GUIDELINES FOR VISITORS OCTOBER 2017

Transcription

1 CONTENTS GUIDELINES FOR VISITORS OCTOBER 2017 o Checklist o What to bring o Currency o Time zone o Business hours o Climate o Communications o Dress o Drinking water o Electricity o Getting around o Health o Security o Cultural Tips and Vietnamese customs o Shopping & Eating o Tipping and Bargaining o Tour operators o Places to see o Useful Contacts

2 CHECKLIST Valid passport (> 6 months from the date of entry) e-visa letter, if required 2 passport photos size 4 x 6 cm, if required Locked luggage WHAT TO BRING Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC) has a good range of international products on sale but not all your favourites may be available. Below are a few items which you may want to bring with you. Medicines: most generic drugs are easily available from private pharmacies but you should bring your own prescription drugs. Toiletries: all common toiletries are available but maybe not your preferred brand. Ladies may want to bring sanitary products. Appropriate clothes: see section on dress and climate. Rain coat / Poncho Laptop, phone and relevant chargers CURRENCY The currency of Viet Nam is the Dong (VND), 1 USD = 22,690vnd, 1GBP = 30,050vnd (updated 2 Oct 2017). Notes are available in paper denominations of 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 VND. Throughout the country, American dollars are widely accepted for exchange, they are no longer accepted as currency. However, the bills must be relatively new with no markings or tears, and large denominations are preferred. Cash can be exchanged at the airport, in banks, at the hotels and in the numerous Currency Exchange shops. Travellers cheques may be exchangeable in major banks but do not tend to be exchangeable at any of the street side money exchangers. Credit cards are becoming more popular, especially in the major hotels and restaurants. There are now many ATMs in the city and you should be able to withdraw money from your home account. Many ATM s have 2 million per transaction withdrawal limit, but will normally allow you to withdraw money 2 or 3 times in quick succession. We would advise you to notify your bank, before departure, about your travel plans.

3 TIME ZONES The entire country of Vietnam falls within the UTC/GMT+7 time zone. Daylight saving time is not used. BUSINESS HOURS All Government offices are open from to (with a onehour lunch break) Monday to Friday. Banks are open from 07:30 or 08:00 to 16:30 or Monday to Friday. Some banks opens from on Saturday. Private shops are open from 08:00/08:30 to 21:00/22:00 Monday to Sunday. Many museums are closed between CLIMATE Ho Chi Minh city s climate is tropical with daytime temperatures averaging between 30-40C (86-104F). May October is the rainy season, with heavy rain from time to time which can cause flooding in some areas. November February is the coolest time of the year..visitors should drink plenty of water (~2 lt/day), use hats and apply sun cream if outdoors. Temperatures are more extreme in the north, and can be much cooler there and in mountainous regions. COMMUNICATIONS Vietnamese SIM cards can be easily bought at the airport at the SASCO counter. They are also available at a wide range of phone shops and convenience stores once you are in the city. There are many options to choose from depending on your need, the agent can recommend something. The most popular mobile services in Vietnam are Vinaphone, Mobiphone and Viettel. The country code is +84. The city code for Ho Chi Minh City is -28 and Hanoi is -24 and local numbers are 8 digits. International calls can be made from most public telephones. International Direct Dialling Access Code is 00. Most hotel rooms have IDD telephone service and broadband internet access (check the costs before using them!) In Viet Nam, mobile telephone services using the GSM standard are only partially available. Your international mobile phone may work using the roaming service. Standard US phones without international roaming services are unlikely to function in Vietnam. If possible, it is helpful to bring an unlocked phone with you and insert a Vietnamese SIM Card. Many cafes and hotels in Vietnam have free wireless access and there are numerous internet coffee shops. Some websites may not be available in Vietnam.

