Smoking isn’t cool but riding the mist is! While vaping has gradually competed with traditional cigarettes in many countries worldwide, it is now facing a new obstacle: vaping while traveling. Nowadays, vaping is banned in many Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore, but is it the same state of affair in Vietnam?

Thankfully, Yes, you can vape in Vietnam legally! You can freely vape in public when travelling to Vietnam, and you can even purchase a new vaporizer or oil in a shop. However, let’s read more to know the stance of the Vietnamese authorities about this “cloud chasing game”, and also where to find the best vape shops in the most popular destinations throughout Vietnam.

Does the Vietnamese Government Ban Vaping in the Country?

As a matter of fact, the Vietnamese Government has been struggling with chooing to either outlaw or legalize vaping in the country. You can tell that vaping is not illegal by easily spotting out people vaping on the streets in big cities, such as Hanoi and Saigon. There’s no discrimination against this action from other people around or even the police.

According to Chu Xuan Kien, Head of the Market Management Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the case of e-cigarettes and vape is tricky as it’s unclear whether those devices should be treated by law enforcement as traditional cigarettes or not. Other than that, Kien also stated that there were no specific rules against vaping in Vietnam that was introduced.

This brings hope to the vaping industry in Vietnam which has just taken off for several years now. Literally, you can search for several vape shops online in the big cities where could you travel to, and visit them to grab some juices on the spot. Just so you know, these shops are totally legal in what they are selling, so there are no concerns if you want to purchase vaporizers or juice in Vietnam.

Where Can You Vape in Vietnam?

You can vape either inside a vape shop or even on the streets! There’s no rules or sanctions with vaping just like I have mentioned above, however, please be mindful that vaping in public is still somehow affecting other people around you, especially in places where there are kids, pregnant people or the elderly. Which means even though vaping is not against the law, social etiquette is still a big consideration you may want to pay attention to.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: vaping is extremely popular in the backpacker areas such as Ta Hien Street in Hanoi and Bui Vien Street in Saigon, just to name a few.

Therefore, if you don’t want to ride the mist all alone, then don’t hesitate to come over to these areas, join the crowd and make some local friends as well.

Can You Bring Vape on the Airplane in Vietnam?

The answer is yes, as long as you agree to comply with the airline’s carriage conditions. As of the moment, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar and Bamboo Airway have not yet introduced any regulation listing vape as a dangerous or restricted item.

However, since vape is formed by various different segments, such as the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and the nicotine filled e-juices, you should take care on how to properly handle and store these when travelling.

How to Fly with Your Vape?

• First, you need to put your juice in your check-in baggage while the battery in your hand luggage. As you may be aware, the vape is still an electronic device by itself, so it should be treated like any other electronic gadgets in your baggage, such as a laptop, smartphone, iPad and so on. Hence, all of the batteries, chargers and cable wires needs to be kept separately in their own plastic bags.
• Second, detach every single part of the device, put them into separate transparent bags and display them outside of your hand baggage when you are being processed for the security check. One thing you should bear in mind about the juice is that it should be stored in the same bag with your other liquids like shampoo or sunscreen. The limit for liquids is 100 millimeters per container and not more than 1 liter in total. Meanwhile, the vapor atomizer should be put in another transparent plastic bag without any liquid stored inside.
• Last but not the least, don’t forget about the fact that the vape juice can leak at any time during the flight, which is usually caused during the change in pressure. Any kind of liquid has a big chance of leaking and the vape juice is definitely one of them. That is the reason why the juice should always be kept in a different well-covered bottle and not in your atomizer.

If you take note of the tips mentioned above, this will surely smoothen your security check and hence help you stay away from unwanted situations. One of which could be the vape raising doubts to the security personnel and he or she may request you to open your bags wide for a double check!

If the security happens to ask you whether you have any E-devices along, then the best answer is always to declare that you have a vape in your bag and you’re ready to show them if needed.

One option you should consider when traveling from place to place is to look for a single-use e-cig to use during your travel. These disposable vaporizer usually look similar to analogue cigarettes and has been designed for ease of use, storage and if needed, disposal.

Depending on which airline you are taking, different policies for vapes can vary. You should closely check with your airline operators or scan through their luggage conditions on their website before deciding to put the electronic device into your luggage.

Where to Get Vape in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City?

As mentioned, vaping is allowed in all regions across Vietnam. This has slightly raised the vape industry and turned it into a big culture here. In the most popular cities such as Hanoi in the North, Ho Chi Minh City in the South and Hoi An in Central Vietnam, there exist multiple popular vape shops that are highly praised by the locals. Let’s take a look!

In Hanoi

• The Vape Club – 63 To Hien Thanh, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi.
• The Vape Hanoi – 6 Nha Chung, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
• The Vapist Premium Vape Store – 137 Trieu Viet Vuong, Bui Thi Xuan, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.

