VISA OVER THE BORDER 🇭🇰
Hello everyone, I just had a 10-hour transit in 🇭🇰 and applied for a visa to go out and play for about 5-6 hours, now I recommend to everyone the itinerary and transportation methods as well as some tips for those transiting who want to go out and play like me:
- Visa: my transit visa has a validity of 3 months, each entry allows a maximum of 2 days (I applied for 3 weeks and got the result, for financial proof I just screenshotted my bank savings book after translating it to English, visa fee is 170HKD = 564k vnd). I printed the visa and put it in my carry-on for safety.
- Esim: I bought esim from momo, 155k/3 days, unlimited
- Transportation from the airport to outside and back to the airport: I took Airport Express for speed, bought round-trip tickets on Klook, price I remember is 560k vnd, for convenience I printed the QR codes of the tickets and stamped them with the visa, when going through the gate I just show the printed QR code from the ticket to scan and done.
- Cash payment: I only exchanged 120usd at the airport for cash, but saw that public transport mainly uses octopus.
- Octopus payment: download app octopus for tourists before in VN, use apple pay/ credit card to top up octopus card (I topped up about 1000HKD) then add this card to apple pay, when going out just tap like apple pay and done, no need for physical card. Octopus card is very convenient, can be used for most transportation, and for many dining, entertainment, hotel services,... in Hongkong.
- Transportation in the center: I took both MTR and bus, MTR tap like our Metro, bus has a place to tap octopus card when boarding, just tap on and done, no tap when getting off.
- Itinerary: after entering the country I took Airport Express from Airport -> Hongkong Station then transferred to Central Station Tsuen Wan Line -> Tsim Sha Tsui, arrive at exit A1, walk along Nathan Street to buy souvenirs at ISSUE store (I went to two stores, this one is cheaper and has way nicer souvenirs 🥲), then go to the intersection to cross the street and go buy Hongkong egg cake this store is very delicious (I attached the picture). After that check for a nearby bus stop to go straight down towards the end of Nathan road to Avenue of Stars, walk around take photos then go back to Tsim Sha Tsui station to Central Station, transfer line to Hongkong Station, and take Airport Express back to the airport, total I spent only 5-6 hours, suitable for those who want to explore 🇭🇰, buy some souvenirs with low budget. Wish everyone smooth travels ♥️
