TRAVEL TIPS

Vietnam is located on the eastern edge of Southeast Asia and immediately below China. Vietnam is slightly larger than the U.S. state of New Mexico. Vietnam is shaped like a twisted barbell with large fertile deltas on the two weighted ends joined by a relatively narrow strip of mountains and sea coast. The population is roughly 80 million making it the largest country by population in mainland Southeast Asia.

• Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital. It is located on the banks of the Red River. Emperor Ly Thai To established the court of Thang Long (Ascending Dragon) on this site in the year 1010. Then over the centuries the city’s name changed several times. In 1831, Emperor Tu Duc christened it Hanoi (City in a Bend of the River). From 1902 to 1953 Hanoi was the Capital of French Indochina. As a result, Hanoi still possesses one of the finest remaining clusters of French colonial architecture in the region. Nowadays, as well as being Vietnam’s political center, Hanoi has long been the country’s artistic and cultural heart. Visitors can explore the Temple of Literature, an ancient university where the first scholars enrolled in 1070, the Old Quarter of Hanoi, art galleries, Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake’s Tran Quoc Pagoda, as well as visit the President Ho Chi Minh’s imposing stone mausoleum.
• Ho Chi Minh City is the southern city formerly called Saigon. There’s a saying that " Ho Chi Minh City never sleeps". It is the nation’s dynamic future. Following the withdrawal of the French in the 1960s, and influence by the Americans in the early ‘70s, Saigon became the center of commercial activity for the nation. Today Saigon boast many first class hotels and restaurants but tree lined streets, restored colonial era villas and a very active center built around river commerce on the Mekong River give Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City a charm all its own. Come here for business but take time to enjoy the fine food and the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality.
• Hue was the capital of the Nguyen dynasty that survived into the late 1800s. It sits on the banks of the Perfume River. Hue offers an atmosphere of regal serenity. Visitors can rent bicycles and explore the elegant French-built area on the south bank of the river, much of which was rebuilt after sustaining substantial damage during the Vietnam War. Other pleasant activities are to peddle through quiet gardens, visit ancient pagodas, palaces, stone monuments, lotus ponds and mausoleums, or take a boat trip on the Perfume River.
• Halong Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders, with mystical landscape of turquise water and limestone islands. It has more than 3,000 islands. The best way to appreciate this magical scene is from a boat cruising between cliffs. Take a swim in the clear waters and enjoy the fresh seafood from vendors in small boats. Halong means "where the dragon descends into the sea", in reference to the bay’s legendary origins. According to an ancient tale, Halong Bay was formed by a dragon, which descended from the northern mountains. When the dragon sank into the sea, water flowed into these valleys, leaving thousands of steep peaks.
• Danang has the French-built museum that houses the world’s finest collection of ancient Cham stone carvings. From the 2nd to 15th centuries, the land around Danang was ruled by the Chams, an Indianised people who built brick temple towers in honor of Hindu gods. A 40 minute drive from Danang, Vietnam’s fourth largest city, visitors can enjoy Hoi An, a little town which dates from early Portuguese trading days. Hoi An is now a World Heritage site in recognition of the large number of remaining historical structures. Hoi An offers ancient Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture. Another 60 km from Danang is located another world heritage site, My Son. Visitors can glimpse into the ancient culture and Cham statues of this fascinating site. Danang also has beautiful beaches and is known as a tropical paradise. From the road side you can enjoy the most spectacular ocean views in all of Asia.
• Nha Trang, a fishing town on the central coast of Vietnam, has several unusual sites that visitors should not miss. These include a group of 9th century Cham towers and a stunning, 14 metre tall statue of the Buddha in white that can be viewed for miles. Nha Trang has some of Vietnams nicest beaches and is a great place to enjoy Vietnamese seafood dishes. It also is famous for the beautiful uninhabited islands that lie a short boat trip off shore and is a great place for a discovery boat trip and peaceful hours of exploring hidden coves and soaking up the tropical sun.
• Sapa is in Vietnam’s remote northern mountains, the former French military outpost. It offers the beauriful views of Vietnam’s highest peak, the 3,143 metre Mount Fansipan. The surrounding valleys feature terraced rice paddies and green fields. Visitors can browse in the traditional market or hike into the valleys and explore the surrounding ethnic minority villages.
• Dalat is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful resort areas. Vietnam’s last emperor, Bao Dai, built a summer home in Dalat in 1933. Now open to the public, visitors can enoy the art deco architecture of the royal villa, its surrounding gardens and beautiful view of Dalat and the hills beyond. Dalat sits at an elevation of 1,475 meters, and is surrounded by forests, coffee plantations and gardens. It is often called the "City of Eternal Spring". Dalat’s temperatures is usually between a cool 15 and 24 degrees Celcius. Dalat is also famous for its golf course, colonial-era villas, stone churches, Xuan Huong Lake, town market and orchid garden, where visitors can see rare blue orchids.
• Phan Thiet is a seaside resort an approximately three hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Until recently the area was a sleepy fishing village but now boasts an impressive golf course and several world class hotel complexes. It is a great location for a quiet chance to enjoy the sun and recharge the batteries. There also are nearby some impressive 8th century Cham towers and just to the east of the town is Cape Mui Ne, a 21 km. arc of sandy beach where there is still little development.
• Can Tho is the largest city in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta Region. The City is a quiet Market town several hours by road south of Ho Chi Minh City. Life in this region is built around the areas numerous rivers and streams. Travel by boat is recommended to see life in the rural south in all its charming simplicity. Although the area does not have a great deal of modern attractions, Can Tho and the delta areas charm is in the obvious bounty of the agricultural life that dominates this region.
• Can Doa is a beautiful southern island resort. In colonial times, this island, which is the largest of a whole group of islands was the site of the French prison where many Vietnamese patriots were held for political crimes against the colonial authorities. Today the island can be reached by a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Here tourists can find a quiet retreat for those who want to get away for a unhurried rest. Visitors can come and watch the islands fishing folk and enjoy walking in still virgin rain forest and along unspoiled beaches where rare sea turtles come to lay their eggs.