In Ho Chi Minh City – Saigon

• MD Vapor – 205 Tran Huy Lieu, Ward 8, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Vape Saigon – 4B Tran Hung Dao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Vape Revolution Vietnam – 43 Co Bac, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• World Vape Shop – 150/34 Nguyen Trai, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• E.C Workshop – Vape & E-Juice – 12/7 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Pexiga Vietvape – 57 Phan Dinh Phung, Ward 17, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City | 27 Nguyen Huu Tho, Tan Hung, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

In Hoi An

• Rin Vape Shop – Floor 2, 236 Ly Thuong Kiet, Cam Chau, Hoian, Quang Nam.
• Shop Vape and Juice – 561/7 Hai Ba Trung, Cam Pho, Hoian, Quang Nam.

 

Now that you know vaping is allowed in Vietnam, feel free to bring your vape along without further concerns. If this article helps you answer all of your questions about vaping in Vietnam, then don’t forget to share it with your friends!

Learn More Here: Can You Vape in Vietnam? : Full Guide to Vaping in Vietnam 2019

 

Vietnamese Jicama Roll, Bò Bía

The little brother of the infamous Vietnamese Spring Roll a.k.a Goi Cuon, Bo Bia is one of the easiest snacks to find when walking down the street of Ho Chi Minh City. This spring roll packs a unique punch of flavor and texture in comparison. With rice paper on the outside, Jicama, Beef Sausage, Dried Shrimp, fried egg, fried shallots, and multiple herbs on the inside this little roll is not to be missed.

You can find this served with a peanut dipping sauce, don’t forget to add the chili for that added heat.

Vietnamese Rice Paper Salad with Dried Beef, Bánh Tráng Trộn

The question “What is your favorite Vietnamese Food?” is a staple during our Interview process at Back of the Bike Tours. Eighty percent of the time I am given the quick and enthusiastic answer of, “Banh Trang Tron!”

Like so many other dishes in culinary history, this dish started out just trying to solve a problem. What to do with all of that scrap rice paper? Well, make a salad out of it! Using thin strips of rice paper to compose the bulk of the salad, Dried beef, Dried Shrimp, Quail egg, Vietnamese Hot Mint, Julienned Green Mango, toasted peanuts, and fried shallots are tossed together with a loose, dark, sweetened soy sauce with kumquat juice.

After being thoroughly mixed, it’s tossed into a bag with disposable chop sticks shoved inside.

This concoction is a fun texture experience and bursting with a great combination of flavors. This dish is great for accenting the strong and unique flavor of Vietnamese Dried Beef.

Quail fried in Butter, Cút Chiên Bơ

It’s not difficult to miss the man on the street corner with a rotisserie over open flames. What might be difficult to miss is the small birds that are strung through the poles roasting over the flame. Every few minutes, the quail vendor, will brush these little birdies with his own oil or butter mixture that will usually contain a dried herb and spices to add a unique flavor to each vendors quail.

These quail can be taken to a whole another level when they are deep fried in sweet butter and served with a baguette. Fried Quail will normally come with pickles, Vietnamese Hot Mint, and Cucumber as an accompaniment to the dish.

Some might be grossed out by the serving of the quail head still attached to the neck. No worries, it has a great pop to it when you take it in one bite.

Pork and Pork Sausage Skewers, Heo Nướng – Hồ Lô Nướng

 

Grilled pork over an open fire! Count me in! These meat skewers are a great pre-game to hold you over before dinner.

Heo Nuong, Marinated Pork Skewers, find an excellent balance between chewy and tender. Pork comes into the markets around 4 AM here in Saigon. That is when the pork shoulder is purchased, then cut, and marinated for 6-8 hours in a mixture of honey and sesame seeds.

Holo Nuong, Sweet Pork Sausage balls, can’t help but leave a smile on your face when your teeth pop the roasted casing on the outside to find yourself enjoying a great balance of fat and sugar that is mixed into the sausage. Named for its resemblance of a round squash, these sweet morsels of meat are typically found in Southern Vietnam.

Don’t miss the chili sauce and pickles that are necessity in balancing out the rich meaty flavor. Also, a nice cold beer goes quite well.

Grilled Vietnamese Rice Paper, Banh Tráng Nướng

Hailing from the mountain area of Dalat and one of the newest to arrive in the food scene of Ho Chi Minh City, Banh Trang Nuong, has been dubbed the “Vietnamese Pizza”. Here are the basics for almost every Banh Tranh Nuong, Rice paper, open flame, egg, and cheese. Top this with anything from Dried beef, green onions, spicy chicken, or even take the desert approach and try some banana. This crispy snack is being served in little restaurants or right on the street so it isn’t hard to miss.

If you are interested in Vietnam Food Tours then be sure to check out our Saigon Food Tour, if you are looking to check out a specific food in vietnam then ask about our private tours and chefs tours!

Original Post Here: 5 Must Eat Vietnamese Street Food Snacks You Don’t Want To Miss On Your Trip To Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City is known for crazy traffic! There are viral videos and photos all over the internet that show the chaotic dance of traffic happening here everyday. Walking across the street in Ho Chi Minh City seems intimidating to some travelers. Never fear the taxi cab is here!

