Overview
Vietnam is a country in Asia according to payhelpcenter. Vietnam is like an assault on the senses: the Asian country is at once breathtaking, untamed and fascinating. Street vendors in flat hats peddle their wares in front of glittering skyscrapers, and magnificent temples are lined with streets lined with thousands of motorbikes. Wherever you travel in Vietnam, you cannot escape the fascination of this country. The capital, Hanoi, which was founded in 1010, is also Vietnam’s main arts center, while Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s business hub. The history of the empire was written in Hue; Hoi An, a former Silk Road port, is a place with a lot of atmosphere, and the undeveloped coast invites you to relax. Rural Vietnam is very different from the big cities. Just outside the towns you can see water buffalo swimming in green rice paddies and elegant women in traditional cone-shaped hats riding their bikes along dusty roads.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Vietnam’s national airline, Vietnam Airlines (VN), flies from Frankfurt/M. non-stop to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) as well as from Vienna and Zurich in cooperation with Air France (AF) via Paris to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Qatar Airways (QR) connects Frankfurt/M., Vienna and Zurich via Doha with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Air France (AF) flies three times a week non-stop from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City and daily in code share with Vietnam Airlines (VN) to Hanoi. Feeder flights to Paris are possible from Germany, Austria and Switzerland with Air France (AF) or the respective national airline.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Hanoi: 10 hrs 45 mins (non-stop); Vienna – Hanoi: 19 hrs 20 mins; Zurich – Hanoi: 15 hrs 55 mins; Frankfurt/M. – Ho Chi Minh City: 11 hrs 45 mins (non-stop); Vienna – Ho Chi Minh City: 19 hrs 25 mins; Zurich – Ho Chi Minh City: 17 hrs 5 mins (Journey times vary depending on length of stopovers.)
Departure fee
US$14 (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi). Fees can be paid in US dollars or Dong.
Arrival by car
Overland routes to Vietnam from China include the Huu Nghi and Lao Cai border crossings in Lang Son Province and Mong Cai in Quang Ninh Province. Coming from Cambodia, Vietnam can be reached via the Moc Bai and Sa Mat border crossings in Tay Ninh Province and Tinh Bien in An Giang Province. Connecting roads from Laos lead to Vietnam via the border crossings Lao Bao in Quang Tri Province, Na Meo in Thanh Hoa Province, Nam Can in Nghe An Province, Keo Nua in Ha Tinh Province and Cha Lo in Quang Binh Province. Long-distance buses: Bus companies such as Khai Nam Transport, Mekong Express and Phnom Penh Sorya connect Ho Chi Minh City with Phnom Penh (Cambodia) several times a day (journey time: approx. 6 hours). Buses also run daily between Hanoi and Nanning (China) (journey time: approx. 8 hours) and Hanoi and Vientiane (Laos) (journey time: approx. 20 hours). Tolls: Vietnamese expressways are subject to tolls. Fees are payable at toll booths. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license is required.
Arrival by train
Trains run daily between Beijing (China) and Hanoi. The two main routes are Beijing – Nanning (China) – Hanoi and Beijing – Hekou (China) – Lao Cai – Hanoi.
Arrival by ship
The country’s largest ports are Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Haiphong, Da Nang and Ben Thuy. Vietnamese ports are also in the program of cruise companies.
Cruise ships
Phoenix and Costa also dock in Vietnam on their world cruises that start in Europe. AIDA also calls at Vietnam on cruises departing from Singapore and Hong Kong.
Routes across the rivers
On the Mekong, trips from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc are offered.
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Vietnam Airlines (VN), VietJet Air (VJ) and Bamboo Airways (QH) operate domestic flights between numerous destinations in the country. Main route is Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City with about 60 flights per day in both directions. Vietnam Airlines (VN) connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Dà Nang, Ho Chi Minh City with Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Dông Hoi, Huê, Dà Nang, Quang Nam, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoà and Phu Quôc and flies between Thanh Hoa and Dà Lat.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network in Vietnam has a total length of approx. 218,000 km. National Road 1, the country’s main road, crosses the country in a north-south direction from the Chinese border to the Mekong Delta and connects Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City. Interesting is the road along the Phong Nha-Ke Bang caves, the ancient city of Hoian and the ancient citadel in Hue. The Ho Chi Minh Highway runs along the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the north.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Right
Condition of the roads
About 30% of the roads are paved. Road quality varies greatly across the country. Inland and in the north, the roads are poorer than on the coast and are often flooded during the rainy season. The Ho Chi Minh Highway is considered a freeway in Vietnam, but by European standards it has more of the quality of a country road and is quite winding.
Car rental
Rental cars are available in major cities with and without a driver. Drivers must be at least 18 years old.
Taxi
Taxis can be found everywhere in the cities. They can be hailed on the street or ordered through hotels and restaurants. It is advisable to make sure that the taximeter is running when you start your journey.
Bicycle
Bicycles can be rented from various bicycle rental companies in larger cities.
Coach
Buses run throughout Vietnam, connecting cities such as Hanoi, Hué, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets are available at the bus stations.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – blood alcohol limit: 0.0 ‰ for drivers; 0.5 ‰ for motorcyclists; – Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists. Speed limits: – urban: 60 km/h; Motorbikes: 50 km/h; – on rural roads: 80 km/h; Motorbikes: 60 km/h; – on motorways: 90-120 km/h (depending on the signs); Motorcycles: 70 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; in the event of damage to the vehicle: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, in the event of illness: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. In the event of breakdowns or accidents with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license is required.
Traveling in the city
There are buses in Ho Chi Minh City and buses and trams in Hanoi. Cycle rickshaws and taxis are also available.
Locally on the way by train
Daily long-distance trains of the Republic of Vietnam’s state railway connect the north with the south of the country. The route network is densest in the north. Express trains operate on the main line connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City via Da Nang and Hué. A night train runs on the Hanoi-Laocai route.
Traveling by ship
There are regional ship connections between the country’s ports. Cruises can be booked with Emeraude Classic Cruises in Halong Bay, among others. Transmekong Cruise offers daily trips in the Mekong Delta. Superdong ferries connect Phan Thiet to Phu Quy Island, Ha Tien and Rach Gia to Phu Quoc Island, Nam Du, Hon Son and Soc Trang to Con Dao Island, among others.
