How much does a holiday in Vietnam cost? Travel to Vietnam - currency and interesting facts Holidays in Vietnam, prices for a package tourist

24-hour tourist support service in Vietnam from Bambu Club:

1) Dao (Mr. Dao - Russian speaking): +84 989384512

2) Phong (Mr. Phong - English speaking): +84 983197445 or +84 903197445

Before trip

Before leaving for the airport, check that you have the following documents:

• international passport;
• air tickets;
• insurance policy;
• tourist package (voucher);
• a certificate from the bank for the export of currency (if the equivalent of more than 10,000 US dollars per person is exported);
• driver's license (if you plan to rent a car);
• credit card;
• power of attorney from both parents (for children traveling with one of the parents);

You must arrive at the airport 2.5 - 4 hours before departure. Check in for your flight at the check-in counter and receive your boarding pass. The check-in number is located on the central display opposite your flight number. Go through border control. and wait for the boarding announcement.

ATTENTION! Registration ends 40 minutes before departure!

Customs regulations

The import of foreign convertible currency is not limited, but it is necessary to declare an amount over 7,000 USD, since the export of currency from the country is allowed only within the amount declared upon entry.

The following items are transported duty free: up to 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 500 grams. tobacco; up to 1.5 liters of strong alcoholic drinks or up to 2 liters. alcoholic drinks with strength up to 22º; two hundred-gram jars of black or red caviar; up to 5 kg of tea, up to 3 kg of coffee, as well as other goods with a total value of no more than VND 5,000,000.

The import of drugs and drug-containing medications without a medical prescription for their use (punishment - up to the death penalty), explosives, firearms, materials that insult local culture (printed materials, CDs, audio and video recordings), as well as pornography.

Currency

The national currency is the Vietnamese dong (Dong, VND). You can exchange currency in banks, hotels, exchange offices - the rate is approximately the same everywhere. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000 and 100000, 500000 VND. 1 $=17000-18000 VND

Climate

The country's territory stretches from north to south, due to which the climate differs significantly in different areas. About a third of the country is located above 500 m above sea level, so the climate there is subtropical, and in areas above 2000 m it is temperate.

In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The wet season traditionally lasts from May to November. During this period, there may be a short, refreshing rain in the morning, and the rest of the time it is sunny. The dry season usually starts in December and ends in April. The “velvet” months in the south of Vietnam are January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From the end of February to May there are hot days without rain.

Climate of central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August - clear, rain is rare, temperature +30..+35ºС. In mid-December - rains, in October - November in the area of ​​​​Danang and Hue, temperature +20...+28º C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Ha Long), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly defined than in the south. Temperatures in winter can drop to +12..+14 C, and from May, in the summer season, reach + 38 C.

Kitchen

Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its sophistication. Mint leaves, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, black pepper, garlic, basil and nuoc mam fish sauce give Vietnamese dishes a unique taste and aroma. Delicate and savory spices, minimal use of fats, an emphasis on fresh ingredients, a variety of dishes and an abundance of vegetables, seafood and rice make Vietnamese cuisine not only tasty, but also healthy. It is popular among both the most sophisticated gourmets and adherents of healthy eating. Local fruits are numerous and varied: the fruits of the Trai Than Long dragon tree, Tay Kua watermelons, longan, mangosteen, pomelo, water apple, mango and other exotics that do not even have names in Russian. Green tea is traditionally popular, and Vietnamese coffee is considered one of the best in the world.

Safety

Vietnam is one of the safest countries in Asia (and Hanoi is one of the safest cities in the world). You can travel alone throughout the country without any problems.

• We recommend leaving your passport, airline tickets, money and jewelry in the safe in your hotel room. In hotels where there is no safe in the rooms, you can leave your passport, air tickets and documents at the reception desk.
• You should not carry large amounts of money with you unless absolutely necessary. Keep a close eye on personal belongings in crowded places.
• In hotels and on city beaches, rules of behavior in the water are indicated. The hotel is not responsible for all risks when swimming in the sea without following the rules.
• For your safety, a rescue team is on duty on the beach around the clock. Pay attention to the color of the flags located on the beach: BLUE - swimming is allowed, YELLOW - swimming is prohibited, RED - extremely dangerous.
• We ask you to refrain from swimming in the dark and while intoxicated.
• It is not recommended to drink tap water. You can order drinks with ice only in large cities, in hotels. In rural areas, ice may be made from river water.

Medicine

No special vaccinations are required when traveling to Vietnam.

Before your trip, prepare and take with you a first aid kit, which will help you with minor ailments, save your time searching for medicines and eliminate the problems of communicating in a foreign language; in addition, many medicines may have different names in different countries. If you have an insurance policy, medical care is provided free of charge or with subsequent reimbursement of expenses according to the insurance policy.

Transport

• Urban transport is well developed in large cities: taxis, various motorcycle and pedicabs. Taxis in Vietnam are metered and fares are determined based on mileage. Each kilometer costs 6,000-12,000 VND, and approximately 20,000 VND is paid for landing. Taxis can be called at the hotel reception, in shops and restaurants, and can also be “caught” on the street.
• When leaving the hotel in the city, do not forget to take with you a business card with the address and telephone number of your hotel - if necessary, you can show it to the taxi driver so that he will take you to the specified address.
• Everywhere in the country you can rent a motorcycle (60,000-80,000 VND per day) or a bicycle (6,000-8,000 VND per day). A deposit will be required upon registration of the rental agreement. However, driving a motorcycle or moped on your own is strongly discouraged due to local traffic conditions.
• Car rental in Vietnam is only possible with a local driver - this pleasure costs approximately 400,000 VND per day. Also in port cities there are companies offering rental of boats with drivers.
• Traffic in Vietnam is chaotic. You should cross the road slowly and carefully.

Communications and Internet

The Internet is available in almost every hotel, and hotel guests can use it.

Payphones with international communication capabilities are installed in cities. Roaming from Russian mobile operators is available in almost all cities.

The most economical option is to purchase a SIM card and use the services of local mobile operators (Beefone, Mobifone).

