Frequently Asked Questions - Absolute Asia Travel

Question 1

Vietnam Visa Rules for Indian Travelers Visiting Phu Quoc

Accepted Answer

1. Do Indian travelers need a visa to visit Phu Quoc Island? No, not if they stay on the island only. Indian nationals can stay on Phu Quoc Island for up to 30 days without a visa. This applies to all nationalities, including Indian passport holders. 2. What are the conditions for the visa-free entry? There are three conditions, and all must be met: Arrive in Phu Quoc directly from an international destination, by air or sea. Direct flights or international transit only. Stay on Phu Quoc Island for the entire trip. Depart Vietnam from Phu Quoc as well. Travelers should also carry a confirmed onward ticket showing departure within 30 days. 3. Once in Phu Quoc visa-free, can travelers continue to mainland Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc.)? No. This is the most common misunderstanding, so let&#8217;s be clear: the visa-free entry is strictly limited to the island itself, and Indian nationals ca ot travel to mainland Vietnam under this exemption. Phu Quoc is the start and end point. There is no &#8220;upgrade&#8221; on arrival. 4. What if the itinerary includes both Phu Quoc and mainland Vietnam? Then a visa is needed for the whole trip. Anyone pla ing any travel to mainland Vietnam must hold a valid Vietnam visa, even if Phu Quoc Island is the main destination. The good news: the Vietnam e-Visa makes this simple. 5. What about flights co ecting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to reach Phu Quoc? This route needs a visa. Travelers ca ot rely on the visa-free arrangement if their route takes them through another international airport in Vietnam or through a domestic transfer that requires immigration checks. In practice, if your client lands in Ho Chi Minh City and takes a domestic flight to Phu Quoc, they pass through Vietnamese immigration on the mainland, so the exemption does not apply. Transiting through international hubs outside Vietnam, such as Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, without entering mainland Vietnam is fine. 6. How do Indian travelers get a Vietnam e-Visa? Apply online at the official government portal (evisa.gov.vn). The e-Visa is available to all nationalities including Indians, is valid for up to 90 days, and comes in single-entry or multiple-entry options. It covers airports, land borders and seaports. We recommend applying at least 7 to 10 working days before departure. Alternatively, we can help with regular evisa, urgent evisa service or push evisa service. 7. What happens if someone enters Phu Quoc visa-free and then tries to travel to the mainland anyway? It is a serious problem. A traveler who enters under the island-only exemption and continues to the mainland without authorization faces the same immigration consequences as someone overstaying a visa. The Indian Embassy has warned this can trigger immigration issues, delays in medical access, and movement restrictions. Do not risk it. 8. Our recommendation as a local DMC If there is any chance the itinerary touches the mainland, get the e-Visa from the start. It costs little, takes a few days, and removes all risk. Save the visa-free option for pure beach holidays where clients fly in and out of Phu Quoc directly. Once your customers have landed in Phu Quoc without evisa and would like to apply for mainland visa, it costs a huge amount to get one, so get them to prepared in advance.

Question 2

What is the new health declaration from 1 July 2026?

Accepted Answer

From 1 July 2026, all travelers entering, leaving, or transiting Vietnam must complete a health declaration within 7 days before travel, at all airports, land borders, and seaports. It is separate from the Digital Arrival Card, so clients arriving in Ho Chi Minh City will need both. The official online portal is not published yet; we will share the direct link and a simple guide with all partners as soon as it goes live.

Question 3

Do our Indian clients need the Digital Arrival Card for Ho Chi Minh City?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since 15 April 2026, all foreign travelers landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) must complete a free online Digital Arrival Card before arrival and show the QR code at immigration. This is required even with a valid e-visa; it is an extra step, not a replacement. It currently applies only to Ho Chi Minh City, not Hanoi or Da Nang. AAT includes the official link and instructions in every pre-departure document, so your clients arrive prepared.

Question 4

Rush/Urgent e-visa service to Vietnam &#8211; how fast can Indian travelers get an e-visa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer a Rush/Urgent e-visa service for Indian travelers to Vietnam. Depending on how urgently you need it, we can obtain your e-visa in 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 1 day, or 2 days . The fee is quoted at the time of booking. To process the urgent e-visa, we need a copy of your passport and 1 personal photo of the customer. Please note: this service is non-refundable once you confirm to go ahead and payment is made. Contact our sales team at sales@absoluteasiatravel.com for more information.

