The last church was too small. Thus, in 1863, Admiral Bonard decided to build a wooden church on the bank of Charner canal (Kinh Lớn). Lefevre put the first stone for construction of the church on 28 March 1863. The construction was completed two years later and was called "Saigon Church". When the wooden church was damaged by termites, all church services were held in the guest-chamber of the French Governor's Palace. This palace would later be turned into a seminary until the Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed.

After the design competition, bids were accepted for construction. Again, J. Bourad was the successful bidder and became supervisor of constructions.

Originally, there were three proposed sites for construction:

On the site of the former test school (today, this is at the corner of Le Duan Boulevard and Hai Ba Trung Street).

At Kinh Lon (today it is Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard)

At the present site where the cathedral is situated.

All building materials were imported from France. The outside wall of the cathedral was built with bricks from Marseille. Although the contractor did not use coated concrete, these bricks have retained their bright red color until today.

On 7 October 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the first stone in an inaugural ceremony. The construction of the cathedral took three years. On Easter Day, 11 April 1880, a blessing ceremony and ceremony of completion were solemnly organized in presence of the Governor of Cochinchina Charles Le Myre de Vilers. One can see the granite plate inside the main entry gate commemorating the start and completion dates and designer. The total cost was 2,500,000 French francs (at that time price). At the beginning, the cathedral was called State Cathedral due to source of the construction cost.

In 1895, two bell towers were added to the cathedral, each 57.6 m high with six bronze bells with the total weight of 28.85 metric tonnes. The crosses were installed on the top of each tower of 3.5 m high, 2 m wide, and 600 kg in weight. The total height of the cathedral to the top of the Cross is 60.5 m.

In the flower garden in front of the cathedral, there was a bronze statue of Pigneau de Behaine (also called Bishop of Adran) leading Prince Cảnh, the son of Emperor Gia Long by his right hand. The statue was made in France. In 1945, the statue was removed, but the foundation remains.

In 1959, Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien, whose jurisdiction included Saigon parish, attended the Holy Mother Congress held in Vatican and ordered a Peaceful Notre Dame statue made with granite in Rome. When the statue arrived in Saigon on 16 February 1959, Bishop Pham Van Thien held a ceremony to install the statue on the empty base and presented the title of "Regina Pacis". It was the same bishop who wrote the prayers "Notre-Dame bless the peace to Vietnam". The next day, Cardinal Aganianian came from Rome to chair the closing ceremony of the Holy Mother Congress and solemnly chaired the ceremony for the statue, thus the cathedral was then-on called Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Authorities of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac districts have encouraged local people to do their best to impress tourists. A tourist comes from France said that his family and himself were fascinated by the warmness and hospitality of the locals when touring around scenic and relic sites as well as enjoying traditional festivals of ethnic minorities.

In this year, Ha Giang province aim to welcome more than 400.000 travellers, up to 20% from 2012 and earn more than 450 billion VND in turnover. In the first 4 months of this year, it is nearly 200 thousands visitors came to Dong Van Geopark. On October 3rd of 2010, Dong Van Geopark was recognized as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks. It is the first geological park of Vietnam and the second one in Southeast Asia, after Langkawi Geological Park in Malaysia.

Being untouched for hundreds millions of years, this plateau with 80 % of limestone contains fossils of thousands of creatures in the prehistoric times. Now 574 square kilometer of the plateau is home to nearly 250 thousand people from 17 different ethnic groups.

There are also other tourist attractions in the locality such as Lung Tam linen weaving village, Love market, Khau Vai stone forest, Lung Cu flag tower, Lo Lo Chai and Mong cultural tourism villages. In the south, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho was teemed with over17,000 holiday-makers in April 30 alone, especially in Phong Dien, Con Au and Cai Cui tourist areas.

Manager of My Khanh eco-tourism company - Le Van Sang said his eco-tourism village welcomed around 15,000 arrivals from April 28-30. The number was approximated at 6,000 on May 1.

With over30 boats operating, tourists got a chance to adopt cruise tours return and forth My Khanh eco-tourist village, Ninh Kieu wharf and Cai Rang floating market. In Kien Giang province, travel and lodging agencies worked at their full capacity as vacationers were only available in flocks. Approximately 8,000 tourists, including some 4,000 foreigners took their vacation in Phu Quoc island, dubbed as being a “tourism paradise” to the south-western region.

The bay covers a total area of 15,783 hectares, including 6,125 hectares of land, and is home to 1,090 species of fauna and flora. The park is considered a priceless national treasure according to Vietnam travel guide.

According to Dr. Bui Tat Thang from the Strategic Development Institute of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Bai Tu Long includes all three fundamental ecosystems: forest, wetlands and sea – a diverse area for different species to live and develop.

In the park, 102 rare and precious species, including 72 species of fauna and 30 varieties of flora listed in Vietnam’s red book of endangered species can be found.

The park also has 1,000 hectares of wetlands, which includes mangrove forest, sandy and rocky tidal banks and seaweed that provide food and shelter for animals.

The wetlands ecosystem, with its impressive scenery and biodiversity, has attracted many eco-tourism, environmental education and research activities.

The area of coral accounts for only a minor section of the park, but has an important role to play as an aquatic resource. It has high biological productivity and is a gene bank for many types of sea species.

Besides the extremely diverse biological environment, the park also has archeological value, with evidence of ancient Viet people residing here 14,000 years ago.

Operational since April, 2002, Bai Tu Long National Park is a stunning tourism spot with a rich ecosystem, therefore it should receive sustainable protection, conservation and development.

The speaker panel at the recent workshop on the potentials of the Asian tourism industry agreed that the cruise tourism in Asia, including Vietnam, which has developed in recent years, would continue developing more strongly in the upcoming years.