• For calls to Russia from a landline: 00 + 7 + area code + subscriber number
• For calls to Russia from a mobile phone: + 7 + area code + subscriber number

Useful phone numbers:

• Police: 113
• Ambulance: 115

Electricity

Mains voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz. Plugs generally have flat connectors. Hotel rooms are equipped with sockets of any configuration, but if the plug still does not fit, the hotel staff will provide the necessary adapter.

Shopping

Many global brands are moving their production of clothing, shoes and accessories to Asian countries, and now Vietnam has become one of them. Things of the best quality and at affordable prices can be bought here both in company stores and in mini-boutiques, and some even in markets. Vietnam is famous for its jewelry made from natural pearls, as well as precious and semi-precious stones. In the cities, in the central markets you can buy a wide variety of handmade souvenirs.

From Vietnam it is worth bringing things made of lacquer, bamboo, mother-of-pearl, mahogany and ebony - including very beautiful cutlery or boxes. Another category of successful purchases is clothing and accessories made of silk, linen and cotton. Good souvenirs will be paintings hand-embroidered with colored silk on fabric canvas or painted with a brush on fabric or rice paper: many of them are executed with great skill, and they are sold very cheaply. A little hint: “named” artists usually put a personal stamp on their creations, resembling a small red hieroglyph. In Saigon you can find very high quality and beautiful gold jewelry - at very reasonable prices.

Tips

The country's currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND), in active circulation there are bills from 500 to 500,000 dong, while theoretically there are also bills of 100 and 200 dong, as well as coins from 100 to 5,000 dong. It is no longer possible to get the smallest bills or coins, especially in large cities. Banknotes starting from 10,000 dong are made not of paper, but of thin plastic - so that they are wear-resistant in conditions of high humidity. At first after your arrival, be very careful about money and pay slowly until you get the hang of it. The fact is that a 20,000 dong bill is similar in color to a 500,000 dong bill, and 10,000 dong in a dim taxi can easily be confused with 200,000 dong. The Vietnamese take money very seriously, so don’t be afraid to look awkward, no one will rush you. Understanding local money is very easy, you just need to get used to it a little.

What currency to take

As elsewhere in Asia, cash dollars are preferred in Vietnam, and The exchange rate for 50 and 100 dollar bills will be slightly higher than the rest. Be sure to take small dollars if you have them - they can be useful at first (taxi, water, fruit) until you acquire local currency. You won’t be able to change euro cash everywhere., but in banks, for example, you can do this without any problems, so if you have European currency left over from a previous trip, feel free to take it with you.

Where to change

In tourist areas, dollars can be exchanged not only in banks, but also in jewelry stores and travel agencies, and the rate there can often be higher than the bank rate. This is explained by the restriction on the purchase of foreign currency by the local population. So “tourist” dollars are always held in high esteem by the Vietnamese. They often ask - is it possible to pay in dollars, as some are used to doing in other countries. Theoretically, it is possible, but there are two points. The first is that when calculating (for the sake of convenience, not deception), the price in dollars may be calculated for you at a reduced rate of 22,000 dong per dollar (while it is higher than 22,000). Secondly, in a number of cases (buses, street vendors, local food stores, supermarket checkouts) they simply will not accept dollars from you. So change it.

Dong to dollar and ruble exchange rate

There is no point in writing the exact dong exchange rate here., as it fluctuates constantly (June 2017 - about 22,600 VND per dollar). Over the past six years, the dong has fallen slightly in price (it was 20,800 VND per dollar). In case of sudden changes, we will immediately publish a new dong rate. As for rubles, now, unfortunately, the dollar in Russia is growing, and now, to find out how much certain goods or services cost in rubles, you need to multiply by 2.7. For example, if you gave the taxi driver 50,000 dong, then the trip cost you 135 rubles, and if you had dinner for 200,000 dong, then you paid 540 rubles for the meal. You will get an almost exact price in rubles. How to multiply any amount in your head by 2.7? It’s very simple - first multiply by 3 exactly, and then subtract a tenth and you’ll get exactly the exact amount.

Plastic cards

Vietnam is one of the countries with very a large number of frauds with plastic cards. In August 2013, a number of Russian banks, without notifying their clients, closed the Pacific and South American regions for card transactions. Vietnam, as you understand, is part of the Pacific region. Some cardholders found out about this at the most inconvenient moment - when trying to pay with a card on the spot. We advise you before your trip check whether transactions from Vietnam will be available on your card. If problems arise in Vietnam, you have the opportunity to call the phone number indicated on the card and, by telling the code word to the operator (if you remember it, of course), unblock your card.

In general, it is advisable to have a plastic card not from the point of view of daily practical use on vacation, but just in case (you didn’t have enough money or lost money, additional urgent expenses arose, or you didn’t have enough cash when purchasing, and you don’t want to waste time). Using the card every day is not very convenient because ATMs, as a rule, give out no more than 2-3 million dong (100-150 dollars) at a time, and you will most likely pay two commissions - both to a Vietnamese bank and to a Russian one (20 000-60,000 VND per transaction). In addition, many stores have an additional 3% surcharge if you pay by card. All this makes “plastic”, if not useless, then certainly not a popular means of payment in Vietnam.

Tips

Everything flows, everything changes. Once upon a time, Mui Ne and Nha Trang were predominantly visited by Vietnamese tourists. And tipping was almost prohibited at the state level, because Vietnam is a socialist country. The Vietnamese did not give tips and, accordingly, did not take them. Then foreign tourists (very greedy, thrifty ones, by the way) began to leave small tips. And then Russian tourists appeared in Vietnam, open-hearted people who could give a waitress 100 thousand dong (her daily salary) simply for smiling at them. All this means that now in tourist places - in restaurants and spas, Tips are more likely to be expected from Russian clients than not. But still, tips are optional. Considering the fairly average service that the client receives in most establishments, we recommend tipping only those staff who actually deserve it with their attitude and attention to you. The standard amount is from 10% of the invoice amount, as elsewhere.

