Mobile/Whats App:(+84) 977 89 05 45Email: contact@ilotustours.com
Mobile/Whats App:(+84) 977 89 05 45Email: contact@ilotustours.com
Located in Southeast Asia on the eastern part of the Indochina Peninsula, Vietnam has a population of 100 million (in 2024). Its capital is Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City is the modern name of the former Saigon. The country is three-quarters covered by mountains and hills, with its highest peak, Fan Si Pan (3,143 m), located in the far northwest. The Truong Son Mountains (Annamite Range), along the borders of Laos and Cambodia, form the highlands.
Northern Vietnam is a region of mystery, perfect for nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures on tailor-made trips. Here, you'll encounter communities with preserved customs and traditions. The exceptional beauty of Halong Bay is largely due to its submerged limestone formations: over an area of 1,553 km², there are no less than 2,000 islands and islets with extraordinary shapes.
Central Vietnam attracts travelers with its rich history, temples, and ancient houses. Hue, the imperial city, proudly reflects its princely heritage, while Hoi An is a unique gem. Its buildings and street layout showcase a blend of indigenous traditions and Sino-Japanese influences.
Mekong Delta, a vast, fertile, and lush region opens before your eyes. We invite you to explore its green orchards, bustling floating markets, and the water-based life of its hospitable people.
Vietnam has a varied climate because its territory extends over many latitudes (about 2500 km from north to south) and covers large differences in altitude. When a region is wet, cold or rainy, there is always another that is pleasantly sunny. North, Central and South Vietnam have very different climatic conditions.
Only the north knows a winter period where temperatures can drop to 10°C around Hanoi and even 5-6°C on the heights. Between December and March, the northeast monsoon mainly affects the northern part of the Cloud Pass. It brings cool, wet winters to all areas north of Da Nang and mild, dry weather to the south. From April to October, the southwest monsoon blows its moisture laden winds from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand. It brings hot, humid weather all over the country, except in high mountain areas.
There is no bad season to travel in Vietnam, but what is the best time? If you're planning a trip from North to South Vietnam, spring (February, March, April, and May) and autumn (October, November) are the best periods. During these times, you'll experience mild weather without excessive rain or extreme heat.
However, if you wish to see the lush green rice terraces in the northern highlands of Tonkin, we recommend visiting between June and September.
The South of Vietnam can be visited year-round.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into the territory.
Visa waiver
Italian, French, German, Spanish and English nationals are exempt from visa requirements for stays up to 15 days (including entry and exit days). This visa waiver is only valid for a single entry visa. The passport must be valid 6 months after the planned exit. It is also necessary to present proof of exit from the country (return air ticket).
In the case of dual entry into Vietnam, travelers receive only one exemption and not two. It is advisable to use this exemption for the 1st entry then to use a single entry visa for the 2nd entry. In case of multiple entries, a multiple entry visa is required.
Visa on arrival
- Contact us for visa requirements. You won’t be able to apply on your own because you must get a visa authorization approved by the Immigration Department of Vietnam in advance.
- Send us all the requested information about your visa. These will then be sent to the Immigration Department for approval of your group visa.
- After 3 to 5 working days, you will receive a copy of your visa authorization by email.
- Print it and bring it on board with two ID photos and money to pay stamping fees at the airport ; 25 USD per person for a single visa (one entry) or 50 USD per person for a multiple visa.
- When you get off the plane, go to the visa office with your all papers: visa authorization, passport, ID photos, 25 USD / person and complete the customs form correctly.
Tourist visa
The Vietnamese visa fee is mandatory, unless exempted. Its price varies from one year to another.
● The electronic visa (E-visa)
French and Canadian travelers can apply for the Vietnamese visa online. This electronic visa does not yet apply to citizens of Belgium or those of Switzerland. The request must be made on the National Web Portal on Immigration website. This electronic visa is valid for 30 days and costs 25 USD (about 22 €).
You will get the answer within 3 working days of completion of the online application. Please note that you won’t be notified by email, you will have to look for it on the website.
You must check the information, print it and then present it to Vietnamese Customs Office upon arrival. The customs officer will affixe an entry stamp on your passport. No other formality is required.
Staying in Vietnam also means enjoying its culinary delights!
The territory of Vietnam is divided into three regions - North, South and Central - and each region has its own unique culinary identity. These three regions are distinguished not only by their geographical characteristics but also by their cultural, ethnic and climatic peculiarities: it is these differences that have contributed to the diversity of Vietnamese cuisine.
Northern cuisine
Northern cuisine is generally not spicy. It is also less oily and less sweet than that of other regions. A signature ingredient in most dishes is shrimp paste diluted in sauce. It's easy to stock up on fish in the north. Therefore, apart from some very popular meat dishes, most of the food is fish-based. Many people appreciate Hanoi for its typical Northern cuisine such as phở, bún thang, bún chả, and cốm.
Center cuisine
The cuisine of Center Vietnam is inspired by both the Cham people and the imperial court; it is a cuisine almost apart that is characterized by significant use of peppers, making it hard to eat even for Vietnamese!
Central Vietnam is the region that offers the greatest contrast in terms of wealth of the population. Thus, next to the imperial court and its refinements, lived a population composed mainly of fishermen, on poor and hardly arable soil. It has clearly contributed to the development of a cuisine full of contrasts.
Southern cuisine
Southern cuisine is heavily influenced by China, Cambodia and Thailand, and is usually characterized by the addition of sugar and coconut milk. It is also the most famous cuisine, due to how Vietnamese emigration stems mostly from this region.
Many dishes are made from different dried fish such as colorful fish sauce, salted fish, fish three ways, etc. Southern cuisine tends to use more seafood and seawater fish than Northern cuisine, which favors freshwater products.
Vietnam's currency is the Dong
There are many banknotes :100 Dongs; 200 Dongs; 500 Dongs; 1000 Dongs; 2000 Dongs; 5000 Dongs; 10,000 Dongs; 20,000 Dongs; 50,000 Dongs; 100,000 Dong; 200,000 Dong and 500,000 Dong.
Approximate value: 1 euro = 25,000 Dongs (as of the creation of this document).
Credit cards can be used for large purchases: in restaurants, shops, hotels in Hanoi, Saigon and some major cities. But you’ll have trouble paying with these cards in small towns or in the countryside.
ATMs are available in all cities and towns. This ATM networks accept Visa and Mastercard and will charge a bank fee of 3-5%.
Tipping can be complicated. Regardless of the bill, it is not a cultural habit, but the Vietnamese interpret it as a sign of great appreciation. It is always subject to one’s free judgment and we do not impose it on our customers.
For guides and drivers, tips are an important part of their income. But it's not easy to give a figure per head. This income can be very important if the group is numerous and very few if you are only two. It is therefore necessary to take into account various factors (number of participants, skills of the guides ...) in order to determine how much to leave as a reasonable tip. We therefore advise:
- 8-15 euros / day per group for the guide
- 4-8 euros / day per group for the driver
- 1 euro / time per group for hotel services
