Ravaged by decades of fighting and colonial subjugation the ugly images of war have now been eclipsed by the beauty of the country.
Vietnam is a land of contrasts and great physical and cultural diversity, with idyllic beaches, coral islands spectacular mountains, forests and rivers as well as colonial architecture and ancient ruins of once powerful empires.
Having only recently opened to tourism, Vietnam has preserved much of its special character and charm.
http://www.mekong-travel.com/vietnam.htm
General Info
Today there are about 75 million people in Vietnam. Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups. About seven million of these ethnic minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands. Among the many languages spoken in Vietnam are Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French, and Russian.
Travel documents
To enter Vietnam, you are required to have a valid passport with at least six months validity from the time of entry. It is always good to have your passport size photos together with you while you are travelling overseas.
Food
Vietnamese Cuisine is a mixture of Chinese , French and a little Thai influence. It is probably one of the best cuisine in Asia . The basic ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine are rice and the famous fish-sauce "nouc mam".
All common dishes with pork , fish , beef are on a menu - also expect to find , mostly in the North of Vietnam , restaurants serving snake and other " delicacies ".
http://www.marimari.com/content/vietnam/food/food.html
Clothes
It will be hot, so cool breathable fabrics are recommended. No shorts or tank tops should be worn when visiting religious sites. Men should keep their shoulders covered at all times, except at the beach or when bathing. Long trousers, skirts are considered more appropriate than shorts in all situations except at the beach. Women can wear sleeveless blouses, but should try to avoid tight or low cut tank tops. All visitors should avoid beach attire or sloppy clothing when walking around town as it is viewed as a sign of disrespect.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. A 5-10% tip for a meal is a very small amount of money, but to the average Vietnamese, it could easily equal a day's wages. Avoid tipping too much, as it will set a precedent for others.
http://www.asiatravel.com/vietinfo.html
Electricity
Electricity in Vietnam is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Vietnam with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.
Flat blade plug, and two round pins
Customs procedures
People arriving in or leaving Viet Nam are obliged to fill in the customs declaration form in only seven cases, according to a new decree issued by the Government on July 1st, 2002.
Those who bring along duty-free goods, foreign currency and gold in excess of the set amount, or temporarily imported professional equipment for re-export or vice versa will have to declare to the customs office upon their arrival in or departure from Viet Nam.
Customs declaration is also required of people arriving in or leaving Viet Nam with unaccompanied baggage and legitimate addictive drugs. Foreign currency brought along by those people who wish to buy goods at duty-free shops later is also subject to customs declaration.
Passengers arriving in or leaving Viet Nam wish who to fill in the customs declaration form can also do so.
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/story.php?d=20020728002411
Border crossings
There are three border crossings to Cambodia:
MOC BAI:The main overland border crossing to Cambodia is northwest of Ho Chi Minh City at Moc Bai.
VINH XUONG: A new riverside border crossing called Vinh Xuong is located 30kms north of Chau Doc.
TINH BIEN: The third international border between Cambodia and Vietnam had been opened at Tinh Bien, about 25 km west of Chau Doc.
There are three border crossings over China:
LAO CAI - HA KHAU: The Hekou Bridge overland border to China is at Lao Cai, (the main train station for Sapa) in the northwest.
MONG CAI - DONG HUNG: The Mong Cai - Dong Hung - the third border crossing China can be found at Mong Cai Town, northeastern of Vietnam.
HUU NGHI: Huu Nghi is an overland border of 18kms north of Lang Son, in the northeast. The international train for China (Beijing) departs Hanoi's main train station via Dong Dang Station, but you can only join the train at Hanoi.
There are two border crossings to Laos:
KEO NUA Pass (also known as CAU TREO): From Hanoi, you can take direct overnight buses to Vientiane, across the border at Cau Treo, 80kms from Vinh City in Vietnam's Central Provinces.
LAO BAO: From Hue, direct buses for Savannakhet cross the border at Lao Bao, near Dong Ha in the Central Provinces.
http://www.vietnamsunshinetravel.com/vietnam/bordercrossings.html
Duty Free Allowance
Two bottles of liquor, two cartons of cigarettes or 100 cigars and half litre of perfume are allowed per person. Visitors may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of liquor and an unlimited amount of film. Commercial goods and items of high value being taken out of Vietnam require export permits from the Customs Service. Antiques may be confiscated permanently. No local currency may be taken out of the country.
http://www.asiatravel.com/vietinfo.html
Passport + visa
Passports and visas are required for entry into Vietnam. The best place to obtain a visa for Vietnam is Bangkok. The visa will specify where you will be arriving and where you will be leaving, in addition to how long you can stay. Potential visitors to Vietnam must fill out three applications for entry and exit visas, accompanied by three passport photos 4cm x 6cm. One of the applications must be sent to the most convenient diplomatic or consular mission of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The other two applications/photos are carried with you and handed in at the first point of entry.
http://www.asiatravel.com/vietinfo.html
Etiquette & behavior
Vietnam is the predominantly Buddhist country, and it is always important to have respect for the country religion. As in India, the head is thought to be “seat of the soul". Avoid touching anyone's head, even those of small children. While the head is “the seat of the soul" , the feet are the least sacred part of the body and it is considered offensive to point with the feet or even show the sole of the shoe or foot to another person. Make sure to take of shoes and socks before entering the grounds of any Theravada Buddhist shrine, zedi, temple, phaya, or monastery. Even at the most dilapidated building, visitors must go barefoot in every part of a Buddhist compound, not just in the shrine buildings as in other Buddhist countries. Shoes, not necessarily socks, should be taken off before entering private homes as well
Communications.
International Telephone calls, Internet access, Fax and postal services are available at major hotels. NXNE staff will be always there to help you with services.
Local Time.
GMT + 7:00 hrs hours or +13:00 hours for EST (subtract 1 hour for daylight savings).
International telephone code
++84
Drinking Water
Only drink purified bottle water. Bottled water is readily available and some hotels provide complimentary.
Mobile Phones:
Hand Phones or Mobile Telephones from other countries currently do not operate in Vietnam. NXNE can provide a cell phone rental service while you are in Vietnam, if you desired. However it is required a prior notice 7 days before your arrival.
Pre-departure Planning
Items to bring should include:
• Hat, sun glasses and any other sun protection for your face and body
• Prescription medicines
• Insect repellent
• Umbrella April to October
• Antibiotic cream for minor cuts and scratches
• Extra pair of prescription glasses
• Small flashlight
• Extra passport photos
Insurance
We recommend all NXNE clients to obtain the necessary personal baggage, medical and accident insurance before arrival. SOS Worldwide has a local representative office in Yangon with a 24 hour on call service for emergency evacuation and medical assistance.
Medical & health considerations
Health Concerns:
No vaccination certificate is required to enter Vietnam, unless you are coming from an infected area.
Routine Vaccinations
See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications as well as other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while travelling.
Important: This document is not a complete medical guide for travellers to Vietnam. Consult with your doctor for specific information related to your needs and your medical history; recommendations may differ for pregnant women, young children, and persons who have chronic medical conditions.
Legal Matters
Safety and Security
Muggings, robberies and petty theft are rare, but it is a good idea to keep an eye on valuables and overnight train trips are not recommended. No night time road travel is recommended due to the condition of most of the roads and public transportation. Certain “no – go “areas are to be avoided, but those areas are clearly identified by the government. Vietnam women never travel without at least one female companion. Female visitors doing so are regarded as slightly strange by the locals. Being a Buddhist country, women travelers are rarely hassled in public. Please do not engage in political discussions with the local people, especially in public places, as this is viewed as a sensitive subject by the local government.
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