Border Run report to Vietnam – Easy and cheap after new change of Visa requirement

[spambot]

"Try and a dress couple of posts above. Once in Vietnam pay in doing "

What does this mean ?

Hi oncearugge - The national currency in Vietnam is VND Vietnamese Dong.

Many traders actually expect foreigners to pay in USD and are surprised sometimes to see that the foreigner has Dong.

Everywhere I went to enquire about hotel prices - The desk allays quoted USD.

Hopefully to help understand today's rate USD/VND

1.00 USD = 22,478.42 VND

[oncearugge]

"Try and a dress couple of posts above. Once in Vietnam pay in doing "

What does this mean ?

Hi oncearugge - The national currency in Vietnam is VND Vietnamese Dong.

Many traders actually expect foreigners to pay in USD and are surprised sometimes to see that the foreigner has Dong.

Everywhere I went to enquire about hotel prices - The desk allays quoted USD.

Hopefully to help understand today's rate USD/VND

1.00 USD = 22,478.42 VND

Thanks but I already knew!

[spambot]

Trying to address couple of posts above. Once in Vietnam pay in dong. They love USD but not best option unless your a yank.

Many happy hours in Hcmc especially. One example is pastor street. All draft you can drink from 3till 7 for about 300 bah. Dangerous.

Bar in bui vine has matched it. I go Hcmc and leave gf in bkk to save money

Good Call Jacksam - I stayed just off pastor street one night about 100 metres from the river and then at the very bottom of the street I went to a couple of bars - its a little quieter down there, but a good night

[BKKdreaming]

thanks for your report ,

How big is the main part of town ?

easy to walk around it in a day or ????

any 7-11s for cold Pepsi ?

and beware of motorbikes grabbing your bag or camera ......or thats what I have been told ,

I plan on going , hopefully the visa will be free for USA soon ,

[MyFriend You]

Ok , I checked -

A. WARNING

The Vietnamese Embassies and Consular Offices are the only Competent Government Agencies, who are authorised to issue visas abroad.

In order to avoid any risks that may arise when boarding flights or at ports of entry in Viet Nam due to possible miscommunication, travellers are strongly recommended to apply at the Vietnamese Embassy and Consular Offices in Australia to get visas before leaving.

- We have the honour to announce that the following websites are not legitimate:

http://vietnam-embassy.org, http://myvietnamvisa.com, http://vietnamvisacorp.com, http://vietnam-visa.com,http://visavietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnamvisa.gov.vn, http://visatovietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnam-visa.gov.vn, etc.

- The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam has recently received many feedbacks from foreign nationals on the visa online service provided by above-mentioned websites.

- The Embassy holds no responsibility for any visa application for Viet Nam provided by these services.

B. NOTICE

Visa exemption for holders of passports of UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France from 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016

The Vietnamese Government has unilaterally decided that from the 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016 holders of passports from the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France will be waived off Vietnamese visas, if meeting all the following conditions:

- Entering Viet Nam from the 01st July 2015 to 30th June 2016;

- Tentative duration of stay in Viet Nam does not exceed 15 days (If tentative duration of stay is over 15 days, the applicant must apply for visa in advance);

- Passport's validity remains at least 06 months commencing the date of existing Viet Nam;

- For those who visited Viet Nam before, this entry date must be over 30days since the last entry (If this entry is 30days or less since the last entry, the applicant you have to apply for visa in advance).

Note:

- Fee paid for Vietnamese visas issued before the 23rd June 2015 for passport holders of the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France are non-refundable.

- Up to now, the Government of Viet Nam has unilaterally waived visas for holders of passports from 12 countries, namely the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Russia Federation, Demark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

C. The Embassy of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Australia provides a wide range of consular services to foreigners, the Vietnamese who holds foreign passports and Vietnamese citizens

All FORMS here

- Foreigners applying for a VISA

- Vietnamese citizens holding foreign passports

- Vietnamese citizens living in Australia

- Other consular procedures (Vietnamese Citizenship and Laisser - Passer)

VISA

Vietnamese entry visa is required for all foreigners wishing to visit Viet Nam, except those enjoying visa exemption in bilateral agreements between Viet Nam and country concerned and those enjoying unilateral visa exemption policy by the Vietnamese Government. Visas can be applied by mail or in person at the Embassy of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Australia.

