Traveling to Da Nang, Vietnam
It might feel crazy to travel to the other side of the world on a 24 hour trip, however we will help so it's not as daunting 🙂. Below you can find information on what you need to do.
Get a Passport
In order to receive a Vietnam Visa, your Passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months following your arrival date. If you need a new Passport, it currently takes 10-12 weeks to process and you should prioritize applying for one. You can do so here.
Receive Vaccinations
Per the CDC, only one “new” vaccination is strongly recommended: Typhoid (oral or injection). You can usually get these at your local Walgreens/CVS health clinic.
Others to consider: If you think you or your child will be petting wild dogs, please get the Rabies vaccine. If you plan on camping in the more rural parts of Vietnam, then plan on getting the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination.
Book a Flight
Round-trip flights from Los Angeles -> Da Nang will be around $1,000. We recommend booking your flights around 3-6 months in advance. Everyone will have a different flight schedule depending on where you're coming from. If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephen or Erika 😊.
Our recommendation: Fly out of Los Angeles Friday, Feb 17 around midnight. You'll land in Vietnam on Sunday, Feb 19 morning. Experience Vietnam for a week and fly back to the United States on Sunday, Feb 26. You'll actually land back in the US on Sunday, Feb 26 as well this way.
Apply for a Vietnam Visa
About a month before you enter Vietnam, you'll want to apply for a Vietnam E-Visa. This is a simple and quick process that takes about 3 days and costs $25. You can apply here.
Enter Vietnam
When you arrive in Vietnam, you'll simply walk through customs, show your Passport and E-Visa to receive your entrance stamp and walk right in.
Transportation in Vietnam
Once you walk outside the Da Nang International airport, there will be a pre-scheduled driver waiting there for you with a sign showing your name. You and your family can go with the driver to be taken to your hotel. Make sure to message us when you arrive!
While in Vietnam, we'll have dedicated drivers to take you around to all of our scheduled events. You can also use the app Grab to book rides. It's very similar to Uber and Lyft, just better pricing!
Paying in Vietnam
You can use your credit card at the majority of retail establishments. The exception is American Express as most places don't accept that card. We also strongly recommend you exchange your US Dollars for Vietnamese Dong. Credit cards are not accepted at many smaller shops and restaurants and it's good to be prepared. You'll also need Vietnamese Dong when trying to negotiate at the street vendors!
Another tip: You can exchange USD for VND at your hotel or bank. You'll get a better exchange rate if you bring the newer colored $100 bill as Vietnam does not accept the older non-colored bills. Not sure why 🤷
