Travel Destinations

When you go abroad anywhere there are always going to be dangers that you are not necessarily privy to and will not understand. As such you need to make sure that you stay as safe as possible by asking around and conducting a little research on the possible dangers where you are going. When you travel to Ho Chi Ming city there are going to be a few danger that could catch you out. Here are three main ones.

The first thing that you have to be careful of are the motorbike cowboys. There are two things to be careful of here. First of all make sure that you are safe down on the waterfront where you will often, especially on sunday night, get lots of young people cruising around in big groups on their bikes.

You should also remember that motorbike taxis are also something that can be very dangerous. You may see some people with large grazes on their bodies and these are those who got away lightly. When you travel on the back of a motorbike taxi make sure that they give you a helmet or do not get on at all.

You also have to remain vigilant in your hotel. This will, of course, depend on what sort of accommodation you are staying in but even in the highest end hotels you will still see thefts taking place. If you are going out for the day, put all valuables that you are not having on you in the hotel safe that should be provided by the staff.

Last of all, always be careful in traffic. As with many of the cities in South East Asia there is a real hustle and bustle going on, particularly in the centre of town, and the traffic is very poorly managed. The trick when crossing the road is to try to follow the locals and step out slowly and navigate across the street. The traffic will simply start going round you!

These are three of the top tips to stay safe in Ho Chi Ming.

Jose Mauricio is a specialist reservation consultant for Vietnam Holidays and Cuba Holidays

The thing about holidays to Vietnam from Europe is; the airlines know just how much people from across Europe and America wish to travel to Vietnam, what with its beautiful architecture and refreshing atmosphere. Most people therefore, in their search for some affordable payment plans for their flight from Europe to Vietnam, are offered high rates.

It is not actually that hard for people to travel from Vietnam, but it is very hard to get affordable plans to get to the country. However, if you are determined enough, there is a way for you to get an affordable option to get to the country; booking your seats months in advance.

Having cleared the reasons why it is getting increasingly hard to get some of the most affordable flight plans to Vietnam, you should now understand that there is only one way and one way only to get an affordable flight plan to the country. And that is by being an early bird.

There are no cheap seats left for them to travel from, and then they have to travel from the more expensive ones. So if you too are looking for an affordable seat, it would be recommended you get one booked at the first opportunity. You are bound to get cheaper seats for your summer vacations in the winter and vice versa.

If you think that you will get these cheaper seats by the time of April or May, you will be in for a surprise, for this time is not one when air planes fly from Europe to Vietnam only half full.

These days, with Vietnam slowly returning to its full glory, with Vietnam with the lowest of the unemployment rates in all the third world countries, people are truly flocking to Vietnam in their quests of touring beautiful countries.

Jose Mauricio is a specialist in Vietnam Holidays and other destinations such as Cuba holidays, Dubai, Cambodia and Laos.

Are you considering Vietnam holidays as your next getaway adventure? I am going to assume the answer is yes and also let you know few important details regarding your visa application. Chances are you will require one yourself.

There are certain countries that are exempt of Visa application only if their residents stay for a limited time (15 to 30 days). Such countries are Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. If you are not from any of these countries you will require a VISA.

Obtaining the VISA can take up to 5 working days depending on the way you proceed with your application. For an entry VISA to Vietnam you can apply in person or by post to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Vietnam or online through a third party.

If you apply in person or by post you it will be compulsory to bring or send the original passport(s), a completed application form which you can download from the Vietnamese Embassy’s website in your country, one passport photograph and a VISA fee (usually from 50 USD to 80 USD).

For Application by post: payment should be in guaranteed cheque, postal order or bankers draft only. Your full name, passport number, contact address and telephone number must be provided at the back of the payment. Please DO NOT SEND CASH by post, the Embassy does not accept responsibility for any loss as a result of you sending cash.

There are two kinds of VISA application forms in terms of processing time: The Normal Processing and the Express processing. The Normal processing can take around one week whereas the Express processing takes only 2 working days. The Express processing is more expensive though.

Also note that there are some websites out there offering the service of VISA applications online for VISAS to be issued on arrival to any of the international airports in Vietnam. However please note that all you will be paying for is the right to get a stamp at a Vietnam airport. You will be required to pay locally for the stamp in Vietnam.

Things are changing, and Vietnam is becoming a chosen vacation spot for many travelers. Here are some things you can see and do on your adventure holidays to Vietnam. More info on vietnam holidays now a click away.

If you are looking for a vacation spot that is something out of the ordinary, Vietnam is the place to choose. Other than the memories of the war, most people know very little about this country. Little by little the country is opening up to tourism, and they are offering some intriguing adventure Vietnam holidays.

A popular sport in this country is kite surfing and the favored spot to do it is a town known as Mui Ne. The winds are just right, there isn’t much rainfall, there is a fabulous beach, wonderful places to stay and a wide variety of things to do at night. If you don’t know how to kite surf, they offer classes to anyone willing to learn.

