Vietnam – Worth a visit
Located in Southeast Asia it is bordered by China, Laos and Cambodia. It has a coast line stretching 2500 km from North to South, so the climate varies. This makes deciding on the best time to travel a bit tricky. You would need to see where you are spending the most time but as an indication an appropriate time is from November to April in most regions.
R1= Vietnamese Dong 1 678 roughly and to give you an idea a coke cost VND10 734 so about R6.50. US Dollars are very popular here, and many tourist-oriented activities are quoted in dollars, not dong, so get used to switching back and forth. ATMs are widely available, but not all place accept international cards.
The cuisine is diverse with seafood and rice featuring a lot. Desserts are rare and then not very sweet. Why don’t you try Le Banh Cuon, a rice pancake surounding fried ingredients such as pork, mushrooms, onions, coriander and aromatic herbs, served with a sweet and sour sauce. Another favourite is Cha cá, a fish filet served with rice vermicelli, herbs and grilled peanuts.
Getting around Vietnam is easy, and depending how much time you have, you can fly, catch the train or bus around the country. Flying is cheap in Vietnam. Taking the bus is the cheapest way to travel around bigger cities. Moto-taxis (Xe Ôm) are everywhere and one can infiltrate the dense traffic of cities, this saves a lot of travel time. Fix the price before the departure and bargain. The driver should provide you with a helmet for the ride, if they don’t then find another driver. Renting a car is forbidden for foreigners to drive, but it is possible to rent a car with a driver if you want to travel alone or with your family. Motorbikes are popular, but the law clearly forbids any foreigners without a valid Vietnamese license from driving a motorbike (international licenses do not apply in Vietnam). Most travel insurance policies do not cover travellers for motorbike accidents.
Shopping is fantastic for high-tech items, clothes, shoes, bags, souvenirs, jewellery, dishes, paintings, art works, food. They don’t really have shopping malls, but you should find whatever you want in the different stores or market. Pack light so you have space for all your purchases as airlines are so strict on baggage allowances.
It is important to know local customs. Speak politely to elders. Remove shoes and socks and wear long trousers or shorts must cover your knees, tops must cover your shoulders to enter a pagoda or temple. Having a shawl with you helps in these situations. Ask permission before taking photos of locals. Affectionate contact between men and woman is frowned upon in public. Feet are considered ‘low’. Placing them on furniture or pointing at things or people with your feet is not acceptable. Never tap your chopsticks into your food, it reminds people of a ritual performed during a funeral. Keep smiling especially when bargaining.
There is so much to see and do in Vietnam, including adventure, culture, stunning scenery, recent and ancient history. Be sure to visit Ho Chi Mingh City, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Danang, Hoi An and Sapa. You can go on a scheduled bus tour, your own private guided tour or do your own thing.
I look forward to putting together an amazing trip to Vietnam for you, contact me now.