Vietnam borders with China in the north, Laos and Kampuchea in the
West, and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Its lies in the centre of
South-East Asia. Vietnam's territory stretches from Lung Cu village
(Ha Tuyen province) in the north to Rach Tau hamlet (Minh Hai
province) in the south. It is a S-shaped pennisula, with thousands
of off-shore islands and archipelagoes; the biggest of which are the
Hoang SA (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes. Vietnam's
mainland covers 331,689 square kilometres . According to
archaeological discoveries made at Do Mountain, it is believed that
life in Vietnam began as far back as 300,000 years ago. Officially,
the history of Vietnam stretches back 4,000 years when it was founded
by the Hung Kings.
It was then named Van Lang. When speaking upon the history of Vietnam,
it is important to note the large role played by the French in
Vietnam. It began in 1858, when the French took over Danang in
southern Vietnam. Over time, more and more territory was won over by
the French. It wasn't until 1954, when the French surrendered to to
the Viet Minh, ending the French Indochina War, that the French
colonial control in Vietnam ended. The immediate image in the minds
of most people at the mention of Vietnam is that of the war fought
against the United States some twenty years ago. Most people think
of the country only in terms of the American conflict in Indochina.
The war ended nearly twenty years ago, and today, despite lingering
signs of past American involvement, the situation in Vietnam is
markedly different. People have finally begun to look at the country
from another perspective, now that travelers and tourists from the
West are being welcomed into what was once a forbidden country. It
may take a bit more effort and tenacity to plan an excursion into
Vietnam than it would for another Southeast Asian country, but Vietnam
has much to offer in terms of culture and sights.
Weather Condition
The weather in the southern part of Vietnam is tropical. It is monsoonal
in the north, bringing a hot, rainy season from mid-May to
mid-September and a warm, dry season from mid-October to
mid-March. Occasional typhoons from May to January bring extensive
flooding to the middle regions of Vietnam.
People & Culture
The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese with minute
percentages of Chinese. The Viet culture originated on the delta of
the Red River and the Ma River where the Viet people cultivated
paddy fields. They led a simple farming life in small villages,
usually living around a communal house. Today the people living in
the countryside follow this lifestyle. The Viet people are influenced
by Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for their
elders. In spite of the immense suffering of the Vietnamese and the
somewhat ruined state of the country, they are generally warm and
friendly, and surprisingly, the Vietnamese bear little if any
resentment or bitterness toward Americans. Children in the streets
will commonly greet visitors with the name Lien Xo, which means
Russian, but they will easily be corrected if you respond, "Hello!"
or "Good morning" and explain you are an American, European or
Australian, etc.
Ethnic Groups:
The country is predominantly 85-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, ethnic
minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham, and other
mountain tribes.
Languages:
Vietnamese is the official language; French, Chinese, English, Khmer and
tribal dialects (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are also spoken.
Religion:
Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic and Protestant.
Local Custom
Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with officials who will often
be very rigid. In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the best
policy. Small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign
cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated
by anyone you wish to make friends with in Vietnam. Out of
politeness, always ask permission before taking photos of people. The
same rule of thumb also applies to photos taken in places of worship.
Permission will almost always be granted. A gentle handshake is the
most appropriate manner of greeting. Be very discrete about giving
anything to beggars frequently encountered in Ho Chi Minh City. If
anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up
being pursued by a mob of other beggars. This does not help create a
good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of
being easy to hit up for money. Beware of pickpockets. Keep your ID
and passport in a safe place and carry only photocopies of those
items. Remove your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas. Small
donations placed in the boxes found in temples are appreciated. It
is acceptable to keep your shoes on within Chinese pagodas. Never let
the soles of your feet face other people or any sacred monument,
such as a statue of Buddha.
Currency
The Dong (D) is the official currency in Vietnam.
Exchange rate is approximatley 1 USD = 15,000 Dong (Sep 01) Bank notes
currently in circulation are in denominations of 100 / 200 / 500 /
1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 and 50,000 Dong Notes under
200 Dong have little value and are rarely used. The U.S. dollar is
more or less a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign currencies
are not readily accepted. A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are
almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel
bills. U.S. money is so common that change will frequently be given in
dollars. You may bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency as
long as it is declared on the forms provided by customs officers.
Foreign currency can be exchanged for dong at your hotel or at the
State Bank of Vietnam.
Things to Know
Population: About 78 Million People
Capital: Hanoi
Flag: The flag of Vietnam is red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.
Shop Hours: Shops run from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm. Some are open from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm.
