USEFUL
INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS
1-Official
visit:
Citizens of ASEAN countries holding Diplomatic or Official passports are exempted from visas. Those who are holding ordinary passports of ASEAN countries, join official visits or attend ASEAN activities in Vietnam are not required to apply for visas. If they wish to obtain ones, the Embassy will issue Grantis Visas upon presentation of a copy of Invitation Letter from appropriate Vietnamese Authority.
2- For Vietnamese Nationals:
-Vietnamese nationals who are holding Vietnamese passports are not
required to get entry visas;
-Overseas Vietnamese who are holding passports of foreign countries
are required to apply for visas:
+
Those who have got visas to Vietnam within 36 months can apply and collect
their visas within the same morning;
+
Those who have not got visas to Vietnam during the last 36 months are
required to apply for visas either through their relatives/business
partners in Vietnam, or travel agents. The Embassy issues visas only upon
approval of Vietnam Immigration Authorities.
3-
For
Foreigners:
-Businessmen on business trips can either apply visas
to Vietnam Immigration Authorities through their offices/partners
in Vietnam or through relevant companies in Singapore. The Embassy will
issue visas once the approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Authority
arrives at the Embassy.
-Tourists are required to apply for their visas through either
tourist companies in Vietnam or travel agents in Singapore. The visa can
be obtained once the Embassy has received approval from Vietnam
Immigration Authority.
For
your convenience, you may contact
:
Vietnam Tourism Company
30 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi,
Vietnam.
Tel: 84-4- 8257886; Fax:
84-4- 8254209.
or
other Vietnamese Tourist companies.
For more information about visa (applicants from Singapore) please contact:
Embassy of S.R. of Vietnam in Singapore
10 Leedon Park, Singapore 267887.
Tel: 65-64625938 Fax: 65-64625936
Visa hour: 9.00AM to 12.00PM (Monday-Friday)
All
visitors to Vietnam, should fill in declaration forms and show their
luggage to Customs officials on request.
Luggage,
personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient
for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be
imported, are exempt from tax.
Travelers'
luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at
Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed
or given as gifts.
Visitors
to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency,
objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with
silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs
forms.
Travellers can change their money for Vietnamese dong (VND) at the banks,
hotels and jewellery shops throughout the country.
Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping.
Travelers can take with them unlimited amounts of souvenirs bought with receipts.
GMT plus 7 hours
All Government offices are open eight hours a day from 7.30 to 16.30 (except for a one-hour lunch break) on Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday are holidays.
January
1: New Year Day, one day holiday.
April 30: Saigon Liberation Day, one day holiday.
May 1: International Labor Day, one day holiday.
September 2: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one day
holiday.
Vietnam Traditional lunar New Year Festival (Tet Nguyen Dan): Four day
holiday. It often falls between January and February. The holidays begin
on the Eve and the first three days of a Lunar New Year.
February
3: Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party
May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh
December 25: Christmas
The following major traditional festivals are listed by lunar calendar
date:
The
15th of the 1st moon: Tet Thuong Nguyen.
The
2nd day of the 4th moon: New Year Festival of the Khmer ethnic
minority people.
The
8th day of the 4th moon: Buddha's Birthday.
The
15th day of the 7th moon: Tet Trung Nguyen.
The
15th day of the 8th moon: Mid-Autumn Festival
The
29th day of the 8th moon: New Year Festival of the Cham ethnic
minority people.
The 15th day of the 10th moon: Boat-racing festival of the Khmer ethnic people in the Mekong River Delta.
SOME
POPULAR CULTURAL FESTIVALS (BY LUNAR CALENDAR DATE)
The
2nd day of the 1st month: Wrestling Festival in Lieu Doi, Nam Ha.
The 5th day of the 1st month: Festival of Dong Da hill, Hanoi: Yo
celebrate the anniversary of King Quang Trung's victory over 290,000 Qing
invaders to liberate Thang Long (now Hanoi).
The 6th day of the 1st month: Festival of Eel-Catching in Pot in
Ving Lac district, Vinh Phu province. This reflects the farmers' love for labor
and the joy over bumper crops.
The 10th day of the 1st month: Festival in Trieu Khuc village,
Hanoi. Cultural activities of a traditional handicraft village.
The 13th day of the 1st month: Lim Festival, Ha Bac. Festival of quan
ho folk song singing. Boys and girls meet on river bank, on hill or in
the yards of village's communal house and pagoda to sing and exchange
emotions.
