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WEATHER CONDITIONS 
Vietnam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone.  It is characterized by strong monsoon influences, but has a considerable amount of sun, a high rate of rainfall, and high humidity.  Regions located near the tropics and in the mountainous regions are endowed with a temperate climate.  The weather in the southern part of Vietnam is tropical.  It is monsoonal in the north, bringing a hot, rainy season from mid-May to mid-September and a warm, dry season from mid-October to mid-March.  Occasional typhoons from May to January bring extensive flooding to the middle regions of Vietnam.  Ho Chi Ming City is located between 5 and 10m (16-35ft) above sea level and is therefore almost a template for tropical weather.  Temperatures rarely vary from about 30C (86F), however the seven or eight month wet season can certainly make things wet, sweaty and generally uncomfortable.  Heavy downpours can last for days on end, although the city is largely spared the devastation of typhoons that hit the northern areas on the country.  The driest time is between December and April, when the humidity is mercifully down below 60%.  In Hanoi, the average temperature is 23ºC, in Ho Chi Minh City it is 26ºC, and in Hue it is 25ºC. There are two distinguishable seasons.  The cold season occurs from November to April and the hot season from May to October.  The difference in temperature between the two seasons in southern Vietnam is almost unnoticeable, averaging 3ºC.  The most noticeable variations are found in the northern provinces where differences of 12ºC have been observed.  There are essentially four distinct seasons, which are most evident in the northern provinces.
 

GOVERNMENT:
With the Declaration of Independence on September 2nd 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first independent republic in Southeast Asia, was born.  On January 6, 1946, the first universal suffrage general election was held to elect the National Assembly, the supreme organ of power of the new Vietnam.  In November 1946, the National Assembly adopted the first Constitution of the Republic.  The Constitution clearly pointed out that "Vietnam is an indivisible and monolithic bloc; it is a democratic republic; power belongs to the whole Vietnamese people irrespective of race, gender, property, social class and religion."  Article 4 of the Constitution stipulates the leading role of the Communist Party of Vietnam.  The Constitution guarantees all citizens fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, press, assemble, demonstration, association, belief, religion and non-belief, equal rights between man and woman, the right to education and health care, the right and duty to labor, the right to build homes, and freedom to do business.

GEOGRAPHY: 

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a sovereign and reunified independent country, has a high percentage of territorial waters. Vietnam borders with China in the north, Laos and Kampuchea in the West, and the Pacific Ocean in the east.  Its lies in the center of South-East Asia.  Vietnam's territory stretches from Lung Cu village (Ha Tuyen province) in the north to Rach Tau hamlet (Minh Hai province) in the south.  It is a S-shaped peninsula, with thousands of off-shore islands and archipelagoes; the biggest of which are the Hoang SA (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes.  Vietnam's mainland covers 331,689 square kilometers.  Vietnam's coast line is 3,260km long and its inland border measures 3,730km. The country's total length, from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, is 1,650km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast.  Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.  Three quarters of Vietnam's territory consists of mountains and hills.  Vietnam has two major deltas, including the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong River Delta in the south.  The Red River Delta, or Northern Delta region stretches for 15,000 sq. kms.  Over time, deposits of alluvium carried from the Red River and Thai Binh River have accumulated to form the delta.  The ancient Viet people settled at the junction of the two rivers .  At that time, the wet rice civilization was established.  The Mekong River Delta, or Southern Delta region is approximately 36,000 sq. km.  The land is very fertile and has favorable climate conditions for agriculture.  As a result, it is the largest rice growing region in Vietnam.
 

PROVINCES:

Vietnam is composed of 61 provinces and centrally-administered cities grouped into regions as follows:  

Red River Delta: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Tay, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh. 
Eastern North Vietnam: Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Bac Can, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh.
Western North Vietnam: Lai Chau, Son La and Hoa Binh.
Northern Central Vietnam: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. 

Southern Central Vietnam: Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. 

Southern Central Highlands: Tay Nguyen Highlands, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dac Lac.
Eastern South Vietnam: Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Mekong River Delta: Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
 

PEOPLE AND CULTURE 
The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese with minute percentages of Chinese.  The Viet culture originated on the delta of the Red River and the Ma River where the Viet people cultivated paddy fields.  They led a simple farming life in small villages, usually living around a communal house.  Today the people living in the countryside follow this lifestyle.  The Viet people are influenced by Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for their elders. 