It was estimated that 1.7 million people in the world traveled in cruises in 2011. But the number of cruise travelers to Asia was still modest.

However, experts have predicted that about 25 percent of the world’s travelers would come to the region by 2020. Vietnam, in Asia, is believed to be an attractive destination with many world’s heritages, thousands of kilometers of coastline and warm weather.

Tran Trong Kien, General Director of Thien Minh Group, has confirmed that the demand has been growing very well, saying that he expects a 25 percent growth rate in the next five years.

Kien has revealed that the group has been equipped with 10 ships to carry passengers at the Ha Long Bay. However, he still fears that the fleet may not satisfy the high demand in the next few years.

ASEAN Tourism in late September 2012 at the Cruise Shipping Asia – Pacific trade fair at that time also said in the press release that the cruise tourism was booming in South East Asia.

The big cruises of Costa Cruises like Costa Deliziosa, or Royal Caribbean cruises, or Voyager of Seas have decided to choose Singapore as the main port for stays. They have also considered docking at Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang and Malacca in Malaysia, Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand, Bali and Komodo in Indonesia, HCM City, Da Nang and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Phan Xuan Anh, President of Viet Excursions, said the US and European cruise firms have strengthened their ads for the new destinations in Asia, including Vietnam. Therefore, Anh said the number of cruise tourists has been increasing rapidly.

Viet Excursions, for example, has seen the orders from November 2012 to April 2013 increasing by 50 percent in comparison with the same period of the previous year, the highest growth rate of the firm so far.
Jeannie Lim from the Singaporean tourism agency said that the Singapore, which has also realized the tendency, has set up a cruise tourism center to develop the cruise tourism.

She also said that cruise tourists always target many different destinations; therefore, regional countries should join forces to attract international tourists.

Kien from Thien Minh has noted that travelers now tend to learn about trips and book tours online. A survey of Thien Minh has found that in Vietnam, 10 percent of bookings is made online, but the figure is expected to increase to 20-30 percent in the next 2-3 years.

“The online booking has increased sharply since 2012, and I strongly believe that the tendency would be growing,” Kien said.

Craig Douglas from VinaCapital has noted that travelers nowadays tend to book tours later than they did in the past. Especially, in Asia, travelers only book tours several days before the departure time, or just several days before the holidays.

TBKTSG

It is presented by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration that the visa-free policy should be kept for 7 major markets, including Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, South Korea, Finland and Norway. Besides, the duration of stay for travelers should be 30 days instead of 15 days in the visa exemption rule at the present.

Early in this month, the Vietnamese Tourism Association also presented to the Prime Minister about the proposals concerning visa issued at the border, and continued visa exemption policy for tourists from the seven markets mentioned above, presenting that the policy has boosted the growth of arrivals from important markets.

Arrivals from Japan, South Korea and Russia totaled 1.45 million with revenues of 2 billion dollars last year. If the visa exemption is removed, the growths of such markets may be dropped by 50 %.

The provincial Culture, Sport and Tourism Department’s recent survey showed that the reasons the travellers gave for returning are improved services, stable prices, beautiful landscapes and a wide range of attractions.

Visitors from Russia , the Republic of Korea , Australia , and US account for the largest portion of foreign arrivals in Khanh Hoa. Russia has risen from the fourth position in 2010 to lead all other foreign tourism markets of the province.

In addition, Russian visitors stay longer and spend more than those from other countries.

“Russian tourists usually stay for an average 7 to 10 days, some even stay for a month to learn water sports. They like resorts and spa, sea bathing, mud-bath, and water sports,” said Phan Thanh Truc, Vice Director of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

So far this year, Khanh Hoa received 171,000 foreign visitors, an increase of 27 percent compared to the same period last year, of whom 35,000 were from Russia.-VNA

The festival will feature a wide range of cultural and sporting activities, including a display of flowers and ornamental plants at Van Hoa Park, an art photo exhibition themed “ Sapa Colour” and folk cultural festive days at Ham Rong tourist site.

A Cat Cat village culture festival and a Mong ethnic pan-pipe competition will also be held.

This year’s Reunification and International Labour Days holiday is expected to bring a large number of tourists to Sapa. The district asked relevant agencies to ensure security and food hygiene and safety. VNA

Babe lake is covered by the tropical and semi-tropical evergreen Thai monsoon forest with the rich bio diversity of about 50 animal species, more than 400 plants and so many species of insects, reptiles and birds. The ten seriously endangered animal in the park include two primates, the Black Gibbon and the Tonkinese "snub-nosed" monkey.

Sitting on a flat-bottomed boats slide across the still water and see the natural landscape around is a feeling hard to describe. The latter is one of the world’s rarest species and on the brink of extinction. Flora and Fauna International is working with the park authorities and other agencies to save this attractive creature.

Actually, Ba Be Lake includes three separate lakes connected together by wide channels. In total, it is about 7km long and 1km wide. This giant lake is home to about 50 species of freshwater fish. The surface of the lake is nearly always still that makes a boat trip a smooth experience. Moreover, you can also visit caves and islands here.

Living in the National Park area are a lot of small villages of ethnic minority inhabitants such as Tay, Red Dao, Coin Dao and White H’Mong people. There are just a few chances for travellers to see the colorful traditional costumes of those groups excepting in the performances and demonstration for tourists.{itpsharepoint}

After two years of construction, the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh was officially inaugurated on August 29,1975. The facade of the mausoleum faces the historic Ba Dinh Square.

The mausoleum is divided into three layers with a combined height of 21.6 meters. The lowest layer forms a terraced stand exclusively used for the presidium of grand meetings organized at the grassy Ba Dinh Square. The second layer is the central piece of the mausoleum where the remains of the president is kept in a chamber accessible through a series of passages and flights of marble staircases. The upper part of the mausoleum is the roof resembling a three terraced steps. The facade of the upper part bears an inscription "President Ho Chi Minh" made of dark violet precious stone.