The 15th day of the 1st month: Festival of Spring on Ba Den
mountain.
The 15th of 2nd month (formal date): Festival of Huong Pagoda, Ha
Tay: Traditional festival lasting over 2 months.
Spring festival of buffalo fighting in Tay Nguyen Highlands highlighting
the martial spirit of the ethnic minority people.
The 10th day of the 3rd month: Festival of Hung Temple celebrating
the death a anniversary of Kings Hung.
The 9th day of the 4th month: Giong Festival, Hanoi, commemorating
Saint Giong, a legendary child hero who defeated foreign invasion and
saved the nation.
The 26th day of the 4th month: Festival of Queen Su in Chau Doc.
The 5th day of the 5th month: Water Festival in Nha Trang. People
in the city go to the beach and have a bath for health improvement.
The 16th day of the 6th month: Festival of Nghinh Ong in Tien Giang
- Ben Tre.
The 30th day of the 7th month: Festival at Lang Ong, Ho Chi Minh
City.
The 9th day of the 8th month: Buffalo fighting festival, Do Son,
Hai Phong.
The 13th day of the 9th month: Festival of Keo Pagoda, Thai Binh.
Traditional communal festival.
The 22nd day of the 11th month: Festival of Dong Quan in Chan Tien
Pagoda, Hanoi.
Electric current in Vietnam is mostly 220 Volts, but 110 Volts system is still in use.
Tap water in urban areas in Vietnam is chlorinated, but it is recommended that it should be boiled before drinking.
The
currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated
"d" or VND) which is used uniformly throughout the country. Bank
notes in dominations of 200d, 500d, 1,000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d,
20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d are presently in circulation.
Exchange rate (app. as of Jan 2003): SGD1.00 = VND 8,900.
At present only certain travellers' cheques and credit cards are
acceptable in big cities, including Visa, Master card, American
Express.
Vietnamese
is the official language of Vietnam. Foreign language learning,
particularly English, is currently in vogue among young people in Hanoi,
Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang and other cities.
Tourist guides can speak English, French, Russian, Chinese and
Japanese.
Vietnam
is a country where tourists can visit in all four seasons. The country's
tourism service offers a range of programmes convenient to your
circumstances.
In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the
next year. Spring time is especially pleasant because of the cooler, drier
climate. Also at this time there are a lot of ritual ceremonies and folk
festivals of many diverse forms; such as: Festivals to commemorate
national heroes and heroines, folk cultural festivals, spring festivals,
as well as prayer ceremonies for good crops, to cite just a few.
The most interesting one is the Lunar New Year Festival.
Visiting Vietnam in that season, you are recommended to bring along warm
clothes. The temperature in Winter is around 10-15 degree Celsius. It
becomes warmer in March and April.
Meanwhile in the South, the average temperature throughout the year is
about 27 degree Celsius, so you just need thin garments, sun glasses and
may be a hat or two.
POSTAL
SERVICE
A
regular international post service is available. In addition there are
some new, special services: Express Mail Service (EMS). The domestic EMS
ensures that letters and small parcels are delivered within 24-48 hours.
International EMS has relations with nearly 30 countries world-wide, with
a delivery time ranging from 2 to 10 days.
Air mail and small parcels must however be subject to additional charges.
Express money transfer: Money is delivered to the receiver within 24
hours.
Flower delivery on order by telephone: This service delivers messages of
greetings or condolences, together with flowers, money or goods (allowed
in circulation) to the receiver by order of the sender.
TELECOMMUNICATION
SERVICE
Telephone
International long-distance calls (direct): To make an international
direct dial (IDD) call you must first dial the international prefix (00)
followed by the country code, area code and the local number. In case you
fail to contact the required number, dial 110 for the operator's help.
Domestic long-distance calls: To place a domestic long-distance call you
must first dial the national trunk prefix (0) followed by the area code
and local number. If you fail to get the required number, dial 101 for the
operator's help
Facsimile (Fax): Fax machines are quickly proliferating in Vietnam. public
and registered fax machines are available in hotels, business and public
offices.
Also available are local and international card phone on socioeconomic and
cultural information. This service also runs advertisements and business
self-introduction scheme.
