(Last updated: 18 May 2011)

Visas

Visitors travelling to Vietnam must have either a tourist or business visa for a minimum of three months from the date of arrival. These should be obtained in advance by contacting Vietnamese Government missions in Australia. Your local business contacts can help by issuing a letter of invitation or, better still, submitting visa applications for approval by the Vietnam Immigration Department who will instruct the Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate in Australia to issue visas.

It is important to keep the yellow entry form in your passport once you have been admitted to Vietnam for the duration of your stay. You may be required to produce it along with your passport when booking into hotels. You will be required to produce it in order to exit Vietnam, and may encounter difficulties with immigration officials at the airport if you misplace it.

Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
6 Timbarra Crescent, O’Malley
ACT 2606
Tel: +61 2 6286 6059 or 6290 1556
Fax: +61 2 6286 4534

Consulate-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Sydney
205, Level 2, Edgecliff Centre
203-233 New South Head Road
Edgecliff NSW 2027
Tel: +61 2 9327 2539 or 9327 1912
Fax: +61 2 9328 1653

Climate

Vietnam has tropical weather marked by the monsoon season. It is typically steamy and warm, although the weather can vary significantly from one area to another due to the length of the country which crosses many latitudes and the variance in altitudes - Vietnam is more mountainous than most people realise.

Temperature remains almost constant in Saigon while in Hanoi there is a marked cooler season (November through March) and warmer period during the summer.

Hanoi (north)

Spring: from February to April; average temperature is from 15°-25°C, drizzle is frequent with wet weather. This is the season of the Lunar New Year holiday and many folk festivals.

Summer: from May to August; average temperature is from 30°-36°C. There is a lot of rain and sunshine.

Autumn: from September to November; average temperature is 25°-30°C. It is cool, clear and dry. This is the best season in Hanoi, but is short, lasting no more than 50-60 days.

Winter: from December to January; the temperature is the lowest, from 10°-15°C, sometimes it can get as low as 5°-6°C with 100 per cent humidity rate. The weather is cloudy and wet. The monsoons cause many phases of cold.

The annual average rainfall in Hanoi is 1800mm.

Ho Chi Minh City(south)

Temperatures in the south and Ho Chi Minh City are fairly constant throughout the year (25ºC-30ºC). The climate in Ho Chi Minh City is distinctively seasonal. The dry season lasts from November to April, when there is much sunshine and dry wind. The average temperature is 26°C. The rainy season begins in May and ends in October characterised by sudden heavy rains. The hottest and most humid time is from the end of February until May.

Humidity is 80 per cent which is low when compared with other regions of the country.

The central coast is dry from June to October. The highlands are significantly cooler than the low lands, and temperatures can be freezing in winter.

In the rainy season there is the possibility of typhoons between July and November, affecting the north and central areas. In heavy wind and rain, stay indoors as flying debris may cause serious or even fatal injury. Flight schedules are frequently disrupted by typhoons. Ensure you check with the airline.

For weather details in Vietnam, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Airports

Noi Bai International airport is 39km from Hanoi City. The road journey takes about 35 minutes to the Australian Embassy and a further 15 minutes to the city centre. Noi Bai airport also services domestic flights.

Vietnam Airlines run a bus to and from Noi Bai airport from the centre of the city, costing US$4. Hotels also arrange for airport pick up with prices varying from US$15 (hotel bus) to US$25-$60 (hotel car). A large fleet of airport taxis are available upon arrival at Noi Bai airport. Taxis can be hired for US$10 net for a one-way trip to downtown Hanoi, and are generally safe and reliable.

Tan Son Nhat International airport is about 15 minutes from Ho Chi Minh City to the city centre. A large fleet of airport taxis are available upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Taxis can be hired for US$5 net for a one-way trip to the centre. Airport bus service is not available.

Vietnam Airlines can often alter its flight schedule at very short notice. Flight delays are common and this should be taken into consideration when planning itineraries. Some airlines have joint flight service with Vietnam Airlines.

Ground transport

Public transport is not recommended for business travellers. Local car hire or taxis are the best options and the cost is reasonable. If you wish to hire a car and driver for daily use, please contact Austrade for good recommendations on rates and drivers.

Hotels

There are a wide range of hotels to choose from in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Internationally managed five-star hotels generally range from US$70 to US$150 per night.

