Visiting Vietnam requires a visa that may be obtained in any city with a Vietnamese Embassy.

The address and phone numbers of the embassy in the U.S. follows:

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20037

Telephone: (202) 861-0737
Fax: (202) 861-0917
E-mail: info@vietnamembassy-usa.org
URL: http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/

If you plan to stay in Vietnam more than 45 days you should take a strong run of antibiotics to combat strong infections in a country with little medicine.  Fill a prescription before you go in case you have to call up the heavy artillery against an invasion force of "tropical cooties."  Bring a tube of neosporin since even a mosquito bite could become infected should you catch a tropical disease (also known as jungle rot).

The best guidebook in the world about Vietnam is published by Lonely Planet.  Local schedules, embassy addresses, good restaurants, bad trips etc. are listed along with virtually everything you need to know.  To order a book or video contact Lonely Planet:

Lonely Planet Publications

150 Linden Street
Oakland, California  94607
Phone (800) 275-8555 (9am - 5pm PST)
FAX (510) 893-8563
E: info@lonelyplanet.com
Website:  www.lonelyplanet.com

There many travel agencies in Vietnam.  Travel arrangements can be made by telephone from anywhere. A reliable travel agency is provided here:

BENTHANH TOURIST

45 Buivien St.
1st District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

From USA
Phone 011 84 8 837 4698
Fax 011 84 8 836 1953
Ask for Ty Nguyen (pronounce TEA)