As a person who has been living in this city for years, I would recommend calling Mai Linh Taxi (028) 38 38 38 38, VinaSun Taxi (028) 38 27 27 27 , or booking via the Grab application. This post is a complete guide to traveling with taxis happily and safely in Ho Chi Minh City. I’ve crafted all you need to know about what brands to use and how to contact them.

What Taxi Brand should I ride with in Ho Chi Minh City?

When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, you should only ride in Mai Linh and Vinasun Taxi Cabs. They are the oldest and most trustworthy brands in Vietnam. If you are still nervous about riding a taxi cab there are alternatives digital brands for you to choose. Go with Grab or Goviet. These are popular brands here that are used daily.

Here are my useful tips for you to recognize these brands, how to book a taxi, how to reach customer service, and what to do if you lost something in your taxi. I’ll also guide you how to get a proper and trustworthy taxi when you first land in the airport.

Mai Linh

This taxi is hard to miss, it’s a distinct green color. The green color represents pure environment and brings some sense of comfort. This brand is familiar to not only local people but also many tourists as this brand can be found all over Vietnam.

Drivers of Mai Linh wear a white shirt, black trousers, and a green tie. These uniforms are really recognizable because of the green tie. If the taxi driver isn’t wearing this uniform, I would be suspicious and wait for a different cab.

Below we have listed all of the contact information for Mai Linh. It’s a good idea to keep their customer service number on your phone just in case you want to call them because of issues.

To Book a Taxi Call: (028) 38 38 38 38

The operators speak limited English. We recommend asking for the help of your hotel concierge or a friendly local if you need to call for a taxi.

Mai Linh’s Customer Service

Address: 64-68, Hai Ba Trung, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hotline (Southern area of Vietnam): 028 3827 7979

Website: https://mailinh.vn

Mai Linh does have an application but unfortunately there are too many errors making it not very useful. We recommend just grabbing a cab on the street or booking through the phone.

Vinasun

This is probably the most popular taxi cab in Vietnam. Their car is bare white with green and red lines connecting the wheels. The logo is a circle formed by red and green arrows, which reminds me of yin and yang symbol.

Similar to Mai Linh, the Vinasun taxi drivers’ uniform are white shirt, black trousers, and red tie. There is also a logo of Vinasun on the tie.

Phone number: (028) 38 27 27 27

This number speaks better English than Mai Linh. If you need to call on your own we recommend reaching out to Vinasun.

Contact of customer service departments:

Add: Vinasun Tower – 648, Nguyen Trai, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel:  (84-8) 38 277 178

Contact address when you lost your luggage: thatlachanhly@vinasuntaxi.com

When you want to complain about their staff: thaidophucvu@vinasuntaxi.com

When you have any other concern: contact@vinasuntaxi.com

Website: http://www.vinasuntaxi.com

These taxis are not only available in Ho Chi Minh City but also all cities in Vietnam. If you want to travel in Danang, Hanoi, or Hue City, remember the phone numbers and do those same steps.

Grab / Goviet

I may not have to tell you much about these brands. Grab is now the cheapest mode of transportation in Vietnam. Just download the app, install it on your phone. Then whenever you want a ride, open it and pick your means of transportation. You can choose your transportation between motorbike and car.

Older articles may say that Grab and Uber are two digital taxi brands in Vietnam, but you should take note that Uber has been shut down in this country since 2018. Moving into take the place of Uber, Goviet has become a popular ride app in Vietnam. Go Viet only has motorbikes at the moment, so if you have luggage, then stick to Grab.

How to get a taxi from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City

There are two airports you can come in at in Ho Chi minh City. Getting a taxi from either airport is going to be very similar but a little bit different. We are going to direct you to make your way towards the “Taxi Queue”. At both airports you are going to need to make your way past the scammers and fake taxi’s looking to rip you off. These guys are gonna use the word “friend” alot and “looking for taxi”. Be strong but nice, and just keep moving away from them to find the queue.

At the international airport the queue should be across the little street when you exit from the terminals ground floor. The domestic airport you should make a left after exiting the terminal.

We only recommend two taxi services which we discuss in detail below. You are going to be looking for the representatives of these taxi companies so that you can get them to put you into the correct cab. The company’s colors is what you will be looking for to recognize their representative along with the brand logo.

Traveling from the Airport to the Center of Ho Chi Minh City

It takes around 30-40 minutes driving from Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 1, and even longer in rush hour. The cost for a taxi driving from Tan Son Nhat Airport to District 1 is around 100,000 VND to 200,000 VND (about 4.5 to 8.5 USD). Before leaving the airport, be sure to exchange some money as in Vietnam we only use our local currency.

How to Hail a Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City

Walking in Ho Chi Minh City is not popular, as the sidewalk infrastructure here is a mess. It can be an intimidating experience when you try to walk in this city. No worries, the taxis are here to help you get around.

Hail a taxi using our tips so that you travel safely in Ho Chi Minh City.

