1. Overview

Country name: Republic of Korea, referred to as South Korea. The official English name is Republic of Korea (ROK) (not called South Korea, South Korea, Republic of Korea).
Capital: Seoul, with a population of 10.44 million (January 2013).
Geographical location: South of the Korean Peninsula; East, West and South borders the sea; North borders North Korea through the military line running along the 38o North parallel.
Area: 99,392 km2 (whole peninsula: 222,154 km2)
Population: 50.76 million (February 2013).
Ethnicity: Only one ethnic group is Korean (Korea).
Religion: Buddhism 10.7 million; Protestant 8.6 million; God 5.1 million; Confucianism 104 thousand ...
Language: Korean (one voice, one script).
Time zone: (UTC + 9)
Internet domain name: .kr
Phone code: +82

2. Prepare

A. Passport and National ID

You need to prepare the original passport (valid for 06 months and a visa page), no passport photo. Identity card, you submit the photo and do not need notarization.

B. Visa application
Although there is an English visa form on the website of the Korean Embassy, ​​you will be given a Vietnamese form when you come to apply, so you do not need to pre-fill in the English form at home but keep coming. The Embassy will soon fill out a Vietnamese form.
On the sample will require a 3.5 * 4.5 photo taken with a white background, remember that photos are sharp if the type of blur is unclear that they will not accept.

C. Papers proving financial capability:
Savings book with a balance of from USD 5,000 sent over 1 month up to the date of submission with a confirmation of the bank's deposit balance near the time of submission (limited to 02 weeks) + copy of 02 face of savings book . If the savings book has not been sent for 01 month by the time of submission, the savings book must have a term of 3 months to send together with a red book with a certified English translation or a 2-sided copy of the standing car registration Applicant name.

D. Proof of occupation:
• The original employment contract and a photocopy, plus an additional certified English translation. If someone has a bilingual contract in their employment, there is no need to translate.
• Vacation application: You always make 2 copies of leave in Vietnamese and English, signed and sealed, stating that you are taking leave to travel to Korea, from which day to day, commitment Go back to work after vacation.
• Certificate of employment: Write enough briefly to confirm that you are currently working here, what position, position, salary confirmation is also mentioned here ... Also written in English signed and stamped.
• The last 3 months salary statement with company stamp, and the bank account statement can clearly show the salary paid for those 3 months.

E. Sightseeing schedule in English
This section you need to refer can download below, remember to make a simple schedule, consistent with the time of the visit.

F. Confirmation of reservations in Korea and air tickets
You make a cancellation form free of charge on Booking.com, then print all of those booking bookings on the record. Once you have a visa, you can cancel and re-book. Air tickets were also hunting cheap tickets beforehand so just print it.

G. Other papers
Some other documents that you can include, such as documents proving property ownership such as land and housing, relationship documents such as marriage registration, child birth certificates, etc. You need to have a local notary (Vietnamese version) first, and also have a certified English translation of that document.

* Korean weather

The climate changes according to 4 distinct and abundant seasons. The summer is hot and humid, the winter is dry and cold, the spring and autumn are short but the climate is pleasant because of the cool air and lots of sunshine. The average winter temperature is - 16 degrees C and 34.5 degrees C in summer. At the time of transfer between summer and autumn, heavy rains often occur widely. Winter season starts in November and ends in March. At the beginning of the new year, there are usually drizzle rain. Immediately after April, the weather began to soften, on the hills and fields of flowers with vivid colors, like a splendid flower forest, reaching out to the wind. That was also the season when the farmers began to ring their seeds. Cool weather with deep blue sky is a beautiful feature of autumn in Korea.

* Korean currency
The Korean currency used is Korea Won, abbreviated as KRW. The exchange rate is quite stable 1 KRW ~ 20VND.

*SIM
Some of you have said that in Seoul free wifi is everywhere so there is no need to buy a sim to make money, which is not very accurate. In fact, free wifi is only available at airports such as Gimpo or Incheon, in hotels, cafes when you enter it, but on the road if you want to have wifi you will still need a sim to register an account, or buy a package of a certain supplier.
So if anyone needs to contact or need the Internet when going to Korea, it is highly recommended to have a 4G sim, buying sim is also quite easy because there are many counters at the airport. Only the sim price in Korea is quite expensive, more expensive than other Asian countries, I buy a 10-day 4G sim without limit, do not listen to text messages, the price is 29USD.