Question 5

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We can accept payment by bank transfer to our Vietnam office, or by credit card online through Onepay (like PayPal), which represents Master Cards in Vietnam. You can use MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, or American Express. We also accept other payment methods such as bank transfer, Western Union, or PayPal. For our guests in India: you can make a deposit payment (guaranteed deposit), partial payment, or full payment to ATD India , our Sales & Marketing Representative in Mumbai, India. We also accept cash payment on arrival, payable by guests on the arrival date.

Question 6

How can I know that your travel agents&#8217; registration number is genuine?

Accepted Answer

You can find further information about us as following: 1. Our International tour operator license was issued by VNAT – Vietnam National Administration of Tourism – the governmental office of tourism of Vietnam. This license is a certification of Absolute Asia Travel’s bond at an approved bank to guarantee financial security in respect of customers’ advanced payments as well as the quality of travel services. For further information, you can check with VNAT – Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (a governmental office of tourism of Vietnam). Please mail to: titc@vietnamtourism.gov.vn or call at +84 24 3944 7571 2. We’re also members of following Associations in Vietnam: Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) and Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA) (it’s in Vietnamese but you can see us and our Head Office information there) https://www.vista.net.vn/hoi-vien/cong-ty-co-phan-du-lich-absolute-asia.html https://patavietnam.org/index.php/items/7807 https://tourism.hanoi.gov.vn/travel-management/international-tour-operators/cong-ty-co-phan-du-lich-absolute-asia.html You can also compare the international tour operator number on those site and the one of our main website at https://absoluteasiatravel.com/why-us/ 3. We can put you in touch with a couple of our previous clients so you can contact them to learn more about us. If you prefer this option, we will ask for their permission first and then send you the contact details. 4. Once you book services with us, you can send an email to our partner/ suppliers and find out if your services have been booked by us or not.

Question 7

How to pay by credit card via Onepay.vn?

Accepted Answer

We securely co ects with OnePay Payment Gateway to accept Online Card Payment https://www.onepay.vn. All of your card information is processed through SSL protocol with international card security standard. Your card information will not be stored at our system (Merchant). We need following information from your side so that we&#8217;ll make payment link + Your full names (as on your passport) + Email that linked to the credit card + Billing address for receiving monthly bank statement When you receive a payment link from us, please click the link to open it or paste the link on address bar in your web browser. There’re 3 steps involved making payment with Onepay.vn as below: Step 1: Click accept and check-out Step 2: Fill out your credit card and Billing information Step 3: Once payment is made successfully, you will get a copy of the invoice to your email inbox At the same time, we also receive notification from Onepay

Question 8

When is my final payment due?

Accepted Answer

Final payments are due 30 days prior to your travel date. Your e-mail confirmation and the invoice you will receive in the mail will indicate the actual final payment date for your trip. We will contact you prior to the final payment date as a reminder. Regardless of booking made within 30 days, full payment shall be required.

Question 9

Is there someone to pick me up at airport?

Accepted Answer

Most our tour packages include airport pick up service but few don’t, so please check if your airport transfer included or not on our services voucher or confirmation file with your travel specialist In our Confirmation file, you will find details with two hotlines of our operation team. In the meantime, we often create WhatsApp group 1-2 days prior to arrival with our operation team, our sales person and your company (or with your guests) to support throughout to make sure all will run smoothly.

Question 10

When will my booking be firmly confirmed?

Accepted Answer

As soon as accepting to book the services with us, you have to pay the deposit for the services. In the mean time, we’ll make provisional reservation for you. Once we received your deposit notification, we’ll make firm reservation for your services straightaway – this mean your reservation is firmly confirmed with a confirmation file. When all of the services are reserved successfully, we will update to you and send you other useful information such as travel guide, travel tips,… If the services were fully booked (maybe booked by someone else while booking is under processed because some tour operators don’t allow blocking policy), we will inform you and suggest similar options. In case you no longer want to book these alternatives, we will refund all of the deposit amount.

Question 11

Policy in case weather turns bad or unavailable services?

