Visa Online Vietnam

Visa procedures need to be simplified to boost tourism Travel firms have proposed the Government to simplify the visa procedures for international tourists by issuing visa-on-arrival or e-visa to make the country more attractive to foreign guests. Vietnam now waives entry visas for tourists from 23 countries and territories. According to the firms, more tourists from Japan, South Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain have come to Vietnam, reflecting the positive impact of the relaxed visa policy for visitors from these countries. The Tourism Advisory Board also said that the visa waiver for citizens from five Western European countries has increased the number of tourists from these markets by 10.1 percent. Bui Viet Thuy Tien, Managing Director of Asian Trails Co., said that international tourists can get an entry visa on arrival in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. For Vietnam, foreign tourists must ask travel agencies to complete all Vietnam visa procedures before arrival...

Festival honours buckwheat flowers in Ha Giang An annual festival to honour the buckwheat flowers , the most iconic flowers of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, and the unique cultural values of the province’s local ethnic people is taking place in Dong Van district. Local children play in a sea of buckwheat flowers The one-month event includes a variety of activities, such as photo exhibitions, buckwheat flower arrangement displays, an exhibition of products from buckwheat flowers, musical performances and recreations of some ethnic people’s festivals. Addressing the opening ceremony, Tran Duc Quy, Vice Chairman of the provincial People Committee and also head of the management board, said that the festival is one of the province’s activities aimed at promoting tourism. “Ha Giang has been ; endowed with many magnificent unspoiled landscapes. With the aim of turning our difficulties into momentum for development, the local authorities and ethnic people have constantl...

Vietnamese tourists warned to leave Bali over menacing volcano The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia has issued travel warning for Vietnamese tourists with intention to visit resort island of Bali as Indonesian authority has raised the alert for Mount Agung eruption to the highest level. Indonesian authority has raised the alert for Mount Agung eruption to the highest level.  According to the Embassy, a group of Vietnamese tourists who were ; stranded in Bali due to the closure of Depansar International Airport had contacted the embassy for support. They were directed to travel to western Bali island to Surabaya city by ferry and then took a flight to Jakarta, the Embassy said, adding that the tourists had safely arrived in Jakarta on November 27 evening. In case of urgent support, Vietnamese citizens can contact the embassy’s hot line at 62811161025. Thousands of tourists are being stuck in Bali as many flights have been ; cancelled due to the volcano’s eruption. A report fr...

Quy Nhon among best destinations for winter in Vietnam A warm, sunny day by the beach may sound like a totally absurd winter wish, but look no further than Vietnam, according to the Guardian . The U.K. newspaper has named Quy Nhon, a beach town in south central Vietnam, among the top 10 winter sun destinations for 2018 . If you're not the type of person who’s obsessed with planning, there’s just  enough time to add it to this year’s checklist. Quy Nhon is the capital of Binh Dinh Province where fishing is the main industry, and locals can often be seen swinging along the coast in coracle boats between different fishing vessels. The town, sitting between the busy coastal hotspots of Nha Trang and Hoi An , is home to long, broad, sandy beaches which remain pristine thanks to the low number of tourists, most of whom are locals. “The intense resort development seen in the country’s more popular seaside locations has yet to reach this region, making for a laidback atmosphere and ...

Tourism guru plants the seed for floral canal in Saigon It is high time for Ho Chi Minh City to say goodbye to its signature flower street in the downtown area and take advantage of its canals, a seasoned tourism expert has suggested. Nguyen Van My, founder of Saigon-based Lua Viet Tours Co Ltd, said the city has plenty of waterways and should map out a plan to tape them for tourism development over the next 20 years. “Saigon's iconic annual flower street along Nguyen Hue Boulevard has fulfilled its mission," My told the city’s authorities at a meeting on Tuesday. "Year after year, the city spends big sums transforming the boulevard into a flower street with artificial decorations. I think we should have a floral canal in Saigon to replace the flower street.” He suggested Ben Nghe Canal that runs along Vo Van Kiet Boulevard and Ben Van Don Street in District 1 as an ideal location. "Along the banks of the canal we could have stands selling traditional Vietnames...

