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VIETNAM

VIETNAM

AREA: It covers a total area of approximately

331,210 km2 (127,881 sq. mi) making it almost the size

of Germany. Long and narrow on a north-south axis,

Vietnam is about twice the size of Arizona The

combined length of the country's land boundaries is

4,639 km (2,883 mi), and its coastline is 3,444 km

(2,140 mi) long.

GOVERNMENT: Communist state

CAPITAL: Hanoi

PRESIDENT: Truong Tan Sang

PRIME MINISTER: Nguyen Tan Dung

POPULATION & LANGUAGE:

In 2012, the country's population was estimated at approximately 90.3 million.

Currently, the total fertility rate of Vietnam is 1.8 (births per woman), which is largely

due to the government's family planning policy, the two-child policy.

The official national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese a tonal Mon–Khmer

language which is spoken by the majority of the population. In its early history,

Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters. Vietnam's minority groups speak a

variety of languages, including Tày, Mường, Cham, Khmer, Chinese, Nùng, and

H'Mông. The Montagnard peoples of the Central Highlands also speak a number of

distinct languages. A number of sign languages have developed in the cities. The

French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is spoken by many educated Vietnamese

as a second language, especially among the older generation and those educated in

the former South Vietnam. Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech

and Polish – are known among some Vietnamese whose families had ties with the

Soviet bloc during the Cold War. In recent years, as Vietnam's contacts with Western

nations have increased, English has become more popular as a second language.

The study of English is now obligatory in most schools, either alongside or in many

cases, replacing French. Japanese, Chinese and Korean have also grown in

popularity as Vietnam's links with other East Asian nations have strengthened.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE:

Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the

Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South

China Sea along its entire coast. China is to the north,

Laos to the west and Cambodia, which lies along the

south.

Vietnam in the northern regions has a humid subtropical

climate, with humidity averaging 84% throughout the year.

However, because of differences in latitude and the

marked variety of topographical relief, the climate tends to

vary considerably from place to place. Winter or dry

season, extends roughly from November to April, and is dry only by comparison to

the rainy or summer season. During the summer monsoon, occurring from May to

October heavy rainfall is felt. The climate in the southern regions especially Ho Chi

Minh City and surrounding Mekong Delta is predominantly Tropical savanna climate

with high humidity and a distinct wet and dry season.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE:

According to the 2009 census, the dominant

Viet or Kinh ethnic group constitutes 85.8% of

the population. A largely homogeneous social

and ethnic group, the Kinh possesses

significant political and economic influence over

the country. However, Vietnam is also home to

54 ethnic minority groups, including the

Hmong, Dao, Tay, Thai, and Nùng. Many

ethnic minorities – such as the Muong, Hoa

(ethnic Chinese) and Khmer Krom are also present.

The áo dài, a formal girl's dress, is worn for special

occasions such as weddings and religious festivals.

Other examples of traditional Vietnamese clothing

include the áo tứ thân, a four-piece woman's dress;

the áo ngũ, a 5-piece form, mostly worn in the north

of the country; the yếm, a woman's undergarment;

the áo bà ba, rural working "pyjamas" for men and

women; the áo gấm, a formal brocade tunic for

government receptions; and the áo the, a variant of

the áo gấm worn by grooms at weddings. Traditional headwear includes the

standard conical nón lá and the "lampshade-like" nón quai thao.

According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, in 2010 about 45.3% of the

Vietnamese adhere to indigenous religions, 16.4% to Buddhism, 8.2% to Christianity,

0.4% to other faiths, and 29.6% of the population isn't religious.

ART & CULTURE:

Vietnam’s culture has been most strongly influenced by its neighboring country

China. For many decades other foreign influences were shunned and the majority of

the culture was based around the sharing culture of the communist countries such as

the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and others. In the early 1990’s though cultures from

other countries started to influence Vietnam. Now Vietnam has much more exposure

to the cultures of Europe, America and South-east Asia.

Traditional Vietnamese music varies

between the country's northern and

southern regions. Northern classical music

is Vietnam's oldest musical form, and is

traditionally more formal. The origins of

Vietnamese classical music can be traced

to the Mongol invasions of the 13th

century, when the Vietnamese captured a

Chinese opera troupe. Nhã nhạc is the

most popular form of imperial court music. Chèo is a form of generally satirical

musical theatre. Xẩm or Hát xẩm is a type of Vietnamese folk music. Quan họ, Hát

văn are also popular folk and spiritual music. Ca trù. Nhạc dân tộc cải biên is a

modern form of Vietnamese folk.

