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Vietnam Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
Vietnam travel guide - Vietnam
holidays, holiday packages & Vietnam hotels.
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Search & Compare Discount on Vietnam Hotels
and Holiday Packages to Vietnam
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Top destination guides for Vietnam
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Hanoi Holidays
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Vietnam Holidays, Vietnam Holiday
Packages Overview
Verdant patchworks of rice paddies,
pointed lampshade-style hats, a country ravaged by war, and
economic repression - these are the international images of
Vietnam, seen on worldwide television and read about in the
newspapers. But there are other scenes to be found, ones of natural
beauty, ethnic culture, and imperial history, of timeless
traditional villages, idyllic sea resorts and dynamic
cities. Shaped like an elongated 'S', Vietnam
stretches along the east coast of the Indochinese Peninsula and is
likened by its people to a long bamboo pole hung with two baskets
of rice, represented by the two fertile regions at either end of
the country. Between the lush Red River Delta and the highlands in
the north, known for their magnificent scenery and colourful hill
tribes, and the agricultural plains and floating markets of the
Mekong Delta in the south, lie miles of white sandy beaches,
towering mountains, rivers and dense forests, and the thousands of
bizarre rock and cave formations on the islands of Halong
Bay. The impact of Japanese and Chinese trade,
French occupation and American intervention has left its stain on
Vietnam, smeared over a period of more than two thousand years of
recorded history. However, the country has also been left with a
vivid legacy from different cultures evident in the character of
its towns, as well as in the architecture and food. The quaint town
of Hoi An, once a major trading port, boasts the perfectly
preserved architectural influences of the Asian merchants from the
north, while the broad leafy boulevards of the capital Hanoi and Ho
Chi Minh City are reminiscent of France. Menus offer Chinese
variations of spring rolls, steamed dumplings and noodles. Hué is
the old imperial capital of Vietnam with its royal palaces and
palatial mausoleums, and nearby the battle sites of the
Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) are reminders of the brutality of
war. Ancient temples and colourful pagodas are
scattered throughout the urban centres, while among them stand
hotels of modern luxury, and the development of tourism
infrastructure is a booming business. Vietnam is a perfect balance
between ancient times and the here and now, a country that reveres
its past heroes, a nation that has collectively put the woes of war
behind it, and people who welcome visitors to their country with
open arms and friendly smiles.
Tourist Offices - Vietnam Tourist Office: +84 (0)4 942 3998
(Hanoi) or www.vietnamtourism.com
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Entry Requirements
for Vietnam Holidays & Vietnam Travel
Entry may be refused to anyone travelling
on a passport of less than one month after the expiry date of a
visa, if a visa is required. Otherwise passports should have six
months validity. All visitors must have sufficient funds for the
duration of their stay. Visitors should hold a spare passport
photograph on arrival in Vietnam for use on the immigration form
that must be filled out. You should retain the yellow portion of
your immigration Arrival-Departure card on entry to Vietnam, as
this is required for exit.
- For Australians -
Australian passport holders must have a valid passport
and a visa is required.
- New Zealand nationals require a visa and a valid
passport.
- US passport holders must have a valid passport and a
visa is required.
- US passport holders must have a valid passport and a
visa is required.
- UK passport holders must have a valid passport and a
visa is required.
Vietnam Holidays - Currency of Vietnam
The official currency is the Dông (VND). There are
no smaller denominations. Currency can be exchanged at banks,
bureaux de change, hotels and on the black market. Visa, MasterCard
and American Express are becoming more widely acceptable in Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City, but it is best not to rely on them elsewhere.
It is recommended that visitors bring travellers cheques in US
Dollars, which can be cashed at major banks in the main cities and
tourist areas. US currency acts as unofficial tender and is useful
as a back-up when banks won't cash travellers cheques outside the
main cities, but notes must be relatively new and unmarked. Several
big cities now also accept Euro. Dông can be withdrawn from ATMs,
but they are limited to major cities and tourist
areas.
Vietnam
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international country code is +84. The
outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
001 for the United States or Canada). City/area codes are in use,
e.g. Hanoi is (0)4 and Ho Chi Minh City is (0)8. GSM 900 mobile
networks cover the major urban areas. Internet cafes are available
in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Internet access is often available
at post offices in rural areas.
Vietnam
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers to Vietnam over 18 years do not have
to pay duty on the following items: 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or
500g tobacco; 1.5 litres alcohol with alcohol content higher than
22% and 2 litres below 22%; up to 5kg tea and 3kg coffee; perfume
and items for personal consumption within reasonable amounts; other
goods to the value of 5 million Vietnamese
dong.
Vietnam
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Most restaurants and hotels now add a 5 to 10%
service charge to their bills, but a further 5% for good service is
greatly appreciated in more upmarket places. In top hotels porters
expect a small tip. Hired drivers and guides are usually tipped,
and it is customary to round up the bill for taxi drivers in the
cities. Tipping is not generally expected, but some small change
for most services is appreciated.
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