Frequently Asked Questions - Absolute Asia Travel

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:

1. Arrive in Phu Quoc directly from an international destination, by air or sea. Direct flights or international transit only.
2. Stay on Phu Quoc Island for the entire trip.
3. 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’s be clear: the visa-free entry is strictly limited to the island itself, and Indian nationals cannot travel to mainland Vietnam under this exemption. Phu Quoc is the start and end point. There is no “upgrade” on arrival.

4. What if the itinerary includes both Phu Quoc and mainland Vietnam?

Then a visa is needed for the whole trip. Anyone planning 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 connecting through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to reach Phu Quoc?

This route needs a visa. Travelers cannot 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.

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.

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.

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.

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’s income.

To keep things simple and fair, we apply a fixed rate based on your group size:

1. Group of 2 to 5 pax: US$5 per person, per day in total
2. Group of 6 to 9 pax: US$4 per person, per day in total
3. Group of 10 pax and above: US$3 per person, per day in total
4. Group of 30 pax and above: US$2 per person, per day in total

You have two ways to handle this:

1. 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.
2. 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.

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.

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.

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.

We run modern, air-conditioned cars, minibuses and coaches across all our tours in Vietnam. Every vehicle carries a cooler with chilled drinking water, and our drivers are selected for safe driving and strong local road knowledge. As a working rule, we assign a vehicle one size larger than the group needs, so your clients always travel with room to spare.

One important note before the numbers: on smaller vehicles, the local guide always sits in the front passenger seat. So the real question is never “how many seats”, it is “how many guests plus luggage plus guide”. The table below answers exactly that.

Capacity by Vehicle Type

4-seater sedan (Toyota Vios / Altis class)
For 1 to 2 guests with luggage. Guide sits up front, guests in the rear, and the boot takes 1 to 2 large bags maximum. Our standard car for couples, solo travelers and airport transfers.

7-seater MPV / SUV (Toyota Innova / Fortuner class)
For 2 to 3 guests with luggage. The last row of seats is normally folded down for bags. A comfortable choice for couples with extra luggage or a small family.

9-seater van
For 5 to 6 guests with luggage when a guide travels along. Honest note: this van gets tight with large Indian suitcases, so if your group packs heavy, we recommend the 16-seater instead.

16-seater minivan (Ford Transit class)
Our most flexible vehicle, ideal for 4 to 8 guests with full luggage. Overhead racks plus rear storage. This is the workhorse for family groups, and we also use it as the support vehicle on cycling tours.

29-seater coach (Hyundai County class)
For 9 to 15 guests with luggage. Undercarriage storage, with the guide seated next to the driver.

35-seater coach
For 16 to 22 guests with luggage. A good fit for large family groups and wedding parties.

45-seater coach
For 23 to 40 guests with luggage. The largest storage in our fleet, with room for both a local guide and your accompanying tour leader.

Luggage Baseline

Plan on this allowance per adult traveler:

1. One large check-in bag, around 76×48 cm (the 78x50x30 cm size, roughly 32 kg, is the most common with Indian groups)
2. One cabin bag, 55x40x20 cm, around 7 kg

For sedans and MPVs, the safe working rule is one large suitcase per occupied seat.

If the Group Exceeds the Baggage Allowance

If clients travel with more than the baseline allowance, we reserve the right to add a second van or a luggage truck at a supplement. This charge is settled by the booking agency or directly by the clients. We do this for one reason only: nobody enjoys a 4-hour drive with a suitcase on their lap.

Our Advice to Partners

Tell us the exact pax count and bag count when you send the booking. Our team will recommend the right vehicle for your group based on local road conditions and the itinerary. When in doubt, we size up.