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TRAVEL TO VIETNAM



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 30th, 2008, 04:15 PM posted to rec.travel.marketplace
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Posts: 14
Default TRAVEL TO VIETNAM

Great web about Vietnam: www.vietnamalive.com

VIETNAM ALIVE TRAVEL

It is a little known fact that Vietnam can cater to a large variety of
clients - not just those looking to 'rough it on the last frontier'.
From it's natural assets; pristine sandy beaches, the wonder of
limestone islands in Halong Bay, the mountainous north, to its
historical marvels; Cham ruins from the 14th Century in My Son, the
ancient tombs of Hue; bustling cities with an energy driven by a new
economy, quiet country villages reliant on rice agriculture as they
have been for centuries, ornate Confucian temples, high-rises side by
side with splendid French colonial architecture; Vietnam is a country
of contrasts. And contrast means a greater variety of travel
experiences that satisfy a great number of client markets.

It is also largely assumed that infrastructure within Vietnam is poor.
Whilst we won't deny that Vietnam is a third world country, one should
not be led to believe that this means third world service! An enormous
amount of investment in Vietnam has led to the development of top
class hotels, of training schools, of new restaurants, of upgrading
and renovating.

And on the subject of service, remember most importantly that Vietnam
is Asia - where service is delivered with pride. The Vietnamese people
have strong beliefs and values. They are a pragmatic people, with a
philosophy to move forward, not to dwell on the past, and a
determination to improve the lives of their children. Most of all they
are warm and welcoming, and proud to show you their homeland. The
travel industry in several of our Asian destinations is however still
in its infancy. Whilst the freshness and novelty of tourism in these
regions is in part the appeal to many visitors, others might see it
differently. It’s important to recognize that the level of service and
standards in some areas, whilst improving, are not yet comparable to
more mature travel destinations. In Asia’s new frontiers there is
always the possibility that circumstances beyond our control may
necessitate some changes to your travel program. Your patience and
tolerance in such an event will make your holiday a truly rewarding
experience. Vantours highly recommend that if you have any questions
or concerns about conditions in any destination country that you
contact the Foreign Affairs Department in your home country, which
should also be able to provide you with passport and visa information.
Please ensure that you are aware of health and entry/exit requirements
that may apply to places you are visiting and check with the World
Health Organization at www.who.int you are responsible for meeting any
health requirements.

What to Expect: Expect a new travel experience. Expect to see a
picture perfect landscape of rice paddies and water buffaloes. Expect
bustling cities and busy streets of bicycles and motorcycles, which
are a challenge to cross. Expect to be popular with the locals, to be
stopped in the street for an unexpected conversation. Expect lazy
afternoons at a beach where fresh crab is on the menu. Expect newly
built international hotel properties in the major centres, and
renovated 4-star properties in the provinces. Expect the occasional
mishap - a delayed flight or a short power outage. Expect stunning
mountain passes and endless photo opportunities. Expect to take
caution with your valuables. Expect to find unexpected bargains!
Expect crowded airports. Expect your guide to take care of that for
you. Expect to sample a new and unique cuisine. Expect a hamburger
from the hotel buffet when you crave it. Expect the noise, expect the
heat. Expect to learn about daily rituals and traditions performed for
hundreds of years, to hear legends, to smell exotic spices in a local
market. Expect to eat French loaves. Expect to marvel at ancient
towers that remain standing after 500 years, through wars and
countless monsoon storms. Expect exciting new art. Expect welcoming
smiles… Expect things to be different from what they are at home - as
is so often said, "Isn't that why you came in the first place?"

Responsibility: Information herein was correct at the time of
preparation, however the rapid development of tourism in Vietnam has
the potential to make some of the information in this guide
irrelevant. This information is intended as a guide only and Vantours
is not responsible for any inaccuracies. Please contact us with your
comments if you find during the course of your travels that the
information in this guide is incorrect or out of date.

Hotels & Restaurants: as a large amount of foreign investment into
Vietnam has been channeled into Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Former
Saigon), an excellent choice of hotel properties and restaurants exist
in both these cities, particularly in the deluxe hotel market. Many
new properties are also under development. Outside these cities, there
have recently been new resorts, hotels built, however these properties
have little competition and are priced accordingly. Generally
speaking, the same is true of restaurants, with the greatest variety
of both Asian and western style restaurants in the two main city
centres, and more often local restaurants utilized in the provincial
regions. At a minimum, continental breakfast is included in our
programs, and we recommend one other meal daily be included in tour
itineraries or breakfast only for more independent clients.

