1/
Where is Vietnam location ?
Southeastern Asia, bordering
the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea,
alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Region:
Southeast Asia
Capital: Hanoi
Coordinates: 21° 2" North,
105° 50" East
See more Vietnam City Guide Maps
here
2/
How to go to Vietnam ?
Vietnam currently has three international
airports: Noi Bai serving Hanoi in the north, Danang International
Airport serving the central provinces and Tan Son Nhat in
Ho Chi Minh City serving the south.
Available flights to Bangkok, Singapore,
Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Berlin, Jakarta,
Manila, Taipei, Guangzhou, Kunming, Vientiane, Amsterdam,
Moscow, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Melbourne,
Dubai, Osaka, Kaohsiung, and Phnom Penh.
Traveling by air
- 3 international airport
Hanoi ( Noibai airport) - Danang airport in the central
- Hochiminh city ( Tan San Nhat airport )
There are 1 heliports in Viet Nam.
ROAD
From Cambodia: There is a road crossing
at Moc Bai (Tay Ninh province 80km from Saigon) connecting
Phnom Penh in Cambodia with Saigon. The new crossing into
Cambodia via Chau Doc (245 km from Saigon) is passable either
by boat or road.
From
Laos: There is a road crossing at Lao Bao in Quang
Tri Province, about 160km north of Hue, connecting Savannakhet
with Central Vietnam. Another road into Vietnam is via Cau
Treo, Ha Tinh Province.
From
China: There are 03 roads crossing at Ha Khau (Lao
Cai Province), Dong Dang (Lang Son Province) and Mong Cai
(Quang Ninh Province
Traveling by water
There are 17,702 Km of waterways in Viet Nam. The most important
ports and harbours are in Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh
City.
Travel by boat from Phompenh Cambodia to ChauDoc town in
Vietnam on the Mekong river.
Getting There by Rail
It is possible to cross into China by rail
from Lao Cai to Kunming in the Yunnan province of China
or through Lang Son to Nanning. There are trains from Beijing-Dong
Dang-Hanoi and back. Contact Vietnam Railways (tel: (04)
942 2770; website: www.vr.com.vn) for details.
1. From Vietnam to LAOS
Hanoi - Vientiane: Vietnam Airlines, Lao
Airlines (code share)
Hanoi - Luang Prabang: Vietnam Airlines, Lao Airlines
Sai Gon - Vientiane: Vietnam Airlines
2. From Vietnam to THAILAND
Hanoi - Bangkok: Vietnam Airlines, Thai
Airways, Thai Air Asia, Nok Air, Air France, Lao Airlines
(via Vientiane)
Sai Gon - Bangkok: Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, Thai
Air Asia, Air France, Lufthansa, Bangkok Airways
Da Nang - Bangkok: PB Air
3. From Vietnam to CAMBODIA
Hanoi - Phnom Penh (via Vientiane): Vietnam
Airlines, Lao Airlines
Hanoi - Siem Reap: Vietnam Airlines
Sai Gon - Siem Reap: Vietnam Airlines
Da Nang - Siem Reap: Silk Air (no opposite flight Siem Reap
- Da Nang)
4. From Vietnam to MYANMAR
No direct flight. You must fly Hanoi - BKK,
then connect your flight to Yangon on Thai Airways, Bangkok
Airways or Air Asia. Another way is you fly to Chiang Mai,
then connect your flight to Mandalay on Air Mandalay (once
a week).
5. From Vietnam to MALAYSIA
Hanoi - LCCT in KL: Air Asia
Hanoi - KL int'l airport: Vietnam Airlines, Malaysia Airlines
6. From Vietnam to SINGAPORE
Hanoi - Singapore: Vietnam Airlines, Singapore
Airlines, Tiger Airways
Sai Gon - Singapore: Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines,
Tiger Airways, Jet Star
Da Nang - Singapore: Tiger Airways
Singapore - Da Nang: Silk Air (on the way to Siem Reap)
7. From Vietnam to the PHILIPPINES
Hanoi - LCCT in KL - Clark: Air Asia
Sai Gon - Manila: Philippine Airlines
8. From Vietnam to INDONESIA
Hanoi - LCCT in KL - Denpasar: Air Asia
Sai Gon - Singapore - Denpasar/Yogyakarta: Garuda Indonesia
9. From Vietnam to BRUNEI
Hanoi - LCCT in KL - BSB (capital): Air
Asia
Sai Gon - BSB (capital): Royal Brunei Airlines
3/
What places to see in Vietnam ?
Here is a list of sightseeing places in
Vietnam , please choose what you want to see:
1. HANOI (many museums, lakes, parks, old
French buildings. On 10 Oct 2010, Hanoi will celebrate the
1,000 year anniversary)
2. SAPA (mountain scenery, trekking to ethnic minority villages),
BAC HA (Sunday morning market) CANCAU (Saturday morning
market)
3. MAI CHAU - HOABINH (Thai ethnic minority villages)
4. SON LA – DIEN BIEN PHU (battle field where the
French troops were defeated in 1954)
5. NINH BINH (rural life, caves, beautiful stone churches,
Cuc Phuong national park)
6. HA LONG BAY (the world heritage, thousands of islands)
7. BA BE LAKE (240km from Hanoi, the largest lake in north
VN)
8. PHONG NHA CAVE (the world heritage, near Dong Hoi, central
VN)
9. HUE (the old capital of VN in the 19th century, visit
the Imperial Citadel, tombs, cruise along the Perfume river)
10. DMZ (Vinh Moc tunnels, Ben Hai river - the place where
Vietnam used to be divided into the North and the South
for 21 years during American war, Khe Sanh combat base)
11. HOI AN (ancient streets, the world heritage)
12. MY SON (brick temples, the world heritage)
13. NHA TRANG (beaches, islands, scuba diving)
14. MUI NE near PHAN THIET (beaches, sand dunes)
15. DA LAT (highlands, cool weather, waterfalls and lakes)
16. CENTRAL HIGHLANDS (Gia Lai - Kon Tum - Dak Lak, special
culture, best coffee)
17. SAI GON (the most developed city, night life)
18. MEKONG DELTA (floating villages & markets, nice
beach in Ha Tien)
19. CU CHI TUNNELS (American War)
20. PHU QUOC ISLAND (beaches, fishing villages)
4/
How many international border gate in Vietnam ? ( with China,
Laos, Cambodia )
ROAD
From Cambodia: There is a road crossing
at Moc Bai (Tay Ninh province 80km from Saigon) connecting
Phnom Penh in Cambodia with Saigon. The new crossing into
Cambodia via Chau Doc (245 km from Saigon) is passable either
by boat or road.