* T-money card
This is a card used to travel on trains, buses and pay at convenience stores. When traveling to Korea, you should buy this card, the price of the card is 4000KRW without money in your account, you have to top up at the ticket vending machines at the train stations. The cost of each train if using T-money is 1250KRW and if you buy an odd ticket is 1350KRW, and you will not lose time to buy tickets for each leg, just swipe and board.
During 6 days in Seoul, I charged 25,000 KRW to travel by subway and bus. You can rest assured to buy and top-up T-money because the card has no time limit, and when returning from Incheon Airport you can still get a refund on the card if you want at the ticket machines / recharge itself dynamic.

* Advice a little on costumes and photography
Because I am a photographer, wherever I go, I consider the issue of costumes as well as the beautiful angles. Those who travel now don't care about taking photos, selfies now take a higher level than just putting the camera in front of their faces and smiling, but especially the trip to Korea, the country of beauty and fashion. .

3. Move

Traveling between airport and city center
Incheon International Airport
Usually when flying from Vietnam to Seoul, you will land at Incheon Airport, the largest and largest airport of the Korean capital. From the airport, there are many ways to go to the city center such as bus, taxi or tram. For ordinary tourists, you just take the train (in Korea called Subway) to be convenient and the lowest price. There are 2 types of subway to Seoul:
• Express Train: A fast train connecting the airport and the city, this train does not stop running directly to Seoul, but it is quite expensive: 8500KRW / one way and buy tickets at the counter (can not use T-money card).
• All Stops Train: This is a Subway that runs from the airport to the city, called a slow train because it stops at all points on the journey. While the Express train runs for 40 minutes, the All Stops train takes about 50 minutes - 1 hour. All Stops train price is 3,250KRW and can use T-money card.

Gimpo International Airport
This airport you will go if flying from Seoul to Jeju, Busan, closer to the city than Incheon. From Gimpo to Seoul you take the All Stops train (without Express train) quite simple. Or if anyone from Incheon want to go to Gimpo can also take the All Stops train takes about 30 minutes. The ticket price is equal to the regular fare of the subway train, which is 1250KRW / time.
The usual procedure when you fly to Seoul is to find a counter selling sim phones (shops located on the way to the subway), then buy a T-money card and take the train to the city. At the airport, no matter which train you take, at which airport, the final stop is Seoul Station because the airport line is a separate line that is not related with no transfer station with other lines. From this station, you continue to take subway to the hotel.

Travel by subway in the city center
Traveling in the city, the most convenient and cheapest is still a train. You should download the subway map to your phone or Subway Korea software to look visually, where to go can search and find your way on the phone.
Seoul's train system is quite complicated and tangled. There are 9 lines in all colors and are numbered from 1-9. Seoul train experience:
• Taking a train in Seoul is similar to taking a train in other cities, you determine the destination on the Seoul map, see if there is any nearest station there to go to. After determining the station you need, go to Subway software to find the shortest way to go, pay attention to the line changes.
• Trains in Seoul have a lot of long-built stations, no elevators, so when you go to a certain point, you need to determine in advance which exit is the door to go up quickly, especially those with less stairs. if you have to pull too heavy and bulky luggage.
• Some of the stages you see on the map will have both direct trains and stops, so be aware of which station they report to because sometimes you think the train will stop at the intermediate station but actually the train Run past the point you need already.
• Continually check directions in the station to see which direction of the train waiting area you need to go.

Note some special lines:
• Airport Railroad - line dedicated to the airport, both Incheon and Gimpo airports are on this line. The airport line also passes Hongik Univ. Station, this station to go to Hongdae area.
• Line 1: Cross Dongdaemun Station, can be used to go to Cheonggyecheon Stream and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
• Line 3: There is Anguk Station to Bukchon Hanok Village, Express Bus Terminal Station to Banpo Bridge for light show.
• Line 6: go to Itaewon area.