There are a range of traditional instruments, including the Đàn bầu (a monochord

zither), the Đàn gáo (a two-stringed fiddle with coconut body), and the Đàn nguyệt (a

two-stringed fretted moon lute).

Ancient authors include Nguyễn Trãi, Trần Hưng Đạo, Nguyễn Du and Nguyễn Đình

Chiểu. Some literary genres play an important role in theatrical performance, such as

hát nói in ca trù. Some poetic unions have also been formed in Vietnam, such as the

Tao Đàn.

Vietnamese cuisine features ingredients

such as; fish sauce, shrimp paste, soy

sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and

vegetables. Vietnamese recipes use

lemongrass, ginger, mint, Vietnamese

mint, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon,

bird's eye chili, lime and basil leaves.

Traditional Vietnamese cooking is known

for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil,

and reliance on herbs and vegetables, and is considered one of the healthiest

cuisines worldwide. In northern Vietnam, local foods are often less spicy than

southern dishes. Black pepper is used in place of chilis to produce spicy flavors. The

use of such meats as pork, beef, and chicken was relatively limited in the past, and

as a result freshwater fish, crustaceans – particularly crabs – and mollusks became

widely used. Many signature Vietnamese dishes, such as bún riêu and bánh cuốn,

originated in the north and were carried to central and southern Vietnam by migrants.

Vietnamese scholars developed many academic fields during the dynastic era, most

notably social sciences and the humanities. In recent times, Vietnamese scientists

have made many significant contributions in various fields of study, most notably in

mathematics. Hoàng Tụy pioneered the applied mathematics field of global

optimization in the 20th century, while Ngô Bảo Châu won the 2010 Fields Medal for

his proof of fundamental lemma in the theory of automorphic forms. Vietnam is

currently working to develop an indigenous space program, and plans to construct a

Vietnam Space Center by 2018. Vietnam has also made significant advances in the

development of robots, such as the TOPIO humanoid model.

ECONOMY:

Manufacturing, information technology and high-tech industries now form a large and

fast-growing part of the national economy. Though Vietnam is a relative newcomer to

the oil industry, it is currently the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia. In 2010,

Vietnam was ranked as the 8th largest crude petroleum producers in the Asia and

Pacific region.

As a result of several land reform

measures, Vietnam has become a major

exporter of agricultural products. It is

now the world's largest producer of

cashew nuts, with a one-third global

share; the largest producer of black

pepper, accounting for one-third of the

world's market; and the second-largest

rice exporter in the world, after Thailand.

Vietnam is the world's second largest exporter of coffee. Other primary exports

include tea, rubber, and fishery products. However, agriculture's share of Vietnam's

GDP has fallen in recent decades, declining from 42% in 1989 to 20% in 2006, as

production in other sectors of the economy has risen.

Vietnam has become a major tourist destination since the 1990s, assisted by

significant state and private investment, particularly in coastal region. About 3.77

million international tourists visited Vietnam in 2009 alone.

CURRENCY:

Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Symbol ₫

Subunit

1/10

1/100

hào

xu

Coins No longer in use

Banknotes

100₫, 200₫, 500₫, 1,000₫, 2,000₫, 5,000₫ (these five - except for 100- are old issue, but still in circulation), 10,000₫, 20,000₫, 50,000₫, 100,000₫, 200,000₫, 500,000₫

Central bank State Bank of Vietnam

Website www.sbv.gov.vn

SOCIAL LIFE AND RECREATION:

The Vovinam and Bình Định martial arts

are widespread in Vietnam, while soccer is

the country's most popular team sport. Its

national team won the ASEAN Football

Championship in 2008. Other Western

sports, such as badminton, tennis,

volleyball, ping-pong and chess, are also

widely popular.

Vietnam has a plethora of festivals based

on the lunar calendar, the most important

being the Tết New Year celebration.

Traditional Vietnamese weddings remain

widely popular, and are often celebrated

by expatriate Vietnamese in Western

countries.

EDUCATION:

Vietnam has an extensive state-controlled network of schools, colleges and

universities, and a growing number of privately run and partially privatised

institutions. General education in Vietnam is divided into five categories:

kindergarten, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities. A

large number of public schools have been constructed across the country to raise

the national literacy rate, which stood at 90.3% in 2008.

A large number of Vietnam's most acclaimed universities are based in Hanoi and Ho

Chi Minh City. Education is not free; therefore, some poor families may have trouble

paying tuition for their children without some form of public or private assistance.

Regardless, school enrollment is among the highest in the world and the number of

colleges and universities increased dramatically in the 2000s.