Lucky for everyone, there are usually taxi’s everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Specifically talking about the two brands we have mentioned above. It won’t take long to get a taxi if you stand on the street waving one down for a ride. The exception to this rule is during rain and rush hour. When hailing a taxi at these times, you can expect to wait if you don’t get lucky in the first few minutes.

Raise your hand to get the taxi driver’s attention. While they may understand your signal, you don’t have to yell “Taxi!” or whistle like in Western culture. If you can whistle loudly, I recommend you do that because you will just look cool.

When the taxi driver arrives, the next step is just telling them your destination.

Though drivers these days are trained to speak English, there are still elderly drivers who don’t. Thus, you’ll need to carry a phone with you to show them the address, or write down the address on a piece of paper. A screenshot of the location is also very helpful.

What do you do when lost your wallet/luggage/phone on the taxi?

First, contact the taxi customer service immediately and report what you’ve lost. Before calling, you should make sure that you can provide as much information as possible, including the taxi identification number, driver’s name, departure and arrival points, total fare, and the route that was taken.

If you forget your phone, you shouldn’t call your number. In case there are some drivers or passengers who may want to keep it for themselves. Instead, allow the operator to find the taxi you’ve taken and have it sent back to the office.

To conclude, traveling via taxis in Vietnam is easy. Follow these instructions, you have the best chance to enjoy your trip without being a victim of any fake taxis or scams. Just like in life, nothing is a guarantee but we believe that this advice will help every traveler in Vietnam.

Read Full Article Here: How to Take a Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City

If you expect to buy Northface factory rejects in Vietnam, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I have spent days researching and shopping for both factory rejects and high quality fake Northface products in Ho Chi Minh City. Even for a local, who speaks Vietnamese, I found it impossible to track down factory rejects. With so many people asking the question about where to buy Northface products in Vietnam, I was surprised I didn’t find any good resources and suppliers since it is such a popular request for tourists.

What have I learned about Northface in Vietnam?

Factory Rejects are non-existent in all of Vietnam but you can buy fake Northface with decent quality in most cities.

Where to buy Northface in Ho Chi Minh City?

I feel the best location is at certain Local Markets and a few small shops. My Local Market recommendation includes Saigon Square Center and the Russian Market in District 1. Smaller retail shops selling Northface include places like Armyhaus an outdoor and camping supplier in District 1 or Wetrek an outlet store in Tan Binh District close to the airport.

What Should you know before shopping for Northface in Vietnam?

Be Aware of the Tourist “Scam”

While not really a scam, some shopkeepers may sell Northface at high prices in order to make you believe that the products are real. I am confident after my research that all of these sellers are pushing fakes. I’ve spent a serious amount of time contacting shopkeepers and sellers to find out whether their products are real, fake, or factory rejects. Whenever I asked them if their Northface products were real or not, they all said that it’s a trade secret. My feeling after talking to a few vendors is that they didn’t really care about the quality of their Northface or even where they were getting them from. They just want to sell them to anyone who will buy for the highest price possible. While not illegal or a scam, it’s good information for potential buyers.

That’s why it’s important to buy from the right suppliers and check the quality of the products thoroughly before committing to spending your money. Not all sellers are looking at getting rid of bad products some legitimately care about their products and reputation. That doesn’t mean they are selling factory rejects with super high quality, it means they are trying to provide fakes that have some craftsmanship to them. Which is gonna be your best bet for buying a product that will last for a while.

How to Identify Quality Fake Jackets and Backpacks in Ho Chi Minh City

Before a fun day of shopping, here are some tips that will help you check the quality of the Northface jackets and backpacks.

You should check any fake product carefully before buying. Even though I’m gonna give you some great tips, you should always be aware of the risks when buying fake products. They might last two years or they might break in two days. It’s the risk we take when haggling for a great deal.

Fabric

Feel the material and the thickness of the jacket to determine the quality. This is the easiest way to determine high quality from low quality.

• No stains or tears in the fabric
• The fewer wrinkles the better
• No frays on the shoulders, collar, or flaps
• Check the thickness of the garment, your jacket must be thick enough to keep you warm
• Thicker Material is of course, better quality

Craftsmanship

If you are buying a raincoat or an anorak, beware of the area around the seams and zipper. Those are the places water may leak in easily. The good quality jackets have those parts covered.

• Check the lining and inside of the garment. Give it a sniff! Make sure that there is no off-putting smell
• Check the buttons and items inside the garment. Poor quality fake jackets may not have these items

Buttons

Some fake Anoraks change the buttons on the covering cloth outside of the zipper to velcro, but I prefer buttons to velcro because they seem to be more secure. You should make sure that the buttons are sewn firmly on the jacket.

• Check the number of buttons, especially on rainwear
• Check the state of sewn on buttons
• Missing buttons are a huge giveaway of low quality that is easy to spot during your first quick inspection.
• Pull on that button a little bit, does it feel like it’s gonna pop off sooner than later?

Zipper

I’ve read complaints about the zipper metal being broken quite easily on many jackets and backpacks. That is because the zipper is made of poor-quality metal. Make sure that the zipper for anoraks is made of metal and not plastic. Without being too aggressive, see if it feels like the zipper metal is thin and brittle.

