Hamoi is the Capital City of Vietnam, once considered a conservative city, has developed into one of the unbelievable exciting cities in Southeast Asia.
It is slow paced but attraction captures, with lovely lakes, lush public parks, and shaded boulevards of old French-colonial architecture.
Hanoi is home to all the best of historic Vietnam and discovers traditional places of interests such as temples, monuments, including pockets of ancient culture along the narrow streets of an old quarter. Witness the rapid cultural shift as the cafes fill with young & trendy Hanoians, leisurely sipping cappuccinos and comparing latest informatics technology
Language Mainly Vietnamese, with some French, Russian and Chinese. English is used at major corporations and key places of interest.
Time Difference GMT +7
Visa There are various kinds of visas for foreigners entering Vietnam. Visa-on-arrival is available at the airport and it can also be obtained at the Vietnamese embassies or consulates in your country. It is recommendable to get your visa before entering the country.
* Most ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Korea and Japan are allowed visa-free entry for up to 30 days without having to apply for an entry visa. Please check with your nearest Vietnamese embassies or consulates.
Customs On arrival, one must complete the white arrival-departure card. Visitors must declare foreign currency in excess of US$7,000. It is prohibited to import and export anti-government literature.
Currency Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND), although the US dollar is widely accepted in bigger establishments. Major credit cards are acceptable in most hotels, restaurants and tourist establishments.
Shopping Hanoi is a great place to shop, especially if you enjoy picking up items to decorate the home. Lovely lacquer ware, paintings, woodcarvings, handicrafts, ceramics and handwoven fabrics make lovely ornaments or wall hangings, and silverware, jewellery and antiques are relatively inexpensive. Made-to-measure apparel is affordable and of high quality. Fabrics include Vietnamese, Cambodian or Thai silk, as well as imported materials from Europe, Egypt and India.
Gratuity A 5% service charge is added to the bill, tipping is up to one's preferences.
Business Hours Banks and government offices: Monday to Friday, 7.30am/8.00am to 5.00pm/5.30pm
Offices: Monday to Friday, 7.30am/8.00am to 5.00pm/5.30pm
Saturday, 7.30am/8.00am to 1.00pm
Shops (hours may vary): Generally open from 8.30am to 10.00pm every day
Eating Out The ubiquitous Vietnamese pho (noodles) is a healthy and delicious staple for the locals. Made of the freshest ingredients including meat and bean sprouts, the noodles are served in soup with a dash of aromatic (some say pungent) nuoc mam (fish sauce). Other typical Vietnamese dishes are spring rolls, goi ngo sen (salad made with lotus stems, shrimps and peanuts) and other vegetarian food. International cuisine is available at hotels and restaurants. Telephone Network
Country dialling code: 84 Hanoi area code: 4
Mobile Phones Network providers available in Hanoi are Vinaphone, Mobifone, Viettel, HT Mobile, S-Fone and City Phone.
Public Phones Coins are not accepted in Hanoi's public phones. Only phonecards are acceptable; they can be purchased with value of VND30,000 - VND500,000.
Health There are a few international standard clinics and hospitals available. It is advisable to seek medical advice about vaccinations/inoculations from your family doctor before travelling, especially if you intend to go off the beaten track to explore the provinces.
Electricity Voltage is 220V AC, although 110V AC is sometimes used in rural areas.