Holidays: The most popular Holiday of Vietnamese is Tet or the
Vietnamese Lunar New Year, which is linked to the cycle of the moon,
however is usually in late January or early February. At this time,
many friends and relatives living overseas, cities return home and
seats on planes and trains can be at a premium. At the commencement of
the New Lunar Year, local offices and shops are closed for up to 5
days whilst the Vietnamese celebrate at their homes, or at those of
their friends and families, and the unprepared traveler may find
himself wondering what to do with his time! Even the usual sights of
interest such as museums and temples may close for several days. So,
if you plan to travel to Vietnam this time, you should book the
services early and please contact us for more information. Other
Holidays, whilst there is a Christian presence in Vietnam, most of the
85 million population is Buddhist, and Christmas Day and Easter are
not public holidays, but young people celebrate, thus this can be a
good time to visit. Public Holidays are celebrated as follows, however
most shops and sights operate fairly normally during this time and
these should not be a deterrent to visiting.

Working New Year: 01 January (1 day)
Hung King’s Anniversary: 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (1 day)
Libration Day: 30 April (1 day)
Labor Day: 01 May (1 day)
National Day: 02 September(1 day)
Visa Requirements & Departure Taxes: Most of visitors to Vietnam from
the west need Visa, you can get Vietnam’s Visa from your home country
or we can make visa on arrival for you. Contact us for more
information. Departure tax out of Vietnam is USD 14. You can find
Vietnam Embassy or Consulate in your country or your country's Embassy
or Consulate in Vietnam by just simple click here. www.vn.embassyinformation.com

Insurance: You must be comprehensively insured as a condition of
traveling with Vantours. Insurance should include unlimited coverage
for personal accident and medical expenses. Vantours will not be
responsible for any illegal action of the tourist, any loss, damages,
and thief of personal belongings or for personal injury or illness
that may happen with tourists. Incase of a passenger falling sick or
being hospitalized, Vantours will provide all necessary assistance to
the tourists. The tourists will bear his or her own medical expenses
and any other incidental expenses.

Money: The official unit of currency in Vietnam is the dong.
Approximate exchange rates at the time a

1USD equals 16,900 dong
1AUD equals 12,000 dong
1CAD equals 13,600 dong
1NZD equals 10,500 dong
1GBP equals 25,000 dong.
You are able to bring your home currency in cash or travelers cheques
(AUD, GBP, CAD or USD). You can pay for goods and services in US
dollars or dong, so USD is popular in Vietnam. Most hotels change
travelers cheques (with a 1% to 3% commission) and cash at reasonable
rates. Credit cards (Visa or MasterCard are the most commonly
accepted) can be used in a number shops and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh
City, Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi; however they are not widely accepted
outside these cities. Cash advances can be obtained using these cards
at the major banks and ATM’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Hoi
An and Hue. Please note if traveling to remote areas of Vietnam it is
advisable to carry dong or USD cash. To bee exact, please check: www.xe.com

Climate: Weather is very often one of the determining factors when we
choose to travel. Vietnam is a diverse country, spanning several
climatic zones. With a mountainous border along much of its western
and northern frontiers, and a long, unprotected coastline, the weather
can vary enormously from regions to region. As a result, at any time
there is always somewhere in Vietnam where the weather is perfect. The
main seasons to consider are the southern wet/dry, and the northern
winter/summer. From May to October, the south (Ho Chi Minh City)
weathers a wet season comprising daily, heavy - but short-lived and
predictable - afternoon rain showers, which break up the otherwise hot
and humid days. Temperatures are on average in the low 30s. From
November to April, the dry season is sunny and humid, and sunscreen
and hats are highly recommended. Weather patterns in central Vietnam
(Nha Trang, Dalat, Danang, and Hue) can vary tremendously due to the
nearby Truong Son mountain range. Nha Trang's short rainy season lasts
from November to December, while Danang may see some typhoon activity
from mid October to mid December. Dalat is cooler than the coastal
regions from November through March, and Hue often has drizzling rain
from December through February. The north of Vietnam (Hanoi) has a
very distinct summer, running from May to October, and is subject to
occasional monsoons at this time. A cool winter with temperatures in
the low -teens occurs from December through March. February and March
can be damp and subject to drizzling rain (known as 'rain dust').
Average Daily Min/Max Temperatures in degrees Celsius.
  #2  
Old November 30th, 2008, 04:22 PM posted to rec.travel.marketplace
[email protected]
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Posts: 14
Default TRAVEL TO VIETNAM

Great Web!
 




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