Travel to Vietnam - Getting There

Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is located in the northern region of this nation that stretches thinly along the eastern coastline of Southeast Asia. It’s never been easier to get in to Vietnam, as the developing country pushes forward to prosperity.

Visas for Vietnam must be procured before entering the country as there are no visas issued at the airports and no foreign national is exempt from the requirement. Be sure to acquire your Vietnamese visa in your home country from an embassy or consulate before arriving.

The best way to get to Vietnam is by air and an increasing number of air routes into the country are available, bringing airfares down. Whether you are arriving in Vietnam from your home country or another Southeast Asian or Chinese destination, flying is still the best way to arrive.

The main airport in Hanoi is Noi Bai International Airport while Ho Chi Minh City’s main air facility is Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Both offer flights to neighboring counties on Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier, as well as budget flights on low-cost carriers.

There are no train connections to any of Vietnam’s neighboring countries including China, Laos or Cambodia, with the exception of one route from Beijing to Hanoi via Dong Dang.

It is possible to cross into Vietnam by bus, but the Chinese border opens and closes sporadically making bus travel into Vietnam from China unreliable. Bus crossings from Laos and Cambodia can be arduous, but the routes are well used by budget travelers. There are four border crossings with Cambodia, three with China and four with Laos.