Vietnam - Travel info
Flights
Vietnam has connections to all of the major Asian hubs and a number of countries further afield including Australia. Vietnam Airlines domestic routes are extensive and relatively cheap and reliable, so if you are limited by time it is worth considering flying some of the legs of your journey. About the only major tourist destination in Vietnam that dosent have an airlink is Sapa. However there are a number of private and public rail services that service the route.
Climate
Covering two different climatic zones, Vietnam has a moderate northern zone, with winter from November to April, and summer from May to October, and a tropical southern zone, with the climate much like the rest of Southeast Asia. The south's cool, dry season is from November to January, the hot dry season from February to April or May, and the rainy season from May or June to October. Vietnam is occasionally affected by typhoons during the rainy season.Replace this text with your page content.
Food
With over 500 local dishes and a very heavy French colonial influence, you will find Vietnam a gourmet's delight. Not only is the food less spicy than Thailand, making it a little easier on a Western palate, it is also incredibly good value. Seafood is available throughout the country and is very good value. Many of areas of Vietnam have their own unique cuisine including Hue, Sapa and Hoi An. Bottled water is available throughout Vietnam and it is important that you drink this and not tap water. Vietnamese beers and wines are quiet inexpensive as is there fabulous coffee. The ever present pot of Vietnamese tea especially if it has been brewing all day is an aquired taste.
Money
Vietnam’s currency is dong issued by State Bank of Vietnam. Abbreviated form: “VND” before the amount or “d” after the amount. Small denominations include VND 200; 500; 1000; 2000; 5000 in both coin and paper notes though coin is more popular. Bigger denominations include VND 10,000; 20,000; 50,000; 100,000; 200,000; 500,000 in both polymer and normal paper notes.
Although USD are widely accepted in the larger towns, the VND currency is the best to use in most places. Like most destinations Traveler's Cheques have limited acceptance. There are many many ATM's in larger cities and towns (all dispense VND). There are ATM's in most smaller towns these days however in major tourist centres like Sapa be mindful that they are not serviced on a regular basis and may run out of money on a regular basis.
Post
Postal services are generally reliable. Post offices open 6am-8pm, including weekends and holidays. EMS (Express Mail Service) is available from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to more than 30 countries as well as for domestic 24 hour deliveries. If you get to Hoi A and cant control your shopping the post office run a brilliant service where they will come to your hotel and box your goods for you to post back home - this is also inexpensive and reliable.
Telephone & Internet
Local calls from hotels and restaurants are normally free of charge, long distance call charges are reasonable, but hotels may be expensive - check beforehand. Local SIM cards are cheap and readily available. The internet is available in most hotels and guesthouses these days with many having a free wifi service or better still an inroom computer with internet access. There are still internet cafe's in the major tourist centres - although there are not as many as you will see in other countries in the region.
Vietnam has connections to all of the major Asian hubs and a number of countries further afield including Australia. Vietnam Airlines domestic routes are extensive and relatively cheap and reliable, so if you are limited by time it is worth considering flying some of the legs of your journey. About the only major tourist destination in Vietnam that dosent have an airlink is Sapa. However there are a number of private and public rail services that service the route.
Climate
Covering two different climatic zones, Vietnam has a moderate northern zone, with winter from November to April, and summer from May to October, and a tropical southern zone, with the climate much like the rest of Southeast Asia. The south's cool, dry season is from November to January, the hot dry season from February to April or May, and the rainy season from May or June to October. Vietnam is occasionally affected by typhoons during the rainy season.Replace this text with your page content.
Food
With over 500 local dishes and a very heavy French colonial influence, you will find Vietnam a gourmet's delight. Not only is the food less spicy than Thailand, making it a little easier on a Western palate, it is also incredibly good value. Seafood is available throughout the country and is very good value. Many of areas of Vietnam have their own unique cuisine including Hue, Sapa and Hoi An. Bottled water is available throughout Vietnam and it is important that you drink this and not tap water. Vietnamese beers and wines are quiet inexpensive as is there fabulous coffee. The ever present pot of Vietnamese tea especially if it has been brewing all day is an aquired taste.
Money
Vietnam’s currency is dong issued by State Bank of Vietnam. Abbreviated form: “VND” before the amount or “d” after the amount. Small denominations include VND 200; 500; 1000; 2000; 5000 in both coin and paper notes though coin is more popular. Bigger denominations include VND 10,000; 20,000; 50,000; 100,000; 200,000; 500,000 in both polymer and normal paper notes.
Although USD are widely accepted in the larger towns, the VND currency is the best to use in most places. Like most destinations Traveler's Cheques have limited acceptance. There are many many ATM's in larger cities and towns (all dispense VND). There are ATM's in most smaller towns these days however in major tourist centres like Sapa be mindful that they are not serviced on a regular basis and may run out of money on a regular basis.
Post
Postal services are generally reliable. Post offices open 6am-8pm, including weekends and holidays. EMS (Express Mail Service) is available from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to more than 30 countries as well as for domestic 24 hour deliveries. If you get to Hoi A and cant control your shopping the post office run a brilliant service where they will come to your hotel and box your goods for you to post back home - this is also inexpensive and reliable.
Telephone & Internet
Local calls from hotels and restaurants are normally free of charge, long distance call charges are reasonable, but hotels may be expensive - check beforehand. Local SIM cards are cheap and readily available. The internet is available in most hotels and guesthouses these days with many having a free wifi service or better still an inroom computer with internet access. There are still internet cafe's in the major tourist centres - although there are not as many as you will see in other countries in the region.