Budget for a trip to Vietnam

Very often tourists ask how much money they need to have with them “to have enough.” The question, although very individual, is still not idle - taking into account the fact that in Vietnam cash dollars are held in high esteem, in Russia for this you will need to buy them, and not “how much”, but a certain amount. Buying both a little and a lot is more expensive for yourself. The most correct thing is to “assign” some amount to yourself in advance, which you don’t mind spending directly on vacation. Basic expenses at the resort- this includes food and alcohol, excursions and spa treatments, transport, and, of course, shopping. Let's roughly calculate the comfortable minimum. Daily purchase of fruit - 100,000 VND, two meals (lunch and dinner) 200,000 VND each (a couple of dishes and a drink), massage - from 200,000 VND, taxi from 50,000 VND per day. It’s clear, somewhere less, somewhere more, and for 12 full days of rest we get 9 million dong ($430). We add 100 dollars for excursions (with a price of 35-50 dollars and an average of 2-3 excursions per person, according to statistics, this is what happens), and at least another 100 dollars for souvenirs. We get about 630 dollars. It's interesting that we almost fit in golden rule of tourism have a minimum of $50 a day in expenses (12 days of $50 is $600). Approximately this amount should be counted as irrevocably spent. If necessary, you can keep it to $300 without giving up almost anything on the list, simply choosing cheap places and reducing your purchases a little. And if possible, it’s easy to spend $300 a day, even in such a generally inexpensive country as Vietnam. In the vein of this and another golden rule of tourism finally: take half as many things, and twice as much money!

Holidays in Vietnam are a relatively new tourist destination for Russians. Recently, Vietnam has been a popular beach holiday destination for our compatriots (partly due to the incomprehensible situation with Turkey and Egypt), so in this post we will talk about the material side of the holiday using the example of the Vietnamese resort of Nha Trang.

Nha Trang is the most developed tourist resort in Vietnam and most tourists come here for a beach holiday. Nha Trang has everything you need for a winter holiday on the seashore: warm sea, an abundance of hotels for every taste and budget, excellent shopping conditions and a good selection of excursions.

Most of the vacationers in Nha Trang are travelers on a standard tour, but there are also those who vacation in the country on their own, in this post we’ll talk about them too.

Vietnam holiday, where is the best place to go?

In Vietnam, besides the sea and beaches, there is a lot of interesting things to do, so that you can get your bearings a little, here is brief information about where it is better to go:

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi to Ha Long)- This is the best place for nature lovers to come. In the north of the country there are both beautiful mountain landscapes and the fantastic beauty of Ha Long Bay (listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage site). For a holiday in the north of Vietnam, it is better to get there from the northern capital - Hanoi.

To the center of Vietnam (from Nha Trang to Hue)- a trip to these places is suitable for lovers and researchers of the history and culture of Vietnam. In the center of Vietnam, you can immerse yourself in the history of the imperial capital of Hue, wander through the temple complexes and relax on the snow-white beaches of the resort town of Da Nang. Da Nang can serve as a “rest area” for long trips from the north of Vietnam to the south and vice versa.

Southern Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang)- it is better to go to this part of the country for those tourists who are in the mood for a beach holiday and active water sports (windsurfing and kitesurfing are especially developed in Mui Ne). The south of Vietnam is suitable for beach holidays almost all year round, with the exception of particularly rainy months. Read more about the weather in Vietnam below.

Holidays in Vietnam, when is the best time to go?

Due to its length from north to south, holidays in Vietnam can be year-round; the country has three distinct climatic zones. The Vietnamese winter coincides with the calendar winter in Russia, but it is much milder and warmer here than the winter in the Krasnodar Territory. In the center and south of Vietnam, the winter months differ only in the amount of precipitation.

By analogy with the previous paragraph “Vietnamese vacation, where is the best place to go,” we will consider three parts of Vietnam and try to understand when it is better to go on vacation.

In the north of Vietnam (from Hanoi to Halong resort) Part of spring (April and May) and all of autumn (September, October and November) are best for relaxation. At this time of year, the weather in the north is the most comfortable, there is no heat and you definitely won’t freeze, but it can be very cloudy. During the winter season, northern Vietnam can be chilly and uncomfortable. And all summer (from May to September) in the north is the rainy season.

Central Vietnam (from Nha Trang to Hue)- the best time to relax here is in the summer (June, July, August). In summer, this part of the country has a comfortable level of humidity, and the air and water temperatures are the most optimal for the European body.

Holidays in Vietnam, prices for package tourists

Most of the expenses for a vacation in Vietnam are made by a package tourist at home (purchase of a tour, purchase of insurance, etc.), but nevertheless, the resort also has a number of mandatory expenses that are not included in the price of the tour.

An approximate list of expenses in Vietnam for a package tourist:

• transport - you can walk, use public buses (buses work well in Nha Trang) or take a taxi;
• food - most package tourists include breakfast in the tour price, food prices in Nha Trang are quite affordable and there is a good selection of cafes and restaurants;
• excursions - in Nha Trang excursions are not expensive (unlike Thailand), but nevertheless they also cost money;
• souvenirs and shopping - all package tourists love souvenirs and actively buy them, nothing can be done about this spending;
• alcohol, cigarettes, entertainment, etc. - in Vietnam, the entertainment industry is not as developed as in Thailand, but there is money to spend on.

The cheapest tours to Vietnam can be found with a flight from Moscow - this rule has been working perfectly for many years and probably in the near future, no changes are expected. For tourists from the European part of Russia, tours to Vietnam with a flight from Moscow will cost much less than from their hometown.

What is important to know and consider when purchasing tours to Vietnam with departure from Moscow:

Early booking- the earlier you buy a tour, the lower the price can be. Different tour operators understand the concept of “Early booking” differently; for some it is a month, for others it is six months.

Here is an example of early booking (today October 05, 2016), a search for a tour to Vietnam on December 17, 2016 gave a price of 63,000 rubles for two for 11 nights, 3 stars in Nha Trang with breakfast from Anex Tour. It turns out that the price of a holiday in Vietnam is less than 32,000 rubles per person - this is almost equal to the price of an air ticket. I found this price, I also checked the current offers, but there were no 11 nights for this money.

Tour to Vietnam for two- if you find a travel companion, you will save significantly on the cost of your vacation. This rule applies when departing from any city, not just Moscow, so it’s best to buy a tour for two.

