If you are an Indian citizen who wants to travel to Vietnam, this straightforward guide is for you. Everything from getting a Vietnam visa, the currency to all direct flights from India to its major cities will be covered. Having knowledge about a destination you are planning to visit is very important, and we will offer you the needed information for your upcoming trouble-free Vietnam tours.
VISA
There are a variety of visas based on how long you plan on staying in the country and your country of origin. For Indian citizens, yes, it is required to apply for a Vietnam Visa. You have three options for obtaining the visa which is getting a visa at Vietnam Embassy in India, getting e-visa online, and getting a Pre-approval letter for a Visa on Arrival (VoA).
Getting a visa at the Vietnam Embassy in India: the traditional and most expensive way to apply for a Vietnam visa. You have to visit a physical Embassy of Vietnam/Consulate General of Vietnam, summit the papers then wait for acceptance which usually takes 2 to 3 business days. You are required to bring your original passport with a minimum validity of 6 months, completed application form, passport-sized photos, and a visa fee. Take them to one of these addresses:
Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi
Address: 20 Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India
Tel: +91-11-2687-9868
Fax: +91-11-2687-9856
Email: vnemb.in@gmail.com
Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai
Address: Unit 805, 8th Floor, Powai Plaza, Hiranandani Gardens, Central Avenue, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, India
Tel: +91-22-2570-2033
Fax: +91-22-2570-2034
Email: tlsq.mumbai@mofa.gov.vn
Having the visa sticker, you can head straight to the all passport line when you arrive at the airport in Vietnam and stamping is done at no additional cost.
Getting e-visa online: Electronic visa is the easiest and cheapest of all the options, which has been introduced in Vietnam since 2017. The e-visas are granted for single entry visits for up to 30 days to 81 eligible countries and territories including India. All you need to do is to fill out the necessary requirements online and wait a few days for the approval. You need to print this out and keep a physical copy on you. The total cost is USD 25 and it can be taken straight to the all passport line upon arrival. Similar to the physical visa, they will process it at the airport at no additional cost.
Getting a Pre-approval letter online for a Visa on Arrival: Complete the visa form and pay for service fees depending on the type of visa you want to obtain and how fast you want to get the service delivered. After that, you will receive an approval letter via email which you bring with you to Vietnam. Once arriving in Vietnam, you must show your approval letter and then pay a stamping fee of USD 25 per person for a single entry visa and from USD 50 for multiple entry visa. You may need to wait in a separate boarding area while they process and stamp your passport. Please note that Visa on Arrival is only applicable for traveling by air to Vietnam.
It is highly recommended to apply for a visa for your Vietnam tours through a Travel Agency or Local Operator such as Threeland Travel to make sure everything goes smoothly and we can easily control problems at the airport if any. With this option, we can help you get a Vietnam visa approval letter with a one-month single entry with only USD 15 per person (excluding the stamping fee).
FLIGHT
Tourists from India can easily reach the country thanks to new direct flights launched by IndiGo Airlines and Vietjet Air to its two international airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
Since 3rd October 2019, Indigo has operated non-stop daily flights between Kolkata and Hanoi, making it the first Indian airline to fly directly to Vietnam. Recently, Vietnam’s low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has also commenced direct flights from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. With these direct flights, Vietnam tours are becoming more popular than ever among Indians, saving time and cost without hassle in their travel experience. Furthermore, the country now appeals to Indian budgeted travelers than other traditional short-haul destinations in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia by low travel expense and direct flight. A Vietnam Tour can be even more affordable and cheaper than any tours in some of the domestic destinations.
According to travel search and booking engine Kayak.com, the top tip for finding cheap flights is booking at least 3 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. It is also reported that the most popular route is New Delhi – Ho Chi Minh City with an average flight time of 5 hours and VietJet Air flies this route the most. Soon, Vietjet Air is launching new direct flights from Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and from Delhi to Danang City in the Central of Vietnam, adding connections between the two countries. Due to covid-19, the new direct flights from Mumbai to Hanoi and Saigon, from Delhi to Danang by Vietjet Air expected to launch this April, will be delayed in the next few months.
CASH
The next thing you might wonder is how to pay for things in Vietnam and how much should you bring. The Currency of Vietnam is Vietnamese Đồng (VND). As of today, 1 INR equals 314 VND and 1 USD equals 23,000 VND.
The best way to pay for things in Vietnam nowadays is still cash. While credit cards are accepted in many places in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, you will still have trouble getting around without enough cash in hand, for example eating from street vendors or buying at local groceries. In rural or non-touristic areas, it is extremely difficult to pay for goods and services by card. Mobile payment apps are also becoming more popular, but as travelers, you might not be able to use them without a Vietnamese bank account.
Hence, it is better to prepare a decent amount of Vietnamese cash to bring with you during your Vietnam tour. The best way to get cash in Vietnam is to take USD or Euros with you to exchange at banks and money exchangers at the airport or in the city as needed. Most currency exchanges at banks do not charge a transaction fee to exchange, so you walk out with the daily exchange rate. If you run out of cash, you can always use ATMs to get more. Be aware that ATMs will charge a foreign transaction fee plus an ATM fee depending on who owns the actual ATM. The solution for this is traveling with a Debit card that reimburses transaction fees, and bringing a Credit card as well to pay for large expenses at hotel chains and airlines, tour agencies, private transfers or stores in shopping malls.
Traveling to Vietnam is fun and worry-free, so follow our blog for more useful guides and tips of Vietnam tours exclusively for Indian travel-enthusiasts!
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