atlas•

Vietnam: qué saber antes del viaje

Lo esencial

  • Many passports (e.g. Russia, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland) get 45 days visa-free; everyone else can get a 90-day e-visa at evisa.gov.vn.
  • Use only the official e-visa portal evisa.gov.vn; many look-alike agency sites charge extra.
  • Vapes and heated tobacco are banned: since 2026 users are fined up to VND 5 million and devices are confiscated.
  • Print or save your e-visa PDF and check that the entry port matches where you arrive.
  • Traffic is chaotic: renting a motorbike without a valid licence voids most insurance.

Entrada y visados

Vietnam grants visa-free stays to selected nationalities (45 days for Russia, the UK and a group of European countries; 30 days for Belarus and Kazakhstan; ASEAN varies). All other nationalities can apply online for an e-visa valid up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. There is no arrival card. Passport must be valid 6 months.

Validez del pasaporte: At least 6 months from entry, with blank pages.

En la frontera pueden pedir

  • Have your printed e-visa approval (or saved PDF) ready; immigration checks the entry port named on it.
  • Visa-free travellers may be asked for an onward/return ticket.
  • Hotels register your passport with local police; keep it with you at check-in.

Aduana

  • Declare cash over USD 5,000 (or VND 15 million) on arrival.
  • Duty-free: 1.5 litres of spirits over 20%, 200 cigarettes per adult.
  • E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned and confiscated.
  • Antiques require export permits.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: vietnamtourism.com ↗, evisa.gov.vn ↗, emerhub.com ↗, web.mofa.gov.vn ↗, congbao.cdnchinhphu.vn ↗

Dinero

Se usan tanto efectivo como tarjetas. Tarjetas sobre todo en ciudades y zonas turísticas.

Redes de pago: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay

Apple Pay — funciona en algunos sitios · Google Pay — funciona en algunos sitios

Dónde cambiar dinero

  • Gold shops/jewellers licensed for exchange (e.g. around Ha Trung St in Hanoi, Ben Thanh area in HCMC) often beat banks
  • Major banks: Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank
  • Bring clean, undamaged USD 100 notes for the best rate

Dónde no cambiar

  • Hotel desks and tour shops
  • Unofficial street changers (counting tricks)
  • Exchanging large sums at the airport

Cajeros: Local ATMs usually charge foreign cards VND 50,000–110,000 per withdrawal with low limits (often 2–5 million VND); TPBank and some VPBank ATMs are known for lower or no fees.

Propinas: Not expected but appreciated: round up for taxis, 20,000–50,000 VND for spa staff or guides.

  • Apple Pay is officially supported and contactless works in hotels, malls, chains and Grab; street food and markets are cash or VietQR.
  • Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard cards do not work abroad; bring USD cash or a card issued elsewhere.
  • Notes look alike (e.g. 20,000 vs 500,000 polymer notes); check before paying.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: support.apple.com ↗, sbv.gov.vn ↗, usa.visa.com ↗, mastercard.com ↗

Normas y prohibiciones

Prohibido

  • E-cigarettes and heated tobacco: banned since 2025; fines up to VND 5 million for use and confiscation.
  • Drugs: extremely severe penalties, including the death penalty for trafficking.
  • Drones need a licence; flying near military sites, airports or government buildings is illegal.
  • Photographing military installations or police operations is prohibited.
  • Criticising the government or Communist Party publicly/online can lead to prosecution.
  • Religious proselytising without permission is prohibited.

Leyes que los viajeros incumplen sin saberlo

  • Zero-tolerance drink-driving: any alcohol in breath is fined, including on motorbikes.
  • Helmets are mandatory on motorbikes; an International Driving Permit (1968 convention) or Vietnamese licence is required to ride.
  • Carry your passport or a copy; hotels must register you with police.
  • Gambling is only allowed in licensed foreigner casinos.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: en.baochinhphu.vn ↗, en.baochinhphu.vn ↗, gov.uk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Cultura y ropa

Religión: Most people follow folk religion and ancestor worship blended with Mahayana Buddhism or are non-religious; Catholics about 7%; Cao Dai and Hoa Hao minorities.

Ropa: Pagodas, temples and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats where asked. No shorts or vests at the mausoleum.

Etiqueta

  • Ask before photographing people, especially ethnic minorities in the north.
  • Use both hands to give or receive items from elders.
  • Don't touch people's heads; avoid public displays of anger.
  • Haggle politely in markets; fixed prices in malls and supermarkets.
  • Leave chopsticks resting on the bowl, never upright in rice.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗, vietnam.travel ↗, vietnam.travel ↗

Clima

Three zones. North (Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa): cool winter Dec–Feb, hot wet summer May–Sep. Centre (Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An): dry Feb–Aug, typhoons and heavy rain Sep–Dec. South (HCMC, Phu Quoc): dry Dec–Apr, rainy May–Nov.

Mes a mes
  • enero: North cool (~17°C); south dry and sunny
  • febrero: North drizzle; Tet holiday crowds; south dry
  • marzo: Good everywhere; north warming
  • abril: Hot, mostly dry; great season
  • mayo: Hot; rains start in south and north
  • junio: Hot and humid; centre still dry
  • julio: Rainy north/south; centre beaches good
  • agosto: Rainy north; typhoon risk begins
  • septiembre: Centre rains begin; north typhoons
  • octubre: Centre: floods and typhoons likely
  • noviembre: Centre very wet; north and south drying
  • diciembre: North cool; south dry; centre still wet

Mejor temporada: Feb–Apr for the whole country; Feb–Aug for the centre; Dec–Apr for the south.

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: en.wikipedia.org ↗, vietnam.travel ↗, vietnam.travel ↗

Qué llevar

  • Plug adapter (types A, C, F; 220V)
  • Rain jacket or poncho (wet season, especially centre Sep–Dec)
  • Warm layer for Hanoi/Sapa Dec–Feb
  • Insect repellent (dengue)
  • Sunscreen and hat
  • Clothes covering shoulders/knees for pagodas
  • Face mask for city traffic dust/pollution
  • Printed e-visa and passport copies

Qué no llevar / prohibido importar

  • Vapes and heated tobacco (banned)
  • Drones without a permit
  • Politically sensitive printed material
  • Expensive jewellery for motorbike/street use (bag snatching in HCMC)

Práctico

Enchufes: Types A, C, F; 220V 50Hz

Agua: Don't drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water. Ice in restaurants is usually factory-made.

Circulación: por la derecha

Móvil y eSIM: Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone SIMs at airports (passport registration required); eSIMs widely available.

Apps: Grab, Xanh SM, Be, Zalo, Google Maps

Internet: Telegram has been ordered blocked by Vietnamese authorities since 2025; some apps may need a VPN. Mainstream sites work.

Salud: Dengue risk countrywide; use repellent. Consider hepatitis A, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis (rural stays) and rabies vaccines. Air pollution in Hanoi can be very high in winter.

Seguro: Not required for entry; recommended, including medical evacuation and motorbike cover if you ride.

Emergencias: Police 113; Fire 114; Ambulance 115

Revisado el 29 de octubre de 2026 · Fuentes: gov.uk ↗, wwwnc.cdc.gov ↗, vietnam.travel ↗

Las normas de entrada cambian. Antes del viaje, consulta la web de la embajada o del servicio de inmigración del país.