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Orther - Seagate Expedition - Vietnam tourism
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| Customs regulations |
On entering Vietnam, all visitors must fill in a entry/exit form including a customs declaration and show their luggage to customs officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms. |
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| Airport Tax |
International flights: None
Domestic flights: None |
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| Currency |
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (abbreviated "D" or VND) although US Dollars are widely accepted. Bank notes are 200 VND, 500 VND, 1000 VND, 2,000 VND, 5,000 VND, 10,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 100,000 VND, and 500,000 VND.
The rate of exchange at updating time is approximately 15.900 VND to one US. Dollar (to view current exchange rate: www.vietcombank.com.vn).
Credit cards are generally only accepted in major cities. Visitors are recommended to carry US Dollar in small denominations. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese Dong (VND) at banks, hotels, restaurants and jewelry shops throughout the country. There are some ATM machines appearing in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Travelers cheques can be be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureaus but can be difficult to change outside of the major cities. |
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| Currency Converter |
Link to:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic |
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| Business hours (GMT + 7 hours) |
Office hours: Monday to Friday from 07:30 AM or 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM or 05:00 PM. Some offices also open in Saturday morning.
Banks hours: Monday to Friday from 08:00 AM to 03:00 PM |
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| World time |
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_VN.aspx
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| Language |
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam but there are various dialects spoken by hill tribe people in remote areas. Learning foreign languages , particularly English and French, is currently in vogue among young people in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang and other cities. |
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| Public Holidays & Festivals |
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January 1:
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New Year
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January or February
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Lunal New Year
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February 3
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Founding Day of the Communist Party of Vietnam; national holiday.
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March
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Day to commemorate the Trung sisters, who in the year 41 of Christian reckoning led a rebellion against the Chinese rulers; movable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar.
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April 30
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Liberation Day of South Vietnam and Saigon; national holiday.
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May 1
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Labour Day; national holiday
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May 19
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Ho Chi Minh's birthday; national holiday
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May 28
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Holiday in commemoration of the birth, the enlightenment and the death of the Buddha; national holiday
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August
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Trung Nguyen; Day of the Wandering Souls; on this day the souls of the dead are believed to wander to the habitats of their offspring; celebrations in Buddhist temples; food is spread on house altars for the souls of the deceased and fake money is burnt in honour of them; moveable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar.
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September 2
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National Holiday
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September 3
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Day to commemorate the death of Ho Chi Minh in 1969; national holiday
September - Trung Thu - autumn celebration at which children parade through the streets with lanterns; for this celebration moon cakes are baked; moveable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar.
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November
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Birthday of Confucius; moveable holiday, as it depends on the moon calendar
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| Weather |
Vietnam shares borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and features 3,200 km of coastline bordering the Eastern Sea. With an area of 332,000 square km, Vietnam’s topography varies from coastal plains to mountain ranges. Vietnam stretches over 1,800 km from north to south ; therefore weather patterns in the principle cities are very different.
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The North:
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Winter lasts from November to April , with temperatures averaging 160C but little rainfall. Summer begins in May and lasts until October, with temperature of 300C, heavy rainfall and the occasional Violent typhoon.
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The Center:
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Central Vietnam experiences a transitional climate, halfway between those of the north and south.
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The South :
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Temperature are fairly constant through the year; 250C - 300C, Seasons are determined by the rain – the dry season lies from November to April and the wet season from May to October . The hottest period is March and April, before the rain have broken . Typhoon s are quite common in coastal areas between July and November.
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The Highland Areas :
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In the hill resorts of Dalat (1,500m) , Buon Ma Thuot and Sapa , nights are cool throughout the year, and in the winter months, October to March ,it can be distinctly chilly with temperature falling to 40C. Even in the hottest months of March and April the temperature rarely exceeds 260C.
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| Asia Weather |
Link to:
http://www.weatherhub.com/global/asia.htm |
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| Medical Care |
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HO CHI MINH
1. Center Medical International
1 Han Thuyen Street
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
24-Hour Emergency Number: (08) 865 4025
Tel: (08) 827 2366
Fax: (08) 827 2365
E-mail: centremedic.inder@hcm.fpt.vn
2. Columbia Asia Medical Center
24-Hour Emergency Number:     (848) 823-8888
E-mail: dzungvn@columbiaasia.com
Website: www.columbiaasia.com
3. Family Medical Practice
Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Tel: (08) 822 7848
Fax: (08) 822 7859
Email: hcmc@vietnammedicalpractice.com
4. Franco-Vietnamese Hospital
6 Nguyen Luong Bang
Tan Phu Ward, District 7
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Tel: (08) 4113333
Directeur Médical
Dr jean-François Biset
jf.biset@fvhospital.com
5. Grand Dentistry
Ground Floor, Sun Wah Tower
115 Nguyen Hue Blvd.
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Tel: (08) 8219446
6. International SOS
OSCAT/AEA Vietnam Company
65 Nguyen Du Street
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Outpatient Clinic: (08) 829 8424
Alarm Tel: (08) 829 8520
Alarm Fax: (08) 829 8551
7. Saigon Clinic
8 Alexandre De Rhodes
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM
Tel: (08) 823 8455
Fax: (08) 823 8454/829 2295
HANOI
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1. Family Medical Practice
Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound
298 I Kim Ma Road
Hanoi, VIETNAM
Tel: (04) 843 0748
Fax: (04) 846 1750
Email: hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com
2. International SOS
31 Hai Ba Trung Street
Hanoi, VIETNAM
Tel: (04) 934 0555
Fax: (04) 934 0556
Hanoi Clinic: (04) 934 0666
E-mail: 1hanops@international.sos.com
3. Hanoi French Hospital (L'Hopital Francais de Hanoi)
1 Phuong Mai Road, Dong Da
Hanoi, VIETNAM
Emergency Number:(04) 574 1111
Tel: (04) 574 0740
Fax: (04) 869 8443
HAI PHONG & HALONG BAY
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1. Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital
Nha Thuong Street
Haiphong, VIETNAM
Tel: 031-700436
Fax: 031-700482
Dr. Nguyen Thi Huong
Chief of Department for foreigners
Tel: 031-854185
2. Halong City Provincial Hospital
Bach Dang Ward
Tel: (04) 033-825489
Fax: 04-033-625256
Dr. Nguyen Thu Phuong
Deputy Chief of Department for foreigners
Tel: 04-033-825498
Dr. Nguyen Hong Hanh
Tel: 0913263578
DA NANG
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Family Medical Practice
50-52 Nguyen Van Linh Street
Hai Chau District
Da Nang, VIETNAM
Tel: (0511) 582 699 or (0511) 582 700
Fax: (0511) 583 049
Email: danang@vietnammedicalpractice.com
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