Travel Tip | Bus from/to Ho Chi Minh City Airport

Ho Chi Minh City Airport to the city:

When exiting the international airport terminal, turn on your right and look for the bus station. Get on the bus 152, fare from the airport to Pham Ngu Lao area is about 5000 dong as of November 2014. The ride is about 45 min to an hour with traffic.

There are many stops on the journey, but if you’re heading to the backpack area of Ho Chi Minh City, alight at the terminal (Ben Tan market). From there you can easily walk to the backpack area namely Pham Ngu Lao.

City to Ho Chi Minh City Airport:

Similarly to above, to get to the airport the cheapest way is to use the public transportation. From Pham Ngu Lao area, walk to the Ben Tan bus station find across the Ben Tan Market.

There take the bus 152 direction Tan Son Nhat, which is the name of the HCMC airport. The ride is about 30 minutes with no traffic, and the first bus is at 6am. For very early flight, taxi is a better option. The bus terminal is the international airport, the stop before is the domestic terminal.

Bon Voyage!

Travel Tip – Tourist Visa for Vietnam

Those of us who need a tourist visa to enter Vietnam can get it in two ways.

Visa before Arrival:
If you want or need a visa stamp on your passport before arriving in Vietnam contact the closest Vietnam Embassy. They usually request ID photos, filling a form, and of course Money! Also, it is likely they will keep your passport for a few days to stamp it.

Visa on Arrival:
For those of you like me lucky enough to hold a passport that rarely requires a tourist visa before arrival, but realizing at the last-minute that I may actually need a visa for Vietnam…You can get a visa on arrival, but first you will need a Letter of Approval.

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Visa Approval Letter is a letter issued and confirmed by Vietnam Immigration Department. By showing the approval letter at Vietnam Airports upon arrival, traveller can pick up Visa and get the visa stamped on their passports. At the airport, the corresponding authority will verify the details on the approval letter based on your passport and travel documents.

Overall Application Guidelines for Vietnam Visa Letters of Approval:

1. Access the website of the agency: There are many agencies (below is my few cents on the one I used vietnamvisapro.net
2. Fill the required information on the online application form and Continue reading

Travel Tip – Hong Kong

I thought I will write a bit about the organization of my trip, that may help one of you if you’re planning to go to Hong Kong. I split it more or less 3 sections Travel/hotel/Must do and don’t.

Travel:

Turbo Jet counter, Macau

Turbo Jet counter, Macau

Macau – Hong Kong: On my way back to HK I took the Turbo Jet ferry from Macau to Kowloon (where my hotel was). The trip was about one hour; I have a seat next to a window, but unfortunately could not see much thanks to the foggy weather. You can check on the company website www.turbojet.com.hk/en/In Hong Kong it took about 40 to 60 minutes to pass the immigration. Note: I was disappointed by HK authority’s decision a few months back to not give stamp or passport anymore but rather a paper slip.

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Travel Tip – Macau

I thought I will write a bit about the organization of my trip, that may help one of you if you’re planning to go to Macau. I split it more or less 3 sections Travel/hotel/Must do and don’t.

Turbo Jet

Turbo Jet

Travel:
Singapore – HK Airport with Jet Star early morning flight (6:30am and landed around 10:30am) then

HK Airport Ferry Terminal – Macau Ferry Terminal with TurboJet. It is slightly pricier than taking the Ferry from HK but faster since you don’t have to go to HK and come back to Macau. It also has the advantage to avoid Customs since you stay in the International Zone while transferring from HK Airport to the Ferry terminal. One thing though, although the trip is about 45 min, departures are less frequent. You can check on the company website www.turbojet.com.hk/en/

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