4 DRESS In general Vietnamese dress is conservative but young people are adopting western fashion trends and most styles are acceptable in the city centre. Outside of the centre and in rural areas you should dress modestly. The climate in HCMC is tropical and you should wear cool clothing. It is recommended to wear long, loose clothes. In the rainy season roads may get flooded so non-leather/plastic sandals can be very useful. When working, visitors should wear modest, smart clothing, with no shorts, short skirts or vest tops. Flip flops shouldn t be worn for work. When visiting Hospital wards, guests should follow the above rules but also not wear ties, jackets or jeans. White coats will be provided as appropriate. DRINKING WATER You should not drink the tap water. Bottled water is cheap and readily available for drinking. It is advisable to avoid ice in drinks at street cafes but most restaurants/hotels serve clean ice. ELECTRICITY Viet Nam operates a 220/240 volts, 50Hz power supply. In the southern part of the country, US-style flat two-pin adapter is available, while in the north the two-pin round 'Europlug' is more common. Adapter plugs can be purchased easily. The north side of Benh Thanh market has a couple of electrical shops. GETTING AROUND Taxis are relatively cheap and very common. You should only use official taxis which have the taxi company painted on the doors and a TAXI METER sign on the roof. Do not use unlabelled taxis, old looking cars or taxis which do not want to use the meter. Make a note of the taxi number in case you leave valuables as it is hard to retrieve them otherwise. Reliable companies include Mai Linh ( ) and Vinasun ( ). The starting amount depends on the taxi company but it usually start from 5,000 10,000VND for the first km. Payment to the driver is in VND in either cash or credit card (VISA or MASTER). We would advise you to always carry a hotel card or at least its address with you. Both should be able to provide you with a receipt, but you will need to ask for it. Uber and Grab are also trustworthy and become familiar. As in other countries, the fare is told to you once you book it on the apps and they can be cheaper than taxis.

5 Buses There are public buses along most major routes. These are very cheap but can be crowded at peak times. Motorbikes We do not recommend visitors use motorbike taxis (xe oms) or hire a bike to get around the city. If you do choose to drive a motorbike it is compulsory to wear a helmet and carry a valid Vietnamese bike license. Do not hand over your passport as a guarantee for returning a bike. HEALTH The health risks of HCMC are typical for South East Asia. We would recommend you consult the WHO site for Viet Nam and the CDC site and your local health provider before coming. We would highlight the following: Mosquito bites: Dengue fever is endemic in most urban areas and can be best avoided by regular use of insect repellent applied throughout the day. Animals: Rabies is endemic in Vietnam and you are strongly advised not to touch any animals especially dogs, cats, monkeys. You should have a full course of rabies vaccinations before arrival. Avian Influenza: has resulted in a small number of human fatalities in SE Asia and therefore it is advised not to touch birds. Enteric diseases: There is a very small risk of typhoid which can be avoided by vaccination. As usual, there is a risk of traveller s diarrhoea with food that is not freshly cooked or unclean water. Uncooked vegetables can carry parasites and should be avoided. Uncooked meats and animal products should also be avoided. Traffic: As above, we do not recommend visitors use motorbikes or road travel outside the cities at night because of the risk of accidents.

6 Vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis: Our normal advice is that malaria prophylaxis are not required for HCMC or Hanoi, nor is recommended for visitors staying in urban or coastal areas of Vietnam. If you might travel in mountainous areas you should bring prophylaxis with you. Overall, we would suggest, the following vaccinations: Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and rabies as well as ensuring your routine vaccinations are up to date. In case of emergency you can go to any of the International clinics in the city. A list of clinics is given at the end of this document. SECURITY Vietnam is a relatively safe country for tourists but you should be aware of the usual petty crime that can occur in big cities such as pick-pocketing and bag snatching by passing motorbikes. Please bring a bag with long, strong strap and wear it across your body when on the street. Use your phone with discretion if on the side of the street. Don t make it obvious that you are carrying a laptop. If possible, avoid carrying a bag and only take small amounts of cash around with you in your pockets. We recommend you don t bring precious items of jewellery with you. And we would suggest you make a photocopy of your passport as well as all important credit/debit cards and then store copies in a secure place. It is advisable to lock your luggage. Emergency numbers should you need them are: Police: 113 Fire Brigade: 114 First Aid: 115 or *9999 (ambulance service from a private medical provider) As basic rule, do not carry anything with you that you will not need while you are out and about. You should not carry large amounts of cash on you nor do you need to carry your passport. We would recommend you use the hotel safe or reception safety deposit boxes as the most secure storage for your valuables.

