It
may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion
into Vietnam than it would for another Southeast Asian
country, but Vietnam has much to offer in terms of culture
and sights.
People:
The Vietnamese population exceeds 78.7
million, divided in 54 ethnic groups. The country is
predominantly 85 - 90% Vietnamese (Viet or Kinh), 3% Chinese,
ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham,
and other mountain tribes.
Religion:
There
is no official religion in Vietnam, but Buddhism is
relatively popular. Some of the Catholic churches and
Buddhist pagodas are interesting tourist attractions. There
are religions more specific to the southern regions of the
country such as the Caodai sect, the Hoa Hao sect, and Islam.
Most Vietnamese worship their ancestors.
Languages:
Vietnamese
is the official language; French, Chinese, English, Khmer
and tribal dialects (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are
also spoken.
Culture:
The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese with
minute percentages of Chinese. The Viet culture originated
on the delta of the Red River and the Ma River where the
Viet people cultivated paddy fields. They led a simple
farming life in small villages, usually living around a
communal house. Today the people living in the countryside
follow this lifestyle. The Viet people are influenced by
Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for
their elders.
In
spite of the immense suffering of the Vietnamese and the
somewhat ruined state of the country, they are generally
warm and friendly, and surprisingly, the Vietnamese bear
little if any resentment or bitterness toward Americans.
Children in the streets will commonly greet visitors with
the name Lien Xo, which means Russian, but they will easily
be corrected if you respond, "Hello!" or "Good
morning" and explain you are an American, European or
Australian, etc...
History:
Please check this site! You'll not only find a chronoloical
summary but also a brief history of Vietnam:
http://disc.cba.uh.edu/~lienhoa/history.shtml
Visa:
Passports
and visas are required for entry into Vietnam. The best place to
obtain a visa for Vietnam is Bangkok. The visa will specify where
you will be arriving and where you will be leaving, in addition to
how long you can stay.
Potential
visitors to Vietnam must fill out three applications for entry and
exit visas, accompanied by three passport photos 4cm x 6cm. One of
the applications must be sent to the most convenient diplomatic or
consular mission of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The other two
applications/photos are carried with you and handed in at the first
point of entry.
Money:
The
Dong (D) is the official currency in Vietnam. Its exchange rate is approximatley 1 USD
for 15,000 Dong (Sep. 01). Bank
notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 100, 200, 500,
1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 Dong. Notes
under 200 Dong have little value and are rarely used.
The U.S. dollar is a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign
currencies are not that accepted. US$ 1, US$ 5 and US$ 10 are needed
for tipping and small expenses. Mostly change will be
given in dollars.
You
may bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency but you have
to declare it on the forms provided by customs officers. Foreign
currency can be exchanged for dong at your hotel or at the State
Bank of Vietnam.
Time:
GMT + 7 hours;
Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 14 hours ahead of
Pacific Standard Time.
Climate:
The
weather in the southern part of Vietnam is tropical. It is
monsoonal in the north, bringing a hot, rainy season from
mid-May to mid-September and a warm, dry season from mid-October
to mid-March. Occasional typhoons from May to January
bring extensive flooding to the middle regions of Vietnam.
Health:
- Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination
recommended
-
Malaria: Exists in certain areas in the Falciparum
variety which has been reported being highly resistant to
chloroquine. Take care not to be bitten by mosquitoes
-
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for
travellers arriving from infected areas
-
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Dengue Fever,
Japanese encephalitis, Plague, Rabies, TB, Typhoid in the
Mekong Delta area. Comprehensive medical insurance is
advised
Local customs:
-
Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with officials who will often be
very rigid. In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the best
policy.
-
Small
gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor,
perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated by anyone you wish
to make friends with in Vietnam.
-
Out
of politeness, always ask permission before taking photos of people.
The same rule of thumb also applies to photos taken in places of
worship. Permission will almost always be granted.
-
A
gentle handshake is the most appropriate manner of greeting.
- Be
very discrete about giving anything to beggars frequently
encountered in Ho Chi Minh City. If anyone is seen giving handouts
to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other
beggars. This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it
gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money.
- Beware
of pickpockets. Keep your ID and passport in a safe place and carry
only photocopies of those items.
- Remove
your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas. Small donations placed
in the boxes found in temples are appreciated. It is acceptable to
keep your shoes on within Chinese pagodas.
- Never
let the soles of your feet face other people or any sacred monument,
such as a statue of the Buddha
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