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Travelling to Vietnam
Saigon's Tan Son Nhat airport is Vietnam's busiest international airport, followed by Hanoi's Noi Bai airpot. A few international flights also serve Danang. Bangkok has emerged as the principle embarkation point for Vietnam but it's still possible to get direct flights from a number of major Asian cities and a few Australian cities. Canada, the US and England do not have direct flights. Departure tax is US$10 which can be paid in Dong or US dollars. By land, it has become very popular to cross the border at Friendship Pass, or Dong Dang, 20km (12mi) north of Lang Son in north-east Vietnam, to get to/from Nanning in China's Guangxi Province. There are at least five other border crossing points but all of them suffer from bureaucratitis and heavy policing. Land travel through Cambodia is not recommended due to Khmer Rouge attacks. The other popular border crossing is at Lao Cai in north-west Vietnam, which lies on the railway line between Hanoi and Kunming in China's Yunnan Province. There is a twice-weekly international train between Beijing and Hanoi that stops at Friendship Pass. It's possible to enter Laos from Lao Bao in north-central Vietnam. Note that Vietnamese visas specify your departure point from the country. If you want to change this you'll have to pay a visit to the immigration police or the Foreign Ministry. |
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Travelling in Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines has a near-monopoly on domestic flights. The departure tax on domestic flights is about $US1.50, payable in Vietnamese dong only. Buses criss-cross the country in an impressive network of routes. There are express buses, but few are really fast. The alternative, used by many foreigners, is to charter a minibus. They cost more but are much more comfortable. Train travel can be even slower than bus travel, but it is more relaxed and you're likely to have decent legroom. Hire cars and drivers are available at reasonable prices. You will still be stopped by the police to pay all sorts of 'fines'. You can hire a motorcycle to drive yourself if you have an International Driver's Permit endorsed for motorcycles. Travelling through Vietnam by bicycle is worth considering, though the traffic is still a hazard on highways without wide shoulders. Trains and buses will carry your bike when you want a break. Other than a few ancient and infrequent buses, local transport is by taxi (some metered, some not) or cyclo (pedal-powered vehicles that are cheap and plentiful). |
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Accommodation
In Vietnam several types of accommodation are available, varying from simple budget hotels to top end hotels. Prices vary according to accommodation type for example: Budget: US$3-15; Mid-range: US$15-100 ;Top-end Hotel: $US100 and upwards. |
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