| Country Info |
Vietnam conjures up images of a country at war for decades, of a fiery people, filled with pride and a strong will to persevere. Other images that come to mind are the spectacular Halong Bay, farmers in seemingly endless rice fields, the Perfume River and bustling Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) street life.
Shaped like an immense elongated S lying in the centre of Southeast Asia. Stretching the length of the Indochina Peninsula,Vietnam borders on China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the west and the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean to the East and the South, with a coastline of 3,260kms long. The country's total surface area is 330,991 square kilometres.
Three quarters of the land is covered by mountains and forests, which are interspersed with terraced plateaus of limestone and basaltic soil, which promotes the growth of many varied crops. |
| Climate |
| Because of its geography the climate in Vietnam varies greatly from north to south. Tropical monsoons occur from May to October. It is almost totally dry throughout the rest of the year. |
| Currency |
New Dông (D).
Notes:100,000 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are not used.
The US dollar is the most favoured foreign currency although the Australian dollar can usually be changed in the larger cities. |
| Language |
| Vietnamese is the official language. English, French, Chinese are also spoken. |
| Electricity |
| 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. |
| Timezone
| Vietnam's time is GMT + 7 hours, normally 3 hours behind Sydney. |
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| Tourist Info |
| Airport |
Noi Bai International Airport at Noi Bai is 45kms (28 miles) from Hanoi.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport is 7kms (4.5 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). |
| Airport Tax |
International Departure tax for all passengers at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City: US$14, Da Nang US$14 (payable in Dollars or Dông).
Tax for domestic flights is Dông 20,000-25,000 (US$1.90) at Hanoi, Ho Chi Ming, Da Nang & Hai Phong. |
| Customs |
| The importation of non-prescribed drugs, firearms and pornography is prohibited. |
| Duty Free |
| 1 individual pack of cigarettes, 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages and a reasonable quantity of perfume. |
| Passport |
Passports must be valid for at least 1 month after expiration of visa. Tourist visas are valid for 1 month from date of entry. Passengers are advised to hold an extra passport photo on arrival in Vietnam. Visas can usually be extended for another month at extra cost in the larger towns.
It is important to remember that all Vietnamese visas are issued with a specified exit point. If this exit point needs to be altered, it must be done so at an immigration office or through a travel agent in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Note: For security reasons, it is advisable to carry copies of documents rather than originals when in Vietnam. |
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| Getting Around |
| Business Hours |
Office hours:
7:30am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:30pm Monday to Saturday
Banking hours:
8:00am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday
8:00am - 12:00pm Saturday |
| Clothing |
| Tropical and washable cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season. Smart lightweight casuals would usually be worn for meetings as suits are needed for only the most formal occasions. |
| Communication |
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Some hotels have direct dialling facilities. Check with the operator for long distance and international charges, which may be found in the telephone directory.
The international country IDD code for Vietnam is 84, for Australia 61.
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| Credit Cards |
An increasing number of outlets accept Visa and Mastercard.
Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. |
| Health |
Cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential.
Malaria risk exists throughout the year everywhere except urban areas, the Red River delta and the coastal plains north of Nha Trang. The risk is highest in highland areas.
Japanese encephalitis is a risk in Hanoi and in rural areas, a vaccine is available and travellers are advised to consult their doctors prior to departure. |
| Tipping |
| Tipping is officially prohibited but widely practised, especially in the south. Discretion is advised. |
| Australian Government |
Departments Australian Embassy
Van Phuc Compound, 8 Dao Tan Street,
Ba Dinh District
HANOI
Telephone: 04 8317755
Facsimile: 04 8317711
Australian Consulate General
5th Floor, The Landmark Building
5B Ton Duc Thang, District 1
HO CHI MINH CITY
Telephone: 08 8296035
Facsimile: 08 8296031 |
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