Last minute tours to Vietnam- thanks to the Internet, you can monitor the price of tours online, which makes it possible to buy tours at the most “delicious” prices. For Russians, vacation in Vietnam is visa-free (15 days according to the stamp in the passport at the border), so everyone can catch last-minute tours and don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter about reduced prices for tours (I provided links to tour search sites earlier).

Transport prices in Vietnam

If you are going on vacation to Vietnam on a tour (for a short period), then there is no need to fool yourself by renting a moped and other vehicles. But if you still decide to rent a bike, then the average price for renting a moped in Nha Trang is $5 per day (110,000 dong).

If you need more comfortable transport, then in Nha Trang there are so many taxis that even New York would envy this Asian city. The cost of a taxi in Nha Trang is as follows: landing - 50 cents, and then 50 cents per kilometer. Nha Trang is a small city, so for 5 - 10 dollars you can travel around it all.

Local taxi drivers are a little cheating, so pay close attention to the meter (if it runs too fast, change the car), watch your money (check what you give and what they give you in change).

There are also more exotic types of transportation in Vietnam: motorcycle taxis and pedicabs, about which

The minimum amount for transport in Nha Trang is 10 dollars per day (220,000 dong).

Prices for food in tourist restaurants and cafes for locals

There are no difficulties with food in Vietnam, so you can safely take a tour with breakfast. I give you a 100% guarantee that within walking distance from your city hotel there will be several good cafes, the prices of which are an order of magnitude lower than in the hotel restaurant. Many tourists get so used to the local cuisine that they eat breakfast outside the hotel.

For breakfast at a street cafe you can expect the following:

• the famous Vietnamese soup “Pho” - from 1 dollar per plate (22,000 dong), you heard right, the Vietnamese can eat soup at any time of the day or night (at this link you can see what my usual Vietnamese breakfast looks like);
• Vietnamese baguettes with filling (thanks to the French for the colonization of Vietnam) - from 50 cents (10,000 dong) depending on the place where you buy it and the filling;
• standard European-American breakfast (scrambled eggs with bacon, toast, tea) - from 3 dollars (70,000 dong);
• rice with vegetables and chicken - from 2.5 dollars (55,000 dong);
• rice with vegetables and meat - from 3 dollars (70,000 dong);
• delicious Vietnamese coffee - from 1 dollar per cup (22,000 dong).

Dinner at the restaurant

The average bill in a more or less decent restaurant starts from $20 per person (without alcohol and seafood), add to this alcohol and the outrageous prices for seafood (seafood in restaurants for tourists is really very expensive) and now you have a bill close to $100 ( depending on the restaurant).

The minimum amount for food in Nha Trang is from 20 dollars per person per day (450,000 dong).

Tipping in Vietnam

The history of tipping in Vietnam is quite complex and controversial. Communist Vietnam for a long time denied in every possible way the impending capitalist abundance and held on as best it could until the last, but with the advent of the tourist flow and business relations with developed countries, it finally stopped playing at communism and began to earn money.

When buying fruit in tourist places, you pay double the price in advance, so bargain for something, or look for less tourist streets. True, there are exceptions; for some fruits that are not popular with tourists (durian, rambutan, lychee, breadfruit, dragon fruit, etc.) you can get a fair price even in the most tourist trading places. About

The minimum amount for exotic Vietnamese fruits is $3 per day per person (70,000 dong).

Prices for excursions in Nha Trang

Excursions in Vietnam are another mandatory expense for every package tourist. You can read about the most popular excursions in Nha Trang and their prices at this link.

It should be noted that most excursions can be done on your own, and you can move around the city by public transport or taxi. You will also save significantly on excursions if you refuse a Russian-speaking guide (on most excursions there is simply nothing to talk about), and I can tell you the savings will be noticeable.

An excursion with a local guide can cost 10 dollars, and with a Russian-speaking one 40 or more; if you buy such an excursion from a Russian tour operator, then its cost miraculously rises to 50 dollars or more. Here the phrase from the film “We are Russians, we don’t deceive each other” comes to mind. Current prices

The minimum amount for excursions in Nha Trang is $30 per day per person (700,000 dong).

Prices for purchases and Vietnamese shopping

Shopping in Vietnam deserves a separate discussion; there is a separate post about shopping in Vietnam. When buying anything in Vietnam, be sure to bargain and carefully look at the quality of the product you are purchasing.

Tourists from Vietnam bring several types of local products:

• locally produced clothes and shoes - from 10 dollars for a quality item (220,000 dong);
• tea and coffee - from 20 dollars per kilogram of Arabica coffee (440,000 dong), about that;
• locally produced medicines and cosmetics - from 10 dollars (220,000 dong), depends on the drug;
• souvenirs - from 1 dollar (22,000 dong) for a useless trinket;
• Vietnamese silk - from 2 dollars (44,000 dong) to infinity; for high-quality silk, go to Dalat;
• Vietnamese pearls - from 50 dollars (1,100,000 dong) per string of pearls, beware of fakes.

The minimum amount for gifts and souvenirs is $100 (2,200,000 dong).

Prices for spa and entertainment in Nha Trang

There are many massage parlors in Nha Trang, they are of different quality (but they are far from the quality of Thai massage parlors) and of different prices (from $5 for a foot massage). But be prepared for the fact that at the end of the procedure they will demand a tip from you, they will. If there is a conflict over tips, then I do not recommend you return to this massage parlor.

There are special massage parlors for men, they provide a different type of service; women are not served in such parlors (right at the entrance they will say that all the masters are busy or they will come up with something else). Here it all starts with a regular massage, and then they will openly hint at the “Yum-Yam service”, the price is negotiable and depends on the client’s desire.

There are several decent nightclubs in Nha Trang (they are not open all night - this is not Thailand), entrance to some costs money, and everything inside is not cheap either.

The minimum amount for Vietnamese entertainment is $20 (450,000 dong) per day per person.

Minimum amount of money for a holiday in Vietnam on a tour package

Let’s summarize how much money to take with you for a holiday in Vietnam if you are traveling on a package tour. Further, the approximate amount for 11 days of rest, all figures are very approximate and are calculated for one tourist.