Take a train from Seoul to other cities
If you want to travel from Seoul to Busan or other cities, catching a train is the fastest and most convenient way. For example, going to Busan you will have to go through Seoul Station (this station is located directly adjacent to Subway Seoul Station). You can book tickets in advance via Letskorail, choose to take the fast train KTX or slow train (stop many stations), the price will vary significantly, and the speed is also different accordingly.

4. Where when traveling to Korea?

* Twin City Apartment: This is a 3-4-person apartment with full amenities, located on the 17th floor of Twin City Twin Towers area of ​​Seoul Station, adjacent to the Four Points by Sheraton hotel. I chose in the corner so the view of the city is always good, especially at night the city lights up very nicely. In addition, on the rooftop, the building also has a gym with full equipment, free coffee tea and free massage chairs.
Room price: $ 215/2 night / 2 people.

* Small House Big Door: The hotel is located close to the crowded and noisy Myeongdong, only 5 ′ walk away. However, the area around the hotel is very quiet, here in addition to the room there is a cafe and office rice on the first floor. I am in the Queen Suite room on Booking.com quite spacious, simple and sophisticated design. exquisite to perfect.
Room price $ 110 / night / 2 people. Review of Small House Big Door

* Moon Guesthouse: This is where I stay the last day to fly back to Hanoi, a traditional type of Korean house near Bukchon Hanok Village. Due to a single person, the small room only has 1 bed, but this guesthouse also has many large rooms for 2 people and the room for the family. Style exactly Korean culture, peaceful and gentle.
Room price: $ 29 / night / single room 1 person, double room $ 58 / night.

5. Korean cuisine

Scores on some street foods:
• Tteokbokki spicy rice cake: A small type of rolls similar to Vietnamese thick bread, served with spicy sauce. Tteokbokki is present everywhere from streetfood stalls and even in restaurants, cold and standing, blowing and eating delicious feeling.
• Gimbap: made with rice and various ingredients rolled in dried seaweed leaves, there are also types of egg rolls outside to eat very delicious because Korean rice is both delicious and attractive.
• Twigim: Quite similar to Japanese Tempura, made from very popular and popular vegetables like okra, sweet potato, onion, carrot ... and breaded fried in a pan.
• Dakkochi: simply put: spicy chicken skewers, chicken marinated with spices and skewered into sticks and onions, then grilled or fried. They will then add tomato sauce, syrup or honey to look very attractive.
There are also Odeng fish rolls, Hotteok donuts similar to pancakes, ... Street food you can meet in many places in Seoul, especially the crowded markets and shopping. It can be said here as Myeongdong area, Gwangjang market, Namdaemun market, Dongdaemun street food court, ..
Typical dishes and places to eat:
• Korean BBQ - (Gogigui 고기 구이): Featured dish, eat countless meals without getting bored. If you eat Gogi in Vietnam, you can imagine this dish in Korea, but of course eating in Korea is still a lot better! I eat at the 예송 숯불 갈비 restaurant right near Seoul Station.
• Bibimbap rice: Rice mixed with vegetables, chili sauce, with some additional ingredients such as peach eggs, sliced ​​meat, .. The restaurant I eat in Insadong, right near Bukchong Hanok village: 38 Gwanhun-dong , Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-300, South Korea.
• Samgyetang ginseng chicken soup: made from whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, red apples, garlic and ginger. This dish traditionally Korean people eat on the 3 hottest days of the year called sambok.
• Sundubu Jiggae (재동 순두부): In addition to the barbecue, you can not help but try the delicious seafood egg tofu soup and Tofu at Jaedong Sundubu. How to go: in Bukchon-ro 2-gil lane, take the subway Anguk exit 2.
• Eating streetfood at Gwangjang Market: the market is crowded with restaurants lined up with all sorts of streetfood foods from Tteokbokki, Gimbap to meats, plentiful ... especially raw octopus dishes are still dancing on the plate. . When I ate, I asked people to take some, because of the language barrier, so when I said they did not understand, I prepared a lot of food that did not go away, I charged all 21,000 KRW for fraud, too bitter!
• Eat grilled fish at Dongdaemun Grilled Fish Street: Near Gwangjang Market, you go through the road to go deep into a small alley and go to Dongdaemun grilled fish street with lots of small grilled fish stalls.
• Mandu 만두 or dumpling, Korean bid, is similar to that of China or Taiwan. Delicious restaurant: Bukchon Son Mandu, address: in Insadong Lane 9-gil, Anguk exit 6 range 50m.
• Patbingsu - shaved ice: Translated simply as a combination of desserts and shaved red beans, but in Korea they have many combinations and create many types of Patbingsu with different style colors. Going to Korea can not help but eat Patbingsu.
• Noodles: Korea is famous and featured with noodles / noodles such as Ramen, Udon noodles, Naengmyeon cold noodles, ... noodle shops can also be found a lot on the street. Price range 5000-8000KRW / bowl.
In Korean meals, they usually have a lot of side dishes like Kimchi, small dried fish, pickled vegetables like cabbage, pickled radish ... These dishes you will get unlimited more.