The mausoleum is the place to keep the remains of President Ho Chi Minh, the great patriotic who had been conferred the title "World Cultural Activist" and the national hero. The conferment was made on the occasion of the centenary anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's Birthday (1890-1990).

The mausoleum project was the results of artistic labor of both Vietnamese and former Soviet Union scientists in respect for President Ho Chi Minh.{itpsharepoint}

As a unique mix of the variety of culture features from Chinese, Vietnamese and European, Ho Chi Minh City includes a plenty of splendid building and beautiful sightseeing. After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). Ho Chi Minh City is definitely a symbol of a combination between the traditional national values of northern and western cultures. {itpsharepoint}

Diem Phung Thi (1920-2002), a Vietnamese – French sculptor, returned to Vietnam in 1993, is a member of the prestigious European Academy for Science, Literature and Arts. Her villa, where exhibits 50 artworks shipped from France shortly before her death, 36 works created in Hue after her return to Vietnam and another 60 works, is now a museum dedicating her life and proprietary of Hue City Museum.

At the time of this press, the local authority is preparing a proposal to upgrade this Phung Thi Museum to attract more visitors, not only local art students. {itpsharepoint}

The marketplace, which formerly positioned outside the citadel’s Chanh Dong Gate and burnt down in the summer of 1885, was restored and named Dong Ba in 1887 by

King Dong Khanh. In 1889, it was shifted to the crossroads of Huong River and the west bank of Dong Ba Canal – a small canal linking the bazaar with the busy river port of Bao Vinh, Lo Street and Thanh Ha.

Dong Ba Market is not only popular for being a symbol of Hue’s civilization but also a place for tourists to enjoy and buy such specialties and traditional crafts as:

· Phu Cam conical hats

· Hien Luong scissors

· bronze articles of the Duc guild

· Phuoc Tich pottery

· Bao La rattan and bamboo products

· Ke Mon jewelry

· Nam Thuan sweets

· Tuan tea

· Huong Can mandarins

· Luong Quan-Nguyet Bieu shaddocks - pomelos

· Tinh Tam lotus

· Everyday Hue dishes: clam rice, beef noodles, shrimp cakes, pancakes, bean puddings, sour shrimps, and My Lai shredded

In addition, the locals maintain growing betel trees and building houses in traditional style. The local people's love for martial arts, self-sacrifice for just motherland and mutual affection differentiate them from the others. This land is also famous for the heroic struggles of its people against the French and American invaders.

Growing betel is the commune's biggest currency earner. In the commune, travelers will see a carpet of everlasting green of betel leaves. If you stand under the betel trees' foliage, you will rarely get wet in the rain because they grow so thick. Using horse-drawn cart, tourists can have a sightseeing tour of the whole commune, talk with the locals. They are open and hospitable so that they will always tell you something such as the heroism of their ancestors during the two resistance wars.{itpsharepoint}

Having a three month multiple entry visa, applicants can enter and exit Vietnam with an unlimited times of visits within the visa validity (3 months). However, some posts updated recently stated that this type of visa is not accepted at Vietnam airports anymore. People can't be granted this visa directly at the airport and anyone applying for this visa must visit an embassy to get their visa stamped on their passport prior to departure.

Along with this news, many online agencies stop providing this visa type nearly at the same time. This will not become a problem if all travellers visit an embassy to get their 3 month multiple entry visa before their trip. It's not always convenient for a traveller to visit an embassy to make visa procedure due to the long distance or processing time. Most travellers prefer getting their visa in a simplest and fastest way even non-working day or public holiday so they choose visa on arrival service.

At the present, a large number of visa online agents has stopped providing 3 month multiple vietnam visa on arrival. However, we are pleased to inform that you can still be granted the 3 month multiple entry Vietnam visa on arrival by using our service. We are still providing 3 month multiple vietnam visa within normal processing time. Please put all your worries aside and contact us for any further questions you may have about visa issues.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to reduce your air travel costs, but there are certain things to bear in mind to ensure that you get the best possible price.

Planning and Research

The first thing to do is to try to plan as far ahead as possible and begin to research flights as soon as you have your confirmed travel date. Travel comparison sites are a good place to start. Don’t book your flight too early, but start to get an idea of the initial ball park figure so that you have something to compare against. Check back regularly to see if prices are reducing.

Frequent Flyer and Membership Schemes

Like all businesses, airlines prefer to retain existing customers and build a list. If you have a particular airline that you regularly fly with, check for frequent flyer and membership schemes. Not only will you be on the email list for price alerts, but in some cases you can qualify for an instant price discount of up to 10% just by registering as a member.

Flexibility

Being flexible about when you can fly will often help secure you a better deal. The days that airlines have the most difficulty filling seats are Tuesdays and Wednesdays so fares will often be reduced on these days. If at all possible, avoid school holidays. Airlines are businesses and they are there to make money. As unscrupulous as it seems, demand for seats rises at times when families want to travel and airlines will put the price of seats up accordingly.

Many flight prices also depend on which airport you fly from. Being prepared to travel a little distance away from your local airport can often secure you a much better price.

Timing

Understanding how airlines work can help you buy your ticket at the best price. Flights are released and available to book around ten months before the departure date. Airlines will price tickets quite high initially and then sit back and gauge the response. They will then introduce sale prices usually around 6 weeks before departure for any seats left. This is the optimum time to book your flight as prices will then begin to creep back up nearer to the departure date.

Flight prices are unlikely to come down in the near future. Following this advice may help you to reduce your air travel costs. Flexibility, advance planning, and a little knowledge on how airlines work, should help you to find cheaper air tickets.