USEFUL
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
| Police
|
113 |
| Fire
brigade |
114 |
| Ambulance
|
115 |
| Telephone
directory |
116 |
| Time
inquires |
117 |
| Telephone
repair service |
119 |
| Domestic
long distance telephone service |
101 |
| International
telephone service |
110 |
| Inquiries
on socioeconomic, cultural information |
1080 |
RADIO
At present Radio the Voice of Vietnam broadcasts on several channels for
68 hours a day, including:
42
hours of domestic service: There are diversified programmes to serve
people of all walks of life: children, the elderly, young people, women,
the armed forces, the police and ethnic groups... There are daily
programmes broadcast in the languages of such ethnic minorities as the
H'Mong, Ede, Khmer (of South Vietnam)... on the 49 meter band (74 KHz).
26
hours of international service in 11 foreign languages: English, French,
Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Indonesian, Lao, Thai, Khmer and Chinese
(Beijing and Cantonese). In addition there is a special programme for
Vietnamese living far from the homeland.
Moreover
daily music and news programmes are pm FM, 100 kHz, from 07 am to 12 pm.
All provinces and cities have their own radio stations with their own
programmes.
TELEVISION
The Central Vietnam Television Station broadcasts three programmes daily
through the Starcionar 13 transmitting station:
Programme
1: In the morning from 6 am on Channel 9 in the evening from 7pm
Programme
2: From 7pm on Channel 11.
Programme
3: From 4 pm to 6.45 pm on Channel 9 and Channel 11.
At
present all provinces and cities have their own stations and programmes.
T.V.R.O.: Vietnam now has some 1000 parabolic antennae to directly receive
satellite programmes. These antennae are installed on the roofs of hotels,
guest houses, houses for rent to foreigners and some public offices.
However, a TVRO is expensive, and consequently the Vietnamese government
is presently considering setting up a cable television service.
Multi-channel Microwave Distribution Services: The service can
simultaneously transmit several TV programmes including a news service, an
economic broadcast, a science and technology service, as well covering
educational issues, entertainment and sport. It operates from both local
and international stations. This kind of entertainment is currently under
test and it will soon be operational, to satisfy both Vietnamese and
foreign viewers.
ROAD,
RAILWAYS AND SEA TRANSPORT NETWORK
THE
ROAD NETWORK (RUNNING NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST)
NORTH-SOUTH ROADS
National highway 1: From the Huu Nghi Border Gate in Lang Son Province to
Ho Chi Minh City and down to Go Dau Ha. This is the trans-Vietnam
North-South high way.
Highway 14: Running along the Central Highlands from the ancient capital
city of Hue to Kontum-Pleiku meeting Highway 1 at Bien Hoa.
Truong Son Train: Beginning at Tan Ky, Ha Tinh province, it runs in
parallel with Highway 1 through the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands down to
the east of South Vietnam.
WEST-EAST, SOUTH-EAST AND NORTH-WEST ROADS:
Highway
2: Linking Hanoi via Vinh Phu to Meo Vac (Tuyen Quang).
Highway
3: From Hanoi to Thuy Khau (Cao Bang).
Highway
5: Hanoi to Hai Phong.
Highway
6: Hanoi to Lai Chau.
Highways
4B and 4A: From the Ngoc peninsula in Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) through Dong
Dang (Lang Son) to (Cao Bang).
Highway
4: From Ho Chi Minh City through the Mekong Delta to Nam Can, the
southernmost part of Vietnam.
Highway
20: From Xuan Loc to Da Lat.
Highway
9: From Quang Tri to Lao Bao Gate.
highway
19: From Quy Nhon to Pleiku
RAILWAYS
NORTHERN LINE:
Hanoi-Lang
Son: 148km in 5-6 hours.
Hanoi-Lao
Cai: 296km in 9-10 hours
Hanoi-Thai
Nguyen: 75km in 2 hours 30 minutes.
Hanoi-Uong
Bi: 130km in 4 hours.
Hanoi-Hai
Phong: 102km in 3-4 hours.
SOUTHERN
LINE:
From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City: 1,730km, through Nam Ha (Nam Dinh, 87km);
Thanh Hoa (187km), Nghe an (Vinh 319km); Quang Binh (Dong Hoi 522 km);
Quang Tri (Dong Ha 622km); Hue (688km);Da Nang (791km); Quang Ngai
(928km); Phu Yen (Tuy Hoa 1,197km); Nha Trang (1,315km).
