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| Traveller’s Tips |
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Welcome to the
Traveller’s Corner of the Thang Long Travel Ltd website!!!
In this section, you will find helpful information which has
collected from our own experiences as well as from other
travellers’. The information is provided as helpful tips in
preparation for your trip and not to be taken as legal
declarations. Information provided here may be changed without
notice. Would you have special requirements or need further
assistant, our experienced travel agents are more than happy to
help you out. Read up, prepare and enjoy your trips!!!
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| Visas |
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All foreign nationals visiting Vietnam require a
Visa, including overseas Vietnamese who does not hold a current
Vietnam Passport. Visas are strictly enforced in Vietnam
therefore make sure that your visa is valid and clearly contains
all necessary information.
There are several types of Visas available yet the most popular
one is the Tourist Visa. Business Visa is also available but
will require a more rigorous application process and will costs
more to obtain. For further information regarding Business Visa,
please see our travel agents. Tourist Visas in general are available
for single or multiple entries and valid for 1 to 6 months.
Visas must be obtained prior to your departure and normally
take 5 working days or more for processing. Once issued, the
Visa’s holder must enter the country within 90 days. You can
apply for a Visa directly at your local Vietnam Consulate offices.
However it is much easier, faster and cheaper to have your travelling
agency to apply the Visa as well as other travelling documents
for you. Talk to our experienced travel agents today for more
information
Tips.
While in Vietnam, make several copies of your visa as well as
other important documents. Keep the originals in a safe place
and have a copy of each in your wallet or pocket while roaming
around the country. This would save you a lot of hassle, time
and expense should you lose your Visa or other documents while
in Vietnam.
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| Customs |
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| Despite a significant amount of improvements in
the recent days, entering Vietnam can still be very
bureaucratic; you will have forms to fill in and pieces of paper
to keep. Make sure to keep and take good care of all forms and
papers issued to you upon arrival; they must be presented upon
departure! Unable to produce customs paperwork can be costly,
time consuming and possibly delay your departure.
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| Time |
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| Vietnamese time is GMT + 7 and there
is no Day-Light-Saving time. Official working hour is from 08:00
to 17:00, Monday to Friday. Some businesses also open Saturday
morning. Mid-day naps are widely accepted in the country
therefore don’t expect much work done from around 1130 to 1330.
Most service providers and hospitality premises are available
all day long, 7 days a week though.
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| Currency |
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The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnam Dong
(VND or D). The government is trying to enforce all
business transactions in Vietnam are made in VND. Certain
establishments are officially licensed to trade in US
currency. In the reality, US dollars are in fact the most
welcome currency nation-wide. Please note that paying in
VND however gets you a better deal most of the time than
paying directly in US dollars. Also, US bills in large
denominations such as 50 or 100 in general have more value
than small changes such as 1 or 5 dollar bills.
VND bills available in (thousands) 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
and 500. Coins value of 1,000 and 2,000 were recently
distributed.
Even though traveller’s cheques and credit cards are
accepted at most major cities, restaurants, hotels,
tourist and business premises, their acceptance is very
limited; some pocket cash therefore is a good idea. It is
a good practice to have around US100.00 equivalence of VND
in your pocket for miscellaneous transaction. Currency
exchange spots however are widely available. Exchange rate
varies from one to the other.
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| Tipping |
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| Tipping is not expected but definitely appreciated.
Some of the more expensive restaurants and hospitality
premises, a 10 to 15% tip is automatically included. About
0.50 to 1.00 US is considered acceptable for a chambermaid
or porter.
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| Language |
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| The official language is Vietnamese; however French,
English, Russian and Chinese are spoken to varying degrees
in different parts of the country. English tends to be the
frequently used in most tourist areas and by far is the
most popular language, second only to the Vietnamese.
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| Communication |
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International dialling code for Vietnam is
+84. Public telephones are widely available and present in
various forms, from business booths to in-house stalls of
the local residents. Facsimile services are can be done at
post office outlets. To make an international calls from
Vietnam first dial 00 + country code + area code +
telephone number. You can also call the operator for
assistance.
Mobile phones in the recent days have become a fashionable
services for the local, they are available everywhere.
There are several mobile service providers. Three of the
most popular ones are Mobiphone (090), Vinaphone (091) and
Sfone (095). Mobile phones are affordable and are
recommended, at least for urgent and important calls. Most
tri-band gsm phones from North America are compatible with
Mobiphone and Vinaphone systems.
Emails and internet access are also widely available.
Internet cafes can be found through out the country and
are relative cost little. Most places however are pretty
crowded, dirty, noisy and very slow. High end cafes,
hotels and tourist areas often offer better faster and
better internet service, they normally cost a bit more
though. Wireless access is also available. Keep in mind
that the country has a national firewall and some websites
may be filtered.
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| Electricity |
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| Mostly 220 V AC, 50 cycles, however
some places also offer 110V at 50Hz. Be aware that the current
and voltage can be grossly un-regulated so sensitive appliances
may not perform reliably, even with adapters. In the south, AC
outlets tend to be the 2 flat pin plugs, while the north widely
uses the round 2 pin style plugs.
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| Food and Water |
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| Avoid using ice cubes and stick to
(sealed) bottled water. Better yet, use only bottled water from
well-known name. Eating on the street is fun, tasty and cheap.
However be very careful since they may cause some stomach
problems.
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| Medical Access |
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| International standard healthcare facilities are
limited to Hanoi and Saigon. Most medical services,
especially those geared for tourists, are reasonably good
and of high quality. Away from major cities, medical
services can be poor and rare. Comprehensive health
insurance for travellers, covering evacuation, is
recommended. Please consult with your family’s doctor or
your local traveller’s clinic prior to the trip.
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| Transportations |
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| Transportations
in Vietnam are available in various
forms by land, sea and air.
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| Etiquette/Dress Code |
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| In recent years young Vietnamese have enthusiastically
embraced Western fashions and culture but away from the
beach revealing clothes are still considered quite
shocking and disrespectful. Modest dress is recommended in
Vietnam - avoid short skirts, shorts and sleeveless
clothing. Dress even more respectably when visiting
temples and churches ensuring that shoulders and legs are
covered.
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| International Diplomatic Offices |
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Please refer to the link below for offices of
international relation in Vietnam:
http://www.link.com/
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