Getting visa on arrival at Vietnam airport for air traveller

Getting visa on arrival at international airports of Vietnam is also preferable option to reduce cost for air travellers. The fee to get visa on arrival Vietnam is much cheaper than getting visa at embassy or consulate. Many people choose to come to embassy or consulate to get visa because of their trust in the embassy, that’s why they ignore Vietnam visa on arrival.

In fact, Vietnam visa on arrival is very trustworthy and legitimate. There will be no one who dares to make a fake approval letter to cheat you some dollars to be accused of a serious crime.

When it comes to travel documents, it is even more important to exercise caution. After all, not securing the right travel documents could end your trip before it even begins. If you have traveled internationally before, chances are you already have a valid passport, but if you are planning a trip to a more exotic destination, you might find that you need additional documentation, like a valid entry visa.

If you are planning to travel to Vietnam, you will need a valid entry visa in addition to a passport. Many new travelers are intimidated by this visa requirement, but it is really quite simple to obtain the documentation you need, even before you leave home.

There are a number of ways to get the entry visa you need to travel to Vietnam, but not all options are equally convenient. One choice is to travel to an embassy, where you can present your identification and get the entry visa you need.

The problem is that many people do not live anywhere near an embassy. If you live in a major city, you may be lucky enough to have an embassy within a reasonable driving distance. If not, you could be looking at a long drive, or a costly plane ticket, just to get to the embassy. Once there, you could face further obstacles in the form of limited hours and low staffing levels.

The good news is that you do not need to travel to a far off embassy to get the travel documents you need to enter the country of Vietnam. The government of Vietnam has created a program known as the Vietnam visa on arrival. This program allows travelers to submit their identification documents to an authorized travel agency and receive an official letter. When the traveler arrives in Vietnam, he or she presents that official letter and receives an entry visa. The process is designed to be simple, easy to understand, and very streamlined.

Some first time travelers to Vietnam may wonder if the Vietnam visa on arrival program is trustworthy and legitimate. The truth is that this program has been designed by the Vietnamese government, and the officials at all airports in Vietnam are well aware of it and have a thorough understanding of how it works. That means you can rest assured that your arrival letter will be honored when you arrive at the airport in Vietnam. You can simply get your official approval letter, put it with your passport and board your flight. Then when you arrive, you can disembark, present your letter, go through customs and be on your way.

There are a number of ways to get the paperwork you need to enter the country of Vietnam for a business trip or personal vacation. You obviously need a passport to enter the country, and if you have traveled internationally before you probably already have one. But the country of Vietnam imposes a few additional requirements for business and leisure travelers, and it is important to be prepared for those differences.

In addition to your passport, you need to have a legitimate visa in order to enter the country of Vietnam. There are a number of ways to get the visa you need, including traveling to an embassy to get the required document. The problem is that many people do not have easy access to a local embassy, and that can make it difficult to get the travel documents you need.

That is why the country of Vietnam allows business travelers and leisure tourists to obtain the entry visa they need when they arrive at the airport in Vietnam. The Vietnam visa on arrival program has been approved by the Vietnam Immigration Department, an arm of the Vietnamese government. The fact that this program has been approved by the government of Vietnam shows that it is a legitimate service, not a scam like some unscrupulous travel operators have claimed.

One important thing to keep in mind about the Vietnam visa on arrival program is that all of the paperwork is prepared and documentation verified before the traveler ever leaves his or her home country. The fact that the paperwork has all been completed and everything is in order ahead of time makes it easy for the government officials to process those travel documents when the business person or leisure traveler steps off the plane.

With the Vietnam visa on arrival program, the person traveling simply disembarks from his or her flight, then steps up to a special area of the airport reserved for visa processing. Since all of the paperwork has already been received by the government of Vietnam, there is little else that is needed to process the entry visa and allow the travelers to be on their way.

Unfortunately, some people have claimed that the Vietnam visa on arrival program is not legitimate, and that the approval letters that are being provided to tourists are not real. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Any travel agency or individual who misrepresents the visa on arrival program or produces fake approval letters is subject to criminal sanctions, including substantial jail time. In simple terms, the risk is simply too great for anyone to even try to cheat the system.

That is because the same immigration officials that are in charge of the Vietnam visa on arrival program are also in charge of policing the airports and enforcing travel restrictions. These officials are very good at their jobs, and they understand the program, and the people who provide legitimate services to business travelers and tourists, very well.

We are not aware of what embassies and others have been saying about the Vietnam visa on arrival program, the approval letters we provide, or our other services, so we are unable to comment on the specifics. We can, however, assure all of our clients and potential clients that our service is legitimate, and that all of our travelers get exactly what they pay for. We take our responsibility seriously, and we would never jeopardize our relationship with our clients, or our connection with the government officials in Vietnam.

We remain committed to helping our clients get the travel documents they need, no matter what the time frame they are operating under. The visa requirements imposed by the country of Vietnam can make it difficult for both business and leisure travelers, especially those travelers who live far from the nearest embassy. The Vietnam visa on arrival program, and the approval letters we provide, allow those travelers to plan their trips with confidence, knowing that everything will be in order when their flights arrive in the beautiful country of Vietnam.

One thing you will obviously need to know is what kinds of travel documents you will need to enter the country of Vietnam and move around during your vacation or business trip. You obviously need a passport to enter Vietnam, but you also need to have a valid visa to enter the country.

In doing your research, you may have learned that the country of Vietnam has implemented a program designed to make it easier for travelers, especially travelers who do not live close to an embassy, to get the visas they need to get into the country. This program is known as the Vietnam visa on arrival program, and travelers can arrange to get an approval letter before they leave their home country. Those travelers can then present their approval letter, get their entry visas and be on their way.

You may have heard some rumblings lately that this program, and the approval letters provided by companies like ours, is a scam. It seems that some embassies have been spreading rumors saying that the approval letters companies like ours provide to travelers are fakes, and that our services are not legitimate.