Ethnic Groups:
The country is predominantly 85-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham, and other mountain tribes. 

Religion:
The major religious traditions in Vietnam are Buddhism (which fuses forms of Taoism and Confucianism), Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Caodaism and Hoahaoism.  Buddhism was first introduced to Vietnam in the 4th century B.C., and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century).  It was then regarded as the official religion dominating court affairs.  Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people's daily life.  Its influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture.  As such, many pagodas and temples were built during this time.  At the end of the 14th century, Buddhism began to show signs of decline.  The ideological influence of Buddhism, however, remained very strong in social and cultural life.  Presently, over 70 percent of the population of Vietnam are either Buddhist or strongly influenced by Buddhist practices.  Catholicism was introduced to Vietnam in the 17th century.  At present the most densely-populated Catholic areas are Bui Chu-Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Ho Nai-Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province to the South.  About 10 percent of the population are considered Catholic.  Protestantism was introduced to Vietnam at about the same time as Catholicism.  Protestantism, however, remains an obscure religion.  At present most Protestants live in the Central Highlands.  There still remains a Protestant church on Hang Da Street in Hanoi.  The number of Protestants living in Vietnam is estimated at 400,000.  Islamic followers in Vietnam are primarily from the Cham ethnic minority group living in the central part of the central coast.  The number of Islamic followers in Vietnam totals about 50,000.  Caodaism was first introduced to the country in 1926.  Settlements of the Cao Dai followers in South Vietnam are located near the Church in Tay Ninh.  The number of followers of this sect is estimated at 2 million.  Hoahaoism was first introduced to Vietnam in 1939.  More than 1 million Vietnamese are followers of this sect.  Most of them live in the western part of South Vietnam.

LOCAL CUSTOMS 
Be firm, yet diplomatic when dealing with officials who will often be very rigid.  In the case of misunderstanding, patience is the best policy. 
Small gifts such as cigarette lighters, pens, foreign cigarettes, liquor, perfume and even shampoo are greatly appreciated by anyone you wish to make friends with in Vietnam. 
Out of politeness, always ask permission before taking photos of people.  The same rule of thumb also applies to photos taken in places of worship.  Permission will almost always be granted. 
A gentle handshake is the most appropriate manner of greeting. 
Be very discrete about giving anything to beggars frequently encountered in Ho Chi Minh City.  If anyone is seen giving handouts to a beggar, he or she may end up being pursued by a mob of other beggars.  This does not help create a good image for foreigners; it gives them instead the reputation of being easy to hit up for money. 
Beware of pickpockets.  Keep your ID and passport in a safe place and carry only photocopies of those items. 
Remove your shoes before entering Buddhist pagodas.  Small donations placed in the boxes found in temples are appreciated.  It is acceptable to keep your shoes on within Chinese pagodas. 
Never let the soles of your feet face other people or any sacred monument, such as a statue of Buddha. 
 

THINGS TO KNOW 
Population: About 78 Million People
Capital: Hanoi
Flag: The flag of Vietnam is red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center. 
Shop Hours: Shops run from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm.  Some are open from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm. 
Bank Hours: Most banks are opened from 7am or 8am to 11am or 11:30am Some are open from 1pm or 2pm to 4pm or 5pm. 
Holidays 
January 1 Solar New Year's Day 
January/February Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan).  The most important Vietnamese annual festival.  This marks the new lunar year and the advent of spring.  This is a three-day holiday, usually at the end of January or the beginning of February (according to the solar calendar) 
February 3 Anniversary of the Foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam 
April 30 Liberation Day, the day on which Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) fell to Hanoi in 1975.  This holiday is commemorated nationwide. 
May 1 Labour Day 
May 19 Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh 
September 2 National Day of Vietnam 
Time: +7:00, Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 14 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. 
Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated.  A 5-10% tip for a meal is a very small amount of money, but to the average Vietnamese, it could easily equal a day's wages.  Avoid tipping too much, as it will set a precedent for others. Government-run restaurants catering to tourists add a 10% service charge to the bill. Porters, if they are available, can be tipped with American coins. Government-run hotels catering to tourists charge an automatic 10% service fee. For taxis, generous tips are not necessary but a small gratuity, however, is expected by cab drivers. 