7 CULTURAL TIPS AND VIETNAMESE CUSTOMS Male / female relationships are conservative and people won t touch each other in public. This also applies to extending a kiss as a greeting or patting someone of the opposite sex. Often men will not offer to shake a women s hand in a business setting. Young, urban people are changing these boundaries but you should follow the other person s lead. People are private about their political views and you shouldn t embarrass someone by asking about them. Please be careful to be respectful about the country and its leaders both in conversation and also what you write in whatever forms of social media you use. Vietnamese society holds great respect for elders, with particular forms of greeting depending on age. Therefore please dress smartly if meeting officials or hospital leaders etc. Please use the appropriate title when addressing or referring to an elder ie. Mr, Mrs, Professor etc. If you are eating a meal with Vietnamese invite the eldest to eat first. If you are given a gift do not open it in front of the person who gave it to you, and don t expect them to open your gifts in front of you. Respecting face - it is highly important for an Asian not to lose face or be embarrassed in public. Getting angry with someone will embarrass them, and often Vietnamese do not show their feelings. For more information see: For useful Vietnamese phrases see: Vietnamese people are genuinely very friendly and helpful. Interactions with local people are always the most rewarding part of a visit to Vietnam. We hope you have the opportunity to make some Vietnamese friends. SHOPPING AND EATING Vietnam has been called a Foodies Heaven and Vietnamese food is fantastic! HCMC has a wide range of restaurants and cafes, Western and Vietnamese. Ask local staff for their favourite haunts. Vegetarian food There are some specifically vegetarian restaurants in the city, but most places can serve a few vegetarian dishes. However, you should specify when you order that you do not eat ANY meat/fish as many supposedly vegetable dishes include a little meat in them. Clothes There are a number of cheap clothing outlets where you can pick up bargains, although it isn t always possible to get Western sizes. See Saigon Square Mall for bargains, or Parkson, Vincom Centre, Diamond plaza for department stores.

8 Tailors Vietnamese tailors are generally very good and relatively cheap. It is possible to get suits and casual clothes made in a short time. TIPPING & BARGAINING Tipping is not common amongst Vietnamese customers, but may be expected in places frequented by Westerners. There is no need to tip taxi drivers or in small coffee shops & street restaurants, etc. In up-market restaurants and hotels a 10% tip is sufficient. Bargaining is commonplace in markets and tourist shops but should be considered a form of engagement and entertainment rather than a battle. Do not get angry, make jokes about how your children will starve etc. and the whole process will be enjoyed by both sides. In the end pay what the item is worth to you. If the vendor comes down to the price you ask YOU SHOULD BUY IT! Usually the amounts you are haggling over are tiny. If a shop or stall says fixed price they don t want you to bargain. However, be careful when you need to go shopping early morning in the open market, do not ask for a discount and then go away. This is seen to bring bad luck to the vendor and may make them angry. See this website for more tips. TOUR OPERATORS There are numerous travel agencies who will organise tours and book cars. A few examples are listed below but there are many more and many hotels will book tours for you (although these are generally much more expensive). Cheap & cheerful: Sinh Café: De Tham Street, District 1, HCMC. Tel: +84 (0)

9 Excellent & expensive: Exotissimo Travel Agency Ltd Co, 76 Le Lai Street (New World hotel), District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Tel : +84 (0) inquire@exotissimo.com Saigon Tourist 45 Le Thanh Ton St, D1, HCMC.Tel: +84 (0) PLACES TO SEE: Saigon Opera House: 7 Cong Truong Lam Son Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Reunification Palace: 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: Ticket costs: 200,000vnd/pax Ho Chi Minh Museum, Dragon House Wharf Ward 12, district 4, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: , closed on Monday Free entry Ton Duc Thang Museum 5 Ton Duc Thang street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: , closed on Monday Free entry Fine art museum Ho Chi Minh city 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: Ticket costs: 10,000vnd/pax Saigon North Dame Cathedral 1 Cong Xa Paris Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: Free entry War Remnants Museum 28 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city Open hours: Ticket costs: 10,000vnd/pax

10 USEFUL CONTACTS For event related problems or questions, please contact: Ms Trang: Ms Sarah Barton: +84(0) Other useful contacts include: British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh city 25 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: +84 (0)28 (84-8) , Fax: +84 (0)28(84-8) Consulate-General of Cambodia 41 Phung Khac Khoan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam Tel: +84 (0) , Fax: +84 (0) HEALTH CLINICS Family Medical Practice HCMC Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, D1, HCMC Tel: +84 (0) SOS International / Raffles Medical 167A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D3, HCMC. 24 hr Tel: +84 (0) U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City 4 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam 24 hour telephone number: +84 (0) , Fax: +84 (0) Royal Thai Consulate-General 77 Tran Quoc Thao Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam Tel: +84 (0) , Fax: +84 (0) Columbia-Gia Dinh International Clinic 01 No Trang Long, Binh Thanh District, HCMC, Tel: +84 (0) FV Hospital 6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Saigon South (Phu My Hung), District 7, HCM City, Viet Nam, Tel:+84 (0) Consulate General of Democratic People s Republic of Laos 93 Pasteur Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam Tel: +84 (0) , Tax: +84(0)