Bank Hours: Most banks are opened from 7am or 8am to 11am or 11:30am Some are open from 1pm or 2pm to 4pm or 5pm.
Most travelers to Vietnam are attracted by the country's
wonderful natural beauty: From green rice fields dotted with the
conical hats of workers in Vietnam's north stretching to the fascinating
bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south.
Most visited destinations:
North
- Ha Noi
Indochina’s old dame, Hanoi is striving to modernize, yet unwilling to let go of the beauty of its glorious past.
Slightly vain, the city won’t bow down and give any tourists and easy time. Only those who are truly willing to understand and listen will recognize the logic of Hanoi's beauty, the complexity of its chaos and peace, its urban speed and rural tranquility.
History and name
Hanoi used to be called Thang Long (flying dragon). The myth was that in 2010, the new king Ly Cong Uan while visiting this valley saw a dragon flying into the sky, and took this as an omen that this place was a suitable capital to rule. Thang Long had rich soil and good defense because it was surrounded by the Red River and backed by mountains.
The city was later renamed Hanoi (which means inside the river) in 1831 when the Nguyen dynasty moved capital to Hue. Hanoi was returned its status as capital during the French rule from 1887 to 1954, and continued to be the capital, first of Communist North Vietnam (from 1954) and later, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
As of 2008, Hanoi will be expanded to include the surrounding province of Hatay and parts of Ha Dong, to a size of 3.200km2 and population of over 6 million people.
Getting there and around
Most visitors will land at Noi Bai international airports through one of the following airlines:
• Vietnam Airlines - the primary national carrier
• JetStar Airlines (tel: 84-4 9550550) - discount Vietnamese carrier
• Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines fly daily to Hanoi from Kuala Lumpur
• Cathay Pacific - upscale airline with flights to Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Airlines - new carrier with daily flights to/from Hong Kong
• Thai Airways International - two flights daily to/from Bangkok
• Lao Airlines – operating flights from Phnom penh to Hanoi
• Nok Air - budget airline flies to/from Bangkok
• Tiger Airways
It takes around 40-60 minutes to get to the city downtown from the airport by taxi and costs 30 US$.
By train
Vietnam’s major north-south train, the Reunification Express, runs from Hanoi south to central Vietnam (Hue and Danang) and then further to Ho Chi Minh City (more than 30 hours from Hanoi).
By bus
Hanoi is the main gateway for buses run from north to south on the coast of Vietnam. There are daily bus routes from Hanoi to all cities around Vietnam at Kim Ma, Giap Bat, Luong Yen and Gia Lam bus station.
- Ha Long Located in the North East of Vietnam in Quang Ninh province,
Halong bay with its clear emerald waters and 1969 limestone and schist
islands that come in all shapes and sizes is a spectacular creation of
nature.
The bay deserves its title as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and is a must-visit to all tourists.
History of its name
Like many other locations in Vietnam, Ha Long bay’s geography and name is connected to ancient legends. In Sino-Vietnamese, Ha is to lower and Long is dragon – Ha Long describes a dragon descending to land on earth.
The Vietnamese people have always believed in their connection to dragons – legends tell that the ancestors of all Vietnamese are in fact Lac Long Quan (a dragon god from the ocean) and Au Co ( a beautiful mountain goddess).
Halong legend tells that many centuries ago, the Vietnamese were attacked by vicious foreigners and had to fight back to protect their country. A mother dragon and her children were sent down to help the people in this ocean area. The dragons spit out pearls from their mouth, which formed into islands and created a defense system that helped the Vietnamese win.
Culture and History
Most of Halong bay’s local inhabitants live on fishing. There are currently 4 fishing villages within the World Heritage Protected area, with around 1600 inhabitants who live on floating houses and boats.
Ha Long was also home to many ancient Vietnamese people and different ethnic groups. Archeological evidence is present showing the lives of the Soi Nhu culture (16000 – 5000 BCE), Cái Bèo culture (5000-3000BCE) and Halong culture (2500-1500 BCE)
Biodiversity
Halong bay area has rich biodiversity, with 2 main ecosystems: tropical moist evergreen rainforest ecosystem and marine and coastal ecosystem with 7 endemic species.
- Sapa Above the clouds, at 1600m high, lies the tranquil and colorful
village of Sa Pa. Lustfully rich in nature and culture, Sapa for the
last 100 years has been many’s ideal, mystical refuge from everyday
bustle and heat.