From
Laos: There is a road crossing at Lao Bao in Quang
Tri Province, about 160km north of Hue, connecting Savannakhet
with Central Vietnam. Another road into Vietnam is via Cau
Treo, Ha Tinh Province.
From
China: There are 03 roads crossing at Ha Khau (Lao
Cai Province), Dong Dang (Lang Son Province) and Mong Cai
(Quang Ninh Province
Traveling by water
There are 17,702 Km of waterways in Viet Nam. The most important
ports and harbours are in Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh
City.
5/
How to get Visa to Vietnam ? Visa-on-arrival ?
Most
visitors to Vietnam need a visa to enter the country. Visas
are exempted for the citizens of the countries, which have
signed a bilateral or unilateral visa exemption agreement
with Vietnam, tourist visa may be valid for 15 to 30 days.
Some
people have mistaken a "Visa-on-arrival" with
a "Pre-arranged visa" for Vietnam. There is no
"Visa-on-arrival" for Vietnam, unless you are
exempted from it as I said above and get a stamp upon arrival
at the international airport in Vietnam. In case you don't
want to or cannot apply for a visa at the Vietnamese Embassies
or Consulates for some reasons (for example, no Vietnamese
Embassy in your country), you can apply for a visa through
our agent in Vietnam. We will get an approval letter for
you, so that the airlines will allow you to get on board.
Upon arrival at the international airport in Vietnam, the
immigration officers will stamp the visa into your passport.
This service is called a "Pre-arranged visa" Certainly,
We will charge you some dollars for the service.
Click
here to see the visa procedure to Vietnam
>>>>
6 /
World heritage sites in Vietnam
World heritage sites in Vietnam
As of 2007, there are 5
UNESCO world heritage sites located in northern and central
Vietnam, and 2 intangible world heritages. Following is
some basic information:
UNESCO WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE
SITES
1. Ha Long Bay in Quang
Ninh province - (recognized in December 1994)
Ha Long Bay is made of 1,969
islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names.
There are 2 kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which
are concentrated in 2 main zones: the South East (belonging
to Bai Tu Long Bay) and the South West (belonging to Ha
Long Bay). This densely concentrated zone of stone islands,
world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and
caves.
2. Phong Nha - Ke Bang National
Park in Quang Binh province - (recognized in July 2003)
Phong Nha - Ke Bang national
park (200,000 ha) is one of the world's two largest limestone
regions which includes beautiful limestone formations, grottoes
and caves.
Phong Nha caves (over 30
caves and total discovered length of 100km) has the longest
underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways,
the widest and prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing
rock formations in the world.
UNESCO WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE
SITES
3. Hue Imprerial City in
central Vietnam (recognized in December 1993)
Hue served as Vietnam's
political capital from 1802 to 1945 under the 13 emperors
of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue's attractions are the splendid
toms of the Nguyen emperors, several notable pagodas and
the remains of the Imperial Citadel.
4. Hoi An Ancient Town -
30km south of Da Nang city (recognized in December 1999)
The ancient town of Hoi
An used to be occupied by early western traders and became
one of the major trading centers of South East Asia in the
16th century. It has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with
low, tile-roofed houses made of wood and narrow streets.
5. My Son Sanctuary - 69km
southwest of Da Nang city (recognized in December 1999)
My Son used to be an imperial
city during the Cham dynasty from the 4th to the 12th centuries.
It is a large complex of religious relics that comprises
more than 70 architectural towers of red brick which were
built to reflect the divinity of the king.
INTANGIBLE HERITAGES (Unesco
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity)
6. The royal music in Hue - (recognized
in November 2003).
7. The gong (Cong Chieng) in the Central
Highlands - (recognized in November 2005).
7
/ Taxi/bus from airports to cities/towns ?
This post was updated in July 2008 thanks
to the help of some TTers.
1. HANOI: From Noi Bai airport to the Old
Quarter (30km):
by Noi Bai taxi (tel 8868888): VND 270,000 (US$15)
by 15-seat mini bus of Vietnam Airlines: US$2 from the airport
to Vietnam Airlines Head Office at No. 1 Quang Trung St.
From there you can walk to the Old Quarter.
by public bus: first you get bus No. 7 (yellow & red
color) VND 5,000 from Noi Bai airport to Cau Giay, then
change into bus No. 9 (VND 3,000) from Cau Giay to Bo Ho
(Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi center). From there you can walk
to the Old Quarter. The total costs for both bus trips would
be VND 8,000 (or 50 US cents).
2. HUE: From Phu Bai airport
to Hue city (13km)
Taxi: US$10
3. HOI AN: From Da Nang airport to Hoi An
town (30km)
Taxi: about US$15.
4. NHA TRANG: From Cam
Ranh airport to Nha Trang (about 30-40km)
(Note: Nha Trang airport was closed some
years ago. You will fly to/from Cam Ranh airport which is
located about 30-40km south of Nha Trang)
Taxi: VND 200,000 (US$13) for a 4-seat taxi,
VND 230,000 (US$14) for a 7-seat taxi.
Transfer from the Cam Ranh airport to Nha Trang City (and
return): A shuttle bus is operated in connection with every
Vietnam Airlines flight. Expect VND 26.000 (US$1.8) per
person to reach the old airport of Nha Trang. From there
you will be able to go on foot (800 m) to the hotels by
the sea. Taxis also wait on arrival of the shuttle bus.
After having dropped passengers at the old air terminal,
the bus carries on its way and goes to the major hotels
in the town. The charge is VND 35.000 (about US$2) per person
then. A service of taxi (at offficially fixed price) also
exists between the Cam Ranh airport and Nha Trang city:
cost is VND 170.000 (US$10) for a regular 4-seat taxi OR
VND 230.000 (US$14) for a 7-seat taxi. It takes 45min for
a taxi ride.
