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Tour destinations

Vietnam travel advisory

Vietnam travel advisory

Capital: Hanoi                                                                             Language: Vietnamese
Population: 91.5 Million                                             Time Zone: EST plus 11 hours
Currency: dong (VND)                                                              Electricity: 220V/50Hz

INTERESTING FACTS

  • Vietnam is ranked 13th in the world for population and 40% of its country is dominated by
  • mountains.
  • Despite its small size, Vietnam is home to six different biosphere reserves.
  • Vietnam is one of the first countries in the world to successfully control the COVID-19 pandemic

Extending from the mountainous north to the verdant flood plains of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam boasts a rich and fascinating culture, striking beauty, and tantalizing cuisine. A palpable energy buzzes throughout the country, arousing your curiosity and elevating your senses. City streets set the stage for a symphony of zipping motorbikes. Bustling local markets paint a picture of daily life. The breathtaking highlands around Sapa and the golden beaches of Hoi An provide perfect serenity. And remarkable geological formations—like stunning Ha Long Bay—present panoramas you’ll never forget. While reminders of the war remain, it is firmly in the country’s past. The people of Vietnam are eager to welcome you and share their country, stories, and gracious smiles.

COUNTRY CODES
The country code for Vietnam is 84. When calling to Vietnam from overseas, dial your international access code (011 from the US/Canada), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Phone numbers in Vietnam are 6-10 digits in length. Dialing from the US/Canada: 011 84 ### ### ###.

CURRENCY
The local currency is Vietnamese Dong

  • Banknote denominations: 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000,
  • 200,000, 500,000 Dong
  • Coin denominations: 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 Dong

As a general guideline, bring a variety of payment means, particularly in the event that you have
difficulties with your preferred method of payment.
 

Cash
US dollars are widely accepted in restaurants, hotels, and major shops throughout Vietnam. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can also exchange US dollars into the local currency, the Vietnamese Dong.
When paying with US dollars it is important to note that change may be given in the local currency. For initial convenience we recommend you bring some US dollars with you from home. It is advisable to bring newer US notes that are in good condition as some merchants will not accept those that are tattered and/or old.
ATMs are the most convenient way to obtain money in Vietnam as they are readily available in cities throughout the country,
 

Credit Cards
Major credit cards are widely accepted but some shops and restaurants require a minimum purchase amount when using them (so they are not appropriate for incidentals such as ice creams, snacks, etc.). You might consider bringing more than one card, as some outlets may not accept all types. Due to increasing credit card fraud worldwide, be prepared to show identification (i.e. your passport or driver's license) when making a transaction with your credit card.
If you use a credit card for your purchase, most transactions will be debited in the local currency, and your bank will establish the rate of exchange on the debit.


Traveler's checks
Although a secure means of carrying money, traveler's checks unfortunately are becoming very hard to use. Due to this we recommend you plan on using cash and credit cards only.
Bank Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 8am - 4pm
Sat. - Sun. Closed

 

ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Voltage for outlets is 220V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Some, but not all, hotels feature multi-region outlets that accept different types of plugs. Due to this, for dual voltage electronics, we still recommend you bring an adapter. If you have single voltage electronics (110V) a converter is also required. Bathroom outlets are usually for razors only.

The outlets look like:

  

TEMPERATURES
In general, Vietnam is warm/hot year round with varying levels of humidity. The tropical south is hot year-round. From December to March, North Vietnam has cool weather.


April brings sunny skies until the monsoon rains arrive in June. Central Vietnam has lots of sunshine most of the year, but November and December can be wet and overcast. Southern Vietnam is always warm, and temperatures soar mid-year. You can expect daily downpours
from June to August.

  • April & May are the hottest months
  • Summers are hot, humid, with some rain
  • The north experiences relatively high humidity year-round.
  • There is some rain from May to October
  • Winter months can get cool (as low as the mid-50s) with some rain

 

BUDGETING AND SHOPPING
The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person. Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages as provided by our experienced personnel.

  • The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is US$1-3.
  • An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately US$9-10.
  • A snack or local street food consisting of local beer/soft drink starts at approximately US$4-5.
  • Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at
  • approximately US$25.

 

Shopping
Prices are as marked in department stores, though in Asia it is customary to barter. Start negotiating with an offer at one-third or half the vendor's initial price.


Please be warned that if you buy items on tour to be shipped to your home, customs import charges are hardly ever included in the price. Sales tax or GST (Goods & Services Tax) is normally already included on price tags; GST refunds, if applicable, are processed at the departing airport from the relevant country.

