Vietnam’s Travel Tips

It is a little known fact that Vietnam can cater to a large variety of clients - not just those looking to 'rough it on the last frontier'. From it's natural assets; pristine sandy beaches, the wonder of limestone islands in Halong Bay, the mountainous north, to its historical marvels; Cham ruins from the 14th Century in My Son, the ancient tombs of Hue; bustling cities with an energy driven by a new economy, quiet country villages reliant on rice agriculture as they have been for centuries, ornate Confucian temples, high-rises side by side with splendid French colonial architecture; Vietnam is a country of contrasts. And contrast means a greater variety of travel experiences that satisfy a great number of client markets.

It is also largely assumed that infrastructure within Vietnam is poor. Whilst we won't deny that Vietnam is a third world country, one should not be led to believe that this means third world service! An enormous amount of investment in Vietnam has led to the development of top class hotels, of training schools, of new restaurants, of upgrading and renovating.

And on the subject of service, remember most importantly that Vietnam is Asia - where service is delivered with pride. The Vietnamese people have strong beliefs and values. They are a pragmatic people, with a philosophy to move forward, not to dwell on the past, and a determination to improve the lives of their children. Most of all they are warm and welcoming, and proud to show you their homeland. The travel industry in several of our Asian destinations is however still in its infancy. Whilst the freshness and novelty of tourism in these regions is in part the appeal to many visitors, others might see it differently. It’s important to recognize that the level of service and standards in some areas, whilst improving, are not yet comparable to more mature travel destinations. In Asia’s new frontiers there is always the possibility that circumstances beyond our control may necessitate some changes to your travel program. Your patience and tolerance in such an event will make your holiday a truly rewarding experience. Vantours highly recommend that if you have any questions or concerns about conditions in any destination country that you contact the Foreign Affairs Department in your home country, which should also be able to provide you with passport and visa information. Please ensure that you are aware of health and entry/exit requirements that may apply to places you are visiting and check with the World Health Organization at www.who.int you are responsible for meeting any health requirements.

What to Expect when you travel to Vietnam & Indochina: Expect a new travel experience to Vietnam & Indochina. Expect to see a picture perfect landscape of rice paddies and water buffaloes. Expect bustling cities and busy streets of bicycles and motorcycles, which are a challenge to cross. Expect to be popular with the locals, to be stopped in the street for an unexpected conversation. Expect lazy afternoons at a beach where fresh crab is on the menu. Expect newly built international hotel properties in the major centres, and renovated 4-star properties in the provinces. Expect the occasional mishap - a delayed flight or a short power outage. Expect stunning mountain passes and endless photo opportunities. Expect to take caution with your valuables. Expect to find unexpected bargains! Expect crowded airports. Expect your guide to take care of that for you. Expect to sample a new and unique cuisine. Expect a hamburger from the hotel buffet when you crave it. Expect the noise, expect the heat. Expect to learn about daily rituals and traditions performed for hundreds of years, to hear legends, to smell exotic spices in a local market. Expect to eat French loaves. Expect to marvel at ancient towers that remain standing after 500 years, through wars and countless monsoon storms. Expect exciting new art. Expect welcoming smiles… Expect things to be different from what they are at home - as is so often said, "Isn't that why you came in the first place?" 

Responsibility: Information herein was correct at the time of preparation, however the rapid development of tourism in Vietnam has the potential to make some of the information in this guide irrelevant. This information is intended as a guide only and Vantours is not responsible for any inaccuracies. Please contact us with your comments if you find during the course of your travels that the information in this guide is incorrect or out of date.

Hotels & Restaurants: as a large amount of foreign investment into Vietnam has been channeled into Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Former Saigon), an excellent choice of hotel properties and restaurants exist in both these cities, particularly in the deluxe hotel market. Many new properties are also under development. Outside these cities, there have recently been new resorts, hotels built, however these properties have little competition and are priced accordingly. Generally speaking, the same is true of restaurants, with the greatest variety of both Asian and western style restaurants in the two main city centres, and more often local restaurants utilized in the provincial regions. At a minimum, continental breakfast is included in our programs, and we recommend one other meal daily be included in tour itineraries or breakfast only for more independent clients.

