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Boatwoman, Hoi An, Central Vietnam

Trading food at the Boat market , Mekong Delta,
 South Vietnam

 
Lonely Planet: Vietnam
Mason Florence, Robert Storey

Good Morning Vietnam [SOUNDTRACK]
by various

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 with other travellers about this country, email it to:

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Highlights

• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - The most populated area in Vietnam and notorious for  it's hectic, dynamic, bustling atmosphere. Crossing the road is a mission in itself.

• Mekong Delta - vast waterways accessible from Saigon (1,2,3,4 & more day trips available). Chance to see Vietnamese rural life on the water.

• Cu Chi Tunnels - Reconstructed Viet Cong tunnels from the war. Not for the claustrophobic! Possible to go down the holes as well as witness Viet Cong traps for the US soldiers.

• Dalat - Located in the Central Highlands. Dalat is set in beautiful scenery with numerous lakes and waterfalls in evergreen forests.

• Nha Trang - Vietnam's premiere beach north of Saigon.

• Hoi An - Small pretty, costal village near Da Nang renowned for the cheap, well made clothing and markets. Possible to hire a bike and cycle to the coast.

• Hue - Once Vietnam's political capital Hue is now the dramatic home of the tombs of the Nguyen emperors and the remains of the citadel and the Forbidden Purple City.

• Hanoi - the cramped but beautiful capital of the north. The old quarter is dominated by motorbikes through the old, narrow streets. Excellent base to jump off to the Chinese border or Halong Bay.

• Halong Bay and Cat Ba National Park. Breathtaking costal scenery

Main travellers routes

• Travel in Vietnam is surprisingly easy. Being such a thin country there is only really one way to go! Most people either fly into Hanoi and out from Saigon or vice versa.

• The most popular way of getting about are the minibus passes where you can travel between a set number of destinations up or down the coast in whatever time frame you like. Beware though as there doesn't seem to be a limit of the number of people they can fit in each van!

• Rail is also cheap and convenient as it is possible to travel overnight in sleeper berths.

• Flights are quite often only a little more than the trains.

Capital

• Hanoi (north)

• Main populated area is Ho Chi Minh City (south)

Languages

• Vietnamese

• French

• Chinese

• English

Currency

• Dong (Make sure you have a large wallet!)

• US Dollars accepted for most larger payments (flights, trains, some hotels, etc)

Visas

• Visa required for UK tourists. Cost is approximately £40 and is valid for 1 month only. Must be obtained prior to arrival and not more than 3 months before arrival.

• Vietnamese Embassy in the UK:
  12-14 Victoria Road, London, W8 5RD
  Tel: 020 7937 1912

Foreign Office Advice

• http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/

Links

• http://www.vietnamtravelplan.co.uk - Construct your own independent tour around Vietnam