Destination Guide - Vietnam

Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Population: 80 million
Capital City: Hanoi, pop: 3.5 million
People: 80% Ethnic Vietnamese, 53 minority groups including Hmong, Tay, Cham, Montaguard, and Khmer
Languages: Vietnamese
Religion: Predominantly Buddhist, with Confucianism, Taoism & other minorities
Currency: Dong
Time: GMT plus 7 hours
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz (some 110V, 50 Hz, check http://www.kropla.com)
Major Industries: Mining and minerals, industry and manufacturing, energy, and services and tourism
Airport Departure Tax: $14 from Ho Chi Minh, $8 from Da Nang (subject to change)

IMPORTANT FACTS

Travel Documents

Citizens from Canada and the US require a valid passport and a visa. Citizens of other nations should check with their nearest Vietnamese Embassy for entry requirements. You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of your trip in order to enter Vietnam.

Climate

There is no good or bad season for visiting Viet Nam. When one region is wet or cold, there is always somewhere else that is sunny and pleasantly warm. Viet Nam has a remarkably diverse climate because of its wide range of latitudes and altitudes. Although the entire country lies in the inter-tropical zone, local conditions vary from frosty winters in the far northern hills to the yearlong, sub-equatorial warmth of the Mekong Delta. At sea level, the average annual temperature is about 27°C in the south, falling to about 21° C in the extreme north. There is a drop in the average annual temperature of about half a degree for every 100 meters in elevation. In the north, November to April is considered winter and May to October is summer. The south has two main seasons, the wet season lasts from May until November and the dry season from December to April.

Food

One of the delights of visiting Viet Nam is the amazing cuisine. There are nearly 500 different traditional Vietnamese dishes, which are superbly prepared and reasonably priced. Of course, in addition to traditional Vietnamese dishes, there are terrific French restaurants across the country and street vendors selling fresh baguettes and pate. Fish, chicken and seafood are widely available, along with a good selection of vegetables. Countless types of exotic fruits provide for delicious fruit juices as well. Common sense with regard to street food is necessary. Because food from street vendors can sit un-refrigerated for a while, try to choose items that are cooked in front of you and are served hot.

Water

While in Viet Nam, it is best to drink only bottled or treated drinking water. Fruit drinks, soft drinks, coffee and tea are all widely available and safe to drink.

Vaccinations

Although there are no required vaccinations for Viet Nam, there are some recommended ones such as Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Japanese Encephalitis. Travellers arriving from countries where Yellow Fever are present will be required to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. As health regulations can and do change regularly, we advise you to speak to your doctor or visit a travel medical clinic prior to departure. A good website for current information is The Centre for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel/.

Suggested Reading List

The Birth of Viet Nam – by Keith Weller Taylor
We the Vietnamese - edited by Francois Sully
Henry Mouhot’s Diary: Travels in Central Parts of Siam, Cambodia and Laos during the Years 1858-6 - edited by Christopher Pym
Vietnam: A History – by Stanley Karnow
Vietnam: Politics, Economics and Society – by Melanie Beresford
Tradition on Trial 1920-1945 – by David G. Marr
Vietnamese Anti-colonialism 1885-1925 – by David G. Marr
Fire in the Lake – by Francis Fitzgerald
Why Vietnam? – by Archimedes L. Patti
In the Midst of War - An American’s Mission to Southeast Asia – by Major General Edward Landsdale
Brothers In Arms – by William Broyles Jr
River Journeys – by William Shawcross
Seeing Vietnam: Encounters of the Road and Heart – by Susan Brownmiller
Blue Dragon, White Tiger – by Tran Van Dinh
Saigon – by Anthony Grey
The Quiet American – by Graham Greene
Vietnam Now: a Reporter Returns – by David Lamb

Vietnam Trips

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
1	Paddle and Play Mountain Bike, Hike & Sea Kayak (12 Days)
2	Luxury Active Indochina Mountain Bike, Hike, Sail & Sea Kayak (12 Days)
3	Family Fusion Bike, Hike, Sea Kayak & Sail (13 Days)