Air access
Vietnam has three international airports: Hanoi (Noi Bai), Danang (Danang) and Saigon (Tan Son Nhat). Noi Bai Airport is 34 km from the downtown of Hanoi whilst Danang Airport and Tan Son Nhat Airport are almost in the centre of the cities.
Cities with directs flight to Hanoi/Noi Bai Airport are Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Nanzningz, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Vientiane.
Airline Companies currently serving in Hanoi are Aeroflot, Air France, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Laos Aviation, Malaysian Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines. 
Cities with directs flight to Saigon /Tan Son Nhat Airport are Bangkok, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Melbourne, Osaka, Paris, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Siem Reap, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Vienna, Vientiane and Zurich.
Airline Companies currently serving in Saigon are Aeroflot, Air France, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Southern Airlines, Korean Air, Lauda Air, Laos Aviation, Lufthansa German Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swissair, Thai Airways, Royal Air Cambodge, and of course Vietnam Airlines.
Since November 1, 1999, Thai Airways has opened the direct flights from Bangkok to Danang on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Domestic flights are served by Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Airlines (mostly). 

[See price and timetable of domestic flights]
 

Vietnam Airlines
Hanoi:  1 Quang Trung St., Hanoi, tel: (84) 4-8320 320
Saigon: 116-118 Nguyen Hue Blvd., tel: (84) 8-8292 118
 

Pacific Airlines
Hanoi: 152 Le Duan St., tel: (84) 4-5181 503
Saigon: 77 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1, tel: (84) 8-8231 285  

Airport tax: US$ 14 (international flight) and US$ 1.5 (domestic fight) for every passenger on every departure.

Overland
You can also get into Vietnam by land from China, Laos and Cambodia but the Visa must be indicated clearly by Vietnamese Embassies with one or two of the below Entry Points. Tourists can pass the border at the following Entry Points:

* From China: Huu Nghi, Lao Cai
* From Laos: Cau Treo, Lao Bao.
* From Cambodia: Moc Bai, Vinh Xuong.

Entry formalities
Entry visas are obtainable at Vietnamese diplomatic missions and required for all visitors with valid passports irrespective of nationality. Please allow ten days for processing. Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.

In case visa approval is arranged by VTO, we would like to offer you two ways to obtain visa: through Embassies & General Consulates of Vietnam or Visa on arrival.

Customs regulations
Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in Declaration Forms and show their luggage to Customs Officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of 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: 50-100; Tobacco: 100 gram; Liquor: 1.5l.

Personal effects of a reasonable quantity. Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 500.

Note: There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems people can bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 must be declared.

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

* 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 red-book may not be brought out of the country.

Climate

See VIETNAM in BRIEF

Health equipment
No actual vaccinations are officially required. Malaria prophylaxis is no longer recommended but visitors are advised to check with their doctors or travel immunization clinics regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A & B.