Vietnam shares land borders with Cambodia, Laos and China. There are several border
crossings opened legally so far. However, it does NOT mean that all type of passport
holders can arrive Vietnam from Land Border. If you plan to exit Vietnam by air plane
Visa is a must. Please see below list for your reference.
From CAMBODIA
Bavet (or Moc Bai);
From LAOS
Donsavanh (or Lao Bao);
Nam Phao (or Cau Treo);
Tay Trang.
From CHINA
Youyi Guan (or Huu Nghi Quan – English name is FriendshipPass);
Hekou (or Lao Cai);
Dongxing (or Mong Cai).
Overland from China
Youyi Guan (or Huu Nghi Quan or FriendshipPass)
Near Pingxiang (China) and Dong Dang (18km of Lang Son - Vietnam).
BY BUS: from Naning, take bus to Pingxiang and 20 min drive by bus or shared taxi
to the border. After 600m walk across to Dong Dang, please take minibus or XE OM to Lang Son then bus to Hanoi
To save time and money, you should take train to Pingxiang, get off, cross the border
and bus to Hanoi. On Vietnamese side, buy ticket Hanoi - Dong Dang only (6 hours), cross
the border by your arrangement and buy another ticket when you are in China.
Hekou (or Ha Khau)
Near Hekou (468km south of Kunming - China) and Laocai(Vietnam).
Bus from Kunming to Hekou border gate (490km, 10 hours). From
Hekou to Lao Cai railway station is 10 minutes by motorbike
You can buy train ticket Laocai to Hanoi (300km, 10 hrs, daily evening train
( Please be noted that from Vietnam to China, you can take night train Hanoi- Laocai from the night before.Upon arrival Laocai, you'll find bus leaving Hekou for Kunming departing 5 times per day.)
Dongxing (or Mong Cai)
Connects Dongxing (China) and Mong Cai (Quang Ninh - Vietnam).
Direct bus from Nanning to Halong Bay (depart from River South Bus Centre (Jiang Nan Ke Yun Zhong Xing).
The bus crosses the border at DongXing border town instead of Gate of Friendship.
You can also go by express boat – hydrofoil service from Mong Cai to Halong then by bus to Hanoi.
Overland from Cambodia
Bavet (or Moc Bai)
Several daily buses Phnom Penh - Saigon, departs around 8am, takes 7 hours.
Bus Ticket Booking:
MAI LINH Open Bus. Sales Office: 391 Shihanouk Blvd( str number 274) . Phone : 855 23 211 888.
CAPITOL Tour:office and arrival /departure : # 14AEo, Street 182 at Capitol GuestHouse
Phone 855 023 217 627
MEKONG Express ( Deluxe Bus). Office at 87 SisowathQuay at the corner of street 102 on the river front.
Phone 855 023 427518. Stations located at Phsar Orrusey & at office
Overland from Laos
Donsavanh (or Lao Bao)
Connects Sepon (Laos) and Dong Ha (Quang Tri, Vietnam), followed Highway No.9.
Tourist buses Savannakhet - Hue depart daily at 10pm, serving Dong Ha –Hue-Danang. Coming in the other direction, buses at Hue depart at 6am or 6pm daily, and take 13 hours. Shop around Savannakhet or Hue for good deals.
Alternatively, take local buses from Savannakhet (255km, 5 hours, leave at 7am and noon) or Sawngthaew (pick-up truck - 210km, 4 hours, leave regularly) to Sepon, spend a night there before the next morning bus to the border. Across the border on foot, then continue 20-minute walking or take xe om (renting motorbike with driver) to Lao Bao Bus station for departing Hue or Danang.
Nam Phao (or Cau Treo)
Near Lak Sao (30km east - Laos), Tha Kaek (200km - Laos) and Ha Tinh (Vietnam), Vinh (96km - Nghe An, Vietnam), followed KaewNeuaPass (734m) and Highway No.8.
Daily bus Vientiane - Hanoi takes about 24 hours, depended on your bargain skills and where to buy (backpacker streets in Vientiane or Hanoi).
Alternatively, take local buses to Lak Sao, and sawngthaew (45 minutes, leave regularly) to the border, then looking for transportation to Vinh
Nam Can
Near Phonsavan (80km west - Laos) and Vinh (200km northwest), the most remote crossing - an endurance test and a half.
From Phonsavan, take local buses (20,000k per person, 4 hours, leave severally) or charter a private car to Nong Haet. Catch any local transports to the border with about 5,000k per person. On Vietnamese side, grab xe om to Muang Xen then wait for bus to Vinh (7 hours, and leaves when full).
Tay Trang
Near Luang Prabang (Laos) and Dien Bien Phu(Dien Bien, Vietnam), followed Highway No.279. It is only 37 km away from Dien Bien City.
Up-dated July 2008
PASSPORT & VISA
To enter Vietnam you will require a passport (with at least six months remaining validity) and a tourist visa. Obtaining a single entry, 30-day tourist visa is easy. For a 3 month multiple entries or business visa it is a little more complex and more expensive but you'll have the advantage of a longer stay and multiple entries.
Visa extensions can usually be obtained once in Vietnam. We can help you make arrangements for Visa extensions while you are in Vietnam. Rates vary, as does the official policy regarding extensions. FITNESS
A reasonably good level of fitness is required for almost of our classic packages and you should be in good health. Any physical preparation will always be to your advantage. Anyone with respiratory or cardiac problems, or over the age of 60, should fully consult their medical adviser prior to booking and we may require full medical clearance.
