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Visa procedure Most visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Visas are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement with Vietnam, tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days. Tourist visa can only be obtained in Vietnamese embassies, consulates abroad. Otherwise, you can get a visa at the border gates if you are invitees of some Vietnamese competent organs or you are travelling on a package tour organized by Vietnamese travel companies. To apply for a visa, the requirements are as follows: Entry permit form (which can vary from one Vietnamese embassies or consulate abroad to another) - There are two categories of this form: for foreigners and for Vietnamese overseas. Two photos (4cmx6cm or 3cmx4cm) Original passport Visa fee.
You
should send your application and photos to a Vietnamese embassy or
consulate abroad, which is most convenient to you. On your requirement,
the reply will be returned by post (you must provide stamped envelopes
with your name and address). Full name Birthday and place of birth Nationality Job number of your passport Entry and exit dates Country you plan to receive your entry visa from the Vietnamese embassies or consulates Vietnamese overseas are required to provide more information: Year and reason to leave Vietnam Leave Vietnam by means Full names and addresses of relations in Vietnam Visa exemption: Not more than 30 days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos. Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. (Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders are exempted from visa requirements to enter Japan). French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges. Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other's territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.
Geography The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a sovereign and reunified independent country, has a high percentage of territorial waters. It stretches along the Pacific coast nor far from the shipping lanes to the Indian Ocean. Vietnam's coast line is 3,260 km long and its inland border measures 3,730 km. The country's total length, from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, is 1,650 km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600 km at the widest point in the north, 400 km in the south, and 50 km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. There are four geographic sections in Vietnam, ranging from rugged mountains to marshy fertile flatlands. Vietnam's "S" shape takes it from China, in the north, the Gulf of Thailand in the south. In the north, there are mountains that extend up to 3.143 m at Fan Si Pan, the highest point in Vietnam; the east and southeast consists of the Red River Delta, an alluvial plain; south of this Delta is the Truong Son (Annam Highlands) which is considered to be the backbone of Vietnam. A plateau (Central Highlands) also occupies this area and can be found between Cambodia and the South China sea. The Mekong Delta is located in the southernmost portion of Vietnam and makes up a fertile, marshy flatland that goes from the Central Highlands (north of it) south to the mangrove swamps on the Ca Mau peninsula. The Red River and the Mekong River are navigable in their entirety and are considered to be the two major rivers in Vietnam. To help prevent flooding in their deltas, a system of dikes and canals has been erected. This has helped improve farming in the Mekong Delta due to salt water flooding from the South China Sea, especially during the long, wet monsoon season.
Climate Due to the range of latitudes and altitudes, the country has a diverse climate. Technically, Vietnam is considered a tropical country, but the winters get quite cold in the north, and monsoon seasons do occur. Average temperatures tend to rise the further south you go, and there is less seasonal variation. April is the hottest month, with average temperatures ranging from 76 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. December is the coolest month with temperatures mostly from 71 to 87 degrees. The north varies more due to its altitude, and has January as its coolest month with temperatures averaging 56 to 68 degrees. The average temperature in the north is about 81 degrees F (27 degrees C) and in the south a nice 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) and is generally humid. Two monsoons control the weather, one is considered to be a dry monsoon which occurs mainly in the north from about October/November to March. The other brings wet, warm weather to the entire country, with the exception of the mountainous areas, from April/May to October. July and August are considered to be the hottest and most humid months . Vietnam's coastal location means that coastal fog and mist occur in the northern and central regions. Finally, remember that humidity, a serious component of Vietnam's weather, intensifies the heat..