Accepted Answer

In case your tours (services) cancel due to poor weather or unavailable services. It’ll be…

• Full refund applied if the tour is canceled before departure.
• Partly refund for un-used service(s) if the tour is canceled after departure.
• Cost will be calculated and informed right at the time of cancellation notice.

Question 12

I am solo female traveler, what should I be aware?

Accepted Answer

Generally, solo travelers having very safe environmental in Vietnam. At the time of writing, we have not heard any reports on harassment problem or anything like that in Vietnam. And you will surely discover that Vietnamese are very welcoming, warm hearted and helpful.

Question 13

Do I need to pay the deposit?

Accepted Answer

The deposit is required to guarantee your reservation (tours, hotels, transfer, …etc). After received your deposit, we’re going to reserve the services for you. So the deposit is required to secure your booking. Normally, 20% of total cost will be required for deposit at the time of booking. For some urgent cases or type of promotion or booking of luxurious hotel, cruise boats, we might require full payment at the time of booking.

Question 14

Do we have to tip?

Accepted Answer

Tipping for your guide and driver is compulsory on all our tours. It is a standard part of travel in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia, and it forms an important part of our team&#8217;s income. To keep things simple and fair, we apply a fixed rate based on your group size: Group of 2 to 5 pax: US$5 per person, per day in total Group of 6 to 9 pax: US$4 per person, per day in total Group of 10 pax and above: US$3 per person, per day in total Group of 30 pax and above: US$2 per person, per day in total You have two ways to handle this: Pay in cash during the tour. Hand it directly to your guide and driver at the end of each day or at the end of the trip. No extra cost. Prepay with your booking. We can include tipping in your invoice at the time of booking. Please note a 10% tax fee applies to this option, as it goes through our company accounts. Beyond these standard tips, any extra amount for exceptional service is entirely your choice. Our team will never ask, but they will always appreciate it.

Question 15

What if my passport has expired?

Accepted Answer

To apply for a visa to Vietnam, your passport must have at least 6 month’s validity. Therefore, if your passport is about to expire, please get a new one before applying for your visa in order to avoid unwanted problems at the airport.

Question 16

How to book a tour, services with you?

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Send us your inquiry If you like any of tours, services the booking form is available at that page. Please send us an inquiry so we can check the availability for you. In case the service is not available, we will recommend you another one or ask for further information from you to find out the suitable service for you most. You can also use the contact us form (at the top right corner of our website) or customize form at https://absoluteasiatravel.com/request-a-custom-tour/ if you are not sure what tour to go with. Step 2: Passenger’s Information Send your personal information for making payment link (if you pay by credit card) and over night registration if you book Halong Bay and Mekong River Cruises. We’ll send you travel registration form with information as bellow: *Title (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms) *Full name as it appears on the passport *Nationality/Country of residence *Date of birth *Expiry date of Vietnam entry visa (If the nationality holder does not need to apply for the visa, entry date and exit date are required) Step 3: Payment After you agree on what tours/ services to take, we’ll send you invoice and payment instruction for you to choose methods of payment (https://absoluteasiatravel.com/term-condition.html) then 20% deposit (if your departing date is more than 30 days from your booking date) and full payment (if your departing date is less than 30 days from your booking date). After your money credit into our bank account (normally 2 – 5 working days) we’ll send you receipt/ confirmation file. Your booking will be completed then and you can check the booking status directly with our suppliers if you would like!

Question 17

How about the credit card refund?

Accepted Answer

All credit card refunds will be processed in a timely ma er. The refunds processing depends on your billing cycle with the credit card company. Once the refund instructions leave our office it can take from 12-30 working days for the proceeds to arrive in your account. Please note that the refunds will be made in the form of a credit to your card account.

Question 18

Can I trust in One Pay System?

Accepted Answer

Payment portal system of OnePAY is trusted by big banks in the world such as ANZ, HSBC AND ICICI. OnePAY payment portal meets standards of international financial system such as PCI DSS of PCI Security Standards Council, 3D-Secure of Visa, MasterCard and JCB. You can find more information about this system by its website: https://onepay.vn . Most travel companies in Vietnam use the system to accept payment by credit card.

Question 19

How to cancel my booking?

