Vietnam

[Wullaby]

Already in Vietnam now!!!

did you do ART or PCR?
How do they check since no longer need health declaration for international arrivals i read

 

[wols38]

pre-departure ART (within 24 hours) will be suffice.
Check in @ Changi Airport will ask to check on the ART memo.
Going tomorrow

 

[daldrome]

did you do ART or PCR?
How do they check since no longer need health declaration for international arrivals i read

I just returned from HCMC yesterday. Can do remote supervised ART for pre-departure test, I did mine with Hidoc at $12 - but need to supply your own ART kit. Still cheaper than doing onsite ART IMO. Important thing is to make sure your ART PDT appointment is within 24 hours of your departure time. Otherwise, you will LL need to do again at Changi Airport.

The check for PDT is only done at Changi Airport when checking in at airline counter. After presenting your negative ART test result, the check in counter staff will issue you your boarding pass.
I landed at HCMC Tan Son Nhat last week and they didn't check for the health declaration anymore. After deplaning, just head straight to immigration for passport checks.

Just to add a few pointers from my trip:

• PC-Covid - their Tracetogether, seems to no longer be in use. No one checked if I had the app and you can enter places without any restrictions (same as here).
• Change money - I made the mistake of changing at Arcade earlier last month - rate was 16,950. Changi Airport money changer was 17,000 and if you stay near D1/Ben Thanh Market, you can change at the money changers/gold shops near the west gate of Ben Thanh Market. Checked a few shops there and the rate there was 17,220 to 17,280. Advise to change a little at Changi Airport and change the rest in HCMC. Not sure about Tan Son Nhat Airport rates though.
• Grab/Gojek Car - You can use both Grab/Gojek in VN. Always good to compare prices as sometimes Gojek car is cheaper than Grab car. Note that Gojek only operates in HCMC so if you want to go out of HCMC, then you will have to use Grab.
• Ben Thanh Market - if you want to buy souvenirs, I would suggest to buy from the surrounding shops instead of from the stalls inside Ben Thanh. Prices are cheaper outside but always good to compare. IMO the food stalls inside Ben Thanh Market not bad and have many choices.
• Travel Insurance - No one checked for this either but IMO good to have in case anything happens. If you still maintain your Aviva Group Insurance policy, you are eligible for discount. I chose Singlife because they have Covid quarantine allowance.

Edit: Forget to add - when returning to Singapore, prepare your vaccination cert when checking in for your return flight. Singapore doesn't require pre departure test anymore and I printed my vaccination cert from health hub to show the check in counter staff. Remember to submit your SG Arrival Card declaration before you return to save time.

 

[Wullaby]

pre-departure ART (within 24 hours) will be suffice.
Check in @ Changi Airport will ask to check on the ART memo.
Going tomorrow

did you do supervised tele-ART or in-clinic ART? have a wonderful trip. Am making a trip to Da Nang towards the end of the month

 

[Wullaby]

I just returned from HCMC yesterday. Can do remote supervised ART for pre-departure test, I did mine with Hidoc at $12 - but need to supply your own ART kit. Still cheaper than doing onsite ART IMO.

The check is only done at Changi Airport when checking in at airline counter. I landed at HCMC last week and they didn't check for the health declaration anymore. After deplaning, just head straight to immigration for passport checks.

Just to add a few pointers from my trip:

• PC-Covid - their Tracetogether, seems to no longer be in use. No one checked if I had the app and you can enter places without any restrictions (same as here).
• Change money - I made the mistake of changing at Arcade earlier last month - rate was 16,950. Changi Airport money changer was 17,000 and if you stay near D1/Ben Thanh Market, you can change at the money changer/gold shop near the east gate of Ben Thanh Market. Checked a few shops there and the rate there was 17,220 to 17,280. Change a little at Changi Airport and change the rest in HCMC.
• Grab/Gojek Car - You can use both Grab/Gojek in VN. Always good to compare prices as sometimes Gojek car is cheaper than Grab car. Note that Gojek only operates in HCMC so if you want to go out of HCMC, then you will have to use Grab.
• Ben Thanh Market - if you want to buy souvenirs, I would suggest to buy from the surrounding shops instead of from the stalls inside Ben Thanh. Prices are cheaper outside but always good to compare. IMO the food stalls inside Ben Thanh Market not bad and have many choices.
• Travel Insurance - No one checked for this either but IMO good to have in case anything happens. If you still maintain your Aviva Group Insurance policy, you are eligible for discount. I chose Singlife because they have Covid quarantine allowance.

