Vietnam

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Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Motorbikes, bicycles, cars and then buses.

Maps of urban networks

Vietnam Department of Survey and Mapping
Google Map

Transportation from Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car rental
Hanoi - Noibai (HAN)	22 km / 14 miles	USD 10 / 40-50 min	USD 3 / 40 min
Haiphong - Cat Bi (HPH)	6 km / 4 miles	USD 4 / 20 min

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Mainly in motorbikes, cars and coaches. Then train, boat and plane.

Rail companies

Vietnam Railways

Airlines

You can consult the list of airlines banned within the EU. Look also the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

There are good taxi networks in big cities. Taxis are affordable and the best way to travel. 1USD for the first 1,5km. There is also a good network of buses. Taxi drivers in big cities can speak English, Chinese.

Road maps

Vietnam Department of Survey and Mapping

Find an itinerary

Vietnam Department of Survey and Mapping

Different forms of tourism

Historical

- In the North: temples and pagodas, old towns...
- In the Centre: Hue imperial palace/ tombs, Panguranda, Pagodas, Old Towns ...
- In the South: palaces, museums, theatres, churches, Cu Chi Tunnel, markets...

Cultural

Festivals and Ceremonies

Vietnam Traditional Clothes

Vietnam Traditional musics and Traditional instruments

Vietnam Religions

Vietnam Arts

Nature

National Parks and Natural Reserves (Cuc Phuong, Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Yok Don...)

Religious

Pagodas where buddists ceremonies are conducted. There are three important buddhist festivals following lunar calendar, in mid January, mid April and mid July.

Churchs: The most important festival in the year is Christmas.

Temples: There are temples of other religions as Hoa Hao, Khome...

Thermal

Water Parks in the big cities:

Dam Sen Warter Park - 

Suoi Tien Water Park  (in Hochiminh City)

Ho Tay Water Park  (in Ha Noi city).

Beaches in the whole country

Beach

The beaches of Vietnam stretch out from the North to the South. Tourists can bathe, taste sea foods, take a boat or canoe to get to islands.

Winter sports

No

Outdoor activities

Picnics, mountain climbing, boating, visiting fruit farms...

Shopping

The most popular items for foreign travellers are:
- Carved wooden furniture, fine lacquerware (these can be shipped home on request).
- Ao dai, Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk dresses, kimonos, embroideries...
- Antiques, fine ceramics, old watches or Zippo lighters...
- XQ hand embroidery Painting, Copies of famous paintings.

They are sold in most touristic destinations.

Tourism organizations

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

Health and safety

Health precautions

Vaccination for children is free and mandatory in Vietnam. For visitors, vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes advised. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. However, pasteurised milk is widely available now.  Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

International hospitals

Familly Medical Practice, FV Hospital

 

For further information on sanitary conditions

Ministry of Health

For further information on safety conditions

The Government Website - Department of Safety and Security.

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference

It is %T:%M %A in Hanoi (GMT+7)

Summer time period

No