We do not know the specifics of these rumors, so we are unable to comment on exactly what was said. We do, however, feel compelled to respond to these unsubstantiated rumors, and we feel that it is important to reassure our clients that our services are completely legitimate.

It is important for our clients and potential clients to understand that the visa on arrival program and the approval letters have both been approved by the Vietnam Immigration Department, a branch of the Vietnamese government. This is not a program that we invented. Instead, it is a legitimate service, approved by the government of Vietnam, that we are able to offer our clients.

It is also important to keep in mind that there are strict penalties for the abuse of this program, and we would go to jail if we failed to live up to the promises we make to our clients. That is because the authorities in Vietnam are responsible for policing the program, and those same police are on duty at the airports where the Vietnam visa on arrival program is put into practice.

If you are planning to travel to Vietnam for business or pleasure, you can obtain the entry visa you need by visiting an embassy, and many travelers who live close to embassies still choose to do so. There are a number of problems with this approach, however, starting with the fact that much of the population does not live within comfortable driving distance of an embassy. Even for those who do live nearby, it can be difficult to find the time to get the visa, since those embassies often have limited hours that conflict with work schedules. For those travelers, the Vietnam visa on arrival program, and the approval letters we provide, allow travelers to travel to Vietnam with confidence. Far from being a scam, this service is a legitimate way for travelers to embark on their trips without the hassle and expense of visiting an embassy.

You will also want to make sure you have your entry documents in place before you head off for your trip to Vietnam. As with any other foreign destination, you will need to have a valid passport in order to enter the country. You will need to make sure that the expiration date of that passport is no more than six months away, so if it is about to expire it is important to get it renewed well in advance.

It is also important to know that you need more than just a passport to enter Vietnam. All travelers to Vietnam, whether they are traveling on business or pleasure, are required to have a valid visa before they can leave the airport and enter the city. Visitors to Vietnam have a number of options when it comes to obtaining that entry visa, including traveling to an embassy and filling out paperwork.

If you live near an embassy, getting there may not be much of a problem, although you may have to deal with some hassles relating to paperwork, limited hours, etc. But if you are not lucky enough to live near an embassy, getting that entry visa in time or your trip can be a lot harder. In that case, you may be looking at a long drive, or an expensive plane ride, just to get to the embassy. Even after you arrive, you could face those same short hours and other problems.

That is why the country of Vietnam has tried to make it easier for visitors to their country to obtain the entry visas they need without the hassle of going to an embassy. The Vietnam Immigration Department, which is a branch of the government of Vietnam, has implemented what is known as the Vietnam visa on arrival program to help those travelers.

This program allows visitors to Vietnam, including those traveling for business and pleasure, to submit the necessary paperwork before they leave home. After that paperwork and the necessary identification documents have been submitted, the traveler receives an official approval letter. When the traveler arrives in Vietnam, he or she simply presents that official approval letter and receives the necessary visa.

The Vietnam visa on approval program is easy to use, and quite convenient for travelers of all ages. Unfortunately, some embassies have been raising questions about the legitimacy of the program, even suggesting that the approval letters provided to travelers are fraudulent. We would like to stress to all of our clients, and our potential clients, that this is simply not the case.

In reality, the Vietnam visa on arrival process is legitimate, and the Vietnamese government officials who administer it are quite familiar with the requirements. We can assure you that all of the documents you receive are legitimate, and that should allow you to rest easy as you plan your once in a lifetime trip to Vietnam.

Another thing that you need to be aware of is the immunization requirements that may be needed. Australia doesn't require them but will recommend certain ones if you haven't had them done. Of special concern are mosquitoes that can carry diseases like the Ross River virus and the Murray Valley encephalitis. They recommend carrying a mosquito repellant.

Check with your health insurance to see if they will cover you in a foreign country. If there is no coverage, you may seriously want to obtain travel insurance just to be on the safe side. If you should happen to have an accident while abroad and don't have coverage, you are expected to pay for your medical costs upfront and with cash or a credit card.

You also need to be aware of what you can bring into the country as you will have to declare items in customs. Firearms, drugs, fruit, vegetables, wildlife and plant life are examples of things that are usually not allowed into a country. You will have to declare any prescription drugs, herbal and vitamin supplements. A doctor's note may also be required.

Baggage requirements on overseas flights are different than domestic. In some cases, carry-on baggage is restricted to one and can be a lot smaller than what is allowed on domestic flights.

Your curling iron, phones and computers will need adapters for that country in order to be able to plug them in and use them. Curling irons and hair dryers especially will not only need a plug adapter but also a voltage converter. Newer electronic equipment may not need the converter if it says 100-240V.

Check on whether you can use your debit card or credit card abroad. Some ATMs overseas require longer pin numbers, so you will need to change it before you leave.

If you use your smart phone abroad , it can cost a lot, so be careful. You can check to see if your phone plan offers global messaging or if there are phone apps that offer international texting for reasonable fees. Use SKYPE instead for free service.

Familiarize yourself with the driving rules of the road for that country. Things will be in kilometers instead of miles. In Australia, driving is on the left side of the road.

As a visitor, you are to abide by the laws of that country. Remember you are a guest in a foreign land, not the United States. You will not have the protection of U.S. laws on your side.

On your return to the U.S., you are required to declare everything that you bought overseas. If you exceed your personal exemption limit, you are expected to pay taxes and fees on those purchases when you go through customs.

It pays to do the preparation for your bon voyage, otherwise you may find yourself in a difficult situation that you could have easily avoided.

Budget Travel vs. Traditional Vacationing

Standard package vacations and budget travel adventures represent two separate ends of the travel spectrum. The differences between the two are so great that people usually fall into one camp or the other. Someone who loves all-inclusive Caribbean vacations would most likely hate the life of a budget traveler. The opposite is also true. What exactly are the differences?

