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Vietnam stretches over 1600km along the eastern coast of the Indochinese
Peninsula. Vietnam’s two main areas are the Red River Delta in the
North and the Mekong Delta in the South. Most of Vietnam is made
up of mountains.
The main parts of Vietnam that you should visit are Ho Chi Minh,
Hanoi, Halong Bay, North-West Vietnam, Hu?, Hoi An, Nha Trang and
Dalat.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are enormous cities that have such attractions
as museums, markets, parks and pagodas, many restaurants and bars
and an exciting nightlife.
Halong Bay has beautiful emerald green waters and thousands of
islands and caves that you can explore.
North-West Vietnam's breathtaking mountain scenery and colourful
hill tribe minorities should not be missed.
When visiting Hu? you absolutely must visit the ancient citadel
and take a 'Dragon Boat' trip to the majestic Royal Tombs.
Hoi An has a charming atmosphere and while here you must see the
extraordinary Cham ruins, located at nearby My Son.
Nha Trang has crystal clear turquoise waters and offers great island-hopping
and scuba diving.
Dalat is made up of pine-forested hills, cultivated valleys, lakes
and waterfalls.
Culture
Four great philosophies and religions have shaped the spiritual
life of the Vietnamese people: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and
Christianity.
 The
Vietnamese language (kinh) belongs to the Mon-Khmer stock, which
comprises Mon (spoken in Burma) and Khmer (the language of Cambodia),
as well as Khmu, Bahnar, Bru and other languages of the highlands
of Vietnam. Mon-Khmer, Tai and Chinese elements with many of its
basic words derived from the monotonic Mon-Khmer languages. The
most widely spoken foreign languages in Vietnam are Chinese (Cantonese
and Mandarin), English, French and Russian, more or less in that
order.
Popular artistic forms include: traditional painting produced on
frame-mounted silk; an eclectic array of theatre, puppetry, music
and dance; religious sculpture; and lacquerware.
Vietnamese cuisine is especially varied - there are said to be
nearly 500 different traditional dishes, ranging from exotic meats
such as bat, cobra and pangolin to fantastic vegetarian creations.
Local Currency
The currency for Vietnam is Dong.
The US dollar virtually acts as a second local currency and all
hotels, airlines and travel agencies quote prices in US dollars.
However, you should pay in Dong. Vietnamese law requires all transactions
in dong, though in practice many people will accept dollars.
Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted in the major cities
and towns popular with tourists. Getting cash in advance is also
possible but you will be charged between 2% and 4% commission plus
any charges levied by your bank.
Travellers cheques in US dollars can be exchanged and only at certain
banks. Most hotels and airline offices do not accept travellers
cheques as payment. Lost or stolen cheques are not replacable in
Vietnam.
Transport
Domestic Air Services: All air travel within Vietnam is handled
by Vietnam Airlines. All reservations can be made by your agent
or the airlines directly.
Buses: Most foreigners do not use local buses. It is advisable
to use Taxi's, private buses or hired rentals with a driver.
The Vietnamese drive on the right-hand side of the road. You can
hire a motorcycle to drive yourself if you have an International
Driver's Permit endorsed for motorcycles. Travelling through Vietnam
by bicycle is worth considering, though the traffic is still a hazard
on highways without wide shoulders. Trains and buses will carry
your bike when you want a break.
Hitching: Though it is practised it is not recommended.
You are expected to pay the driver for picking you up and he will
negotiate the fee prior to letting you on board.
Boats: are widely used in the Mekong Delta area and Cantho
is accessible by this method from Ho Chi Minh City.
Visa Information
Tourist visas are only valid for a period of 30 days stay.You must
specify your exact city of arrival and departure and the respective
dates. You cannot arrive even one day earlier and should you change
your mind on arrival you will need to contact the Immigration Police
or the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Hanoi or Saigon.
The cost of visa's vary from country to country. We suggest that
you contact the Vietnamese Consulate General in your country to
arrange your visa.
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