Fred Bowen
The overall trip was excellent. Especially pleased by the hotel in Hoian- SUPER! Thank you so much-
W F Bowen
wfredb@yahoo.com
N.Tsukahara
| "Thanks to you, we enjoyed our trip very much. Vangvieng has splendid view and is like an Utopia for us, and the hotel we stayed is very good, too. We also enjoyed two days' Mekong cruise in Luang Prabang. Anyway, Thank you very much for everything !!" |
|
N. Tsukahara |
| rmpdq010@ybb.ne.jp |
| Osaka, Japan |
R.Ford
| "We are delighted to recommend Lai Phuong and Vietnam Explorer Travel. She has assisted us with dozens of travel details and travel itineraries for nearly a decade to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, USA, and all around Asia. Phuong provides truly first class service from A to Z. She is also a true expert on travel routes and accommodations throughout Vietnam. We give her our highest recommendation, 5 + stars!" |
|
Roger H. Ford, Ph. D. |
| ford@southchinaseadev.com |
| South China Sea Development Company, Limited (BVI) |
Ann Smith
|
Dear Ms Phuong, |
| Ann Smith |
| fallsgall@pnc.com.au |
| Sydney, Australia |
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Vietnam Fact Sheet
Vietnam stretches south from the Chinese border along the east coast of the Indochina Peninsula. The country has a complex geography with soaring mountains, fertile delta plains, winding rivers and long sandy tropical beaches. In reality Vietnam is a country of outstanding natural beauty; some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia can be found along the coastline of Vietnam.
The larger towns and cities are emerging into the 21st Century, yet they have retained much of the colonial charm and beauty in the architecture, parks and boulevards left behind by the French. The people of Vietnam are gentle, hard working and welcoming visitors. Spiritual life in Vietnam is a mix of beliefs including Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism (triple religion), with a blend of Roman Catholicism, Cao Dai and Hinduism.
Area:331,210 km2
128,565 sq mi
Capital: Hanoi
Official language: Vietnamese
National Airlines: Vietnam Airlines ( wwww.vietnamairlines.com)
National Flowers: Lotus
National Dress: " Áo Dài"
National Flag: red background with yellow star at the center
National (Main) Religion: Buddhism
Unesco ranked world heritages( as of Jan 2015):
1993- Hue Complex of Monuments-
1994- Halong Bay
1999- Hoian Ancient Town
1999- My Son Sanctuary
2003- Phong Nha Ke Bang
2010- Thang Long Imperial Citadel
2011- Ho Dynasty Citadel
2015- Trang An & Bai Dinh pagoda
Besides these 8 World Heritage Sites, there are also other UNESCO recognized heritages in Vietnam. These are:
Nhã Nhạc Cung Đình Huế ( Hue Royal Court Music ) - recognized as World Oral History Treasure and Intangible Culture in 2003
Không Gian Văn Hóa Cồng Chiêng Tây Nguyên (Tay Nguyen Gong Music ) - recognized as masterpiece of the oral and intangible culture of humanity in 2005
Dân Ca Quan Họ (Bac Ninh Alternate Singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009
Ca Trù (Ca Tru singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009
Hội Gióng ( Giong Festival) -recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010
Hát Xoan (Xoan Singing ) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011
Tín Ngưỡng Thờ Hùng Vương ( King Hung Vuong worship tradition) - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012
Đờn Ca Tài Tử - recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013
Mộc Bản Triều Nguyễn -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2009
Bia Tiến Sĩ Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám ( Temple of Literature's 82 Doctorate Steles period 1442-1779) -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2010
Mộc Bản Kinh Phật Chùa Vĩnh Nghiêm ( Bắc Giang) -recognized as Vietnam's first The World Documentary in 2012
Vietnam's World Biosphere Reserves: Can Gio Mangrove (2000), Cat Tien national park (2001), Mui Ca Mau (2009), ChamIsland (2009).
Island Lists: North (Bạch Long Vĩ,Cát Bà, Tuần Châu, Cô Tô, Vân Đồn), Centre ( Cù Lao Chàm, Cù Lao Xanh, Cồn Cỏ,Lý Sơn, Trường Sa, Hoàng Sa), South( Cần Giờ, Hà Tiên, Côn Đảo, Phú Quốc, Phú Quý, Côn Đảo, Long Sơn, Thổ Chu, Bà Lụa) etc...
National Day: 2nd September
Ethnic minority Groups: 54
Country Population: 91,949,482 citizents ( statistic 2014)
Biggest City: Ho Chi Minh City ( fomerly known as Saigon)
Three biggest telephone service providers: MOBIFONE, VINAPHONE,VIETEL
International Airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), NoiBai Airport (Hanoi) and Danang Airport( Danang)
CURRENCY
Vietnamese Dong (VND); ATMs and Money changers throughout the country. Currently 21,230 Dong is equal to 1 USD.
