Vietnam Master Thread

[rabbij]

Benjie. did you ever get the info on a driver for Vietnam?

[knowitall]

For Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

[Feivish]

Anyone get kosher breakfast at PH SGN?

[Feivish]

Anyone get kosher breakfast at PH SGN?

Data Point:
PH was more then happy to arrange a kosher. Was a nice selection catered by Chabad.

[Hershelsdeals]

Data Point:
PH was more then happy to arrange a kosher. Was a nice selection catered by Chabad.

[MosheD]

I paid about $18 to get the approval letter.
In the airport the stamping fee used to be $45, now it's $25.

Fee is now $135.
A lot less worth it

[PillanSmye]

Fee is now $135.
A lot less worth it

This is wrong. Stamp fee is $25 for 1 month single entry visa.  $135 is for a 1 year,  multi entry which would be a waste for most people.

[PillanSmye]

I'm in Saigon/HCMC right now.

For US citizens,  you need an invitation/approval letter that can be arranged through online resources.  I used http://www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn/.  The fee was $17.  In 48 hours they send you an approval letter.  Then you need the following:

1. Completely written Entry Applicant Form - download link for blank form: https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/form-on-arrival.pdf
2. Passport photos  x2.   4 cm x 6 cm (one photo on the Entry Applicant Form and the other separate ) (They tell you to bring 2, but I only needed 1.
3. Printed Visa Approval Letter with full pages (no colored print required)
4. Stamp fee travelers will pay IN CASH at Vietnam airport in USD or VND:
1.     01 month or 03 month single entry: US$.25.00 / 01 applicant;
2.     01 month or 03 month multiple entry: US$.50.00 / 01 applicant;
3.     01 YEAR multiple entry: US$.135.00 / 01 applicant.

Upon arrival you will find the "Landing Visa"  counter by passport control.  You turn in the required docs and they call you back 5-10 minutes later.  Pay the fee and get your passort back with visa enclosed. 

Taxi from SGN to District 1 is $15 flat (was no option to use the meter)

Le Méridien is brand new and nice -  10K spg/night
Sheraton is older/run down -  10K spg/night
Grand Hyatt - didn't stay,  walked by it today,  it looks nicer than either SPG option but looks could be deceiving

Taxi around HCMC is cheap.

The exchange rate is hard to wrap your head around.  $1 is 22,600 Dong. I don't know why they dont shave three digits off. It's cool to get your bank statement though and have 6 billion in that checking account.

Really good local food can be found for cheap (although no one here but me cares about that )  Interesting trying Saigon pho as opposed to Hanoi pho.

I took a Vespa Adventure tour one night.  Everyone had a lot of fun.  (60 ish Polish/German couple,  30 ish Canadian couple,  25 ish girls from Melbourne). 3 bars and 2 restaurants were visited in 4.5 hours.  $95.

Weather in January  is 30C day/25C night.  Humidity isn't bad.

People are friendly,  air is clean,  streets are relatively clean.  Definitely safe.  I'd have no problem coming with my wife and toddler and taking taxis,  walking the streets etc.  Only hassle I've had is some guy trying to take me to some "young girls for boom boom".

[ranhan429]

I'm in Saigon/HCMC right now.

For US citizens,  you need an invitation/approval letter that can be arranged through online resources.  I used http://www.vietnamvisa.govt.vn/.  The fee was $17.  In 48 hours they send you an approval letter.  Then you need the following:

1. Completely written Entry Applicant Form - download link for blank form: https://vietnamvisa.govt.vn/form-on-arrival.pdf
2. Passport photos  x2.   4 cm x 6 cm (one photo on the Entry Applicant Form and the other separate ) (They tell you to bring 2, but I only needed 1.
3. Printed Visa Approval Letter with full pages (no colored print required)
4. Stamp fee travelers will pay IN CASH at Vietnam airport in USD or VND:
1.     01 month or 03 month single entry: US$.25.00 / 01 applicant;
2.     01 month or 03 month multiple entry: US$.50.00 / 01 applicant;
3.     01 YEAR multiple entry: US$.135.00 / 01 applicant.

