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Vietnam Pre-departure Guide (General Information)

Vietnam Pre-departure Guide

anh

Date: Thursday, 14-Feb-2013, 6:10:57 PM | Message # 1

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Vietnam Pre-departure Guide

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Population: 90.5 million

Capital City: Hanoi (6.5 million)

People: 53 ethnic minorities

Language: Vietnamese

Currency: Vietnam Dong (VND)

Time Zone: GMT +7 Hours

International Dialing Code: +84

Vietnam is a small majestic country, offering travellers an exciting mix of adventure and culture. The country’s captivating natural wonders span from the mountainous north and the fertile plains of the Mekong Delta, to the spectacular coastline of central Vietnam and the imperious Halong Bay. With an intriguing history spanning back over 4,000 years, including occupations from both the Chinese and French, strong cultural influences can be found in the architecture and cuisine.

General Information

Passport and visa
Passports should be valid for six months from the date of entry into Vietnam. We recommend you make a photocopy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate, or scan it and keep it in an accessible email account. Visitors must have a visa before entering Vietnam. Buffalo Tours can arrange this for you. A visa on arrival can only be obtained with a letter of approval.

Money
The official currency in Vietnam is the Dong (VND) which is a non-convertible currency. American dollars are widely accepted in larger stores and supermarkets. Visa and MasterCard are becoming more accepted in hotels, restaurants and large stores, especially in the bigger cities. ATM’s are widely available throughout the country, and there are a number of international banks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Post and telecommunications
The Vietnamese postal services reliable and there are also courier services widely available. Do not put postcards into letter boxes; give them to your hotel to post or go to a post office.

Telephone connections to the rest of the world are widely available, however they aren’t cheap. A Vietnamese SIM card is a less expensive way of calling other countries, however your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work. For example, 200,000VND worth of Viettel credit ($10) can last for up to 45 minutes to the UK.

Internet accessis available in all major tourist places and you will find WiFi in most cafes in built up areas.

Transportation
The traffic in Vietnam is busy, but slow. It may look like chaos but don’t be frightened to cross the road. Simply make your way shaking your whole hand at waist height. You’ll soon see other people doing the same.

Taxis are a popular way of getting around Hanoi but make sure you use a reputable company such as Mai Linh or Capital Taxis. A typical 10 minute journey should cost around 50,000 VND but prices tend to increase at night.

If you are in a built up area, a cyclo is a fun form of transport and should cost no more that 100,000 VND per journey.

Motorbike taxis: Travel by motorbike is not safe and under no circumstances is this sanctioned or recommended by Buffalo Tours. Please note that this form of transport is not usually covered by insurance. Please check the fine print of your travel insurance policy to be sure of your cover.

Vietnam Pre-departure Guide (General Information)

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