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| HOLIDAYS TIPS & ADVICE |
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| VIETNAM |
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| CULTURE |
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| Overview : |
| At the top of the social hirachy of traditional Vietnamese society
sat the emporors, below which were the mandarin administrations, intellectuala, mercants,
and artisans. Court society was centered around large cities and townships where
the royal family and their dignitaries lived. But until the beginning of the 20th
century, grass-roots Vietnamese society was made up mostly of small rural enclaves.
These village communities were governed autocratically; reponsibility was
delegated to local nobles by the court. The nobles' true authority, however, was nominal;
the villages were administered by the ethics of the nobles, the dinh (local temple/
community center), and the needs of the clans and families. One proverb from that time,
"the powe of the emperor stops at the gates of the village," accurately reflects the
independent spirit of the people. |
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| Religion : |
Vietnam has a diverse mix of religions, including Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism, Catholocism, Hinduism and even a home grown religion,
Cao Daism. The dominant religion is Buddhism and you will see numerous temples throughout
Vietnam as well as the traditional alters in many homes and hotels. Catholicism is also
strong in Vietnam, undoubtedly a result of 100 years of French rule. There are a number
of beautiful Catholic churches throughout the country.
An unusual religion, Cao Daism, was founded in Vietnam in 1926 by Ngo Minh Chieu.
The Cao Dai religion is a melting pot of Buddhist, Christian, Taoist and Confucianist
ideals. Part cult, part political organization, part religion, it developed quite a
followingVery quickly. As you can imagine, this did not go over well with the South
Vietnamese government or later the Communist government, and for a while Cao Daism
almost died out. Today Cao Daism is once again flourishing, with an estimated 2 million
followers in Vietnam. They have temples throughout South Vietnam and those at Tay Ninh
and Danang are popular tourist sites. (And well worth aVisit!)
After reunification in 1975, the government sought to supress religion and it's
influence on the people. The result is that today, many young people consider
themselves atheists. But as in other Communist countries, religion never really
left Vietnam and today, with a new climate of tolerance, religions of all types
are practiced openly in Vietnam. |
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| Social Norms : |
You can not understand the Vietnamese until you first understand
the importance of the family. As in many other Asian countries, family is
the foundation of Vietnamese society. Many families have 3 generations
living under one roof. Today, however, more and more couples are choosing
to move into their own homes. (And more can afford to do so!)
It is traditional for a married couple to care for the man's parents; subsequently,
it is very important to have a son! If there is only one son, he and his wife
must live with his parents. If there are no sons, one of the daugters may
remain unmarried and care for her parents.
Decision-making is a family affair. As a Vietnamese friend explained,
"In your country, when you turn 18, you can make decisions for yourself. In
Vietnam, when I am 40, if my parents are still alive, I must ask them.
" Little wonder things change slowly here. |
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| CURRENCY |
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| Local Currency : |
| Vietnamese Dong (also called the piastre by older generations). |
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| Exchange Rate : |
| 11,000 Dong to the US dollar. |
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| Exchange Condition : |
You can change cash and travellers' cheques at exchange desks
in big hotels and at authorised foreign exchange banks in the main cities.
Among the banks, Vietcombank usually offers the best exchange rates and
charges the lowest commission (around 1-2%). Note that commission rates are
slightly lower if changing travellers' cheques into dong rather than dollars.
Vietcombank does not levy commission when changing dollars cash into dong, though some
other banks do. It's worth bearing in mind that you get a slightly better
exchange rate for $100 and $50 notes than for smaller denominations. When
cashing travellers' cheques you may be asked for your passport, though this practice
seems to be dying out.
Outside the main cities and tourist areas, authorised foreign exchange banks are few
and far between. So if you're heading off the beaten path, stock up with
enough cash (dollars and dong) to last the trip. Wherever you are, you'll
always find someone willing to change dollars cash into dong, though rates will vary.
When receiving dong, you'll be presented with a huge pile of notes. The largest
bill is only 50,000d (roughly $4), so bear this in mind when changing $100!