WHAT TO TAKE
What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as you are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for Adventures trips! Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when traveling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones. If your trip involves overnights in home stay, tribal villages or camping then we can provide you silk sleeping bags once.
For travelers who take low cost airlines, please be noted that your hand bag should not exceed 7 kgs and checked luggage should not over 15 kgs each person. You might be requested to pay overweighted luggage if you do so. For many low cost airlines, you are not allowed to take on plane your own drinks, foods. Metal dangerous items which may be considered to make harmful to other passengers like scissors, small knives etc or exceeded liquid amount will be requested to drop at disposal boxes at airports if you keep it with your hand bags during X-ray checks. CHECK LIST
Valid Passport (with photocopies)- it must be valid for 6 months after your return.
Take out Travel Insurance (with photocopies) if you already have, or we can offer you a policy that suits you, at very competitive rates.
Airline tickets
USD cash and Travelers Cheques ( especially important while you travel in cash society like Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia-Myanmar or in remote areas with limited access to the bank)
Credit or Debit Card
Tour Vouchers, Pre Departure’s Fact Sheets and Final Confirmation
Legal Visas
Vaccination Certificates( if required in prior)
Alarm clock
Flashlight (optional)
Wide Brim Sunhat, Sun Screen, Sun Glasses
Insect Repellent
Bottle of Purified Water
Small towel and swimming wears
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
Money Belt
Proper Clothes for seasons of travel, or adventure trips.
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Sleep Sheet for trekking or sea safari trips.
Thermarest or sleeping mat and travel pillow for trekking or sea safari trips.
Camera and Film
Binoculars
Pocket Knife
First-Aid Kit ( antiseptic wipes & creams, medicine for pain relief- cold-allergies constipation- diarrhea-travel sickness- water purification, bandages, plasters, scissors, tweezers- safety pins, syringes - needles, thermometer & latex gloves)
AIRPORT TAX
The International departure tax:
In Hanoi: $US 14.00
In Danang: $US 12.00
In Ho Chi Minh City: $US 12.00
Domestic flights are not subject to airport tax. It is already included in the price of your tickets. Children under two are exempt.
However our departure tax is often prior collected at sales point in your international air tickets. Except some low cost air fares, you will be requested to pay separate departure
tax upon check in at our airports. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO & FROM VIETNAM
Passengers are recommended to book flights to and from Vietnam/Cambodia in advance. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon City) are two major international gateways. Below are airlines which have operated flights to/from Vietnam. You can book with them online or through local air ticketing agencies based in your residing countries.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) which is in notes or coins. The US dollar and Euros, preferably crisp clean bills, are widely accepted among major hotels, shops and restaurants and the exchange rate are reasonable. Travelers cheque can be cashed at authorized foreign exchange outlets and banks and always require presentation of passport. The transaction fee for cashing is normally a 2 to 5 percent.
Visa or MasterCard are accepted in some of the bigger hotels and restaurants. Bear in mind that a surcharge usually applies for credit card purchases.
VISA, JCB, Dinner Club and MasterCard: 2.5% to 3% surcharge
American Express: 4% surcharge
Banks are open Monday to Friday and some on Saturday morning. In the major cities there are many banks such as Citibank, ANZ Bank, HSBC and VietcomBank where you can withdraw cash (Vietnamese Dong) from ATMs. Most ATMs have an English language version WEATHER & CLIMATE
Vietnam can be visited year-round. Average temperatures year round range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius.
In southern Vietnam tropical conditions prevail, and there are two seasons – the wet season lasts from May to November and the dry season from December to April. The wet is characterized by high humidity levels and a refreshing afternoon downpour. Humidity in the south during the months of June and July ranges between 75% and 85%. The hottest months are from March to May.
Central Vietnam is usually dry from May to October and wet from December to February. October and November may experience unstable weather conditions and flooding.
Northern Vietnam also experiences two seasons though conditions can change dramatically throughout the day. The winter months from November to April are usually cold and humid. The months of December and January can be particularly cool with temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can drop to 0 degrees Celsius in Sapa (in the highlands near the Chinese border) in winter. Summer, from May to October, can be quite hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. The hottest months are June and July in Hanoi. SHOPPING
Vietnam is fast becoming known as a “shopper’s paradise”. Ceramics, lacquer ware, bamboo, silk and embroidery are just some of the many good buys. Many travelers also have clothes tailored due to the low prices - standards vary. A few guidelines to follow when shopping:
Except in department stores, bargaining is the norm. To get the best price you will have to haggle hard.
Export of certain antiques is not permitted. Make sure you are aware of relevant regulations before purchasing.
Fake reproductions are common. Make sure you know what you are buying, especially in the case of antiques.
ELECTRICITY
There is an extensive black market of consumer goods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Mains power is usually 220V but is 110V in some areas. Make sure you know what is it coming out of the outlet before plugging something in to it.
TELEPHONE
Make it easy job once you are in Vietnam. International phone calls are possible from many postal offices, and hotels. At almost province’s centers, International Direct Dialing (IDD) has become common as well. Usually, your mobile phone’s network will work compatible with Vietnamese telephone’s service providers like Viettel, VinaPhone,Mobilphone,S-phone. Below are important phone numbers that you should always have with you:
