, reserve your travel arrangements early. Contact us to discuss your travel plans.

For further information, please contact us