Accepted Answer

When you want to cancel a booking, please send a cancellation request by writing an email. We do not accept a cancellation by phone. Please read carefully our cancellation policy at Booking Terms and Conditions at this link: https://absoluteasiatravel.com/booking-conditions/

Notice: we ONLY accept cancellation in writing by email or fax, NOT by phone.

Question 20

Are there any restrictions on photography in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Photography in or near military installations, airports or similar locations is prohibited. Anyone caught doing so will have the film, and possibly the camera or camcorder, confiscated and may be arrested.

Question 21

Can I buy antiques in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. However, exporting an artifact with cultural significance requires an official license. Without a license, anything old is liable to be confiscated at the airport.

Question 22

Do I need any vaccination for entering Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

No, you don’t if you travel to popular cities in Vietnam. However, it is advisable that precautionary measures be taken against cholera, malaria, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tuberculosis.

Question 23

Is it safe to go out late in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Is it safe to go out late in Vietnam? Vietnam is a pretty safe place, but going out late is not a good idea, especially alone. Though serious crime against foreigners is rare, pick-pocketing and purse-snatching has increased in recent years. Like any where else, it is always wise to be cautious especially when you are in a crowded place. Is it safe to go out late in Vietnam?

Question 24

Is it safe to travel to Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Vietnam is known as one of the safest vacation destination of the World with very low of crime. However, we still recommend our clients to be careful with their own properties by putting their important paper and valuable items in hotel safety boxes, going out with limited amount of cash and jewelry wares to prevent from being snatched or pick-pocketed in the busy or quiet streets. That happens sometimes in the big cities.

Question 25

Is there any discount for children?

Accepted Answer

Children under 11 years old may enjoy discounts in accommodation, air tickets and meals. As the discount rate for kids varies from hotels, restaurants and airline companies, you are advised to provide us with detailed information about number of kids traveling and their ages to get the exact discounts applied.

Question 26

My credit card number is correct, but it is not accepted on your online reservation form am getting an error while making a payment? Why?

Accepted Answer

There are a few possibilities: Make sure you are not using a proxy internet co ection. A direct co ection to internet is required for security purpose. Our Payment Gateway opens in a new Windows. Make sure that pop up blocking software/features are turned off. Make sure the input details are correct. Make sure the card expiration date does not precede the reservation date. Make sure you have not reached your credit limit. If you get an error apart from the reasons above, please contact us at info@absoluteasiatravel.com or hotline: +84 989 695 371

Question 27

What about disabled and pregnant tourists?

Accepted Answer

Disabilities or pregnancy of tourists joining the tour should be informed to us as the booking is made. All possible assistance during your trip will be advised, and also subject to surcharge. We will not be held liable if such information is not informed in advance.

Question 28

What are the UNESCO World Heritages in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Cultural (5) Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long &#8211; Hanoi (2010) Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (2011) Complex of Hue Monuments (1993) Hoi An Ancient Town (1999) My Son Sanctuary (1999) Natural (2) Ha Long Bay (1994, 2000) Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (2003, 2015) Mixed (1) Trang An Landscape Complex (2014) Besides these 7 World Heritage Sites, there are also other UNESCO recognized heritages in Vietnam. These are: Hue Royal Court Music &#8211; recognized as World Oral History Treasure and Intangible Culture in 2003 Tay Nguyen Gong Music &#8211; recognized as masterpiece of the oral and intangible culture of humanity in 2005 Bac Ninh &#8220;Quan Ho&#8221; Folk Singing &#8211; recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009 Ca Tru Singing &#8211; recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009 Xoan Singing &#8211; recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011 Other sites in Vietnam are listed as World Biosphere reserve: Can Gio Mangrove (2000), Cat Tien national park (2001), Mui Ca Mau (2009), Cham Island (2009)

Question 29

What happens to my tour booking if my flight is delayed?

Accepted Answer

Please inform us as soon as possible so that we can update to guide/ driver and hotels accordingly. We try our best to offer you the similar ground services.

Question 30

When is the best time to visit Centre of Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

We provides visitors with tours to Central Vietnam year round but December to March is the best time to visit the Central Highlands when conditions are usually dry and cool. We visited the region in late November when the weather was beautiful with fine, warm days and pleasant evenings. We had a few light showers as we headed north towards Hoi An. Along the central coast there is a rainy season from December to February. June to October tends to be very dry and hot.

