VIET NAM TOURS
CAPITAL CITY
The capital city of Vietnam is Hanoi but the largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), which is the cultural and economic centre with a population of 9 million and the biggest port in Vietnam.SIZE
Inland area: 330,991 Km2 Length: 1,650 Km Width: 600 km at the widest point and 50 km at the narrowest point.GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION
Located on the eastern coast of South-East Asian Indochinese Peninsula, Vietnam shares its borders with Cambodia and Laos to the West, with China to the North and the East Sea to the East. Total coastline and borders stretch 2,500 Km. An estimated 66% of the total area is dominated by the rugged, heavily forested terrain of the Truong Son Range stretching North-South between the intensively cultivated and densely populated Red River (North) and the Mekong River (South) deltas. The highest peak in Vietnam is Fan Si Pan (3,143 m) in the extreme North. A long, narrow coastal plain links the two major river deltas. 22% of the land is arable and 40% is forested.POPULATION
Vietnam has 99, 7 million inhabitants with an average density of 314 inhabitants/km2. 88% of the population is Viet, 2% Chinese and 1.5% Khmer. Numerous ethnic minorities make up the rest of the population of Vietnam: Muong, Nung, Dao, Thai, Cham, Hmong and various mountain-dwellers. The dominant religions are Buddhism (55% of the population) and Catholicism (8% to 10% of the population). Confucianism, Taoism, Hoa Hao, Islam and Caodaism represent around 35% of the population.LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the official language although English is increasingly spoken by younger Vietnamese in main cities. Some people and especially elderly still speak French, while middle-aged might speak German and Russian. However a guide is duly recommended as language can be a problem outside of main cities for people who have no knowledge of Vietnamese.CURRENCY
The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) although US dollars and Euros are still accepted. At the time of writing exchange rate is US$ 1 = 23,520 VND (Feb 2022). Traveler’s cheques can be cashed only at major banks and usually incur a 2 to 5% transaction fee. Most of hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist cities of Vietnam accept Visa and Master cards, but can also be subject to 2 to 3% transaction fees. You can also get cash advances with your credit card from automated teller machines (ATM) everywhere (amount generally limited to 5 or 10.000.000 VND, that is to say around 230 USD to 450 USD depending on the bank). If you bring either cash in USD or Euro, please note that exchange rates for small and big notes vary. So we would recommend you to bring some small notes in USD dollars to cope with first expenses on arrival then either 100 USD or 100 € bank notes. Be careful, banks and foreign exchange offices do not usually take old, scribbled or even stained bank notes.CLIMATE
Due to its long shape bordering the South East Sea, Vietnam has a much diversified weather and climate so visitors can come to Vietnam all year round without having many climatic disadvantages.LOCAL TIME
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.ELECTRICITY
In Vietnam electric current is mostly 220V in main cities, although you can still find 110V in rural areas. Sockets are both round and flat types.WATER
It is advisable not to drink water from the tap unless it is boiled properly.TELECOMMUNICATIONS
International phone call charges from Vietnam have decreased tremendously over the past few years. Today, the cost of an international phone call is 0,75 USD/minute for Europe. If you need to call from a hotel, it is advisable to check first with the reception. The Vietnamese country code is +84. GSM phone coverage is also good in Vietnam, although you may have no network connection in remote areas. Since 2010, Vietnam has an extended GPRS and 3G networks. Internet cafés are common in every city. Wi-Fi is widely available and free in most bars and restaurants. However, some hotels may charge Wi-Fi connection.HEALTH & MEDICAL FACILITIES
No vaccination is required, but visitors are advised to receive inoculations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus. Inoculation for yellow fever and tablets for malaria are not necessary although doctors still usually recommend them. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have good hospitals staffed with foreign medical personnel. However for life threatening injuries it can be necessary to be evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore and we therefore strongly recommend medical travel insurance.TRANSPORTATION
