Vietnam overview - Part 2

Transportation

Transportation in Vietnam may not rate as the best in the world. But, easy for you can get flight to come in and you can get by quite easily in the cities. Taxis are by far the most convenient mode of transportation and not expensive. If you want to try and be a little different, then the cyclo (three wheels) or pedicab is an interesting and enjoyable way to explore a city. These are available at all street corners and can be the best way to see a city rather than whizzing around in a taxi. Alternatively, you can also go by the motorbike taxis. A must do is to take the boat tours which are available for many destinations. To getting the high land of vietnam, you can take a night or day train, with luxury cabin (air condition…) the train will make you fell comfortable. From Vietnam, if you want to go to some country near vietnam (China, Lao, Cambodia, Thai lan), flight or train is best choice.

Health

Vaccinations	Special Precautions
Diphtheria	Yes
Hepatitis A	Yes
Malaria	Sometimes
Rabies	Sometimes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Yes
Yellow Fever	No
Inoculation regulations can change at short notice. Please take medical advice in the case of doubt. Where 'Sometimes' appears in the table above, precautions may be required, depending on the season and region visited.

There are excellent hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and health care centres in all provinces, but facilities are limited and there is a lack of medicines. Health insurance is essential and should include cover for emergency repatriation by air. Immediate cash payment is expected for services.

Electricity
Vietnam runs off a 220V/50Hz system.

Communications

The international country code to dial into Vietnam is +84. To dial overseas from within Vietnam, dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam are: Ambulance (15); Fire (14); and Police (13).

Although Vietnam is in the process of modernising its communication systems. The easiest mode of communication is by telephone. All hotels allow the use of telephones and some do not charge for domestic calls. International direct dialling facilities are also easily available and standard charges are applicable. However, if you are using this facility from a hotel, it may work out to be expensive. The most convenient way to communicate when you are in Vietnam would be to make use of cellular phone technology. All you need to do is buy a pre-paid phone-card and you can be in touch wherever you go. Recharge the card when your talk time is over. All incoming calls are free in Vietnam, regardless of where the calls come from. You have to pay the local rate for local calls and the charges for international calls per minute are also very reasonable. There is a concession when you call during off-peak hours: 11:00pmto 7:00am. The cellular phone system in Vietnam is GSM. Ever since the government of Vietnam has permitted Internet usage in the country (in 1997). There are internet cafes in most hotel lobbies and business centres, which you can use to access your mail by paying 4,000 to 5000 VND per hour. However, some sites have been blocked by the government.

You can also use the good old-fashioned way of communication by using the postal service. Post offices in the country are open from 8am to 8pm. A booklet of ten postcards costs 10,000 VND. Letters and postcards take about two weeks to be delivered to either Europe or the USA.

Public Holidays

01 January	New Year’s Day (Tet Duong Lich)
January or February (3 days)	Tet (Vietnamese New Year - Tet Am Lich)
03 February	Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party.
30 April	Liberation Day (Giai Phong Saigon - the day on which Saigon surrendered – 1945)
01 May	International Labour’s Day (Quoc te Lao Dong)
19 May	Ho Chi Minh’s birthday (1890)
Eighth day of the fourth moon (usually in June)	Buddha’s birthday (Phat Dan)
02 September	National Day (1945)
25 December	Christmas Day

Other holidays

Date	English Name	Local Name
March 8	International Women's Day	Quốc tế Phụ nữ
November 20	Teacher's Day	Ngày Nhà giáo Việt Nam
December 25	Christmas	Giáng sinh/Nôen
October 20	Vietnam Women's Day	Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam
June 1	Children's day	Tết thiếu nhi
15/1 (lunar)	Full moon of the 1st month	Rằm tháng giêng
3/3 (lunar)	Third lunar month's third day's festival	Tết Hàn thực
15/4 (lunar)	Buddha's Birthday	Lễ Phật Đản
5/5 (lunar)	Midyear Festival	Tết Đoan ngọ
15/7 (lunar)	Full moon of the 7th month or Piety Day	Rằm tháng bảy hoặc Lễ Vu Lan
15/8 (lunar)	Mid-Autumn Festival	Tết Trung thu
23/12 (lunar)	Kitchen guardians	Ông Táo chầu trời

Note: When a public holiday fall on Saturday and/or Sunday, then the Monday following the holiday is substituted.