Please, Please reformat this, you just assaulted my eyes. Gues I'll take a nap now.

[Villapete]

Great post. Thank you. I am doing the trip early December and I am staying a few days as I have never been. Very helpful.

[Scouse123]

Hi,

I posted this new system regards visas to Thai visa a few weeks ago.

I have been doing some business with the minister of Sport and Tourism down in Halong Bay, near Hanoi. Good news! The minister assured me that the free visas was a test pilot programme and not only would be extended to include other countries such as Australia but also they were pushing for a 30 day waiver instead of a 15 day as many of us had suggested.

We had pointed out with a country so vast and full of contrasts that 15 days just was not long enough to visit all the sights and sounds of this beautiful country. He thanked me and was very pleased with the latest positive responses from foreigners to the visa waiver scheme.

You are now also legally allowed to own property in your own name.

Service wise, Thailand still beats them hands down and they have a fair way to go to improve these standards especially in hotels.They can generally be quite cold and appear slightly off hand if you are used to dealing with Thais and Laotians and even Cambodians. I think it is just their nature in Hanoi.

I cannot comment on HCMC as I am always in Hanoi, however, the money changing is a similar system but with the best rates usually available at the gold shops!

Edited October 6, 2015 by Scouse123

[mxyzptlk]

Thanks for the excellent informative post Spambot

[jagfx]

BKKdreaming,

Just to answer a few of your questions, HCMC is a huge city which is divided up into Districts, with District 1 being the most popular for tourists. This is basically in the centre of the city. There are plenty of cheap decent hotels in this area. If you are doing the tourist thing, then you can walk everywhere to see the main city sights. There is actually some good stuff around and can be done in a couple of days easily.

It is hot, so you may wish to taxi around. It was mentioned in a previous post above which taxi companies to stick with as they are very fair and also very cheap. The good thing about HCMC is that the footpaths are in pretty good condition and they are generally huge, so there is plenty of room. The traffic (bikes) can be a little daunting due to the sheer number, but they are all pretty well behaved with plenty of safe places to cross the road. They actually stop at red lights and are very aware of pedestrian traffic. Once you sus out how to cross the road, then it is pretty easy.

There are a few tourist sights out of the city like the famous war tunnels or the Mekong Delta. You can normally book a cheap tour through your hotel which will last a bout 4-6 hrs and cost you about US$25. Very cheap but just don't expect too much keeping in mind that these are well worn tourist areas that can look a bit like a production line at times. But it is a very fair price.

And there are plenty of 7-11s and the like. Just like Thailand, they are everywhere.

There is an issue with scams and petty theft. We were warned a few times by locals and hotel staff to watch our belongings, especially whilst on bikes or walking down the footpath close to the road. Just be sensible like anywhere else in the world. The touters can be a little annoying in downtown HCMC, as some can get right in your face at times. They will try to scam you but just smile and be polite and they are generally pretty good. They are nice people in the south so you shouldn't have any major issues. In the north of Vietnam, they are a little different and come across as a little unfriendly. There is still a bit of a perceived divide between the north and the south that probably goes way back.

With the currency, we mainly used the local Dong. We did have USD with us and did use it at the airport for our visa and also to buy drinks on the way out. But be warned that they can be a little picky when it comes to USD where some will inspect every note and may not accept them if there is any minor rip or damage to them. But if they do accept it and give you change back in Dong, then you will get notes that look like they have been in circulation since the 70s. There are plenty of ATMs around and obviously there is a cost on doing business with them, but also be aware that the max amount you can withdraw is pretty small compared to what you are normally use to. Don't be fooled by all the zeros.. cheers.

