Vietnam

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 = 22.200 VND (October 2016).

PASSPORT AND VISA: Those planning Vietnam tours should check visa requirements before setting out. Some nationalities do not require a visa if they do not intend to stay beyond a specified period though in each case that period is fairly short term and never exceeding more than 30 days. Visa on arrival service is possible and Nadovatours can prepare all necessary documents for you in advance.

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.

North. There are four distinct seasons:

• January to March (Spring): the period when many festive and spiritual events take place.

• April to August (Summer): when the sea and the highlands are particularly attractive.

• September to October (Autumn): ideal for those interested in nature and exploration.

• November to December (Winter): dry time and pleasant temperature to explore.

South. In contrast there are broadly two seasons, dry and rainy with temperatures in the upper 20s.

• The rainy season is mid-May to October

• The dry season is November round to mid-May with temperatures rising from moderate up to hot during the period.

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.

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 Ranh located 40 mn driver from Nha Trang and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City located 20 minutes from the town centre.

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 City. 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.

VACCINATION: 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.

FESTIVALS: The Vietnamese year follows a rhythm of festivals and religious observances, ranging from solemn family gatherings at the ancestral altar to national celebrations culminating in Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. In between are countless local festivals, most notably in the Red River Delta, honouring the tutelary spirit of the village or community temple. The majority of festivals take place in spring, with a second flurry in the autumn months.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 

January 1st: New Year Day.

April 30th: Saigon Liberation Day.

May 1st: International Labor Day.

September 2nd: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The Lunar New Year Festival (Tet Nguyen Dan) lasts 4 days and falls between the end of January and mid-February by the solar calendar. In 2017 the year of the Rooster will begin on 28th January.

The 10th day of the third lunar month is a one day holiday; it is known as Hung Kings’ Festival and commemorates the early kings of Vietnam.

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.

HELLO: XIN CHAO

THANK YOU: CAM ON