• transport - 110 dollars (2,450,000 dong) for all 11 days of vacation;
• excursions - $150 per person (3,300,000 dong), if you don’t go every day;
• food - $300 per person (6,700,000 VND) will allow you to have a delicious dinner and lunch all 11 days of your vacation;
• souvenirs - 100 dollars (2,200,000 dong) is enough for gifts and other tourist tinsel that tourists bring home;
• entertainment - you shouldn’t save on this, because you came to relax, you can spend 200 dollars per person (4,500,000 dong).

The total minimum amount of spending for a package tourist during a vacation (11 days of vacation excluding the cost of a trip, which we found earlier for 32,000 rubles per person) in Vietnam is approximately the following:

30,600,000 dong (approximately $1,370) per person (tour package 11,400,000 dong + transport 2,450,000 dong + excursions 3,300,000 dong + food 6,700,000 dong + souvenirs 2,200,000 dong + entertainment 4,500,000 dong).

Holidays in Vietnam, prices for an independent tourist

The list of expenses for an independent tourist vacationing in Vietnam is slightly different from the expenses of a package tourist, but there are also common budget items. Let's consider the budget of an independent tourist in Vietnam for 15 days of visa-free stay in this country (for a longer period you will need to apply for a Vietnamese visa).

An independent tourist will have more expenses, but will also have more freedom of action. Unlike a package traveler, an independent traveler can save significantly on accommodation, transport, excursions, food, but lose significantly on the cost of air tickets.

An approximate list of expenses in Vietnam for an independent tourist:

• An air ticket is one of the major expenses when traveling to Vietnam on your own;
• insurance - it is advisable to have good health insurance with a large amount of coverage;
• housing - in Vietnam you can live on a very budget and at the same time in comfortable conditions;
• transport - if you use public transport, the costs are not high;
• food - in Vietnam you can eat cheap and tasty;
• household services - laundries, hairdressers and other household services in Vietnam cost pennies;
• emergency reserve - I recommend always having funds for unexpected expenses.

Prices of flights to Vietnam

Air tickets are one of the main expenses when traveling on your own in Vietnam. However, with a competent approach to searching and purchasing tickets, an independent traveler can save significantly on this item of mandatory expenses. I shared my secrets of finding cheap air tickets in this article and in this one.

When flying from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Ho Chi Minh City, there is practically no difference in ticket prices; sometimes flights from St. Petersburg are a little cheaper. You can find cheap tickets on this website, or using convenient smartphone applications (download for iPhone/iPad, for Android).

There are several tricks that will help you buy an air ticket to Vietnam even cheaper:

• early booking - by buying a ticket in advance, you can save a lot. Example: today (October 6, 2016) you can buy a ticket to Moscow Ho Chi Minh City for 14,000 rubles (from St. Petersburg to Ho Chi Minh City, the price is the same);
• subscription to reduce the price of tickets - aviasales has a free subscription to reduce the price, subscribe and receive price updates;
• promotions and sales - keep track of promotions and sales, current promotions and a complete archive of ticket prices;
• last minute tour for the price of an air ticket - if you’re lucky, you can buy a package tour no more expensive than air tickets, or.

The minimum price for an air ticket from St. Petersburg (Moscow) to Ho Chi Minh City today (October 6, 2016): 14,000 rubles one way.

Health insurance and medicine in Vietnam

Medicine in Vietnam for all foreigners is paid, if your illness is not severe (cold, sunburn, etc.), everyone can pay for such treatment. An appointment with a general practitioner costs from $3, and simple medications cost pennies and are very effective. In all other cases.

Some types of medical services in Nha Trang are much cheaper than in Russia. For example, the cost of a high-quality dental filling starts from $20, hygienic cleaning of all teeth costs $30, etc. I will say more, many expats speak highly of Vietnamese dentists, the quality of their treatment, and recommend that they not be afraid to have their teeth treated in Vietnam (I have a different opinion).

When traveling around Vietnam on your own, you will most likely rent a moped; in this case, I recommend purchasing insurance that covers “Active Sports” risks and has good material coverage.

Insurance is inexpensive, but it saves you from many problems when they occur. In addition, since December 28, 2015, all Russian citizens traveling abroad bear full responsibility for their life and health abroad. I wrote about this in an article about health insurance for travelers and in a post about differences in insurance.

The minimum cost of medical insurance in Vietnam for 15 days of vacation: from 1,000 rubles (357,000 dong) per month per person from VTB Insurance, but this is the simplest insurance (without driving a moped and other things important for the traveler). About that

Accommodation in Nha Trang for independent holidays

Finding housing in Vietnam does not cause any problems. The choice of places where you can comfortably stay during your holiday is huge, the prices are affordable, and the conditions are acceptable. In Nha Trang you can choose among hundreds of hotels, guesthouses and private apartments,

Nha Trang hotels. You can choose either a simple hotel for $20 per night with daily cleaning and breakfast, or a premium hotel with its own beach, VIP service and transfer on a high-speed yacht.

Guesthouses in Nha Trang. Nha Trang has such an abundance of cheap housing in the form of guesthouses and outright flophouses that even some Indian cities can envy it. To drive a moped in Vietnam, an international driver's license (IDA) category “A” is required.

Sometimes on the Internet you can see stories from travelers who claim that you can ride mopeds in Vietnam without a driver’s license, without a helmet and without any problems. Theoretically, it is possible (no one really checks), but if an accident occurs, then the lack of a driver’s license will aggravate the situation. In addition to having a driver’s license, there are several other features that I described in the article “Features of renting a moped in Vietnam.”

Minimum budget for transport in Nha Trang: $5 per day to rent a moped (110,000 dong).

Prices for food in Nha Trang when traveling on your own

Independent tourists have enormous freedom to choose places for lunch and dinner, unlike vacationers on a tourist package.

• you can eat at home (if you rented an apartment with a kitchen) - it’s very budget-friendly, but a lot of time is spent on preparing food; an article about Nha Trang city buses, where I tell in detail how you can travel around the whole of Nha Trang for half a dollar.

