, Best Time to Visit Vietnam?
Vietnam can be enjoyed at any time throughout the year because it is a truly year-round destination. Having stretched nearly 13,814 km ~ 8,584 miles, Vietnam weather patterns vary differently between the north and the south. Northern Vietnam has four distinct seasons including mild spring and autumn, hot and humid summer together with a cold winter. Temperatures begin to rise on April, building scalding summer that occasionally reach 40°C between June and August.Moreover, this period is also the rainy season when heavy downpours render the low-lying delta area almost unbearably hot and sticky causing flooding as a regular hazard. Weather then cools down in autumn followed by cold winter with fine persistent mists. The northern mountains share the same basic regime, though temperatures are considerably cooler and ground frosts.
The southern part on the other hand is affected by tropical monsoon with two seasons (rainy and dry). The temperature does not fluctuate much, maintaining from 25-35 all year round. The dry season lasts from December to late April or May, and the rains downpour from May through to November. Along the central coast the rainfall pattern reverses under the influence of the northeast monsoon. This region is affected the most by typhoons, bringing torrential rain and hurricane-force winds. Though weather condition is notoriously difficult to predict, the typhoon regularly comes from August to November. It is common to say that September to April is the most suitable times to visit Vietnam. During these months there is lowest rainfall across the country and temperatures are extreme pleasant though you still experience different temperature range from the North to the South.
, Do US citizens need a visa to travel to Vietnam?
Yes, unless they qualify for the visa-free policies of Vietnam, US citizens need to get a tourist visa in advance for Vietnam tours from the States. Submit your passport valid for at least six months, a completely filled-out application form with a recent bareheaded photo, and round-trip tickets and hotel bookings or an invitation letter from a Vietnam travel agency, to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your residence area. It usually takes about 3 working days.Notice: For Vietnamese holding a US Permanent Resident Card (also referred to as "Green Card"), you can apply for a Visa Exemption Certificate, also known as "Viet Nam 5-year visa".
You can make it easier by obtaining the Vietnam visa on arrival. When you travel with our company, we would love to support you this service free of charge. Our Travel consultants will prepare the necessary paperwork and send you the letter either by email or fax after 3,4 working days.
Once you have received your Visa Approval Letter you have two options through which to obtain your Vietnam Visa: To save your time at immigration counter, please print out and fill in the VISA FORM in advance.
Option 1: Take your Vietnam Visa Approval Letter and get the visa stamp at the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
Option 2: Get your visa on arrival at airports in Vietnam. Visa on arrival is the easiest option, especially if you are pressed for time or have no Vietnamese Embassies in your area. Just bring a copy of your visa approval letter (you may be required to show this when you board the airplane) and a passport size photo. Upon arrival in Vietnam show these forms at the Visa on Arrival counter and pay the immigration officers the stamp fee:
* 25 USD for single entry (<30 days),
* 50 USD for multiple entries up to 90 days,
* 95 USD multiple entries from 90 days to 180 days,
* 135 USD for multiple entries from 180 days to 365 days (cash only).
Traditionally, you can get Vietnam Visa at Vietnam Embassy in the States with lots of required documents in advance.
Where to Apply for a Visa (choose the one in charge of your residence area):
- Address: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington D.C., 20036.
- Telephone: 202-861-0737 ext. 118/121/122/125/129.
- Mailing information: 202-861-0737 ext. 113.
- Fax: 202-861-0917
* Business hours: 9:00 A.M – 12:00 P.M and 02:00 P.M – 04:30 P.M from Monday through Friday. The Embassy is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and during Viet Nam and United States holidays.
If you travel via land (boat or drive) from Laos or Cambodia to Vietnam, please have the Visa in advance because service of Vietnam Immigration Offices at Vietnam borders (in Vinh Suong – Chau Doc or in Moc Bai) is complicated and slow.
Important notices:* Upon receiving your visa issued by the Embassy, kindly double check all personal information printed on your visa. In case of inaccurate personal information, please contact the Embassy immediately for correction or adjustments (fees may be applied for amendments of visas due to applicants' inadvertent errors).
* For diplomatic and official passport holder, you can apply in person or by mail (online or email application is not applicable). Diplomatic and official visas will be issued GRATIS (free of charge) unless otherwise agreed upon between Viet Nam and the applicant's country. In addition to documents specified in Part I, the applicant is requested to submit a visa approval number, a diplomatic note, or an official letter from the relevant agencies of the United States Government, Diplomatic Missions and international organizations accredited to the United States.
* The cost for visa includes visa approval fee, processing and handling fee, postal service and expedite service (if required). Visa fees vary depending on type of visa, duration of stay and type of service (standard or expedite). Please contact the Consular Division for further information.
* If you travel in a group: combined payment can be made in one money order or check for the whole group (two applicants or more). All applications can be sent in one envelope and the visas can be sent back in one return envelope.
* Duration of stay: visa will be valid from the date of entry provided on your application and printed on the visa. You may enter ON or AFTER the date of entry given on the visa and is expected to leave before the end of the expiration date.
* For travelers with 12-month visa: The Customs and Border Protection Authority at the port of entry into Vietnam determines the length of each authorized stay within the 12-month duration.
* The Embassy reserves the right to request further information and documentation from applicants and to deny approval for any visa application without necessarily providing explanation for visa denial
, How to Travel to Vietnam from USA - Flights
This air travel distance is equal to 8,584 miles. The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between United States and Vietnam is 13,814 km ~ 8,584 miles. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from United States to Vietnam, It takes about 16 hours to arrive.There are variety of flights operating from United States cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Boston, Austin, Dallas, Washington DC, and Miami to Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City). The most popular airlines should be Vietnam Airlines, American Airlines, and an average nonstop flight from United States to Vietnam takes 23h 22m, covering a distance of 8407 miles. The most popular route recorded is Los Angeles - Ho Chi Minh City with an average flight time of 19h 45m regarding to KAYAK flight searches.
Three most popular destinations of direct flights are Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang which operate daily for your departure. However, indirect flights through Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong seem to be more favorable by visitors because of cost effectivities. When you travel with us, our travel experts will help you to arrange the most suitable flights basing on your travel interests and plans.
, Time Difference between USA and Vietnam
During the Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Time in USA; while 12 hours ahead during the Standard Time., Money Exchange for US Dollars and Vietnam dong
Rough Exchange Rate: 1 USD ≈ 23.300 VNĐVND, short for Vietnamese Dong, is the official currency used in Vietnam. Nowadays, mobile payment is popular in Vietnam. The commonly seen minimal face value of paper money is 1000 dong and it's rare to see money with lower values.
Travelers can enter Vietnam with limited amount of Vietnam dong, that is, 2,000,000 dong at most (~ US $90). Since it's convenient to exchange money in Vietnam, you are not advised to take so much cash. You can exchange US dollars to Vietnam dong at airports, most bank branches, and some four or five star hotels.
, Voltage & Power Sockets
, Tap Water is Not Drinkable
Tap water cannot be drunk directly. You need to boil the water before drinking. Bottled water sold at stores and purified water provided at hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and public facilities are drinkable., How to Make Phone Calls
From USA to Vietnam:Dial 011 + Vietnam country code 84 + city code XX or XXX + phone number
Note: If you are trying to connect a cell phone, the city code should be omitted.
From Vietnam to USA:
Dial US country code 001 + city code XXX + phone number
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