Refuse any badly torn notes (you'll find it hard to get rid of them - the same goes
for dollars) and ask for a mix of denominations so that you always have a few low-value
notes in hand. |
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| ATM Usage : |
Institution: ANZ - Vietnam
Address: 14 Le Thai To Street
Location: ANZ Bank
Notes: Accepts MasterCard Cirrus Maestro Veranda |
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| EMERGENCY |
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PassionAsia.com Call Center
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM, except Holidays
Phone : (+66) 2 6415615
Fax : (+66) 2 6414550
Holidays or Emergency Case
Sandee +66 1 172 2970
MAYA +66 1 809 4535
Passion Net Company Limited
23/84 Soi Soonvijai, Rama IX Rd.,
Huay Kwang Bangkapi, Bangkok 10320 THAILAND
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| Embassy : |
| ? British Embassy |
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Hanoi
Website : http://www.uk-vietnam.org/
Address : Central Building 31 Hai Ba Trung
Tel : (84) (4) 8252510 (84) (4) 8267560-5 (84) (4) 8267558-9
Fax : (84) (4) 8265762 |
| ? Canadian Embassy |
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Hanoi
Address : 31 Hung Vuong
Tel : (84) (4) 8235500
Fax : (84) (4) 8235333 |
Ho Chi Minh City
Address : 203 Dong Khoi, Dist 1.
Tel : (84) (8) 8242000
Fax : (84) (8) 8294528 |
| ? US Embassy |
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Hanoi
Address : 7 Lang Ha
Tel : (84) (4) 8431500
Fax : (84) (4) 843 1510 |
| ? Australian Embassy |
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Hanoi
Address : Van Phuc Area
Tel : (84) (4) 8318635
Fax : (84) (4) 8317711 |
Ho Chi Minh City
Address : 5B Ton Duc Thang, Dist 1.
Tel : (84) (8) 822 6205
Fax : (84) (8) 829 6031 |
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| Insurance : |
| Get adequate travel insurance including medical insurance. |
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| Tourist Police : |
| Police |
Tel : 113 |
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| Fire Brigade |
Tel : 114 |
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| Ambulance |
Tel : 115 |
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| HEALTH & SECURITY CONCERN |
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| Cautions : |
Traffic accidents are the single largest health concern in Vietnam.
Helmets should be worn when riding motorbikes and bicycles, whether you are the passenger or the
driver. Be sure your insurance covers you as a driver in Vietnam. If not,
don't drive a motor vehicle - it could nullify your insurance coverage.
Seat belts should be worn at all times in cars. Be sure to have your blood group, insurance cards
and identification readily available in case of an emergency.
Crime does occur in Vietnamese cities and sensible precautions should be taken. There
has been a noticeable increase in robberies in Ho Chi Minh City recently, most involving bag
snatching in backpacker areas. The perpetrators are often riding motorbikes.
Visitors are advised to leave their passports and valuables in a hotel safe. There have
been attacks against ships in and around the South China Sea. Mariners are advised to
be vigilant and take appropriate precautions. Travel is restricted near military
installations and in some border areas. Unexploded mines, bombs and shells are a hazard
in former battlefield areas. |
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| Drinking : |
| Don't drink from the tap, and brush your teeth with safe water.
But drink much boiled or bottled water on a daily basis to stay hydrated.
Also take many fruit juices with ice cubes make from boiled or bottled water. |
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| First-Aid Kit : |
Any personal medication: aspirin or painkillers for fevers and minor
aches and pains; an antiseptic for minor cuts and bites; a digestive preparation to sooth
upset stomach, insect repellent; plasters; scissors, tweezers and a thermometer.
Tiger balm, available at any pharmacy, is Asia's miracle cure-all, relieving headache,
muscle pains, and insect bites. |
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| Hospital, Clinics & Pharmacies : |
| Many medicines sold in many local pharmacies are "copies' of the real
thing. Seek advice from a reliable pharmacy. Pharmacies, called "nha thuoc" in
Vietnamese, can be found on almost every square block of the city. Many medicines
which require prescriptions in the U.S., including many antibiotics, can be purchased
over-the-counter. Antibiotic misuse is widespread as a result, and many bugs
which are easily treatable in the U.S. have become drug-resistant and much more stubborn
here. Treatment requires persistence and often more than one type of antibiotic. |
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| ? Family Medical Practice |
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Address: Building A-1, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound,
Ground Floor, Suite 109-112, Kim Ma Road |
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| ? OSCAT/AEA International Clinic |
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65 Nguyen Du, District 1, HCMC, Hanoi.
