Vietnam has
only recently become a tourist and business destination. Every
effort has been made to make all guests to this country
comfortable and safe. Do not take the following tips as
warnings, only advice, remember being a knowledgeable traveler
is a big step to a successful vacation. Some of the rules and
regulations implemented in Vietnam are found nowhere else in the
world so it's a good idea to become acquainted with them before
you step off the plane.
Registration of Foreign Visitors All visitors must register
with the police within 48 hours of arrival. If you are on a
tour, this should have been taken care of (but check anyway)
TRAVELERS BEWARE!!
The people in Hanoi and in fact throughout Vietnam are very
friendly and are always willing to help. Do however be
cautious and well aware of your personal belongings at all
times. Pickpockets are a menace, and bag snatching, common.
Never let someone you do not know watch your luggage and
never accept rides from anyone other than official taxi
drivers. remember...You
are the visitor! You are in another country with a different
set of social rules and regulations. What might be
acceptable at home is not necessarily acceptable in Vietnam.
If unsure, ask.
BANKING
Most banks are open from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm. Some are
open from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm.
BUSINESS HOURS
Generally from 7.30 am to 4.30 PM, closed on Sundays.
CREDIT CARDS
Do not bring an American Express credit card to Vietnam!
Only Master card and Visa are widely accepted by both banks
and retail establishments.Many hotels and shops accept Visa
Cards in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi nowadays. It's virtually
impossible to exchange foreign currency outside the major
cities and tourist areas. Visitors heading off the beaten
track will either need to stock up on dong or conduct a
private cash transaction on the black market. It's a good
idea to bring a small calculator with you for currency
conversions, unless you're the kind of person who can divide
or multiply numbers by 11,000 in your head.
CURRENCY
The Vietnamese currency is the Dong. Foreign currencies can
be exchanged at any bank or bureau of exchange. US$ is the
most convenient currency. It's advisable to bring US$
traveler’s cheques and a little US$ cash. There are four
ways to exchange currency: at a bank; through authorize exchange bureaus; at hotel reception desks; and on the black
market. The best rates are offered by the banks, but the
exchange bureaus are generally more conveniently located and
have longer opening hours. The black market rate is worse
than the legal exchange rate, so if you're offered better
rates than a bank it's bound to be some sort of scam.
CURIOSITY
If you see a hemp rope hanging in various places such as bus
stations, with a burning end. They're for lighting
cigarettes so don't put it out.
CUSTOMS
Official declaration forms must be filled in and presented
with your luggage to customs on arrival. Visitors may import
200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of Tobacco, 1 litre of
wine, 1 litre 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. The export
of local currency is forbidden. Travelers can take with
them unlimited amounts of souvenirs bought with receipts to
show proof of purchase. DRUG WARNING
Be aware that there are a number of less savoury habits
evident in and around the cities and outlying areas of
Vietnam. A common complaint from travelers is the amount of
used syringes seen along roads, at street corners and even
on some beaches. AIDS is rife in this country and if you do
happen to step on a recently used syringe by mistake, you
may get slightly more than a puncture wound in your foot.
All this does not mean drugs are legal, far from it!
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal
drugs are strict and convicted offenders can either expect
long jail sentences or fines and often the death penalty,
especially where foreigners are concerned, is applied.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
etc.
The electric current in Vietnam is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles
per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or
other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter.
Check with an electronics store before you leave home.
HEALTH
The following does not cover all possibilities and in case
of problems you should always visit a qualified medical
doctor. Vietnam does have a wide variety of medicines, but
you may not be familiar with them. In case of serious
troubles consider leaving the country and going to a place
with good facilities (e.g. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
Hong Kong, etc.) Chinese people are very aware of health
problems. The Chinese medicine is world famous and
obtainable even in the smallest villages and also many of
the surrounding countries. However, Western medicine is not
very widely available. If you regularly need some medicine,
bring enough of it with you since chances are that you will
not get the same or a replacement for it. It is also
recommended to bring one or two clean needles in case of an
emergency.
Aids
is a serious threat here, as in many other eastern
countries. According to recent figures by UNAIDS, the United
Nations program, about half of Vietnam’s prostitutes are HIV
positive. Doctors
and hospitals normally
expect immediate cash payment.
Inoculation Requirements
Health risks - dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies,
typhoid, tuberculosis and a minor threat (especially to
pregnant women) of dioxins found in the defoliant Agent
Orange. Please check with your local doctor or Tropical
Diseases Hospital as to which vaccinations are necessary.
For a longer stay, vaccinations against Hepatitis B are
recommended.
Malaria
There have been many discussions on how to best deal with
the disease and even doctors cannot agree on a single
opinion. It is known that taking preventative malaria
measures doesn’t stop one from getting the disease and in
fact makes the ailment harder to detect in the early stages,
if contracted. The best prevention is wearing light colours
clothing at night and putting on protective skin insect
repellent if mosquitoes are about. Speak to your local
doctor or contact a Tropical Diseases Clinic near you before
visiting Vietnam for advice. Anti malaria treatments may
still be advised.
Menstruation
Take note ladies, if you want to use tampons then bring them
with you as you won't be able to buy them in Vietnam.
Water
Be careful not to drink water directly from the tap.