Local currency is the Dong (VND). The approximate exchange rate for the US Dollar (USD) is around 15,000 VND = $1 USD

If you wallet is lost or stolen while you are overseas, you will immediately need to report the loss to the local authorities (your hotel Concierge can help with this) and cancel all your credit cards. First steps should be to call the hotel operator and get the phone number of the local number for American Express, Diners, Mastercard and Visa. If the hotel cannot provide this information, please call the U.S. Embassy Consular Section and they should be able to help you. If your credit card company does not have an office in the country you are visiting, the best alternative is to call your family and have them call the U.S. number and cancel the card. They can also inquire how and where you can get a new card reissued either in the country you are visiting or in a following stop.

If you have properly prepared for your trip and followed the security and other travel tips given in the first steps portion of this page, chances are you will not be a victim of a crime. In the less likely event that you do find yourself a victim, you should report the crime to the hotel security staff and to the U.S. Embassy Consular Section. Both the hotel staff and the Embassy staff will endeavor to help you report the crime to local police and get any required copy of the police report, which may be necessary for insurance purposes.

In the major Vietnamese cities, there is generally good quality medical facilities that can provide most basic medical support. The International Hospitals are preferable to the local facilities. However, in the countryside this is oftentimes not the case.

Further, many of the high tech and even basic procedures practiced in the U.S., Canada and Europe in the event of a heart attack or other medical emergency are not as readily available in Vietnam. Therefore, before you travel, especially to some of the lesser developed provinces of Vietnam, the most important thing you can do is to get medical insurance that will pay for a medical evacuation in the unlikely event that your require this service. Every year thousands of Americans fall sick overseas only to find out that the local foreign hospital often requires payment upfront for medical services and that their medical insurance will not cover the cost of medical evacuation to the nearest western quality medical facility specializing in dealing with the medical condition that ails them. Get additional insurance if necessary but ensure you have medical coverage that will protect you on your trip.

Second, make sure you review your vaccination record and get any necessary shots.

When traveling to Vietnam, have an adequate supply of any regular medications you take. Also take headache medications, Band-Aids, ointment, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. Chances are you will have a great trip and won’t have a problem but it is always better to be prepared so that your relatives aren’t required to try to assist you from around the world and you don’t have to deal with a medical emergency in a new and difficult environment.