Upon arrival you will find the "Landing Visa"  counter by passport control.  You turn in the required docs and they call you back 5-10 minutes later.  Pay the fee and get your passort back with visa enclosed. 

Taxi from SGN to District 1 is $15 flat (was no option to use the meter)

Le Méridien is brand new and nice -  10K spg/night
Sheraton is older/run down -  10K spg/night
Grand Hyatt - didn't stay,  walked by it today,  it looks nicer than either SPG option but looks could be deceiving

Taxi around HCMC is cheap.

The exchange rate is hard to wrap your head around.  $1 is 22,600 Dong. I don't know why they dont shave three digits off. It's cool to get your bank statement though and have 6 billion in that checking account.

Really good local food can be found for cheap (although no one here but me cares about that )  Interesting trying Saigon pho as opposed to Hanoi pho.

I took a Vespa Adventure tour one night.  Everyone had a lot of fun.  (60 ish Polish/German couple,  30 ish Canadian couple,  25 ish girls from Melbourne). 3 bars and 2 restaurants were visited in 4.5 hours.  $95.

Weather in January  is 30C day/25C night.  Humidity isn't bad.

People are friendly,  air is clean,  streets are relatively clean.  Definitely safe.  I'd have no problem coming with my wife and toddler and taking taxis,  walking the streets etc.  Only hassle I've had is some guy trying to take me to some "young girls for boom boom".

Omg... "Young girls for boom boom" at least makes for hilarious story

[PillanSmye]

Omg... "Young girls for boom boom" at least makes for hilarious story

Lots of cities in Asia people are around the hotels trying to advertise prostitutes to solo foreigners.  Beijing,  Shanghai,  Guangzhou,  Xiamen,  Shenzhen,  Chengdu,  Wuhan,  Bangkok,  Manila and now HCMC.  Usually a firm "no thank you"  is sufficient.  This guy followed me for a block.     

[MosheD]

This is wrong. Stamp fee is $25 for 1 month single entry visa.  $135 is for a 1 year,  multi entry which would be a waste for most people.

Could be law was changed again.
When I was there one year multi entry was unfortunately the only option for US citizens. Trust me I tried getting the single entry

[PillanSmye]

Could be law was changed again.
When I was there one year multi entry was unfortunately the only option for US citizens. Trust me I tried getting the single entry

So you had an approved Visa Application Letter from Hanoi for a 30 or 90 day visa and the Landing Visa desk at the airport denied it?

[nhrca]

For anyone that has traveled there recently, I've read about the visa costing a range of amounts.  Do you think it would be better for me to take the approval letter/VOA route or to go to the embassy in NY?
(Side note- we plan to stay in Saigon and then fly on Vietjet to Da Nang with children of ages from 2-15)

[mmgfarb]

Anyone ever been to Phu Quoc? The new JW Resort looks like an amazing redemption for a category 5, 5/7 day cert.

[shwarmabob]

How much time is needed to get from city center in Saigon to the airport? Shabbos is over at 7pm, can I make it for a 10:30pm flight?

[moish]

How much time is needed to get from city center in Saigon to the airport? Shabbos is over at 7pm, can I make it for a 10:30pm flight?

if you leave at 7, i think you should be fine

[nhrca]

Agree, plenty of time

[madhatter349]

Looking to travel to Vietnam for 5-6 weeks, beginning at the end July, wanted to see if anyone else is planning the same?

[shwarmabob]

Looking to travel to Vietnam for 5-6 weeks, beginning at the end July, wanted to see if anyone else is planning the same?

AFAIK visa with the longest validity is 30 days.

[Saulius]

AFAIK visa with the longest validity is 30 days.

Applying for an e-visa online you are limited to 30 days. It's possible to get longer through the embassy. One can also extend their visa in Vietnam. Also, one can use this company: http://www.vietnamvisapro.net

I was in Ho Cho Minh for 3 weeks, and hope to never see that country again.