Travel

Airports

In Hanoi: Noi Bai International airport is 39 km from Hanoi’s downtown and takes about 45 minutes to drive to the Australian Embassy or the city centre by taxi.

In Ho Chi Minh City: Tan Son Nhat International airport is located inside Ho Chi Minh’s downtown, and is about 40 minutes from the central urban district of Ho Chi Minh City (which is District 1)

The country has seven further international and 15 domestic airports. All Vietnamese airlines occasionally change their schedule at very short notice and delays are common.

Ground transport

Taxis are an inexpensive and viable way to get around, Vinasun and Mai Linh are examples of trusted taxi companies.

Austrade can help you arrange hiring a car with a driver during your stay, as hiring cars to self-drive will be difficult for those who are visiting Vietnam

Hotels

There are a wide range of hotels to choose from in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. A 10 per cent VAT and a service fee five per cent is often charged on top of advertised prices.

Dining

In the larger cities there are plenty of restaurants offering cuisine from around the world and of course mid- and higher-range restaurants offering Vietnamese dishes. International restaurant chains are increasingly present. Little English is spoken at establishments with lower price-ranges.

Trips to rural areas can mean little choice apart from 'street kitchens' - bring packaged food if you want to avoid these.

Tipping

Tipping is generally not required in Vietnam.

Tourist attractions

The karst formations of Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the north of Vietnam figure on the UNSECO World Heritage list of natural sites, while Vietnam’s eight cultural sites with this designation include the old town of Hoi An and the imperial city of Hue in central Vietnam.

Further tourism hotspots include the beaches of Nha Trang, Da Nang and the island of Phu Quoc in the south.