The most noticeable difference is in accommodation types. Standard vacations typically involve a plush hotel, resort, or cruise ship cabin, with swimming pools and room service and exotic frozen drinks. The budget traveler makes a great sacrifice here, opting instead for cheaper options such as hostels, guesthouses and beach-side bungalows. While package vacations offer hotel rooms from a hundred dollars upward per night, a dorm bed in a Thai hostel can go for as low as five dollars. This difference is huge, and allows budget travelers to travel for much longer for a fraction of the cost.

Other small differences are numerous. Budget travelers typically carry everything in large, high-capacity backpacks to allow them to move from city to city in a practical manner. Package vacationers, since they are usually in one hotel for their entire stay, tend to pack everything in one or more suitcases. Dining is also quite different for a budget traveler, who seeks cheap, local cuisine or street food over the tourist restaurants found near resort areas.

Going Long Term: The Costs of Budget Travel

The costs of a long-term budget excursion varies widely depending on the region. Southeast Asia and Latin America are on the low-end of the scale, and daily costs can be as low as $10-20. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Western Europe are at the very top of the scale, with daily costs ranging anywhere from $50-100. West Asia, China and Eastern Europe fall somewhere in the middle.

Passports, visas and travel vaccinations should also be taken into account. A United States passport can be obtained for less than $100 and tourist visas, depending on the country, can range from $20-100. There are also many countries that grant tourists a free visa upon arrival at the airport. Recommended vaccines vary wildly depending on the region, with some costing over $500. Tropical and developing countries carry higher risks for infectious diseases such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis.

A New Outlook On Life

Traveling long-term on the cheap is almost always a very rewarding experience. Since budget travelers are away from the big resorts, they experience more of the local culture and in the process learn much more about the world. The budget travel community is huge, and many lasting friendships have been made by people from different countries meeting each other along the way. A six-month trip abroad is something that will leave a lasting impression, with countless memories and a fresh outlook on life.

Thailand

Thailand has long been a must for any budget traveler. Although locals have long complained of increasing prices, the Land of Smiles is still a bargain for any Western traveler. From the world-famous nightlife of Bangkok to historic Chiang Mai, there’s never a lack of things to do here. What’s more, unlike other budget destinations, Thailand’s travel infrastructure is easy to use and its citizens are more than comfortable assisting foreign tourists.

Vietnam

Still in South East Asia, Vietnam is a country that those who visit continually rave about--and pine to return to one day. And even the briefest glimpse of this country will show why. Get the decades of war out of your mind because Vietnam has progressed in leaps and bounds since those days. From the Mekong Delta in the south to the natural wonder that is Ha Long Bay in the north, this is a country that takes your breath away with every turn.

India

Love it or hate it, no list of cheap destinations would be complete without a mention of India. Chaotic and dirty though it is, India is also sublimely beautiful. With over one billion people and thousands (yes, thousands!) of languages spoken, it’s impossible to sum up India in a few short sentences. The list of things to see is endless: the bustling cities of Mumbai and New Delhi, the soaring peaks of the Himalayas, the idyllic beaches of Goa, the awe-inspiring beauty of the Taj Mahal, or the 3000 year old streets of Varanasi--one could spend years exploring this country and still have more left to see.

Bolivia

While often overlooked in favor of its richer neighbors, Argentina and Brazil, those in the know routinely talk of Bolivia as one of the best countries to visit in South America. While the tourist infrastructure may not be very well developed, in terms of natural and cultural offerings, Bolivia is hard to beat. From the surreal landscape of the world’s largest salt flats to swimming with river dolphins in the Amazon, Bolivia is guaranteed to be a life-changing experience.

Greece

With a collapsing Euro and dwindling tourist numbers, Greece has become a bargain for the budget traveler. The birthplace of Western civilization offers outstanding archaeological sites and idyllic island getaways for just dollars a day. Because of the poor economy, hotels and tourist sites are offering big discounts to entice visitors. Visiting this magical country will not only be an unforgettable adventure, it’ll also help put money back into a struggling economy.

Vietnam has much to offer tourists, investors and people who want to conduct business. Vietnam is rich in history. Combine together this, its beaches, temples and it’s relatively low living costs, and it’s no surprise that Vietnam has emerged in the way it has.

Until the last few years the process of buying property in Vietnam for foreigners was a difficult one. It was required that would be buyers had to create a company before they were able to purchase a property in Vietnam. This law has now been changed, allowing foreigners to buy property through renewable leases that provide usage rights for at least fifty years.

Experts believe that the property market in Vietnam has far from reached its full potential. Property in Vietnam is still far cheaper than the property found in destinations such as Phuket and Pattaya in Thailand. In the coastal regions of Vietnam there is a limited supply of land so prices are expected to rise in the short to medium term.

Legal Matters

The Vietnamese government has created a sturdy legal framework to deal with issues within the property development industry as previously many developers would take a casual attitude towards building time-scales and deadlines. Legal changes mean that if foreigners meet certain criteria they can purchase condos in Vietnam without having to form a company with a Vietnamese national.

Decree 153 states that developers can receive initial payments only when work has begun on the project at hand, when previously this was not the case. Funding for developments has to be transparent and upon request investors need to be able to see the details of this funding. One of the most important new decrees relating to property in Vietnam has been the introduction of penalties for developers who deliver projects behind schedule.

For foreigners to buy property in Vietnam investors have to meet one of five requirements. If people are already investing in Vietnam through a business they can buy. A person working in a specific sector, with a university degree, or somebody who has received a state reward can purchase. Businesses not operating within the real estate sector can buy properties for their staff and also foreigners who are married to a Vietnamese person can purchase property in Vietnam.

