VIETNAM – General Information

Geography:

Lying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S”. China borders it to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the east and south.

The country’s total length from north to south is 1,650km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part, in the centre, in Quang Binh Province. The coastline is 3,260km long and the inland border is 4,510km. Three quarters of Vietnam's territory consist of mountains and hills
Latitude:102º 08' - 109º 28'  east

Longitude: 8º 02' - 23º 23'  north

Mainland Territory: 331,211.6 sq. km

Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Administrative Units:    Vietnam is divided into 64 provinces and cities, with Hanoi as the capital

Population: 87,375,000 in habitants (2008)

At present there are 54 different ethnic groups inhabiting Vietnam, in which Kinh (Viet) people make up nearly 90% of the whole population, and 53 other ethnic groups represent over 10%.

Climate:

Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate with wet and dry seasons, which vary from north to south, and with elevation changes. November - April is the dry season in the north, Central Highlands and south. The best times to visit are October -January (Hanoi); February - April (Hue and Danang); and December - March (from Dalat to the Mekong Delta).

Food

Traditional Vietnamese cuisine boasts 500 specialties, varying from the famous spring rolls to tamarind crab. Meals are generally not spicy but make use of a wide array of interesting sauces. For vegetarians, Vietnam offers unique Buddhist-style fare created from combinations of an unending selection of vegetables and tofu. Beyond the delights of the street stalls and culinary wonders of Vietnamese restaurants, Ho Chi Minh City has an increasing selection of international restaurants including Italian, French, Indian, Japanese and Chinese. Vietnamese cuisine is rivaled only by an abundant array of tropical fruits such as dragon fruit, longans and rambutans, which form the perfect complement to any meal. Food is fresh and vegetables grown without the use of pesticide can be obtained.

Language

Vietnamese is a tonal language that uses the Roman alphabet together with tone marks. Much of the language is Sino/Vietnamese, though influences from French and English are also apparent. Today, English has replaced Russian and French as the most studied language and is widely spoken in major cities.

Religion

Approximately 60% of the population adheres to some form of Buddhism while Catholics account for about 8%. Other religious beliefs include Protestantism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism and Caodaism.

Working hours and Public Holidays

• Governmental agencies work 8 hours/day from 7.30am to 4.30pm (excluding one-hour lunch). Saturday and Sunday are close.
• Banks are open from 7.30am or 8am to 11.30am and from 1pm to 4pm. Saturday and Sunday are close.
• Private shops are open from 8am or 8.30am to 9pm or 10pm

Currency

Vietnamese dong (VND) is the official currency in Vietnam.

Paper notes include: VND 500,000; 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins include VND 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200.

Cheques with value as Vietnamese dong include: VND 1,000,000 and 500,000.

Foreign currencies and tourist cheques can be exchanged into Vietnamese Dong at banks or foreign exchange agencies.

Credit cards are popularly used, especially in cities and big tourist centers.

Before leave Vietnam, Vietnamese dong can be changed into foreign currencies at the airport.

Handicrafts and Souvenirs

Vietnam is particularly known for its various styles of lacquer ware (mother of pearl inlay and duck shell) and its growing silk industry. A wide array of other handicrafts is also available, including quality hand embroidery, woodcarvings, ceramics, silk paintings, brass and marble figurines and ivory and tortoiseshell accessories. Contemporary paintings and copies of masterpiece work are also widely available in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. War paraphernalia remain popular souvenirs as old cameras, watches, stamps, coins and flick lighters.

Important

Please be aware that it is illegal to export any items that might be considered "antique" from Vietnam. The customs officials at both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi airport enforce this policy rigorously and may even interpret reproduction goods or those that would not be considered antique as illegal. Any goods that are considered "antique" will be confiscated. Please also be aware that many vendors will claim that an item for sale is not an antique or it is acceptable to export with a receipt or by other written assurances. DO NOT TRUST THIS INFORMATION. Please exercise caution. Also please be aware that our guides are not experts in antiques and therefore cannot be responsible for any advice or opinions.

Visa

Most visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days.

Visa exemption:

Vietnamese people that hold foreign passports and foreigners who are their husbands, wives and children are exempt from visa requirements to enter Vietnam and are allowed to stay for not more than 90 days. In order to be granted visa exemption certificates at Vietnamese representative offices abroad, overseas Vietnamese need conditions:

• Foreign-issued permanent residence certificate (PRC) with the validity of at least six months since the date of entrance.

• Visa exemption paper (VEP) is granted by Vietnamese appropriate authorities.

Those who expect to stay more than 90 days must apply for visa according to current stipulations before their entrance.

Bilateral visa exemption agreement:

• Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos holding valid ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 30 days.
• Citizens of China, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, and Rumania holding valid ordinary passports for official mission and citizens of 52 countries holding valid diplomatic or official passports are exempt from visa requirements. The duration of staying is stipulated in certain cases. For more information, please visit le website of Ministry of Foreign Affaires.

Unilateral visa exemption:

• Visa with 30-day validity is exempted for officials from ASEAN secretariat holding different kinds of passports.
• Citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan and South Korea holding different kinds of passports are exempt from visa requirements and are allowed to stay for not more than 15 days.

Others who want to enter Vietnam must be provided with a visa.

·         Tourist visa is valid in 30 days.

·         Visa is issued at the Vietnamese diplomatic offices or consulates in foreign countries. Visa is possibly issued at the border gates to those who have written invitations by a Vietnamese competent agencies or tourists in the tours organized by Vietnamese international travel companies.

·         Application files for visa: the entrance application (printed form); two 4x6 cm photos; passport and fee for the visa issuance.

Visa extension: Served by all international travel companies.

UPDATED November 2008

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IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

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