Vietnam Visum and ATM questions

[banger_chris]

Hi Guys!

As some of you have travelled this beautiful land im sure i find some answers to my upcoming trip this year.

I have booked flights to Bangkok. Now booking a flight to both Hanoi and Saigon is no the problem as there are many cheap arilines flying there. For some nationalities (mine also) there are no Visa-on-Arrival
in Vietnam. Is it possible to apply for a Vietnamese Visa in Bankgok (via travel agency etc.?). Anybody ever used a service like this?

Second question is are there ATM's available in Vietnam or is only Credit Cards accepted? I heard there are ATMs, but foreign ATM cards are not accepted to withdraw cash.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

banger_chris

[MrDK]

I can help you a little with ATM. I have used my ATM card in Ho Chi Minh. You should always advise you bank of the countries you are traveling to so that they don't block you account on suspicion of fraud.
Personally, I always carry 2 ATM cards, because I have experience bank mix up despite notification. Usually your first w/d is OK; it is the second that may be the problem.

I get visa on arrival, so don't know about you options.

[doctorglowstalk]

have had no problems using my 'visa' linked atm card here In Hanoi ... most of the bigger tourist towns will have atm facilities, but if you intend to travel a little bit further cash up with Vietnamese dong or have a few U$ dollars in small denominations as a back-up!

That is a good idea there MrDK about two atm cards !!

[banger_chris]

Originally Posted by drglowstalk

have had no problems using my 'visa' linked atm card here In Hanoi ... most of the bigger tourist towns will have atm facilities, but if you intend to travel a little bit further cash up with Vietnamese dong or have a few U$ dollars in small denominations as a back-up!.

will only go to saigon. jump into bus and go to mui-ne for three weeks kite-surfing. wont travel around that much. but cash up
vietnamese dong or some dollar notes seems to be the norm to bring along anyways. thanks.

Originally Posted by MrDK

I can help you a little with ATM. I have used my ATM card in Ho Chi Minh. You should always advise you bank of the countries you are traveling to so that they don't block you account on suspicion of fraud.
Personally, I always carry 2 ATM cards, because I have experience bank mix up despite notification. Usually your first w/d is OK; it is the second that may be the problem.
I get visa on arrival, so don't know about you options.

hi there. i usually bring a backup atm-card with me when i go overseas. since i had the bad luck of braking my atm-card on my first thailand trip, first night of the songkran celebrations in bangkok i dont burn my fingers anymore. :-)

good advice there. i just got confirmation from europay there should be no problems to withdraw money with any foreign atm-card in vietnam. also in my region im travelling (mui-ne) there are several atm-machines.

also i got confirmation that tourist visas for vietnam are doable in less then three days in the embassy of vietnam in bangkok. also with a little "extra" pay i got confirmation that a travel buerau in the suk 5 area will greatly arrange flights and visa in no less than two days for our group.

to bad most of the cheap carriers like nok and air-asia are only going to hanoi. its hard to find routes from bkk to sgn (saigon). but i will check on that.

thanks alot for the great help. drink on me if we should meet in mtb.

cheers,

banger_chris

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by banger_chris

to bad most of the cheap carriers like nok and air-asia are only going to hanoi. its hard to find routes from bkk to sgn (saigon). but i will check on that.

thanks alot for the great help. drink on me if we should meet in mtb.

cheers,

banger_chris

Thai Air and Vietnam Airways fly from BKK to Saigon

Air Tickets, Airfares and Flight Reservation from Thailand to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam

Looks like it can be booked from this website

Flights to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Viet Nam (SGN) from Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

[MrDK]

Should have included in my recommendation concerning two ATM cards that they should be tied to two different accounts. I would think it is the account that gets blocked rather than the card.

Generally I have no issues anymore, but my worst case was having to use card number 3. I travel with 4 cards to 4 different accounts ... perhaps a little paranoid, but given that I once needed three and when I try to withdraw money at 2PM in Thailand it is 2 AM here and there is little help to be had.

[MrDK]

For flights between BKK and SGN, you may want to try Air France. The fly the route with the planes usually less than 50% full and have great deals. Generally Business Class can be had for less than coach on Thai Airways or Vietnam Air.
Air France does not fly every day and when the do, only one flight per day. IIRC they have 5 flights per week.

[doctorglowstalk]

Oh ... need I mention that there is a limit on how much you can withdraw from a ATM here in Vietnam.

The first machine I encountered had a limit of 2 million dong .... I know that sounds a lot but in fact it is only about U$122 I think. Another ATM I used had a more generous limit of 4 million dong .... I don't think there is anything stopping you from making multiple withdrawals.

[banger_chris]

Hi Guys!

The help is much appreciated. Thanks alot to all. Dawsey's link was very helpful. Especially the second one with all the fights offered from various Arilines. I was looking into a package deal now (4 persons) BKK-SGN-BKK for around 8200 baht now with Vietnam Airlines. Will also take a look on the mentioned Air-France flights.

mrdk: good tip there. i still have my two atm's locked to one account. could be shite if one card gets blocked. account blocked and you cant use the 2nd card then. will link the 2nd card to another account so that problem should be out of the way.

Drglowstalk: Had a call with Europay today again. Its true what you say. Some ATM's
have limits on two million. others four million dong. Multiple withrawals are possible.


We are also about to book the Secrets Vip Retreat in patters for our last week when we get back from Vietnam. Anybody ever stayed there? Looks very relaxed there and the prices are really ok. (im booking for 7 days). Gosh this will be an eye opener for the boys

cheers,

banger_chris

[cutter1616]

I'm heading to Vietnam the end of Jan. and got my Visa on arrival through the travel agency vietnamstay.com. via the internet and fax. Ony took about 3 days and $30 with no problems. They are well recommended on the lonely planet forum.