Passport and Vietnam Visa Information

Holders of British passports must obtain a visa before travelling to Vietnam (click here for more information about UK passports). To obtain a Vietnam visa, your passport must be valid at least 6 months after your planned return date. You require one free page in your passport for a Vietnam visa. An application form can be downloaded from the Vietnam embassy website (link below). This must be completed and signed before being sent, with passport, passport photo and visa fee, to the Vietnamese embassy in London: 

Vietnamese Embassy - Visas
12-14 Victoria Road,
London W8 5 RD
Tel: 0207 937 1912
Fax: 0207 937 6108 or 0207 565 3853
Email: consular@vietnamembassy.org.uk

Consular section open:
Monday - Friday
9:30am - 12:30pm

A visa for a maximum of 30 days costs £38.
A same day express Visa costs £55, available if you go in person to the Vietnamese Embassy in London. But these can only be issued for a maximum stay of 15 days. These details can change, for the most up to date information we recommend calling the Vietnamese Embassy directly.

Note: If you are travelling over land into Thailand from Vietnam, you'll be issued a 15-day Thai visa automatically. However, if you're planning to stay longer in Thailand than this, you'll need to organise your visa before you leave the UK.

To apply for your Vietnam visa you always need to complete the necessary application form.

For UK nationals click here to print off the application form

Or copy this link http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/visaformf.pdf

These links open a PDF document (if you don't already have Adobe, you can download it free)

You can view more information about applying for the Vietnam visa by clicking below:
http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/consular.html#VISA

You can go in person to the Vietnamese embassy, or you can send all the documents by Royal Mail Special Delivery. You'll need to send your passport, the completed Vietnam visa form, a passport photo and payment either by cash, postal order or a bankers draft (N.B. cheques are not accepted). Visa costs vary, so check the website for current prices. Don't forget to include a pre-paid, self-addressed Royal Mail Special Delivery bag for the returning of your passport. Usually you'll get your passport and Vietnam visa back within 7-14 days. If you're in a rush, contact the Vietnamese embassy immediately to see what can be arranged in the time frame you have.

If you live in London, or prefer not to send your passport in the mail, it is possible to apply for your visa in person at the Vietnamese embassy in London, but we strongly advise that applications are done BY POST in good time.

Alternatively, you can use a Vietnam visa agency that will charge a fee in addition to the Vietnam visa cost.

Show me the Money!

The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency in Vietnam. There are approximately 28,000 Dong to £1 (as of June 2010).
Click here for the latest exchange rate

ATMs or cash machines: ATMs are now the easiest way to get hold of your money in Vietnam. The number of ATMs in Vietnam is increasing all the time, and there is now usually at least one ATM in every town, more in the larger cities. However, it is not sensible to rely on them entirely, as ATMs can go down, or might be out of cash, and you could also be left penniless if you were to lose your card. We would recommend a combination of bank cards, cash and a few travellers cheques.

Pounds sterling or travellers' cheques: Larger value notes such as £50 and £100 usually get the best exchange rate, but you get a lot of Dong for £100 so don't change up too much at a time. Travellers' cheques can be cashed in banks and money exchanges in the larger towns/cities.

Credit Cards: These are accepted in the larger hotels and restaurants, as well as a limited number of banks. Visa and MasterCard are the most often accepted cards. Very few places will accept American Express cards - so they are better left at home. Money, passports and other valuables like travellers' cheques are best kept in a safety deposit box at your hotel. Almost all of the hotels we use will have a safe available. Never leave valuables or money unattended in your hotel room. We also advise you to avoid carrying unnecessary valuables on your person, especially at night, just in case.

Personal expenditure: You can spend very little or a lot in Vietnam depending on your personal spending pattern. We would say a modest weekly budget of approx. £70 (around $55-USD) for day to day things like food, drinks, tips, entry fees (when not included) and small souvenirs. This amount is naturally just an estimate.

Greenback (US Dollars - $): There is no "black market" in Vietnam, but US Dollars are widely accepted by the locals. Sometimes things are quoted in US Dollars, even if you then pay for them in Dong. It's very handy to have some low denomination notes ($1, $5 and $10) in your wallet, they can make wonderful things happen!

Tipping
In Vietnam it is not customary to leave a tip in small local eateries, but more sophisticated restaurants will expect a tip. Tips are often divided between the waiting and kitchen staff, so if you have experienced great food and service, it is advisable to show your appreciation with a tip - between 5-10% of the bill is normal. A tip is also very welcome by local guides and drivers.

Safety
Vietnam is one of the safest countries in the world. Despite its vast population, there is very little crime and you can walk around in the evening without any problem, even in the cities. For up-to-date information you can always look at the http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/.

Avian flu
The WHO (World Health Organisation) at present sees no reason to advise avoiding travel to Vietnam. For up-to-date information about the countries where avian flu is present see www.who.int

External Links
The internet has a wealth of information which makes planning your trip much easier. See our external links for a few suggestions, or try Google.

Click here to return to the Vietnam Travel Plan Homepage