Vietnam Travel Guide and Travel Information
Hoian Vinh Hung 3 Hotel

Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia. It neighboring countries are China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West.

Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Dong (VND)
Area: 329,560 km²
Population: 81,098,416 inhabitants (July 2002 estimation)
Language: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French and Khmer. Mountain area languages: Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polinesian.
Religion: Buddhist, Daoism, Confucianism, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic, some protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim.
Calling code: 84
Time zone: UTC+7
Climate: Vietnam is large enough to have several distinct climate zones:
** The South is hot, humid and tropical, with temperatures hovering in the 25-30^oC all year around, but it rains the most from May to November.
** The North has four distinct seasons, with a comparatively chilly winter (temperature can dip below 15^oC in Hanoi). a hot and dry summer and pleasant spring (March-April) and autumn (October-December) seasons. However, in the highlands both extremes are amplified, with occasional snow in the winter and temperatures hitting 40^oC in the summer.
** In the Central regions the weather is somewhere in between, only just to confuse things here the rainy season in the summer, not the winter.

GETTING IN
Most visitors to Vietnam, except citizens of Nordic or ASEAN countries, South Korea and Japan, require a visa in advance. A single entry visa valid for 30 days cost around 40 USD (although exact fees vary depending on issuing country) and takes around 4-7 days to process; express visa take 2-3 days at twice the price. Visas are now generally valid for all entry and exit points.

A fairly convoluted visa on arrival process has recently been introduced, but this requires a prior application to Hanoi and is generally intended mostly for groups and citizens of countries without Vietnamese embassies.

At the customs, you will have to fill in a landing card, the carbon copy of which becomes your infamous "Yellow Paper". You want to keep this slip of paper just as safe as your passport, since you'll have to produce it when leaving the country to avoid a fine.

Depending on the present level of SARS, avian flu or cooties hysteria, you may be subjected to a so-called health-check. There is no examination, though, but yet another form to fill in and, of course, another fee. If you can get hold of a handful of dong it is only 2000 dong per person, but they charge US$2 for the same "service" if you only have greenbacks!

By plane
Vietnam has international airports at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Direct flights are available from Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan. However, long-distance flights are limited and most visitors transit via Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei or Tokyo.

By train
Trains from Beijing, China, cross the border at Dong Dang and terminate in Hanoi. Due to landslides the rail link to Kunming, China is closed until further notice.

By road
From Cambodia
There are at least four border crossings between Cambodia and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:
- Bavet - Moc Bai
- Kaam Samnor - Vinh Xuong (in some guidebooks as Tonle Mekong. Near Chau Doc in Vietnam)
- Phnom Den - Tinh Bien

The Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville issues 30 day tourist visas on a same-day basis.

From China
There are three border crossings between China and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners:
- Dongxing - Mong Cai (by road; onward travel Mong Cai to Halong by sea or by road)
- Hekou - Lao Cai (by road and/or rail, but no international passenger train services)
- Youyi Guan - Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Pass - by road and/or rail)

From Laos
There are at least six border crossings between Laos and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:
- Donsavanh - Lao Bao
- Kaew Neua - Cau Treo (Keo Nua Pass)
- Nam Can
- Tay Trang

GETTING AROUND
By plane
Flights are the fastest way to travel the distance of this long country; the trip from Hanoi to HCMC will take about 2 hours by plane. The major domestic airlines in Vietnam are Vietnam Airlines, a full-service airline, and Pacific Airlines, recently created as a low-cost carrier that also accepts online booking. For Vietnam Airlines, it is significantly more expensive to book domestic flights outside of Vietnam than to book with a local travel agent in Vietnam.

By train
Although more expensive than buses, trains are undoubtedly the most comfortable way to travel overland in Vietnam. There is one major train line in Vietnam, the 1723-kilometer trunk between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, on which the Reunification Express runs. HCMC to Hanoi is more than 30 hours, and overnight hops between major destinations are usualy do-able, if not entirely convenient. It's a good way to see the countryside and meet upper-middle class locals, but unless you are traveling in a sleeper car it is no more comfortable than buses.

AC Soft or hard sleeper is recommended, and purchasing as early as possible is a good idea as popular berths and routes are often bought out by tour companies and travel agents well before the departure time (hence being told the train is sold out at a station ticket window or popular tour company office does not mean there are no tickets available--they've simply been bought by another reseller). However, unsold tickets can often be bought last minute from people hanging around at the station--a train is rarely sold out for real, as the railway company will add cars when demand is high. Commissions on these tickets will drop away as the departure time draws nearer.