What to eat in Hanoi's winter Snails Unlike the spicy snails that are carefully fried or grilled in Saigon, the snails served on cold days in Hanoi are simply boiled. Feel the steam from the snails served with ginger sauce and lemongrass. Snails tend to appear in the rivers around Hanoi between autumn and winter. Try the tasty treats in small restaurants at 5 Tong Duy Tan, 1 Dinh Liet, 34A Tran Phu and 88 Cua Bac. Sweet dumplings These dumplings are made from sticky rice stuffed with mung beans or black sesame. The rice balls are then soaked in ginger syrup and served hot. Head to Hang Dieu, Quan Thanh or Tay Ho far a sample of these sweet balls from either age-old eateries or street vendors. Rib porridge Hanoi people love rib porridge and it's needless to say why this hot congee with quay (fried dough) is a perfect choice for a cold day. There’s a nameless roadside stall at 2A Ly Quoc Su Street that man locals say serves the best rib porridge i...

Hanoi to clean up Hoan Kiem lake after legendary turtle dies of pollution Hanoi has announced a VND29 billion ($1.28 million) project to clean up the capital's iconic Hoan Kiem Lake , home to an extremely rare giant turtle before it died two years ago. A public drainage firm has been tasked with dredging 57,000 cubic meters of mud from the lake between December 1 and February 7, around a week before Vietnam celebrates its biggest festival, Lunar New Year. The Hanoi Sewage and Drainage Ltd. said its surveys had found “serious pollution” in the lake, which is home to aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish. The surveys revealed very high levels of Coliform and E. coli, while toxic gases and metals were detected in the lake bed, it said. It said the dredging will be carried out in three stages so that all living creatures can be moved to safety. The entire project will be conducted at night from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. and from midnight on weekends. The mud will be transported to a...

Ho Khau in Vietnamese A vicious tool at worst and a nationwide burden at best, the residency book finds itself at dawn of an inevitable reform. Ngo Mong Huyen got married in her twenties, much to the protest of her parents. She and her husband rented a house in Saigon and looked forward to a new life together. When their first child was born, Huyen was ; told to submit her permanent residency book ( ho khau in Vietnamese) to obtain a birth certificate for the baby, but she only had her ID card. Ho khau , Vietnam’s household registration system, is similar to China’s  hukou , a post-war means to ration food and allocate jobs during the subsidy period and a way to limit urban migration after economic reforms in the 80s. They have become an indispensable part of almost every basic document procedure, including birth certificates. It's been over a decade since the family fell out, but the 33-year-old vending assistant has not been able to persuade her parents ...

Nha Trang art tour The seven-hour Nha Trang art tour available from 1.30 p.m. everyday is expected to bring visitors to explore a collection of hundreds of artworks ranging from oil paintings, metalwork to sculpture and photography by acclaimed artists such as photographer Mai Loc, painter Bui Van Quang, metalwork artist Bui Trung Chinh, sculptor Doan Xuan Hung and other artists. Those partaking in the tour will be ; offered with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the Vietnamese ; art scene and learn about the life stories of these artists. One of such life stories in particular is about artist Mai Loc, who used to serve as a cyclo driver to take tourists around the city. Loc met a Norwegian couple in 1995 by chance, who gave him a camera ; on the occasion of his wedding, which has completely changed his life. Loc is no longer a cyclo driver but the owner of a photo gallery in Nha Trang which was ; launched several years ago to pursue his passion for photograph...

Miss South Africa 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters reacts as she is crowned the new Miss Universe 2017 by Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere during the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on November 26, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Getty Images/via AFP /Frazer Harrison. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 22, edged out her rivals from Colombia and Jamaica to take the crown. Beauties from across the globe converged in Las Vegas Sunday; where Miss South Africa was ; crowned Miss Universe . Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 22, edged out her rivals from Colombia and Jamaica to take the crown. Nel-Peters, a graduate in business management, said her disabled half-sister has been among her great inspirations. Colombia was ; represented by actress Laura Gonzalez while Jamaica's Davina Bennett ; works with deaf students and is working on a new sign language app. In the pageant's 66th year, nearly 100 women from around the globe -- including first-timers f...

Freelance tour guides in Vietnam are railing against a new law that will ban them from doing their jobs independently from next year. In order to continue working as tour guides, they will have to either secure contracts with authorized travel companies or tour agencies, or join the Vietnam Association of Tour Guides, which was established early this month, under the amended Law on Tourism . Nguyen Nam, a tour guide, told VnExpress that not many travel companies are willing to hire tour guides as permanent employees because it means they have to pay them monthly salaries and cover compensation and benefits packages. Lo Kim Tuyen, another tour guide, also said it is difficult to find full-time work for travel companies at the moment. Only big companies can afford salaried tour guides, and small firms are only capable of hiring freelancers when people book tours. Freelancers work for small companies like “mercenaries”, Tuyen said. They also said there are huge numbers of freelanc...

