When you are in Vietnam, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by

It contains new and updated information under Entry and exit (we recommend you apply for a visa from your nearest embassy or consulate of Vietnam) u2 tour and under Local travel (motorcycles). We continue to advise Australians to exercise normal safety precautions u2 tour in Vietnam.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death sentence. Vietnamese authorities have strict security measures to combat drug trafficking. Over 20 Australians are currently u2 tour serving long sentences for drug trafficking in Vietnam.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions u2 tour (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam for the most up to date information and instructions on applying for a Vietnamese visa.
You must obtain a visa or a visa on arrival approval letter (the visa on arrival letter allows you to obtain a visa on arrival) prior to entering Vietnam. People attempting to enter Vietnam without a valid visa or visa on arrival approval letter risk being sent back to their last port of departure. You should review all visa conditions and carefully note any conditions u2 tour listed on the immigration stamp which you will receive on arrival.
There has been an increase in the number of Australians applying online u2 tour for a visa on arrival approval letter. However,there have been reports of visa scams involving online Vietnamese visa applications. There have also been reports of applicants personal details being made public by online visa websites. As result, we recommend you apply for a Vietnamese visa from your nearest Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam .
Your passport must have at least six months remaining validity at the time of arrival in Vietnam. If you lose your passport which contains your visa for Vietnam or the visa document issued by Vietnamese authorities, you will need to obtain an exit visa from a Vietnamese immigration office. u2 tour Vietnamese authorities will not permit you to depart Vietnam until the exit visa is issued. Processing may take up to 4 working days and a fee is payable.
All foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Foreigners staying with family or friends u2 tour in a private home must comply with this requirement. Failure to do so could result in fines. If you are staying at a hotel, this is done as part of the normal check-in process and you will be required u2 tour to provide your passport to the hotel for this purpose.
Foreign currency (including cash and travellers cheques) in excess of US$5,000 cash exceeding Vietnamese Dong 15,000,000 and gold exceeding 300 grams must be declared at customs (with supporting documentation) upon arrival and departure. Excess currency and gold not declared may be confiscated at the port of entry/exit u2 tour and the passenger arrested and/or fined.
u2 tour Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Internal conflict is rare in Vietnam, although some localised violent clashes between protesters and police have, in the past, resulted in a small number of casualties. You should avoid all public gatherings and demonstrations as they have the potential to turn violent. You should avoid taking photographs of demonstrations, the military or police as this may not be tolerated by the Vietnamese authorities.
Street u2 tour crime and harassment occur, especially in larger cities. Aggravated theft and assault occur, particularly in Hanoi, u2 tour Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, u2 tour Sapa (particularly on the train to/from Lao Cai) and Cat Ba Island (near Ha Long Bay).
Snatch-and-grab crimes against pedestrians by thieves on motorcycles are frequent and have sometimes resulted in injury to victims. These types of crimes can occur when crossing the street or walking along footpaths. Be aware that jewellery, handbags, phones and cameras u2 tour are popular targets for criminals. Pay close attention to your personal possession at all times and avoid carrying or wearing objects that can be easily grabbed.
There have been reported cases of tourists becoming victims of gambling and taxi scams. At airports, travellers u2 tour are advised to use airport taxis, prearranged hotel transfer services or taxis from clearly marked taxi ranks with minders. Check that any person holding a placard with your name on it knows your destination. Be aware of people who are overly friendly towards you and invite you back to their home. These approaches may lead to gambling scams, in which some Australians have lost thousands of dollars. There have been reports of late night taxi scams involving foreigners. You should ensure that, if you are catching a taxi late at night, you choose a reputable and reliable company u2 tour and that the taxi driver knows your destination before entering the taxi.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access u2 tour your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult your bank on the most appropriate currency to carry in Vietnam and whether your ATM card will work in Vietnam. Incidents of card swiping have occurred throughout Vietnam and you should keep your credit card in sight at all times.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, u2 tour report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, u2 tour High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
If your passport is lost or stolen in Vietnam, in addition to obtaining a new passport, you will also need to get your visa reissued. You must obtain a police report from the local police office. You will then need to submit the police report to Vietnamese immigration authorities together with a request for a new visa.
Traffic accidents occur often in Vietnam. A number of Australians have suffered serious injuries from road accidents in Vietnam in recent years. Driving standards and vehicle and road maintenance are generally poor. Motorcycle and inter-city bus travel have particularly high accident rates.
You should consider u2 tour the risks of driving a car or riding a motorcycle in Vietnam, particularly u2 tour if you are unfamiliar with local conditions. If you are involved in an accident, you may be required to make large compensation payments.
You should be aware that you must have a valid Vietnamese driver's licence to drive in Vietnam, including for motorcycles of 50cc or more. Under Vietnamese law, you must wear a helmet at all times when riding a motorcycle u2 tour in Vietnam, including when travelling as a passenger. Fines for riding a motorcycle u2 tour without a valid licence range from between VND800,000 and VND6,000,000.
For more information on driving overseas, see our Travel Bulletin: u2 tour Overseas Road Safety . For information on obtaining a Vietnamese driver's licence (including temporary driver's licences) visit the website of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi .
If you plan to visit the Long Tan Cross site in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, you should note that the site is located on non-public land and visitors are required to follow certain procedures u2 tour to access the site. See the Embassy's website for further information.
Boats, hydrofoils u2 tour and ferries in Vietnam may not meet Australian safety standards. Accidents on waterways do occur and there have been a number of fatalities resulting from vessels sinking, for example, in Ha Long Bay. Whenever considering traveling by boat, you should ask tour operators about the safety record u2 tour and emergency procedures, as well as ensure there is adequate safety equipment such as life vests on board.
When you are in Vietnam, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. Under the Vietnamese penal code, a person caught in possession of even a small amount of heroin can be sentenced to death. There are over 20 Australians currently serving life sentences for drug trafficking offences. Vietnamese authorities have strict security and investigative measures to combat drug trafficking.
Gambling, except in government licensed casinos, u2 tour is illegal in Vietnam. Anyone found to be in violation of this law is subject to steep fines and/or a severe prison sentence. Access to licensed casinos is restricted to holders of foreign passports.
Local laws prohibit u2 tour possession of pornographic, non-state sanctioned political and religious material. Being caught in possession of this type of material will attract penalties, including fines and detention.
Foreign citizens u2 tour suspected by local authorities to be involved in non-state sanctioned political or religious activities may be denied entry into Vietnam, detained, deported or prevented from departing Vietnam until authorities have completed investigations of their activities.
There has been an increase u2 tour in incidents where local authorities have prevented the departure from Vietnam of foreigners involved in a commercial dispute by withholding their passport until the dispute is resolved.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating u2 tour to money laundering, bribery of foreign u2 tour public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, u2 tour apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
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