– Test Durability of Zipper Metal

– Zip up and down many times to test quality or if it gets snagged easily

Stiching

Your jacket should have firm and neat seams. Make sure that there is no redundant thread at the corners of the product.

• Check the strength of the seam
• Check the neatness of the seam
• No redundant thread at the corners of the products
• Tight stitches and no loose thread

Where to Buy Good Quality Fake Northface in Ho Chi Minh City?

Buying Good Quality Fake Northface at markets

I’ve gone shopping at popular markets in Ho Chi Minh City to find quality fake Northface jackets. Since then I have come up with these recommendations. The prices are noted in this section so that you can compare them when you go out shopping.

Russian Market

Address: 328 Vo Van Kiet Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM

There are two buildings sharing the same address at 328 Vo Van Kiet Street. Northface jackets are sold in the bigger building when you pull into the complex. The market is air conditioned and is suitable for those who prefer a peaceful shopping experience.

The shops that sell Northface jackets are next to the escalator which is at the center of the market. There is also another shop at the front corner of the market. They may not sell many styles of Northface jackets that you want, but the products are much higher quality compared to the other markets. The price here ranges from $28.3 to $40 USD each for a winter coat or jacket. The Western market is known for carrying large western sizes so this is a reliable spot to check out if you need bigger sizes.

The Russian market is not known for haggling, most prices are set in stone. The employees here actually speak limited English, we recommend having a translation app on your phone handy if you have any questions about the products.

Saigon Square Center

Address: 81 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Hours: 9 AM – 9 PM

Saigon Square is a popular shopping destination in Ho Chi Minh City for both locals and tourists. When you enter the market from Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, go straight ahead to the end of the market and then turn left towards the corner. You will find shops that sell Northface jackets from $20.9 to $57.5 USD. The prices depend on the thickness of the jacket. They have both 2 layer and 3 layer jacket options.

The Northface backpack aisle is on your right side. Depending on the size of the backpack, they can be sold from $11 to $26 USD.

Shops around Ben Thanh Market

 

You can visit Ben Thanh Market if you are confident with your bargaining skills, since this market is notorious for intense selling techniques. I prefer the small shop on the corner of Le Lai Street and Phan Chu Trinh Street which is just across the street from the right side of Ben Thanh Market. They sell fine quality fake Northface backpacks with the same quality at a much cheaper price. The backpacks are from $16.5 to $21.8 USD each.

Buying Good Quality Fake Northface at Small Shops

Armyhaus

Address: 68/25B Tran Quang Khai Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Hours: 9 AM – 8.30 PM

This is the favorite brand for teenage backpack travelers in Vietnam. You can find the following Northface products in Armyhaus: Pants $17, shoes $54, jackets 20$, and gloves $15. There are also different types of equipment for your travels if you are doing any adventure tours. Their products include helmets, tents, gloves, air cushions, and mountain climbing clothes.

The inconvenience at this shop is that they sell clothes for Vietnamese, which is best for the average height of 1m70 and 70kg weight so your size may not be available unless you are smaller.

Wetrek

Address: 2D Truong Son Street, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City

Hours: 8.30 AM – 9.30 PM

This shop is recommended by many local travelers. Located near Hoang Van Thu Park and Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Northface’s backpacks, caps, shoes, jackets, and pants are all sold here. The prices for these items vary from $17 to $87 USD each.

What have I learned about buying Northface in Vietnam?

You can’t expect to buy real Northface in Ho Chi Minh City or Vietnam. Fake Northface products with good quality are available in certain shops or markets if you know where to look. With our tips to identify Quality fake Northface, we hope you have the chance to buy Northface products for a great price that will last a long time.

Read More Here: Where to Buy Northface in Ho Chi Minh City?

It’s not always easy to explore Saigon under this unbeatable heat, and sometimes a quick ice cream stop can be the best way to refresh yourself and have enough energy for your adventures here. Fortunately, with a summer all year round, Ho Chi Minh City is packed with desserts places, Ice cream stands or local traditional Vietnamese sweets. In our latest video we decided to have a look at our favorite desserts to try in Saigon, and where to get them. Keep scrolling for the addresses!

#5 Kem Nhãn Chú Tám, 2 Trương Hàn Siêu Street, District 1

#4 Chè Cô Giang, 85 Cô Giang Street, District 1

#3 Trái Cây Tô, 177 Lý Tự Trọng Street, District 1

#2 Thế Giới Tàu Hủ, 164 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1

#1 Kem Dừa Thái Cà-Rem, 241 Cách Mạng Tháng 8 Street, District 3.

What’s your favorite desserts in Ho Chi Minh City? We definitely have something for that “Chè”!

Source Here: The Best Desserts in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnams Visa Process

The Visa process has been adjusted last year in order to encourage more travelers and tourists to come to Vietnam.

This is great news for a lot of people but still not a perfect solution. With that being said, let’s talk about Vietnam Visa. who needs it? who doesn’t? how to get one?.

Requirements for everyone even if you don’t need a Vietnam Visa!?