[hkt83100]

Very good post for those heading to Saigon. Great city and worth a visit at least once.

Also as a side note, If you have a smart phone, you can download an app called Maps.me which is a great map app that does not require data to use anywhere. All you have to do, is download the relevant country when you have got wifi and then you can use it whenever you choose. It is a great app and I have used it in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia without a problem.

For Android users, go to here.com, create an account (if you don't have one already). This step is optional, but good if you want to store your landmarks in the cloud. Get HERE maps from the Play Store and download the maps for Vietnam. There are maps for a zillion of countries, all free, frequently updated. Navigation works very well. In Thailand there are even indoor maps available, showing the shop inside of shopping centers like Jungceylon Phuket for example.

Try it, you won't be disappointed. Voice guidance is in many languages, the list of POIs is extensive.

[kg1947]

Pay VND - always .... NO Go-Go dancers in VN , not allowed by authorities ....

[jacksam]

Pay VND - always .... NO Go-Go dancers in VN , not allowed by authorities ....[/quote

Plenty of private dancers

[spambot]

Hi,

I posted this new system regards visas to Thai visa a few weeks ago.

I have been doing some business with the minister of Sport and Tourism down in Halong Bay, near Hanoi. Good news! The minister assured me that the free visas was a test pilot programme and not only would be extended to include other countries such as Australia but also they were pushing for a 30 day waiver instead of a 15 day as many of us had suggested.

We had pointed out with a country so vast and full of contrasts that 15 days just was not long enough to visit all the sights and sounds of this beautiful country. He thanked me and was very pleased with the latest positive responses from foreigners to the visa waiver scheme.

You are now also legally allowed to own property in your own name.

Service wise, Thailand still beats them hands down and they have a fair way to go to improve these standards especially in hotels.They can generally be quite cold and appear slightly off hand if you are used to dealing with Thais and Laotians and even Cambodians. I think it is just their nature in Hanoi.

I cannot comment on HCMC as I am always in Hanoi, however, the money changing is a similar system but with the best rates usually available at the gold shops!

Good extra information Scouse123 - Yup the new rules came in for the property in April this year - foreigners can now own condos, but still can not own land,but however can lease it for 50yr and have this lease renewable in certain instances.

You are also right on point with the service comment - I found the people less than just cool, but at times were confrontational - Someone said to me the society feels more like a Chinese cultural norm - I can not comment because I have never experienced China, but understood the difference to being in Thailand. People would push others in the street rather than look for the opportunity to walk around them. This is also reflected on the road - Where the Bike is king and also rules the pavements (even more than it does in Thailand). When you see the traffic behaviors you wonder why they have traffic lights at all . Trying to work out who has the right of way at roundabouts or multi road crossing is a mystery and every vehicle simply claims any space left by any of their competitors - just like Cambodian's two main cities.

Good to hear reforms are coming with extra coverage and extra days - They also announce a 5 year visa exempt program - I met an American at the airport who had one - It gives you an exemption from needing a visa for 5 years then you can further renew while also being able to travel in/out of Vietnam unlimited and uncharged. You however need provable skills to apply (Scientific) and academic qualification (PHD) and a teaching record showing that you are able to transfer these skills. I assume this is designed as a way for Vietnam to have the transfer take place to speed up their development, but here I am just guessing since I have no clue about this apart from the basics.

However great contribution - I like the info.

[off road pat]

Exelent post Sambot, very useful information.THX.

best Regards

[spambot]

thanks for your report ,

How big is the main part of town ?

easy to walk around it in a day or ????

any 7-11s for cold Pepsi ?

and beware of motorbikes grabbing your bag or camera ......or thats what I have been told ,

I plan on going , hopefully the visa will be free for USA soon ,

Hi BKKdreaming - Thanks for your question.