5. Hochiminh city : From
Tan Son Nhat airport to the Backpacker area (Pham Ngu Lao
St, Dist 1)
Taxi: VND 90,000 (about US$6), it takes
about 25 minutes.
NOTE
Be careful with the fake taxis in the large
cities as they will overcharge you.
Don't take the offer from taxi drivers or touts, who want
to take you to their hotels.
You can easily find a taxi/bus ticket counter in the arrival
hall.
You also can book in advance with your hotel for a pick
up.
8
/How long to visit Vietnam ?
Most
of tourists visit Vietnam for the period of 14 days or 10
days for general view, the period may longer if you wish
to discover the north west , north est or central highland
of Vietnam.
tour will starting from Hanoi or Hochiminh city. Tour ended
in Hanoi or Chi Minh city.
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Cat
Ba island (book 2-3 day tours, OR go by yourself, one way
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba with tourist company by bus
and boat, stay on Cat Ba island, exploring beaches, cave,
jungle, fishing villages, then take express boat Cat Ba
- Hai Phong and by train/bus Hai Phong - Hanoi.
Hanoi - Lao Cai overnight
train (or by bus but it takes a long time), then 30km by
bus to Sapa. You should spend 2 nights on train, 2 days
for trekking. From Sapa to Bac Ha by bus, about 60km.
Hanoi - Ninh Binh: by train, by tourist
bus, or you can rent a car from Hanoi
Hanoi - Mai Chau: 2 day tour, or by bus
Hanoi - Hue: overnight train, by tourist
bus or flight
Hanoi - Da Nang: overnight train, by tourist
bus or flight
Hue - Hai Van Pass - Da Nang - Hoi An: by
train, or by tourist bus, or by taxi (through pass or through
tunnel)
Da Nang - Nha Trang: by train, by tourist
bus or flight
Nha Trang - Da Lat: by tourist bus
Nha Trang - Sai Gon: by train, by tourist
bus or flight
Da Lat - Sai Gon: by tourist bus, or flight
Sai Gon - Mekong Delta: 1-2-3 day tours,
or by local bus
Here is my suggestions for your trip (in
case you want to see all 3 regions):
10 days or 2 weeks
1-2 days in Hanoi
2 days in Ha Long Bay
Overnight train Hanoi to Hue
1 day in Hue
Bus Hue to Hoi An (4 hours)
Hoi An 1-2 days
Fly Da Nang - Sai Gon (evening flight) US$ 75
Cu Chi tunnels (half day or 1 day)
Mekong Delta (1-2 day tour)
3 weeks
3 weeks in Vietnam:
1. Ha Noi
2. Ha Long Bay
3. Ninh Binh
(May replace or add Sapa if you like trekking)
Overnight train or flight Hanoi - Hue US$52
one way
4. Hue
5. DMZ
Bus Hue - Hoi An (4 hours)
6. Hoi An - My Son Cham towers (May add
Nha Trang/Mui Ne for beach)
Flight Da Nang - Sai Gon US$75 one way
7. Sai Gon
8. Mekong Delta
9. Cu Chi tunnel
You can add or skip places if you like.
9
/ What is the everage tour cost for a package tour in Vietnam
?
Our tour cost not included
the flight in /out Vietnam. We just provide the landtour
in Vietnam only, package tour cost normally included accomodations,
tranportation, local tour guide speaking englisht or french,
food, entrances fees, domestic flights or train tickets,
boat trip. Cost is varied from 700 USD
up to 3000USD, it depend on the length of stay and hotels
standard. Please contact
us now for free advise and plan tour in Vietnam.
10/
How is the traffic in Vietnam ? It is safe when travelling
by bike or motobike ?
In the cities
The traffic can be a nightmare
for visitors to Viet Nam for the first time. Believe it
or not, there are transport rules but people don't seem
really interested in following them. Three or four people
on one motor bike is a common sight, particularly with the
young and young families.
The traffic is worst during
the rush hour when everyone is attempting to get to work
or get home quickly. Some people ride their motorbikes on
the pavement rather than waiting in the a traffic jam. The
people walking are just as likely to get hit on the pavement
as they are crossing the roads at such times. It's crazy.
Road users become very impatient, constantly using their
horns when there's obviously nowhere to go, even shouting
at others to get out of the way. You have to be quite aggressive
or you get nowhere.
Outside cities
But is safe for travelling
by bike outside of big city like Hanoi, Danang and Hochiminh
city. Our bike tour journey has choosed the good road with
beatiful landscape that you will enjoy so much when cycling
For motobike , just for adventurer only,
you will need more experienced and good skill with professtional
tour guide.
Driving
Licences
It is illegal in Vietnam
to drive without a licence. An Interational Driving Permit
is acceptable. Make sure it is endorsed for motorbikes.
To legally drive in VN you are legally required to carry:
1. an IDP or VN licence
2. the moto registration papers
3. moto insurance papers
4. identification (ID card for locals or passport for you)
Police most of the time will not bother
you, but from time to time they have a blitz and will suddenly
start stopping EVERY foreigner driving a bike and checking
for the above documents.
Don't even THINK about driving a car in
Vietnam. The police really don't want you to, for your own
good.
11/
How is organise bike tour in Vietnam ?
During the trip, we provide the escorted
minibus, just cycle as much or as little as you like since
we have the van with us for most of the time except for
some parts of the trip due to small ferry.
Everyday, you will ride around 30 - 40 -
60 km or more on the flat road or mountain road. it depend
on your capability. We have support van and tour guide follows
you in case you are tired or preparing bikes.
12/
What is we should bring when taking your bike tour ?
You can bring to Vietnam the following :
1. Bike Helmet
2. Small backpack
3. Shoes and shorts for cylcing
4. Sunglasses
5. Gloves
6. Professtional Pedal
See
our support van or bikes
13/
What is currency and how to exchange money Vietnam ? How
to use Credit/Debit Cards and Where are ATMs ?
Currency
Dông (VND; symbol ). Notes are in denominations of
500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000,
2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are in denominations
of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500.
Currency Exchange
The US Dollar is the most favoured foreign currency. Australian,
British, Japanese, Singaporean and Thai currency, as well
as the Euro, can usually be changed in the larger cities;
great difficulty may be encountered in trying to exchange
any other currencies. There is a commission charge for changing
money in banks.