Geography
The village lies on the Hoang Lien Son Alps, known in English as the Tonkinese Alps. To the South West of Sa Pa, on this beautiful alp, is the 3143m high Fanxipan Mountain, known as the roof of Indochina – the tallest mountain not only in Vietnam but in all of Indochina. Between Fanxipan Mountain and Sa Pa town is Muong Hoa valley, which is terraced into wet staircase rice paddies.
Demographics
The village of Sa Pa is rich in culture and ethnicity. Out of its 36,000 scattered population, the Kinh group (who are the ethnic majority in Vietnam) only make up 15%. Most inhabitants of Sa Pa are ethnic minorities: Hmong 52%, Dao 25%, Tay 5%, Giay 2% and a small number of Xa Pho, who up to this day still preserve very much of their traditional life style, culture and clothing.
History
The area was originally inhabited by the ethnic groups H’Mong, Dao, Tay and Giay. The spectacular site was first discovered by the French around the 1880s. In 1891, along with the whole of Lao Cai province, Sa Pa was officially incorporated into colonial Vietnam and acted as a major defense point in the North West.
Fascinated by the town’s lust nature, clear air and cool climate (which strongly contrasts with the humidity and heat of the rest of the country), the French colonizers quickly turned Sapa into a retreat center. A flux of missionaries, militaries and wealthy business men came here building sanitariums, villas and churches; turning parts of the town into pleasant European villages.
Nowadays, Sapa is once again open for tourists, waiting to share its secrets and surprises with everyone.
Middle
- Hue Hue first assumed its role as a capital city, during the Trinh - Nguyen civil war, when it was the capital of South Vietnam.
I came to Hue during Tet Doan Ngo (Doan Ngo festival, a minor Buddhist festival) and it was impossible for me to find an open restaurant or shop in town. Vietnam’s ancient capital, booming city and a world renown tourist area, yet Hue is not at all noisy, rushed or commercialized like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Hue is honest and sweet. It is tranquil like the Perfume River that flows through it, majestic like the Royal Palace and tombs that would never let its secrets out.
Geography
To be precise, Hue city is the capital of Thue Thien – Hue province. Hue lies on the banks of the Huong (Perfume) river, in the narrow central of Vietnam, only a few miles west from the sea.
HistoryHue first assumed its role as a capital city, during the Trinh - Nguyen civil war, when it was the capital of South Vietnam. In 1802, Nguyen Anh succeeded in unifying his rule over both North and South Vietnam, forming the Nguyen dynasty. Hue remained the capital of Vietnam until the end of feudalism in 1945.During the Vietnam War, Hue held a strategic positioning as it was near the dividing line between North and South. The city’s elegant and refined architecture witnessed and suffered from one of the most lengthy and bloody battles in the War, the Battle of Hue (during the Tet offensive 1968). Many of Hue’s palaces, tombs and temples were destroyed by American bombs and bullets, as well as by neglect in restoration by the Vietnamese government during early years of independence (they saw these historical artifacts as remains of the oppressing feudal system).
Hue has now been returned the peace, attention and protection it clearly deserves. The remains of the Inner City (where the Royal family lived), tombs and temples offer insight into Vietnam’s past and rich culture. Hue has been certified by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Hue royal music (nha nhac cung dinh) is also considered a UNESCO intangible heritage.
ReligionHue is the center of Buddhist worship in Vietnam, with many temples and tombs. - Da Nang Da Nang, the gateway to Central Vietnam, is favorably located near three world cultural heritage sites:
Hue imperial city, Hoi An ancient town and My Son holy land. This coastal city is in itself a tourist magnet of the region. It is beautifully created with a poetic river, a legendary mountain and stunning beaches.
Getting there & awayBy airDa Nang Airport is one of the three international airports in Vietnam. It serves frequent flights to/from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City operated by Vietnam Airlines and Jesta Pacific. In addition, there are limited number of flights to other domestic destinations (Hue, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Pleiku, etc) and international flights to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vientiane and Phnom Penh. - Nha Trang Name: Nha Trang is the Vietnaminized version of the Champa name Ya Trang. Ya Trang means “river of reed”, originally used to describe the river Cai and surrounding land.