Its difficult to answer the question of how big - Since there is a central area that I described where there is a concentration of bars, cafes's and other things clearly designed for tourist to enjoy, but then all of these thin out as you move toward the river. You an get to the river by going south or going east and you will at some point hit the river - the connecting shape is a hook shape that the river makes between these two places South and East. You can walk this hook shape on the river pavement and going from a six o'clock to two o'clock walk that contains the central tourist area and this will take about 45 mins and then walk 15 mins West to get to the centre of the tourist area and from here walk down to the beginning of the hook on the river will this take about 10 mins. At the top of the hook is a tourist area in its own right, but different to the multiple bars that feels more like a laid back Khausan rd - And the area that I have been describing as the central tourist area. But this top of hook area is the commercial district and the place where lots and lots of the new building is taking place with apartments and high rise living opportunities together with very impressive streets that makes this area feel more like Bond street London than that of the backpacker laid back areas at the center.

Easy to walk around in a day? - It's going to take you more than a day to do it justice - I walked one day for 6 hrs non stop and I still at the end of my day needed more time, but I also included here district 3. Which begs the question how much do you want to investigate - HCMC is a large city and just like Bangkok it is not just only about Sukhumvit rd or Khausan rd - it has lots of other places. I liked district 3 (takes 30 mi to walk to from the centre) and would feel more at home here than anywhere else from the rest of HCMC. Here through the day it is easy living with few foreigners and lots of open air coffee shops that feel still like a holiday area and at night its much more friendly and comfortable to simple sit and eat and drink. Therefor if you want to see more it will take you longer - much longer than a day. I spent 6 days there and I knew I had not seen enough - Another few weeks might have done it. However if I just wanted to understand and visit the District 1 area ( all the places described here, but not including district 3) - 7 days will give it to you in full - and if you wanted to do the bare bones and touch the points and move on - 3 days. But with the caveat - How much walking will you really want to do per day.

There are no 7/11's but there are a lot of family marts - Brand name for the equivalent type of shop in HCMC.

I did not see any acts of crime occurring and have no info about bag snatching - However looking on the British Embassy website and seeing what they say about HCMC they do identify that it its very rare for violent crime to occur, but they do not however mention the level of (or the types of) petty crimes encountered there. For myself I never felt at risk, but obviously I am no expert in this I can only go on my feeling - And I liked the feel.

[spambot]

Very good post for those heading to Saigon. Great city and worth a visit at least once.

Also as a side note, If you have a smart phone, you can download an app called Maps.me which is a great map app that does not require data to use anywhere. All you have to do, is download the relevant country when you have got wifi and then you can use it whenever you choose. It is a great app and I have used it in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia without a problem.

For Android users, go to here.com, create an account (if you don't have one already). This step is optional, but good if you want to store your landmarks in the cloud. Get HERE maps from the Play Store and download the maps for Vietnam. There are maps for a zillion of countries, all free, frequently updated. Navigation works very well. In Thailand there are even indoor maps available, showing the shop inside of shopping centers like Jungceylon Phuket for example.

Try it, you won't be disappointed. Voice guidance is in many languages, the list of POIs is extensive.

Hey - What a great call hkt83100 - I installed the app in the last 30 min - then started to wonder how it was going to work with google maps - Then realised it is not since this is the full Nokia maps mapping data. Brilliant - I didn't know you could get access to this data for their maps on Android

Then thought - I wonder if Google Maps can do the same thing - And it can:

This is how you do it on Google........

(connect to Internet first) Then - Save an area of the map so that you can view it when you're not connected to the Internet.

1. Open the Google Maps app
2. Search for "HCMC" (or whatever).
3. At the bottom, touch the bar that has the name of the place you searched for.
4. In the top right-hand corner, touch the menu
5. Select Save offline map to save the selected area of the map.

Brilliant -this is just exactly what I needed - But now not only can I use my existing Google maps offline without needing the country sim and data plan. Now also I can compare this existing Google mapping data with a second source i.e Nokia / 'There' app (your recommended app) - If you are wondering - Why use both - Well because there is stuff on Google that is inaccurate and even plain wrong - I used it today in Bangkok and it was giving me false info. I am sure that Nokia will have some bad data also, but now this app makes it possible to Double check from both sources.

