Is Vietnam open to tourists ?
Apr 20, 2022, 7:04 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 948
We've already got 20hrs of flying and transits from Australia before we get to SGN, a 4 hour saving is a godsend.
Apr 27, 2022, 8:15 am
#108
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 4
It is possible, but it's quite a hassle compared to most other airports in the region. I did it a few times before the pandemic, and I was always checked for a Vietnamese visa at my origin airport even though by the rules I didn't need one, strictly speaking. This isn't a problem for me since I have a 5-year visa, but if you don't want to argue with the check-in staff, you can just get a visa on arrival approval letter from a travel agency for a couple of bucks. On arrival, there is a transfer desk before immigration which isn't always staffed, and you may have to chase someone down to issue your onward boarding pass and re-check your tests, documents and other materials before reentering the international terminal. I'd certainly prefer most other SE Asian airports for a transit unless you've got something very specific in mind.
Apr 27, 2022, 10:46 am
#109
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,839
Added: Vietnam may not be allowing transits right now.
Last edited by fromYXU; May 2, 2022 at 2:00 pm
May 9, 2022, 3:15 am
#111
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 765
Back in Vietnam after a trip overseas. No PC-COVID declarations needed for the international or domestic flight. Negative test result is now checked only on check-in, no checks on arrival in Vietnam.
Flurry of articles in local media today about removing the testing requirement, so expect that to happen soon.
Flurry of articles in local media today about removing the testing requirement, so expect that to happen soon.
May 10, 2022, 5:38 am
#112
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 948
Back in Vietnam after a trip overseas. No PC-COVID declarations needed for the international or domestic flight. Negative test result is now checked only on check-in, no checks on arrival in Vietnam.
Flurry of articles in local media today about removing the testing requirement, so expect that to happen soon.
Flurry of articles in local media today about removing the testing requirement, so expect that to happen soon.
We re flying in to HCM on the 1st July and are hoping the testing requirements are dropped. The wife was 1 week away from arriving to VN when the borders closed and then she lost her mum to covid in July last year. Of we miss this trip due to a positive test she will be devastated.
Here's hoping it's lifted as soon as possible.
May 13, 2022, 9:59 am
#114
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,839
May 15, 2022, 5:53 pm
#115
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 187
May 18, 2022, 8:21 pm
#116
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 765
Nobody asked me about my insurance, but I'm not on a tourist visa, so that may be why. But I've also heard from several recent tourist arrivals and none of them were asked either. Would be interested to know if you were.
May 20, 2022, 12:20 am
#117
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 948
What's the situation like with domestic travel out of SGN at the moment?
Have you experienced long check in lines or long waits with security?
We've just bought tickets to CXR but only have a 2hr transit coming in on SQ.
Just slightly worried if the check in lines are ridiculous.
May 20, 2022, 7:17 pm
#118
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 765
Hey bobbytables,
What's the situation like with domestic travel out of SGN at the moment?
Have you experienced long check in lines or long waits with security?
We've just bought tickets to CXR but only have a 2hr transit coming in on SQ.
Just slightly worried if the check in lines are ridiculous.
What's the situation like with domestic travel out of SGN at the moment?
Have you experienced long check in lines or long waits with security?
We've just bought tickets to CXR but only have a 2hr transit coming in on SQ.
Just slightly worried if the check in lines are ridiculous.
If you feel like it's getting tight when you get to security, show your boarding pass to one of the myriad staff standing around, and they might let you skip the queue. I've only had to do it twice, both times around lunar new year when queues can be huge, but it worked both times.
Finally, you can consider upgrading to business class SGN - CXR, if the price is reasonable, which would give you access to the priority check in queue and priority security lanes, and free/cheap rebooking in the event that your SQ flight is delayed and you miss the connection. I don't think it's strictly necessary, with 2 hours between flights, but it would reduce the risk.
May 21, 2022, 8:30 am
#119
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 948
It's generally pretty efficient. Really large queues only tend to happen around national holidays, the rest of the time they are pretty good at having enough staff working for the passenger load. 2 hrs should be OK if the inbound is on time. If you can, check in online / with the app, so that you can just drop bags.
If you feel like it's getting tight when you get to security, show your boarding pass to one of the myriad staff standing around, and they might let you skip the queue. I've only had to do it twice, both times around lunar new year when queues can be huge, but it worked both times.
Finally, you can consider upgrading to business class SGN - CXR, if the price is reasonable, which would give you access to the priority check in queue and priority security lanes, and free/cheap rebooking in the event that your SQ flight is delayed and you miss the connection. I don't think it's strictly necessary, with 2 hours between flights, but it would reduce the risk.
If you feel like it's getting tight when you get to security, show your boarding pass to one of the myriad staff standing around, and they might let you skip the queue. I've only had to do it twice, both times around lunar new year when queues can be huge, but it worked both times.
Finally, you can consider upgrading to business class SGN - CXR, if the price is reasonable, which would give you access to the priority check in queue and priority security lanes, and free/cheap rebooking in the event that your SQ flight is delayed and you miss the connection. I don't think it's strictly necessary, with 2 hours between flights, but it would reduce the risk.
We did almost book business, might look into changing it.