Viet Nam
Travel Formalities
A passport with a minimum of six months remaining validity and a visa is required to enter Viet Nam. A tourist visa is valid for 30 days. Visitors must obtain visa approval prior to entry even for "visa on arrival " application. Visitors are advised to get visa on arrival only in emergency cases since it can be expensive incurring an extra cost for processing in addition to a rush free if the visa procurement service for individuals and groups. The procedure is as follows:
1) Passport details and arrival and departure dates for each individual are sent by email or fax to Discover Viet Nam not later than 7 days prior to departure date to Viet Nam.
2) Discover Viet Nam submits details to Immigration Department which normally takes 3-5 working days for processing.
3) The Immigration Department notifies Discover Viet Nam of the visa approval code to the Embassy or Consulate of the applicant's home country.
4) Discover Viet Nam sends a faxed copy or Email of the approval to the agent or directly to the individual concerned.
5) The agent should submit the client's passport, photograph and faxed copy of the approval to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate of the client's home country. In cases where Viet Nam has no diplomatic representation and therefore has no means of issuing visa locally, the agent should inform Discover Viet Nam at the time of initial application with the preferred alternative location for visa issue. more details & cost >>Despite the fact that all visitors entering must already possess a valid Viet Nam visa, there is requirement for all visitors to complete another form titled "Viet Nam Visa Application " This is the same form that is submitted to the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate so we recommend that clients make an additional copy of the application with an attached photograph to take with them. The form must be presented along with the passport, visa and Entry/Exit card at the Immigration Entry point.
All visitors must present a completed Entry/Exit card . A blue copy of the form will be returned to the visitor and should be retained inside the passport to submit upon departure.
Customs Declaration and Procedure
After immigration, visitors will collect their checked baggage and proceed towards the customs inspection point with the completed Custom Declaration form. Customs personnel may wish to inspect any items after having passed through an X-ray scanner. Upon completion of this process, the Customs Declaration forms will be stamped with one retained by the Custom Declaration and a yellow copy returned to the visitor to be submitted upon departure. The basic principle of customs policy in Viet Nam is that visitors should enter and exit with the following exceptions:
1) Cash: It is anticipated (and hoped!) that the amount of cash upon entry should be greater than upon exit. Cash amounts greater than USD 5,000 in either direction should be declared.
2) Souvenirs: Visitors are free to buy products in Viet Nam for personal use. The exception to this principal is antiques. Antiques considered of national interest will be confiscated without refund or recourse to their return. In general this applies to articles of ancients (over 50 years old) or religious nature. "National Interest" is interpreted by an expert at the airport. In cases where a visitor is unsure of the acceptability of the export of any goods purchased, they can check with the Customs Office in either Ho Chi Minh City or Ha Noi for prior ruling without risk of confiscation. To avoid confiscation of goods not purchased in Viet Nam, visitors must be sure an accurate description appears on the Customs Declaration form upon arrival. Particular note should be taken of antiques purchased in other countries in the region which might possibly be deemed of Vietnamese origin. Also extra care should be taken to declare loose gemstones and jewellery.
3) Firearms, narcotics and other internationally prohibited goods are banned and those found in possession of such will be liable to prosecution.
Airport Tax ( as of Jan. 2004 )
International Airport tax: USD 12
Domestic Airport tax incl. of Flight ticket: USD 2 (VND 25,000)
