Vietnam Trip Adviser | Vietnam Travel Guide on major locations of Vietnam | Vietnam Journey

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Nature
Vietnam is dedicated to preserving its vast natural resources, boasting well over 80 national parks and protected areas throughout the country. The most famous is Halong Bay in the north with thousands of oddly-shaped limestone island outcrops filled with caves.
Just south of Hanoi is Cuc Phuong National Park, home to over 97 mammal species, including the endangered langur, and 300 species of birds.

Vietnam’s largest national park, Yokdon, covers 1,155 sq km of relatively flat land, and was founded in 1991 to protect a rare patch of lowland dipterocarp forest with 464 species of flora and scores of mammal, reptile, bird, and fish species including 17 listed as endangered. Among Vietnam’s critically endangered
mammals are the Cat Ba Island goldenheaded langur, Javan rhinoceros, Sumatran rhinoceros and the white-rumped black lemur. Endangered Asian elephants, tigers, otter civets and parti-coloured flying squirrels have
also been spotted.
Vietnam possesses a diversity of wetland habitats including large estuarine and delta systems with extensive mangrove swamps and tidal mudflats. This habitat and others in Vietnam are home to approximately 870 bird species, which make up 10% of the world’s species. The Dalat Plateau is one of the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International. This mixture of coniferous, mountain evergreen
and secondary forest is the exclusive habitat of collared laughing thrushes, grey-crowned crocias and Vietnamese green finches. Visitors to Cat Tien National Park can spot wide-spread birds such as red breasted parakeets, vernal hanging parrots, spotted and red-collared doves, drongo cuckoos and Oriental pied hornbills.

Government Tourism Policy
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is the government agency responsible for the country’s tourism development, planning, public relations, personnel training, research and the implementation of policies and other regulations. Assisting VNAT are provincial tourism bureaus.
The country is currently embarking on a sustainable tourism growth path to protect its environment, help alleviate poverty and maintain the cultures and traditions of its 53 ethnic minorities. Much of the current focus is on ensuring safety and security for tourists developing the nation’s tourism infrastructure especially at the provincial level, increasing the capabilities of its human resources, creating convenient travel conditions within the country and the region and providing tourism information. Vietnam encourages investment in the tourism
sector, especially hotels and aviation. It recently liberalized its skies to attract more airlines, and
continues to upgrade its airports as well as rail, road and marine transport. The country also cooperates with its neighbors to promote tourism in the region.
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People
Of Vietnam’s 85 million inhabitants, nearly 90% are Kinh Viet. The remainder is made up of 53 ethnic minorities. Most of the Viet originated from the Mongoloid race in Northeast Asia. Many of the minorities only have a few thousand members, but maintain their distinct identities and languages.
Vietnam’s 54 ethnicities can be grouped into eight linguistic categories. The Viet consist of four sub-cultures, the Tay have eight with less than 4% of the population, and the Mon-Khmer have 21 with less than 2%. The five remaining categories fall under the Pa Then: Mong (3), Kadai (4), Nam Dao (5), Han (3) and Tang (6).
The Viet mostly live in the coastal plains and delta areas. The Tay inhabit the northern mountains, while the Khmer reside around the Mekong Delta near Cambodia. The Han Hoa are also lowlanders.

Language
Today’s distinct Vietnamese language reflects its mixed racial and cultural history, and is mostly a fusion of Mon Khmer (monotonic), Tai (tonality and grammar) and Chinese (literary and technical vocabulary). The “Chunbom” writing system using modified Chinese characters was developed for writing Vietnamese in the 8th century. Around 1650, a French missionary devised the “Quoc-ngu” system using the Roman alphabet with additional signs and accent marks to indicate tones. The French made this the official written language
in 1910.

Ethnic minorities retain their native languages, and many foreign languages are spoken, with Chinese, Russian, French and English among the most popular.

Religion
Buddhism is the largest established religion in Vietnam, with about 10 million followers. Confucianism and Taoism were widespread during earlier Chinese domination, but Catholicism, introduced by European missionaries, is now the second most popular religion with some six million believers. Tho Mau originated in the north and was integrated into indigenous beliefs such as the Thien Yana in Hue and Linh Son in Tay Ninh. Cao Dai was introduced in 1926 with its central church in Tay Ninh and it has an estimated two million
followers. The Hoa Hoa sect was introduced in 1939 in southern and western Vietnam, and today has some one million followers.