Be cautious when using a travel agent to purchase your train tickets, since there is nothing printed on the ticket saying the class you are booked in. This results in a common scam with private travel agents where you will pay them to book a soft-sleeper ticket, they then book you a cheaper hard-sleeper ticket, and you don't know you've been scammed until you board the train and your berths are in the lower class. By then with the train on the verge of departing it is too late to go back to the scamming agent to demand compensation.

In addition, there are shorter routes from Hanoi leading northwest and northeast, with international crossings into China. One of the most popular of the shorter routes is the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (with bus service from Lao Cai to the tourist destination of Sapa).

By bus
Long-distance bus services connect most cities in Vietnam. Most depart early in the morning to accommodate traffic and late afternoon rains, or run overnight.

Public Buses travel between the cities' bus stations. In bigger places, you often have to use local transport to get into the city center from there. Buses are generally in reasonable shape, and you have the chance to interact with locals.

Open Tour buses are run by a multitude of tour companies. They cater especially to tourists, offering ridiculous low rates (Hanoi to HCMC: US$20-25) and door-to-door service to your desired hostel. You can break the journey at any point and continue on a bus of the same company any time later, or simply buy tickets just for the stage you're willing to cover next. Note that if you're not planning to make more than 3-4 stops, it might be cheaper to buy separate tickets as you go (ie Hanoi to Hue can be had for as little as 5 USD). Most hotels and guesthouses can book seats for any connection, although you're better to shop around at travel agents, as prices will vary on any given ticket/bus company. Going to the bus company office may net you a commission-free fare, but most major bus operators have fixed pricing policies, which can only be circumvented through a travel agent.

Since tour companies charge very little, they do make commission on their stop-offs which are often at souvenir shops, where you do not have to buy; they always have toilets and drinks and water available for purchase. The estimated time for a bus trip may not be accurate and may be an additional couple of hours sometimes, due to the number of stop offs. Collecting the passengers at the start of the journey can also take quite a while too.

Vietnamese buses are made for Vietnamese people - bigger Westerners will be very uncomfortable, especially on overnight buses. Also, many Vietnamese are not used to riding on long-haul buses, and will sometimes get sick - not very pleasant if you are stuck on an overnight bus with several Vietnamese throwing up behind you.

Although the bus company will usually be happy to collect you at your hotel or guest house, boarding at the company office will guarantee a choice of seats and you'll avoid getting stuck at the back or unable to sit next to your travelling companions. The offices are generally located in or near the tourist area of town, and a short walk might make your trip that much more pleasant.

By car
International driving licenses are not accepted in Vietnam. Therefore, there are no car rental companies such as Hertz and Avis etc. However, it is quite easy to hire a car and driver for excursions and day trips. (around $40-$50 US an 8 hr. day) Hotels and tourist cafes can usually take care of this. You will find that few drivers will speak any English. Therefore, make sure you tell the hotel/cafe exactly where you want to go.
Long distance travel by car may be a good choice for several people traveling together, as it provides flexible access to remote sites. However, be aware that Highway 1, the backbone of the country, is a two-lane road with very heavy truck traffic. Travel speeds on the highway average less than 50 Km/hour.

By cycle
Adventurous travelers may wish to see Vietnam by motorcycle or bicycle. Several adventure travel tours provide package tours with equipment. Most of the population gets around on two wheels, so it's an excellent way to get closer to the people, as well as off the beaten path.

In cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, parking bicycles on the sidewalks is not allowed, and you'll have to go to a pay parking lot. 2000 dong per bike.

By motorcycle taxi
"MotoBike?" as some xe ôm (literally 'wheel hug') drivers will yell to you as you walk by. They are reasonably cheap, about average 5000 dong. You should be able to get anywhere within a city for about 5000-10,000 dong, since the city is usually densely populated and everything is reasonably close by. But watch out, some drivers will try to get you to pay more after you negotiated a price. But be firm on the price.

