Planning a trip inevitably involves a mix of the mundane and the inspirational-- the long hours we spend virtually immobilized on that transatlantic flight are the price we pay for our subsequent exploration of lovely and exotic locales. Below are links to some very practical resources for getting your documents in order, safeguarding your health, and even dealing with jetlag.
A good place to start for the most general travel information about Vietnam (and indeed about any foreign country) is the ever helpful US Department of State website. Its Country Specific Information Vietnam page provides a basic overview of and helpful links to resources about exit/entry requirements, safety, medical facilities and health information, embassy locations, etc.
Full details on the passport application procedure are available at this website.
For detailed information about how to apply for a visa to visit Vietnam, go to the Consular Services page on the website of the Vietnam Embassy, which also provides the visa application form for download. Call for visa fees.
Those on the West Coast can also submit visa applications to the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, which has the application form and instructions on its website. Call for visa fees.
To vaccinate or not? Travelers to Vietnam differ widely in their opinions on this. To make the best decision for yourself, find information on pre-travel vaccinations and other health issues at the Centers for Disease Control site: Health Information for Travelers to Vietnam.
While jet lag is a non-negotiable part of traveling half way around the world, its effects can at least be minimized, as savvy travelers have long known. This site has some helpful tips on negotiating the "time warp."
If you are considering buying travel insurance to cover the need for emergency medical treatment or medical evacuation while in Vietnam, check to see what your own policy provides, and click on this helpful site to compare multiple quotes.
Our five favorite websites for Vietnam travel!
"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
