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Immigration
Visa: most nationalities entering Vietnam (most ASEAN countries and Scandinavians excepted) require a visa. Tourist visas are generally valid for 30 days and can be extended.
On arrival, visitors must complete arrival and departure forms. Keep the WHITE COPY for departure or you will face a pretty hefty “fine”

Currency And Exchange
Currency of Vietnam is dong (VND). Notes come in 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, and 500,000 Dong denominations.
Money exchange: Dollars can be exchanged for Dong in banks, most gold shops, and on the street, though the latter is not advisable as customers can often be cheated.
Traveller cheques and Credit Cards: These are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops, but normally include some added bank service charge.
ATM services are good in most cities, but if heading off into the countryside, bring cash. Note that the U.S. dollar is used widely in Vietnam.

Language
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Older residents speak and understand French, and young folks are busily learning Chinese these days.
While English is widely spoken among folks in the service industries in Hanoi and Saigon, it is less common in other tourist destinations. Off the beaten track, arm yourself with as many Vietnamese words as you can muster and a dictionary.

Public holidays:
1 Jan:  (Solar) New Year’s day.
1st day to 3rd day of the 1 lunar month (around the end of January to February): TET or Lunar New Year festival this largest holiday of year.
10th day of the 3rd lunar month (falls around April): Hung King’s Commemorations.
30 April: Reunification Day
1 May: International Labour Day
2 Sep: National Day.

Getting Around On Your Own
By taxi:You don’t have to worry about taxis wherever you are, all those carrying a company livery will be metered.
There are some differences in rates, but you’re unlikely to be seriously ripped off. Taxi drivers will be pleased if you round up the bill (again, mainly in the big cities).

By motorbike:
Motorbike taxis (xe om): are available just about anywhere, and drivers catcall tourists on every street corner. It’s a great way to explore a city. Always negotiate a price in advance to save a very public row about the fare upon arrival . When taking a ride by motor bike taxi be sure your bag is not on display or easy to grab. Bag snatches, although still rare, are probably the most likely crime a tourist would encounter, and it raises the probability immensely if you are trailing a camera or a laptop in the wind.
Renting your own motorbike is possible in just about every tourist destination in Vietnam. Expect to pay as little as $8 and as much as $15 per day depending on the regional price fix and type of bike.

Food And Beverage
Food: Vietnamese cuisine relies heavily on fresh ingredients and the right mix of herbs and spices. Fresh fish is available anywhere in Vietnam. Vietnam is also home to some of the world’s most exotic fare, with the likes of dog, snake, deer, jungle animals, and frogs gracing menus at the finer local restaurants, as well as any sea creature that moves — one man’s bait is another man’s dinner..

Herbs and fresh vegetables are used both in cooking and as condiments at thetable. Sadly, MSG (monosodium glutamate) is used widely in Vietnamese fare. If you have a hard time processing MSG (that is, you get headaches, shortness of breath, or MSG “seasickness”), ask for food without it.

Nuoc mam is the famous — or notorious — Vietnamese fish sauce; its pungent flavor (and more pungent aroma) sets Vietnamese food apart. Made from fish that has been fermented in salt water, the subtleties of nuoc mam production are comparable to the making of fine wine or olive oil. The taste and smell of nuoc mam can be over whelming to the Western palate , but a true appreciation of Vietnamese food brings an understanding of nuoc mam’s importance.

Beverage:

Tea follows hundreds of years of Chinese tradition. Vietnam’s plantations produce all varieties, standard black and green as well as fine jasmine tea, and fine teas are also imported from China.

Local “bia hoi”, a cheap draft beer of watery lager made in every region, is served cold on tap in every town, usually in small storefronts crowded with squat stool tables and lots of revelers.

Vietnamese whiskey, called “ruou”, comes in many varieties, and most of it could thin paint and is sure to cross your eyes in due time — go easy with the stuff. In the Central Highlands, don’t miss an opportunity to slurp from a long reed straw from a massive pot of “ruou can”, a particularly potent local brew made by ethnic-minority groups.

Vietnam is the second-largest coffee grower in the world, which mostly comes from the Central Highlands – and though roasting techniques are primitive, choice Vietnamese Robusta coffee is delicious. Vietnamese coffee is usually served with condensed milk.

Dos And Don’ts In Vietnam
Do’s:
Always drink bottled water that is easily available everywhere in Vietnam.
Use waterproof sun cream if you plan to spend a good amount of time in the water when you travel to Vietnam.
Always reconfirm the tickets for your return journey – normally, your private tour operator of our company will do it for you.
Change money from a recognized money changer.
Keep important documents in your hotel locker and carry photocopies of the same.
Dress discreetly while entering temples and other religious places.
Indulge in some haggling while buying goods without price tags whenever you go shopping in Vietnam.
Always be careful of the belongings you carry with you during your holiday.
Take care of all your valuables.Never leave your bags unattended.
Do some researching before changing money so that you are aware of the existing rates.

Don’ts
Don’t drink water from the tap.
Don’t carry more money than you need when walking around the streets and don’t wear large amounts of jewellery.
Don’t worry too much about security, just be aware of your surroundings.
Don’t wear indecent dresses.
Never sleep or sit with the soles of your feet pointing towards the family altar when in someone’s house.
Do not try to take photographs of military installations or anything to do with the military. This can be seen as a breach of national security.
Never take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages. They are considered to be too intrusive by the local people.
Physical displays of affection between lovers in public are frowned upon. That’s why you may come across couples holding hands but not hugging or kissing.
Losing your temper in Vietnam means a loss of face. Keep a cool head and remain polite, you’ll have a greater chance of getting what you want.

Things Not To Miss
Water puppetry
Pho in Hanoi (rice noodle with beef or chicken)
Hanoi Old Quarter
Ha Long Bay (overnight on a junk or kayaking)
Monuments in Hue
Ancient town of Hoi An
Floating markets in the Mekong Delta
Cu Chi tunnels
Ethnic minority culture in the Northern border
Beach break in the Central Coast

Souvernirs from Vietnam.
Vietnamese coffee
Carved wooden and rattan furniture.
Tine lacquer ware and fine ceramics.
Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk dresses.
Embroideries and embroidered pictures.
Paintings
Tailor made clothes in Hoi An
Propaganda picture
Silk scarf
Ceramic ware