A passport! This might seem crazy to some people to even mention this but some might not be used to traveling. So lets cover it, you MUST HAVE a passport if you are visiting Vietnam from another country.

This next point is very important and I have actually seen many people get caught up on this and not even realize it until they get here.

**important** Your passport must have 6 month of validity from the date of Travel. **important**

Our company Back of the Bike Tours have actually seen this issue a few times where one person in a group gets stopped from traveling because of this issue.

Don’t let it happen to you! Check cousin Jimmy and Grandma’s passport to make sure they aren’t expiring 6 months from the date you land in Vietnam.

This isn’t something you can get around as well, If you land in Vietnam with a passport that is expiring, they will not let you in. Your best and most unlikely scenario would be that your embassy would issue you an emergency passport to travel. The most likely thing to happen is that you will be on the next flight home after sitting in the airport for a number of hours.

Will I need a Vietnam Visa?

There are only 24 countries at the moment who are allowed to enter Vietnam without needing a Visa for a certain amount of time.

Exempt from Visa for 15 Day Stay:

Belarus

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Italy

Japan

Norway

Russia

South Korea

Spain
Sweden

United Kingdom

 

Exempt from Visa for 14 Day Stay:

Brunei

Myanmar

 

Exempt from Visa for 21 Day Stay:

Phillipines

 

Exempt from Visa for 30 Day Stay:

Thailand

Singapore

Malaysia

Laos

Kyrgyzstan

Indonesia

Cambodia

Exempt from Visa for 90 Day Stay:

Chile

 

My country doesn’t need a visa to visit Vietnam! How lucky is that?

Hey! That is pretty lucky as most countries do require a visa! Congrats and we hope you enjoy your vacation. Please make sure you don’t plan your trip longer than your visa exemption lasts and you will be golden! If you plan on staying longer than the amount of time you are exempt then please continue to read on and learn more.

My Country isn’t exempt from needing a Visa, Whats next?

That’s okay! Maybe your country will be exempt next year!

Let’s get you a Visa so that you can have fun traveling around this beautiful country.

There are three ways to get your Visa:

1. Mail your Passport to the Vietnam Embassy inside your country. They stamp a Vietnam Visa into your passport and send your passport back to you.

or

2. Obtain an Approval Letter so that you can obtain your Visa on Arrival

or

3. E-Visa that allows you to enter Vietnam through 28 different points of Entrance. This would be the best option for those coming into Vietnam through Land or Sea.

Let’s jump into each way to get your Vietnam Visa, the specifics on how to get it. The advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Obtaining a Vietnam Visa from your Local Embassy in your country

This is old reliable.

Before the days of the internet and expecting everything within just a few minutes of our current culture, we all had to send our Passport to the embassy before taking off to Visit Vietnam.

What do we need for a Visa from the Embassy or consulate?

Each country has its own price and time frame to complete the Visa Process. Since there are so many different countries world wide we believe you should use the following link to track down the embassy in your country and follow their Visa Process which should be rather easy and simple to follow.

Use this link to track down the website for you a consulate/embassy in your home country to follow their Visa Process. https://www.embassypages.com/vietnam

Here is an example of the Visa Process from The Vietnamese Embassy in the United States,

APPLY FOR VISA IN PERSON OR BY MAIL

1. To apply in person or by mail, the applicant is required to submit the following documents:
2. 01 application form to be completed online at http://visa.mofa.gov.vn ; please select VIETNAM EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA as Place of visa submission and collection. After completing the online application form, please PRINT OUT and sign your application. In case you are unable to fill out the online application form, you can download the form (click here) and fill it out by hand or use paper application forms available at the Embassy upon your submission.
3. Passport (the original for a sticker-visa application OR a copy of the ID page for a loose-leaf visa application) with at least 06 months of validity prior to the proposed date of entry into Viet Nam to meet airlines’ and immigration requirements). For Vietnamese holding a US Permanent Resident Card (also referred to as “Green Card”), you can apply for a Visa Exemption Certificate (click here), also known as “Viet Nam 5-year visa”.
4. Photo: one (1) 2×2 inch identical photo if the original passport is submitted for a sticker visa OR two (2) 2×2 inch identical photos if a copy of the passport is submitted for a loose-leaf visa.
5. Visa fees: paid in cash or Visa Card/Master Card for in-person application at the Embassy, or in the form of money order/ cashier’s check/company check payable to “EMBASSY OF VIET NAM”.
6. Other supporting documents (if any): copy of visa approval document or provision of visa approval reference number issued by the relevant authority of Viet Nam; invitation letter from sponsor/host etc.
7. If you wish to receive your passport and/or visa sent back to your mailing address by mail: 01 prepaid self-addressed return envelope. To ensure safe delivery of your application package and visa, it is recommended that you use certified mail service offered by USPS, UPS and FedEx with tracking number to check on delivery status. The Embassy shall not be responsible for any loss of documents due to insecure and uncertified mailing service. In case you do not bring along a prepaid return envelope upon submission of visa application at the Embassy, you may use FedEx envelopes available at the Embassy and are required to pay for the additional mailing service.