There are five international airports in Vietnam: Noi Bai in Hanoi located 45 minutes from the town centre, Cat Bi in Hai Phong, Danang’s airport at 4 km from the heart of the town, Cam Rang located 40 mn driver from Nha Trang and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City located 20 minutes from the town centre. The road network has improved but still needs to be upgraded in some areas. To cover a distance, it is reasonable to count an average speed of 50 km / hour. By train, it takes a minimum of 32 hours from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Although we can now find carriages with soft sleepers and air-conditioning, it is rather slow and not particularly comfortable but for a short journey, it is an interesting way to see Vietnam. Helicopter sightseeing has become available using safe helicopters flown by qualified pilots.DRIVING
In Vietnam, we drive on the right side. An international Driving license is not valid. Only owners of a Vietnamese driving license are allowed to drive a car or a motorcycle. Without talking about insurance matters, renting a motorbike is possible although not recommended due to the dense traffic in main cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh CityCOOKING
Traditional Vietnamese cuisine boasts over 500 specialties varying from the famous spring rolls to tamarind crab. Meals are generally not spicy but make use of a wide array of interesting sauces. For vegetarians, Vietnam offers a unique Buddhist-style fare created from combinations of an unending selection of vegetables and tofu. Beyond the delights of the street stalls and culinary wonders of Vietnam, main cities now offer an increasing selection of international restaurants.SHOPPING
All sorts of goods and manufactured products can be found. From high-tech products to local handicraft products (lacquer ware, painting, silk, wood and stone art works…), main cities have an abundance of small shops and even big shopping centers. Those who plan to bring back souvenirs are therefore advised to travel light. Prices displayed are usually fixed, but in other cases, bargaining is a fact of life in Vietnam!TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory although it is appreciated. Note that prices in hotels and restaurants usually include 10% for VAT and 5% for service charges.ACCESS
Please find below a list of carriers offering services into Vietnam:VISA AND PASSPORT
A visa is compulsory to enter Vietnam except for citizens of:- Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand if the length of the stay is not exceeding 30 days.
- The Philippines if the length of the stay is not exceeding 21 days.
- Korea, Japan, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Russia if the length of the stay is not exceeding 15 days. From 15 August 2023 onwards, citizens of countries that are unilaterally exempted from visas by Viet Nam (listed above) will be granted temporary residence for 45 days (instead of 15 days).
BEFORE GOING
If you are travelling in the north or the centre from October to March warm clothes are recommended and especially appropriate all year long in the northern and highlands area (Sapa, Buon Ma Thuot and Dalat). In the south, light clothing is a must all year long. Although you can find all these products in Vietnam, we recommend you take products for mosquitoes and for the sun, a cap or a hat, sunglasses, a raincoat and a small bag to carry a few things in case you have to leave your big suitcases at the hotel for a few days. Finally, Vietnam is considered a safe country but we recommend you leave your gold jewellery at home.OTROS DESTINOS
LAOS