Hanoi
Railway Station
120 Le Duan Rd, Hanoi
Tel (84-4) 8252628
Saigon Railway Station
01Nguyen Thong St, Dist 3,
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84-8) 8245585
MARITIME
WATERWAY:
Maritime communication and transport in Vietnam has also been developed.
Hai Phong is a major port lying on the East-West and North-South
international sea lanes. In recent years, the ports of Hai Phong, Da Nang
and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) have received many international tourist
ships each with between 300 and 500 tourists on board.
MAJOR SEA PORTS:
Hon
Gai
Hai
Phong
Da
Nang
Vung
Tau
Saigon
FROM/TO
HANOI
Hanoi-Hue:
Daily
Hanoi-Da
Nang: Daily
Hanoi-Nha
Trang: Daily
Hanoi-Ho
Chi MinhCity: Daily
Hanoi-Buon
Me Thuot: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun, Buon Me Thuot-Hanoi: daily
Hanoi-Pleiku:
Mon, wed, Thu, Sat.
Hanoi-Dien
Bien: Tue, Fri, Sun.
Hanoi-Nasan:
Thu.
FROM/TO
HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi
Minh City-Buon Me Thuot: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Da Nang: daily.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Da Lat: Tue, Thu, Sun,
Ho Chi
Minh City-Hai Phong: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Hue: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Nha Trang: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Phu Quoc: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat,
Ho Chi
Minh City-Pleiku: daily
Ho Chi Minh City-Quy Nhon: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat,
FROM/TO
HANOI
Hanoi-Bangkok:
daily
Honoi-Guangzhou:
daily
Hanoi-Dunai:
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun.
Hanoi-Hongkong:
daily
Hanoi-Osaka:
Mon, Wed, Sat
Osaka-Hanoi: Tue, Thu, Sun.
Hanoi-Kuala
Lumpur: Mon, Wed, Fri.
Kuala Lumpur-Hanoi: Wed
Hanoi-Melbourne:
Wed
Melbourne-Hanoi: Thu
Hanoi-Phnom
Penh: daily
Hanoi-Seoul:
Tue,Thu, Fri, Sun
Seoul-Hanoi:
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri,SAt, Sun
Hanoi-Singapre:
daily
Hanoi-Moscow:
Thu, Sun
Moscow- Hanoi: Mon Fri
Hanoi-Sydney:
Wed
Sydney-Hanoi: Thu
Hanoi-Berlin:
Tue, Fri
Berlin-Hanoi: Wed, Sat
Hanoi-Vientiane:
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun
Note:
Hanoi-Amstedam:
Daily: one way
Hanoi-Paris:
Daily: one way
Hanoi-Manila:
Fri, sun: one way
FROM/TO
HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi
Minh City-Amsterdam: Mon, Wed.
Amsterdam-Ho Chi Minh City: Tue, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Bangkok: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Guangzhou: Tue, Fri.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Paris (Charles De Gaulle): Tue, Fri, Sun.
Paris-Ho Chi Minh City: Wed, Sat, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Dubai: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun.
Dubai-Ho Chi Minh City: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Hongkong: daily.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Kaohsiung: Wed, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Osaka: Tue, Thu, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Kuala Lumpur: Mon, Wed,Fri.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Los Angeles: Tue, Fri, Sun.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Melbourne: Wed.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Melbourne-Ho Chi Minh City: Thu.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Manila: Fri, Sun
Ho Chi
Minh City-Phnom Penh: daily
Ho Chi
Minh City-Seoul: daily.
Seoul-Ho Chi Minh City: Mon, Wed, Fri.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Singapore: daily.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Moscow: Mon, Fri.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Syney: Wed
Syney-Ho Chi Minh City:Thu.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Taipei: daily.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Berlin: Tue, Fri
Berlin-Ho Chi Minh City: Wed, Sat.
Ho Chi
Minh City-Vientiane: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun.
Vientiane-Ho
Chi Minh City: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
VIETNAM
AIRLINES MAIN BOOKING OFFICES:
In
Ho Chi Minh City:
116 Nguyen Hue St
Tel: (84-8) 8292118,and
15B Dinh Tien Hoang St
Tel: (84-8) 8299910
In Da Nang:
35 Tran Phu St
Tel: (84-512) 821130 or 822094
In Hanoi:
01 Quang Trung St
Tel: (84-4) 8250888 or 8268913.
HANOI
Ministry
of Trade
31
Trang Tien St.