  In most cases, spending on excursions when visiting Vietnamese attractions on your own consists of purchasing entrance tickets (and in some cases, spending only on transport, since admission is free). Some attractions are absolutely free or the entrance fee is purely symbolic (visiting the ChoDam market, the oceanography museum, etc.), but there are also more expensive ones (Vinpearl amusement park, Thap Ba mineral springs, etc.), so the amount spent Let's average.

  Minimum amount for excursions and entertainment in Nha Trang: $10 per day (220,000 dong).

  Household services in Nha Trang during independent holidays

  Most of the usual household services (laundry, hairdresser, food delivery from a restaurant, babysitting services, etc.) in Vietnam are quite cheap; any vacationer can use a laundry or hairdresser without harming their budget. For example, the cost of washing one kilogram of linen is no more than $1, but if your hotel has a similar service, then the prices may be slightly higher (depending on the star rating of the hotel).

  Minimum amount for household services in Nha Trang: $15 for the entire vacation (330,000 dong).

  An emergency reserve for a holiday in Vietnam

  I speak very often about the need for an “emergency reserve” and the ability to have guaranteed access to it at any time.

  Sometimes Vietnam can present unpleasant surprises to a traveler, in the form of theft of things, theft of money or blocking of your bank card, so it is advisable to protect yourself from such situations.

  Vietnam is not a very expensive country, so with $1,000 in your “Emergency Reserve”, you can survive all the hardships and find a way out of the current situation. You just need to wisely distribute this amount among different “secret places” (an additional debit or credit card, electronic money, an agreement with relatives about the possibility of a money transfer, cash that is stored separately from the main amount, etc.).

  Minimum NZ amount for Vietnam: approximately $1,000 per person (22,000,000 dong).

  Minimum amount of money for a holiday in Vietnam when traveling independently

  Let’s summarize how much money to take for a holiday in Vietnam if you are traveling on your own. All figures shown here are approximate and are based on one traveler. I will give all the calculations for half a month (so that you can compare them with the expenses of a package tourist).

  • air ticket - a one-way air ticket can be bought for 14,000 rubles, i.e. our expenses are 14,000 rubles *2 (return ticket) = 28,000 rubles (10,000,000 dong);
  • transport - 75 dollars (1,700,000 dong) to rent a moped for all 15 days of vacation;
  • insurance - minimum insurance for a month from VTB Insurance costs about 1,000 rubles (357,000 dong) for half a month;
  • housing - renting a spacious room in Nha Trang will cost about $150 for half a month (3,350,000 dong);
  • excursions - for Nha Trang, the amount of spending on excursions is minimal. As a rule, independent travelers organize excursions for themselves, but they also require money, so let it be 70 dollars per person for the entire vacation (1,600,000 dong);
  • food - 150 dollars per person (3,300,000 dong) you will be allowed to have a delicious dinner and lunch all 14 days of your vacation, if you rented an apartment with a kitchen, then you can spend much less on food;
  • souvenirs - 50 dollars (1,100,000 dong) is enough for gifts and other tourist tinsel that tourists bring home. As a rule, independent travelers do not buy them;
  • entertainment - allocate 100 dollars (2,200,000 dong) for trips to tourist restaurants and spa salons;
  • household services - 15 dollars (330,000 dong) should be enough for the entire vacation;
  • emergency reserve - $1,000 per person (22,000,000 dong).

  The total amount spent by an independent traveler (for 14 days) in Nha Trang is approximately the following:

  46,000,000 dong (about $2,000) per person (air ticket 10,000,000 dong + transport 1,700,000 dong + insurance 357,000 dong + accommodation 3,350,000 dong + excursions 1,600,000 dong + food 3,300,000 dong + souvenirs 1 100,000 dong + entertainment 2,200,000 dong + household services 330,000 dong + NZ 22,000,000 dong).

  

Dear Colleagues!

To download a tourist guide to Vietnam, follow this link.

AT THE AIRPORT OF DEPARTURE

We recommend that you arrive at the passenger check-in point in advance, no later than 2 hours before the flight departure, to go through check-in procedures for the flight, baggage check-in, and fulfill the requirements related to border, customs and other types of control established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. After the announcement of the start of check-in, you need to go to the indicated counter and check in your tickets and baggage yourself.

CHECK IN FOR A FLIGHT AND HANDLING BAGGAGE

Passengers are checked in for a flight and their baggage is checked in on the basis of a personalized air ticket (printed on paper itinerary/electronic ticket receipt), as well as the passenger's valid foreign passport.
Upon check-in, the passenger is given a boarding pass, which must be kept until arrival.
Check-in for the flight ends 40 minutes, and boarding the aircraft 20 minutes before the flight departure time according to local time. A passenger who is late for check-in or boarding the aircraft may be denied transportation.
Each passenger is entitled to carry 20 kilograms of baggage free of charge, including 5 kilograms of hand luggage carried in the cabin. For carrying luggage in excess of the established free baggage allowance, an additional fee will be charged at the rate established by the carrier.
Dimensions of one piece of baggage (length+width+height) – check with the air carrier. The carrier has the right to refuse a tourist to transport baggage whose weight or volume does not meet the established standards.

RULES FOR OBTAINING VISA ON ARRIVAL

Citizens of the Russian Federation and Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic crossing the border of Vietnam for the purpose of tourism do not require a visa (up to 30 days of stay in the country for Russians, and up to 15 days for Citizens of Kyrgyzstan).

To cross the border of Vietnam, citizens of Kazakhstan are issued visas upon arrival for a 14-night stay in the country.

At the airport, before going through passport control, you are met by your host, then you go to the VISA ON ARRIVAL window, where you need to provide:

Passport (valid for at least 8 months from the planned date of departure from Vietnam);
1 photo 3 x 4 cm or 4*6 (taken no earlier than 6 months before the visa is issued);
copy of the invitation
visa application form (filled out independently, by hand, in Latin letters);
visa fee of $45 per person

After receiving your visa, go to passport control and then collect your luggage.

