GEOGRAPHY
Vietnam is a long and narrow country, lying completely in the tropical zone. Its landmass forms the shape the letter S on the east side of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The country's two main cultivated acres are the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south. Three-quarters of the country is mountainous and hilly; the highest peak is the 3143m (10,309ft) high Fansipan in north-west Vietnam. The country occupies a total of 330,363 square kilometers is mainland. Vietnamese eastern border consists of more than 3,000 km of coastline, while to the west with Cambodia and Laos.

POPULATION
Vietnam has 80 million inhabitants, and ethnic Vietnamese constitute almost 90% of the population. Originating in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam, the Vietnamese people pushed southward over several centuries to occupy the entire eastern seacoast of the Indochinese Peninsula. This expansion began in 939 AD, after a millennium of Chinese occupation. Although Vietnamese culture was bly influenced by traditional Chinese civilization, the struggle for political independence from China developed a b sense of national identity in the Vietnamese people. Nearly 100 years of French rule (1858-1954) introduced important European elements, but the Vietnamese still attach great importance to the family and continue to observe rites honoring their ancestors, indicating the persistence of tradition.

Various ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population, with the approximately 1.2 million Chinese, concentrated in southern Vietnam, being the most numerous.
The second largest minority, the southern Montagnards (mountain people) comprises two main ethno-linguistic groups - Malayo-Polynesian and Mon-Khmer. About 30 groups of various cultures and dialects are spread over the highland territory. The third largest minority is the Khmer Krom (Cambodians), numbering about 600,000, who are concentrated in the southern provinces near the Cambodian border and at the mouth of the Mekong River. Most are farmers. Other minority groups include Cham (remnants of the once-mighty Kingdom of Champa, destroyed by the Vietnamese in the 16th century).

RELIGION
Vietnam supports adherents of all the major world religions, as well as followers of religions that are peculiarly Vietnamese: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, Protestant and Catholic Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, Cao Daism, Hoa Hao and Hinduism. In addition spirit and ancestor worship, To Tien, is also practiced. Confucianism is probably the most pervasive doctrine of all.

LANGUAGE
The Vietnamese language has a reputation for being fiendishly difficult to master. Its origins are still the subject of dispute - at one time thought to be a Sino-Tibetan language (because it is tonal), it is now believed to be Austro-Asiatic and related to Mon-Khmer. During the 9th century, when Vietnam was under Chinese domination, Chinese ideograms were adapted for use with the Vietnamese language. The script - chu nho ('scholar script') was used in all official correspondence and in literature until the 20th century, though whether this replaced an earlier writing system is not known. As early Vietnamese nationalists tried to break away from Chinese cultural dominance in the late 13th century, they devised their own script, based on Chinese ideograms, but adapted to meet Vietnamese language needs. This became known as chu nom or 'vulgar script'. Therefore, while Chinese words formed the learned vocabulary of the intelligentsia - largely inaccessible to the people on the street or in the paddy field - non-Chinese words made up a parallel popular vocabulary. Since World War One the Latin-based quoc ngu script has become widely used.

MANNER
The Vietnamese used to greet one another by clasping their hands, prayer-like, in front of their faces and bowing slightly. Unfortunately, this charming custom has been replaced by the handshake. When trying to gain the attention of a Vietnamese, try not to point or gesture excessively. This is regarded as rude. Call out their names if possible, if not beckon by using the whole hand, palm downwards. Again, as in the other countries of South-East Asia, do not touch people on the head as it is regarded as spiritually the 'highest' part of the body. Expect to be the centre of attention outside Saigon, Hanoi and the main tourist centers. React accordingly and be a good ambassador.

CURRENCY
The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the Dong officially denoted by the prefix VND. Notes come in denominations of 500d, 1,000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d. (USD 1 = 16.000 Dong).
Travellers can change their money at the banks, hotels and jewelry stores throughout the country.
At present only certain travellers' cheques and credit cards are acceptable in big cities, including Visa, Master card and American Express.

PASSPORT & VISA
All visitors are required to have a valid visa to enter Vietnam, except citizens of countries which are granted visa exemption such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, etc... Entry visas are obtainable at offices of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad and passports of 6 monthsâ?? validity are required. A 30-day tourist visa is usually sufficient for most visitors though it is possible to arrange 3-month or 6-month multiple entry visas for business people. In order to conveniently obtain a visa, those travelers are kindly requested to send the following information to the VIET CIRCLE at least 7 working days before the entry date: passport details, arrival date and point of entry. After 5 working days, the applicant will receive a faxed letter of visa authorization from VIET CIRCLE. Each applicant must fill out 2 application forms and present his/her valid passport and the letter of visa authorization upon collecting his/her visa at the office of the Vietnamese diplomatic mission concerned.