Tierra cerrada y, en cierta medida, «encerrada en la cultura», Laos posee el entorno más prístino del Sudeste Asiático y, posiblemente, su patrimonio cultural más intacto. Más que cualquier otro destino, una visita a Laos le brinda al visitante la sensación de regresar a un momento más relajado donde la urgencia de la vida moderna está maravillosamente ausente. Incluso en la capital Vientián, la vida camina solo un poco más rápido que el lánguido río Mekong que fluye por la encantadora orilla del río de la ciudad. En la histórica ciudad real de Luang Prabang, declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco, cientos de monjes con túnicas de color azafrán se deslizan entre templos centenarios, sin que el creciente número de visitantes contemple en silencio una escena que creían que solo existía en las películas. Los lujosos hoteles boutique de Luang Prabang sirven exquisita comida en entornos históricamente conservados, inspirándose en las tradiciones culinarias locales y francesas. Más allá de las ciudades, los visitantes pueden descubrir la inquietante Llanura de las Jarras y las majestuosas Cuatro Mil Islas (Si Phan Don), donde el río Mekong se expande y sus aguas se aglomeran. Para el viajero más intrépido y activo, pero no menos raro, las experiencias de aventura tropical se pueden tener en junglas aparentemente intactas por el paso del tiempo. De hecho, a donde sea que vayas en Laos, existe la sensación de que este capítulo de la historia, donde los locales y extranjeros pueden encontrarse con tanta ecuanimidad, puede no durar mucho. Visítalo ahora, ya que el atractivo único de Laos pronto llegará por todas partes e, inevitablemente, una oleada de turistas impactará en lo que, por el momento, sigue siendo una tierra seductora e inspiradora
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El magnífico complejo del templo de Angkor Wat nunca decepciona. La perdurable belleza de la antigua arquitectura, con sus destacada estatuas y sorprendentes representaciones en los frisos del templo de la vida, tal como fue vivida durante el Imperio Khmer, que floreció entre los siglos IX y XV, son verdaderamente uno de los mejores momentos de cualquier viaje al Sudeste Asiático . Sin embargo, como Camboya emerge de la tragedia de su reciente historia, hay más para experimentar en este país que una vez fue tan poco visitado, fuera de los innegables encantos de Siem Reap. El lago más grande de todo el Sudeste Asiático, Ton Le Sap, alberga pueblos pintorescos sobre pilotes y hermosos manglares. En Kratie, a orillas del río Mekong, con un poco de suerte, puedes ver los raros delfines del río Mekong. Además de ser el hogar de muchos museos y centros angustiosos que atestiguan los horrores de los Khmer Rojos, Phnom Penh también se está transformando rápidamente en una moderna metrópolis. Restaurantes, hoteles, bares y boutiques están surgiendo en toda la ciudad con una dinámica y moderna cultura urbana jemer. No muy lejos, a lo largo de la costa sur, las tranquilas ciudades costeras de Kep y Kampot contrastan con el zumbido al pasar de la ciudad por la playa más grande de Sihanoukville. Cerca de las vírgenes Montañas Cardamom al Oeste se encuentra Koh Kong, que cuenta con lujosos complejos ecológicos flotantes, pequeñas islas deshabitadas y algunas de las mejores playas de la región. Después de décadas de confusión, Camboya finalmente está llegando a su punto y nunca ha habido un mejor momento para visitarlo.
Leer másMYANMAR
A menudo descrita como una «tierra dorada», Myanmar está situada en la encrucijada de las grandes civilizaciones de la India y China y mira hacia el vasto océano Índico al lado de Tailandia. Aunque recientemente ha emergido como el destino más atractivo de Asia sudoriental para visitar, es uno de los países más grandes y culturalmente más diverso de la región. Desde las brillantes islas del mar de Andamán en el sur, hasta la cordillera oriental del Himalaya, Myanmar cubre un fascinante espectro de entornos geográficos y culturales. No es de extrañar que Rudyard Kipling lo describiera una vez como «»bastante diferente a cualquier tierra que puedas conocer. A medida que esta antigua nación experimenta una ansiada transformación social, política y económica, sus muchos misterios pueden volver a ser descubiertos y disfrutados. Rica en sitios arqueológicos, relucientes pagodas, coloridos festivales e impresionantes obras de arte, Myanmar también tiene exuberantes y fértiles llanuras, vastas selvas vírgenes, majestuosas montañas nevadas, playas vírgenes junto a aguas cristalinas, frescas, pinos y girasoles aromáticos retorciéndose de alegría bajo el sol. Sin embargo, a pesar de estas riquezas, a medida que el país se abre al mundo, es su gente maravillosamente amable y hospitalaria la que a menudo deja la impresión más duradera. Durante esta etapa única en su historia, es difícil pensar en otro país en el mundo que merece una visita tanto como la dorada Myanmar.
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