Worldview Tour

INDIA ESCORTED/HOSTED


	18 DAYS FAR EAST EXPLORER

	9 DAYS THAILAND EXPLORER

	8 DAYS VIETNAM IMPRESSIONS

	9 DAYS THE BEST OF MYANMAR

	4 DAYS CLASSIC CAMBODIA

	7 DAYS CAMBODIA - DISCOVERY

	5 DAYS LAOS - CLASSIC

VIETNAM - Practical Information

Vietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, covers an area of 332,000 square kilometers. It shares common borders with China, Laos, and Cambodia. With a population of more than 80 million, it is the most densely populated country in Southeast Asia. The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese. Other ethnic groups include Chinese, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man and Cham. Vietnam's topography varies from low, flat delta in the south and north to hilly, mountainous terrain in the central, far north and northwest. Three-quarters of Vietnam is hilly or mountainous. Hanoi is the capital, and Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon) is the largest city in the country.

Vietnam , once a forbidden country for tourists, now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors (with numbers increasing) every year. Rich culture, strong tradition, and a patriotic people characterize this fascinating country. This exotic destination offers such wonders as magical islands set in pristine waters as well as historic and cultural sites like temples, pagodas and churches. Traveling to Vietnam will be an unforgettable experience and will leave visitors deeply impressed.

CLIMATE

Vietnam shares borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and features 3,200 km of coastline bordering the Eastern Sea. With an area of 332,000 square km, Vietnam's topography varies from coastal plains to mountain ranges. Vietnam stretches over 1,800 km from north to south; therefore weather patterns in the principle cities are very different.

North:
Winter lasts from November to April, with temperatures averaging 10 - 16C, fog and drizzle in January - March. Summer begins in May and lasts until October, with an average temperature of 30C, heavy rainfall and the occasional violent typhoon.

Center: Central Vietnam experiences a transitional climate, with heavy rainfalls between November and December and dry, hot summer months.

South: Temperatures are fairly constant through the year; 25C - 30C. Seasons are determined by the rains - the dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October. The hottest period is March and April. Typhoons are quite common in coastal areas between July and November.

PASSPORT AND VISAS
Travelers to Vietnam are required to hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond the completion of their visit and must contain a valid visa. Visas are usually issued by the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok or in the passengers home country (against the visa's approval number), which require the original passport, and 2 photos and for 2 (two) full working days in order to issue a visa stamp.

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE
The local currency is the Dong (abbreviated "d" or VND). Bank notes are 100d, 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d & 500,000d. Coins include 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2000d & 5000d. Money and travelers checks, particularly U.S. Dollars, can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized money- exchangers. It is advisable to carry U.S. Dollar bills in small denominations. Credit cards are generally only accepted in major hotels, and in some up-market shops and restaurants in major cities. ATM facilities are readily available now in major cities only

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
No actual vaccinations are officially required. Visitors are advised to check with their doctor or travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A & B and Malaria. Those visitors taking medicine for certain conditions such as diabetes or heart problems should make sure that they carry these medications in their carry-on at all times in case the checked baggage should be delayed.

LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Learning foreign languages, particularly English, is currently popular among young people in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Danang and other cities.

LOCAL TIME
Local time is GMT + 7 hours.

SHOPPING
Foreign visitors to Vietnam have the opportunity to buy souvenirs made of rattan, gold, silver and stone. There is a diverse range of products, from woodenwares such as wooden buttons or sindora beds to lacquer paintings, bowls and chopsticks, bamboo screens and stone tea sets. Woven tapestries, "tho cam" handbags and other handicrafts are produced by the traditional skills of the women of ethnic minorities in such rural regions in the north as Sapa, Mai Chau and Dien Bien.