Although it is not a problem anymore in big cities,
depending on your resistance it is better to be safe than
sorry. A good tip is to keep away from ice cubes as one can
never be too sure as to what water they have been made with,
unless in classier hotels and similar establishments.
HOTEL REQUIREMENTS
Most hotels in Vietnam require that your passport be kept
with the reception during your stay If you are paranoid
about leaving your passport with hotel staff, bring (as you
may not find a photocopy machine nearby) a photocopy of the
original and hand that over. Most hotels will accept
photocopies as passport substitutes. On the other hand, it
may be safer to leave your travel documents with the hotel
reception if you intend to visit some unsafe locations.
INTERNET
The going rate all over Vietnam is around 300 to 400 VND per
minute. However, the Internet cafe in some tourist spots
seem to have teamed up to introduce new, outrageous rates.
In Hoi An, the new rate, which had been introduced in
mid-May 2000, was 1500 VND/minute. An alternative is the
Post Office, which offers Internet time at a rate of 320
VND/minute. The Internet is slow everywhere in Vietnam and
there seems to be no relationship whatsoever between the
price and speed. Stick with the cheap ones and try to log on
during the quieter times of day.
INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE
CALLS
Are expensive when made from Vietnam. Every time you try to
get a line they charge you $5, regardless of whether you get
through or not. So beware! Make sure the person you're
calling is going to be home!
PASSPORT and VISA
REQUIREMENTS
A valid visa is required, obtainable at Vietnamese embassies
and consulates abroad. Business visas can be applied for
through a Vietnamese sponsoring agency, valid for up to six
months and allowing multiple entries. The one-month visa
fees are US$25 for single entry & transit visas, US$10 for
extension of single entry visa, US$40-100 for multiple entry
and US$16 for extension of multiple entry visa. This
information should be checked prior to travel. Before you
leave home submit the following items to the Embassy of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam in your country of residence
for processing. Allowing approximately two weeks to process
in the event that there may be delays. Requirements (per person)
One (1) Valid/signed passport
Two (2) signed visa application forms
Two (2) photographs (passport size)
*NOTE: The information supplied here is
meant as a guide only and is subject to change without warning.
Therefore all travelers should check the visa and immigration
details with their local Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate BEFORE
departure for Vietnam.SHOPPING
Shops are
generally open from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm. Some are open
from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm.
SMILE It is amazing what a difference it makes
when you greet a person with a smile, whether it be a shop owner
or a tour guide; it certainly makes them feel at ease and become
more friendly and helpful. TIPPING
American's and others who come from countries where tipping is
the norm, please don’t go overboard in the ‘tipping’ department
as then you set a ‘tipping’ level that may not suit everyone
else traveling to Vietnam and will eventually make people
greedy as has happened in virtually every other country in the
world. 10% is a good gauge to go by
at 5 star resorts and hotels, otherwise 2% to 5% will do
perfectly.
Porters:
Porters, if they are available, can be tipped with American
coins. Again DON'T go mad and tip, just because you can or it is
your habit. You just ruin things for travelers that follow.
Hotel maids:
Government-run hotels catering to tourists charge an automatic
10% service fee. Therefore it is preferred that you don't tip.
Taxis:
Generous tips are not necessary. A small gratuity, however, is
expected by cab drivers.
TIME Vietnam time as compared to GMT is GMT + 7.
THEFT
While Vietnam is generally a safe country for traveling
through, street crime is a serious problem in Ho Chi Minh City
and to a lesser extent, throughout Vietnam. The isolated but
persistent nature of incidents warrants caution on the part of
the traveler. generally, crime is characterized by
pick-pocketing or snatch-and-grab incidents, and the theft of
unattended bags, briefcases and other items. You have been
warned!
TRAFFIC Don't try to cross the street in a Western
manner. Walk at a steady pace through the traffic, looking
forwards and trust that it's the vehicles responsibility to
avoid you. It is difficult in the beginning, but it works.
TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
Food An abundance of fresh fruit
and plentiful supply of cooked rice and noodles means children
needn't go hungry. Whilst you may be prepared to 'risk' the odd
iced fruit juice or eat in dodgy looking road side stalls, it's
a whole different story if your children get sick. For younger
children, it's a good idea to travel with a supply of powdered
milk. Most hotels provide thermos flasks of well-boiled water so
if they do get 'picky' or you find yourself somewhere where the
food preparation is of a questionable standard, at least you can
always give them a big glass of milk. Keep the powdered milk
well sealed, as it does attract bugs.
Accommodation Children under 12 stay free in hotels.
This can mean different things in different hotels. In some you
will get a double and a single bed for the price of a double. In
others, you may get a bed wide enough to sleep two adults and
one child at no extra cost. Elsewhere, you might get a mattress
on the floor and extra bedding. Everything is negotiable.
Attractions and entry fees are
either half price or free for children.
Annoyances one has to bear Vietnamese people
find children, especially blonde very beautiful and pinching
their cheeks is a way to 'express her loveliness'. Unfortunately
if your children get annoyed due to this behaviour you are
advised to try and explain to them that it's done out of 'love'.
You can try asking the Vietnamese to abstain from this pastime
but you probably won't get very far.
