Getting Around & Transport– category –

From June 1, 2026, Vietnam's immigration procedures are consolidated through corporate VNeID. Counter and offline reception for visa extensions, work visas, and residence-card applications have stopped. We summarize the steps residents and local subsidiaries should check right away.

On 11 streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter, time-based restrictions on gasoline motorbikes began on July 1. We lay out, for residents and tourists, the covered hours on Friday nights and weekends, the covered streets, and how to switch to walking and electric transport.

Vietnam Airlines is moving about 12% of its international flights from central Ho Chi Minh City to the new Long Thanh Airport 40 km to the east. Trial operations in September 2026, with commercial operations within the year. We summarize the changes in departure and arrival airports and access that Japanese travelers should keep in mind.

Ho Chi Minh City makes 134 of 135 lines fare-free from July 1 to December 31. With new air-conditioned buses and card payment also introduced, the route buses travelers tended to avoid become a realistic way to get around.

An explainer on Vietnam Railways’ heritage-train strategy, including the “Five Citadel Gates” service running Hanoi–Bac Ninh. We look at routes, fares, and how to book, plus how it differs from Japan’s sightseeing trains, all from a traveler’s perspective.

On June 22, Hanoi broke ground simultaneously on five metro lines (about 303.5 km in total). Lines 1 and 2 will connect Noi Bai Airport with the city center, with completion targeted for 2030. We lay out the current bus route 86 and Grab fares alongside the future picture, from a traveler’s point of view.

From July 1, 2026, health declarations become mandatory for entering, leaving, and transiting Vietnam. Visa-exempt Japanese travelers are covered too. We’ve organized what to submit, when, and where, plus how it differs from the eVisa and pre-arrival declaration, for travelers.

Ho Chi Minh City’s sixth double-decker sightseeing bus, “DL06,” opens on July 4. We’ve laid out the roughly 27-km, 110-minute route, operating hours and frequency, the boarding point, and how it differs from the existing five routes, for Japanese travelers.

From June 26 to August 16, the Vietnam Airlines Group sharply increases flights toward Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. We explain the peak periods, when seats become easier to grab, and Japanese travelers’ domestic-travel tactics and booking tips from a practical angle.

Vietravel Airlines newly launches the Hanoi-Buon Ma Thuot route and adds A321s. We read how air access to Dak Lak, the world's largest Robusta-growing region, is changing, from the perspective of coffee-loving travelers.