Note : you may do an exchange
US Dollar at the jewllery shops in Hanoi and Hochiminh city
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
An increasing number of
outlets accept MasterCard and Visa. However, outside main
towns and cities, it is wise to carry cash. There are ATMs
in many major towns , but not everywhere.
ATMs are available
in Hanoi , Halong bay, Dien Bien Phu, SonLa, CaoBang, LangSon
, HaiPhong, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa , Vinh, Hue, HoiAn old
town, Danang , Nhatrang, CamRanh, Dalat, Kontum, Buon Ma
Thuot, Hochiminh city, CanTho, ChauDoc, HaTien, CaMau..
Traveller's Cheques
These are widely accepted in hotels and banks. To avoid
additional exchange ratecharges, travellers are advised
to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions
Restrictions apply.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0730/0800-1130 and 1300-1600.
Exchange Rate Indicators (
July 2008 )
1 USD = 16.800 VND
,
1 £ = 33.455VND , 1
€ = 26.000VND
The exchange bureau are availale at the
airport in Hanoi, Hochiminh city
14/
Homestay tour in Vietnam ?
You will eat, sleep and
learn about living activities at residents’ homes
where you come during your homestay tours. This kind of
tour is for those who like discovering, experiencing and
learn about customs and practice of various cultures.
You will feel like returning
to nature and experience interesting things of simple life.
Homestay tourism has developed in Mai Chau of Hoa Binh northern
province, In the centre of Vietnam, we do offer overnight
at homestay in HoiAn town or in Hue. Buon Me Thuot in the
Central Highlands, Sapa, PhongTho and some provinces in
the Mekong River Delta like Vinh Long, CanTho
Mai Chau, about 135 kilometres
from Hanoi and about 60 kilometres from Hoa Binh town, the
capital of Hoa Binh province. From Cun Mount Peak, you can
have an overview of Mai Chau set in green valleys and stilted
houses of ethnic minority people. The stilted houses are
quite large. They are roofed with palm trees and their floors
are made with bamboo. Tourists will stay at one of these
houses.
In Mai Chau, you can join
trekking tours around villages and exchange with ethnic
minority people through festivals with traditional dances
and gong music.
In the Mekong River delta,
homestay tour is also one of tourists’ favourites.
Now, we often choose the Mekong River delta ( Vinh Long
, CanTho )to introduce to tourists.
The reason is that tourists
have more information about this region and they particularly
like learning about life of residents in the river region.
They like travelling by boat, calling at handcraft villages,
doing the garden work and making cakes with the locals.”
The Mekong River delta promises to be an
attractive place for a large number of tourists in the future.
Homestay tours in the river delta are suitable for tourists
who do not have much time to travel.
Homestay tours are not new but you should
discover yourselves. You can design these tours by contact
us now
15/
How about boat cruise and overnigh in Halong bay ?
Travel to Halong Bay with
your family, friend group or even 2 of you who want to spend
a quiet time together? Private boat cruise maybe the good
option. Our private boat with comfortable facilities, friendly
and professional trained staffs, affordable price will definately
brings you unforgetable time in World heritage of Halong
bay.
Most of boats in Halong
bay are wooden boat, buitl on the tradtional style, the
overnight boat in Halong bay are equiped from 2 to 10 rooms
with toilet inside, there is a twin or double room, all
the boat have restaurant, you can order foods, drinks during
your stay in Halong bay. We do provide overnight tour in
Halong from 2 to 5 days.
See more photos and boat picture in Halong
at our website www.halongtours.com
16/
How is the road condition in the northern par of Vietnam
? How about the climate in Vietnam for travelling ?
In genreral, you can travel
by car or landcruiser to all parts of Vietnam, except the
rainning season to avoid the landslide.
Travelling through Vietnam,
you will notice a big difference in climate between the
north and the south. In the north the raining season starts
in july august, end in september.The south of Vietnam (
Ho Chi Minh City) is near the equator, so It has two season:
raining and dry season. The raining season stars around:
March to October and The dry season from November to April.
During the raining season it rain nearly every day but just
for haft an hour to one hour and then shining again.
The best time to visit Vietnam
( Also the tourist season for westerner) is between August
to April when the weather tend to be good in both North
and South.
17/
My Cell phone can use in Vietnam ?
Sure! you can use your cell
phone in Vietnam , and use pre-paid card to call, you buy
an other pre-paid card for your callings, simcard cost 50.000,
calling card 100.000VND, oversea call rate 7000VNd/minute.
You can buy a Vinaphone , Mobile phone , Viettel simcard
any where in Vietnam.
18/
How should i bring clothes and shoes when travelling or
trekking in Vietnam ?
In Vietnam, there is a difference
of climate in the norht and the south, especially in the
winter. You should bring warm clothes when
travelling in the north of Vietnam from November to March.
In the centre ( Hoian ) and south Vietnam ( Saigon, Nhatrang,
Mekong ) , the climate around 25 °C
to 33°C
, just need to bring summer clothes.
Annual
temperature for Sa Pa town is 15.4°C, with a maximum
of 29.4°C and a minimum of 1°C. The warmest months
are July and August, and the coldest months are December
and January. Snow falls in some years on the highest peaks.
19/
Can i book the cheap room rate in Vietnam from 25USD to
30USD ?
Yes, you can send us any
request for hotels booking around Vietnam, just come to
our hotels website www.vietnamhotels.biz
or send an email with request for numer of rooms, hotel
location, lenthg of stay. Our travel consultant will suggest
you the most convenient hotels as your budget
20/
Learning Vienamese with our tour guide ?
Travelling to Vietnam, you
may find it neccessary to learn the language in oder to
understand the people here and to use all the services well.
Our tour guide may help you to learn Vietnamese during your
trip in Vietnam.
Here is info about Vietnamese
Language Centers in the Timeout Guide to Hanoi and HCMC:
HANOI:
Vietnamese Language Center
1. No. 1, Pham Ngu Lao St., Tel: 8262468
2. No. 20 Lang Ha St., Tel: 7761123
HCMC:
1. Lassho Vietnamese Language School for
Foreigners
No. 8, Mac Dinh Chi St., Dist 1, Tel: 8233816
2. Sai Gon Vietnamese Language School
No. 41 Dinh Tien Hoang St., Ben Nghe ward, District 1, HCMC
Tel: 84-8-8251027
21
/ How to travel to Cambodia via mekong delta ?
