Vietnam Travel Tips

Money
The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). As of the writing, the exchange rate is $1 USD = 19,150 VND. (Always check for current rates)
Major credit cards can be used in most parts of Vietnam, and cash withdrawal from ATMs can be in US Dollars or Vietnamese Dong. Also, most places will accept US Dollars in payment.

Visas
Please note that visas are NOT available on arrival at airports, or at border crossings. A visa must be obtained before travel through a travel agent, or at a Vietnam Embassy or Consulate. Travel Loops can make all visa arrangements for your tour. Please contact us for details on obtaining a visa for Vietnam. 

Language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is part of the Austroasiatic family of languages. Much vocabulary is borrowed from Chinese, and it was formerly written using Chinese characters, although in a somewhat modified form, and the pronunciation was Vietnamese.
It is the language of the vast majority of the Vietnamese people (86%), and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by ethnic minorities in Vietnam. The Vietnamese writing system of today was adapted from the Latin alphabet, with additional diacritics for tones and certain letters.

Internet
Internet access is available at the many internet shops in cities and towns, and in hotels. The cost is from USD $0.5 to $1 an hour.

Telephone
Local and overseas phone calls are available at internet shops and most hotels. SIM cards for your unlocked mobile phone are also readily available.

What to Bring
Vietnam is a topical country so pack accordingly. Insect repellent, sun block, sun glasses, caps or hats, and light clothing are essential. However, in the mountainous north of the country it can get quite cool, so it is advisable to check with your travel company for advice as to what to bring for your trip.  

Travel Around Vietnam
Air
For those with more money than time, domestic flights are the best option to get between major destinations in the north, south and central areas of Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines (VN) has daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue, and Nha Trang. There are also regular flights to Dalat, Buon Ma Thuot, Hai Phong, Na San, Phu Quoc, Qui Nhon, Pleiku, and Vinh. Pacific Airlines offers domestic flights between major cities as well as flights to Bangkok and Taipei at a generally lower rate than Vietnam Airlines.

Sea/River
There is a network of ferries operating between ports, and cruise services are also available.

Rail Service
The rail network in Vietnam is quite extensive, and trains are a very popular means of transportation, especially overnight sleeper trains. The Reunification Express runs the entire coast between Hanoi and HCMC, with stops along the way in Hue, Danang and Nha Trang.  

Road
Traffic drives on the right. The highway network a reasonably well developed. However, roads are often in poor condition and some roads may not be passable in the rainy season. Driving in Vietnam can be a harrowing experience as the normal rules of highway rules are not observed by most drivers. 

Taxis
When taking a Taxi, try to use one of the main taxi companies such as Vinataxi (bright yellow) or Mai Linh (white and green), and there should not be any problem. But make sure you have the address and/or location written down in Vietnamese, as most drivers don’t speak English, and Vietnamese is rather hard to pronounce. Avoid using the smaller, unmarked taxis. Using them can lead no end of difficulties. 

Cyclos
Always agree on your destination and the price before you start. Cyclo trips should cost around 20,000 VND an hour.

Safety
Most places in Vietnam are relatively safe for walking around, but as with anywhere, you need to be aware of your surroundings and who is around you. Pick-pocketing is not unheard of in the cities. It is always advisable to deposit your importance documents and valuables in the hotel safe, or room safety box. When traveling, common sense is always your best guide.

Food & Beverage
In Vietnam now fancy new restaurants are restoring life to old colonial buildings, and modern hotels are encroaching on the skyline. These are just two signs that there is a renaissance going on in Vietnam, and just a few steps down any street you will experience a vibrant and exciting culinary scene.
Early in the morning on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, food stalls appear on the sidewalk in front of old shop houses, and small chairs and tables are set out around steaming hot cauldrons of “ pho” soup, a kind beef broth served with rice noodles and herbs. Other street side restaurants serve open-faced omelets, and vendors with carts full of baguettes, cheese and sausages make sandwiches served with a beverage of young coconut juice, while other vendors wrap sticky rice in a banana leaf.  
The local markets are bustling with activity selling fresh produce from nearby villages, the sea, and the central highlands. All day people crowd the market buying fresh vegetables, fruit, live fish, pickled meats and vegetables, candied fruit, dried and packaged goods, rice and bottles of the pungent fish sauce called “nuoc mam”.
At night, there is an endless stream of vehicles driving through the streets, and people stop to have a beer, or have a meal at the many hundreds of sidewalk restaurants, or at fancy cafes. It is a real sight to behold.
There are seemingly limitless choices for dining in Vietnam.