I just also downloaded the offline data for HCMC to my Android - It only took up 3.5 MB of memory and I had assumed that the actual would be more by x 100.

I am also now using your recommendation for the HERE app and testing it out to see how it works and feels - Looks like there is simpler and more functionality than Google maps.

I wish I had this installed your app recommendation this afternoon as I wondered hopelessly around central Bangkok being fooled by my current Google maps app - Thanks

Edited October 6, 2015 by spambot

[BKKdreaming]

What is considered the old part of the city ? like Chinatown area in BKK ?

Is there anything left from the 1950s - early 60s before the war , old shop houses , local market areas etc , what district would that be ?

I really do not want to walk around places built in the last 10-15 years , but I have no idea what is left from before the war,

Also I have no idea how bad it was from 1975 until the 1990s , were they still importing products or just using local made products or doing without if not made in Vietnam

anyway interesting to learn before I go there

Thanks

[bartender100]

Just quick repost, any recommendations guest friendly hotels district1 please

[timberpond]

Thanks for the info, going next month for a few days, you did not mention your hotel, any recommendations for D1, preferably "guest friendly" just in case

Hi Bartender, basically all hotel 3 stars and below are "guest friendly" but some charge a small sum if your guest arrival after 12am. The latest visit I had was last month and stayed in The White Hotel, they did not charge.

Note: small sum is about 300k - 500k VND

[jacksam]

Thanks for the info, going next month for a few days, you did not mention your hotel, any recommendations for D1, preferably "guest friendly" just in case

Hi Bartender, basically all hotel 3 stars and below are "guest friendly" but some charge a small sum if your guest arrival after 12am. The latest visit I had was last month and stayed in The White Hotel, they did not charge.

Note: small sum is about 300k - 500k VND

Ummm Cleary you go to Hcmc and know the ropes. You state Almost All....I beg to differ. I stay district 1 every seven weeks. My conversations are opposite. Best way for the OP to find guest friendly hotels is to email them direct. The small fee your talking about is under table to night staff..manager won't even know.

Best to check with hotel. There is a comprehensive list if you type "guest friendly hotel Hcmc".

Having a Vietnamese lady in your room is illegal in Vietnam unless you are married . That also applies if your living there.

[timberpond]

A internet search is a good idea... but don't worry much about it. I usually just see what agoda or booking.com has on offer and make sure it is 3 stars and below... so far no problem. Some hotel staff collect under table fee because they really has the right to refuse guest visit after 12am.

If you want to stay in a 4 stars and above hotels and have "guest", then you would have to check-in together with your guest on the 1st day. If not, you would have to open an extra room for her just to let her enter the hotel.

Enjoy your stay and check out Vien Dong Spa... it's expensive but well worth the experience. Do a search on it.

Don'ts: put your valuables(phones, wallets) on the table during meals, talk on the phone while standing on the side of the road, etc.

[jacksam]

Incorrect. Meaning hotel 3 stars and below. Nonsense.

Also they are suppose to refuse Vietnamese lady in your room 24/7

Edited October 10, 2015 by jacksam

[bartender100]

Thanks to the replies to my question guys, I will check out the White Hotel

I was going to double check with an email before i book.

[jacksam]

White hotel bit away from bui vien street. You can do better

[timberpond]

Incorrect. Meaning hotel 3 stars and below. Nonsense.

Also they are suppose to refuse Vietnamese lady in your room 24/7

Seriously? Wow! We must be really lucky not having a refusal for the past visits.

White hotel is just beside Ben thanh market and really a bit of walk to bui vien street. For people that most probably would not walk out of that street, it make perfect sense to stay in Pham Ngu Lao Area. Just don't follow the shabby looking viet offering cheap s*x to the backstreet apartment....

Alright JS, let's stop here. I guess Bar will do just fine and enjoy his time there. Let's not turn this informative thread into a wh**e tips pit stop.

Bar... you should check Ben ny's! LOL