The new crossing into ChauDoc (245 km from Saigon) to Phnompenh
Cambodia is passable either by boat - Ticket cost around
30USD for hydrofoil, taking 4 -5 hours from 8h00Am in ChauDoc
- Arrival time 13h00. You may applly visa on arrival at
the border to Cambodia - cost 20USD
22/
How to crossing border to Laos ?
From Hanoi the daily bus
to Vientiane , passing Cau Treo border.
Takes about 20 hours and departs everyday at 7 PM..
There is a border crossing
into Laos in Hatinh (Cautreo Border). You
can catch the bus from HN to Ha tinh easily (340km) and
then go to Cau treo border by bus (120km). From border to
vientiane distance about 200km.
From Hue or Danang, you
can take the bus to Xavanakhet crossing LaoBao border gate.
You should have visa in advance , can not get visa at the
border. Visa on arrival just available at the airport. Good
trip to you.
23/
How to get Visa to China in Vietnam ?
If you are in Vietnam ,
you may come to Chinesse embassy in Hanoi or contact our
office for Visa services - Visa cost from 45USD for normal
case .
Bus from Hanoi to
Nanning
In the message above, Aoga posted some information
about the direct bus from Nanning to Hanoi. I have seen
a post about the direct bus from Hanoi to Nanning and kept
the telephone number. Today I called the agent and below
is some information.
Kim Lien Hotel
7 Dao Duy Anh Street, Hanoi
Tel: 0084-4-5770434 (if you are in Hanoi, call 5770434)
Or: 0084-25-716077 (this tel is in Lang Son or Dong Dang
town)
The bus leaves Kim Lien Hotel in Hanoi at
8:30am or 9:20am daily, and arrives in Nanning at 4:00pm
or 5:00pm. You will change the bus at the border.
Ticket costs (US$20 ) one way.
Now it's easy to travel between Hanoi and
Nanning without hassles. Previously we had to go from Hanoi
- Lang Son - Dong Dang - Friendship Gate - Pingxiang - Nanning
by bus, train.
24/
How to get Visa to Cambodia in Vietnam ? international border
crossings between Vietnam and Cambodia
If you are in Vietnam ,
you should contact Cambodia Embassy in Hanoi or get visa
on arrival are avaiblabe at border or airport. - bring with
you 2 photos passport size. Visa cost 20USD .
• International airport
tax departure Phnompenh and Siemreap: US$25
Below is the list of the
international border crossings between Vietnam and Cambodia
that were open. Any advice or up-to-date info would be welcome.
Please also use the "search" function to find
the latest trip reports posted by TTers.
1. MOC BAI (Tay Ninh province, 70km from
HCMC) - BAVET crossing (Cambodia VoA: Yes)
2. XA MAT (Tay Ninh province) - TRAPAING
PHLONG crossing (opened in Jan 06)
3. TINH BIEN (An Giang province, 25km from
Chau Doc) - PHNOM DEN crossing (Cambodia VoA: Yes, US$25,
confirmed on Dec 23, 2007)
4. VINH XUONG (An Giang province, 30km from
Chau Doc) - KAAM SAMNOR crossing (river crossing / Cambodia
VoA: No)
5. XA XIA (near Ha Tien town) - PREK CHAK
crossing (Cambodia VoA: Yes, US$25)
6. LE THANH (near Pleiku, Gia Lai province)
- O'YADAO (Ban Lung, Ratanakiri province) crossing (Cambodia
VoA: Yes) open in Dec 07
25/
How to get Visa to Laos in Vietnam ?
If you are in Vietnam ,
contact our office in Hanoi or Laos Embassy - if you take
a flight to Laos , you can get visa upon on your arrival
at Vientiane or Luangprabang airport - bring with you 2
photos passport size. Visa on arrival cost 30USD .
26/
Do you have contact office in Cambodia ?
Yes, we have travel agent
in Phnompenh and Siemreap - We will send you more contact
details if you are taking our tour to Vietnam Cambodia
27/
Do you have contact office in Laos ?
Yes, we
have travel agent office in Vientiane, Luangprabang
and parkse in Laos - We
will send you more contact details if you are taking our
tour to Vietnam Laos
28/
Where to do trekking in Vietnam ?
We have compiled a list
of hiking and trekking tours in Vietnam. If you are interested
in any of these hiking and trekking tours and vacations
- Sapa
Town 's picturesque mountains and colorful hill tribes,
this is the best place to do trekking - see more tours or
information on website www.sapatours.com
- Pu Luong (near
Hanoi) is with outstanding beauty and renowned
biodiversity, as a lowland limestone forest ecosystem covered
by rich tropical forest, stunning panoramas and beautiful
rice paddies.
- Maichau - Hoabinh,
on the bank of Ma River to experience the everyday life
and culture of White Thai, Muong people
.- CaoBang
- near chinesse border , north est of Vietnam
- Catba island near
Halong bay - trekking from National park to Viethai village
- Babe lake
- trekking to see Tay village
- Cuc Phuong National
Park in NinhBinh ( 130km from Hanoi ) , and relaxing
with an overnight rest in a traditional stilt home.
- Cat Tien National
park - 5hours drive from Hochiminh city
- Kontum
and river dafting in the Central highland of Vietnam
29/
What is we should bring when trekking in Vietnam ?
Valid passport: your passport
must be valid for at least six months after your date of
departure from Vietnam.
We do recommend lightweight
trail shoes or even running shoes. The best qualities to
look for in choosing shoes to bring to Vietnam
* Camera + Recording device
and blank tapes
* Sunglasses with hard case
* Flashlight
* Extra batteries (for camera, tape recorder and flashlight)
* Second pair of eye glasses (if you need your eye glasses
on a daily basis)
- Aspirin, Tylenol, Aleve
or something similar
- Personal medications (anything you normally take at home
and any precautionary items such as migraine medications,
if you are prone to that).
- Cold medicine
- Allergy medicine
- Anti-diarrhea medicine (e.g., Immodium and an antibiotic)
Warm jacket. Fiber fill
or down should be adequate. This is especially necessary
during winter from December to February in Sapa area
30/
I am a Muslim, , is it easy to find halal food ?