Phuoc Kieu village The village of Phuoc Kieu in the central province of Quang Nam is a centrepiece of the region’s history, with a 400-year-old traditional trade of bronze casting. Established by followers of feudal lord Nguyễn Hoàng, the village was said to be his weapon production base in the early 17th century. It was again employed and expanded by Vietnamese 18th-century Tây Sơn army. The village’s craftsmanship impressed the lords of Tây Sơn ; so much that their artisans were ; summoned to then capital Phú Xuân, now Hue; to make items used in royal ceremonies, government seals and even cannons. Four hundred years have passed and the villagers are still keeping the fires burning in the forges. Long gone are the times of weapons making, with village now famous for its bronze decorative items and ceremonial artefacts. Some of the most prized creations are the bronze gongs, ancient musical instruments popular among the region’s numerous ethnic groups. The village’s artisans pas...

Free restrooms for tourists More than 300 restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels and shopping centres are offering free restrooms for tourists in the downtown area as part of an effort to boost hospitality in the central city. A cafe offers a free restroom for tourists and local people. — VNS Photos Cong Thanh Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the city’s tourism department, said the campaign was launched in 2015 at 100 restaurants and cafés downtown. He said the city would continue to encourage restaurant and café owners in the city to offer free restrooms for visitors in the coming years. He said the department also offered a smartphone application called Comfort as Home to help tourists locate free restrooms in the city. Nguyen Hong Son, vice chairman of Hai Chau District’s business association; said tourists can recognise free restroom sites with the logo saying Comfort as Home, or “Free Restroom” on the door. He said the free service will help reduce the city’s expend...

Thanh Thuy village People in Thanh Thuy Village in Binh Hai Commune in the central province of Quang Ngai have long taken pride in their natural masterpiece, Ganh Yen, a volcanic lava reef consisting of hexagonal columns of basalt lying on their side. Prehistoric: Thanh Thuy Village is endowed with unspoiled nature and a unique volcanic lava reef. — Photo news.zing.vn Now they have created their own masterpieces to complement it. They have painted murals on the walls of 14 old houses. Most are in three dimensions. Others glow at night. The recent development in local tourism has created extra income for many people in Thanh Thuy Village. But first - nature’s handiwork. Millions of years ago, rivers of molten basalt cooled after pouring out of a nearby volcano. As the fluid-rock quickly cooled, it formed into huge crystals of rock, known in Australia and Ireland as Devil’s Causeways. In Vietnam, like in other countries where the rare formation appears, tourists flock to...

The beauty of Vietnam's natural heritage is the focus of activities at the Green Heritage Culture and Tourism Week, which opened in Hanoi on November 20. The four-day event, themed "A Meeting Place of Humans and Nature", is expected to draw the participation of localities nationwide, aiming to promote and honour cultural and natural heritage sites, especially those recognised by UNESCO as world natural heritage sites. A cuisine space introducing special food from around the country will be part of the four-day event. A highlight of the event is an exhibition entitled Impressions of Vietnam's Natural Heritage. It will feature heritage sites nationwide and explain the life of communities residing along river banks. The exhibition, which opens on November 21, celebrates people who promote their cultures and preserve nature at the same time. It argues that the relationship between humans and nature is an intimate one. Through the photos, the exhibition sends the me...

Sapa winter festival 2017 This is the second year such an event to be ; held, showcasing diverse cultural and art activities of ethnic minority groups. Coming to Sapa on this special occasion, international and local visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy the festival and traditional art performances, folk games, and local specialities. The highlight of the event is a fire dancing festival of the Red Dao ethnic minority group. In addition, the district of Sapa is making preparations for a street festival with parades and performances of the traditional costumes of ethnic groups, with dragon dances on main streets on December 31. It's ; forecast that winter in Sapa will get extremely cold this year. Snow, ice, and sleet will likely blanket the mountainous district of Sapa; thus attracting a lot of tourists to the stunning landscapes reminiscent of Europe. If you wish to eye-witness the beauty of Sapa winter, you need to apply for a Visa to Vietnam to enter and...

