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As a popular tourist destination, Vietnam is home to many busy airports. From the moment you arrive at the airport, you must be aware of the various procedures you must follow. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about airport procedures in Vietnam, including what documents you need to bring, what to expect at the airport, and other tips to make your experience stress-free. Let's get started!
1. Prepare all required documents
Please keep in mind that you must have a valid passport with at least six months left on it when you leave your country. A valid Vietnam visa is also needed if you plan to visit Vietnam. Regardless of where you plan to depart from, these documents will be required during the check-in process. A visa for Vietnam can take the form of a stamp in your passport or a Visa Approval Letter.
2. Present documents to the Vietnam Immigration Office
You will notice the Vietnam Immigration Office right away upon arrival at one of Vietnam's three main airports (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Danang), which is ordinarily situated close to or next to the Customs area called “Landing visa”counter.
If your passport has already been stamped with a visa, you can simply head to Customs to check it before picking up your luggage.
However, if you choose the Visa On Arrival option, you will also need to present your passport, the Vietnam entry and exit form, and the letter confirming your visa approval, and two passport-sized photos (be sure they comply with the photo requirements). You can head to the Customs area after receiving your visa stamp.
3. After entering Vietnam ports
You are allowed entry into Vietnam after clearing immigration and customs. Once you have your luggage, you can leave the airport and take a bus or a taxi to get downtown. Fortunately, luggage retrieval at Vietnamese airports is frequently quick and easy.
Again, simply show your passport at the immigration stations when you're ready to leave Vietnam before going through the security checkpoint. Keep in mind that overstaying your visa may subject you to fines, so be sure to keep track of it.
In conclusion, understanding airport procedures in Vietnam is essential for a smooth and efficient experience. Knowing what to expect before arriving at the airport and being prepared for the necessary documents and paperwork required can help travelers avoid any unnecessary delays.
You can refer to our Fast Track, Car Pick-up/Dropoff service for a comfortable and easy entry and exit process through Vietnam's airports.
If you want to know more about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us at
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Currently, those who want to apply for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption certificate can apply online at the Online Service Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam here
Please read the following instructions carefully before starting to file online:
1. Fill in the declaration form completely and in detail. Items marked with (*) cannot be left blank.
2. After filling in all the information, click the "Complete" button to have the system automatically generate an electronic declaration. Download the electronic declaration to your computer.
The system allows you to review the registered declaration. You should record the information "Registration number" and "Verification code" for future use by taking notes or entering your email address so that the system will automatically send information to your mailbox.
3. To read the electronic declaration (in .pdf file) you just downloaded, you need Acrobat Reader or equivalent software. Check the content and print the declaration on A4 paper.
4. Prepare documents: Sign the printed electronic declaration (01 copy) and prepare documents according to regulations
5. Go to the nearest Vietnamese representative agency abroad to submit your application (Vietnamese representative in your application)
Notes:
(1) Submit in person one completed application form enclosed with passport or International Travel Document at the Vietnamese Diplomatic Mission or at the Immigration Department
(2) Enclose 02 recently taken photos in 4x6cm size, with white background, front view, bare head without sunglasses (one photo on the form and the other separate)
(3) Enclose one certified copy of one of the following documents: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, expired Vietnamese Passport, ID Card, Family Registration Booklet or other documents as stipulated by the Vietnamese Law
Source: Online Service Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hanoi will simultaneously surprise, charm and chew you up. Founded along the Red River, Hanoi was named Thang Long (soaring dragon) by Emperor Ly Thai To in 1010. Over a thousand years of war, natural disasters and new administrations, the city grew from swamplands into the charismatic capital it is today. Take in details of the ancient architecture, battle the barrage of millennials on motorbikes and drink fresh bia hơi in the Old Quarter. Here are 11 must-see stops in Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Soldiers stand guard the entrance of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.
This commanding construction was built from 1973 to 1975 to house the embalmed body of Vietnam’s greatest political leader, Hồ Chí Minh. Visitors and Vietnamese queue for hours every morning to pay their respects to the cadaver, dressed in a khaki wardrobe and encased in a glass sarcophagus.
Admission: 35,000 VND
Hours: 8am - 11am, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun (December to September) last entry at 10:15am
Address: So 1, Hung Vuong, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh
One Pillar Pagoda
The unique one pillar pagoda in the middle of a lotus pond.
This Buddhist wooden pagoda was built in the middle of a lotus pond on a single stone pillar by the Emperor Ly Thai To in 1049. Archives suggest it was built in honor of the Goddess of Mercy, who answered the Emperor's prayers for a male heir. The structure is designed to resemble a lotus flower blossoming from muddy waters, a symbol of purity in Buddhist philosophy.
Admission: 25,000 VND
Hours: 8am - 11:30am everyday, and 2pm - 4pm, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun
Address: Chua Mot Cot, Doi Can, Ba Dinh
The Old Quarter
At the top of Hoan Kiem Lake, Dinh Tien Hoang 'roundabout' is a great starting point for exploring the alleys of the Old Quarter.
Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter is a single square kilometre comprised of 36 streets. Since the 15th century, each street has been home to artisans and craftsmen who traded in the specific merchandise for which their street was named. Today, the charm of these streets still remains. Prepare to marvel as you wander from silver street to bamboo street, silk street to decoration street, all within a stone's throw of each other.
TIP: At night, head down to bia hơi corner (the intersection between Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen) to sample sensational street food and bargain brews.
Admission: Free
Hours: 7am to midnight
Address: North of Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi Opera House
The Opera House is at the edge of Hanoi's French Quarter, where a few colonial buildings have been well preserved.
Constructed at the turn of the 20th century, this beautiful colonial building is the largest theater in Vietnam. After nearly 100 years of operation, the Opera House was carefully refurbished in 1997 and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Today the venue attracts renowned performers, productions and musicians.
TIP: Culture lovers should book tickets to see 'My Village' at the Opera House. This impressive showcase combines acrobatics, traditional dance and music.
Admission: 300,000 VND
Hours: Check the website for performances
Address: So 01, Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem
Vietnamese Women's Museum
This museum boasts a floor on textiles of ethnic groups, women's crucial role in wartimes and even their practices as mediums of the 'Mother Goddess' worship.
The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is one of the most modern museums in Vietnam. Housing a series of excellent exhibitions presenting artefacts, costumes, crafts, memoirs,and photographs from the past 100 years, the museum reveals the pivotal role of Vietnamese women in their country's history and society.
Admission: 30,000 VND
Hours: 8am - 5pm, Tue-Sun
Address: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hang Bai Ward, Hoan Kiem
The Water Puppet Theatre
Live music is always performed alongside the puppeteering with traditional instruments and delicate vocals.
Dating back to the 11th century, water puppet performances are ideal for light entertainment and insight into Vietnamese folklore. Wading around in waist-deep water holding bamboo poles, puppeteers operate the lacquered wooden characters from behind a screen, reenacting scenes from rural village life.
Admission: 100,000 VND
Hours: 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm, 8pm, 9:15pm every day, and an additional performance on Sundays at 9:30pm
Address: 57b Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem
Hoan Kiem Lake
Turtle Tower rests at the centre of 'the Lake of the Restored Sword.
Legend says Emperor Ly Thai To was gifted a magical sword by a giant golden turtle who lived in the lake in order to defeat the Ming dynasty. Once victorious, Ly Thai To gave the sword back to the turtle who dove down to return the sword to the gods. Hoan Kiem Lake is admired for its beauty as well as insight into the daily life of Hanoians. Watch locals practicing their daily exercise and Tai Chi routines in the gardens by the water's edge.
Admission: Free to the general public
Hours: Open all day
Ngoc Son Temple
The Ngoc Son Temple, or The Temple of the Jade Mountain, is situated on a small tree-sheltered island on the north side of Hoan Kiem Lake. Connected by a stunning scarlet bridge, this classic Vietnamese structure was built in honour of the intellectual scholar Saint Van Xuong, and national hero General Tran Hung Dao. In 1884, the Confucian scholar made a series of renovations to the site, including adding parallel sentences (câu đối) or word puzzles to the walls.
Admission: 20,000 VND
Hours: 7:30am - 5:30pm, every day
Address: Hoan Kiem Lake
Temple of Literature
The main gate of the nation's oldest university, be sure to visit during lunch time to avoid crowds.
Built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong during the Ly dynasty, the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu in Vietnamese) was erected in honour of the philosopher Confucius and his disciples in 1070. In 1076, it became home to Hanoi’s first university, Quốc Tử Giám. The site is one of the oldest in Hanoi and a national symbol of Vietnamese education and architecture. Today, the temple houses five court yards, records of Vietnamese scholars, and statues of turtles which are said to bring students good luck in their exams.
Admission: 30,000 VND
Hours: 8am - 5pm, from November until March; 7:30am - 6pm for the rest of the year, Tue-Sun
Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Dong Da
Museum of Ethnology
The gardens feature traditional structures, including the communal houses of the Bahnar or Giarai ethnic groups which can reach up to 30 metres high.
This amazing museum examines the everyday life of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities. Designed by ethnic Tay architect Ha Duc Linh and French architect Veronique Dolfus, the museum hosts three main exhibition areas. Exhibitions display cultural costumes, handicrafts, videos and artefacts; while the outdoor space showcases impressive life-size replicas of ethnic architecture.
Admission: 40,000 VND
Hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm, Tue-Sun
Address: Nguyen Van Huyen, Nghia Do, Cau Giay
Saint Joseph's Cathedral
The cafes by the Cathedral are a perfect spot to watch the bustle of Hanoi.
Saint Joseph’s Cathedral (also known as Hanoi Cathedral), was built on the site of the Bao Thien Tower, which was the most famous landmark in the capital during the Ly Dynasty. The architect was inspired by the Neo-Gothic style of the Notre Dame de Paris. When visiting, expect to see a multicultural crowd of worshippers and plenty of Vietnamese newlyweds having romantic photo shoots.
Admission: Free
Hours: 8am - noon, 2pm - 6pm, every day
Address: 40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem
Source: Vietnam Tourism
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