If you are planning to visit Vietnam but
don't know where to go for halal food then please check
out these places: (We are in the process of compiling this
list, please have patience with us)
South Vietnam
You need a local Muslim
to take you to these places (just ask the Imam from the
Dong Du Mosque for assistance):
66 Dong Du, District 1:
Indian, Vietnamese cuisine. This mosque has a halal food
court where you can buy lunch or dinner. Many Muslim foreigners
come here to eat.
26 Bui vien, District 1: Indian, Pakistani.
45 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia: Malay, Indo cuisine.
459B Tran Hung Dao: Pho (noodle).
94/4A Huynh Van Banh (near fashion shop of Ms.Basiroh):
Budget food.
52 Nguyen Van Troi: Goat Cari (cari de).
An Giang
Café Vila, 25 Nguyen Huu Canh, Chau Doc town.
phone: 867129; Indian food
North Vietnam
53 Ba Trieu, Hanoi.
10 Hang Thung, Hanoi.
Nisa Restaurant: 90 Nguyen Huu Huan: Malay and Indian cuisine.
31
/ Where to get Vegetarians Food ?
Food for Vegetarians
Tôi ãn chay = I'm a vegetarian
Based on the Timeout Guide to Hanoi and
HCM City:
Hanoi:
1. Com Chay Nang Tam: 79A Tran Hung Dao
st., (tel: 9424140)
2. Dakshin: 94 Hang Trong st., (tel: 9286872)
3. Adida: 37 Nguyen Khac Nhu st.,(tel: 9272430)
HCM City:
1. Com Chay Nang Tam: 384/40, Nam Ky Khoi
Nghia, ward 8, Ditrict 3 (tel: 8483874)
2. Hoa Mai restaurant: Rex Hotel, 141 Nguyen Hue st., District
1 (tel: 8292185)
3. Tib restaurant: 187 Hai Ba Trung st., District 3 (tel:
8297242)
32
/ Vietnamese Food and restaurant ?
Regional Cuisine
Cuisine in this country
of 80,000,000 people differs strikingly between the north,
south and central regions, but two key features stand out.
First, rice plays an essential role in the nation's diet
as it does throughout southeast Asia. But this is also a
noodle-crazy population, regularly downing them for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, in homes, restaurants and at roadside
stands. Noodles are eaten wet and dry, in soup or beside
soup, and are made in different shapes and thicknesses of
wheat, rice and mung beans. Secondly, no meal is complete
without fresh vegetables and herbs. A key portion of every
meal, north, south and central, is a platter containing
cucumbers, bean threads, slices of hot pepper, and sprigs
of basil, coriander, mint and a number of related herbs
found principally in southeast Asian markets.
As in any country, Vietnam's
cuisine reflects its geography and history. Geographically,
it consists of two great river deltas separated by a belt
of mountains. Vietnamese describe their country as two great
rice baskets hung on either end of a carrying pole. The
Red River Delta surrounding Hanoi provides rice for the
residents of North Vietnam. The tremendously fertile Mekong
Delta, centered by Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) produces
rice plus a wide variety of fruits and vegetables both for
itself and the central strip of the country whose principal
city is the former imperial Hue.
Vietnamese Soup Customs
Soup is customarily served
for breakfast in Vietnam--big bowls of steaming noodle soup,
with meat and any number of ingredients added at the last
minute, like bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, chili peppers,
lime slices, and green onions. All, of course, spiced with
with plenty of fish sauce (nuoc mam), chili-garlic sauce,
and/or hoisin sauce in nearby dipping dishes. It's an unusual
melange of cooked rice noodles, raw vegetables and herbs,
and shaved raw meat or seafood that cooks in the broth just
as it's brought to table.
Phó, as it's known, people line up
at the doors of Phó restaurants night and day to
sit at trencher tables and feast on the soup til sweat pours
down the backs of their heads. The term phó translates
as "your own bowl," since it's one of the few
meals where the food is not passed around and shared.
"Small" soups, by contrast, are
served as first courses--they generally don't have noodles;
they're served in small portions; and they're called sup.
The famous Sup Mang Tay, or Crab and Asparagus Soup is in
this category--so is Sup Nam Trang, a fascinatingly complex
soup of crab, shrimp, and dried white fungus (mushroomlike).
Finally, the class of soups known as Canh
are generally served family style, out of one big bowl--often
spooned into smaller bowls at table with rice. And they
are generally light--also served as a first course to whet
the appetite. These include Canh Sa Lach Soan (Watercress-Shrimp
Soup), Canh Chua Tom (Hot and Sour Shrimp and Lemongrass
Soup), and Canh Chua Ca (Hot and Sour Tamarind Fish Soup).
See
the Vietnam Restaurant list
33/
Where to go if travelling with kids in Vietnam ?
In Hanoi, the Waterpuppets
are an absolute must for any kid, whether you are 6 or 16
(or 66). The colourful puppets magically move criss-cross
a small pond and make a lot of noise. Bet your parents find
this cool too.
The Cuc Phuong National
Park is a great jungle, but visit the 'Endangered Primate
Rescue Centre' at the entrance first. This mini-zoo is home
to a number of extremely rare monkeys. You may find the
tropical showers during the rainy season exciting, but be
aware that leeches (bloodsuckers) will be a problem at that
time of the year.
Undoubtedly your parents
want to show you all the old stuff in Hoi An. Remind them
that the beach is nearby, about half an hour by bicycle.
Another fun thing to do is a river boat trip in one of those
very narrow sampans, step in carrrrrefulllly.
A snorkelling trip to the
islands near Nha Trang is unforgettable. Bring your own
snorkel set or buy one before you hop on the boat. Nha Trang
also has the best beach in Vietnam, but mind the current,
which can be particularly strong in the autumn. Never swim
alone. For yet another great experience in Nha Trang get
up at five o'clock in the morning, watch the sunrise plus
a few thousand Vietnamese play badminton and do exercise.
Fancy sleeping in the Crazy
House in Dalat? For a fairy-tale experience, ask your parents
to book you in the Tiger room or any other theme-rooms of
this weird mini-hotel. After waking up, visit the dusty
summer palace of Vietnam’s last emperor Bao Dai and
have your picture taken behind his desk (don’t smile).