People & Etiquette Vietnamese: The people of Vietnam have a unique and fascinating culture that has been shaped by thousands of years of history. Their culture has been influenced by many other civilizations: the ancient peoples that once inhabited the land, the Chinese, the French, and most recently, the Americans and Russians. From all these outside influences, and centuries of war, oppression, and hardship, they have formed, and maintained their culture. The people of Vietnam are hard working and feel strong ties to their families. They are well versed in the arts, and have made several contributions to the world of literature. Aside from their painful history, the Vietnamese people have a culture and many customs, all their own. Vietnam is a multi-ethnic state with fifty four ethnic groups living on the Vietnamese territory. The Viet (Kinh) account for over 85% of the population, the other ethnic minorities mostly inhabit the mountainous areas. Vietnamese are concious of their individual ‘personality’, as reflect in the old saying: “ each one enjoys the fruits of one ‘s own merits, and must bear the consequences of one’s offenses”. Talent, personality and dignity are highly valued by the Vietnamese. It is likely that in the future development of our society, individual personality will have an ever clearer and more important role.
Lifestyle Lifestyle, to some extents, is seen in people's costume. Men and women often wear loose-fitting cotton tops and dark pants in the countryside whereas urban youth of both sexes now prefer jeans or trousers. Thongs and sandals are commonly used. Hats inscribed with logos of foreign firms or sport clubs are favorite items. In rural areas, shoes cannot be used in water-logged rice fields. People of both sexes often wear wide, conical-shaped hats that may shield their bodies from scorched sun or torrential rains. In Vietnam, on some special occasions, Vietnamese girls and women wear traditional costume, called ao dai (long dress), a full-length, high-necked tunic slit to the waist. It often matches with white or black satin or silk pants. Feminine high-heeled sandals made of wood, called "guoc", complete the long dress ensemble.
Religion Most Vietnamese practices ancestor worship. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors come back to earth on specific days, and throughout the year they pay high respects to them. To people who follow their ancestors, there is always a small alter to the ancestors of the family where they burn incense, have food offerings and pictures of their deceased family members. The major religious traditions in Vietnam are: - Buddhism: Was first introduced to Vietnam in the 4th century B.C., and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century). It was then regarded as the official religion dominating court affairs. Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people's daily life. Its influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture. As such, many pagodas and temples were built during this time. - Catholicism: Catholicism was introduced to Vietnam in the 17th century. At present the most densely-populated Catholic areas are Bui Chu-Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Ho Nai-Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province to the South. About 10 percent of the population are considered Catholic. - Protestantism: Protestantism was introduced to Vietnam at about the same time as Catholicism. Protestantism, however, remains an obscure religion. At present most Protestants live in the Central Highlands. There still remains a Protestant church on Hang Da Street in Hanoi. The number of Protestants living in Vietnam is estimated at 400,000. - Islamic: Islamic followers in Vietnam are primarily from the Cham ethnic minority group living in the central part of the central coast. The number of Islamic followers in Vietnam totals about 50,000. - Caodaism: Caodaism was first introduced to the country in 1926. Settlements of the Cao Dai followers in South Vietnam are located near the the Church in Tay Ninh. The number of followers of this sect is estimated at 2 million. - Hoahaoism : Hoahaoism was first introduced to Vietnam in 1939. More than 1 million Vietnamese are followers of this sect. Most of them live in the western part of South Vietnam.
CURRENCY: The currency of Vietnam is the dong (VND). Notes are available in paper denominations of 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100 VND, and also in metal denomination of 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 d. Throughout the country, American dollars are widely accepted. However, the bills must be relatively new with no markings or tears. Several big cities are used Euro currency. Traveler’s cheques are easily exchangeable in banks. Credit cards are becoming more popular, especially in the major hotels and restaurants of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
OFFICE HOURS
All Government offices are
open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.( with a one-hour lunch break) from
Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are holiday.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Vietnam Traditional Lunar New Year Festival - Tet Nguyen Dan: (Four day holiday). Tet holiday usually falls at the end of January or middle of February by solar calendar. The holiday begins on the even of the last lunar month and lasts through the first three days of the Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
0
- National Domestic Direct Dialing Access Code
TELECOMMUNICATION How to make long - Distance calls
To provinces & cities
within Vietnam:
To other countries: |
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