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Name:
Vietnam a
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Population 83,535,600
Capital City Hanoi (1.7 million)
Currency Dong (VND)
Languages Vietnamese (official), English, French, Chinese, Khmer,
others
National Day September 2
Religions none (80%), Buddhist (9.3%), others
Geographic Coordinates
Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
21º 01' N, 105º 52' E
Relative Location Vietnam is in both the eastern and northern
hemispheres. It's positioned in Southeast Asia, a recognized
geographical region of the Asian continent. The country is bordered by
the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Tonkin, Gulf of Thailand, South China Sea,
and the countries of China, Laos and Cambodia.
Land Statistics:
Coastline 2,140 miles (3,444 km)
Land Areas:
(land) 125,622 sq miles (325,360 sq km)
(water) 1,621 sq miles (4,200 sq km)
(TOTAL) 127,243 sq miles (329,560 sq km)
Landforms Vietnam is a country of tropical lowlands, rolling green
hills, and densely forested mountains. Low-level land covers about 20%
of the country.
The Red River delta is fronted by hills that rise gently into the high
mountains of the northwest; the Annam Highlands cover much of the
central landscape, and in the southern areas, the coastal lowlands and
Mekong River Delta merge.
A fertile and narrow coastal lowland extends south from the Red River
Delta to the Mekong Delta.
The Mekong Delta is a low-level plain, one inundated by hundreds of
small rivers and canals. Thick jungles and mangrove swamps cover the
far-southern areas of land.
The Red River (Song Hong), and the Mekong are the most significant
rivers; both have numerous tributaries, and the latter is certainly
among the great rivers of the world.
Highest Point Fan Si Pan - 10,315 ft. (3,144 m)
Lowest Point South China Sea - (0 ft.) (0 m)
Land Divisions 59 provinces and 5 municipalities; provinces include:
An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben
Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang,
Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang,
Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh
Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long
An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang
Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La,
Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang,
Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc and Yen Bai; municipalities
include: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
Entering
Vietnam
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 traveling in
Vietnam.
Visa
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.
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. Travelers cheques can be exchanged at
banks and some exchange bureaus 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.
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 traveling 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.
Health
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 traveling 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 traveling 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 travelers 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.
Shopping
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.
Hours
of business
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
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January
1
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New
Year's Day
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January/
February
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Tet
or Vietnamese New Year. The actual dates vary from year to year
according to the lunar calendar. Officially 3 days holiday but
many businesses close down for a full week. This is the busiest
time of the year for traveling in
Vietnam
and hotels, flights and trains are often full.
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April
30
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Liberation
of
Saigon
Day
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May
1
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International
Labor Day
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September
2
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National
Day
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wherever
you are, we will be there...