To experience a Vietnamese
amusement park, call on Dam Sen in Ho Chi Minh City, which
has everything from old-fashioned merry-go-rounds to brand-new
water slides. Outside of the city, there are also two big
water parks, great on a sizzling-hot day. Bring lots of
waterproof suntan lotion!
The underground Cu Chi Tunnels,
close to Ho Chi Minh City, are a bit scary to some children,
although most find them a real thrill. You’re lucky
if you’re small, because so are the tunnels. Bring
old clothes, for you’ll get dusty, and mosquito repellent.
34/
How do we book the tour, on internet or come to your office?
How to pay ?
The reservation should be sent by fax, mail,
or e-mail to:
Office
in Hanoi Capital Vietnam :
Adventure Tours
- Asia Pacific Travel
Add : 14 CUA BAC ST - BA DINH DIST - HANOI - VIETNAM
Tel : (84.4) 37568868 - 38364212
Fax
: (84.4) 37567862
Hotline
: + 84.9.1 3224473
Email
: info@adventuretours.vn or pacifictravel@hn.vnn.vn
Office in Danang
city - Vietnam :
Add:
79 Thanhlong St.,Haichau Dist, Danang City,Vietnam
Tel: (84.511) 3 286 088
Fax: (84.4) 37567862 /(84 511)3531897
Office in Hochiminh
city - Vietnam :
Adventure
tours in Hochiminh city
Address
: 127 BanCo Str - District 3 , Hochiminh city
Tel : 84.8.38334083
The reservation is validated
only if you have received a confirmation of Adventure Tours
upon your payment of deposit.
Payment method
Bank credit transfer as
well as expenses, which must be charged by the customer,
are credited on the above account.
Credit
card: [form of authorization-by
Winword file - by
Acrobat PDF file ]
For payment
by credit card, 3% of expenses are charged by customer who
has to fill in the form and make a copy of his credit card,
then both documents must be faxed to the following number:
(84.4) 37567862.
The form
and photocopy of your passport must be sent to which are
regarded as the final and legal proof of your payment for
Adventure tours.
As the payment has been made, AdventureTours.vn will draw
up a confirmation which is handed out to the customer when
he is arrived in Vietnam.
35/
Do you have office in Ho chi Minh city? Can we book tour
when we arrive HCM city or too late?
Our company head quater
is located in Hanoi, the other 02 offices are located in
Hochiminh City ( Saigon ) and Danang City.
You should confirm your
tour booking by fax, mail or e-mail to us at least 10 working
days before your arrival in Vietnam.
It's quite late if you book
your trip when you arrive, some of services may be not available
at that time, especially hotels rooms and flight tickets.
In this case, we will try our best to arrange services for
you base on their avaibilty. However the tour price for
last minutes bookings are mostly higher than normal.
36/ How do we purchased
domestic air tickets ?
38/
Hoi An Tailors for Women's or Man Clothing ?
Hoi An is surely the tailoring
capital of the world with about 300 little shops crammed
into its narrow streets - all selling more or less the same
designs made from the same material.
The clothes shops in Hoi An make tailored clothes, you get
measured for whatever garment you want, or have a copy made.
You can collect the item within 1 day, have a fiting and
go from there.
1) They are cheap - a suit
for $30 anyone
2) They are fast - from pointing out the material to an
outfit in 8hrs.
3) They are good - you vaguely say what you want, they provide
it that night, better than you could imagine it yourself,
and perfectly fitting.
37
/ What is your phone number in urgent case ?
From
over see, you can call our hotline number + 84 9 13224473
( Vietnam colde : 84 ) 9 for cell phone - following 8 numers
When
you are in Vietnam, you dial directly 0913224473 - 091336
5849
Contact
number in Hanoi - + 84 4 383364121 - contact number in
Hochiminh city : + 84 8 38334083
42/
Do you arrange the honeymoon in vietnam?
You should have a look at
some of the resorts in Hoi An, the Furama also on China
Beach, there are a number there like Life Resort (good spa)
and theres lots to see culturally and the food is great.
Obviously depends on your budget but there is the very upmarket
Eveson Hideaway in Nha Trang where you'll get very pampered
The Life Resort Hoi An hotel
would be a very romantic place to stay. (There are also
less expensive options, several of which are enthusiastically
reviewed.)
The town itself is beautiful,
with much to see and several good restaurants (two of them
in the Life Resort itself). Plus Hoi An is close to a nice
beach.
Nha Trang is wonderful!
It has a great beach and your husband could try scuba diving
if he's into sport, there's many schools. There's one diving
school, which I recommend, based at 'Crazy Kim's' bar which
is a fantastic bar which finances a school for the street
children. There's also a very famous natural hot spring
baths where I also had one of the best Thai massages and
greatly recommend. There's two wonderful ancient temples
in town on the cultural side. to visit. There's lots of
wonderful restaurants or you can have lobster cooked in
front of you on the beach. It is an amazing town. I also
highly recommend Ho Chi Min City (formerly Saigon) which
is a beautiful city. I wasn't over enamoured with Hanoi,
although it has a beautiful lake and a couple of good museums
and of course Ho Chi Min's mausoleum.
Another option: Phu Quoc
Island. Phu Quoc does not have as many touristic facilities
as mainland's towns and cities do but it has a wonderful
wild nature. When we were there, we could see many couples
enjoying their honey moon in the island. Some resorts have
their own beach. Tourists could play volley ball on beach.
There are bungalows which are so nice for couples. Riding
motorbikes through the national park is also fantastic.
We hired a boat (just us) and the boat took us around little
ilands. It now and then stopped some places where the tour
guide told us what we could do such as fishing, snorkling.
One of the things I liked best is that lying on the beach
in the shade of palm trees growing along the baech. Breeze
and sounds of sea waves gave me a wonderfulfeeling. I also
loved the food they served during the trip. Actually it
was the fish which we fished during the tour and they were
all freshly cooked righton a beach of one of the islet.
So we ate what we caught. How interesting it was. At night
time, we still could use the pool and after that went for
a walk along the beach. How surprising it was whenI thought
there would be nobody on the bach at the time of the night
but it was not true. There were many couples still around
on the beach. We accidently walked to close to a couple
who were having their romatic time on the beach. We just
had to quickly and quietly changed our direction.
I wish you have a great
honeymoon in the place you choose.