Value Added Tax is usually 10 per cent and service fee is five per cent. There is a proliferation of Vietnamese three-star hotels, which are quite clean and comfortable, although more limited in the range of services they offer. These range from US$25 to US$55 per night.

It is important to obtain some form of booking confirmation number if possible in order to ensure that bookings will be honoured on arrival. Austrade can secure preferential hotel booking rates and is happy to offer this service as part of a broader client service package.

Most hotels will require a copy of your passport and yellow immigration entry form for their records upon checking in. Some will keep your passport for the duration of your stay but there is usually no problem about its safe return.

Further information on hotels and accommodation in Vietnam can be sourced from www.HotelsTravel.com and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Security and health

The Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists to Vietnam. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Business visitors and tourists should be aware of petty crime, pick-pocketing and drug-related crime, which is on the increase. Pickpockets are often children or women with babies, and work as a group. In Ho Chi Minh City in particular, the cross-roads of Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke, Le Loi and Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi and Ton Duc Thang should be regarded with caution.

Many thefts are also perpetrated by riders of motor bikes, often with the pillion passenger grabbing bags from tourists sightseeing or walking along the streets.

Health

The sudden rise in the number of motorcycles and trucks, poor road conditions, lack of driver education and local driving habits create dangerous conditions. It is essential that you take necessary precautions when walking in the street, crossing the road or travelling by any vehicle.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water is widely available and should be used for drinking and brushing teeth. There have been incidents of fake bottled water on the market, so seals of bottles should be checked carefully. Ice in drinks in most restaurants and hotels are usually safe.

Local hospitals and dental surgeries are poorly resourced and commonly rudimentary and unhygienic. There are several medical clinics and practices run by expatriates in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, fully equipped with the latest technology and trained staff. Please consult your local doctor for vaccinations before departure from Australia.

In case of an emergency, the first call should be to the hospital or the police station. Apart from dealing directly with the international medical centres, you may want to contact the Australian Embassy, especially if translation or Australian Government representation is required.

Tipping

Tipping is generally not expected in Vietnam. Hotels and most restaurants always add a service fee to their bills. With taxis, round up to the nearest VND1000 or leave some small change.

Time zones and time differences

Vietnam is three hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.

To find out the current time in Vietnam, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Vietnam's country code is 84.

For calls to Vietnam from Australia dial: 0011 + 84 + area code + telephone number.

For calls from Vietnam to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Business hours

Most business and government offices are open from 8.30am-5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Lunch time is between 12.00pm and 1.00pm, however most government agencies and State-owned enterprises tend to extend the break, usually from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Banks are open from 9.00am-4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Supermarkets (mini-marts) and shops are open around 8.30am-10.00am to 8.00pm, Monday-Sunday.

Private shops in central city shopping areas close at 10.00pm to midnight on weekends.

Public holidays

January 1 – New Year's Day
February 14 – Tet, Lunar New Year
April 30 – Vietnamese Liberation Day
May 1 – Labour Day
May 19 – Ho Chi Minh's Birthday
May 28 – Buddha's Enlightenment
September 2 – Vietnamese National Day

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The Vietnamese unit of currency is the Dong (VND). A government decree issued in 1994 stipulated that all financial transactions are to be carried out in Dong, but in practice, either the US dollar or VND can be used, except at any state- owned enterprise. The US dollar can be used in most purchases in Vietnam from the major hotels to the cyclo drivers.

Traveller’s cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged at most major five-star hotels. Most restaurants and shops geared to tourists will accept US dollars and sometimes credit cards. Please note that you should have plenty of cash (either in US dollars or preferably VND) before leaving Hanoi if you travel to the countryside – there are no ATM facilities in smaller towns.

Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in the major cities, the most common being Visa, MasterCard and American Express. It is now possible to access cash with several internationally recognised credit cards in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City through ATMs at the ANZ Bank or the ATM network of Vietnam Foreign Trade Bank – Vietcombank, in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Electricity and water

Vietnam’s power supply is 220/240 volts, 50Hz. The round two-pin plugs are the most common.

Dining

There is an abundance of good food in Vietnam. Travellers should eat at established restaurants with high customer turnover. Avoid street stall vendors and cold, pre-cooked meats. Ask your hotel to make a reservation as only a little English is spoken in some places.