Vietnam

Population
Vietnam has 82,2 million inhabitants with an average density of 248 inhabitants/km2, reaching 1,000 in the Red River delta in the North.
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, Muslim 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 speak Russian.

Currency
The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) although US dollars are still accepted. At the time of publishing the exchange rate is US$ 1 = 17,500 VND.
Traveler’s cheques can be cashed only at major banks and usually incur a 2 to 5% transaction fee.
Visa and Master cards are accepted now in most of hotels, restaurants and shops in main cities of Vietnam, but can also be subject to 2 to 3% transaction fees.
You can also get cash advances with your credit card either from automated teller machines (ATM) in the main tourists cities and hotels or from foreign exchange offices (subject to 2 to 3% transaction fees).

Climate

Hanoi	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Min °C	13	14	17	21	24	26	26	25	24	22	18	14
Max °C	21	21	23	27	32	33	32	31	29	25	25	22
Rain mm	18	25	46	84	192	240	310	258	127	47	47	20

Danang	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Min °C	19	20	21	23	25	25	25	25	24	23	22	19
Max °C	25	26	28	30	35	34	34	34	32	29	27	25
Rain mm	110	40	24	29	63	76	83	116	373	585	368	223

HCMC*	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Min °C	21	22	24	25	24	24	24	24	24	23	23	22
Max °C	31	33	34	34	33	32	31	31	31	31	31	30
Rain mm	11	6	10	50	218	298	279	271	312	267	111	35

*Ho Chi Minh City.

Local time
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. It is the same time zone as Bangkok.

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 through the services-call 171 or 178, cost of an international phone call is less than 0,75 USD/minute. There are numerous Internet cafés in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and most of the hotels and coffee shops in the downtown area offer free WIFI or internet access via cable for convenient phone call VoIP. Prepaid SIM Cards for cell phones can be easily purchased at convenient stores and shops.  

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 injury it can be necessary to be evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore and we therefore strongly recommend taking out medical travel insurance.

Transportation
By air: There are three international airports in Vietnam: Noi Bai in Hanoi located 45 minutes from the town centre, Danang in the Centre, 4 km from the heart of the town, and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City located 20 minutes from the town centre.

By road: 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 slow and not really comfortable but for a short-term journey, it is an interesting means of transportation and way to see Vietnam.

Shopping
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.

Public Holidays 2009

January 1                  : New Year's Day
January 26-30          : Tet or Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
April 4                         : Hung King's Birthday
April 30                       : Reunification Day
May 1                          : Labor Day
September 2             : National Day