Vietnam’s tourist VAT refund moved to Circular 84/2026/TT-BTC on 1 July 2026. The six conditions goods must meet, the 2 million VND threshold, why you get 85% rather than all of it, and the one step that kills most claims: checking your bags first.
Vietnam VAT Refund 2026: New Rules Since 1 July Read More »
Over US$5,000 in foreign currency or 15 million VND, and leaving Vietnam requires more than a declaration: you need an export certificate from a licensed bank, issued at a branch during banking hours. The leftover-dong trap and how to avoid it.
Taking Money Out of Vietnam: The Bank Letter Nobody Mentions Read More »
Arriving in Vietnam is one queue. Leaving is three — airline check-in, immigration, then security screening — and each one starts you at the back. What gets checked on the way out, what has to happen before your bags go on the belt, and how long to actually allow.
Leaving Vietnam: The Three Queues Nobody Warns You About Read More »
Ordinary medication: bring what your trip needs. Controlled medication is capped by law at 7 days’ supply for narcotics and 10 days’ for psychotropics — and the classification that counts is Vietnam’s, not your own country’s.
Bringing Prescription Medication Into Vietnam Read More »
One lighter per person, carry-on only, never in a checked bag. But the count is the easy part — torch and jet flame lighters are banned from both cabin and hold, and so is lighter fuel. A type-by-type breakdown of what survives screening and what does not.
Which Lighters Are Allowed on a Plane? Type by Type Read More »
Vietnam caps controlled medication at 7 days’ supply for narcotics and 10 days for psychotropics — far less than the month most travellers pack for a month-long trip. Which category your drug falls in, exactly what your prescription must say, and the two routes for a longer stay.
Controlled Medication in Vietnam: The 7-Day and 10-Day Limits Read More »
Vietnamese law doesn’t treat pepper spray the way most Western countries do. It falls under “support tools” — equipment reserved for authorised agencies, with no civilian self-defence exemption. Here’s how the classification works, what actually happens at airport screening, and what solo travellers carry instead.
Is Pepper Spray Illegal in Vietnam? What Travellers Need to Know Read More »
Vietnam requires a customs declaration for gold above 300 grams — roughly eight taels. Below that, nothing to do. Most travellers are nowhere near the line; the people it’s written for are carrying wedding gold or bars.
Bringing Gold Into Vietnam: The 300-Gram Line Read More »
Six steps in order, from 60 days before your flight to the immigration counter: passport expiry, visa requirement, e-visa, pre-arrival form, customs limits, arrival. Each one links to the full guide, so you can start at the step you’re actually on.
Vietnam Entry Checklist: Every Document, in the Order You Need It Read More »
You submitted the Vietnam pre-arrival declaration — now what? Where the QR code arrives, how to fix a mistake after submitting, what to do when your flight changes, whether you need to print it, and exactly where the code gets scanned (immigration, not customs).
You’ve Submitted the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form. Here’s What Happens Next. Read More »
Vietnam banned vapes and heated tobacco completely from 1 January 2025 — import, possession and use, with no exemption for tourists. Devices are confiscated at the border and using one costs 3–5 million VND. Carry-on or checked makes no difference.
Can I Bring a Vape to Vietnam? No — And Here’s Exactly What Happens If You Try Read More »
No visa needed — the Chinese Passport for Public Affairs (black cover) enters Vietnam visa-free for 90 days and gets stamped directly, unlike the red E-series passport.
Does a Passport for Public Affairs Need a Vietnam Visa? Read More »
Holders of the Chinese Passport for Public Affairs (因公普通护照, black cover) enter Vietnam visa-free for 90 days and are stamped directly in the passport — unlike the red E-series passport, which never receives a Vietnamese stamp. How to tell the four Chinese passport types apart at the border.
Passport for Public Affairs in Vietnam: 90 Days Visa-Free, Stamped Directly Read More »
Korean citizens enter Vietnam visa-free for 45 days (policy valid to March 2028) — no application, no fee. Here’s when you still need an e-visa (USD 25 single / USD 50 multiple), how to apply, and the mandatory free pre-arrival form every Korean traveller must complete before landing.
Vietnam Visa for Korean Citizens 2026: 45 Days Visa-Free & When You Still Need an E-Visa Read More »
The Vietnam Pre-Arrival Declaration is completely free at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn. Here’s how to spot scam sites that charge for it — plus 3 quick rules before you submit.
Is the Vietnam Pre-Arrival Form Free? (Yes — Here’s the Official Site) Read More »
No — Vietnam does not require travel insurance for entry or any visa, and treatment here is cheap with prices set by law. The narrow case for buying a policy anyway: medical evacuation, and the motorbike exclusion.
Do You Need Travel Insurance for Vietnam? What’s Actually Required Read More »