Vietnam - Travel Information

VISA

All visitors to Vietnam (except Thai and Philippine nationals) require a visa. Tourist visas are usually issued with a validity of one month. Please contact the respective embassy in your country, as fees and processing time may vary. The visa is valid for four weeks of travel, within three months from date of issue and is single entry only.

GETTING AROUND
Air : If you intend to visit only a few cities in Vietnam flying is the most convenient way to travel. Vietnam Airlines flies to places like Phu Quoc Island and Rach Gia that are difficult to reach by other means.

Train : There is a regular train service between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and most cities in between. Many people like to travel the length of the country this way. Tickets allow passengers to break their Journey at the major regional cities like Hue, Danang and Nha Trang. The trip from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City takes between 36 and 48 hours nonstop, depending on which service is used. Passengers can book a sleeping compartment, soft seat, or economy class.

Bus : Vietnam has a regular bus service that connects even the remotest areas of the country. It is very cheap but the emphasis is on economy rather than comfort.

Taxis : In the major cities the easiest method of transport is taxis. Most are relatively new models of car and are air-conditioned. Prices are very cheap and most trips within a city cost between US$2 and US$5. Contrast this with the price of a cycio trip (about the same), and except for the novelty of the transport, taxis provide a better service. Tourism authorities advise tourists not to take cycles at night.

Honda Om : On any street corner in Vietnam, you will find men with motorcycles willing to carry you anywhere. This mode of transport is known as Honda Om or "Honda Embrace". It is usually cheap and reliable although the fare should be negotiated before commencing the journey.

ACCOMODATION
Vietnam boasts a wide variety of hotels. Many luxury hotels have been operating in Vietnam and some newly opened hotels with international standards of service and a range of re-creational facilities. Hotels and guesthouses are also widespread throughout the country, although at more basic standards.

LANGUAGE & CURRENCY
The Vietnamese language has a reputation for being fiendishly difficult to master. Its origins are still the subject of dispute - at one time thought to be a Sino-Tibetan language (because it is tonal), it is now believed to be Austro-Asiaticand related to Mon-Khmer. During the 9th century, when Vietnam was under Chinese domination, Chinese ideograms were adapted for use with the Vietnamese language. The script - chu nho ('scholar script') was used in alt official correspondence and in literature until the 20th century, though whether this replaced an earlier writing system is not known. As early Vietnamese nationalists tried to break away from Chinese cultural dominance in the late 13th century, they devised their own script, based on Chinese ideograms, but adapted to meet Vietnamese language needs. This became known as chu nom or 'vulgar script'. Therefore, while Chinese words formed the learned vocabulary of the intelligentsia -largely inaccessible to the people on the street or in the paddy field - non-Chinese words made up a parallel popular vocabulary. Since World War One the Latin-based quoc ngu script has become widely used.

Currency : The currency of Vietnam is the clang. All goods and services can and should be paid for in dong. Exceptions are made in hotels and when buying international air tickets. Shops and restaurants in the bigger cities will also accept US dollars, but you should be aware of the fact that usually a lower exchange rate will be used. It is therefore advisable to change a certain amount of Vietnamese dong to cover your day-to-day expenses.

Travellers Cheques : Travellers cheques must denominated in US dollars. You can change them to dong or to US dollars (with a 2 percent commission). Those issued by American Express, Bank of America, Citicorp, First National City Bank, Thomas Cook, and Visa are accepted. They are also accepted at major tourist hotels, but not in most shops. Vietnam is still very much a cash economy.

Credit Cards : Visa, Mastercard and - with exceptions - American Express are accepted in virtually every hotel in major cities throughout the country, as well as in upmarket restaurants, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

EATING, DRINKING & SHOPPING
Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Chinese, French and a little Thai. It is probably one of the best cuisines in Asia. The basic ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine are rice and the famous fish-sauce, now mam.

One of the specialties of Vietnamese cuisine are spring rolls, ingredients and size vary depending on the region of the country. The traditional breakfast, chicken soup (pho ga) or beef soup (pho bo) is available at most of the food stalls on the main streets of nearly every city in Vietnam.

SHOPPING : Vietnam is not yet a shopping paradise like Hong Kong or Bangkok, but there still a huge variety of souvenirs and traditional handicrafts available. Popular buys include lacquerware, ceramics, embroidery, silk and paintings.

As with most countries, the Vietnamese government does not allow the export of any item of historic or cultural significance. Saigon has the best buys for modern goods like CDs and clothing.

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