A fast, fun packed adventure holiday is the cultural tour. There is so much to see and do that you will need to fly between the special points of interest. You will enjoy a trip down the Saigon River on a speedboat and a sunset cruise in Hoi An. The highlight will be a visit to Cu Chi to see the amazing tunnel system the communist guerrillas used during the Vietnam War.

Take an 18 day adventure tour that will allow you to see Vietnam as it really is. Bicycle through the city of Hanoi, cruise and paddle in the Halong Bay and spend the night aboard the boat. Hike in the Bach Ma National Park and enjoy overnight camping. Another boat ride down the Mekong River will take you to the Mekong Delta where you can bicycle through its fruit laden valleys.

The best tour of all for those who enjoy the best of a country is the Luxury Tour. You will have the opportunity to tour Saigon and the country area to the north of the city, before flying south. Once in the southern part of Vietnam, you will be staying on the peninsula or an off coast island in a luxury resort for a week.

The possibilities of adventure holidays to Vietnam are limitless. Many of the tour companies allow you to put together your own adventure holiday so you can visit the places you want to see. Whichever tour you decide to take, you will thoroughly enjoy your time in Vietnam.

Jose Mauricio is a specialist in Vietnam Holidays and other destinations such as Cuba holidays, Dubai, Cambodia and Laos.

Explore Hanoi

Hanoi is one of the best tourist attractions for Vietnam holidays. It is a busy city, bustling with activity, but if you stay for a week or two you will soon learn to appreciate it. Nearby Ha Long Bay and Sapa, and the Old District in Hanoi are some great places to check out. The famous Perfume Pagoda is also a must see.

Explore Northeast Vietnam

Get out and explore the wilderness! Find places that only a tiny percentage of tourists have ever seen. Jump into one of the four-wheeled vehicles provided for the purpose and discover regions such as Ha Giang and Cao Bang. The longer you go for, the more you’ll discover!

Who’s Hue?

One of the ancient capitals of Vietnam is the city of Hue. Take the time to explore the temples in this area, some of them will simply take your breath away.

Hoi An

This city is very beautiful. You are sure to love wandering its pretty streets, or visiting the beach. It is also a great place to buy tailor-made clothes.

Dive into Nha Trang

If you are into scuba diving you will love Nha Trang. There are plenty of lovely beaches to investigate, and heaps of opportunities to get under the water and have a look at the marine life there. If diving isn’t really your thing you’ll probably only need a couple of days there.

Welcome to Saigon!

Some will know Saigon as Ho Chi Minh city. This is Vietnam’s central business district. It is even louder and busier than Hanoi! But it has heaps to see and do, so stick around for a while.

Drift down the Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta will prove to be a unique experience as you drift along. Take a look at the floating markets as you go.

Phu Quoc Island – Leave the best for last

This island is located just south of Cambodia and is like a little piece of paradise. Though it is growing commercially, it is still unspoiled and can offer clear waters and beautiful, long beaches.

If you are planning vietnam holidays then one thing that might puzzle you is where to find the best package holidays and tourist attractions in Vietnam.

Around 100,000 British tourists enjoy Vietnam holidays from UK locations every year, according to the Vietnamese Tourist Authority. Restrictions for visitors are strict there and every visitor needs to be aware of the basic rules. It is very important to have visa and customs documents in precise order.

To visit, you must obtain a visa prior to entry into Vietnam unless you have a prior arrangement made by a valid tour operator or if you have been officially listed as being a sponsored visitor. Entry will likely be denied if your passport is valid for a period of less than thirty days past the date your Vietnamese visa expiration. You are advised check all visa conditions very carefully.

Vietnamese visas are usually valid for only one entry. Persons who plan to leave the country and re-enter from another country should be sure to obtain a visa that allows multiple entries. There can be some harsh fines or the chance of imprisonment if you were to overstay your visa.

If you have your passport lost or stolen, you will need to apply for both a replacement passport and a replacement Vietnamese visa from the authorities at the immigration department in order to be allowed to leave the country. This can only be taken care of during the normal government working hours and it usually will not happen for three to five days after the application. The Embassy nor the Consulate General can expedite the replacement of Vietnamese visas.

You need to have the form for customs you receive on entry to Vietnam, because this is required for you to leave the country. If you should lose your form, you could possibly be fined on leaving and also face having your personal belongings indefinitely confiscated. Be aware that this is another issue that the embassy is usually not able to arbitrate for you.

Most visits will be trouble-free but still, it is advised that all visitors register with the British consulate. For the most part, British nationals most commonly require consular help in Vietnam with regard to cases of lost or stolen passports. Registration can provide better assistance for you in an emergency. You should remember that obtaining any adequate assistance is difficult outside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City because of Vietnam’s lack of a well developed infrastructure.

Vietnam travel from the UK can usually go without any problems, providing that the visitor will take care to have the proper paperwork in place.

Jose Mauricio Maurette is the director of Quest World Travel Ltd and specialist in tailor made holidays to Vietnam