Another alternative is to rent your own motorbike. Traffic is chaotic (few stop signs or lights) but reasonably easy to follow and people don't go very fast, since there are always lots of people on the road. Charging the intersections is more of a game of chicken than conventional western traffic navigation. Not knowing the nuance of the horn might also get you in trouble. As long as you don't break any traffic rules police will not pull you over. Although many people drive without a license, licenses are required.

Exploring on motorcycle gives freedom and close contacts with local people. Minsk is the best motorcycle for travelings to remote areas and Honda is the best choice in cities. There are several companies offer motorcycle tours such as Explore Indochina, Voyage Vietnam, Offroad Vietnam and Freewheeling Tours...

By cyclo
While slowly being supplanted by motorbikes, cyclo pedicabs still roam the streets of Vietnam's cities and towns. Their drivers are notoriously mercenary and, while the ride will be slow, hot and dangerous, you'll generally need to pay more than for a motorbike for the equivalent distance. On the plus side, some drivers (particularly in the South) are very friendly and are happy to be chartered for sightseeing tours. Be aware to bargain the price before the ride.

By boat
You will be missing a big part of Vietnamese life if you do not spend some time on a boat. Tour boats can be hired for around $20 for a day's tour, or you can book through a tour company. Boat tours are definitely called for around Halong Bay, Hue, Nha Trang, and everywhere in the Mekong region.

TALK
Vietnamese, spoken by most of the population, is a tonal language and definitely not easy to master. It is written in a Latin-based script, making maps and signs relatively easy to understand. More than 20% of the modern Vietnamese vocabulary originally came from Chinese, so travelers fluent in other East Asian languages may find some similar words.

Many young people have a basic grasp of English. It is not uncommon to meet young people who learned English in school, especially in the South. French, although not widely spoken anymore, is still used by many older Vietnamese people who were educated in French. If not English, young people may study Japanese, Thai or Chinese.

EATING
It can be argued that food sits at the very epicenter of Vietnamese culture: every significant holiday on the Vietnamese cultural calendar, all the important milestones in a Vietnamese person's life, and indeed, most of the important day-to-day social events and interactions - food plays a central role in each. Special dishes are prepared and served with great care for every birth, marriage and death, and even the anniversaries of ancestors' deaths. More business deals are struck over dinner tables than over boardroom tables, and when friends get together, they eat together. Preparing food and eating together remains the focus of family life.

Characteristics of Vietnamese food include heavy use of fish sauce (nước mắm), which smells notoriously bad if you sniff it straight from the bottle, but blends into food very well. Vegetables, herbs and spices, notably Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), accompany almost every dish and help make Vietnamese food much lighter than the cuisine of its neighboring countries.

Vietnam's national dish is phở, a broth soup with rice noodles garnished with fresh greens (usually including basil) and bean sprouts. Phở bò, the classic form of phở, is made with beef broth that is often simmered for many hours and may include one or more kinds of beef (skirt, flank, tripe, etc.). Phở gà is the same idea, but with chicken broth and chicken meat. Phở is available at any time of the day, but is most often eaten for breakfast, for lunch as well if you like. Famous phở restaurants can be found in both Hanoi and HCMC.

Streetside eateries in Vietnam typically advertise phở and cơm. Though cơm literally means rice, the sign means the restaurant serves a plate of rice accompanied with fish or meat and vegetables.

Coffee, baguettes, and pastries were originally introduced by the French colonials, but all three have been localized and remain popular contemporary aspects of Vietnamese cuisine. More on cà phê below, but coffee shops that also serve light fare can be found in almost village and on multiple street corners in the bigger cities. Bánh mì Hanoi are French bread sandwiches: freshly baked white bread baguettes filled with grilled meats or liver or pork pâté, plus fresh herbs and vegetables. Most pastry shops serve a variety of sweets and quick foods, and are now owned by Vietnamese.

If you like seafood, you may find heaven in Vietnam. The ultimate seafood experience is traveling to a seaside village or beach resort area in the south to try the local seafood restaurants that often serve shrimp, crab, and locally-caught fish. Follow the locals to a good restaurant: the food will still be swimming when you order it, it will be well-prepared, very affordable by Western standards, and often served in friendly surroundings with spectacular views.

Eco Farming Tour
by JEEP in Hoian

Our guide will pick up you at the hotel then driving a JEEP to the village. On the way you enjoy the beautiful countryside views such as seeing water buffalos, rice paddle field, birds, beautiful vegetable village like mints, basils, salad...

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