6. Some attractions in Korea

Shopping in Myeongdong
The neighborhood is too famous in the center of Seoul, focusing on the most crowded shopping and entertainment spots with all brands of cosmetics, fashion and food street. Wherever you go, you'll probably have to flip back and forth to Myeongdong several times on your journey.
Access: Euljiro 1 (il) -ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exits 5, 6 & 7 or Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exits 5, 6, 7 & 8.

Namsan Tower - N Seoul Tower
Close to Myeongdong can walk out. This is a tower located on Nam San Mountain which is also considered one of the symbols of Seoul. To get to the tower, you need to go through an automatic elevator - or call a cable car, then buy a cable car ticket (8500 KRW / round trip) to get to the foot of the tower.
From here you can participate in activities at the foot of the tower because it is a fun complex, including a bridge like the bridge in Paris, or buy tickets to the top of the tower to see all of Seoul. Besides Namsan Tower, there is Namsan Park, and the ancient village Namsangol Hanok Village, you can combine it.
How to get there: Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4) Exit 3, then walk 15 minutes along the right path of Pacific hotel you will see Cable car ahead.

Banpo bridge on the banks of the Han River
This bridge is famous for its beautiful fountains at night, setting the Guinness World Record as the world's longest bridge fountain with a total length of 1,140m and 10,000 LEDs on both sides of the bridge. To get here, take the subway to the Express Bus Terminal, walk about 1 kilometer to the Han River.
How to get there: Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3, 7, 9), Exit 8-1, go straight for 250m then turn right at Sageori Express Bus Terminal, go straight to the bridge. Note that the walking distance is quite far.

Seoul Forest
The place suitable for family picnics, not only that, Seoul Forest is also a container style entertainment, i.e. fashion shops, gifts or cafe are all built from containers. eye-catching color paint.
Seoul Forest is very large, fresh air and lots of trees. Due to the beautiful weather in Seoul, this city has a lot of parks to facilitate people to walk, play and relax.
How to go: Seoul Forest Station (Subway Bundang Line), Exit 3

Amusement parks such as Lotte World and Everland
Normally you will take a whole day to hang out in one of these places, almost like the water park or Dam Sen park, Sentosa in Singapore. However, this place is super wide with lots of different games, buy tickets once to play all the games, only a few special services have to buy more. Everland has a zoo inside it and Lotte World doesn't.
How to get to Everland: get to the subway Jeondae-Everland Station (Yongin EverLine), Exit 3. Take the shuttle bus to Everland (Bus operation time: 05: 30-23: 30).

Nami Island
One of the places that people often go because this is the place to set the movie "Winter Sonata - Winter Sonata". The island is actually just a small piece of land located between the two banks of the river, so you will have to take the shuttle bus from Gapyeong Station quite a distance from the city, then take a ferry across the island. The island is full of services so you can rest assured playing all day here.

Jimjilbang shower
This is a cultural feature of Korea, almost like steam in Vietnam. You will bathe through spring water taken from a depth of 300m underground, then into a large room, where there are many smaller saunas with different temperatures depending on each person's endurance. There are cold rooms, hot rooms and super-hot rooms, can stay overnight at Jimjilbang bathing places, saving 1-night hotel cost. The usual fare for sauna and sleep is KRW 10k per person.

