The Orient - Vietnam - Country Information

Vietnam features outstanding beauty including the capital, Hanoi, lying on the banks of the Red River, retaining an air of French colonial elegance. In Halong Bay, 3000 amazing islands rise out of the South China Sea. Way up north is the scenic hilltribe region close to Sapa. Far to the south of Hanoi lies the city of Hue, the former capital of the emperors, well known for its beautiful architecture; and the Citadel "a city within a city" with tombs, pagodas and lakes covered in lotus flowers largely destroyed in the Vietnam War. Even further south you have the buzzing city of Saigon before moving down to the southern tip and the beautiful fertile area of the Mekong Delta.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Area	329,565 Sq Km
Population	80,184,100
Capital	Hanoi
Time Difference	GMT +7
Visa	Visa required. For visa application click here
Currency	Dong
People	The principal ethnic majority are the Vietnamese also called Annamese or Annamites who account for around 87% of the population and are a mixture of Chinese and Thai ethnic stocks. The largest ethnic minority are the Chinese who account for 6.6% of the population followed by the Khmer while there are over 60 other ethnic minority groups located in the mountains.
Language	Vietnamese or Quoc-Ngu
Dialling Code	+84
Electricity	220V

Visas:

Holders of UK Passports will require a visa to visit Vietnam. This can either be obtained in advance or on arrival for US$25.00 plus one passport photograph (current cost and requirements). Visa Authorisation is required but Bales Worldwide will obtain this on your behalf and a copy must be carried with your passport. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your departure date from Vietnam and have at least two blank pages. For visa application click here

Health risks:

Hepatitis A & B, Japanese encephalitis, Malaria, Typhoid

When to Go:

Vietnam tends to be hot and wet for most of the year and climatic conditions vary from region to region at different time periods.  Bales have tried to plan departure dates that coincide with the better weather in the majority of places visited.