Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 353

Vietnam is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time/Universal Time Coordinated
(GMT/UTC); there's no daylight-saving or summer time.
TOILETS
Western-style sit-down toilets are the norm but the odd squat bog still survives in some
cheap hotels and bus stations. Hotels usually supply a roll of toilet paper, but it's wise to
bring your own while on the road.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Tourist offices in Vietnam have a different philosophy from the majority of tourist offices
worldwide. These government-owned enterprises are really travel agencies whose primary
interests are booking tours and turning a profit.
Travellers' cafes, travel agencies and your fellow travellers are a much better source of
information than most of the so-called tourist offices.
VISAS
Most nationalities need a visa (or approval letter) in order to enter Vietnam. Entry and exit
points include Hanoi, HCMC and Danang airports, or any of the plentiful land borders
shared with Cambodia, China and Laos.
Tourist visas are valid for a 30- or 90-day stay (and can be single or multiple entry).
Online visa agents provide a more efficient, cheaper and quicker service than Vietnamese
embassies for those flying into Vietnam.
If you plan to exit Vietnam and enter again from Cambodia or Laos, arrange a 90-day
multiple-entry visa (around US$110).
In our experience, personal appearance influences the reception you'll receive from air-
port immigration - try your best to look 'respectable'.
Visa Extensions
If you've got the dollars, they've got the rubber stamp. Tourist-visa extensions officially
cost as little as US$10, but it's advisable to pay more and go via a travel agency as the
bureaucracy is deep. The process can take seven days, and extensions are 30 to 90 days.
Extensions are best organised in major cities such as HCMC, Hanoi, Danang and Hue.
Multiple-Entry Visas