Vietnamese people are very friendly, polite and generous. In general, we will make every effort to have foreign guests feel comfortable. In the cities and countryside towns, do not be surprised to be invited into a home to meet the family of someone you may have just met. These are the experiences that will enrich your visit to Vietnam.

Below is a list of Do's and Don’ts to help you avoid some of the social taboos during your visit. Take these into consideration and you will be rewarded with a culturally and socially enriching experience.


Do's

ALWAYS drink plenty of bottled water. During the summer months you should be drinking a minimum of 2 liters per day. If you drink tea, coffee & alcohol you should increase you water intake accordingly as these will dehydrate you.

Before venturing out from your hotel, ensure you have a hotel business card from the reception desk. This will make your return to the hotel in a taxi or cyclo much easier.

For longer excursions from your base hotel, it is always a good idea to carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack. You never know when you will need it.

Always dress appropriately. Not only for the prevailing climatic conditions, but also not to cause offence to the local people. Vietnamese have conservative dress codes and it is only in larger cities that these codes are relaxed a little.

Always leave your excess cash, airline tickets, passports and valuables with the hotels safety deposit facility.

Always be aware when entering someone’s home as at some homes it is a must to remove your shoes at the front door.

Always ask his or her permission first when taking a photograph of someone. If they indicate that they do not want you to, then abide by their wishes. DO NOT push the issue or offer money.

Don'ts

Never wear shorts, dresses or skirts, or tops with low-neck lines and bare shoulders to Temples and Pagodas. To do this is considered extremely rude and offensive.

Never give your empty water bottles, sweets and candies to the local people when trekking through ethnic minority villages. You cannot guarantee that the empty bottles will be disposed of in a correct manner and most of these people do not have access to dental health. If you would like to give pens/paper, ask your guide to introduce you to the local teacher and give them to the teacher for distribution.

Never sleep or sit with the soles of your feet pointing towards the family altar in someone’s house.

Never venture out from your hotel with more cash than you really need for that day. It is NOT something to be paranoid about, simply do not make yourself a target for pickpockets or drive-by bag snatchers in the big cities. Ho Chi Minh City seems to be a little worse than anywhere else in Vietnam is. On the whole it is one of the safest countries you could wish to travel in.

Never lose your temper in public or when bargaining for a purchase. This is considered a serious loss of face for both parties. Always maintain a cool and happy demeanor and you will be reciprocated with the same.

Never try and take photographs of military installations or anything to do with the military. This can be seen as a breach of national security.

Never take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages. They are considered to be too intrusive by many local people.

Weather

Hanoi and the Northern Vietnam have a distinct winter and summer season with a dry winter lasting from November to April with average temperatures of 18 - 20ºC. Summer lasts from May to October and is hot and humid with temperatures around 30ºC.

Hue and Danang in the center of the country have very hot, dry weather from February to August with temperatures reaching the mid 30ºC, but can experience some quite heavy rainfall between September and January.

Ho Chi Minh City and the south have a hot, dry season from December till April with average temperatures around 28ºC and a rainy season lasting from May through till November. It rarely rains for long periods even in the rainy season with most rain coming in short, heavy bursts.

What to Bring

It is best to travel light in Vietnam. One medium sized bag and a day pack will provide more than enough room to carry everything you'll need to survive for one month, and still have enough space for the things you'll buy in Vietnam.

There is extensive black market for smuggled consumer goods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, so do not worry about running out of something.

Before you leave home complete the following checklist:

• Lightweight and quick dry clothing is most appropriate for the summer months and warmer clothing for the winter months; sun hat; swimming costume.
• Travel Documents: Passport, visa, travel insurance, air tickets, itinerary.
• Health requirements and travel insurance arranged.
• Flashlight / torch, alarm clock, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal first aid kit, toiletries.
• Money: US dollars or travelers cheques and / or credit card.
• Raincoat and umbrella

• Good hiking shoes and sandals.
• Cable locks or padlock for luggage.

• Business or name cards with your contact information and email.

Visa

Obtaining a single entry, 30-day tourist visa is easy. For a 3 month multiple entry or business visa it is a little more complex and more expensive but you'll have the advantage of a longer stay.

When receive your passport back the visa will be stamped inside as well as one copy of your application and photo stapled to the page. When you enter the country the immigration officer will take this copy. Some travelers have been told they need to have additional pictures and copies of their visa application. If so you are directed to a person with a polaroid camera who snaps the needed photos for US$2. You then get back in the immigration line and finish the process.

Visa extensions can usually be obtained once in Vietnam. You'll see numerous travel agencies and hotels offering this service in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Rates vary, as does the official policy regarding extensions.

Airport Taxes
International Flights: 14 USD from Hanoi / 12 USD from Ho Chi Minh City Domestic Flights: 2 USD (approx). Kids under two are exempt.

Registration

Hotels and private hosts must register your presence with the police. You will be expected to hand over your passport, along with your visa number. A handy tip is to photocopy your passport details several times and then hand this copy in instead of your original.

What to Wear

The main thing to consider is the weather, as it can be freezing cold in the Northern mountains, and at the same time incredibly hot and humid on the Central Coast. If you are traveling in the North or the Central Highlands during the winter months definitely bring jeans and a warm coat or sweater. It seems that it is always raining somewhere in Vietnam, so lightweight rain gear is essential.

In the hot months, dress cool but conservative. Many Vietnamese cannot understand why foreigners insist on wearing shorts, tank tops and sleeveless t-shirts when they have the money to dress well. For the Vietnamese, appearance is very important, so if you are dealing with or as an official of any rank, make sure you are dressed appropriately.

Currency Exchange

The official currency, the Vietnamese Dong, is non-convertible and is currently at about 16,000 (Aug. 2007) dong to USD 1. The US dollar, preferably crisp clean bills, is widely accepted among major shops and restaurants. Travelers checks can be cashed at authorized foreign exchange outlets and banks, and always require presentation of passport. There is normally a 2 to 5 percent transaction fee for cashing travelers’ checks. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in some of the bigger hotels and restaurants.

There are also a small number of international banks now operating in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. There are now many 24-hour ATM machines now all over Vietnam. The ANZ machines work with all cards.


Health

No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However, visitors should be inoculated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. Medical facilities are rather limited in all of the country and it is essential to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed.

Food

The cuisine of Vietnam comes as a pleasant surprise to many visitors and is definitely a part of the Vietnam experience not to be missed. One of the characteristics of Vietnamese food is that it is always fresh being bought the same morning straight from the market. Food is usually prepared with a minimal amount of oil and served with the ubiquitous fish sauce called nuoc mam.

Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include pho, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast; cha gio, deep-fried spring rolls; and goi ngo sen, a delicious salad made with lotus stems, shrimp and peanuts. Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available.

Electricity

Mainly 220V but in some areas 110V is also used.

Communications

International phone charges are steep in Vietnam and many hotels, especially up-market ones, add extra fees.

Faxes can be sent from hotels, business centers and post offices. Again, rates vary. To rent a mobile phone call 821-8465 in Hanoi or 824-2382 in Ho Chi Minh City.

A suggestion for making international calls is to log onto an internet phone provider before leaving home. There are also ones that have been recently set up in Vietnam.

Email and interent is readily available in almost every hotel. Although, a times it can be a little tempermental as the servers tend to be overloaded.