Jan 18

Vietnam’s tourism products introduced at ASEAN fair

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Vietnam’s distinctive and high-quality tourism products are being showcased at an ASEAN international tourism fair in Indonesia.

The event, which opened on January 12, feature different types of tourism such as culture, heritage, sea and island.

Especially, Vietnamese travel agencies introduce visitors to Ha Long Bay, the new Natural Wonder of the World, and other Vietnamese landscapes which have been recognized by UNESCO as world cultural heritage sites in the central region at the fair.

The opening ceremony attracted the participation of 1,600 delegates from 300 travel agencies and hotels, and more than 100 media representatives from Asia and around the world.

The Vietnamese delegation, headed by General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan, also attended the event.

The event is part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, themed “ASEAN Tourism for Global Community of Nations”, being held in Indonesia from January 8-15.

The forum was initiated by ASEAN member countries with the aim of turning the regional bloc into an attractive destination, developing sustainable tourism, promoting the exchange of international visitors, as well as strengthening cooperation, friendship and cultural exchange.

(Source: VOV)

Nov 18

Air Mekong to offer more flights to tourist destinations

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Air Mekong will operate an extra 50 flights on the routes mostly connected to tourist destinations from December 23 to January 3 to cater to surging air travel demand during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.

Truong Thanh Vu of Air Mekong told the Daily on the phone on Wednesday that almost all the additional flights would be conducted on the routes from Hanoi and HCMC to Phu Quoc, Dalat and Con Dao, with average frequency increases by 1.5 to two folds compared to normal days.

The airline plans to operate up to 14 weekly flights to Con Dao off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province from the current five weekly times on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Vu said.

The private carrier will raise from one to two daily flights to Phu Quoc off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang during the period.

From November 20, Air Mekong will add at least one daily flight to the Hanoi-HCMC route, which the airline currently has around three daily services. The carrier will sell some 40 seats on each flight for the same price of VND1.35 million, including a hot food portion.

From December, Air Mekong will service between Buon Ma Thuot and Vinh cities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or one more flight compared to its existing schedule. The airline credited this expansion to the route launched in October to connect the Central Highlands with the north of central Vietnam to a high occupancy rate of 80% and continuously rising demand.

Also in the plan is to launch the new Vinh-Pleiku route from December 1, the second of Air Mekong’s air link between the Central Highlands and the north of central Vietnam. As scheduled, flights will take off Pleiku in Gia Lai Province at 5 p.m. and Vinh at 6:45 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Air Mekong will apply promotional single fares from VND1 million to VND1.35 million exclusive of airport tax and surcharges to 50% of the 90-seat Bombardier CRJ 900 the carrier operates on the Vinh-Pleiku route. This promotion is valid for bookings until December 15.

(Source: Saigon times)

Nov 04

Vietnamese currency – Vietnam Dong (VND)

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Vietnamese currency – Vietnam Dong (VND)

The currency of Vietnam is  “Dong” (abbreviated  “d” or  VND). Bank notes are: 100d , 200d and 500d (too small value – rarely used); 1,000d; 2,000d; 5,000d; 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d and 100,000d (each has two versions – cotton and polymer), 200,000d and 500,000d. Coins have recently come into circulation but not widely been accepted due to inconvenience, including: 200d; 500d; 1,000d; 2,000d and 5,000d. Their photos are as below.

US dollar is widely accepted while most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam (Vietcombank, ANZ, ACB, VIB Bank…) or some hotels and jewelry shops. The official rate of exchange is approximately VND15,500 to US$1. With the relatively low value of Dong, you are recommended to carry US dollar in small notes; it will help you to change easily.

ATMs can be a choice as it’s very popular in most of tourist destinations now. Vietcombank (VCB) has the best network in the country. Withdrawals are issued  in Dong (50,000d and 100,000d only). There is a  limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125) for each withdrawal and a daily limit of 20,000,000d. Fee is 50,000d (US$3) each time.

Visa,  MasterCard and  JCB cards are widely accepted. Some merchants also accept  Amex. A  4%-commission charge on every transaction (3% for other cards) is pretty common, due to bank’s policy. Getting cash in advance from cards is possible at Vietcombank and some foreign banks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Travellers Cheques are accepted at most of hotels, restaurants but in major cities. If you only have travellers cheques, stock up on US dollars at a bank, which usually charge anywhere from  1.25% to 3% commission to change them into cash. VCB charges no commission to changing travellers cheques for Dong. If your travellers cheques are in currencies other than US dollars, they may be useless beyond the major cities. Hefty commissions are the norm it they can be exchanged at all.

Nov 04

Vietnam custom regulations

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Vietnam custom regulations

Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in  declaration forms and show their luggage to Customs Officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms.

Luggage of Prohibited and Restricted carriage :

Following materials are prohibited accompanying baggage: corrosive, gas, explosive, toxic, oxygen, radioactive, flammable…
Following materials are not permitted accompanying baggage: knife, scissors, gun, cartridge, wheelchair with battery;
Passenger should not put money, jewel, document, important samples… in your baggage. Baggage should be covered and locked carefully;
Passenger should not put breakable materials such as china, electronic, bottle, jar… inside your baggage;
Following goods are prohibited carrying in flight: fish sauce, durian…

Entry Vietnam :

Tourists are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free: Cigarettes: 400 pieces; Cigars: 50-100; Tobacco: 100 gram; Liquor: 1.5l.
Personal effects of a reasonable quantity
Small gift items valued at not more than US$500.
You are expected to declare:

Cameras, camcorders and other electric equipments not for personal use
Jewelry not for personal use;
Currency over US$7,000 (There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems people can bring in, but amounts of over US$7,000 must be declared);
Video tapes (they may be kept few days and screened).

Exit Vietnam :

Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Office.
Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam’s red-book may not be brought out of the country.
Money: below US$3,000 of cash.

Nov 04

Business hours in Vietnam (GMT +7)

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Business hours in Vietnam (GMT +7)

A normal working day in Vietnam starts from  7am to 8.30am and finish between  4pm to 6pm, from Monday to Friday and until noon on Saturday, leave the afternoon (most) and Sunday off.

Lunch is taken very seriously and virtually.  Everything shuts down between noon and 1.30pm. Government workers tend to take longer breaks, so figure on getting nothing done between 11.30am and 2pm.

Post offices keep longer, from 6.30am to 9pm.

Banks open from 8am to 4pm and Saturday’s morning.

Museums also open in the weekend for visitors but close on Monday.

Temples and pagodas open every day, from around 5am to 9pm.

Markets open at 7am and close at 5pm, except Night market (from Hang Dao Str. to Dong Xuan market – walking streets, in the evening of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 8pm to 3am)

Super-markets (mini-marts) open from 8am to 8pm or 9pm.

Most private shops, restaurants and street stalls stay open seven days a week, often until late at night.

Bars and night clubs generally open in the afternoon and to midnight (official closing time) but always till 1pm or 2pm (most)