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Vietnam Travel tips, etc...
sberley
Registered Users Posts: 26 Big grins
We’re going to Vietnam later this year and would like to tap your collective wisdom about travel there…
Thanks a lot,
Steve Berley
berley.com
Oakland, CA
- What are the must visit/photograph places?
- What tips do you have on travel there (photo or general)?
- What travel companies are best to help us organize a “enjoy the nicer side of life” type trip – who will also really listen to our wants and deliver?
Thanks a lot,
Steve Berley
berley.com
Oakland, CA
0
Comments
Good luck.
Gus
I bet there are all kinds of opportunities for photos there...wow! But probably the best place to ask as far as where you can go visit and such is Google!
A quick search found these:
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/vietnam/
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/
This link is pretty informative:
All year round, Viet Nam is a wonderful tourist destination. Ha Long Bay is recognized by UNESCO as one of the natural wonders of the world, with over 3,000 dramatic and magical islands set in pristine water. Phong Nha Cave is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in the world. Viet Nam has many cool mountain villages including Sapa and Dalat; clean and unspoiled beaches can be found the length of the country.
There are hundreds of historical and cultural sites including the Hung Temple, Co Loa, the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi, My Son Sanctuary, the ancient city of Hoi An,and the Citadel at Hue. Thousands of pagodas, temples, and churches can be found throughout the country.
Vietnamese cities and villages take pride in their architectural jewels of traditional and colonial design. Finally, it is very interesting to observe the distinctive traditions of the various ethnic groups that comprise our wonderful country.
Visa
Any foreigner or overseas Vietnamese wishing to visit Vietnam must fill out one 1 entry visa application form. The paperwork must be sent to a Vietnamese diplomatic representative office (the embassies), or consulate general of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in the most convenient country.
This rule may not be applied for citizens of countries with which Vietnam has bilateral agreements for visa exemption. (Please contact the Embassy of Vietnam for more information)
Customs
All visitors to Vietnam should fill in declaration forms and show their luggage to Customs officials on request.
Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax.
Travelers' luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed or given as gifts.
Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs forms. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese dong (VND) at the banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country. Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping.
Travelers can take with them unlimited amounts of souvenirs bought with receipts.
Tourism seasons
Vietnam is a country where tourists can visit in all four seasons. The country's tourism service offers a range of programmes convenient to your circumstances.
In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the next year. Spring time is especially pleasant because of the cooler, drier climate. Also at this time there are a lot of ritual ceremonies and folk festivals of many diverse forms; such as: Festivals to commemorate national heroes and heroines, folk cultural festivals, spring festivals, as well as prayer ceremonies for good crops, to cite just a few.
The most interesting one is the Lunar New Year Festival.
Visiting Vietnam in that season, you are recommended to bring along warm clothes. The temperature in Winter is around 10-15 degree Celsius. It becomes warmer in March and April.
Meanwhile in the South, the average temperature throughout the year is about 27 degree Celsius, so you just need thin garments, sun glasses and may be a hat or two.
Office hours: All Government offices are open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays, except for a one-hour lunch break.
Public holidays
January 1: New Year Day, one day holiday.
April 30: Saigon Liberation Day, one day holiday.
May 1: International Labor Day, one day holiday.
September 2: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one day holiday.
Vietnam Traditional lunar New Year Festival (Tet Nguyen Dan): Four day holiday. It often falls between January and February. The holidays begin on the Eve and the first three days of a Lunar New Year.
Other major anniversaries
February 3: Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party
May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh
December 25: Christmas
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
and also I have a webpage here: http://stripe.colorado.edu/~lines/vietnam.htm
http://kbike.smugmug.com/