Vietnam - Timeless Charm

Vietnam - Timeless Charm

Lying on the eastern part of the Indochinese peninsula, Viet Nam is a strip of land shaped like the letter “S”. China borders it to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, the East Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the East and South.

The country’s total length from north to south is 1,650km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part, in the centre, in Quang Binh Province. The coastline is 3,260km long and the inland border is 4,510km.

Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the South East Asia with its temples, historic ports, a bevy of unspoiled tropical islands, museums, art, marvelous coastline of 3,260 km dotted with unspoiled, white sandy beaches, tranquil bays, the mountainous area with surprising Sapa, Mekong Delta, the Cu Chi tunnels and the dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, one-thoudsand-year-old Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, magnificent French architecture, fresh baguettes sold on every corner, good open air cafes, the collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Halong Bay, Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary. 

Viet Nam is an ideal destination all year round. In the North, the climate is divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. From January to April is the change period of living beings, very suitable for festive and spiritual tourism activities, because most festivals in the North take place in the spring. From May to September is appropriate for sea tourism and leisure tourism in mountainous region. The period of October to December is an ideal time for ones who love nature and want to explore wild and majestic beauty of Northern mountainous region. 

Official name :  THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

• Mainland Territory : 330,966.9 sq. km
• Population : 91,713.3 thousand inhabitants (2015)
• National Capital: Ha Noi
• Main destinaations
• North Vietnam : Sapa ; Hanoi ; Halong Bay ; Ninh Binh ; Quang Binh
• Central Vietnam: Hue ; Danang ; Hoi An ; Qui Nhon
• South Vietnam : HCMC ; Mekong Delta: My Tho , Can Tho ; Nha Trang 
• Highland : Dalat ; Kontum ; Buon Me Thuot
• Latitude : 102º 08' - 109º 28'  east
• Longitude :  8º 02' - 23º 23'  north
• Climate : Viet Nam lies in the tropics and monsoon. 
• Topography: Three quarters of Viet Nam's territory consist of mountains and hills (detail)
• Administrative Units : Viet Nam is divided into 63 provinces and cities.
• Nationalities : 54 different ethnic groups.
• Religion and Belief : Buddhism ; Catholicism ; Protestantism, Islam, Caodaism ; Hoa Hao sect.  
• Currency : Vietnamese dong (VND). 
• Paper notes include: VND 500,000; 200,000; 100,000;    50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000
• Major Credit cards : Visa ; Master are popularly used, especially in hotels, big cities
• Internet Services : Wifi ; Internet cable are very popular 
• Working hours :  8.00 – 17.00 from Monday - Friday . 
• Banks : 7.30/8h -16. 30 from Monday – Friday. Some bank open on Sat morning. 
• Electricity : 220 Volt at 50Hz. 
• Powers plug heads : Type A: 2 vertical pins ; Type C: 2 round pins ; Type F : 2 round pins
• International border gates: 
• Noi Bai International Airport (Ha Noi), Da Nang International Airport (Da Nang City), Cam Ranh International Airport (Khanh Hoa Province), Phu Quoc International Airport (Kien Giang Province), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang International Seaport (Da Nang City), Nha Trang International Seaport (Khanh Hoa Province), Khanh Hoi International Seaport (Ho Chi Minh City), Ben Dam Con Dao Seaport (Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province).
• Visa Most visitors to Viet Nam need a visa in advance to enter the country. 
• Visa-On-Arrival available to some countries and required the Pre-Approved Visa  Letter in advance.   
• Pilot grant of e-visa
• The pilot grant of e-visa has been applied for foreigners from 46 countries in   Asia, Europe, and Americas. The border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit by e-visas include 28 ones, consisting of  8 air ones, 13 land ones, and 7 sea ones. E-visas granted through electronic transaction system are single-entry visas with validity of 30 days. Fee for e-visa is USD 25.  
• E-visas can be applied at: https://www.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn or https://www.immigration.gov.vn