Korean Festival

Seoul International Fireworks Festival
Seoul International Fireworks Festival is a fireworks event held every year on October 5. Before the start of the fireworks display, guests can participate in various performances and shows. With the participation of professional fireworks teams at home and abroad such as France, Canada and Japan, the beautiful and artistic light performances will bring unforgettable unforgettable moments for visitors.

Hwaseong Suwon Cultural Festival
Hwaseong Suwon is a unique cultural festival held in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, in October every year on the occasion of Suwon Citizens Day. Hwaseong Fortress (recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage) is a place that attracts visitors during the festival.
A series of events are held such as the re-enactment of the Imperial procession of Emperor Jeongjo (the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty), the Jangyongyeong guards' ceremony, citizen parade, along with many traditional performances. other. Participating in the festival, visitors can also taste traditional dishes from around the world.

Jeju Fire Festival
Held in the winter in Korea (March 7 to 9), the Jeju copper fire festival is a ritual to pray for good health and good crops for the following year. The festival reveals a series of traditional inheritance events where visitors can participate in folk and traditional games. You can also enjoy the exotic nature on Jeju Island on this occasion.

Jeju cherry blossom festival
The warm weather at the beginning of the year makes the flowers everywhere race. This is an ideal condition for Jeju Island to hold a cherry blossom festival. The downtown area of ​​Seogwipo and the sports complex are where the great cherry blossom trees of Jeju bloom. The petals of cherry blossoms on these trees are also considered to be the largest and most beautiful. However, they only bloom in 2 to 3 days during the festival in April. Here, visitors will listen to the soothing music while strolling on the brilliant cherry blossom road of Jeju Island. .

7. Souvenirs

Korean cosmetics
Cosmetics are one of the famous souvenirs in Korea that you must choose to buy first. If you are not sure about the cosmetic brand you are going to buy, based on the experience of the shoppers, you can choose from Innisfree to Laneige. BB Cream is the best-selling cosmetic, chosen by many visitors as a gift. To be sure you can try before you buy cosmetics.

Personal items printed with K-pop stars
If your friends love Korean films or groups, this is the perfect place to buy a great souvenir on your trip to Korea. These are calendars, socks, notebooks, and a variety of stationery items with pictures of famous Kpop stars. In addition, you can not ignore small cards, key chains or coffee cups printed with idols. You can find all K-pop-style items at souvenir shops.

Dried seaweed
Fresh seaweed is sold on many beaches in Korea. However, if you want to buy as gifts for friends and relatives on a trip to Korea, you can choose dry and pre-packaged seaweed. The dried seaweed packets are very light, preserved for a period of time and you can eat immediately without having to cook the sea. The flavors of seaweed are quite diverse with the taste of oil or salt, which you can easily find at grocery stores or supermarkets.

Decorative embroidery
Although Korean traditional embroidery is fading, some artisans still preserve and preserve it. Tourists traveling to Korea can buy small decorative embroidery bags, or purses and fabric bags found in local stores, making them an ideal souvenir for you. In addition, you can find unique aprons with embroidery patterns available. These gifts are not only exquisite, but they also have many useful uses.

8. Other notes

Korea is a developed, civilized and modern country like any other country in the world. You will not have to worry about travel, dining, technology, shopping and payment facilities because they are available anywhere. Theft or vices are almost nonexistent (or I haven't seen them), taking the train you won't have to worry or look at before being afraid of pickpockets or robbery. But a minus point is that the cost here is quite expensive, I think the cost in Korea is more expensive than Singapore.
Korean people when you meet on the streets or shops almost do not speak English, very few people can speak English except for people who do service related to foreigners such as tourism, accommodations, .. can speak well or speak half Korean and half English. So you should have Google Translate or some Korean translation software ready when needed.
In addition, Korea is a cold and dry country, you should bring cream on your skin to avoid dry, very uncomfortable chapped skin. In the high-end hotels / homestays they will equip but the usual hotels do not.

Address: 6b/76 Thinh Hao 1 Alley - Dong Da - Ha Noi

Website: http://visavietnamsupport.com/