Tel: (84-4) 8254915 or 8254904.
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
1 Ton
That Dam St
Tel:
(84-4) 8258201
Central
Overseas Vietnamese Board
32
BaTrieu St
Tel:
(84-4) 8257354 or 8264867
General
Department of Customs.
Chuong
Duong St
Tel:
(84-4) 8263961 or 8263948
Central
Foreign Trade Bank
49 Ly
Thai To St
Tel:(84-4)
8257563
Vietnam
Post and Telecommunication
18
Nguyen Du St
Tel:
(84-4) 8259519
Hanoi
Post Office
75
Dinh Tien Hoang St
Tel:(84-4)
8254543
Chamber
of Commerce and Industry
33 Ba
Trieu St
Tel:
(84-4) 8253961 or 8252962
Vietnam
Insurance Company
Ly
Thuong Kiet St
Tel:
(84-4) 8262792
Hanoi
Customs
159 Ba
Trieu St
Tel:
(84-4) 8257224 or 8262829
Department
of Border Gates Management
40A
Hang Bai St.
tel:
(84-4) 8255798
Hainoi
Police
87
Tran Hung Dao St
Tel:
(84-4) 8253131 or 8253132
Entry
- Exit Procedures Bureau
89
Tran Hung Dao St
Tel:
(84-4) 8266472
Expatriate
Affairs Bureau
79
Tran Hung Dao St
Tel:
(84-4) 8253076
MAJOR
HOSPITALS IN HANOI
Friendship
Hospital
1 Tran
Khanh Du
Tel:
(84-4) 8252231
Viet
- Duc Hospital
40
Trang Thi St, Hanoi
Tel:
(84-4) 8255912
Bach
Mai Hospital
Giai
Phong Rd
Tel:(84-4)
8693731
International
Department, Bach mai Hospital
Giai
Phong Rd
Tel:(84-4)
8522083 or 8522089
This
department is reserved for foreigners for medical examination and
treatment. The Department is staffed with experienced experts, doctors and
nurses who are able to treat serious cases.
Ho Chi
Minh City
Viet
Nam Foreign Trade Bank in Ho Chi Minh City
29 Ben
Chuong Duong St, Dist 1
Tel:
(84-8) 8225705
Branch
of Chamber of Commerce and Industry
171 Vo
Thi Sau St, Dist 3
Tel:
(84-8) 8230339
Foreign
Trade Development Centre
96
Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dist 1
Tel:
(84-8) 8290002 or 8290072
City
Tourism Office
Commerce Office
45-47
Ben Chuong Duong
Tel:
(84-8) 8292991
Foreign
Office Service Company
124
Nguyen Dinh Chieu
Tel:
(84-8) 8295794
City
Finance Office
140A
Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St
Tel:
(84-8) 8292141
City
Police Headquartes
268
Tran Hung Dao Blvd
Tel:
(84-8) 8398880 or 8398881
City
Customs Office
2 Ham
Nghi Bvld, Dist 1
Tel:
(84-8) 8290095
International
Express Mail Service
253
Hoang Van Thu St, Tan Binh Dist
Tel:
(84-8) 8443873
Entry
- Exit Visa Service Centre
333
Nguyen Trai St, Dist 1
Tel:
(84-8) 8325491
Post
Office
117-119
Hai Ba Trung St, Dist 1
Tel:
(84-8) 8332170
MAJOR
HOSPITALS IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Cho
Ray Hospital
201
Nguyen Chi Thanh Rd - Dist 5
Tel:
(84-8) 8254137 / 8258074
This
is a large hospital with more than 1000 beds. On 10th floor, there are
rooms reserved for foreign patients. The hospital is staffed by
experienced professors and doctors. Most of them were trained abroad and
they can speak English or French.
Nhi Dong Hospital
No.2
Ly Tu Trong Rd, Tan Binh District
Thong
Nhat Hospital
This is a modern hospital which consists of five buildings situated at the
junction of Ly Tu Trong Rd and Cach mang Thang Tam Rd, Tan Binh District.
In Ho Chi Minh City, There are thousands of pharmacies, and many private
consultation rooms Equipped with modern medical instruments.
Health insurance cards have been issued by the government. The card
bearers can have medical checks and treatments in registered hospitals
without paying any additional charges.
Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore. 10 Leedon Park, Singapore 267887
Tel: 65-64683747. Fax: 65-64670458. Email: vntrade@singnet.com.sg