Vietnam, or rather the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is one of many countries located on the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Culture, history, natural values and attractive prices make it an extremely tempting place to travel on your own. If we add well-organized transport and a wide range of accommodation at reasonable prices, it looks like a real paradise for many travelers. How to prepare for a trip to Vietnam?
Let’s start from the beginning, because Vietnam is cheap, but you have to get there first.
1. VIETNAM – AIRLINE TICKETS
I believe that the journey begins when you buy plane tickets. In our case, it happened around Valentine’s Day. We were looking for connections from Berlin or Warsaw and finally ended up in Warsaw, cause a friend offered us accommodation before departure. So We did not buy the cheapest tickets. We decided to start our trip with Qatar Airways and its connection to Hanoi with a connecting flight in Qatar. In total, for a one-way ticket for 2 people we paid about 6300,00 zloty (1350 Euro,) of course with checked luggage. And it was a very good price for the standard we received. The whole trip was extremely comfortable, for more than fifteen hours. On Qatar Airways planes we received delicious meals, headphones, socks, blankets, a pillow, antibacterial gel, snacks, free alcohol… Even caramel popcorn, which was much tastier than the one in the cinema.
If you care about your budget, it is better to look for cheaper connections on search engines (e.g. google.com/travel/flights ). The easiest way to Vietnam is to fly to Hanoi, or Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll have to decide that you prefer to explore top to bottom or bottom to top. We chose Hanoi, the north of the country, because our trip included other countries in Southeast Asia.
2. VIETNAM – VISA (e-visa)
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Vietnam. A standard tourist visa (e-visa) is valid for 30 days and costs $25 for single entry (as of June 2023). In fact, this is the only sensible option for entering Vietnam at the moment. I think 4 weeks is enough time to get to know the country well. If you have no plans for a longer visit related to work, business, etc. there is no need to apply for a longer stay. You can apply for a visa online at:
or with the help of an intermediary who will do it on your behalf. For an additional fee, of course. Prices for such a service vary widely, and the average processing time is 6-9 days. The express service is, of course, more expensive, so it is worth thinking about the visa in advance. The most important issues when applying for a visa:
- Payment,
- Sending photos and scans of documents consistent with the requirements,
- Correctly completing the sections in the visa questionnaire.
Simple, but so important tasks! An incorrectly completed questionnaire may result in not allowing you to enter the country. Or more precisely, not letting you out of your country. They may check your visa at check-in.
TO REMEMBER – HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TRIP TO VIETNAM?
- The visa must be obtained online. It is not possible to get one at the border (as in Cambodia, for example),
- You must stick to the declaration when entering the locations of border crossings. I am adding a LIST OF BORDER CROSSINGS
- The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the end of your stay in Vietnam,
- The standard visa is for single entry. If you want to visit, for example, Laos during your visit to Vietnam, and then return, you will not be allowed back into Vietnam. You will need to submit another visa application and pay $25.
- The only place in Vietnam where you don’t need a visa is Phu Quoc Island. But this only happens when you fly directly to it, without transfers, e.g. in Ho Chi Minh City.
- If you make a mistake filling out the visa, there is still a chance to fix it. Depending on which method of obtaining you have chosen, report this fact to the intermediary or directly on THIS website
3. VIETNAM – HEALTH – HOW TO PREPARE
According to our travel medicine doctor, if you are going away for a longer period than the standard two-three-week stay, you can be sure that you will experience stomach upsets. Well, I can confirm. Sooner or later, your stomach will have to deal with the Asian bacterial flora. And this condition, believe me, can exhaust your body to the maximum if you are not properly prepared for it. Read more how to prepare for the worst HERE.
Another issue that should be pointed is the vaccinations recommended by travel doctors. I believe that they should be considered in the category of added value for life (or at least a very long period of time) because they will not serve you only during this one particular trip. They will be with you much longer and may protect you from serious health consequences that your body is not prepared for. According to information from a travel medicine doctor, the following vaccinations are for your consideration:
- Hepatitis A so-called „dirty hands disease”
- Rabies, if you have contact with animals
- Booster dose for whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria
- Typhoid fever
- Cholera
- Japanese encephalitis
What about mosquito-borne diseases? Except for malaria, yellow fever (not found in Asia) and Japanese encephalitis, there are no effective vaccines. What’s left is prevention – Mugga, permethrin, mosquito netting, body-covering clothing, and at worst, symptomatic treatment.
If you have a question you didn’t find the answer to here, ask it in the comments! I’ll be sure to answer it for you, or we’ll look for the answer together!
