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| Facts |
Map |
| Population |
| 75 million |
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| Language
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Vietnamese |
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| Country Code |
84
AREA:
Ho Chin Minh(8), Hanoi(4) |
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| Currency |
New
Dong
check out our Travel Tips/Tools
CURRENCY
CONVERTER to
get the rates you are looking for! |
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| Climate |
Tropical
Climate
use our
Travel Tips/Tools for the CURRENT
CLIMATE
there! |
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Introduction
Vietnam,
officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, country located on the
eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula. Vietnam is bordered on the
north by China, on the west by Laos and Cambodia, and on the south and
east by the South China Sea. Hanoi is the capital, and Ho Chi Minh City
(formerly Saigon) is the largest city.
Vietnam is relatively long and narrow,
with a varied terrain. The far north and much of central Vietnam are hilly
to mountainous. In the north, the highlands slope gradually toward the
eastern coast, forming broad plains intersected by numerous streams. In
central Vietnam, the narrowest part of the country, the mountains and
highlands extend nearer to the coast, in a few places jutting into the sea
and elsewhere dropping sharply to a narrow coastal plain. Southern Vietnam
is very low lying, containing the broad, fertile delta of the Mekong
River. Like the northern plains, much of the Mekong Delta is cultivated,
and there are vast tracts of rice paddies.
Vietnam
has about 50 ethnic and language groups, but ethnic Vietnamese, or Viets,
constitute the vast majority of the population. Vietnam's
population is relatively homogeneous. As much as 90 percent of the people
are ethnic Vietnamese, descendants of the people who settled in the Red
River Delta thousands of years ago. Ethnic Chinese constitute the largest
minority group. Other important minorities are the Khmer and the Cham.
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General Information
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| Area : 329,560 sq km
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| Capital : Hanoi
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| Population : 79 million
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| Language : Vietnamese
(Official), French, English, Khmer, Chinese and other tribal languages
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| Religion : Buddhism,
Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity
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| Major cities : Hanoi, Ho
Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Haiphong
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Currency : Dong is the
currency
1 new dong = 100 x u
Notes: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 dong
Acceptance for traveller's cheques and credit card is limited.
For western visitors, US dollars is the standard currency and is required
for hotel bills and airfares.
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Transportation
Taxi for hire are available from Vietnam
Tourism. Pedicabs can be hired cheaply, but make sure the driver
understands your destination.
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 Communications
Domestic and international
telecommunication is generally poor. Major hotels have telex facilities.
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 Economy
Major Exports : Rice, rubber, coal and
iron.
Major Imports : Vehicles, foodstuffs,
steel, fertilizer and petroleum products.
Major Trading Partners : China, Singapore,
Japan, Thailand, South Korea and East European countries.
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Business Hours
Most offices open from 8.00am to 4.30pm,
Monday to Saturday.
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Banks
Bank of Foreign Trade (Vietnam Bank) is the
main commercial bank. Banks open from 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
and 8.00am to 12.00noon on Saturday.
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 Health
Yellow fever vaccination certificate is
required if arriving from infected areas. Take precautions against malaria
in rural areas. Drink only boiled or bottled water, and ensure that food
is well cooked. |
 Climate
The
southern region of Vietnam has a tropical climate while the northern
region is sub-tropical. The rainy season is from May to August in the
north but lasts until November in the south. Average temperature is about
25 degrees Celsius.
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Visas
A 30-day Vietnamese visa costs US$40 from
an agent in Bangkok. Visa extension is difficult.
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What to wear
Light and casual clothes are suitable.
Heavy clothing is needed in winter in the north. Suits with ties are
appropriate for formal or business occasions.
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