Economy
Vietnam’s economy has been expanding 7-9% a year since 1986, though this growth was hampered by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Over the past two decades, the country’s output has started shifting from agriculture to industry, while the poverty rate has substantially decreased. The main agricultural products include paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton and tea. Vietnam’s industry focuses on food processing, garments and shoes, machinery, coal mining and construction materials.
The country’s top exports are crude oil, marine products and its major agricultural and industrial products. Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of its rapidly growing labour force.

Festivals and Events
Most Vietnamese festivals follow the lunar calendar, so the dates vary from year to year.
Some of the most important festivals include:

Late-January or early-February
Tet – Vietnamese and Chinese New Year – The Tet festival started thousands of years ago when Vietnamese farmers held celebrations to thank the gods for the arrival of spring.
Today’s three-day festival can last a week, with the first day noted for indulging in food and drink.
This is also a time to show respect to elders by bringing them food.

March
Hai Ba Trung Day – This holiday, held on sixth day of second lunar month, celebrates the revolt of the Trung sisters against the Chinese in
40 AD.
Thanh Minh – On the “Holiday of the Dead” people pay homage to deceased ancestors by visiting their graves with offerings of food, flowers and incense.

 April
Liberation Day for South Vietnam – General celebrations take place to commemorate the fall of Saigon and the final victory by the North Vietnam Army in 1975.

May
Doan Ngo – Summer Solstice Day is held on the fifth day of the fifth moon when offerings are made to the spirit world to ward of pestilence and disease.

August
Children’s Moon Festival – Tet-Trung-Thu is celebrated on the eighth month of the oriental calendar and is held to promote education, culture, music, art, poetry and sports. The festival begins at noon and ends at midnight, and features activities such as games, lantern processions, dance performances and martial arts demonstrations.
Day of Wandering Souls – The spirits of the dead are believed to visit their offspring’s homes. Celebrations are held at Buddhist temples and food is offered at family alters.
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Location & Geography
Vietnam’s 3,260-km South China Sea coastline defines the Mekong Sub-region’s northeast perimeter. The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest and Cambodia to the southwest.
Vietnam covers 329,560 sq km, with mountains and hills in the north and east dominating three-quarters of the landscape. The fertile Mekong Delta in the south accounts for over 10% of the country’s area and close to 20% of its coastline. The delta is where the final 200 km of Mekong River breaks up into the Cuu
Long, or Nine Dragons.
The country is divided into five distinct geographic regions. The mountains of Viet Boc stretch from the Red River to the Gulf of Tonkin in the northeast, and the northwest mountains run from the Chinese border to Lao PDR. The Annamite Mountain Range forms Vietnam’s backbone in the central region, beaches trim the east and the Mekong Delta characterises the south.

Climate
Vietnam’s climate ranges from temperate in the north to tropical in the south. The four seasons are evident in the far north where winter temperatures can dramatically drop during the night, though most of the region is split between a cool winter (November to April) and a hot summer (May to October). The southern climate is similar to that of other Southeast Asian countries: cool and dry from November to January, hot and dry from
February to May and hot and rainy from June to October with an occasional typhoon.
History Vietnam’s lush northern river valleys presented the perfect backdrop for civilisation to blossom.
Archaeological digs reveal the existence of Stone Age man 300,000 years ago, and cave dwellers and agriculture appeared by 10,000 BC. Patches of civilisation popped up prior to the 1st millennium BC around the Red River, central Vietnam and the Dong Nai River Delta. These were the ancient Viet people, who began paddy farming, irrigation projects and developing handicraft skills in the area that evolved into the
Van Lang state.
By 1,000 BC, the Hung Vuong Dynasty controlled a kingdom from China to 500 km south of Hanoi.
An Duong Vuong transformed this into the Au Lac Nation in the 3rd century BC, but in 207 BC, Chinese General Chao T'o invaded and annexed the territory to the Red River, establishing Nam Viet. In 111 BC, Chinese Han General Chiao Chih took control, thus starting 10 centuries of Chinese control.