Question 31

When is the best time to visit North of Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

We provides visitors with tours to North of Vietnam year round but the best time to visit here is from October to April next year when it isn&#8217;t so humid. The weather turns quite cold and wet in January and this continues until March. The humidity can prove oppressive from May to the early September and there&#8217;s possibility of typhoon.

Question 32

When is the best time to visit South of Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

We provides visitors with tours to South of Vietnam year round but December to April is the best time to visit the south of Vietnam. There are short downpours during the wet season from May to November but they tend to only last a short time so you can still enjoy a visit during these months (just go for lunch when you see the black clouds developing). The Mekong Delta can experience few flooding during this period

Question 33

What does the Visa approval letter look like?

Accepted Answer

A sample of what the Vietnam visa approval letter looks like can be found here.

Question 34

Can we enter Chau Doc from Cambodia with e-visa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can enter or exit Vietnam with e-visa if you travel by waterway from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc or vice versa. Vĩnh Xương (Tan Chau, An Giang Province) is the location of an international border crossing with Cambodia, with the official name Sông Tiền . Its counterpart across the border is Khaorm Sam Nor Kaoh Roka border gate, Kandal Province, Cambodia. Besides conventional Vietnamese visas, this border crossing is also listed as a Vietnamese Evisa entry/exit point for foreigners. Please list Song Tien Landport as your port of entry/exit . Kindly note that Song Tien landport is only valid for entry by river (via one of following cruises/ speed boats: BlueCruiser, Victoria Speedboat, Hang Chau Tourist Express, Jahan ship, AquaExpeditions, Mekong River Cruise, Jayavarman, AmaCruises) You can find list of ports that allowed foreigners entering and exiting Vietnam by Vietnamese E-visa at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/documents/20181/163332/Danh+sách+cửa+khẩu/4ae61cd9-5bde-4df4-8be4-db36fc3f6704

Question 35

What is visa on arrival?

Accepted Answer

This is one of, if not, the quickest and cheapest way to get your visa for Vietnam. You just need to fill in our &#8220;Online Application Form&#8221;, pay the service fee, get your &#8220;Visa approval letter&#8221; within 2 working days and pick up your visa at your arrival airport (Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang airport in Danang, Cam Ranh airport in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc airport on Phu Quoc Island) After we obtain the approval letter for you, we will forward you a copy by email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam Immigration checkpoints at International Airports only. When you arrive in Viet Nam, the Immigration officers will have those documents ready and will be able to issue your entry visa quickly.

Question 36

Can I enter Vietnam later than my granted arrival date in visa approval letter?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can enter later than the granted arrival date in visa approval letter providing that you exit by granted exit date.

Question 37

When do I have to pay for the approval letter to Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

You can pay for the visa processing fee of the approval letter after you submit your application or pay with your tour cost. If you have problems with payment, email us at sales (at) absoluteasiatravel.com and we will send you a link to follow in order to pay. Keep in mind that no application can be processed until the full payment is made.

Question 38

How can I pay Vietnam visa service fee and stamping fee?

Accepted Answer

For service fees, you can choose one of following options: Using Credit/Debit card via Onepay.vn Sending money via Western Union Sending money via Bank Transfer We recommend you to pay by credit card securely online for the services. Please read our payment guidelines for further information. For stamping fee, you need to pay in cash (USD) directly to Immigration officer at Immigration Control Desk at airports

Question 39

What if I change my flight and arrive at another airport in Vietnam?

Accepted Answer

Visa on arrival works at any of following international airports in Vietnam: Tan Son Nhat (in Ho Chi Minh City); Noi Bai (in Hanoi) Da Nang (in Da Nang City), Cam Ranh (in Nha Trang), Phu Quoc in Phu Quoc Island. There is no problem with switching between these airports.

Question 40

Can I enter Vietnam earlier or later than my granted arrival date in visa approval letter?

Accepted Answer

No, you can not. You need to enter Vietnam WITHIN approval dates as mentioned in your visa approval letter.

Frequently Asked Questions - Absolute Asia Travel

Policy in case weather turns bad or unavailable services?

How to cancel my booking?

Where do I find the cancellation policy of a tour?