In emergency cases, we can arrange collection of visas on arrival at international airports (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat and Danang).

AIRPORT:
- Tax: USD 14.- per international passenger.

- Unchecked baggage : The maximum carry on baggage allowance applicable to the Business Class passenger is two pieces, to the Economy Class passenger, one piece. Each piece may have a maximum weight of 7kgs and the sum of three dimensions shall not exceed 115 cm (56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm) or (22 x 14 x 9 inches).

- Checked baggage :
* Weight System:
â?? Business Class (C): maximum 30 kg of checked baggage.
â?? Economy Class (Y): maximum 20 kg of checked baggage.

* Piece System:
â?? Business Class: Two pieces of baggage of which the sum of three dimensions of each does not exceed 158 cms (62 inches), and the weight of each does not exceed 32kgs (70 lbs).

â?? Economy Class: Two pieces of baggage (measured together) of which the sum of three dimensions does not exceed 273 cm (107 inches), provided the sum of three dimensions of each bag does not exceed 158 cm (62 inches), and that the weight of each does not exceed 32kgs (70 lbs).

CLIMATE & TEMPERATURES
In the southern part has two seasons:
The wet : May to November
The dry : December to April
In the northern part has two seasons:
Cool : November to April
Hot : May to October

Month-temperatures (c)°/ City	Hanoi(min/max)	HCMC(min/max)
January	12/20	21/32
February	13/21	22/33
March	18/24	23/34
April	21/29	24/34
May	22/32	25/33
June	25/33	24/32
July	26/32	25/31
August	25/32	24/32
September	24/31	23/31
October	23/28	23/31
November	19/25	22/30
December	16/21	22/31

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DATE HOLIDAY
Jan. 1  Solar New Year's Day
Feb. 3  Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party
Feb. 16  Eve of Tee
Feb. 17  Vietnamese New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)
Apr. 30  Saigon Liberation Day
May 1  Labor Day
Sep 2  National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

TIME ZONE
Vietnam's time zone is GMT +7. There is no daylight saving time here.
09:00 in Tokyo is 11:00 in Hanoi on the same day.
09:00 in London is 16:00 in Hanoi on the same day.
09:00 in Hanoi is 20:00 in New York on the previous day.

WEIGHTS & MEASURES
The metric system is in use here. Weights are in kilograms, distances in kilometers. Gasoline is measured in litres.

ELECTRICITY
Local mains voltage is 220V, 50Hz. Bring a converter for any 110V equipment.

BUSINESS HOURS
Offices are opened eight hours a day from 8:00 to 17:00 (one hour lunch break) on Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

HEALTH & VACCINATIONS
No vaccinations are presently required for visitors to enter Vietnam. However, it is advisable that precautionary measures be taken for cholera, malaria, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tuberculosis. Furthermore, health and emergency medical insurance prior to visiting Vietnam is highly recommended for foreigners.
Avoid all water that hasn't been thoroughly boiled or sterilized. Drink only bottled water and soft drinks that haven't been opened yet.

SHOPPING
The following items are preferred by foreign travelers:
- Carved wooden furniture, fine lacquer ware,
- Traditional Vietnamese handmade silk dresses, kimonos, embroideries, etcâ??
- Simulated antiques, fine ceramics, old watches or Zippo lighters, etcâ??
- Vietnamese artistsâ?? paintings.
- Copies of famous paintings.

Customs procedures in Vietnam are quick and simple. To enter and exit Vietnam, visitors are required to fulfill the arrival - departure declaration.

Customs Information
1. - Passengers are given duty free allowance for not more than 1.5 liters of liquor with above 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol and 2 liters of liquor below 22 degrees of concentration of alcohol; 400 cigarettes; 100 cigars; 500 gram of raw tobacco.
    - Other items which are allowed in accompanying baggage are duty free with value not over VND 5,000,000.
    - Passengers bringing goods exceeding the amount as above stated are required to fill in the declaration form No.HQ/2002-PMD and pay duty(ies) according to Vietnamese laws.
2.  Passengers who goods are not subject to customs declaration on page 4, 5 (For customs declaration) do not have to declare.