Mandarins administered “Chiao Chih”, and it prospered. By the 3rd century, paper and glass items appeared, and Chiao Chih grew as a trading port. However, descendants of mandarins and Viet landowners decided to revolt in 931. They defeated the Han, and the first independent Vietnamese state was established
in 939.
The Chinese Sung attacked in 967, but General Le Hoan stepped in to repel them, secure the country and set up a monarchy. In 1010, Ly Thai To took the throne, moved the capital to present-day Hanoi and founded the 200-year Ly Dynasty, while renaming the country Dai Viet in 1054. The Tran Dynasty took charge in 1225, with a centralised bureaucracy and a solid defence, which was tested in 1253 when Kubilai Kahn arrived. The Tran battled the Mongols, finally driving them out in 1287.
The Chinese Ming then set their sights on the Tran, and by 1413 controlled Dai Viet. Le Loi, a Trinh landowner, formed a group to fight the Ming, and proclaimed himself king in 1418.
The Ming withdrew by 1428, and in 1460, 18- year-old King Le Thanh Tong, a Confucian scholar, ushered in the “The Flood of Virtue” era. He died in 1497, and chaos ensued until 1527 when Mac Dang Dung usurped the throne. The Trinh revolted, and battled the Mac over Hanoi for 60 years, finally defeating them
in 1592. War broke out between the southern

Nguyen and the Trinh in 1622, ending in a stalemate and peace in 1673, which divided Vietnam in two. The Nguyen began expanding south, pushing the Khmer out of Saigon in 1700 and driving deeper towards Phnom Penh, when in 1771, the Siamese came to help expel them. This triggered three brothers from Tay Son to revolt against their Nguyen lord. The Trinh then ended their truce and attacked Saigon in 1776.
The Tay Son drove the Trinh to China, and then the brothers clashed for control. Hearing of the chaos, an exiled Nguyen ruler returned with the French and retook the country in 1802. Nguyen Anh Gia Long ascended to the throne and founded Vietnam’s final dynasty. In 1858, the French invaded, the Nguyens eventually gave in, and the country became a French protectorate in 1884 with the French appointing all subsequent emperors through Bao Dai, who abdicated to Ho Chi Minh after World War II. Led by Ho Chi Minh, the Viet Minh defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, and the subsequent Geneva Accord divided the country into north and south. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north sided with China
and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, while the United States backed the Republic of South
Vietnam. War between the two broke out in 1965, and raged until the US pulled out in 1975.
Today’s unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam was established on 25 April 1976, with its capital in
Hanoi, not far from where the Viet people got their start over 10,000 years ago.
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Getting around Vietnam
Air: 
Vietnam Airlines (VN) (www.vietnamairlines.com) operates daily flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hué, Danang and Nha Trang. Jetstar Pacific (www.jetstar.com) also operate flights on these routes. Regular services are also provided by Vietnam Airlines between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Buon Ma Thuot, Dalat, Phu Quoc, Pleiku and Qui Nhon.

The road situation has improved dramatically so flights are used for long distances and to save time. It is still easier to fly to places like Dien Bien Phu. Flights are particularly busy around the Tet holiday in January/February and it is essential to book ahead.

Departure tax: 
Included in the price of the ticket

Side of road:  N/A
Road quality: 
The road network throughout Vietnam is reasonable but the standard of the roads varies dramatically from good to appalling. Road conditions can deteriorate during the rainy season.

Roads throughout Vietnam are designated by numbers and the main north to south route is Highway 1 connecting Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City.

Road classification: 
Highway 1 travels the length of the country from the very south to Hanoi via Danang and Hue. The road from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border is Highway 22.

Car hire: 
It is possible to hire chauffeur-driven cars from travel companies. Self-drive car hire is non-existent.

Taxi: 
Taxis are plentiful and cheap. They can be flagged down on the street or arranged through your hotel or the restaurant where you are eating. Always make sure the driver has set the meter before starting the journey.

Bike: 
Bicycles can be hired for a day or longer from shops in the main towns and cities. Many Vietnamese people still have a bicycle as their main form of transport but now there are many more motorbikes as well as cars and lorries. Particular care must be taken when cycling in towns and on main roads outside the towns as drivers do not always observe road rules and are not cyclist-aware.

Coach: 
Long-distance coaches operate throughout the country, between Hanoi, Hué, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City. Tickets must be bought in person at the bus station.

Regulations: 
Seat belts are not compulsory in Vietnam. Helmets are compulsory for motorbike riders. Cars drive on the right.

Documentation: 
An International Driving Permit and a test (taken in Vietnam) are required for long-term residents.

 Getting around towns and cities: 
There are local bus services in Ho Chi Minh City and in Hanoi. It is also possible to travel by taxi, motorbike or cyclo (cycle rickshaw; motorised version also exists). Most foreigners forego the bus, preferring to use these. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, but it is welcomed. Hopping on the back of a 'moto' is the cheapest way to travel, if you have the stomach for the crazy driving. Agree the price first and make sure they have a good helmet.

