Below are some basic facts about Vietnam and travelling there. You can read it here or you can download a .pdf if that is more convenient.
If you want to discuss Vietnam and how to get the most out of your holiday there please email or phone us at our Sydney or Brisbane offices.
Quick Facts
Population: 80 million
Capital City: Hanoi Pop.: 3.5 million
People: 80% Ethnic Vietnamese, 53 minority groups including Hmong, Tay, Cham, , Khmer, Chinese
Language: Vietnamese with regional variants.
Religion: Predominantly Buddhist, with Confucianism, Taoism & other minorities Currency: Dong — pegged to the $US at 16,000d
Time: GMT plus 7 hours
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz AC (some 110V, 50 Hz AC)
ID Code: +84
Generally
The Vietnamese have a good sense of humour and enjoy wittiness, literary references and puns.Don't be surprised if the Vietnamese are intrigued by your size, particularly if you are tall or stout. Be prepared for all types of personal questions - age, marital status, number of siblings, children. This is not considered rude. They’re just working out where they stand in relation to you in the social hierarchy.Male to male and female to female touching and hand holding is normal. Children in particular may be fascinated by the length and density of hair on our arms and will stroke it without any sense of embarrassment.Most Vietnamese say they are ‘Buddhist’ when you ask their religion, however a large proportion of people’s beliefs have been strongly influenced by Taoism, Confucianism and animism. People also follow other religions such as Cao Dai, Hoa Hao and Islam. Catholic Christianity is also strong.For travellers, modest clothing is necessary visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. In other circumstances, it is not so necessary though it is appropriate in pagodas.
The weather
The weather is hot most of the year all over Vietnam. Winter - January February - is cool and miserable in Ha Noi with flat grey clouds and some drizzle. In the south it is very pleasant during the winter. Dry and cool. In the mountains it can be very cold and wet.
Clothing
When travelling in the hot weather, shorts and sandals are the go. Sandals that you can wash in the shower are a good idea. We always advise the use of those special ultra-cool fabrics garments. Dress at night is casual.
Medical
Take your doctor’s advice on medical matters but be reassured that the avian flu is not a major issue. Also malaria is not the issue it is in some other third world countries like Timor or New Guinea. Sunscreen and hats are a necessity. Insect repellant may be useful. It would be wise to take with you some over-the-counter drugs to combat the runs or vomiting. You may experience some early stomach problems until you get used to the local fare. A little first aid kit of band-aids and so on would be useful for blisters or cuts etc. Pharmacies in Vietnam are well stocked with all sorts of drugs. The local health system is pretty good and your insurance will ensure you get good treatment should anything arise.
Food and Drink
There is always a chance of problems from food in third world countries and Vietnam is no exception. However, if you eat at good quality establishments these problems can be avoided. In our experience passengers generally have no trouble. Drink only bottled water. You can have ice in drinks. Drip filter coffee with condensed milk is a popular drink, especially at breakfast. Iced coffee made from drip filter coffee over ice is popular. Tea is available everywhere. Cha Lipton or Lipton Tea bag tea is widely consumed. Sugarcane (Mia) juice over ice is a refreshing drink. Soda over ice with fresh lime juice and sugar is a real refresher. It is called soda chanh. Most hotels provide you with the choice of a Vietnamese or Western breakfast everywhere we go. Western breakfasts will vary from eggs and ham and bread with jam to a more complete style. Fresh fruit is often available for breakfast. Pawpaw or papaya is often available at breakfast and it is good for the tummy. On our tours, we eat exclusively Vietnamese lunches and dinners. The variety of food in the various regions in Vietnam will ensure your palate never gets jaded. Food is not hot as you might find in Thailand or Sichuan in China. It is flavoursome and in the south there are plenty of chillies and chilli sauce available .Nuoc Mam or fish sauce is served with every meal.
Communications
Australian mobile phones work in Vietnam provided you have Gobal Roming switched on before you go. However, you might like to check with your provider on the charges involved. Usually, you will be charged for incoming calls aswell as out going calls.With most phones you can buy a prepaid SIM Card in Vietnam. You can still call out and receive calls and text messages. Calls to you are at the caller’s expense. Although it changes your phone number you can easily text friends and give them the new number. This arrangement is a cost effective alternative.
Money
There are ATMs in all the big cities and towns and you can draw down on Credit cards at Bureaux De Change which are located in all the towns where we stay. Many shops and most hotels accept Credit Cards. Australian dollars can be changed in Saigon, Vung Tau and Hanoi. US Dollars are accepted everywhere and are considered an alternative currency. You can also change money at gold shops with a marginally more favourable exchange rate. For big purchases of more than 1 million vnd ($A80) you might substitute the equivalent in dollar notes simply because it is easier to count. But we suggest you deal just in Vietnamese dong.Our advice is to take cash in Australian and US dollars, a debit card you can use overseas and a credit card for emergencies.
Shopping
Shopping is cheap. Most cameras, watches and electrical goods are two thirds to a half Australian retail prices. Silk fabrics at $A4-6 a metre. Gold accessories are sold by weight.You can buy spectacles and contact lenses at bargain prices in the big towns like Saigon and Hanoi.Bargaining is necessary in dealing with most vendors. Never halve a vendor’s first offer. Rather, cut it to a third or less and be prepared to go to 60 percent but no more.
Street Vendors and Hawkers
To avoid being constantly harassed by vendors in the street, avoid eye contact and any sort of verbal exchange. It may feel like you are being rude to simply ignore a street vendor who accosts you, but unless you do you will be harassed not only by the first vendor but by a pile of others who will come up.Keep your eyes a thousand metres down the road and ignore street vendors. If you wish to buy postcards or pirated books in the street, do so by deciding what you want, engaging with the vendor you want (they’ll all have the same prices), bargain a price, buy just what you want, resists pleas to buy other junk and move off, ignoring all the pleas from the vendors around you.
Personal Security
Vietnam can be a violent place for the locals although tourists are mostly left alone. However, there are pickpockets and thieves, especially in areas with high tourist numbers. Do not wear gold or jewellery such as chains or light bracelets that might be torn from your person by a passing thief. Leave that at home. Avoid taking a “bum pack” or “fanny pack” as the Americans call them. They are an invitation to pickpockets and thieves. Take a day pack. Put your valuables in the day pack including cash. Keep a small amount of cash for buying drinks or cheap souvenirs in a front pocket of shorts or pants or in a handbag/purse with strap that you can put diagonally across your body. Sling your day pack in front of you on one arm or both when on cyclos or in crowded places. At stops along the way, you will be able to safely leave your day pack on your mini-bus which will be guarded by the driver. Do not leave valuables in your hotel room unless it has a safe. However it must be said, generally hotels are very secure and there are plenty of security people employed by the hotel and access is limited.
Passport
Some hotels take your passport, others simply wish to see it, others don’t want to see it if your details have been provided earlier. If the hotel does not take it, keep your passport in your day pack with your other valuables. It is wise to photocopy or scan the picture page of the passport and take that with you, in case your passport is stolen or lost.
Scheduled Tours | Tailored Tours | Cruise Ships | Film and TV Productions | General Advice
