• issue an international veterinary passport. The document should indicate the health of the animal, its readiness for flight, the absence of parasites and vaccinations made.
• the animal must be vaccinated against the following diseases and viruses: plague, herpesvirus, calicivirus, leukemia and rabies.
• the vaccination certificate must indicate the name of the drug that the animal was vaccinated with, its manufacturer, the serial number of the vaccination, the date of vaccination and the end date of the vaccination.

When entering Vietnam, you must fill out a customs declaration if you have items to be declared.

Import of household and computer equipment (including laptops) to Vietnam is subject to mandatory declaration. All undeclared equipment will be allowed for export only if you pay duties or have a receipt for its purchase from local trade organizations.

Important! It is recommended to keep proof of all expenses incurred in the country during the stay. 

Also, do not forget that there is a Vat Refund system, which allows you to return part of the cost of expensive purchases at check-out. Learn more about Vat Refund in Vietnam here.

Import is allowed without duty:

• up to 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco;
• up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22 degrees or 1.5 liters of stronger alcoholic beverages, up to 3 liters of other alcoholic beverages or beer;
• up to 5 kg. tea, up to 3 kg. coffee;
• other goods for personal use with a total value of no more than VND 50 000.

Export is prohibited:

• of the national currency;
• art and antiques;
• jewelry and handicrafts without proper documentation.

Import / export of foreign currency.

Import and export of foreign convertible and national currency from Vietnam is not restricted, but it is necessary to declare any foreign currency in the equivalent of more than 5 thousand US dollars, as well as national currency in the amount of more than 15,000,000 VND.  Gold with a total weight of more than 300 g is also subject to declaration.

What is prohibited to import and export?

Drugs and medicines containing narcotic drugs without a medical prescription for their use (sanctions for drug importation are extremely high, up to the death penalty);

• firearms;
• pornography;
• printed products, CDs, audio and video recordings that offend local traditions;
• alive wild animals, stuffed turtles, corals, rare plants.

There are no restrictions on the number of such items, but they must be declared:

• Foreign currency in the amount of more than 5,000 USA dollars.
• Vietnamese currency in the amount of more than VND 15,000,000.
• Gold which is weighing more than 300 grams.
• Gold and jewelry are not for personal use.
• Videotapes, CDs, and DVDs (they can be temporarily withdrawn upon entry for verification and then returned).

Fruit removal.

Officially, there are no customs bans on the export of fruit from Vietnam, but theoretically some restrictions can be set by the veterinary and phytosanitary control service: export only in plastic containers.

Since the Customs Service doesn’t regulate in any way how fruit can be transported on board the aircraft. This is all within the competence of the specific airline you are flying with. Usually, fruit isn’t checked in luggage, but is transported in hand luggage in any convenient packaging (plastic container, bag, backpack), unless other rules are established by the airline.

Vietnam has an international driver's license. This means that you can rent both a motorcycle and a car.

The legal age of Management in Vietnam is 18 years. But you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car. You must present your international driver's license along with your driver's license issued in your country of residence. Some car rental companies even charge drivers under the age of 25.

How to cross streets in big cities

Traffic is crazy in Vietnam. In Hanoi and Khomyshyn, crossing the road will not be easy.

Cross with the locals: especially if you are crossing the street for the first time in Vietnam, try to notice the locals, follow them and copy their pace.

When you find yourself in the middle of the road, keep walking and don't stop.

Remember that sidewalks are used not only by pedestrians, but also by scooterists who want to avoid traffic jams.

Getting around the city by taxi

The most efficient way to get around in big cities is to use the Grab or Gojek apps. Like Uber, Grab and Gojek are taxi companies that allow you to "order" rides on scooters and cars. This is a very simple and cheap option for those on a budget. Rides are booked through your mobile phone (you may need to buy a local SIM card for this), and the cost of the trip is fixed. The app allows you to pay for your ride with a card or cash.

Beware of scams

Vietnam is known for its tourist traps and scams, so we've listed some of the most common ones below so you can recognize and avoid them:

• Taxi scam. Taxi scams are a common occurrence in Vietnam, especially in touristy places. Some taxi drivers take advantage of tourists' ignorance by driving them in circles to increase the fare or by charging exorbitant prices. To avoid getting scammed, use a trusted taxi service or a taxi app like Grab. Always ask for the fare before getting into a taxi and make sure the meter is on.
• Fake tours and tickets. Beware of cheap tours or tickets. Some tour operators may offer low prices, only to take you to fake attractions or make you pay additional fees once you are on the tour. To avoid this, research the company in advance and read reviews from other travelers.
• Money exchange scams. Some currency exchange offices may advertise favorable exchange rates, but actually give you less money than you should get. To avoid this, always check the exchange rate in advance and exchange money only in reliable exchange offices or banks.
• Motorcycle rental scams. Motorcycle rental scams are common in Vietnam, especially in popular tourist destinations. Some rental companies may ask for an inflated deposit and then claim damages that were already on the motorcycle or even steal it. To avoid this, rent a motorcycle only from trusted companies and take photos of it before and after the rental.

Napkins are not free

You may be used to a waiter bringing you an unlimited number of napkins and you don't have to pay, but in Vietnam, this is not the case. Iced tea or jasmine tea is free as soon as you order from the menu, but each napkin costs 2000 or 3000 dong. Waiters even linger at your table and count the number of napkins used.

Book train tickets at the station

Always buy your ticket at the train station, not at the hotel. Your hotel will charge you a "basic" service fee of VND200,000. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.

Buses with sleeping places

If you plan to travel from city to city and are on a budget, sleeper buses are a good solution. The individual seats are similar to beds, allowing you to fully stretch your legs and recline to a lying position. Traveling by these buses from Hanoi to Sapa, from Hoi An to Nha Trang and from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City will cost about $12 per trip.

Sources:

1.  https://www.holidify.com

2.  https://thetravelista.net

3.  https://forevervacation.com

Vietnamese embassies around the world can be found here: https://www.vietnamonline.com/embassy-locator.html