Rail: 
Visitors may use the rail transport system independently or as part of a rail tour. Express long-distance trains are faster than local services, more reliable and more comfortable. Although a few carriages now have air conditioning, facilities are still short of international standards. The main rail route connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and the journey can take between 30 and 40 hours. There are also services from Hanoi to Haiphong, Dong Dang and Lao Cai. Contact Vietnam Railways (tel: (04) 3942 3949; www.vr.com.vn) for more information. Tickets should be bought at railway stations.

There are private tourist carriages attached to long-distance trains on the Hanoi to Danang (tel: (04) 3942 9919; www.livitrans.com) and Hanoi to Sapa routes (tel: (20) 387 1522; www.victoriahotels-asia.com; also served by Livitrans) where the standard is higher and there is a dining car.

By water: 
Cat Ba Island, in the north, is a popular place for visitors and can be reached by hydrofoil from Haiphong. A hydrofoil also serves the beach resort, Vung Tau, with a daily service from Ho Chi Minh City. The tropical getaway island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand can be reached by hydrofoil from Rach Gia in the Mekong Delta.
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Vietnam Food and Drink
Vietnamese cooking is varied and usually superb, as the profusion of Vietnamese restaurants in New York, London and Berlin contest. It is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese and French traditions, with a plethora of regional variations. As in all countries of the region, rice or noodles usually provide the basis of a meal. Not surprisingly, fish is plentiful. Pride is taken in the fact that the freshest of vegetables are used and the vegetables and fruit served is seasonal.

Specialities: 
• Breakfast is often congee (rice porridge) or a meaty noodle soup locally known as pho.
• Nem (spring rolls: pork mixed with noodles, eggs and mushrooms wrapped in rice paper, fried and served hot).
• Banh chung (glutinous rice, pork and onions wrapped in large leaves and cooked for up to 48 hours, to be eaten cold at any time).
• Nuoc mam (Vietnamese dishes are not complete without this fermented fish sauce).
• Bun cha, (grilled pork, cold rice noodles, deep fried rolls and a big bowl of salad leaves).

Tipping: 
Tipping is now quite customary, especially in tourist areas, and is much appreciated in a country where salaries are still low. Upscale restaurants and hotels may add a 5-10% service charge to the bill.

Regional drinks: 
• Soda chanh is a refreshing lime soda served with freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar and ice mixed into club soda.
• Vietnamese coffee grown in the Central Highlands is served thick, strong and black through a drip filter. Sometimes it is served with condensed milk to sweeten it.
• Vietnamese green tea is light and refreshing and served at the end of meals.
• Ruou can (rice wine) is made by members of the Vietnamese hill tribes and drunk straight from ceramic fermentation jars through bamboo straws.
• Bia hoi or fresh beer is produced daily and served ice cold in small, local bars. It is not particularly alcoholic but very refreshing.

Drinking age:  None
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Vietnam Shopping and nightlife

 Shopping in Vietnam

For anyone who likes handicrafts and a bargain, Vietnam is nirvana. Wooden water puppets, with ingenious mechanisms, silk, lacquerware, ceramics, colourful hill-tribe bags, clothing and hand-painted silk greetings cards are all a must-buy. Clothes are particularly good value and tailors can make up clothes within 24 hours in many places, particularly Hoi An.

Each town and city has one or more markets and these are always worth visiting as much for the experience as for the shopping. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have seen the arrival of upmarket shopping malls selling leading international and domestic brands.

In small shops and markets have a go at bargaining for any items that catch your eye, but remember to keep it good-natured. Many of the souvenir shops in major towns and cities don't budge much on prices and some are even fixed price.

Shopping hours: 
Shops are generally open seven days a week from 0800 to 2000 ; some are open until 2200 hours.

Nightlife in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is packed with bars and clubs ranging from dingy bars to some very upmarket venues. Most of the nightlife is concentrated in District 1. Hanoi's nightlife is much quieter and the streets can appear quiet after 2200 hrs. The venues tend to be small here and are concentrated in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem lake.