thanks for the information and tips. Am travelling to Da Nang. Was wondering if tele-ART works for PDT or would require in-clinic ART

 

[daldrome]

thanks for the information and tips. Am travelling to Da Nang. Was wondering if tele-ART works for PDT or would require in-clinic ART

For me, the tele-ART worked for PDT. Don't need in-clinic ART. The check in counter staff at Changi Airport will check your ART negative result before issuing you your boarding pass.
Have a good trip to Da Nang!

 

[Wullaby]

For me, the tele-ART worked for PDT. Don't need in-clinic ART. The check in counter staff at Changi Airport will check your ART negative result before issuing you your boarding pass.
Have a good trip to Da Nang!

Thanks for the information!

Tried checking if tele-ART works for PDT and no one can provide me with a definitive answer

 

[veyonce]

I just returned from HCMC yesterday. Can do remote supervised ART for pre-departure test, I did mine with Hidoc at $12 - but need to supply your own ART kit. Still cheaper than doing onsite ART IMO. Important thing is to make sure your ART PDT appointment is within 24 hours of your departure time. Otherwise, you will LL need to do again at Changi Airport.

The check for PDT is only done at Changi Airport when checking in at airline counter. After presenting your negative ART test result, the check in counter staff will issue you your boarding pass.
I landed at HCMC Tan Son Nhat last week and they didn't check for the health declaration anymore. After deplaning, just head straight to immigration for passport checks.

Just to add a few pointers from my trip:

• PC-Covid - their Tracetogether, seems to no longer be in use. No one checked if I had the app and you can enter places without any restrictions (same as here).
• Change money - I made the mistake of changing at Arcade earlier last month - rate was 16,950. Changi Airport money changer was 17,000 and if you stay near D1/Ben Thanh Market, you can change at the money changers/gold shops near the east gate of Ben Thanh Market. Checked a few shops there and the rate there was 17,220 to 17,280. Advise to change a little at Changi Airport and change the rest in HCMC. Not sure about Tan Son Nhat Airport rates though.
• Grab/Gojek Car - You can use both Grab/Gojek in VN. Always good to compare prices as sometimes Gojek car is cheaper than Grab car. Note that Gojek only operates in HCMC so if you want to go out of HCMC, then you will have to use Grab.
• Ben Thanh Market - if you want to buy souvenirs, I would suggest to buy from the surrounding shops instead of from the stalls inside Ben Thanh. Prices are cheaper outside but always good to compare. IMO the food stalls inside Ben Thanh Market not bad and have many choices.
• Travel Insurance - No one checked for this either but IMO good to have in case anything happens. If you still maintain your Aviva Group Insurance policy, you are eligible for discount. I chose Singlife because they have Covid quarantine allowance.

Edit: Forget to add - when returning to Singapore, prepare your vaccination cert when checking in for your return flight. Singapore doesn't require pre departure test anymore and I printed my vaccination cert from health hub to show the check in counter staff. Remember to submit your SG Arrival Card declaration before you return to save time.

Thank you for sharing your tips with us!! This is so informative as I'm going to Da Nang on Vesak Day. Was trying to get the verification code to the PC-Covid but realised that they are also following in our footsteps.

May I know what about your data plan??

 

[daldrome]

Thank you for sharing your tips with us!! This is so informative as I'm going to Da Nang on Vesak Day. Was trying to get the verification code to the PC-Covid but realised that they are also following in our footsteps.

May I know what about your data plan??

I'm using TPG $10 plan that includes 1GB roaming data. TPG roaming partner in VN is Viettel. I used it as a backup since I am using a dual sim phone. I also got a MobiFone sim card for my main usage at 250K đ (if I recall correctly). I previously read that on other sites that Viettel was the best but their booths weren't open when I was at Tan Son Nhat Airport. I was only in HCMC and the MobiFone coverage was good. Used mainly to navigate and book Grab/Gojek.