The Buying Process

The actual buying process is relatively simple and registering the relevant documents will take about nine to ten weeks. Borrowing money to finance the purchase of a property in Vietnam is still quite rare but as the market expands there are some finance options starting to become available.

When purchasing a property in Vietnam, the related costs are relatively low and these costs make up only 6.5% of the total value of the property. Most of this is paid in registration fees and VAT. Rental income is taxed on an ongoing basis by the Vietnamese government and foreigners who stay in Vietnam for not more than 183 days in a 12 month period pay a flat 25% rate of tax on the rental income they have received. Capital Gains tax is also 25%. When a property in Vietnam is sold by a foreigner a transfer tax needs to be paid, and this tax is 10% on any profit made from the transaction.

Finally

The prospect of buying a property in Vietnam might be quite daunting for many western people. In recent times though, the government has introduced measures to make the whole process both less complicated, and safer for investors. Vietnam’s stunning scenery and expanding economy make the country an attractive place to invest in property but potential buyers should always do their research to ensure they do not encounter any problems.

Marriage Process

First, you should check with your Vietnamese intended spouse to make sure they know where to file the application for marriage. If they live in Ho Chi Minh City, it should be the Principal Registrar's Office located there. You will need: an application for marriage (this form is available at the Principal Registrar's Office), and notarized photocopies of your passport, birth certificate, and visa registered at the entry/exit control office. You will also need medical certificates for marriage and any death certificates or divorce decrees issues. Finally, you need an authenticated statement from your state's local registrar of marriage that says there is no record of a previous marriage for the past two years.

Instead of a certificate of no impediment to marriage, which does not exist in the USA, you will need to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry at the US Embassy in Vietnam, which is located in Hanoi at 7 Lang Ha, Ba Dinh District. The signature and Embassy seal must also be authenticated by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 6 Chu Van An Street, Hanoi, which is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 AM to 11:30 AM.

Finally, the authenticated statement from the registrar of marriage must also be authenticated by your state Secretary of State's office, by the US Department of State's authentication office at 515 23rd Street, NW SA-1, in Washington, DC, and by the Vietnamese embassy at 1233 20th Street, NW - Suite 501, also in Washington, DC.

Helpful Tips

* The original registrar's statement from your local state cannot be more than three months old, or the Vietnamese authorities will not accept it. This may take some prior planning!

* The easiest way to ensure you can get the paperwork to and from where it needs to go without omitting anything (as you may be able to complete parts of the process by mail) is to phone the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, DC, at (202) 861-0737 ext 122.

* Don't forget the psychiatrist's evaluation as part of the marriage process! You need a certificate of good mental health to confirm that you have no mental illnesses, or a mental problem that will not lead to you losing consciousness of your own actions.

The process of marrying a Vietnamese national can seem long and overly complicated, so don't be afraid to ask for help along the way. Make sure you have all your paperwork organized and double-check deadlines and waiting or processing times so you can be sure the marriage process will go ahead smoothly.

The United States became a chaotic, divided nation during the height of the Vietnam era, fueled by the loss of young American lives without reason. What caused this division in American society? What happened to American patriotism during Vietnam? What were the goals that warranted such loss of American lives? The answer to many of these questions mainly lies in the advancement of American journalism from the Korean War to the Vietnam Era (1951-1965). For American journalists and broadcasting networks, the Vietnam War was a hot news topic during the 1960’s and the early 1970’s. With the advancement in film technology and “on location” footage, the press quickly reported all successes and failures resulting from the war. This allowed Americans to experience more combat reporting and news coverage than any previous American military action in our nation’s history. The American public forged strong opinions as a result.

Every evening during the 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Vietnam War was brought into the homes of millions worldwide. The press, in many ways portrayed the Vietnam War as polarized in both the military and political spheres. Reporters would ask questions to American soldiers concerning the legitimacy of the war, sometimes forcing the soldiers to make a political stand. This tactic could easily influence those viewing back home, forming opinions both positive and negative toward the war. The press easily influenced viewers through the expression of one’s emotions, namely the American soldier who was caught in the middle asked to make a choice during the heat of battle. The political motives behind the Vietnam War were constantly analyzed in the American press. The “Domino Theory” of Communist proliferation was the nucleus of political debate. The official government reasoning behind American military action in Vietnam was to prevent the spread of Communism throughout Southeast Asia. As the war stretched throughout a decade, many questions arose concerning the legitimacy of our military involvement in Vietnam. The loss of American lives was astounding, and caused many in the press to ask if the ends justified the means. Although it would seem that this type of questioning by the American press was an organized plan to influence the American public, the networks were never so organized to hatch such a plan. Network reporters did much of the reporting from “the field” during the Vietnam War. These reporters had no time for network influence or political slant in their footage. Though their dialogue would sometimes seem anti-war in their reporting, there was too much detachment for organized media propaganda. Freelance reporters were the most independent, usually reporting for documentaries, they entered the Vietnam War and became entrenched with the soldiers in the bush, in their base-camps, and in the major cities. They reported exactly what they saw and usually excluded question that were leading or served an agenda politically. These were the reporters who faced the same risks as American solders in combat. The American public formulated its opinion from both sources as the Vietnam War went on.

The Vietnam War brought radical changes in the American public’s view of American soldiers in combat. It has remained so since; every conflict involving the use of American soldier, both men and women, since the Vietnam War has received the highest scrutiny. Would the American involvement in WW2 be different if Americans were able to view the battle of Iwo Jima on national TV? It is possible, as well as every American conflict prior to the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War ushered in a new age of journalism. The American public used the press as a basis for their opinions. This was not due to the press intentionally influencing the American public, but mainly because this was a new era in journalism that caused Americans to react in different ways. The American people formulated their own beliefs concerning the Vietnam War based on the reports they received from the press throughout the entire conflict. The negative reactions from the public concerning America’s involvement in Vietnam resulted from the United States government’s official policy concerning the spread of Communism through Southeast Asia. These reactions were not necessarily fueled by the press through influence or propaganda, but were the result of growing resentment by the American people concerning the staggering loss of American lives in the Vietnam War.