HistoryUntil the 19th century, Nha Trang was still made up of remote fishing villages, surrounded by jungles and full of wild animals. It was the French that first saw Nha Trang’s prospect as a bathing spot, and quickly put the white sand beaches and clear sea into use. Under French rule, Nha Trang first became town and later township of Khanh Hoa province. During the Vietnam war, Nha Trang grew as a popular holiday destination for American soldiers. During this time, Nha Trang was under the rule of the South Vietnamese government (backed by the US) and was taken over by the National Liberation Front on April 2nd, 1975 (nearly a month before the fall of Saigon). In 1999, Nha Trang officially became a city.The city of Nha Trang lies in a valley surrounded by mountains on the North, West and Southern side. Nha Trang borders the Pacific ocean on the East. Cai Nha Trang river and Cua Be river divide Nha Trang into three parts, with 19 islands in total. The largest island, Hon Tre is 36km2 large and blocks all wind coming into Nha Trang, giving Nha Trang much less wind and waves.
Geography
South
- Hochiminh city (Former name Saigon) - The French nickname their
dear city, “Pearl of the far East”. Chinese immigrants call it “Cho
Lon”, meaning “Big market”.
The Communist government renamed Saigon “Ho Chi Minh city” after the nationalistic revolutionary. With many names and a population of 9 million, Ho Chi Minh city rises as the juvenile leader of all Vietnamese cities.
Unlike the old dame Hanoi slow, antique, reserved lifestyle, Ho Chi Minh city goes all out in the modern lifestyle. The city is always in a hurry: bustling, noisy, singing, entertaining, the people: loud and friendly.
History
The area now called Saigon once were empty marshlands belonging to Cambodia. Flux of Vietnamese migrants flooded the area (running away from the Trinh - Nguyen civil war of the 17th century. The area later became greatly Vietnaminized, until later completely assimilated into the country Vietnam by the Nguyen dynasty.
During French colonization, the city was a French favorite. The colonizers developed the already bustling trade area into a high class, modern, European influenced city suitable for trade, entertainment and business. After colonization, Saigon became capital of the Southern side (supported by the US) during the American/Vietnam War.
After Vietnam’s unification in 1945, Saigon opened up to include Gia Dinh province and was renamed “Ho Chi Minh city” after Vietnam’s communist revolutionary. Saigon now is Vietnam’s largest, most industrial and most developed city.
Geography
Saigon is located at 10°45'N, 106°40'E in the southeastern region of Vietnam. The city is 1,760 km (1,094 miles) south of Hanoi. It borders Tay Ninh and Binh Duong provinces in the north, Dong Nai and Ba Ria Vung Tau provinces to the east, Long An Province to the west and the South China Sea to the south with a coast of 15 km in length. The city covers an area of 2,095 km² (809 sq mi) (0.63% of the surface of Vietnam), extending up to Cu Chi (12mi/20 km from the Cambodian border), and down to Can Gio on the East Sea coast.
Demographics
Saigon’s population has now exceeded 9 million. Besides the Viet ethnicity, Saigon has a large proportion of Chinese descendants. The Chinese immigration population concentrated around the “Cho Lon” (Big market) areas of district 5,6,7 and 11, forming Vietnam’s “Chinatown” (though I guess it blends with the scenery here more than say, Toronto).
- Dalat
City in the clouds. Dalat’s cool winds and temperate climate, its French architecture and evergreen pine trees separate this “Little Paris” from the hot and humid tropical South Vietnam surrounding.
Recent urban development and opening of many new resorts has made Dalat become more modern and tourist-convenient in the eyes of some, yet less romantic in the view of others. Though less popular among foreign visitors, Dalat remains the natural beauty, the city of thousand flowers, and the destination for lovers in the eyes of the Vietnamese.
Meaning of nameThe name derives from the language of the local ethnic group Lat and its original meaning is "Stream of the Lat”.
History
Prior to 1893, the Lang Biang highlands were home to various ethnic groups. The French governor of Indochina Paul Dommer, together with Doctor Alexandre Yersin, decided to establish a sanatorium on the cool highlands of Lang Biang in 1899. In 1916, emperor Duy Tan decided to form Dalat town (centre urbain), township of Lam Vien province. The first Viet ethnic people who settled in Dalat were prisoners sent up here to build roads and other infrastructure.The French built two new roads leading from Saigon and Phan Thiet to Dalat, providing the right conditions to turn Dalat from a nearly wild area to a 1.500 people town in 1923. It was Emperor Khai Dinh h who decided that Dalat should be come not only a city, but a tourist center. During World War 2, many of the French could not return to their country.They stayed in ?à L?t, giving the city its French town look which it holds onto until now. In 1975, Da Lat became one of Vietnam’s four governmental cities (along with Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh city).
GeographyThe city of Dalat is built on the Lang Biang highlands, North of Lam Dong province. The highlands are surrounded by continuous mountains.
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