Live music is mainly restricted to international acts from the Philippines and Thailand performing in international hotels, with a few bars hosting local jazz and rock bands. Elsewhere, the nightlife is generally restricted to small bars and hotels but there is a particularly good bar/café scene in Hoi An in central Vietnam. For visitors seeking out something more cultural a visit to the water puppet theatre is entertaining. The bia hois (pavement pubs) also offer a fun social experience and the friendly locals will often talk to visitors. Food and snacks such as boiled quails’ eggs are also usually available. Traditional music and dance is performed in some restaurants in the main tourist areas, particularly Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Hue.
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Vietnam things to see and do
Tourist offices

Travel Indochina USA
3051 W 105th Ave , Westminster, CO, 80035, United States
Tel: 1 800 342 1957
www.travelindochina.com/destinations/vietnam-travel

Travel Indochina UK
21-27 George StreeT, Oxfordshire, Oxford, OX1 2AY, United Kingdom
Tel: 0186 526 8940
www.travelindochina.co.uk/destinations/vietnam-travel
Things to see and do

Beautiful beaches
The beaches of Vietnam are superb. Nha Trang is the perfect combination of a long sandy beach for relaxing days under the palm trees and a town with restaurants and bars to pass the balmy evenings. Boat trips take you out to nearby islands and divers can explore the nearby coral reefs. Alternatively, try Vung Tau, southeast of Ho Chi Minh City for some superb snorkelling around the many offshore islands or head east of Phan Thiet to the sand dunes of Mui Ne, which stretch for miles. Whatever your budget there'll be a resort to suit you. Relax on the white-sand beaches or have a go at many of the water sports on offer.

Cao Dai Temple
Head out to Tay Ninh to view the colourful midday service of the intriguing Cao Dai sect held in a large temple almost Disney-esque in style. The followers wear red, blue and yellow robes and chant to the accompaniment of a traditional orchestra. En route, scramble through the tunnels at Cu Chi, from where the Viet Cong successfully launched attacks against US forces.

Central Highlands
Dalat is as far as most people go into the Central Highlands but head further into the mountains for stunning views and waterfalls. You are assured of a warm welcome in Buon Ma Thuot, a coffee growing region and home to the Montagnards. The Ho Chi Minh trail is easily reached from Kontum.

Cooking lessons
Learn the subtleties of Vietnamese cookery at a class in ancient Hoi An. Submerge into the hustle and bustle of the market to buy provisions before retreating to the calm of the kitchen. The best part of the day – you get to eat what you have helped prepare!

Dalat
To escape the heat of the plains, head for Dalat, a former colonial hill station, reminiscent of a French town, with faded, elegant villas evocative of another era. Colonists from Saigon headed to its cool climes as well as the emperor and his entourage. The romantic lakes and alpine scenery are magnets for Vietnamese honeymooners.

Halong Bay
Sure it is touristy, and if you take a boat trip you'll be among a flotilla of dozens of old converted junks, but Halong Bay still remains one of the most impressive sights in the world. Take the opportunity to borrow a kayak (all boats should do this) and paddle through the limestone karsts dramatically rising up out of the sea. Or spend the night on one of those junks and explore the caves hidden deep in the islands, pass floating villages and at night enjoy a sundowner on the top deck and look out for shooting stars.

Hanoi
Hanoi is a city of contrasts with the wide, leafy boulevards lined by beautiful colonial buildings in the French quarter, the maze of narrow streets of the Old Quarter and the tranquil lakes. Wherever you are, the background noise is the buzzing of the motorbikes that crowd the streets of the capital.

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train
A trip on the Reunification Express is a must. However, the trains between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are certainly not express. It can take between 30 and 40 hours to travel between the two cities so best to do one section only. Popular is the 18-hour journey between Hanoi and Hue.

 Hiking
There are hundreds of long distance hiking trails around the country, and a significant infrastructure for visitors wanting guided hiking tours. Head south from Hanoi into Cuc Phuong National Park, a wilderness of forest-covered limestone mountains which rise up from the green rice paddies, home to many rare species and the primate rescue centre. Spend the night with a family from the Muong hill tribe in their traditional stilthouse.

Ho Chi Minh City
Gleaming skyscrapers sit side by side with ramshackle buildings and crumbling colonial houses. Monks pass deluxe car showrooms collecting alms and walk along sun-baked streets crammed with honking motorbikes. The Saigon River is constantly crossed by small boats and ferries weaving through larger boats.

Ho Chi Minh Trail history tour
See some of the Vietnam War sights by walking part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, used as supply routes by the North Vietnamese during the war. You can't fail to be intrigued by the network of tunnels excavated by the Viet Cong from which they launched regular attacks on the US forces. For a taste of life underground scramble through one of the narrow tunnels, specially widened for Western visitors.

