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Customs regulations: Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in declaration forms and show their luggage to customs officials upon request. There are no limits on foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones, or plated with silver or gold - but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms.

Entry: Tourists are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free:

Cigarettes: 400 pieces; Cigars: 50100; Tobacco: 100 grams; Liquor: 1.5l.
Personal effects of a reasonable quantity.
Small gift items valued at not more than US $500.



It is prohibited for any visitor to bring the following into Vietnam:

Weapons, explosives, and inflammable objects.
Opium and other narcotics.
Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society.



Exit: Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Office. Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam's redbook may not be brought out of the country.

Security:

In big cities, do not bring along anything valuable when you go shopping or sightseeing on the street.
Take enough to give aims to beggars and to buy souvenirs from street vendors.
Foreign currencies should be exchanged at banks, or authorized exchange bureaus. Never exchange money on street.



Drinking: Bottled water and mineral water are obtainable at any shops in most cities. It is advisable to drink boiled water and not to drink ice and tap water. The most reliable local brand is LA VIE (Don’t confuse them with the imitations such as La Ville or La Vierge). Aquafina from Pepsi and real Evian also available at many shops.

Tips for Guides and Drivers: The amount of tip money is totally based on your satisfaction with the services of guide and driver, and it is not required (according to your culture). However, US $23 per day per tourist is acceptable for both guide and driver.

Others: Taxi: Taxis with meters are available in big cities. The current price is about US $0.5 per kilometer. Most metered taxi drivers can speak a little English.

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