Getting in and visas for Vietnam

Most visitors to Vietnam, except citizens of Nordic (except Iceland) or ASEAN countries (except Cambodia, East Timor and Myanmar), Russia, South Korea and Japan, require a visa in advance. A single-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days costs US$25 (although exact fees vary depending on issuing country) and takes around 4-7 days to process; express visas take 2-3 days at twice the price. Visas are now generally valid for all entry and exit points. A fairly convoluted visa on arrival process has recently been introduced, but this requires a prior application to Hanoi and is generally intended mostly for groups and citizens of countries without Vietnamese embassies. The visa-on-arrival is now available at the Arrival Hall (in front of the Immigration Check-in Section) of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Vietnam has moved away from the old A4 carbon copy arrival forms. Recently, they have started to use arrival/departure cards which are very similar to those found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Keep the departure portion of this just as safe as your passport, as you will have to produce it when leaving the country to avoid a fine. Depending on the present level of SARS, avian flu you may be subjected to a so-called health-check. There is no examination, though, but yet another form to fill in and, of course, another fee. If you can get hold of a handful of dong it is only 2000 dong per person, but they charge US$2 for the same "service" if you only have greenbacks!

By plane

Vietnam has international airports at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Direct flights are available from Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan , Indonesia, Macau, Qatar and the United States. However, non-stop long-distance flights are limited and most visitors transit via Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei or Tokyo.

By train

Ha Long Bay on the South China Sea Trains from Beijing, China, cross the border at Dong Dang and terminate in Hanoi. Due to landslides the rail link to Kunming, China is closed until further notice.

By road

Cambodia There are at least four border crossings between Cambodia and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:

• Bavet - Moc Bai
• Kaam Samnor - Vinh Xuong (in some guidebooks as Tonle Mekong. Near Chau Doc in Vietnam)
• Phnom Den - Tinh Bien
• Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak, Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing, Cambodian Visas not available)

The Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville issues 30 day tourist visas on a same-day basis. China There are three border crossings between China and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners:

• Dongxing - Mong Cai (by road; onward travel Mong Cai to Ha Long by sea or by road)
• Hekou - Lao Cai (by road and/or rail, but no international passenger train services)
• Youyi Guan - Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Pass - by road and/or rail)

Laos There are at least six border crossings between Laos and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:

• Donsavanh - Lao Bao
• Kaew Neua - Cau Treo (Keo Nua Pass)
• Nam Can
• Tay Trang