The process above seems rather straightforward.

I have personally always gotten my Visa on Arrival, but I can see how getting your visa before leaving would be easy just to have it completed and done before leaving. One less thing to worry about when traveling with a large group or small children

What is the Pro’s and Con’s of getting your Visa from the Consulate/Embassy?

 

Pro’s:

 

Scam Free

If you are worried about submitting for your Vietnam Visa on arrival through a scam site, then bypass those worries and just apply directly with the embassy.

Worry Free

When planning travel and on the actual date of flying, sometimes thinks can feel rushed and overwhelmed. If you get your visa through the consulate/embassy its done and there will be no surprises when you land in Vietnam. This peace of mind is comforting and a huge reason to get your visa through the consulate.

Debit/Credit Card Payment

Many of the consulates/embassies provide an online payment source for you to pay for your Visa before sending your Passport to them for the Visa. Some people enjoy this rather then having to worry about cash payments on arrival in Vietnam.

No Waiting

If you have your Visa already, you will queue up in the immigration line and not have to wait for the “Visa on Arrival” line that can sometimes add over an hour to the immigration process depending on how long the wait is when you arrive. After a long flight, I do find this additional line irritating.

Length of Time

Getting a Visa from your embassy/consulate provides the option for you to apply for single or multiple entry Vietnam Visa and 1 month or 3 months Vietnam Visa.

 

Con’s:

 

Time

If you don’t have the luck of living right next to an embassy or consulate, you will have to send your Passport in via the post. This might take up to 6 weeks to get your passport back. If you are great at planning and do this part early, then time may not be a factor that you’ll need to worry about.

Price

Depending on your individual consulate, this might turn out being the most expensive way to get your visa. But the peace of mind might be worth it.

Paying in Check or Money Order

This feels like a bit of a con because I don’t write many checks or get money orders in the days of debit/credit cards. This may not be a big deal for those who often deal with these forms of payments.

Verdict: If I was traveling with just myself or as a couple. I might go for the option of getting my visa on arrival or Evisa listed below. If I was traveling with children or any sort of large group whether its all friends or family, I would prefer to gather all the passports and send them in for a Visa before the trip just for the knowledge that I won’t have any surprises when I land. This is my personal opinion though, and please use all the information provided to find out what works best for you.

What is Visa On Arrival and a Approval Letter?

Okay, here is the deal with the Visa on Arrival.

Step 1: You Fill out some information online and make a payment to receive a Approval Letter. This letter allows you to get a Visa when you land before you go through immigration.

Step 2: You land in Vietnam, before you can go through immigration, you have to wait in line to get your Visa. This is where you will give them your approval letter, a form, and the additional photos you brought along. You will have to also pay a Stamping Fee here, which they would like for you to pay in cash. If you don’t have cash they will have someone escort you to an ATM inside the airport( I have had this happen before)

Step 3: Once your passport is stamped, you get your passport back with your visa inside and now you can go through immigration. Enjoy your time in Vietnam 🙂

What are the Pro’s and Con’s for the Visa On Arrival?

 

Vietnam Visa on Arrival Pro’s:

 

Time

You can sign up for your approval letter rather quickly, and in just a few days receive the letter allowing you to travel to Vietnam and get your Visa.

Price

The Visa on Arrival might be a little bit cheaper than sending your Passports to the embassy or consulate in your home country. This does depend on each country individually as the price for the visa differs country to country.

Emergency Travel

In Emergency cases you can get your Approval letter in just 4 hours. This does depend on the time and availability of the immigration office and the agency you are using for you letter.

Location

The Visa on Arrival does not require you to go out of your way when preparing for a trip to Vietnam. After receiving your Approval Letter via email, the only thing you need to do is fly to Vientam where you will get your visa right when you get off the plane.

Length of Time

The Vietnam on Arrival provides the option for you to apply for single or multiple entry and 1 or 3 months.

 

Vietnam Visa on Arrival Con’s:

 

Scams

I have used the Visa on Arrival process every time I have needed to travel when I first came to Vietnam before receiving my Residency card. There was never an issue i had with scams but apparently it does happen, so often that you can find warnings issued on Vietnam Embassy websites as you can see here:

(The following is an excerpt from http://vietnamconsulate.org.au)

Warning from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia: There has been an increase in the number of Australians applying online for a ‘visa on arrival’ approval letter. There have been reports of visa scams involving online Vietnamese visa applications. There have also been reports of applicants’ personal details being made public by online visa websites. As result, we recommend you apply for a Vietnamese visa directly from the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam.

Warning:

– We have the honour to announce that the following websites are not legitimate:

http://vietnam-embassy.org, http://myvietnamvisa.com, http://vietnamvisacorp.com, http://vietnam-visa.com, http://visavietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnamvisa.gov.vn, http://visatovietnam.gov.vn, http://vietnam-visa.gov.vn

– The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam has recently received many feedbacks from foreign nationals on the visa online service provided by above-mentioned websites.