VISA
To enter Vietnam you will require a passport (with at least 7 months remaining validity after trip completion) and a tourist visa for most foreigners arrival the country except certain visa exemption cases thanks to state agreements. Obtaining a single entry, 30-day tourist visa is easy. Please inform us at the start if you wish a longer stay and multiple entries. Visa extensions can usually be obtained once in Vietnam. Please scan or show us your original visa page. Rates vary, as does the official policy regarding extensions. Before you travel, check your passport to ensure that there is room for a visa and entry/exit stamps (at least three pages).More details, please look at “ Service” section.
GETTING HERE
Vietnam has three international airports: TanSonNhat Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), NoiBai Airport (Hanoi) and Danang Airport( Danang). These airports are well connected to major Asian cities with increasing international connections. At the time of this website updates, there are three airlines operating domestically such as Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Airlines. So far many world airlines have expanded their wings to Vietnam including Air France, China Southern Airlines , China Airlines , Air China , Singapore Airlines , Japan Airlines , Malaysia Airlines , All Nippon Airways , Lufthansa Airlines , Hongkong Airlines , Eva Airways , Etihad Airways , Cambodia Angkor , Thai Airways , Asiana Airlines , Aeroflot Airlines ,Qantas Air, Air Asia, American Airlines, Cebu Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Laos Airlines & All Nippon Airways. More details, please look at “ Service” section.
TRANSPORTATION
Much of Vietnam's modern transport network was originally developed under French rule to facilitate the transportation of raw materials, and was re-constructed and extensively modernized following the Vietnam War. The state’s Reunification Express Trains from the North to the South have been run several times per day whist at certain routes, some private business companies can offer their comparative services giving more choices for visitors. Sleeper cars are available for long trips ( North to South and vice versa, or Sapa trip..). Ticket classes, depending on routes include normally hard seat, soft seat, hard berth or soft berth compartments for overnight trips. Some train routes have dining cars but meals are excluded from the fare. For short distance travel within cities or town, one can easy find suitable means of transportation at local rate as xe om ( meaning motorbike hugs) , taxi, city bus services or cyclo and electric cars in certain areas. Please remember your local home phone/ address or keep hotel business cards so you will not get lost. More details, please look at “ Service” section.
CLOTHING
Comfortable lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton is most suitable for traveling in Vietnam. The dress code is fairly casual as in most parts of the tropics but it is advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat and umbrella are a good idea in the rainy season and the umbrella can also offer useful shade from the sun. Evenings in the North and the Central can be quite chilly so bring a sweater or other warm clothing if visiting these areas. This applies especially for the winter months November – February. Visitors should not wear shorts, short skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting pagodas and religious sites. Shoes must be removed before entering any religious building (some private homes also). It is therefore useful to wear shoes without too many laces and which can easily be taken off. Vietnam is still quite a conservative country. In rural areas and especially temples, overly-revealing clothing may be considered offensive. You should make an effort to dress more conservatively in these situations. When visiting temples, shorts are acceptable providing they cover the knees. Singlet or sleeveless shirts are not acceptable in temples.
CUISINE
Vietnamese culinary art, acknowledged a superb cuisine worldwide, is a wonderful balance of yin and yang featured in the harmonious formula of green vegetables and fresh meat seasoned with mild spices. Cooking is seen as an art and some Vietnamese dishes have achieved international fame, including such traditional dishes as noodle soup (PHỞ), pork sausage (GIÒ LỤA), spring rolls ( NEM), and fish balls (CHẢ CÁ). In addition to Vietnamese food, the larger hotels also serve a wide variety of Continental , American buffet and other Asean cuisine. Please see more in “ About Us”.
SYMBOLS
Nowadays, when thinking about Vietnam, people often think of the lotus as national flower. They live near the mud but they still have a pure and upright pleasant smell, just like the Vietnamese people. Although faced with many difficulties, Vietnamese people still keep the pure and upright inside their souls. Besides the lotus, ladies wearing bamboo poles on their shoulders and conical hats are good signals about Vietnam. The bamboo trees always grow vertically; they are also like Vietnamese people: after facing many difficulties, they still stand and never surrender.
CLIMATE
Because of differences in latitude and the marked variety in topographical relief, the Vietnam can be visited year-round. Average temperatures year round range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. In southern Vietnam tropical conditions prevail, and there are two seasons – the wet season lasts from May to November and the dry season from December to April. Central Vietnam is usually dry from May to October and wet from December to February. October and November may experience unstable weather conditions and flooding. Northern Vietnam also experiences two seasons though conditions can change dramatically throughout the day. The winter months from November to April are usually cold and humid. The months of December and January can be particularly cool with temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures can drop to 0 degrees Celsius in Sapa (in the highlands near the Chinese border) in winter. Summer, from May to October, can be quite hot and wet with regular downpours and occasional typhoons. The hottest months are June and July in Hanoi.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
During the following holidays some or all businesses are closed and tourist sites will be busier than usual. Tet Nguyen-Dan or ‘Tet’ is the Vietnamese New Year and celebrations can last for 7-10 days. Other national holidays: New Year’s Day 01 January, Hung King Festival 10 March ( Lunar Calendar), Vietnam Liberation Day 30 April, International Labour Day 1 May and Vietnam Independence Day 2 September.
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