Travel to Vietnam - Informations
In Viet Nam the tropical monsoon climate provides all year round for warm to hot temperatures and high air humidity. Through the large linear extension, the climatic differences in the north and in the south become apparent. In Hanoi there are e.g. four seasons, in the winter is it with approx. 15°C and in the summer also over 30°C daytime temperature. In the south, the average values lie usually around and over 30°C and there are only two seasons: dry and rainy season. The hottest months are here from the beginning of spring into May.
If you want to visit the whole Vietnam comfortably, just plan on arriving Vietnam sometime between November and February, where most areas of Vietnam are cooler and not too rainy.
Current temperature in the largest cities: http://www.wetteronline.de/Vietnam.htm
In oder to enter Vietnam, tourist would need a passport, that is still valid for at least 6 months, and also a return ticket. All european citizens need a visa to enter Vietnam, which could be issued by the vietnamese embassy in Berlin. You can either send your Visa application, which would be provided belowed, your passport with two pass photos directly to the embassy in Berlin or simply fill out the same form with your passport and two pass photos and send them all to us and we would take care of the rest for you. Applying the Visa through our agency would be really convenient for those, who book their tickets or the whole tour with our agency, for that you would not have to worry about your visa anymore after you get the tickets.
For those, who do not have too much time left upon their arrival in Vietnam, the Visa at the airport would be a fast and perfect solution. Just simply fill out the following form with your date of birth, your passport number and several other important informations. We would request your visa at the airport and send the confirmation per fax or email to you. After arriving at Saigon / Hanoi Airport, you are able to pick up your Visa
The vietnamese health care system cannot meet the european standard and it is adequate only in the larger cities, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City.
Inoculation is not prescribed, for precaution is however recommended. Viet Nam is considered partially as malarious district. In the southern regions - particularly in the Mekongdelta - you should for sure prevent malaria. As further inoculations, if necessary, Tetanus, Diphtherie, Polio and hepatitis A are recommended, however, not necessary. A travel health insurance is recommended. Inform, in any case, before the departure with Tropfeninstitut or in the Internet, e.g. with the center for travel medicine or with fit-for-travel (Travelmedical information service of the Tropeninstituts Munich).
Tourist should never drink tap water in Viet Nam. Tip for travelers, you should never forget your medicine against traveler's diarrhea. An additional travel insurance with enclosed retrievability from Vietnam is recommended, hence not imperative.
You may find some more up-to-date informations about SARS, among other sicknesses, by the Robert Koch institute or by the WHO (World Health Organisation). To inform about the political and social situation in Vietnam, just check the website from Foreign Office of Germany.
According to official figures, 86.2% of the population speak Vietnamese as a native language. The French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is still widely spoken by thousands of Vietnamese as a second language. Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech or Polish – is sometimes known among those whose families had ties with the Soviet bloc. In recent yeas, English is becoming more popular as a second language. English study is obligatory in most schools. Therefore it is really convenient for tourists for the fact that many people in Vietnam can understand and speak English pretty well.
The population in Viet Nam is a very friendly and industrious people, who consists to nearly 90% of Vietnamese. Over 50 ethnical minorities form the remaining population.
In contrast to its southeast asian neighbour countries, the vietnamese culture is more of chinese influences than indian. Therefore, vietnamese art and culture stand in a clear contrast to the other traditional art forms from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. This difference could be explained partly by the history of a long-term war between Vietnam and China, for which the vietnamese history of art reflects mostly the imperial Chinese model. Even the buddhist traditions, what in the early years had some individuality, are now to a large extent ignored. A few important buildings were mostly destroyed by wars. Regardless of this cruel past, vietnamese people welcome all foreigners in its country, who comes to Vietnam to visit, to have a look at the new Vietnam, to admire and to see how perfect the combination between the nature and the people, how different Vietnam looks like now according to all what they have ever seen on news and reports and how easy-going, friendly and nice the vietnamese people are. Of course, there are also some differences in characters of the vietnamese people in the north and in the south. Northern people are mostly locked and conservative, in the south however open and curiously. As a visiter you will have the chance to experience a fascinating fusion from traditional culture, French-colonial past, communist inheritance and the transition to a modern nation of Asia. A visit to Vietnam would be a visit between times.
It is really easy to inexpensively stay overnight in middle- and budget class hotels in Vietnam. For those, who are used to western standard, there are only in large tourist areas and main cities hotels with the same standard and priorities. However, a normal and simple accommodation is easy to find almost everwhere. Therefore you cannot really see anyone camping around in Vietnam, eventhough it is not prohibited.
Vietnamese kitchen is well-known for being healthy with lots of variations from vegetable, meat, chicken, fish and sea fruits. All meals are normally based on rice and noodles. Some really special and common ingredients are Lemon grass, coriander, Minze, Lime, Chili, Coconut milk. All meals and food in the south are mostly sharper than in the north, which is of courseway less sharp than in Thailand or elsewhere. Vietnamese people have different kinds of soups for breakfast. Thus, French bread to easy to find everywhere.