CUSTOMS

Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, no more than 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages, two hundred-gram jars of black or red caviar, 5 kg of tea, 3 kg of coffee, as well as other goods with a total value of no more than VND 5 million are allowed. Household and computer equipment must be declared: all undeclared equipment will be allowed for export only if customs duties are paid or there is a receipt confirming its purchase in the country. It is prohibited to import into the country: weapons, ammunition, explosives, military-technical equipment, drugs, toxic substances, fireworks, drugs, discs and video materials of obscene content, etc. It is prohibited to export: weapons, ammunition, explosives and toxic substances, antiques, valuable items and works of art without a sales receipt confirming their purchase, drugs, wild and rare animals, documents related to national security, etc. The imported amount of foreign currency over 10,000 USD is subject to mandatory declaration. The export of national currency is prohibited.

MEETING AT THE AIRPORT AND TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL

At the airport upon arrival, after passing through passport and customs control, you will be met by guides with a sign and escorted to the transfer and then to the hotel.
The guides make the first visit to the hotel where you are staying on the day of your arrival or the next day and conduct a so-called info meeting, where they tell you about possible excursions, timings and costs. In the future, we recommend taking your guide’s mobile phone number.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Check-in at the hotel usually occurs after 14:00. Upon arrival for hotel accommodation you must present a voucher and passport. It is wise to rent a safe to store precious items and documents. It is also recommended to take a hotel card so that if you get lost in the city, you can return to the hotel without any problems. When checking into a hotel, find out which services are provided to guests free of charge and which for an additional fee. When leaving the hotel at the end of your tourist trip, you must check out your room before 12.00. The guide will tell you the time of departure to the airport in person the day before or leave a message at the hotel reception. When leaving the hotel, you must pay for additional services (if you used them during your stay) and take a document confirming payment.

TIME

Vietnamese time is 1 hour ahead of Astana time.

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVE RECREATION

Vietnam is a very interesting country full of excursion sites.
The guide will provide you with a list of all excursions provided by the company at the information meeting. For those who are traveling to Vietnam for the first time, we strongly recommend visiting several excursions: Dalat - the city of flowers, the Mekong Delta, sightseeing tours, Mount Taku (reclining Buddha statue), hot springs, etc. We do not recommend that you purchase cheap excursions on the street or on beach, since the companies providing them often do not have the appropriate license. Don't forget to take your passport with you when going on an excursion. When going on an excursion, also take sunglasses and cream, a hat and comfortable closed shoes.

PRECAUTIONS ON VACATION

Vietnam is one of the ten safest places in Eurasia. By and large, this is explained by the rather strict administrative and police regime (remember the USSR), as well as the traditional hospitality and goodwill of the people of Vietnam. There is practically no religious fanaticism, racial prejudice, or inappropriate aggression. Serious crimes are very rare and are a real emergency for the local population.
However, there are common minor crimes to be wary of. This is usually theft. Most thefts occur in shopping centers, markets, from hotel rooms or from luggage. Thieves are targeting cell phones, cameras, wallets or money. Violent crimes - robberies or robberies are extremely rare.

It is best to leave your passport, money and jewelry in the hotel safe. Wherever you go, do not carry documents, passport, or air tickets with you, since practically you will not use them. Bring your hotel business card with the hotel address.
In hotels where there is no safe, we recommend leaving your passport, air tickets, and important documents at the check-in desk.
Do not carry large sums of money with you unless necessary, especially when going to the city and markets. Be very careful in crowded places, especially when it gets dark.
According to the rules of many hotels in Vietnam, you may be asked to leave your passport at the reception until check-out. If you do not want to leave your passport, you can pick up your passport the next day after arrival, leaving a cash deposit at the reception.

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, mandatory vaccinations are not required to travel to Vietnam. But it is recommended to follow a number of important rules:
Never drink raw water. Water from the minibar can also be diluted from the tap; carefully inspect the bottle - check that the plastic cap and the protective shell around it are intact. Buy water in plastic bottles - it is sold almost everywhere. Also carefully inspect the bottle before purchasing.
Don't eat unwashed vegetables and fruits. Wash them with boiled or disinfected water.
Avoid drinking drinks and freshly squeezed fruit juices with ice.
Avoid buying food from street stalls; try to dine in restaurants and cafes that are obviously popular with locals and other tourists.
Avoid excessive sun exposure and bring sunscreen and UV-absorbing glasses.

Carefully study the rules for using the pool and swimming in the sea. We ask you to strictly follow the rules:
The hotel is not responsible for swimming in the sea and pool without following the rules.
There is always a rescue team on the beach to ensure your safety. Pay attention to the color of the flags: BLUE – you can swim, YELLOW – you can’t swim, RED – extremely dangerous.
We strictly ask you NOT TO SWIM in the dark or while drunk.
The traffic is very chaotic. But the main thing is not to panic on the road. Pay special attention to vehicles coming from the opposite direction to you, cross the street slowly and straight.

We do not recommend that you purchase cheap excursions on the street or on the beach, since the companies providing them often do not have the appropriate license. Don't forget to take your passport with you when going on an excursion. When going on an excursion, also take sunglasses and cream, a hat and comfortable closed shoes.
If any insured event occurs, please immediately notify your insurance company (detailed instructions are specified in the policy) and inform a representative of the meeting company.
Don't trust strangers. Very often, on the street, in hotels, in shops, strangers approach tourists with offers to visit this or that establishment, store, or presentation of a new hotel. Refuse these people or consult your guide.

FIRST KIT: Those who regularly take medications are advised to take them with them. Create a first aid kit that will be useful for minor ailments, will save time searching for the necessary medications and will eliminate the problems of communicating in a foreign language. Moreover, many drugs have other names abroad.
It is advisable to have sunglasses and creams with digital indications of the degree of protection. The higher the number, the better the protective properties. Do not neglect hats when you are in the sun for a long time.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTRY

CLIMATE

For those wishing to holiday in Vietnam, there is no good or bad season, because if in one part of the country it is too humid or too damp, then there is always a place where at the same time it is sunny and warm. The climate of Vietnam is not the same throughout the country. South Vietnam has a subequatorial climate with two main seasons: the rainy season, which lasts from May to November, and the dry season, which lasts from December to April. February, March and April are usually hot and humid.