 

[Desmond_]

I'm using TPG $10 plan that includes 1GB roaming data. TPG roaming partner in VN is Viettel. I used it as a backup since I am using a dual sim phone. I also got a MobiFone sim card for my main usage at 250K đ (if I recall correctly). I previously read that on other sites that Viettel was the best but their booths weren't open when I was at Tan Son Nhat Airport. I was only in HCMC and the MobiFone coverage was good. Used mainly to navigate and book Grab/Gojek.

For grab, are you able to link your credit card for payment? Don't know why it does not allow me to use card, only can pay cash

 

[daldrome]

For grab, are you able to link your credit card for payment? Don't know why it does not allow me to use card, only can pay cash

I never tried to pay by card, used cash. I think also better cos card will probably give you a lousy conversion rate.

 

[Desmond_]

I never tried to pay by card, used cash. I think also better cos card will probably give you a lousy conversion rate.

Using youtrip, wise or revolut will give good rate.

 

[Wullaby]

I'm using TPG $10 plan that includes 1GB roaming data. TPG roaming partner in VN is Viettel. I used it as a backup since I am using a dual sim phone. I also got a MobiFone sim card for my main usage at 250K đ (if I recall correctly). I previously read that on other sites that Viettel was the best but their booths weren't open when I was at Tan Son Nhat Airport. I was only in HCMC and the MobiFone coverage was good. Used mainly to navigate and book Grab/Gojek.

Thanks. Do you know how to activate roaming on TPG? Is it automatic or you have to activate it manually? Am using it as well.

 

[daldrome]

Using youtrip, wise or revolut will give good rate.

I used Wise when buying things in shopping mall. The rate I got was around 16,600. I don't have YouTrip or Revolut. I also have BigPay card but the rate was worse than Wise - just under 16,500.

Thanks. Do you know how to activate roaming on TPG? Is it automatic or you have to activate it manually? Am using it as well.

I just turned on data roaming on my phone and it worked as soon as I touched down.
How long will you be in Da Nang? Never been before and might want to visit some time in the future.

 

[Wullaby]

I used Wise when buying things in shopping mall. The rate I got was around 16,600. I don't have YouTrip or Revolut. I also have BigPay card but the rate was worse than Wise - just under 16,500.


I just turned on data roaming on my phone and it worked as soon as I touched down.
How long will you be in Da Nang? Never been before and might want to visit some time in the future.

thanks for letting me know. Just afraid that will incur large bills for roaming but I guess wont happen for TPG since every month need to top up $10 for the monthly bill.

Will be in Da Nang for a week, and its my 2nd trip there. Was there some years back. It is a resorty, beach kind of place where you can relax and sightsee with Hoi An and Hue the 2 Unesco places where you can visit. Not much shopping other than some local products. Food is quite good though and lots of cafes, similar to HCMC.

 

[Desmond_]

I used Wise when buying things in shopping mall. The rate I got was around 16,600. I don't have YouTrip or Revolut. I also have BigPay card but the rate was worse than Wise - just under 16,500.


I just turned on data roaming on my phone and it worked as soon as I touched down.
How long will you be in Da Nang? Never been before and might want to visit some time in the future.

oh... you did not use Wise for Grabcar/Gojek?

 

[Wullaby]

not used Youtrip before, but realised I have a valid Youtrip card which I applied many years back. Do we need to top-up before using?

 

[daldrome]

thanks for letting me know. Just afraid that will incur large bills for roaming but I guess wont happen for TPG since every month need to top up $10 for the monthly bill.

Will be in Da Nang for a week, and its my 2nd trip there. Was there some years back. It is a resorty, beach kind of place where you can relax and sightsee with Hoi An and Hue the 2 Unesco places where you can visit. Not much shopping other than some local products. Food is quite good though and lots of cafes, similar to HCMC.

Yea TPG don't have to worry. For me, when I got my MobiFone SIM card, I turned off my TPG data to conserve data cos only got 1 GB.

 

[daldrome]

oh... you did not use Wise for Grabcar/Gojek?

Hmm now that you mention it, I added my credit cards for both Grab and Gojek in Singapore and used them both before. But when I was in VN, it seemed that the mode of payment switched to cash by default. But I never thought to add my credit cards or my Wise Card.

 

[beanstalk6]

not used Youtrip before, but realised I have a valid Youtrip card which I applied many years back. Do we need to top-up before using?

Yes. You can top-up right before you use it.