Tel : (84) (8) 829 8520
Fax : (84) (8) 829 8551 |
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| Special Dietary : |
| Eat in clean establishments. Fruit and vegetables should
be peeled or thoroughly cleaned and cooked. Precooked foods in street stalls
should be completely avoided. All meat and fish should be thoroughly cooked.
Remember while local dishes are a delightful treat, contaminated food and
drink can cause vomiting, diarrhea, typhoid, and Hepatitis A. |
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| GOODS |
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| Bargaining : |
Bargaining is essential when purchasing most goods or services including
food, transportation, accommodation, and entrance fees. Almost everything is
negotiable in Vietnam (with the notable exception of meals) and bargaining is very much
part of the Vietnamese way of life. All tourists are regarded as wealthy -
which we are compared to most locals - but that doesn't mean you'll always be quoted an
outrageous price; small shopkeepers and restaurateurs will often charge you the local rate.
When bargaining it helps if you know some Vietnamese numbers and have a general idea of
the going rate for the item. Otherwise, the trick is to remain friendly, be
realistic and make the process fun. If you manage to reduce the price by 40%,
you're doing well. In most cases it'll be more like 10-20%. A common
ploy is to start moving away if you're on the verge of agreement. But don't
bargain just for the sake of it - if your price is agreed, then you are honour bound to
purchase. And always keep a sense of perspective: don't waste time and energy
haggling over what only amounts to a few cents. |
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| Shopping : |
| Surprisingly - given the lack of consumer goods produces by Vietnam's
moribund manufacturing sector - shopping is not a complete waste of time in Hanoi.
One seasoned traveller was of the opinion that the city was a "shopper's paradise" with cheap
silk and good tailors, handicrafts and antiques. Hang gai St. is well geared to the
foreign souvenir hunter and stocks an excellent range of cloths, ethnographia, fabrics, and
lacquerware. |
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| Tipping : |
Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but will be greatly appreciated.
Smart hotels and restaurants nowadays add a 10-15% service charge (which should be indicated on
the bill) but elsewhere it's up to you. In most cases, a small of tip of a few thousand
dong will be sufficient.
It's a good idea to tip guides, drivers and anyone else who has provided good service.
Usually one or two dollars will be enough. When deciding how much to give, bear in mind
that the average income in Vietnam is around $250-300 per year (not per month). |
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| WEATHER |
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| Dress : |
| Starting in the north, autumn (September to December) is undoubtedly the
most pleasant season. At this time of year it's generally warm (average temps
above 20°C), dry and sunny in the delta, though you'll need warm clothes up in the mountains
and on the waters of Ha Long Bay. |
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| Temperature : |
| From December to February it can be cool in the north, with an average of
13°C, but warm in the south, averaging 24°C. The monsoon affects everywhere except the centre
from May to September, with temperatures reaching 35°C in the south. Along the
coast of the central region, the months of September to January are the wettest. |
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| Warning : |
| Flights are usually only disrupted for a matter of hours, but in recent
years the main road and rail routes heading south have been cut by floods at least once
during the typhoon season. The good news is that they usually get everything
moving again incredibly quickly - within four or five days, depending on the severity of
the damage. |
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| USAGE |
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| Films : |
| Vietnam is a very photogenic place, so bring lots of films with you. |
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| Voltage : |
| The power supply is 110 and 220 volts, 50 cycles, an AC.
Teo-pin plugs are the norm, but as some are flat pin and others round, visitors are advised
to take an adapter. |
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| International Calls : |
| International Direct Dialing Access Code |
Tel : 00 |
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| International telephone service |
Tel : 110 |
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| International telephone service rate |
Tel : 112 |
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| International telephone service inquires |
Tel : 113 |
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| Domestic Calls : |
| National Domestic Direct Dialing Access Code |
Tel : 0 |
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| Long Distance Domestic telephone service |
Tel : 101 |
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| Directory assistance for long distant domestic telephone service |
Tel : 102 |
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| Operator-assisted long distance domestic telephone service |
Tel : 103 |
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| Phone number inquires |
Tel : 116 |
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