Tourist guide to Vietnam
To make your trip to Vietnam as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, we’ve prepared a handy tourist guide just for you. After reading it, you’ll learn more about the country and:
- how to prepare for your journey;
- what to expect at customs and potential issues at airports;
- Vietnamese customs and cultural norms;
- the highlights of Vietnamese cuisine;
- where to turn in case of emergency.
Read through the guide before your trip to make sure nothing spoils your holiday!
Tourist Guide for Travelers to Vietnam
As of August 21, 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam issued Directive No. 3618/CT-CHK banning all 15-inch MacBook Pro models (manufactured between September 2015 and February 2017) from being brought on board any aircraft—whether in carry-on or checked luggage—due to fire risks associated with their batteries.
This has led to stricter screening of laptops at all Vietnamese airports. The ban applies to all international flights departing from Vietnam and domestic flights operated by both local and foreign airlines within the country.
Passengers violating this rule may be denied boarding and fined.
You can check if your MacBook Pro model is affected at the official Apple website: https://support.apple.com/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall
Vietnam does not accept or exchange US dollar bills printed in 1996 or earlier, nor bills that are damaged (torn, crumpled, faded, stained, or marked).
Nha Trang has introduced a regulation restricting access for large buses between 6:30–8:00 AM and 4:30–6:30 PM on the first coastal line (Tran Phu Street, from the northern bridge to the southern port), and on the second and third lines (European Quarter). Only motorbikes, cars, and minivans are allowed (with a max stop time of 2 minutes).
As a result, most excursions (except Da Lat and Saigon) will start after 8:00 AM. Airport transfers may be conducted using minivans to shuttle guests to larger buses, and hotel pickup times may be earlier than usual.
This regulation was passed by Nha Trang’s city government with no specified end date.
List of Hotels with Transfers Not Stopping at the Main Entrance
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), drones are allowed in the country but require a permit from the Ministry of Defense for use, including for tourism purposes.
A permit is mandatory for using drones in Vietnam.
Tourists must submit a request through the appropriate company department to obtain this permit on their behalf.
Required documents for a drone flight permit:
- Application form as per Decree 79/2011/ND-CP.
- Submit to: Department of Operations — General Staff, No. 1 Nguyen Tri Phuong St., Ba Dinh District, Hanoi;
- Notarized copy of applicant's ID/passport or business registration (for companies);
- Color photo of the drone (min. size 18x24 cm);
- Color photo of the flight area (Google Maps screenshot acceptable);
- Drone technical documentation (including images and specs);
- Legal license or document authorizing the drone to take off and land;
- All other related drone documentation.
Apply at least 14 days before the intended flight. No changes can be made within 10 days of the flight.
The permit cost ranges from $350 to $700 USD per location/day/single flight. Final pricing will be determined by Vietnamese authorities based on the area and number of uses.
If tourists wish to avoid the complex licensing process, they can rent a drone locally.
- Required documents for licensing rented drones:
- Completed application form (without drone details).
- Notarized passport copy;
- Color photo of the area to be used (Google Maps screenshot acceptable).
- Cost: $200 USD per area/use.
- Documents must be submitted at least 3 weeks in advance.
Key drone regulations in Vietnam:
- Permit required for each drone flight, submitted at least 14 days in advance;
- Drones must not carry hazardous materials (flammable, explosive, radioactive);
- No launching or dropping objects from drones;
- Maximum flight altitude: 492 feet (150 meters);
- Maximum weight: 26 pounds (12 kg);
- Flying over military or government facilities is prohibited;
- Drones may only operate during daylight hours;
- Aerial photography requires a specific permit;
- No banners, leaflets, or propaganda via drones.
Note: Tourists must complete a detailed form outlining their drone type, flight zones, routes, duration, and coordination procedures. Approval may take up to 3 weeks.
Restricted and Prohibited Drone Flight Zones in Vietnam
Restricted zones include:
- Airspace above 120 meters;
- Heavily populated areas;
- 25 km from the Chinese border, 10 km from the Laos/Cambodia borders;
- Airports and aerodromes: 3,000m width, 5,000m length from the restricted zone perimeter;
- Exceptions may be granted if the drone complies with specific licensing criteria.
Prohibited zones include:
- Military installations under Ministry of Defense control (min. 500m distance required);
- Government, party, and diplomatic buildings (min. 200m distance);
- Security and defense zones (min. 500m distance);
- Civil/military airport areas (per Decision 18/2020/QD-TTg);
- Flight paths and corridors as published in “AIP Vietnam.”
Starting January 1, 2025, all forms of e-cigarettes (including Iqos and other devices), hookahs, charcoal, and tobacco are completely banned in Vietnam. This includes import, sale, and usage across the country.
Hotels
- When booking a tour to Vietnam, please pay attention to room categories labeled NO VIEW / WITHOUT VIEW / LIMITED VIEW — this usually indicates a very small ventilation window facing a corridor, shaft, or no window at all.
Hotel guides are not responsible for upgrading guests to higher room categories or finding alternative accommodations.
Such requests/complaints must be directed to the booking department in English (or via your local representative office), or through the hotline. Staff will forward the complaint accordingly.
- For 2+1 bookings — no extra bed is provided.
- For 2+1 (ex. bed) — 1 extra bed (or cot) is provided, depending on the hotel.
- For 2+1 (ex. bed) + 1 (no ex. bed) — 1 extra bed provided, the second child shares the bed with parents.
- For TRPL bookings — 1 extra bed provided.
- For 3+1 — only 1 extra bed provided; child shares bed with parents.
In “WITHOUT EX BED” options, no bed linen or towels are provided for the child.
A second extra bed is never provided in any configuration.
For all HB / HB+ / FB / FB+ / AI plans, check-in includes dinner only. Check-out includes breakfast and lunch (for FB / FB+ / AI) or breakfast only (for HB / HB+).
Riviera Deluxe Cam Ranh Aqua Park Resort 5*:
If guests wish to have dinner on check-out day (box or à la carte), they must inform the Front Office 3 hours in advance. Approx. cost: $8 USD per person.
Selectum Noa Resort Cam Ranh 5*:
HB+ – dinner on check-in day, breakfast on check-out.
AI – meals begin with lunch on check-in and end with snack time on check-out.
To swap lunch from check-in to check-out day, inform reception at least 2 days in advance.
For dinner on check-out (box or à la carte), inform Front Office 3 hours in advance (extra charge).
Some hotels offer a separate à la carte children’s menu with smaller portions for HB / FB plans. This applies to all bookings with children — whether on an extra bed or sharing a bed with parents. Children under 2 eat with parents.
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