Hoi An
Meander the narrow streets with their tiny shop houses, relax in a riverside bar and savour tasty local dishes. This is the place to buy souvenirs, silk items, T-shirts and ceramics. Whatever you do make sure you treat yourself by having clothes made at one of the many tailors.

Hué
The former imperial city of Hue is crammed with wonderful sights. The Imperial Citadel, suffering from the ravages and war and the tropical weather, is slowly being painstakingly renovated; riverside is the Thien Mu pagoda where novice monks peek shyly at the visitors; and the mausoleums of the Emperors, each unique in style.

Meet the locals
The best way to meet the locals is to pull up a low plastic chair in the pavement bar order some beer, order fresh peanuts and quails eggs and chat to the locals. Even with a language barrier, you'll be clinking glasses long into the night.

Mekong Delta
Explore the watery world of the Mekong Delta where channels of the might Mekong Delta crisscross the land and provide a fertile place to grow vast swathes of rice and fruit. Discover riverine towns, floating markets and small riverside industries and spend the night in a homestay with a farming family.

Motorbiking
It is becoming increasingly popular to hire a motor bike - invariably a Russian made 125cc Minsk - and ride it from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Riddled with all sorts of dangers, not least the vast amount of bikes in the cities, it is nevertheless an exhilarating way to see the country.

River markets
The river markets on the Mekong Delta are an unmissable sight. Life here is dominated by the mighty Mekong and much of Vietnam's rice crop is grow, and the floating markets are still an essential part of life in the south. Get up early to experience Can Tho floating market at its best. Dozens of wooden boats, many that have seen better days, carry the freshest fruit and vegetables. Smaller boats weave through them perusing the wares and the morning air is filled with the sound of good-natured haggling over price.

Sapa hill tribes
Sapa's stunning alpine scenery is home to several hill tribe villages where life continues pretty much unchanged. Many can be reached by jeep but to get to the more remote villages be prepared to hike. The reward is an overnight in a stilthouse with a family resplendent in riotously colourful traditional costume.
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Money & duty free for Vietnam

Currency information: 

 Dông (VND; symbol ₫). Notes are in denominations of ₫500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of ₫5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500.

Credit cards: 
An increasing number of outlets accept MasterCard and Visa. However, outside main towns and cities, it is wise to carry cash. There are ATMs in many major towns, but not in rural areas.

ATM: 
There are plenty of ATMs in major towns, but they can be scarce in rural areas. ATMs issue Dông, and the single withdrawal limit varies, depending on the bank, ranging from ₫2,000,000 to much larger amounts.

Travellers cheques: 
Travellers' cheques are accepted in banks, money changers and some hotels although most travellers now use debit cards because of the increased number of ATMs. It is best to take US Dollar travellers' cheques to avoid additional exchange rate charges and expect to pay a high commission.

Banking hours: 
Varies from bank to bank but generally Mon-Fri 0830-1600; some may close for lunch. Many banks are also open on Saturday morning; all banks are closed on Sunday.

Currency restriction: 
Import and export of local currency is limited to ₫15,000,000. Import and export of foreign currency over US$7,000 should be declared at customs.

Currency exchange: 
The US Dollar is the most favoured foreign currency. Australian, British, Japanese, Singaporean and Thai currency, as well as the Euro, can usually be changed in the larger cities; great difficulty may be encountered in trying to exchange any other currencies. There is a commission charge for changing money in banks.

Vietnam duty free

The following items may be freely imported into Vietnam by travellers without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
• 1.5L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of fortified wines or liqueurs under 22% volume or 3L of other alcoholic drinks.
• 5kg of tea and 3kg of coffee.
• Other goods to the value of ₫5,000,000.

Banned imports: 
The importation of non-prescribed drugs, firearms, anti-government literature and pornography is prohibited. CD and tapes can be kept for screening and then returned after a few days.

Banned exports: 
All banned imports are also prohibited from being exported, as are antiques and endangered species. You must receive a permit from the state bank to export more than 300g of gold.
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There are excellent hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and health care centres in all provinces, but facilities are limited and there is a lack of medicines. Health insurance is essential and should include cover for emergency repatriation by air. Immediate cash payment is expected for services. Call 115 in the case of a medical emergency.

 Food and drink: 
Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. However, bottled water is widely available and cheap; make sure the seal is unbroken before drinking. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. However, pasteurised milk is widely available now. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: 
Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes advised. Dengue fever continues to be a problem; guarding against mosquito bites is advised. Japanese encephalitis is found in Northern Vietnam, including Hanoi.
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