Vietnam

The most important holiday is TET, the Vietnamese New Year. The date varies each year but generally falls sometime between January and February. During this period, most Vietnamese people are off work, and almost everyone tries to return to their hometown. Many Vietnamese people from abroad also come to visit their families.

This means that travel can be very busy, many hotels charge surcharges during this time and quickly reach full capacity. Additionally, attractions and sights may unexpectedly be closed, and local guides may be less available.

The time difference between the Netherlands and Vietnam varies in summer and winter. During our summer time, Vietnam is 5 hours ahead, and in winter, it is 6 hours ahead of the Netherlands.

You must possess a valid Dutch passport/Belgian International Travel Document that is still valid for at least six months after your return.

If you have a Dutch passport/Belgian International Travel Document, you will no longer need a visa between August 15, 2025, and August 14, 2028, if you stay less than 45 days in the country.

If you stay longer than 45 days in Vietnam, you will need a visa. You can apply for this yourself via this online application form. Apply for the e-visa well in advance and do so very carefully, as a small typo can cause the e-visa to be rejected upon arrival in Vietnam. You will need a good passport photo and a digital scan of your passport for the application.

Officially, no vaccinations are mandatory for a visit to Vietnam. However, certain vaccinations are recommended. Generally, the following are advised:

• DTP vaccination
• Hepatitis A vaccination
• MMR vaccination (only recommended if you have not had measles or have never been vaccinated against measles)

Health Advice

The sun is much stronger around the equator than in the Netherlands. Take it easy with the sun, especially at the beginning, and avoid the hottest hours of the day. Apply a high SPF sunscreen thoroughly.

In the tropical heat, you will lose a lot of fluids. A deficiency can cause severe headaches. We recommend drinking plenty of water and taking breaks in the shade regularly. Pay special attention to children. Their skin is very sensitive. Also, bring sunglasses and a hat or cap.

The Vietnamese currency is the Dong, and it cannot be freely imported or exported. In larger cities, the exchange rate is often more favorable than in the countryside or along the coast.

Euros can be exchanged directly, including at all hotel reception desks. We advise against bringing too many US dollars; nowadays, you can quickly and easily withdraw money in many places. Cash, relatively new and neat US dollar bills are often accepted as a means of payment.

If you want to use your debit card outside Europe, please keep in mind that most Dutch banks have set the cards to be used primarily within Europe for safety reasons. You can choose to extend this to 'world' so that your debit card is also usable outside Europe.

The climate exhibits regional differences. In the north, there is a seasonal transition between cool and warm. It is cool in winter, which means from November to March. It is warm in summer, from April to October. Typhoons and heavy rains from the South Chinese Sea can occur in the summer. In February and March, there is the "crachin," which may bring persistent drizzly rain.

Central Vietnam has a tropical climate. From February to August, there is little rainfall and temperatures are high. Perfect beach weather! Afterwards, temperatures drop and the rainy season begins. The monsoon runs from September to November, bringing heavy rainfall.

Further south, a tropical climate prevails. It is more humid, with generally higher temperatures, and there is a seasonal shift between wet and dry periods. The green season lasts from May to November (with short tropical showers), and the dry season occurs from December to April.