An international airport tax of 10 USD per person is payable when departing Vietnam on an international flight. Domestic airport tax for flights within Vietnam is paid in Vietnamese Dong and varies depending on the airport but works out at between 1-2 USD per flight. - Back to top

Clothing

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 although locally made raincoats can be bought very cheaply once in Vietnam. During the winter months warm clothing is needed for visiting Hanoi and the north of the country. Evenings in Dalat and the Central Highlands can also be quite chilly. - Back to top

Electricity

Vietnam generally uses 220V but in some areas 110V is also used. Plugs can be of the American flat pin design or the European round pin variety. To further confuse matters some hotels are also using the British/Hong Kong three pin type of plug. - Back to top

Entertainment

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi offer a wide range of western style entertainment including international restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs, discos, ten-pin bowling and waterparks. In the rest of the country western style entertainment is limited but there is no shortage of local style entertainment including noodle stalls, bia hoi (local beer halls) and karaoke bars. Water puppet shows are a unique traditional Vietnamese art form, best seen in Hanoi. - Back to top

Food

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. - Back to top

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 Vietnam and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are rather limited in Vietnam and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed. We, however, always suggest you check with your local health department and personal doctor and tell them of your travel plans. This will insure you have the most current information regarding any shots which might be required or suggested. - Back to top

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. - Back to top

Language

Because Vietnamese has six different tones, it is a difficult language 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. - Back to top

Money

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 bureau de change and most hotels will change US Dollars although for other currencies it is usually necessary to visit a bank. Travellers checks can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureau but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. Visa Card and Master Card 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 some ATM machines appearing now in Ho Chi Minh City. - Back to top

Public Holidays - Back to top

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. - Back to top

Shopping

Things to look out for in Vietnam include lacquerware, silk, woodcarvings, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, embroidery, marble, ceramics, silver jewellery, antique watches and paintings. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have the best choice when it comes to shopping but Hoi An in the center of Vietnam is also a very good place to look for souvenirs. - Back to top

Telecommunications

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. Cyber cafes are becoming popular in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi 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. - Back to top

Tipping

Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in a country where the average annual income is only around 250 USD. 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. - Back to top

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. OrientHolidays.com can arrange for a visa authorization to 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 occupation. This information should be forwarded at least 7 days 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 OrientHolidays.com for the visa authorization and 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. It is now possible to have visas issued on arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in cases where there is no convenient Vietnamese embassy or consulate. On entering Vietnam all visitors must complete an entry/exit card (white/blue color) and a customs declaration (white/yellow color). It is important that the bottom copies of both these forms are kept safe to be presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure. - Back to top

Water

It is not advisable to drink tap water 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. - Back to top

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. Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid. Hue and Danang in the center of the country have very hot, dry weather from February to August 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 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. For temperatures and rainfall figures see the tables below. - Back to top

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