OVERVIEW
Capital: Hanoi
Currency: Dong (VND)
Language: Vietnamese. In tourist centers, some speak a little English, but most do not. In remote areas, English can be very rare. Some older Vietnamese will speak more French than English.
ATM Networks: Common in both large and small cities. Payment with credit card is not very widespread practice for Vietnamese, however the tourist places accept credit card (hotels, shops, restaurants, etc). See Money Suggestions for Travelers in Vietnam
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz with s Type A, Type C and Type D plugs
Internet: 74% slower than in U.S. WiFi coverage iis low. It is not as easy to find one.
Water: Not safe to drink
Tipping: Not part of the culture
Weather: September through the end of the year and March and April are the best overall times to visit weather wise
Airport
Hanoi: ATMs of Vietnamese banks available at arrival areas. Public Transportation: Buses 7, 17 and 90 stop at both terminals and tickets cost 5,000 VND. It takes about an hour to the city center. Buses run every 15 -
Ho Chih Minh: Taxis: The main taxi queue is on your left upon exit through the main door on the ground floor of the terminal building. Ask the driver to turn the meter on. The fare to most hotels in District 1 should be around 150,000 – 170,000 VND and plus an extra 10,000 VND to cover Airport surcharge. Always carry small change as many drivers prefer not to change large notes. Bus: #152 is the cheapest option. It passes major hotels along De Tham Street and Dong Khoi Street. Inform the driver in advance so that it stops directly in front of your hotel. Minibuses and cyclos (motorcycle taxis) are available but prices have to be negotiated
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WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO GO -
Hanoi: One of the most beautiful of the colonial Indochinese cities, Hanoi is often the start or end point of a trip to Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City: Vietnam’s largest and most exciting city.
Hoi An: Canary yellow houses draped in bougainvillea, rickety wooden shops aglow with red silk lanterns, rippling green fields of rice, basket
When to Go
There is no perfect time to visit Vietnam. Generally speaking, destinations in the north such as Hanoi and Sapa are great in October, November and December, as you’ll see little rain and should have clear skies and temperate conditions.
Saigon and the Mekong Delta are best from November through to February or March. Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue see heavy rain and frequent flooding in October and November.
Stay Away During the Tet Holidays
Tet celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese lunar calendar, usually falling in January or February. The holiday officially lasts for a week, with weekends padding on extra days. But whatever the dates, the serious mass migration and holiday begins one week before and lingers one week after, effectively creating three weeks of chaos for travelers. In 2019 Vietnam's Tet runs officially from February 2 to 10.
