Vietnam Info

To enter Vietnam, visitors must have a national passport and have an approved travel Visa from the Vietnamese Immigration Department.  All passports and travel documents must be endorsed for travelling in Vietnam.

There is an airport tax for international flights: 12 USD (14 USD if from Hanoi). There is no airport tax for domestic flights.

Visas

All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam.  A one-month tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month and 6-month multiple entry visas for regular visitors.  All visitors must obtain visa approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department before a visa is issued.   Your visa will be sent to the Vietnamese embassy or consulate where the visa is to be collected once the following information has been forwarded: full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and sex.  This information should be forwarded at least one month before departure.  One copy of the visa authorization will be sent to the embassy or consulate where the visa is to be collected and a second will be forwarded to the person collecting the visa.

A fee is payable to the embassy or consulate for the visa stamping.  The person collecting the visa must complete two application forms and hand these in with two passport photos when collecting the visa.  On entering Vietnam all visitors must complete a entry/exit form including a customs declaration (white/yellow colour). It is important that the bottom copy (yellow sheet) of this form is kept safe with your passport while in Vietnam and is presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure.

Weather

Hanoi and the north of Vietnam have a distinct winter and summer season with the mainly dry winter lasting from November through to April with average temperatures of 18-20oC.  Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid with temperatures around 30oC.  Hue and Danang in the centre of the country have very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures reaching the mid 30s Celsius, but can experience some quite heavy rainfall between September and January.  Ho Chi Minh City and the south have a hot, dry season from December till April with average temperatures around 28oC and a rainy season lasting from May through till November.  It rarely rains for long periods even in the rainy season with most rain coming in short, heavy bursts.

Currency

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong although US Dollars are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops.  Banks are open Monday to Friday and some are open Saturday morning. In the major cities there are 'bureaux de change' and most hotels will change US Dollars although for other currencies it is usually necessary to visit a bank.  Travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureau but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities.  Visa Card and Mastercard are now accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops but US Dollars cash are still the most reliable form of money to carry. There are ATM machines in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but they are less available in more remote areas.

Vietnam is a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life.  Its highlands and rainforest regions, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find.  Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united, and in that time it has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds.  Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination.

Geographically, Vietnam is shaped like a long S, and it stretches the length of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula. Vietnam has a surface area of 128,000 square miles - making it about the size of Italy. China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.

The country has three distinct areas: north, central, and south. The north is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Halong Bay, and historic Hanoi.  Central Vietnam is characterized by high temperate plateaus rich in volcanic soil and by spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons.  t is also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue. In the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile delta of the Mekong River. In addition, Vietnam has a large continental shelf and an archipelago of islands.

Location: Southeast Asia
Population: 83,535,576 (July 2005 est.)
Area: 330,991 sq. Km
Capital: Hanoi
Deltas: Red River Delta in the North and Mekong River Delta in the South
Main Cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh, Hue, Can tho, Nha Trang, Vung Tau.
Railway: 3,260 km;
Road: 177,300 km;
Waterway:17,000 km;
Ports: 8, main ports: Saigon and Haiphong
Airports: 3 international airports & 10 domestic airports;
Banks: 77
Telecoms: 2 million telephones (2.6 sets per 100 persons)
Hotels: 3,050 with 55,600 rooms including 500 international standard hotels
Universities and colleges: 109 with 297,900 students

Today there are about 83 million people in Vietnam and the annual growth rate is about 1.3%.  Eighty percent of nationals are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups.  About seven million of these ethnic minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands.

Labour force: The workforce - estimated at over 40.5 million in 2003 - is growing at the even more rapid rate of 3.5% a year. Approximately 70% of the population is employed in agriculture and more than half is under the age of 25. Literacy rate: 88% (male: 92.6%, female: 83.8%)

Religion

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Vietnam usually combined with elements of Confucianism and Taoism.  About 10% of the country's population are Catholic and there are also communities of Protestants and Muslims.  Vietnam is also home to a unique religion called Cao Dai, a religious cocktail of all the world's major faiths.

Clothes

Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for travelling in Vietnam.  The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics, but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects.  A lightweight raincoat is a good idea in the rainy season.  During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting the north of Vietnam. Visitors to Buddhist countries should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting religious buildings. Shoes should be removed before entering a private home.

Electricity

The predominant power supply in most locations is 220V, but in some areas 110V is also used.

Food & Water

The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market.  Food is usually prepared with a minimum of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam.  Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include pho, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast, cha gio, deep-fried spring rolls and goi ngo sen, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimps and peanuts.  Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available.

It is not advisable to drink tap water in Vietnam but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere.  Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas.

No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present.  However visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio.  Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if travelling off the beaten track.  Medical facilities are rather limited in all countries and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before travelling in case evacuation is needed.

Language

Since the Vietnamese language has six different tones, it is difficult for most foreigners to speak, despite the fact that the Roman alphabet is used in modern Vietnamese.  The same word can have six different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it. In the cities and larger towns, English is becoming popular and is now spoken by many younger people while some of the older generation still speak fluent French.  Russian and Chinese are also spoken by some people.

Communications

Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices, although be warned, these services are expensive. Away from the major cities it may not always be possible to make international calls.  Cyber cafes are becoming popular in the major cities in Vietnam and many travellers now prefer to keep in touch by e-mail. Post cards can be bought at all the main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks.

Souvenirs to look out for in Vietnam include lacquer ware, silk, conical hats, woodcarvings, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, embroidery, marble, ceramics, silver jewelry, antique watches and paintings.  Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the best choice when it comes to shopping but Hoi An in the centre of Vietnam is also a very good place to hunt for bargains.

Business Hours

Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 07:30 or 08:00 until 17:00 or 18:00 and often close for lunch between 11:30 and 13:00.  Some offices also open Saturday morning. Shops open early and close any time between 18:00 and 22:00. Most shops are open 7 days a week.

Tipping

Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in these developing nations.  It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped.

Public Holidays