Documents And Formalities

Passports

Requirements

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter Vietnam and to re-enter their home countries. Returning home with an expired passport is illegal, and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office or at selected post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. Any new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very steep fee. Note, however, that “rushed” passports can still take up to two weeks to arrive.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo, as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend that you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in a part of your baggage separate from other documents. Passports are required at many Vietnamese hotels when you check in (although some will accept photocopies instead), but don’t forget to pick yours up as you leave.

If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate of your home government. To expedite its replacement, you will need to have valid ID and proof of citizenship. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process and may be valid for only a limited time. They also tend to be expensive. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be irretrievably lost. For US citizens who lose passports, friends or relatives can call the Overseas Citizens Services at ☎202-647-5225 for help in relaying information to the consulate. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country. If you lose your passport, you must obtain a new visa in order to exit the country, so be prepared for a few weeks of navigating bureaucracy.

Visas

Tourist Visas

As of August 2006, citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, the US need a visa in addition to a valid passport for entrance into Vietnam. Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Laos do not need visas if they are staying for less than a month; citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland can visit for up to 15 days without a visa. A one-month single-entry visa for a US citizen is US$65; an equivalent, multiple-entry visa is US$130; a three-month single-entry visa is US$110; the equivalent multiple-entry is US$150. You won’t find this information at the Vietnamese tourism website, so call the embassy to ensure visa fees are up to date. Visa extensions (US$25-40) are available at most tourist cafes in Hà Nÿi and H· Chí Minh City. Visas can be purchased at embassies and consulates, or by mail through embassies or consulates. Allow up to two weeks for processing if you mail in your visa, though it’s less if you go in person. Expedited service is usually available. Call the embassy of your home country to obtain an application and to find out requirements, or download the visa application online at your country’s Vietnamese Embassy website. Verify the dates on your visa before leaving for Vietnam. It is best to be flexible with your dates and have a few extra days on either end, especially your arrival.

Double-check entrance requirements at the nearest embassy or consulate of Vietnam for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can also consult www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/travel/foreign/foreignentryreqs.html.

Business And Student Visas

Entering Vietnam to work or study requires a special visa. In order to obtain a business or student visa, a sponsor from an institution in Vietnam must apply for a visa for you. If you do not have a sponsor before departure but find a study program or a job while in Vietnam, you can get the organization to transfer your visa status from tourist to student or business.

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID; a passport and a driver’s license or birth certificate is usually adequate. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies of all of them in your luggage and at home. Remember that passports are usually required at guesthouses in Vietnam, so don’t forget to pick them up when you leave. It is useful to bring extra passport-size photos (2” x 2”) to affix to the visas and IDs you may acquire or in case you need replacements.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency helpline; and insurance benefits for US cardholders . Visit www.isicus.com/MyISIC/ to search for available discounts in Hà Nÿi, H· Chí Minh City, Bién Hòa, and Hÿi An. Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years of age. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.

The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar but limited discounts. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.

Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs, ITICS, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website, www.istc.org.

Customs

Upon entering Vietnam, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by Vietnam’s customs service. Note that goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” merely means that you need not pay a tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. Vietnam places quotas on the amount of alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee that visitors are allowed to bring into the country. Visit www.customs.gov.vn at the official customs website for a detailed list (look for the “English” button at the top right). The total value of all items brought into Vietnam must not exceed 5,000,000 (about US$335). Items that you cannot bring into Vietnam include munitions, explosives and other flammable items, firecrackers of all kinds, opium and other assorted drugs, toxic chemicals, harmful children’s toys, and cultural materials deemed unsuitable to Vietnamese society (pornographic or otherwise seditious publications, films, or photos). All videotapes will be confiscated and checked upon arrival and will be returned several days later. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad, and be sure to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.

Vietnam has a value added tax that can be claimed upon departure. You’ll be taxed on goods and services as you go throughout the country, but in order to be refunded you must keep all your receipts until you leave the country. In general, expect a five percent tax on essential goods, including clean water, food, and medicine, and 10 percent on your accommodations and tradable goods (electronics, electricity, raw materials, and fuels).