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Vietnam Travel Guide
Vietnam Travel
Overview
05/17/07 - About 1.462 million foreign tourists have visited Vietnam
since early this year, 12.5% higher than the previous year.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Korean tourists accounted for the highest number with 187,531 visitors. Additionally, Vietnam received 178,097 Chinese, 155,592 American and 149,150 Japanese tourists. Of 1.46 million foreign travelers, 900,000 visited Vietnam for tourist, a 17.5 % increase over the previous year, while the remainder came to Vietnam for business purposes. The VNAT also announced that around 20,000 foreign travellers visited Vietnam by sea, 140% higher than the previous month, accounting for nearly 50% of the total foreign visitors to Vietnam.
Who Travel to Vietnam - Why Travel to Vietnam Vietnam travel for Tourists
Vietnam travel for Viet Kieu: At present, there are approximately 2.7 million overseas Vietnamese (VIET KIEU) in around 90 countries and territories with 80% residing in developed nations. The majority of them have settled down and integrated into the local community with certain economic and political positions. Vietnamese communities overseas have certain economic potentials, many of Viet Kieu have a high level of education and expertise. Some hold important positions in research or educational institutions, businesses, and international organizations. Though living far away from their fatherland, overseas Vietnamese have always nurtured patriotism and national esteem, preserved cultural traditions, turned towards to their ancestors and origins, and kept close relationship with their families and homeland. Many have made regular trips back to Vietnam. Viet Kieu A New Generation of Vietnamese Americans Returns to Vietnam More overseas Vietnamese are expected to go home to visit their families and go holidays, particularly from early September when Viet Kieu will get visa exemptions . http://www.asianweek.com/2000_05_04/feature_vietkieu.html http://books.google.com/books?id http://www.enderminh.com/minh/vietkieu.aspx Vietnam travel for Business Opportunities:
Vietnam travel for Vietnam Vets: Traveling back to Vietnam offer Vietnam veterans and families a way to heal from their personal Vietnam War experience. Lingering effects keep many veterans and family members from feeling whole. It enables those impacted by the war to move forward. Through revisiting the country where it all began, seeing Vietnam as it is today, and helping others in the process, the healing and closure begins to occur. http://www.topvietnamveterans.org/index.html http://www.vietnamadvisor.com/Travel+to+vietnam+level/Vietnam+Veteran+Tours http://www.gluckman.com/vietwar.htm Vietnam travel for Adventure: The Vietnam Adventure Travel is to take travelers through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Vietnam. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. The adventure active trips are designed for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, real people seeking real fun and adventure. Of course, a reasonable level of personal fitness, good health, and interest in outdoor activities is advisable, but travelers don't need to be a tri-athlete or be an expert in any of the undertaken activities as walking, running, trekking, hiking, paddling, biking, or bike tour trips.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Vietnam Regions
Cities
Other destinations
ClimateVietnam is large enough to have several distinct climate zones.
Get inMost visitors to Vietnam, except citizens of Nordic or ASEAN countries, South Korea and Japan, require a visa in advance. A single-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days (although exact fees vary depending on issuing country) and takes around 4-7 days to process; express visas 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'll 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 planeVietnam 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, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei or Tokyo. By trainTrains 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 roadCambodiaThere are at least four border crossings between Cambodia and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:
The Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville issues 30 day tourist visas on a same-day basis. ChinaThere are three border crossings between China and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners:
LaosThere are at least six border crossings between Laos and Vietnam that can be used by foreigners. These include:
LOCAL CUSTOMS Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with officials who will often be very rigid. In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the best policy. Small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated by anyone you wish to make friends with in Vietnam. Out of politeness, always ask permission before taking photos of people. The same rule of thumb also applies to photos taken in places of worship. Permission will almost always be granted. A gentle handshake is the most appropriate manner of greeting. Be very discrete about giving anything to beggars frequently encountered in Ho Chi Minh City. If anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other beggars. This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money. Beware of pickpockets. Keep your ID and passport in a safe place and carry only photocopies of those items. Remove your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas. Small donations placed in the boxes found in temples are appreciated. It is acceptable to keep your shoes on within Chinese pagodas. Never let the soles of your feet face other people or any sacred monument, such as a statue of Buddha. CURRENCY The
Dong (D) is the official currency in Vietnam. Bank notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 and 50,000 Dong Notes under 200 Dong have little value and are rarely used. The U.S. dollar is more or less a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign currencies are not readily accepted. A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel bills. U.S. money is so common that change will frequently be given in dollars. You may bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency as long as it is declared on the forms provided by customs officers. Foreign currency can be exchanged for dong at your hotel or at the State Bank of Vietnam. THINGS TO KNOW
CUSTOMS & REGULATIONS Duty-Free
Items The
Customs Service Headquarters EMERGENCY NUMBERS Police:
03 USEFUL PHRASES
Get in HanoiBy planeMost folks arrive at the Noi Bai International Airport, 35 km (45-60 minutes) north of the city. Several airlines run flights from Noi Bai, including:
From the airport
Get in Ho Chi Minh CityBy planeTan Son Nhat (IATA: SGN | ICAO: VVTS) is Vietnam's largest international airport. Immigration is notoriously strict and can be time consuming, but if your papers are in order you should be fine. Note that the all-white departure cards are only for those without the 'yellow paper' received upon arrival. The recently introduced No. 152 air-con airport bus is the cheapest way into the city, and will drop you off on the west side of the Pham Ngu Lao area, or at the bus terminal on the south side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout. The price was recently increased to 3000 dong - still a bargain by any measure. Taxis from the airport to the city centre take 30 minutes and cost US$3-5; make sure the driver uses the meter. However, if you want to avoid the trouble of bargaining and negotiating, you can just buy a "Taxi coupon" near the exit of the airport terminal for US$5. You can change money at the airport, but you're probably better off paying for your first trip with US$ and exchanging in the city as the exchange in the airport may charge a commission as high as 3%. Taxi drivers get commission for taking customers to certain hotels so when arriving at the airport be explicit about exactly which hotel you want to be taken to. This may be harder than expected if the hotel is one that doesn't pay commission. When going to the airport, taxi drivers often attempt a scam involving an airport entry tax; it's their job to pay it. As of November 2006, international departure taxes should be included in the price of your ticket. Check with your airline before leaving, however, as some tickets (including any bought before the November 2006 change) do not include the tax, and you'll find yourself faced with a 240,000 dong suprise at the check-in counter. Major airlines flying to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi:
China, Japan, Korea, and Russia have direct flights to and fro Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Cheap airlines: Air Asia operated between Hanoi and Bangkok, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, Jetstar between Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney, Tiger Airway between Hanoi/ Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore. Airlines
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