TIPPING
Tipping is is greatly appreciated in Vietnam. We recommend tipping table staff at local
restaurants the equivalent of 10% of your bill.

  • Some cab drivers may automatically round up your fare as a tip.
  • Tipping hotel staff for bar or room service is at your discretion but if you choose to we recommend US$2 at the most (not including porterage which is included).
  • Tipping for crew and your private driver is normally US$5/day or more if you can and if they highly satify you
  • Tipping for tour-guide should be US$10/day or more if you are happy with his work.

 

FOOD SPECIALTIES
Food Specialties
The national dish of Vietnam is Pho or noodle soup. You will see locals eating this at every meal. It is generally made with beef, chicken, or shrimp and vegetables including green onion and bean sprouts. This is served in a mild broth and you can add spice to your liking with chilies and chili sauce.
 

Street food tips

  • Eat on local time: The best stalls only open a few hours each day: 6am to 8am, 11:30am to 1pm, and 5:30pm to 7pm.
  • Season to taste: Vietnamese use chili, kumquats, vinegar, and fishsauce to adjust the taste of each dish to their liking. Try it!
  • Eat first, pay later: The enjoyment of the meal is very important in Vietnam. You can always finish eating before paying the bill
  • Learn to share: Meals in Vietnam are often served family-style, with dishes for everyone to share. Help yourself!

Drinking Water
Tap water is generally not safe to drink. For sightseeing and excursions, bottled water may be included, otherwise we recommend you bring bottled water with you from your hotel Bottled water is also common in restaurants.

CUSTOMS AND CULTURE
The Vietnamese people are generally very easy going and friendly. There are, however a few things that are best to avoid:

  • Try not to point with your feet.
  • In the company of monks or elders, never cross your legs.
  • Do not touch people on the head or upper body.
  • When beckoning someone to come over do not flap your hand in the standard Western 'come here' motion; instead turn the hand round so that your palm flaps down towards yourself.
  •  Do not shake hands with monks or nuns as people in general rarely shake hands; rather smile and nod away.
  • Ladies should never sit down next to a monk.
  • Smoking is common in Asia so locals tend to be less sensitive to issues regarding smoking around others and often ignore “non-smoking” signs.
  • Dress code: Most Vietnamese are modest dressers, even on the beach. Always cover up when visiting religious site, shorts and skirts should be longish (below the knee) for both sexes
  • Attitude: As a general rule, keep your cool, and avoid loud arguments and public displays of affection.
  • Taking photos: Many Vietnamese like to have their picture taken, but always ask first.

VIETNAMESE POPULAR PHRASES
Pronunciations can vary significantly within Vietnam, especially northern vs. southern.
(English - Vietnamese - Phonetic Pronunciation)

  • Hello! - Xin chao! (seen chow!)
  • Goodbye - Chao (chow!) or Tam Biet
  • How are you? - Ban co khoe khong? (ban co kwe khome?)
  • I'm fine, thank you! - Cam on ban toi khoe (gahm un ban thoy kwe)
  • And you? - Ban thi sao? (ban ty sao?)
  • What's your name - Ban ten gi (ban thane zee)
  • My name is... - Toi ten la (thoy thane la...)
  • Thank you - Cam on (gahm un)
  • You're welcome - Khong co' gi (khom go zee)
  • Yes - Vang (vung)
  • No - Khong (khome)
  • Excuse me... - Xin loi (seen loy)
  • Can you help me? - Ban giup toi duoc khong? (ban zoop thoy duc khom?)
  • I'd like to eat - Toi muon an (thoy moowan un)
  • I'd like to drink - Toi muon uong (thoy moowan oowanh)
  • Good - Tot (thote)/ Delicious – Ngon (…………….)
  • Bad - Khong tot (khome thote)
  • What is this? - Cai nay la gi (guy nai la zee)
  • How much - Bao nhieu (bow nyew)
  • Too expensive - Mac qua (mahk qwa)
  • Hotel - Khach San (khack san)
  • Hot - Nong (nom)
  • Cold - Lanh (lang)
  • Coffee - Ca phe (cah feh)
  • Hot black coffee - Ca phe nong (cah feh nom)
  • Hot Coffee with milk - Ca phe sua nong (cah feh sua nom)
  • Iced Coffee with milk - Ca phe sua dac (cah feh sua dahk)
  • Tea - Tra (chah)
  • You're beautiful - Co dep qua (coh dep qwah)
  • I like - Toi thich (thoy tick)
  • I love you- Anh yeu em (ang eu-oh em)
  • I am happy - Toi vui (thoy vuoy)
  • I am tired - Toi met (thoy mate)