Vietnam
From CruisersWiki
| Vietnam
| |
 Map | |
 Flag | |
| Capital | Hanoi |
|---|---|
| Language | Vietnamese |
| Currency | Dong (VND) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 |
| Calling code | +84 |
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in South East Asia. With an estimated 90.0 million inhabitants as of 2013, it is the world's 13th-most-populous country, and the eighth-most-populous Asian country.
Vietnam remains one of the most difficult countries in South East Asia to visit, mostly due to heavy handed beaurocracy that treats sailing yachts under the same regulations as international cargo vessels and passenger liners -- meaning reams of paperwork, extended processing times and expensive fees.
Things are beginning to open up, however, and a marina has just commenced construction near Nha Trang with the possibility of simpler and cheaper entrance paperwork.
There used to be a Sunsail base in Nha Trang but it closed in 2009 due to difficulties with the local authorities. Currently, the closest you get to sailing in Vietnam is hiring a hobie cat off the beach at Nha Trang.
Charts
The USA charting agencies may have paper charts of the Vietnam coast including inland waterways. They may be quite old.
Be aware of depths around the mouth of the Mekong Delta as the Mekong River carries quite a bit of silt down river, which moves the land area around considerably (up to 800m per year). Navigation buoys are generally reasonably accurate.
Electronic charts such as C-MAP may cover the Vietnam coast but the accuracy may be doubtful in some areas. See Charts.
Weather
Submit the climate & general weather details here. For very large countries remove this section and cover weather in Region ( Region Template) pages.
Weather links
- Brunei Bay Radio operates a regular voice broadcast sked of METAREA and local coastal forecasts for SE Asia waters, the NW Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. For details of Brunei Bay Radio broadcast skeds and frequencies, see http://www.bruneibay.net/bbradio/bbrschfvoice.htm and http://www.bruneibay.net/bbradio/bbrscweathMSIbcasts.html
- Viet Nam weather map
Passages
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Islands
– island || 
– port of entry || 
– harbour || 
– marina || 
– anchorage || 
– needs data ||Communication
Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
Add any navigation notes such approaches, dangers etc here. If this section does not apply remove it.
Entrance
It is currently necessary to have a shipping agent if entering Vietnam. Some of the following can be contacted:
Agents
Falcon Shipping Co
- 26 Hai Phong Street
- Da Nang
- Tel:0084-511-892145 (office) / 0084-511-887611 (Mr. Van Vui)
- 125 Hong Bang Street
- Nha Trang
- Tel:0084 58-514.641
- [email protected]
- Mr. Nguyen Chau, cell: 0084- 913.462.233
- Also Mr. Huynh Chien, cell: 0084-905.256.433
Sailing Center Vietnam
Ruurd van Putten has claimed via email to be able to act as a shipping agent for visiting yachts.
http://www.sailing.vn/index.php/en/yacht-services/yacht-agency.html
Saigon Tourist Services
Saigon Tourist Services -- may also be able to help out.
Arrival
Details?
Departure
Details?
Visas
Visas for arrival into Vietnam by land (or water) need to be obtained in advance. Visas on arrival are only available when arriving at one of the country's international airports.
Contact your local Vietnam embassy or consulate for details. For example Vietnam Embassy in the USA.
There are many organisations offering Vietnam visas on line, however it's not possible to use that type of visa when arriving by land or sea into Vietnam.
It may be possible to obtain a visa for Vietnam at a nearby country, e.g. Thailand, Cambodia or Malaysia where there are Vietnam embassies.
Visas for visitors are available for 30 or 90 day stays and involve a fee but are not expensive.
Customs and Immigration
Customs
Details?
Immigration
Details?
Fees and Charges
Restrictions
Health and Security
Health
Submit any health warnings/information. Remove any of these sections do not apply to this particular country.
Security
Details?
Berthing
With a coastline stretching from the Gulf of Tonkin in the north, the East Sea / South China Sea in the center and the Gulf of Thailand in the south west, Vietnam has a large number of potential cruising stops. However to this date cruisers have been successful in entering only three ports -- Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Attempts to enter at Hai Phong in the north or other ports have been unsuccessful when tried.
There is a current marina development near Nha Trang, and rumours of a marina to be developed on Phu Quoc Island in the Gulf of Thailand.
The Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea should probably be considered off limits to cruisers due to territorial disputes in the area involving Vietnam, China and the Philippines.
Ports
– port of entry || – harbour || – marina || – anchorage || – needs data ||- - in all of the coastal towns of Vietnam at this time, Nha Trang has the most experience with cruising yachts
Da Nang
It may be possible to enter here -- one vessel has done so in the past. As with all ports in Vietnam, a shipping agent will be required.
You will be directed to a dock.
See also Da Nang.Marinas & Yacht Clubs
- Ana Marina -- under construction
Transportation
List transportation to other countries, etc.
Friends
- Allan Goodman based in Nha Trang operates a superyacht agency. His various web sites all use the term "billionaire" when referring to yacht owners, giving the impression that he is unable or unwilling to assist anyone without considerable funds.
- Allan Goodman on twitter.
- Focus Sailing based in Nha Trang is involved with the construction of Ana Marina and advertises that it has the only yacht available for charter in Vietnam -- a Corsair Trimaran.
- Sailing Center Vietnam also advertises that it has the only yacht available for charter in Vietnam -- also a Corsair Trimaran.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Vietnam at the Wikipedia
- Vietnam at the Wikivoyage
- Nha Trang at the Wikipedia
- Da Nang at the Wikipedia
- Vietnam Revisited article in Cruising World magazine.
- The Southeast Asia Pilot - Vietnam
- Come To Sea Blog Post - Vietnam visit log from 2006.
- Hong Kong to Vietnam Race organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, runs approximately every 2 years to Nha Trang.
References
- Andy Dowden & Bill O’Leary, Southeast Asia Pilot, Image Asia, ISBN 9749499808 Formerly known as The Andaman Sea Pilot, a very well documented sea pilot issued by Image Asia Events Co., Ltd in Phuket. Lots of anchorages reaching from Darwin to Andaman Islands, with detailed drawings of heaps of anchorages. More details on the website http://www.southeastasiapilot.com/
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 Contributors to this page |
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Names: MMNETSEA, TaoJones, Lighthouse, Haiqu, Delatbabel |
