Time
GMT plus seven hours
Climate
Located in the tropical monsoon zone,
In the north, climatic changes occur in four seasons: spring (January–April) brings light rain and constant humidity; summer (May to July) is very hot, humid and rainy; autumn (August–October) brings drier weather but sometimes includes storms; winter (October–early January) is cooler.
In the centre and the south it is hot year round and there are only two seasons: a rainy season (May–October) and a dry season (October–April).
Average annual temperatures in
The average annual rainfall in
The best times to visit are November–January in
Entry requirements
Passports
Required by all. Business visitors should ensure that the validity of their passports will extend beyond the duration of their visit before making visa applications.
Visa
Required by all. Tourist visas are only issued for visits up to one month long.
Business visas are issued only after authorities in
All visitors must retain the yellow portion of the immigration arrival-departure card, to be surrendered to authorities when leaving.
Customs
Items of high value need a declaration at the time of entry; sometimes tax is charged on arrival and refunded on departure.
Visitors may take into
On departure customs officials are likely to check baggage. Antiques cannot be exported. Caution is advised when purchasing souvenirs made of ivory, silver, gold and stone, as you may require a permit from customs to take them out of
Prohibited imports
Prohibited imports include 'dangerous and unhealthy' cultural products, firecrackers, second-hand consumer goods, children's toys with the potential for harmful influence and cigarettes over quota. Used equipment may be brought in if greatly superior to newer equivalents and complies with labour, hygiene, safety and other codes. Other products may be temporarily banned.
Drug smuggling carries the death penalty.
Currency advice/regulations
Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency, but amounts over US$3,000 should be declared to customs authorities on arrival, as only the balance or an amount of foreign currency less than that declared on arrival can be expatriated. Vietnamese dong may not be brought in or taken out of
US dollars can be used freely. Currency can be exchanged at all licensed banks, including foreign banks, and at hotels and airports. The official rate is usually the same or close to the parallel market rate. Do not enter into exchange transactions with individuals.
Getting there
Air
National airline
Vietnam Airlines (formerly Hang Khong
International airport/s
Tan Son Nhat (SGN), 7km from Ho Chi Minh City; benefits from a modern air traffic control system; capacity has been increased to five million from three million passengers a year; two runways have been upgraded to accommodate all kinds of aircraft; a US$240 million project is planned to build a new terminal capable of receiving seven million passengers a year, completion 2006.
Noi Bai (HAN), 38km from
Airport tax
International departures US$12, excluding transit passengers and infants under two years; domestic departures D20,000.
Road There is overland access to Status of overland routes should be checked, as passage has not always been practicable. Rail The rail connection linking Hanoi with Pingxiang in China's Guangxi province via the Dong Dang border point in Lang Son province, 200km north of Hanoi, was re-opened in 1996. A further link, through the Lao Cai province border point 300km northwest of
Surface
Getting about
National transport
Air
Vietnam Airlines, the state-controlled air service, provides regular services between
Rail
There is a 3,200km rail network. Railways need extensive work. Vietnam Railways operate regular services in the national network from
There are two-class rail services between main centres, including
Road
There is a 88,000km road network in relatively poor condition. Roads are better in the south. The coastal Route 1 between
In 1998, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved loans amounting to US$40 million and US$100 million to
Water
Cruise facilities may be available. A local network of services runs between ports.
City transport
Taxis
In
Taxis serving the hour-long route between downtown
Buses/trams
Services tend to be poor and overcrowded. Major hotels may be connected by minibus service.
Car hire
Car transport is normally arranged by Vietnam Tourism. Car hire bills must be settled in US dollars. An international driving licence and a test taken in Vietnam are required, as a Vietnamese driving licence must be obtained from the Vietnamese Road Administration in Hanoi (fax: 857-1440) before driving any vehicle. Right hand drive vehicles are not permitted. Self-drive car and motorcycle hire are not recommended. Always check with the hire company about accident liability. Chauffeur-driven cars may be hired.
Road signs are poor and city traffic erratic and fast-moving. Driving is on the right.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required outside major cities.
Health (for visitors)
Mandatory precautions
Vaccination certificate required for yellow fever if travelling from an infected area.
Advisable precautions
Medical facilities are poor. Accidents or illness will leave the visitor relying on arrangements for medical treatment being made by their sponsor. The Swedish clinic (tel: 845-2464) in
It is advisable to be 'in date' for the following immunisations: tetanus (within 10 years), typhoid fever (within three years), rabies if travelling in rural areas (within three years), hepatitis 'A' and 'B', diphtheria, tuberculosis, Japanese B encephalitis.
Anti-malarial precautions should be taken. Malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are common in many parts of
A small first aid kit is advisable, or at least a few sterilised syringes and needle, as a precaution against becoming infected with HIV, as Aids is becoming more of a problem. Ask to see syringes unwrapped in front of you.
Strict food and water hygiene is advisable: boil or purify all drinking water; use of an iodine resin water purifier is advised. Drinking from carafes supplied in major hotel bedrooms is generally safe. Bottled water is widely available.
The climate in the north can aggravate respiratory problems and rheumatism.
Dress codes
In
In the south, informal tropical-weight clothing is all that is needed at any time of the year. A jacket and tie is not necessary. In the highlands, where it is cooler, a bush jacket is acceptable any time.
Social customs/useful tips
Business is conducted slowly with many familiarisation meetings. Be patient with language difficulties and red tape. The combination of Confucian interaction norms and communist bureaucracy may create large amounts of the latter.
It is rude to show the soles of the feet/shoes. Do not touch anyone's head, not even that of a child. When handing over or receiving anything, the right hand should generally be used. On formal occasions it is considered polite to use both hands. Etiquette for male visitors is to shake hands with a man but not with a woman, unless she offers her hand.
Shoes must be removed before entering any religious building. It is also customary to remove shoes before entering a Vietnamese home, but in modern residences the requirement is no longer observed.
Most Vietnamese names consist of a family name, a middle name and a given name, in that order. The given name is used in address but to do so without a title is considered as expressing either great intimacy between friends or arrogance of the sort a superior would use with his or her inferior. The titles, Bac or Ong (Mr) (in increasing seniority), Ba (Mrs), Co or Chi (Miss) precedes a Vietnamese given name (sometimes full name). Wives may retain their own names and children take their father's family name. The middle name may be common to all the male members of a given family.
Security
Most visits to
Outside
Public holidays
Fixed dates
1 Jan (New Year's Day), 30 Apr (Liberation of
Variable dates
Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year) (Jan/Feb)
Working hours
Banking
Mon–Fri: 0800–1630; Sat: 0800–1200.
Business
Mon–Sat: 0730–1130, 1230–1630 in summer (15 Apr to 15 Oct); 0800–1200, 1230–1630 in winter (16 Oct to 14 Apr).
Government
Mon–Sat: 0730–1130, 1230–1630 in summer; 0800–1200, 1230–1630 in winter.
Shops
Many small privately owned shops stay open seven days a week, often until late at night.
Electricity supply