TRANSPORT:

Air

Vietnam operates 21 major civil airports,

including three international gateways:

Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang International

Airport in Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat in

Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat is the

nation's largest airport, handling 75% of

international passenger traffic. According

to a state-approved plan, Vietnam will

have 10 international airports by 2015 –

besides the aforementioned three, these

include Lien Khuong International Airport, Phu Bai International Airport, Cam Ranh

International Airport, Phu Quoc International Airport, Cat Bi International Airport, Cần

Thơ International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport. The planned Long

Thanh International Airport will have an annual service capacity of 100 million

passengers once it becomes fully operational in 2020.

Vietnam Airlines, the state-owned national airline, maintains a fleet of 69 passenger

aircraft, and aims to operate 150 by 2020. Several private airlines are also in

operation in Vietnam, including Air Mekong, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, VASCO and

VietJet Air.

Road

Vietnam's road system includes national roads administered at the central level;

provincial roads managed at the provincial level; district roads managed at the

district level; urban roads managed by cities and towns; and commune roads

managed at the commune level. Bicycles, motor scooters and motorcycles remain

the most popular forms of road transport in Vietnam's urban areas, although the

number of privately owned automobiles is also on the rise, especially in the larger

cities. Public buses operated by private companies are the main mode of long-

distance travel for much of the population.

Road safety is a serious issue in Vietnam – on average, 30 people are killed in traffic

accidents every day. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Hanoi and Ho Chi

Minh City, as the cities' roads struggle to cope with the boom in automobile use.

Rail

Vietnam's primary cross-country rail service is the Reunification Express, which runs

from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, covering a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres. From

Hanoi, railway lines branch out to the northeast, north and west; the eastbound line

runs from Hanoi to Hạ Long Bay, the northbound line from Hanoi to Thái Nguyên,

and the northeast line from Hanoi to Lào Cai.

In 2009, Vietnam and Japan signed a deal to build a high-speed railway using

Japanese technology; numerous Vietnamese engineers were later sent to Japan to

receive training in the operation and maintenance of high-speed trains. Using

Japan's Shinkansen technology, the line will support trains travelling at a maximum

speed of 360 kilometres per hour. The high-speed lines linking Hanoi to Vinh, Nha

Trang and Ho Chi Minh City will be laid by 2015. From 2015 to 2020 construction in

the aforementioned areas will begin.

Water

As a coastal country, Vietnam has many major sea ports, including Cam Ranh, Da

Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Gai, Qui Nhơn, Vũng Tàu and Nha Trang.

Further inland, the country's extensive network of rivers play a key role in rural

transportation, with over 17,700 kilometres (11,000 mi) of navigable waterways

carrying ferries, barges and water taxis.

Further out in the South China Sea, Vietnam currently controls the majority of the

disputed Spratly Islands, which are the source of longstanding disagreements with

China and other nearby nations.

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY:

Since 1997, Vietnam has extensively regulated public Internet access, using both

legal and technical means. The resulting lockdown is widely referred to as the

"Bamboo Firewall”. The collaborative project OpenNet Initiative classifies Vietnam's

level of online political censorship to be "pervasive”, while Reporters Without Borders

considers Vietnam to be one of 15 global "internet enemies”. Though the

government of Vietnam claims to safeguard the country against obscene or sexually

explicit content through its blocking efforts, many politically and religiously sensitive

websites are also banned.

Television

Vietnam Television, or VTV, is the

national television broadcaster of the

Vietnam. It was established in Hanoi with

technical assistance and training from

Cuba in September 1970. VTV now is

the largest television network in the

nation, broadcasts in nine FTA channels

and is available internationally via

satellite. VTV also operates the largest

cable network (VCTV) and a DTH satellite service. These carry the nine FTA VTV

channels.

Vietnam Multimedia Corporation or VTC operates five national channels and is the

only provider of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Vietnam. VTC's DTT service is a

subscription service though piracy of the signal is rampant. VTC is a Vietnamese

state-owned corporation under Ministry of Post and Telematics. In 2006, VTC Mobile

TV, one of the world's first subscription TV services for mobile phones, became

available using DVB-H. It is operated by Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, owners of

VTC.

Since 1991, hotels, restaurants, clubs, government offices and diplomatic

organizations in Vietnam have been permitted under license to install and operate

satellite dishes to bring in foreign programming. Nowadays, most of people in large

cities (such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) subscribe to a cable network. The

largest network is VCTV (a division of VTV), follows by that of Ho Chi Minh City

Television (HTV), Hanoi TV (HCTV), and Saigon Tourist Cable Service (SCTV) - a

joint venture between VTV and Saigon Tourist Company. The latest payTV supplier

is K+ - a joint venture between Vietnam Cable Television (VCTV) and Canal+, first

broadcast in later 2009 via Direct to Home (DTH).