– We holds no responsibility for any visa application for Viet Nam provided by these services.

Personally, I have had no issue using an online service, but it is important to be made aware that these services are not the Vietnamese Government so they do hold some risk when relying on them for your visa.

Time

I have marked time as a pro when it comes to getting the approval letter, but the time spent waiting for your stamp after a long flight can be excruciating. I have also waited for hours at the airport when friends and family were waiting to receive their Visa stamp before going into already long immigration lines.

Miscommunication/Errors

I believe the biggest con here is that if there were any issues in your Approval letter process, then you might have a difficult time on arrival that will not be a great way to start your vacation. The other issue here is that sometimes people forget, I have been caught at the Visa on Arrival window myself with no cash for the stamping fee. That was painful after a long flight. A different example, my friend forgot her photos to give to the VOA when she arrived so she had to take time to get new photos and pay for that. While not expensive, its just painful after a long flight and doesn’t provide a “I’m ready for vacation” mood.

Not applicable for Land or Sea Arrival

The Vietnam on Arrival ONLY applies to travelers coming into Vietnam through an International Airport in Vietnam. This leaves Land or Sea Arrivals needing a different way to get a visa like the Vietnam E-Visa.

Verdict: Visa on Arrival is really useful if you are in a pinch and need a visa quickly. If that is the case, then that one pro outweighs all of the cons of the Vietnam Visa on Arrival. If you are planning your vacation in advance, then getting your visa before you arrive might be a better option.

What is the Vietnam E-Visa?

I am glad you asked! The Vietnam E-visa is an excellent step forward for Vietnam. Adapting their tourism policies and infrastructure to their customers needs is very important and we are so excited to see that happening last year with the introduction of Vietnam E-Visa.

The first and most important thing you need to know about the Vietnam E-Visa

You can only get the Vietnam Visa here -> https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt

Any other site is not an E-Visa and is either a scam or just signing you up for the Visa on Arrival.

This is so important I am gonna say it twice 🙂

You can only get the Vietnam Visa here -> https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt

Alright, Now that we have that cleared up let’s get into understanding what you’ll need for the E-Visa.

You will need a photo of yourself that looks like this. Your face will need to be clear with a white or light colored background.

The next thing you will need is a clear photo of your passport details that looks like this.

Here are a few tips from struggles we have read about online.

Be sure that your photos are Jpeg images

You might need to resize the photo so that it is smaller for upload if you are using a photo from your phone rather than scanning your passport and photo. This can easily done by opening Paint program and resizing the photo to a smaller size.

To resize the image copy:

1. Right click on the image file in the File Explorer, select Open With, Paint.
2. Select main menu item Image, Stretch/Skew … Change the Horizontal and Vertical percentages to a percentage less than 100. Keep the percentages equal to preserve the aspect ratio.
3. Select the main menu item File >> Save As to save the resized image.

After you have all that, its a simple process of filling in and submitting the form.

You will need to pay $25 for your Vietnam E-Visa which is Single Entry for 30 days which should cover most travelers coming to Vietnam.

The Pro’s and Con’s of the Vietnam E-Visa

 

Vietnam E-Visa Pro’s:

 

Cheap

The E-Visa is the cheapest option out of all three. At $25 for a 30 day single entry this is a nice price compared to the charge by embassies and consulates. Its not such a far departure from the price for Vietnams Visa on Arrival but still cheaper.

Credit/Debit Payment

This is the only option for paying your full Visa fee with a credit or debit card.

3-5 Day Approval

Receiving your Visa back in 3-5 days is great turn around for the complete Visa.

All Ports

You can use your E-Visa at every port of entry into Vietnam.

Simple Process

After viewing the website and entry form, this is a simple process to get your visa.

Peace of Mind

Once you have received your Visa with No Errors on it, you are 100% done, just go right through immigration when you get to Vietnam with no worries. Personally, this is my favorite part, I like knowing that things are complete and done with no hang ups.

 

Vietnam E-Visa Con’s:

 

No Option For Multi Entry or Longer Stay

The current process doesn’t allow for travelers to select anything other than the 30 day single entry Vietnam Visa. If you need to leave and come back, you will need to have another Visa.

Filling out Forms

Currently, you can only apply for 1 visa at a time on the website. This means a family of 4 will have to enter in 4 different forms and make 4 different payments on the government website for the Vietnam E-Visa. This is a bit painful for most of us, but might be worth it when considering the price.

Website Issues

It seems that the website has some issues every now and again not letting people submit photos. These seems to be debugged rather quickly and sometimes are user errors but it travelers should still be aware.

Typos

Some name Typos may occur on your visa, these issues can from from the user or the immigration office. Either one still causes an issue going through immigration if the name on your Visa doesn’t match your passport. Please check each name carefully.

This wraps up most everything you would need to know when it comes to getting a Vietnam Visa. As you can see there are multiple options with multiple pro’s and con’s.

If you have any more questions about traveling to Vietnam or the Visa Process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@backofthebiketours.com. We would love to help!

Originally Published Here: Do I Need A Visa For Vietnam?