The main attraction in Mai
Chau (apart from the scenery) is being able to stay in traditional
housing, browsing/buying weaving and doing a bit of trekking
in thesurrounds. Most of the trekking is of the full day
variety rather than longer, multi-day trips and as far as
I know, you are required to take a guide. I'm sure you'd
be able to arrange a one-on-one trip though (you and the
guide).
As for motorbike hire, I'm
not sure. If there's not places explicitly hiring bikes
out you may be able to come to some kind of informal arrangement
once you're there. The other option is just to hire the
bike in Hanoi and ride there yourself -- it's not all that
far.
43/
How to make the payment ? do you accept the Visa or travellers
check ?
You can make payment by
cash, bank transfer, credit card ( Visa, Master and American
Express ). It's inconvenient for us to accept travellers
check as we only receive the money in our bank account after
serveral months.
Money Transfer: Payment
by money transfer service of Western Union (Applied if you
are not in Vietnam)
You can choose many of bank agents of Western Union in your
country or do it online to transfer money to our company.
Please follow the guide of http://www.westernunion.com
After that, please send us the bank code of this transaction
by fax/ mail, then if it is approved, we will send you the
confirmation. (Bank charge may apply. This, if any, will
be settled by client)
46/
How safe is Vietnam?
Vietnam is a relatively safe country to visit. As a woman,
I have travelled extensively in Vietnam on my own with absolutely
no problems. Despite people's fears, there is almost no
animosity towards Americans.
That said, there are increasing
instances of theft, especially in HCMC where pickpockets
and snatch thieves on motorbikes are the worst menace. The
best tip is to be vigilant at all times. Often cute kids
or old grannies have deft fingers. Leave all valuables (expensive
watches, jewellery, glasses, etc.) at home, and don't even
wear flash costume jewellery. Make sure you have a firm
grip on cameras and shoulder bags at all times and never
leave anything you value lying around unattended. I would
also not advise taking cyclos late at night, especially
in HCMC or as a female on her own.
The other problem area is
on the trains, especially the night trains from Hanoi to
Lao Cai. Again, make sure all your luggage is safely locked,
preferably stowed out of sight or attached to an immovable
object, and don't leave things near open windows. It's also
wise not to accept food or drink from people you don't know
(there are reports of one or two people being drugged and
robbed this way).
You might also have read
warnings about unexploded shells, mines and other ordnance
lying around. This is still the case in the DMZ, around
My Son and certain border areas, particularly along the
Chinese border. It is advisable to visit such areas only
with an experienced local guide and never stray off well-trodden
footpaths anywhere in Vietnam.
Finally, there's the traffic.
Trying to cross the street in Hanoi or HCMC is an adventure
in itself! You'll be faced with a tightly-packed stream
of scooters, bikes and cyclos which looks completely chaotic
at first. But don't give up! Either walk till you find some
traffic lights or just go for it. The key is to walk slowly
and steadily out into the traffic. As long as you keep a
steady pace and make your movements clear, the traffic will
flow round you. Problems arise if you stop or move too quickly
and the drivers/riders can't anticipate your progress.
Unfortunately, driving standards
are pretty poor. Vehicles are badly maintained and the roads
are becoming ever more crowded, especially Highway 1. As
a result the number of serious accidents on the highways
is on the increase.
But don't get paranoid!
Thousands of people visit Vietnam each year without experiencing
any problems whatsoever. It's also worth bearing in mind
that the situation in Vietnam is certainly no worse than
many big European and American cities. Just take the same
precautions you would in any unfamiliar place, and you should
be fine.
Adopt Vietnam Resources:
47/
What level of comfort do the trains in Vietnam provide and
how safe are they?
There are five classes on
Vietnamese trains: hard seat, soft seat, hard sleeper, soft
sleeper and "super berths" (soft sleeper with
air-con), though only the long-distance expresses offer
the full range. For short journeys hard or soft seat carriages
are fine, though most Vietnamese people can only afford
hard seat so these carriages tend to be packed out.
For longer journeys, particularly
overnight, try and get a sleeping berth. Hard sleeper consists
of six bunk beds in one compartment (two tiers of three).
In most cases the seats have padding and it's reasonably
comfortable; the exception is the night train to Lao Cai,
when you just get a hard wooden bunk and a mat to sleep
on. Prices for the bottom bunk are highest and the top bunk
is the cheapest, partly because you have to climb up and
also because there's very little space between the bunk
and the ceiling. Soft sleeper compartments have four bunks
(two tiers of two) which are all priced the same. Note that
sleeping berths get booked up well in advance, so it's best
to make your reservation as early as possible.
Meals are provided on longer
journeys, though you may prefer to take your own supply
of snacks, fruit and bottled water. You can supplement these
when vendors come on the trains at stations to hawk their
wares.
As far as safety goes, in
my experience (as a female travelling alone) the trains
in Vietnam are fine. However, theft is becoming more of
a problem on some routes, particularly the night trains
from Hanoi north to Lao Cai. It's wise to ensure your luggage
is locked and safely stowed away, don't leave anything lying
near an open window and always carry your valuables with
you. In the sleeping carriages the bottom seats lift up
and you can put your bags underneath, so these berths are
quite a good idea. The only downside is that everyone will
be sitting on them during the day - which means you can't
stretch out if you want a nap. The top berths have access
to a useful storage space above the door.
48
/ Is it a good idea to take gifts to present in Vietnam?
What would be appreciated?
Is it a good idea to take
gifts to present in Vietnam? What would be appreciated?
Giving small gifts to those who have performed a special
service or with whom you have a working relationship is
greatly appreciated. Anything from your local area, such
as cakes, sweets, chinaware or photo books or calendars,
is a good idea. Otherwise, inexpensive make-up, perfume,
jewellery and pretty toiletries go down well with women,
while men will prefer pens, cigarette lighters, imported
cigarettes, whisky or other spirits and car/biking magazines.
For children, obviously small toys such as inflatable playground
balls and skipping ropes are popular and easy to transport.
Or how about drawing books/pads of paper and pencils or
crayons, erasers, model cars, small-size T-shirts and other
clothes.
When presenting gifts, don't expect effusive
thanks as this isn't Vietnamese style. Whatever their reaction,
you can be sure that the gift was appreciated.
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