NATIONAL PECULIARITIES

Every traveler to Vietnam should become familiar with the original customs and beliefs of this country in order to avoid awkward situations, misunderstandings, troubles or even loss of confidence in one’s person. The old saying “behave like a Roman in Rome” may not always apply in Vietnam, but it is still very important to know and follow the basic rules and customs.

Many Vietnamese who are in constant contact with foreigners understand us and even adopt some of our customs. However, most ordinary people in Vietnam still live their old lives, largely unchanged for many generations.
Greetings. Many city dwellers in Vietnam no longer greet each other with a bow. However, at formal events, religious ceremonies and in the countryside, the custom of joining the palms together in a prayer gesture and bowing slightly to each other still persists.

The custom of shaking hands, once considered barbaric in Vietnam, is now popular due to Western influence. Men may shake hands and say a greeting equivalent to "How are you?" Women, especially in the outback, still avoid shaking hands. Therefore, you should not be the first to extend your hand to a Vietnamese woman. It's worth waiting for her to extend her hand first.

LANGUAGE

In tourist areas, almost everyone can speak English. In recent years, many Russian-speaking Vietnamese have appeared in popular resort areas (Nha Trang and Phan Thiet). In non-tourist areas they will often not be able to understand you even in English.

CURRENCY

The monetary unit officially used in Vietnam is the dong (d or VND). There are banknotes in 500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100 dong. Coins are issued in 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 dong. Traveler's checks such as American Express and Visa and MasterCard credit cards are also used. US dollars are widely used in any city, and you can exchange most foreign currencies for dongs at major banks (Vietcombank, ANZ, ACB, VibBank) or at hotels and jewelry stores. ATMs are located in many places in cities. Vietcombank (VCB) has the most developed network in the country, and Visa and MasterCard cards are very popular.
Banks are open from 7.30-8.00 to 15.30-16.30. Day off - Saturday and Sunday. Currency can be exchanged in large banks and specialized exchange offices, as well as in supermarkets and hotels.

TRANSPORT

City public transport is not recommended for tourists. The buses do not have air conditioning and it is better not to board the bus during peak hours (17-18.00).
We do not recommend renting a rickshaw without pre-booking through your guide or hotel. When going out into the city, do not forget to take a business card with the address and phone number of your hotel.
You cannot drive a motorcycle or moped, as the movement is very dangerous and you must have a category A license. A large number of tourist buses from various companies connect all the tourist spots in Vietnam. In large cities there is a successful system of very cheap and convenient public transport (buses).
Taxis are inexpensive, but taxi drivers often try to inflate prices. For short distances, it is better to take a metered taxi, for long distances (between cities) it is better to negotiate a fixed price, but it is worth finding out in advance the reasonable price for this route.

CIRCUIT

The mains voltage is 220 volts, in some places 110 volts. In some hotels, sockets differ from European ones. An adapter can usually be obtained at the reception.

KITCHEN

Vietnamese cuisine is varied and tasty. Many people come here to taste Vietnamese cuisine. It is distinguished by an amazing variety of dishes, which are prepared exclusively from fresh ingredients. In Vietnam, it is customary to use spices, seasonings and a variety of sauces. The main components of Vietnamese cuisine are rice, fish, seafood and vegetables; noodles, pork and herbs are also held in high esteem. Fruits and vegetables are present in large quantities on every table. Extreme lovers can test themselves by trying exotic dishes. The dishes are not hot and spicy, but use local spices. There are restaurants for every taste and budget - Chinese, Thai, Indian, Korean, European and, of course, Vietnamese. Prices range from $2.5 to $25 per person. Very good restaurants in four- and five-star hotels (mainly French restaurants and local restaurants). Often the food is tastier in small restaurants, where you can dine four for $10-12.

HOLIDAYS

January 1 - International New Year. Vietnamese New Year is Tet, according to the lunar calendar. Tet is celebrated between January 21 and February 19, the exact date varies from year to year. The celebration lasts 4 days.
March 8 - Women's Day
March 26 - Youth Day
April 30 - Victory Day
May 19 - Ho Chi Minh City's birthday
May 1 - International Labor Day
June 1 - Children's Day
July 27 - Memorial Day
August 19 - Revolution 1945
September 2 - Independence Day
November 20 - Teacher's Day
December 22 - Defender of the Fatherland Day

TIPS

In Vietnam, it is customary to tip porters in hotels, waiters in restaurants, massage therapists in salons, and it is also recommended to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of the tour.

SHOPPING AND SOUVENIRS

Vietnam is a very “cheap” country, even for a thin wallet. Amazing, exotic souvenirs literally cost pennies. Shops, markets and numerous shops. Exotic Asia is all around. Stunningly beautiful silver items cost practically nothing. Shopping is incredibly rich and varied. Shops are open almost every day, seven days a week, from 7:30 to 17:30 - officially, and unofficially - until late in the evening. From Vietnam you can bring pearls, things made of lacquer, bamboo, mother-of-pearl, items made of silver, mahogany and ebony - including very beautiful cutlery and boxes. Another category of successful purchases is clothing and accessories made of silk, linen and cotton. You can also find very high-quality and beautiful gold items in Saigon - not exactly at very cheap, but quite affordable prices.

CALLS FROM AND TO VIETNAM

Communications in Vietnam are quite developed. It is better not to use roaming for calls home, it will be too expensive. It is much cheaper to buy a SIM card from local operators and use it to call home. You can call home via IP telephony from Internet cafes on the streets.
The Internet is available almost everywhere. Almost every hotel offers free Wi-Fi or desktop access. Free Wi-Fi is available in shopping centers, cafes and restaurants, and on the streets of some tourist areas.
The international code for Vietnam is 84.
Major city codes:
Hanoi - 4, Haiphong - 32, Ho Chi Minh City - 8, Gue - 54, Da Nang - 511.
To call from Kazakhstan to Vietnam dial:
From a landline phone: 8-10-84 - city code - subscriber number.
From a cell phone: +84 - area code - subscriber number.
To call from Vietnam to Kazakhstan dial:
From a landline phone: 00-7-area code - subscriber number.
From a cell phone: +7 - city code - subscriber number.
EMERGENCY PHONES
Police - 113, Ambulance - 115

EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY: