Vietnam

Although the Vietnamese calendar is the same as our Gregorian calendar, some Vietnamese holidays are based on the lunar calendar. The exact dates are different every year, depending on the position of the moon. Tet Nguyen Dan (usually abbreviated to Tet) is celebrated in January/February and is the Vietnamese New Year, the biggest annual celebration. The Tet celebrations are officially three days long, but many Vietnamese have the week off. Festivities such as processions, dragon dances, fireworks and flower parades are organised, but in the main it is a family celebration and is not targeted at tourists. The Vietnamese travel throughout the country to visit family members and eat festive meals, such as we do at Christmas. They buy new clothes for new beginnings, houses are thoroughly cleaned and the graves of their ancestors are spruced up. Most shops and many restaurants are closed during Tet. Trung Nguyen is the day of wandering souls (July/August), where gifts are offered to spirits forgotten or neglected by their surviving relatives. Tet Thrung Thu is the mid-autumn festival, held at the end of September, when ‘moon cakes’ are sold everywhere and children with beautifully shaped lanterns walk through the streets. This festival is becoming less important in the cities and towns, but is still a very strong tradition in the countryside. Dates of fixed national holidays are 1 January (the New (Gregorian) Year), 3 February (the day of the founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party in 1930), 30 April (the day of the liberation of Saigon in 1975), 1 May (Labour Day), 19 May (the birthday of political leader Ho Chi Minh), 2 September (National Day, the celebration of independence in 1945) and 25 December (Christmas). A complete list of all festivals in Vietnam throughout 2007 and 2008 can be found in the festival section at www.vietnamtourism.com .

Europeans behave differently from the Vietnamese in many ways. The following tips should help you avoid the biggest misunderstandings.

Etiquette: The Vietnamese are very friendly people. They are very open to contact with the outside world, especially in the South. In the North, people are generally more reserved. Do not criticise anyone in public. Being criticised in the presence of others is seen as a severe loss of face and is one of the worst things that can happen to a Vietnamese. Try to remain amiable, even if this doesn’t immediately seem to work. A grin can work wonders, but getting angry is counter-productive. If you enter a house or temple, you will be expected to remove your shoes. Like us, men shake hands as greeting, although women usually only nod their head. Nuns and monks often greet each other in the traditional way by folding their hands in front of them and bowing slightly. It is polite to return this sort of greeting. Caution: women are not allowed to touch Buddhist monks. Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

Meetings: We come from an extremely hurried culture where time is money and appointments and meetings must be kept punctually. The Vietnamese feel no such need. That is not to say that they will come late, they may come an hour early if they have nothing else to do that day. They live in the here and now. They worry far less about the future and have much more patience.

Curiosity: Questions about subjects that we would see as personal, such as age, salary, religion and other private matters are very normal in Vietnam. You may at some point acquire a crowd of interested Vietnamese asking you questions, especially in the areas where fewer tourists visit. They will wish to know everything about you and may even want to touch your hair to confirm that it is real. Other Vietnamese may approach you for a conversation simply to practise their English. If that is the case, do not talk openly about politics, as many natives will fear trouble with the police if they do so.

Haggling: This is a regular part of Vietnamese life. You will be expected to haggle in the markets, in souvenir shops and with cyclo drivers (bicycle rickshaws). If you need a cyclo for the whole day, it is better to agree on a price beforehand. Remain calm and good-natured – haggling is a social activity in Vietnam and not a matter of life and death!

Food: Vietnamese cuisine is very varied. There are around 500 different traditional meals, varying from exotic meats like cobra or bat flesh, to fantastic vegetarian dishes. The basis of a typical Vietnamese dish is steamed white rice (óm). Soup (phó), vegetables (rau), meat, fish (cà), herbs and sauces are served with steamed white rice (óm), the basis of any traditional dish. Soup is eaten with almost every meal. Meat, shrimp (tom), crab (cua) and fish play an important role in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in the South. Fish is the most important source of protein for many Vietnamese. Pork, chicken (g-), beef (bó), duck and pigeon are widely used, plus a large variety of vegetables and tropical fruits, such as coconuts, papayas, pineapples, apricots, apples, lychees and mango. Unusual fruit include the delicious pink dragon fruit, the purple mangosteen, the pungent durian fruit and the water apple. Baguettes are remnants of the French colonial period and are available throughout the land. On the streets you can buy baguettes with pâté and cheese. Spring rolls and steamed rice pancakes are popular snacks. Spring rolls are named nem Saigon in the North and cha gio in the South. They are made of crabmeat, pork, mushrooms, shrimp, rice, Chinese noodles and bean sprouts, rolled in a thin layer of rice paper and deep fried until crispy. An outstanding soup traditional to the South of Vietnam is called ho tieu. This soup is usually made using shrimp, crabmeat and pork. Bun bo is another popular and spicy soup, made with mint, bean sprouts and lemon juice. A third popular soup is canh chua, made with fish, pineapple, star fruit and fresh herbs. There are, for more adventurous eaters, speciality restaurants where tortoise (con rua), snake (trang/ran ho), eel (uon), frog (ech), dog (thit cho), bat (con doi/doi qua), and other exotic meats are served. Vegetarian dishes are available everywhere, but don’t expect perfection in this field. ‘Toy an chay’ is the translation for ‘I am a vegetarian’. The best vegetarian dishes are bamboo soup, cooked mushrooms or a vegetarian soup called s-p rau. The Vietnamese have adopted the Chinese custom of eating with chopsticks. You take some rice in a bowl and fill the rest of the bowl up with meat, fish or vegetables from the communal dishes. You then bring the bowl up to your lips and begin to eat. Never plant your chopsticks upright in the rice; this is seen as a sign of death due to the similarity with how incense sticks are placed in a pot on an altar at a funeral.

Drinking Water: Tap water in Vietnam is not suitable for consumption. Mineral water (nuoc suoi) is a safer option and available everywhere. However, make sure that the bottles have their original seals intact. Ice cubes are also a bad idea; although the ice is made from distilled water, it is transported unhygienically.

Drink: Tea (nuóc tr- in the South, nuóc chè in the North) and coffee (c-phe) are the most popular drinks. Vietnamese coffee is of a very high standard. Tea is the traditional welcome drink and is usually green. You can also request Lipton tea (regular tea bags). Soft drinks such as cola, 7-up and fruit juices are available in Vietnam, and fresh lemon juice is deliciously refreshing. Fresh coconut is also very tasty. Beer (bia) is available in more than adequate supply and is often served with ice-cubes. Alongside the international beers there are also local beers. Good quality Vietnamese beers include ‘333’ (ba ba ba), ‘Saigon’ and ‘BGI’. Imported spirits are expensive, but Vietnamese vodka is reasonably priced. Vietnamese rice wine is called ‘ruou’.

Restaurants: Both Vietnamese and Western meals are served in the restaurants of the big hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is also nice to visit small local restaurants. Pay attention to the busy places and the places where native Vietnamese usually eat. The food in such places is fresh and appetising. Stalls on the side of the road with the sign ‘óm/phó’ (rice/soup) sell extremely cheap food, often of a high quality. A good tip for restaurants where the waiter does not speak good English is to just point to dishes that other diners are eating.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is in South-East Asia and borders China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West and has a 2025-mile coastline along the Tonkin Gulf, the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. With an area of 127,246 square miles, it is roughly two and a half times the size of England. In 1954 the country separated into the communist North Vietnam and the (relatively) democratic South Vietnam. This was followed by a savage war that ended in 1975 after communist North Vietnam defeated American forces to conquer South Vietnam. North and South Vietnam were officially united and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was born. Only since around 1990 has Vietnam begun to build a reputation as a tourist destination. Before, the name of Vietnam was too associated with violence and war. However, Vietnam is a unique and fascinating part of the world with a huge variety of beautiful landscapes, a very rich culture and a history that stretches back over more than 4000 years. Vietnam extends across a strip of land between the deltas of two large rivers, the Song Hong (Red River) in the North and the Mekong in the South. In the West the Truong Son (Long Mountains) create a natural border with Laos and Cambodia. These highlands consist of a series of connected plateaus and reach an altitude of just under a mile above sea level. The highest peak in Vietnam is Fan Si Pan (1.95 miles) in the North West. The coastal land in the East is very fertile and has beautiful beaches surrounded by palm trees. Vietnam also has countless islands. Nearly all of Vietnam has tropical vegetation with mangrove forests along the coast and tropical rainforests further inland. The majority of the lowland has been deforested for farmland, particularly for growing rice. The fauna includes tigers, panthers, wild buffalo, deer, elephants, apes, reptiles and numerous species of birds.

Vietnam has around 80 million inhabitants and is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Just 20% of the population live in the city. Around 3 million people live in the capital city, Hanoi, and around 6 million in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The deltas of the Mekong and the Red River are extremely densely populated, while the hilly and mountainous regions are sparsely populated. The population is relatively young, with over half under 21. Vietnam has a large number of ethnic groups; the largest is the Kinh (88%), ethnic Vietnamese. The one million Chinese form an important minority. Only 3000 of these have chosen to keep their Chinese nationality, while the rest (referred to as the Hoa) have taken official Vietnamese nationality. In general, the ethnic Chinese, with or without Vietnamese nationality, follow Chinese customs and dress style. Many ethnic Chinese reside in Cholon; a prospering trade centre 2.5 miles from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Over 50 ethnic minority groups live in the mountainous regions, which constitute around two thirds of the total land area of Vietnam. These groups, referred to by the French as montagnards (mountain-dwellers), include the Muong, the Ra Dé, the Ja-rai, the Banhar and the Sedang in central Vietnam, and the T-y, N-ng, Thài, Hmong, Lao and the Lu in northern Vietnam. There are also the Cham and Khmer, with Cambodian roots who, live predominantly in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese government is currently striving for more integration of the ethnic groups into Vietnamese society. The official language is Vietnamese, which uses the Roman alphabet, and is a tonal, monosyllabic language. The meaning of a word is governed by the tone (one of 6 separate tones) in which it is pronounced. Many of the various ethnic groups also speak their own language.

In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (founded on Marxist principles), atheism plays a significant role. The government does not encourage religion of any denomination, although the population is free to practise any religion as long as it does not challenge the laws or politics of the land. All religions, including atheism, are seen as equal in the eyes of the state. The most prevalent religions in Vietnam are Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. These are mixed with animism and worship of ancestors and spirits, and are more or less fused together into one religion, Tam Giao. Most Vietnamese would refer to themselves as Buddhist or Taoist, although very little distinction can be found in practice. The Buddhist pagodas contain a mish-mash of Buddha statues, statues of Vietnamese forefathers, Hindu swastikas and Taoist symbols, particularly yin and yang. There are about 5 million Roman Catholics, around Ho Chi Minh City and among the mountain folk. There is also a small minority of Animists, Muslims and Hindus. There are also two religious sects that were founded in the 20thcentury; both are unique to Vietnam, Cao Dai and Hoa Hao. Cao Dai was founded in 1926 by the Vietnamese medium Ngo Minh Chieu and is comprised of what he saw as the best aspects of both Eastern and Western religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Spiritism and ancestor-worship). There is one god, named Cao Dai. Mediums provide contact with the god and the spirit world during séances. The medium would receive messages from religious figures such as the Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tse, Confucious and Mohammed, and also from historical figures such as Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Churchill, Victor Hugo and Shakespeare. Cao Dai has a religious hierarchy much like that of the Roman Catholic Church, with a Pope, cardinals, bishops and priests. Their robes differ in colour to their ordinary followers’ clothes. Now there are about 3 million followers of Cao Dai, especially in South Vietnam. The centre of the religion is the city of Tay Ninh, approximately 60 miles from Ho Chi Minh City. In the colourful temple in Tay Ninh there are meditation and prayer services every day around midday, and visitors can watch these services from the balcony.

Climate: In the North of the country the winters are ‘cool’ at temperatures between, 12-20 Celsius, and the summers are hot and humid. The temperature can drop to zero in the mountains during the winter, and this is the only occasion that you will need warm clothing. The rainy season stretches from June until September. In the South of the country it is warm and humid the whole year round with a rainy season from May until October. The rain comes mostly in the form of short but heavy downpours. The monsoon rains can make travelling difficult due to flooded roads and frequent power cuts. The dry season in the South is from December until May. Central Vietnam has a similar climate to the South, but sometimes endures bad weather in the autumn as a result of storms at sea. This can cause problems for visitors. The rainy period in central Vietnam is from September through December. During this period, downpours can last for hours and are hard to avoid. The Vietnamese simply hop on to their bike or moped in shorts, T-shirt and sandals, with a plastic bag containing dry clothes that they change into upon arrival. This is very practical, as with a raincoat you get drenched on the inside and the outside.

Best Time to Visit: There are no good or bad seasons to visit Vietnam. There are many different climates in the various regions of Vietnam due to the pronounced elongation of the country, which ensures that at any given moment there will always be beautiful weather in one particular place and miserable weather in another.

Architecture: The most impressive examples of Vietnamese architecture are the Imperial palaces and the tombs, temples and pagodas. Constructed from wood and stone, they are often beautifully decorated with sculptures. Due to the tropical climate, some of the sculptures have often required restoration work, although many have been left untended. There are relatively few old buildings in Vietnam, due for the most part on the climate and numerous wars. Several stone monuments from the Cham period (7th-12th century) remain in places such as Nha Trang, Phan Rang and My Son. Vietnamese architecture blossomed during the Ly-dynasty (1010-1225). Remnants of this period can be found in Hanoi, in particular the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. The Citadel and the remains of the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City (Nguyen-dynasty, 1802-1945) are in the city of Hué. Outside Hué there are many historic pagodas, such as the Thien Mu pagoda and the beautiful tombs of many Nguyen sovereigns (Tu Duc, Khai Dinh and Minh Mang to name but a few) accompanied by pavilions, pictures and beautiful gardens.

Music: The main forms of traditional Vietnamese music are classical and folk music. Classical music was the traditional music of the royal court, and disappeared with the fall of the Imperial order. Vietnamese folk music includes a broad repertoire of work songs, love songs, children’s songs and funereal dirges. Every region has its own particular style of music. Over 100 different instruments are used, most would not normally be known in Britain. Modern music in Vietnam is a mix of Vietnamese, Western and Asian pop music, and these would be what you would hear in restaurants, discos etc.

Traditional Art: Wood painting is an ancient Vietnamese art. Vietnamese painting (son mai) is considered amongst the best in the world. Paintings, dishes, vases, canvasses and boxes are highly popular souvenirs. Earthenware is produced in the pottery region of Bat Trang in Hanoi, both for display and everyday use.

Water Puppetry: Vietnam has a form of puppetry that is not found anywhere else in the world: M-a Roi Nuóc, puppetry in water. The stage for this unusual and ten-century-old form of puppetry is the surface of the water. The puppeteers hide behind a screen, up to their chests in water, and move the puppets with long bamboo sticks to a backing of voices, singing and music. In the past, a performance would be held in the open air, in a fishpond or on flooded land. These days there are special theatres, for example in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Take it easy on your first day in Vietnam. Take the time to recover from the flight and, get used to the different climate, culture and country. Let it slowly work its magic on you. The more you can relax the more pleasure you will get out of Vietnam.

A visa is required for British passports. Shoestring do not arrange the visa but can provide the following link for more information: http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/

Vietnam has mostly 220 volt, 50-hertz alternating current, although here and there it is 110 volts. Plug in only if you know the voltage of the equipment you wish to use. Not everyone in the countryside is connected to mains electricity. Power cuts happen regularly, especially in the South. Electrical current fluctuates greatly in some areas, which can be harmful to equipment. A good torch is certainly useful, especially for walks in the evening. The abundance of holes, bumps and ditches in and along the roads can cause nasty falls if the streetlights suddenly go out.

The following health information is a general text that applies to all our travellers in Asia. Those who pay some attention to hygiene and skincare don’t usually run into health problems.

Food and drink: Tap water is unfit for human consumption; you should drink mineral water instead. In small eating places it is better not to eat fruit or salads that have been skinned beforehand. In the cities, preferably take your meals in busy restaurants. Do not eat ice cream, except in expensive restaurants. Clean your hands thoroughly before eating, even if you are only having a snack.

Sunshine and heat: Sunburn is a frequent cause of health problems. Sunburn and heat strokes are easier caught than you may think. You should therefore avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day, always wear a hat (or carry an umbrella) and good sunglasses when you are walking or cycling, and use the recommended factor of suntan lotion when sunbathing. At high temperatures the body’s need for water increases very rapidly, as does its need for salt. Make sure you drink enough. Take it easy during the hottest hours of the day. Treat small scratches, wounds and insect bites before they become infected.

Diarrhoea: Next to sunburn, the most common health problem is diarrhoea. Travellers are often hit by it after they have been on holiday for only a few days. In most cases it is utterly innocuous and caused by the change of diet, the heat or harmless bacteria, against which the body will soon develop its defences. The main risk is dehydration, especially in children. It occurs when the body loses more fluid, salt and sugars than it receives. The result is a feeling of listlessness and weakness. It can be prevented by drinking a solution of water and ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution). It is sold in bags at the pharmacies and contains all the minerals and sugars that are evacuated with diarrhoea. Instead of this solution you can also take noncarbonated soft drinks or heavily salted broth. For many people, Coca Cola has a constipating effect in the first stages of diarrhoea. When the diarrhoea is accompanied by high fever and/or bloody defecation it is sensible to consult a physician. When the diarrhoea lasts for more than a few days without the above-mentioned symptoms or when you have to travel, you can take Imodium (or Diacure) a couple of times. It is an opiate that prevents bowel movement for a number of hours.

Insect Bites: In Asia it is impossible to completely avoid contact with insects, but there are a number of precautions that you can take to reduce the inconvenience significantly. In many hotels you can request mosquito nets or electric anti-mosquito devices for your room. The so-called ‘mosquito-coil’, a spiral-shaped stick of incense, is also effective and can repel mosquitoes for up to eight hours. These can be placed, upon request, under your table if you visit a restaurant. Finally, it helps to wear long trousers, long sleeves and high collars or turtlenecks in the evening. There are many brands of insect repellent that have an effect, but don’t expect miracles.

First-Aid Kit: A good first-aid kit could consist of: plasters, bandages, cotton wool, scissors, a thermometer, iodine, painkillers, malaria tablets, Oral Rehydration Solution bags, Imodium, sun cream, earplugs, tweezers, insect repellent and an anti-itch cream or lotion. If you must regularly use prescription medicine, bring with you an exact description of the medicine in English (no brand names, just the essential ingredients, composition and dosage), bring twice the dosage necessary for the duration of the holiday and store in two separate places, so you have a back-up supply.

Vaccinations: Below is the recommendation by the Health Authorities when this edition went to press. This information may change. The question is what your personal needs are, which depends on earlier vaccinations, possible sensitivity to certain medicines, pregnancy, age etc. ALWAYS contact your General Practitioner or the Practice Nurse for advice. To obtain the most recent general information you can call The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) Tel: +44 (0) 845 155 5000 ext 5943 and visit their website http://www.nathnac.org/travel and http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/ . We at Shoestring cannot provide any further information by telephone. The complete overview for this journey is: DTaP, hepatitis A, Typhoid and malaria tablets. Take precautions in time, some inoculations need time to achieve the desired effect.

Further Advice: Allow your body and mind the time to steadily adjust to the new time-zone and location. Avoid tension, do not draw up a plan immediately. In any event take it easy on the first day. Getting up early is a good habit; in warm countries the morning temperature is usually the most agreeable. The people in these countries are used to getting up early. If you adapt yourself to their rhythm you will see the most of their country. If you have had enough sleep you will be better able to cope with all the new impressions etc. and still have enough energy to do lots of things.

Ensure that those at home know in which country you are and how long you are planning to stay away. You may fix a date when you will contact them again. Making telephone calls from Vietnam can sometimes be a problem. Provide the people that will pick you up from the airport with your flight times and numbers. Shoestring will not provide flight and/or travel information, hotel names and telephone numbers to third parties. Any information on delays may be retrieved at the airport information number.

Contact person
In case of an emergency it is important for us to have details of someone we can contact on your behalf. You have entered a name on the booking form. It is possible that this person is unavailable or on holiday during your trip. If so, enter a second person so that we are sure to be able to get in touch with somebody.

Do not bring excessive luggage. Many necessities, especially clothes, can be bought cheaply in Vietnam. All the footwear you need is a good (worn-in if possible) pair of hiking boots for the hiking tour’s, a pair of sandals can also come in handy. Other important items are sunglasses, sun creams, toiletries, a towel, a roll of toilet paper (for the optional hiking tour) a first-aid kit and any necessary medicines, a fold-up umbrella, a (video) camera, sufficient film/videos and spare batteries, a torch, a pen-knife (don’t put this in your hand luggage during the flight!), a lighter, a small amount of snacks/chocolates, an alarm clock, writing equipment, books, your passport with valid visa, sufficient traveller’s cheques and/or money, copies of your passport and visa, a list of the numbers of your travellers’ cheques and receipt, your flight tickets, all relevant travel insurance details and emergency contact numbers, your holiday guide with the important addresses, and finally, booking papers for this trip. You could also bring binoculars, maps or games. Also, small items from home, such as picture postcards, pens etc, make nice presents for any Vietnamese folk whom you may befriend during the trip. Business cards are also popular with the Vietnamese. It is advised that you bring an easy-to-transport bag such as a weekend bag or (frameless) backpack, along with a small backpack or shoulder bag for hand luggage. A solid suitcase is a hindrance, particularly on the night train to Hanoi. A thin money belt is also advised to store valuable documents.
Townsfolk often wear western clothing, such as jeans. People in the country wear thin ‘pyjamas’. Everyone wears the traditional conical hats (nón cài) that function as umbrellas. In the North you will notice the military green helmets that the men often wear, sometimes in combination with a military green suit. The traditional ao dai is making a successful comeback and is worn at every formal gathering. It is the most noticeable piece of women’s clothing in Vietnam and is a simply designed but characterful two-piece combination of satin trousers with wide legs and a long blouse with tails that pass the knees, with splits on both sides from the waist down. The Vietnamese dress informally, but value smart clothing. Children and farm workers wear shorts. Women never wear shorts and long trousers are considered more appropriate for men. You may wear a swimsuit on the beach, but topless sunbathing is not allowed. Bring thin, cotton clothes. It is not a problem for either sex to wear short-sleeved clothes, as long as the upper arm and shoulders are covered. For the evening, a thin roll-neck sweater or high-collared t-shirt with long sleeves is advised to protect against insects. Bringing too little clothing is better than bringing too much as you can buy anything you lack. An umbrella is useful for protection from rain and sun. A headscarf or parasol is advised when the sun is high. A woolly jumper or cardigan is a must in the North during the winter, especially in the mountains and rainwear is useful during monsoon season. It may be worth bringing a mosquito net, as they are not standard issue in Vietnamese accommodation. However, you can buy them in Vietnam.

The amount of spending money suggested is the minimum required to pay for your meals, drinks, optional excursions, entrance fees, airport taxes and tips. The amount you actually need of course depends on your own spending pattern; that is why souvenirs are not included. We suggest £75-£100 per week.

Vietnam is an extremely photogenic country with beautiful landscapes, diverse mountain cultures and many historical sites. You can photograph almost anything in Vietnam except military sites (bridges, docks, airports or government buildings). Taking photos of the police or police stations can also cause problems. The Vietnamese in general enjoy being photographed, although it is polite to ask permission first, and respect any possible objections. Some ethnic minorities, such as the Dao in the North, prefer not to be photographed. In popular tourist areas you have to pay to use a (video) camera. It is advisable to buy sufficient film/video prior to the trip, and avoid leaving it behind in locked cars, as the quickly rising temperatures can impair photographic material. Developing and printing of photographs is best left until you arrive home. Standard batteries are available throughout the whole country and are cheaper than in Britain.
 

Theft occurs in Vietnam as in any country. Pay good attention to valuables. Money and important documents are best not stored in handbags or wallets, but worn on the body in a money belt or bag attached to the inside of your clothes. Pickpockets in Ho Chi Minh City are increasingly targeting tourists. However Vietnam is definitely not a country where you should feel threatened.

The time in Vietnam is GMT + 7 hours. . As they do not have daylight saving time, they are +6 hours in front of us during the summer. (British Summer Time).

Tips are greatly appreciated everywhere in Asia, and Vietnam is no exception. Tips are an important top up to the wages of waiters, porters, room service attendants, taxi drivers etc, whose basic pay is meagre at best. Tips also increase attentiveness of staff to your needs and speed up service. It is polite to leave behind a donation when you visit a pagoda, but it is better to leave nothing than to leave a donation of 1,000-2,000 dong, as this is the amount most Vietnamese would themselves give to a beggar. Tour bus drivers would expect a tip corresponding to the number of weeks in which they chauffeur you, assuming they have provided a satisfactory service. Our guideline is 10,000-15,000 dong per person per day, to be split amongst them. The local tour guides would also expect a tip at the completion of their services, once again, assuming a satisfactory service. Our guideline for this tip is also 10,000-15,000 dong.