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Vietnam Population
Despite Vietnam's ongoing economic liberalisation and the
pressures of rapid development, this dignified country has
managed to preserve its rich civilisation and highly
cultured society. Most visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed
by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting:
the Red River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the
south and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork
of brilliant green rice paddies tended by women in conical
hats. There are some divine beaches along the coast too,
while inland there are soaring mountains, some of which
are cloaked by dense, misty forests.
Vietnam offers an opportunity to see a country of
traditional charm and rare beauty rapidly opening up to
the outside world.
Passport & Visa
Visa is required by all nationalities. Visa is usually
delivered by Vietnamese Embassies who require the original
passport and 2 photos for two full working days in order
to stamp the visa. If Visa approval is arranged by ASEAN
Travel & Tours (ATT) upon the client request, the personal
data ( full name, passport number with date of issuance
and expiry, date and place of birth, nationality) must be
supplied to us at least 10 days before arrival to Viet Nam
.
Visas can also be obtained upon arrival at Vietnam
international airports such as t Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
and Danang airports, in which case the stamping fee will
be quoted separately. Apart from required details above we
further need arrival/departure flight information ATT will
send a confirmation letter to show to the airport staff at
the departing airport, confirming that clients will get
the visa on arrival. Visas can only the requested via ATT
in connection with the booking of travel arrangements to
Vietnam.
It could be the quickest way to get Vietnam visa because
the formalities takes only two full working days ( except
Saturday and Sunday). Vietnam Visa Service throught
VietnamTravelKey.com
click here
Custome & Formalities
Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in declaration
forms and show their luggage to customs officials on
request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency,
objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and
gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must
declare these in detail on the customs forms.
Currency
The local currency is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND).
Bank notes are 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d,
20,000d, 50,000d, and 100,000d. The rate of exchange at
updating time is approximately dong 15.000 to one US.
Dollar. Credit cards are generally only accepted in major
cities. Visitors are recommended to carry US Dollar in
small denominations. Travelers can change their money for
Vietnamese dong (VND) at banks, hotels and jewelry shops
throughout the country.
Climate
Vietnam shares borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and
features 3,200 km of coastline bordering the Eastern
Sea.With an area of 332,000 square km, Vietnam’s
topography varies from coastal plains to moutain
ranges.Vietnam stretches over 1,800 km from north to south
; therefore weather patterns in the principle cities are
very different. The North : Winter lasts from November to
April , with temperatures averaging 160C but
little rainfall. Summer begins in May and lasts until
October, with temperature of 300C, heavy
rainfall and the occasional Violent typhoon. The Center :
Central Vietnam experiences a transitional climate,
halfway between those of the north and south. The South :
Temperature are fairly constant through the year; 250C
- 300C, Seasons are determined by the rain –
the dry season lies from November to April and the wet
season from May to October . The hottest period is March
and April, before the rain have broken . Typhoon s are
quite common in coastal areas between July and November.
The Highland Areas : In the hill resorts of Dalat (1,500m)
, Buon Ma Thuot and Sapa , nights are cool throughout the
year, and in the winter months, October to March ,it can
be distinctly chilly with temperature falling to 40C.
Even in the hottest months of March and April the
temperature rarely exceeds 260C.
Heath
No actual vaccinations are officially required. Malaria
prophylaxis is no longer recommended but visitors are
advised to check with their doctor or travel immunization
clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against
typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A & B.
International Flights
Vietnam has three international airports: Hanoi/Noi Bai ,
Danang/ Danang and Ho Chi Minh/Tan Son Nhat. Cities with
directs flight to Hanoi / Noi Bai Airport are Bangkok,
Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Nanning, Paris,
Singapore, Taipei, Vientiane and Seoul. Airline Companies
currently serving Hanoi are Vietnam airlines, Air France,
Cathay Pacific Airways, China southern Airlines, Malaysia
Airlines, Laos Aviation, Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot,
Thai Airways. Cities with directs flight to Ho Chi Minh
City/Tan Son Nhat Airport are Bangkok, Frankfurt, Hong
Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Melbourne,Osaka, Paris, Phnom
Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Vienna,
Vientiane and Zurich. Airline Companies currently serving
Ho Chi Minh City are Vietnam airlines, Air France, Cathay
Pacific Airways, China southern Airlines, Malaysia
Airlines, Lao Aviation, Singapore Airlines, Swissair,
Aeroflot, Thai Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa German
Airlines, Lauda Air, Asiana Airlines, Royal Air Cambodge.
Since November 1,1999. Thai Airways has commenced direct
flights from BangKok to Danang on Wednesday, Friday and
Sunday.
Overland
The other way to get into Vietnam is by land , from China,
Laos and Cambodia but the visas must be indicated clearly
by Vietnamese Embassies with one or two of the below entry
points. Tourists can pass the border at the following
entry points:
* From China: Huu Nghi, Lao Cai.
* From Laos: Cau Treo, Lao Bao.
* From Cambodia: Moc Bai.
Language
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam but there
are various dialects spoken by hill tribe people in remote
areas. Leaning foreign languages , particularly English
and French, is currently in vogue among young people in
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang and other cities.
Puplic Holiday
* January 1 - Western New Year's Day
* January or February - Tet; Vietnamese and Chinese New
Year celebration; this most important Vietnamese festivity
of the whole year is celebrated an entire week from the
first to the seventh day of the new year according to the
traditional moon calendar; as the celebration depends on
the phases of the moon, not the sun, it is celebrated on
different dates of the Western calendar; traditionally,
during the Tet days large amounts of food are consumed,
because the Tet days are considered an omen for the course
of the entire year; the belief is that if you eat a lot
during the Tet days, there will be enough food during the
whole year.
* February 3 - Founding Day of the Communist Party of
Vietnam; national holiday
* March - day to commemorate the Trung sisters, who in the
year 41 of Christian reckoning led a rebellion against the
Chinese rulers; movable holiday, as it depends on the moon
calendar.
* April 30 - Liberation Day of South Vietnam and Saigon;
national holiday
* May 1 - Labour Day; national holiday
* May 19 - Ho Chi Minh's birthday; national holiday
* May 28 - holiday in commemoration of the birth, the
enlightenment and the death of the Buddha; national
holiday
* August - Trung Nguyen; Day of the Wandering Souls; on
this day the souls of the dead are believed to wander to
the habitats of their offspring; celebrations in Buddhist
temples; food is spread on house altars for the souls of
the deceased and fake money is burnt in honour of them;
moveable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar.
* September 2 - National Holiday
* September 3 - Day to commemorate the death of Ho Chi
Minh in 1969; national holiday
* September - Trung Thu - autumn celebration at which
children parade through the streets with lanterns; for
this celebration moon cakes are baked; moveable holiday,
as it depends on the moon calendar.
* November - Birthday of Confucius; moveable holiday, as
it depends on the moon calendar
Tipping
Widely practiced, in addition to hotel and restaurant
service charges shown on bills ( Porters, VND 5.000-10.000
per bag)
Aiport tax
Airport tax is US$ 1,5 per passenger on domestic flights,
US$ 14 (At Noibai/Hanoi) and US$ 12 (other airports) per
passenger on international flights.
Business House
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