People queue to buy their lunch at a street food shop in Bangkok, Thailand April 20, 2017. Photo by Reuters Thailand is famous for its traditional street stalls that offer everything from stir-fried noodles to clothes. Bangkok's famous street food vendors have joined the digital revolution, embracing payment via Quick Response (QR) barcodes that can be read using smartphones. Thailand is famous for its traditional street stalls that offer everything from stir-fried noodles to clothes and for many Thais eating out at a pavement stall is part of their daily routine. Now, some vendors in the capital Bangkok are offering digital transactions after the Bank of Thailand (BOT) last week gave the green light for five banks including Bangkok Bank and Siam Commercial Bank to implement electronic payment systems using QR codes. "The global trend is towards a 'cashless society' as it is more convenient and there is proof of transaction. The QR code system would be most p...

Does French need a visa to Vietnam? Vietnam is a wonderful tourist destination and a promising market for businesses. Therefore, the need to come to this country, especially French citizens, whether for entertaining or businesses is increasing in recent times. Before coming to Vietnam, there are some certain things that French passport holders need to know about their visa policies. At present, from July 1 st , 2015, all French passport holders are exempted for Vietnam Visa if you want to stay in the country for no longer than 15 days. You can enter Vietnam by any ports from air to land or sea. When you arrive in Vietnam, you need to come to Immigration Check-in counter in person to get the blue stamp into your passport. This stamp will say that you can stay in Vietnam for 15 days from your arrival date. All the process is free; you do not need to pay any fee or bring any other documents. In case you want to stay more than 15 days, you must apply Vietnam visa prior to your trip. T...

Tourism cooperation with Taiwan Both sides discussed ways to popularise Vietnamese and Taiwanese tourism markets , with a focus on marine tourism, human resources training, and gastronomy exchange. Since the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation was signed between Vietnam and Taiwan in 2012, Taiwan has issued favourable visa policy to Vietnam. Tourist arrivals of the two sides soared from over 517,000 in 2012 to an estimated nearly 1 million in 2017 with Taiwanese tourist arrivals in Vietnam nearing 600,000 and around 400,000 Vietnamese people visiting the territory.   Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy said Quang Ninh’s major tourist markets include the North East Asian countries, China, Taiwan, Japan and the Republic of Korea. As of the late October, more than 8.5 million tourists arrived in Quang Ninh, up 18%, 3.8 million of them are foreigners from 140 countries and territories, up 21% annually. Taiwan is among the top...

Waterway tourism She told Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee ; Nguyen Thanh Dung at a meeting in Can Tho on November 22 that she was ; impressed by Cai Rang floating market in the city. Colombia and Can Tho share similarities in the waterway system, the diplomat said, adding that her country has experience in plantation tourism while Vietnam has strength in eco-tourism, which creates a foundation for their tourism links. For his part, Dung said trade collaboration between Vietnam and Colombia has yet to match their potential, noting his hope that businesses of the two countries will easily access information and opportunities to invest in the respective markets. He said the ongoing International Agricultural Fair in Can Tho; which sees the participation of Colombian firms, would pave the way for both ; sides’ enterprises to explore investment opportunities in the respective markets. According to the Can Tho Department of External Affairs; as of October 2...

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been named among the world’s best food destinations by Caterwings , a site that offers online food ordering service in Europe. Saigon rode in at 80th position, while Hanoi secured 87th spot, on the list of 100 destinations ranked by 20,000 food journalists and restaurant critics. The research began by analyzing thousands of food hubs to determine the final list of the top 100 cities based on expert opinions of their culinary scenes, quality of service, diversity of cuisine, affordability for locals and visitors, vegetarian and vegan options, the ratio of restaurants per 10,000 citizens, rating of high end restaurants, hours worked at minimum wage to afford a dinner for two, the fast food outlet to restaurant ratio, and quality of street food and food trucks. The top ten city's on this year’s list are San Sebastian (Spain), Tokyo, New York, Barcelona, Singapore, Paris, Madrid, Lima, London and Munich. “Every delicious destination in this index c...

Northwestern provinces efforts to develop tourism To fully tap potential, the region’s provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Ha Giang have enhanced links for sustainable tourism development . Since the eight provinces signed a tourism cooperation agreement in 2008, they have focused on building infrastructure facilities, restoring cultural and historical sites, and traditional craft villages, preserving and promoting the values of cultural and geographic heritages and natural landscapes, and building new tourism products. Through the cooperation programme, many tourism products of the localities have been included in travel agencies’ package tours, becoming attractive to tourists. Visitors to a community-based tourism village in Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh province    The region’s tourism development cooperation has yielded substantial outcomes, with visitor numbers increasing year on year. In 2016, the number of t...