Radio

The first Vietnamese-language radio

transmission was made on September 2,

1945, when Ho Chi Minh read out the

Declaration of Independence. Following

Reunification, all of the radio stations were

combined into the Voice of Vietnam, which

became the national radio station in 1978.

Today, Voice Of Vietnam (VOV) strives to offer diverse, high-quality programming

and in every aspect of mass media. It broadcasts on many channels, repeated on

Medium wave (MW) AM, FM and shortwave (SW) AM bands throughout Vietnam

and the rest of the world.

Newspaper

Vietnam's media sector is regulated by the government in accordance with the 2004

Law on Publication. It is generally perceived that Vietnam's media sector is

controlled by the government to follow the official Communist Party line, though

some newspapers are relatively outspoken.

As Vietnam moves toward a free-market economy with its doi moi measures, the

government has relied on the print media to keep the public informed about its

policies. The measure has had the effect of almost doubling the numbers of

newspapers and magazines since 1996.

Current large Vietnamese-language newspapers include Tuoi Tre (a "reformist"

newspaper), Thanh Nien (Youth), Người Lao Động (Labour or The Worker), Tien

Phong (Vanguard), Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon), and Hànộimới (New

Hanoi). Prominent French language newspapers include Saigon Eco and Le Courrier

du Vietnam. There are other, smaller provincial newspapers such as the Ba Ria

Vung Tau Daily Newspaper.

The largest online newspapers are

VnExpress, VietNamNet, Tuổi Trẻ,

Thanh Niên, Dân Trí, VTC News, and

VietnamPlus. The largest online news

aggregator in Vietnam is Báo Mới.

Telephone / Mobile

Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its

telecommunication system. Domestically, all provincial exchanges are digitalized and

connected to Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber optic cable or

microwave radio relay networks. Main lines have been substantially increased, and

the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly. As of 2012, there were 134 million

mobile phone subscribers, making Vietnam's rank 6th in the world.

Two satellite earth stations are in use: Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region).

The incumbent operator is the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, which

spun off from the Department General of Posts and Telecommunications after the

separation of regulatory and commercial functions of the latter in 1990. Following the

creation of a separate regulatory entity, market segments were opened to

competition, starting with mobile services in 1995. The international services market,

considered the most lucrative, was opened to other providers in 2000.

The international calling code for Vietnam: +84

Internet

Although basic Internet services had existed in Vietnam since the early nineties, the

first commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) opened for business in 1997. Since

1997 Vietnam has been connected by two gateways: one in Hanoi which connects

with Hong Kong and Australia, and the other in Ho Chi Minh City, which connects

with the United States by Sprint.

Vietnam ranks 16th in the world, in terms of number of internet users.

There are five ISPs operating: Netnam Company, Vietnam Data Communication

Company (VDC), Corporation for Finance and Promoting Technology (FPT), Saigon

Post and Telecommunications Services Corporation (Saigon Postel Corporation,

SPT) and Viettel Company.

Internet country code: .vn

Package delivery services: DHL Express in partnership with Vietnam Post.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

Dalat

My Son Sanctuary

Ho Chi Minh City

Mekong Delta

Nha Trang

Sapa

Hue

Hoi An

Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

Ben Tre

Cu Chi Tunnels

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne

Time Difference: Vietnam is 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead of India

TRAVEL TIPS:

Avoid buying sim cards, tours, airport transfers etc from your hotel; they put a

premium on all these services.

Do not drink tap water and choose only good mineral water kept away from the

sun.

Avoid cycle rides as the pollution levels are high.

Avoid motorbike taxis (xe om), they charge a bit less than a taxi for the same

distance but the risk of injury through accident is great.

There are three or four reliable taxi companies in the south, Mai Linh and

Vinasun are the most common and the most reliable. Smaller companies may

literally take you for a ride. Rogue taxis are known to lock their doors and refuse

to let you out unless you pay an exorbitant fee. Always insist on a metered taxi.

Hanoi taxis are less reliable and rip off whoever they can, including other

Vietnamese. Try a small Hanoi taxi company called 'Hanoi Star' for reliability and

honesty.

Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious

sites, etc. Make an offering to the gods and put a donation into the box if you

want to make a good impression.

Leave your valuables behind in the hotel safe box at all times.

