January 10, 2018
Travel Tips

Vietnam: An Affordable, Enjoyable Destination

Attractive year-round, Vietnam is especially popular in July and August, when coastal hotels are booked solid and can command 50% higher rates. Flights to Vietnam can be had at great prices. At the time of this writing, you could fly from Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh City for under $700 (round trip; brief layover, usually in Tokyo or Hong Kong) on your pick of several leading airlines.

Within Vietnam, you can get around in air-conditioned trains. Flights are faster, and often offered for under USD $100 — sometimes much less if booked in advance. For short or long trips, tour bus stations sell comfortable rides, competitive in price with local buses. Within the cities, taxi rides are cheap and convenient. Or make things simple and hire a car and driver as many tourists do so here.

You can find comfortable hotel rooms in the range of USD $50–80 per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard. Enjoy a massage for under $20 at one of many excellent spas. Eat in a restaurant for around $10, or try the even cheaper street food, such as delicious pho or banh mi.

 

Tempted? City Adventures and Spectacular Beauty Await You

 

Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, will likely be your arrival point. It features the famous Ben Thanh market. Ask for estimates at your hotel before you set off for the markets, so you have a basic idea of what prices to bargain for if you’re seeking something special. The country’s capital, Hanoi, is another high-energy city, known for the charm of the Old Quarter, the museums and the shrines. Southwest of Hanoi is a National Park, Cuc Phuong, home of langurs, civets and leopards.

The breathtaking Hang Son Doong, possibly the biggest accessible cave in the world, can be explored at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, while the historic beauty of Hoi An is another popular draw — a lovely walking town featuring tailors, al fresco cafes and riverside views.

And consider a boat tour of the Mekong Delta, and its floating markets. Admire the intricately designed pagodas. The coastal resort of Nha Trang is a mecca for scuba divers, and the rice terraces of the Muong Hoa Valley are not to be missed. We can give you more tips depending on your interests and budget.

 

Let Us Help You With Your Visa to Vietnam

 

What’s required to visit Vietnam? First, you do not need vaccinations. What you need is a passport, with six months validity remaining, and at least one blank page for your entry stamp. Additionally, you’ll need a visa.

Vietnam authorizes some agencies — including ours — to arrange a visa on arrival. This lets you avoid going to the embassy. You don’t need to send in any documents, and you can apply to stay up to one month, or three, six, or twelve months, with single or multiple entries. This simple method involves a secure online application with a reasonable service fee via a payment system you already know and use. Have your visa approval letter e-mailed to you within three working days (or opt for urgent service for quicker processing). You’ll collect your visa at the international airport upon arrival. You’ll bring two photos, your exit and entry form, and a fee for your visa stamp at the airport. We can help you review this option to ensure it best meets your needs.

Finally, citizens of the United States and 45 other countries qualify to apply online, through Vietnam’s immigration website, for a single-entry e-visa for pleasure trips of 30 days or less. Normally, the e-visa is issued within three working days after you submit your application and fee. You’ll print your visa and present it at the airport in Vietnam. We can help you review the e-visa application steps to find out if this is your best option.

Vietnam welcomes tourists and is happy to issue your visa. And our service — a local knowledge and support system — can advise you through the process. We’ll keep you apprised, enabling you to monitor the status of your visa processing.

So, let us facilitate your visa and your visit. We strive to meet and exceed your expectation for excellence in customer service.

Sources

As supplied in instructions. Also:

Embassy of Vietnam

U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html

Lonely Planet

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/essential-information

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam

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