Holidays: The most popular Holiday of Vietnamese is Tet or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, which is linked to the cycle of the moon, however is usually in late January or early February. At this time, many friends and relatives living overseas, cities return home and seats on planes and trains can be at a premium. At the commencement of the New Lunar Year, local offices and shops are closed for up to 5 days whilst the Vietnamese celebrate at their homes, or at those of their friends and families, and the unprepared traveler may find himself wondering what to do with his time! Even the usual sights of interest such as museums and temples may close for several days. So, if you plan to travel to Vietnam this time, you should book the services early and please contact us for more information. Other Holidays, whilst there is a Christian presence in Vietnam, most of the 85 million population is Buddhist, and Christmas Day and Easter are not public holidays, but young people celebrate, thus this can be a good time to visit. Public Holidays are celebrated as follows, however most shops and sights operate fairly normally during this time and these should not be a deterrent to visiting.

• Working New Year: 01 January (1 day)
• Hung King’s Anniversary: 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (1 day)
• Libration Day: 30 April (1 day)
• Labor Day: 01 May (1 day)
• National Day: 02 September (1 day)

Visa Requirements & Departure Taxes: Most of visitors to Vietnam from the west need Visa, you can get Vietnam’s Visa from your home country or we can make visa on arrival for you. Contact us for more information. Departure tax out of Vietnam is USD 14. You can find Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in your country or your country's Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam by just simple click here. www.vn.embassyinformation.com 

Insurance: You must be comprehensively insured as a condition of traveling with Vantours. Insurance should include unlimited coverage for personal accident and medical expenses. Vantours will not be responsible for any illegal action of the tourist, any loss, damages, and thief of personal belongings or for personal injury or illness that may happen with tourists. Incase of a passenger falling sick or being hospitalized, Vantours will provide all necessary assistance to the tourists. The tourists will bear his or her own medical expenses and any other incidental expenses. 

Money: The official unit of currency in Vietnam is the dong. Approximate exchange rates at the time are:

• 1USD equals 20,500 dong
• 1AUD equals 20,000 dong
• 1CAD equals 20,000 dong
• 1NZD equals 15,500 dong
• 1GBP equals 32,000 dong.

You are able to bring your home currency in cash or travelers cheques (AUD, GBP, CAD or USD). You can pay for goods and services in US dollars or dong. Most hotels change travelers cheques (with a 1% to 3% commission) and cash at reasonable rates. Credit cards (Visa or MasterCard are the most commonly accepted) can be used in a number shops and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi; however they are not widely accepted outside these cities. Cash advances can be obtained using these cards at the major banks and ATM’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An and Hue. Please note if traveling to remote areas of Vietnam it is advisable to carry dong or USD cash. To be exact, please check: www.xe.com 

Climate: Weather is very often one of the determining factors when we choose to travel. Vietnam is a diverse country, spanning several climatic zones. With a mountainous border along much of its western and northern frontiers, and a long, unprotected coastline, the weather can vary enormously from regions to region. As a result, at any time there is always somewhere in Vietnam where the weather is perfect. The main seasons to consider are the southern wet/dry, and the northern winter/summer. From May to October, the south (Ho Chi Minh City) weathers a wet season comprising daily, heavy - but short-lived and predictable - afternoon rain showers, which break up the otherwise hot and humid days. Temperatures are on average in the low 30s. From November to April, the dry season is sunny and humid, and sunscreen and hats are highly recommended. Weather patterns in central Vietnam (Nha Trang, Dalat, Danang, and Hue) can vary tremendously due to the nearby Truong Son mountain range. Nha Trang's short rainy season lasts from November to December, while Danang may see some typhoon activity from mid October to mid December. Dalat is cooler than the coastal regions from November through March, and Hue often has drizzling rain from December through February. The north of Vietnam (Hanoi) has a very distinct summer, running from May to October, and is subject to occasional monsoons at this time. A cool winter with temperatures in the low -teens occurs from December through March. February and March can be damp and subject to drizzling rain (known as 'rain dust'). Average Daily Min/Max Temperatures in degrees Celsius.