When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left

and right and walk slowly. Make eye contact with oncoming motorbikes and

check that they see you so that they can avoid you. Be prepared for zebra

crossings to be ignored and for motor vehicles to expect you as a pedestrian to

give way to them.

At rush hour motorcyclists take to the pavements in droves in attempt to beat

traffic jams, endangering the lives of pedestrians.

Wear a mask when walking in the cities, to avoid breathing in vehicle fumes and

other noxious smells.

Be prepared to walk in the streets with the traffic. The pavements are for

motorbikes to park on, people to sit and eat, or just lounge around on.

When walking be prepared for people to stroll casually into your path and

expecting you to navigate around them.

Don't offer money directly to beggars or minority people – instead donate to a

local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.

By all means, sample the delicious street food but for hygiene's sake only at

venues that are busy with a big turnover.

Diaharrea pills are cheap and readily available in Vietnamese cities. Avoiding

milk drinks, smoothies, dicy street food, etc will help to minimize stomach

problems.

Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority

areas.

Arrange for medical insurance (including the provision for emergency evacuation)

prior to departure, as there is no free medical treatment available in Vietnam and

the standard of local health facilities is below international standards. Choose an

international facility if you need treatment - there are some excellent ones, but

they are usually expensive (Victoria International Clinic in Saigon is an

exception).

Mind your change - the 100,000 and 10,000 notes look similar; the 20,000 and

the 500,000 are both blue. While most Vietnamese are honest and used to

tourists fumbling for the right currency values, a few will actively try to short-

change you. Take your time to count the zeroes or you'll unintentionally make

someone very happy.

Be prepared to bargain, especially at markets, where you should pay about half

of the asking price (except at fixed price stores).

Avoid very cheap excursions (e.g. to Halong Bay, the Mekong, etc), because you

will get what you pay for - lots of time on the bus, few of the sights you were

promised.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

These requirements have been changing very fast so it is advisable to talk to your

agent or to the embassy before arranging for documents.

A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of application for the visa.

One visa form filled with attached documents.

Two passport-size photographs with white background 35×45 mm

A covering letter from the applicant.

Leave letter from the company.

Entry and Exit form, Approval form

Return air ticket.

Visa is on arrival to Vietnam.

The visa on arrival facility however is available only on entry in Vietnam by air, all

other modes of entry currently do not permit visa on arrival facility.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:

Holiday Comments

January 01 New Years Day

January 02 New Years Holiday Public Sector. Compensated by Sat. 27 Dec 2014

February 15 Tet Holiday Vietnamese New Year

Holiday Comments

February 16 Tet Holiday Public Sector. Compensated by Sat 14 Feb

February 17 Tet Holiday Vietnamese New Year

February 18 Tet Eve Vietnamese New Year Eve

February 19 Tet Nguyen Dan Vietnamese New Year

February 20 Tet Holiday Vietnamese New Year

February 21 Tet Holiday Vietnamese New Year

February 22 Tet Holiday Vietnamese New Year

April 28 Hung Kings Temple Festival

Gio To Hung Vuong

April 29 Public Holiday Public Sector. Compensated by Sat. 25 April

April 30 Reunification Day Marks the fall of Saigon in 1975

May 01 International Labour Day

September 02 National Day Marks Vietnam's declaration of independence in 1945

USEFUL NUMBERS:

Police Tel: 113

Fire Tel: 114

Ambulance Tel: 115

Directory Assistance Tel: 116

International Operator Tel: 110

Time Tel: 117

EMBASSIES:

Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi:

Address:

17, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri,

New Delhi

India.

Tel: 301 8059

Fax: (91-11) 2301 9818

(91-11) 2301 0532

Embassy of India in Vietnam:

Address:

58 – 60 Tran Hung Dao Street,

Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi,

Vietnam.

Tel: +84-4-38244989

+84-4-38244990

Fax: +84-4-38244998

Website: www.mofa.gov.vn/vnemb.india

Email: ebsvnin@yahoo.com.vn

Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.

to 5:30 p.m

Website :http://indembassy.com.vn/

Email: admin@indembassy.com.vn

Office hours: 09:00 hours to 17:30

hours (Monday to Friday)

ICT Contact in Vietnam:

Ms.Nguyen Thi Diem Trinh

Administartion Assistant

T07, A View Apt., Nguyen Van Linh Avenue, Phong Phu comm.

Binh Chanh Dist., HCHC

Tel 84-862 686 288

Fax 84-862 686 338

Mob; 84-949 112 099

Email: sunnykg1211@gmail.com

mailto:sunnykg1211@gmail.com