Written by: Jssescribe - Freelance Writer

These tourist attractions are a significant source of income for Vietnamese citizens who are likely owed the money as reparation for the millions of Vietnamese who have perished during these international conflicts. Tourists are now flooding sites that once served as prisons, escape routes, and major battlefields. As history buffs hunger for more information and a firsthand experience of this war-torn land, the popularity of these attractions belie the horrors that took place there and are fresh enough to be painful memories for many native Vietnamese citizens.

Vietnam’s place as a tourist destination has been the result of an increasing friendliness to foreign visitors. Certainly, Vietnam has a cultural history equally as rich of its Asian neighbors, including historical palaces and picturesque backdrops, but the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tours remain the most popular destinations for tourists. These tours include bouncing along dusty roads in search of abandoned battlefields where American tanks, guns, and skeletal structures destroyed by bombs are found. The surrounding fields even still hide unexploded land mines that occasionally claim another local life.

The Vietnamese themselves, wracked by centuries of warfare, appear to be far too accepting of the flooding of tourists mainly interested in their national misery. Perhaps this is because International tourism, as morbid as it seems, is good for the Vietnamese economy. The Vietnamese have even adopted an attitude of enhancing the war tourism industry by preserving these reminders of death and war for viewing by their international visitors. One of the most popular destinations is the former Museum of American War Crimes in Ho Chi Minh city which has been renamed the War Remnants Museum where gory representations of torture and execution have been staged using life-like mannequins and bleak prison scenes.

The renaming of such attractions is highly representative of the Vietnamese willingness to make the best of their history. Certainly fewer tourists are as inflamed by the name War Remnants as they would likely be by the War Crimes reference. Representations of war have even become politically correct in Vietnam. The Vietnamese have also collected and preserved hundreds of war remnants that include tanks, bombs, shells, and the twisted wreckages of many a downed war aircraft, in addition to such memorabilia as soda cans, dogtags, cigarette lighters, and other discarded possessions. The Vietnamese have even made an industry out of selling copies of these “antique” items.

Of course, the Vietnamese war insults didn’t start with the Americans. The Vietnamese have also chosen to showcase their long history of revolutionary conflict by preserving war memorabilia that dates all the way back to the early 19th century. It is possible that the Vietnamese are displaying a highly adaptive behavior by marketing their war-torn history. Certainly they are entrepreneurial enough to realize that a market definitely exists for their product.

It’s easy now to get a visa for Vietnam with the help of VietnamVisaForm.com Vietnam has become a popular destination over the last decade, for both tourism and for business ventures. The country is showing signs of greater growth potential in both the business and the tourist industries. Unfortunately, many people have run into difficulties involving how to get visa for Vietnam? Whether you are interested in a working visa, tourist visa or a business visa, it is possible to get a visa approved, even if your city is nowhere near a Vietnamese Embassy. To make the whole process of obtaining the right visa easier for you, VietnamVisaForm.com is able to take your worries away. They will do everything for you, so you don’t have too!

The Vietnam visa on arrival cost is not as much as people may think it is. The friendly folks at VietnamVisaForm.com offer the “Vietnam visa on arrival” service, which is geared towards saving travelers lots of time and money. The company set up the service to help tourists, business people and others interested in obtain a Vietnam working visa, to be able to have access to the visa application process. In this way,VietnamVisaForm.com helps the people wanting to go to Vietnam to get there easier and more affordable, and those who will benefit from their visit.

The Vietnam visa on arrival cost is very affordable, and is well worth it in terms of saving you the time to discover the proper paperwork and procedures that are needed to apply for either tourist visa, business visa, investor visa or a working visa. Using the service is truly the easiest, cheapest and fastest possible way to get a visa for travel to Vietnam. For more information on the services available, or other specific information that you need to know about that is not covered on their website, you can email the company to ask more specific questions.

Specific questions about obtaining a Vietnam working visa or how to get visa for Vietnam can be asked by emailing [email protected]. You should receive a prompt reply in less than two hours. The Vietnam visa on arrival cost is minimal, but it will ensure that your trip to Vietnam will hassle free. The Vietnamese government has made huge improvements in the visa process to keep the country’s doors open for all visitors to enjoy.

Starting on January 1, 2013, the stamping fee, or immigration fee, for a visa will be going up. That fee is presently set at $25 USD per person for single entry visa. As of January 1, 2013, the new fee for 1 month single entry visa will be $45 USD per person.

The fees charged for multiple entry visas into Vietnam are changing as well. The fee charged for a multiple entry visa is currently $50 USD person either for 1 month or 3 month or 6 month visa validity. That fee structure will be changing, with the amount of the increase dependent on how long would you like to stay in Vietnam. As of January 1, 2013, the fee structure for a multiple entry visa into Vietnam will be as follows:

• Multiple entry visa for less than one month – $65 USD per person
• Multiple entry visa valid less than six months – $95 USD per person
• A traveler who needs a multiple entry visa that is valid for a full six months can expect to see those costs rise as well when the new year rolls around. The cost for this type of entry visa is currently set at $100 USD per person, but as of January 1, 2013 that cost will rise to $135 USD per person.

No matter where your travels take you, it is always wise to be prepared for all the costs of your trip. From big things like the cost of airfare and hotel stays to smaller costs like entry permits and incidentals, being prepared and building a realistic budget will make your trip more fun. If your travel plans take you to Vietnam in the new year, be sure to budget a little extra for your visa entry stamp upon arrival at airport of Vietnam.

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