CURRENCY 
The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used uniformly throughout the country. Exchange rate is approximately 1 USD = 15,000 Dong (Sep 01).  Bank notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 and 50,000 Dong.  Notes under 200 Dong have little value and are rarely used.  The US dollar is more or less a second currency in Vietnam.  Other foreign currencies are not readily accepted.  A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel bills.  U.S.  money is so common that change will frequently be given in dollars.  You can change money at hotels and banks. Credit cards and travellers' checks are accepted in major hotels, some restaurants and a few shops. These establishments often charge an extra service charge for these form of payments.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS 
Duty-Free Items - Visitors may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of liquor and an unlimited amount of film.  Commercial goods and items of high value being taken out of Vietnam require export permits from the Customs Service.  Antiques may be confiscated permanently.  No local currency may be taken out of the country.  The Customs Service Headquarters is at 21 Ton Duc Thang St., Ho Chi Minh City, Tel 90095.  All visitors to Vietnam, should fill in declaration forms and show their luggage to Customs officials on request. Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax. Travellers' luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed or given as gifts. Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs forms. Travellers can change their money for Vietnamese dong (VND) at the banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country. Foreign currency must be changed into Vietnamese dong for shopping. Travellers can take with them unlimited amounts of souvenirs bought with receipts.

TRAVEL TO VIETNAM
Airports are Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.  Fares are significantly lower for those flying to Ho Chi Minh City.  Although flights are available from the capitals of most Southeast Asian countries as well as from Sydney and Melbourne, the best place is from Bangkok as visas are easiest to obtain there.  For your easy reference, we have complied a listing of airlines that offer special and discounted international airfares over the Internet

TRAVEL WITHIN VIETNAM:
Car rentals are currently not in existence.  Cabs, which are unmarked cars without meters, can typically be rented for the day for US$30 to US$40.  The Vietnamese railway system runs from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi along the coast and links with Hai Phong and the regions further north.  Odd-numbered trains travel South, and even-numbered trains travel north.  The fastest trains take at least 36 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.  Reservations should be made a day or more in advance.  The major setback to the railways is that tourists are charged many times more than Vietnamese people in the form of an outrageously high surcharge.  For long distance traveling, it is best to fly. The bus system runs almost everywhere within the country, with stations built around the country dividing the territory into regions.  Buses tend to be slow and unreliable. 

DINING AND DRINKING 
Vietnamese food varies from region to region.  Cooking in the North is most like that of China. In the Central region, food is spicier. The South offers a large range of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Almost 500 traditional dishes have been recorded! Rice and noodles are staple foods, served with nearly all meals.  The most popular dishes are nema rán (spring rolls), bún thang (noodles with sliced pork, eggs, shredded chicken and shrimp), shellfish steamed with ginger and sea crabs fried with salt.  Among common ingredients used are: shark fin, duck, pork paste, fish, spices, fruits, vegetables, crab meat, lobster and oysters. Imported beer is available in Vietnam, although a number of domestic beers are brewed.  Rice wine is very popular, and there are many brands available.  There is a variety of fruit wines such as apricot, orange or lemon.  Soft drinks are processed from the many varieties of tropical fruits available.  Water from the tap should be avoided, even though it has already been filtered and sterilized at 10ºC.  If you must drink it, boil the water first. 

COMMUNICATIONS:
Telephone: International long-distance calls (direct): To make an international direct dial (IDC) call you must first dial the international prefix (00) followed by the country code, area code and the local number. In case you fail to contact the required number, dial 110 for the operator's help. Domestic long-distance calls: To place a domestic long-distance call you must first dial the national trunk prefix (0) followed by the area code and local number. If you fail to get the required number, dial 101 for the operator's help. International Dialing Access: Available at major tourist hotels and post offices. Country Code: 84, Hanoi city code: 04, Ho Chi Minh city code: 08.  When calling from within the same city, delete the city code from the number. When calling to another city from within Vietnam, use the entire city code. When calling from outside Vietnam, delete the first digit (0) from the city code. Fax machines are quickly proliferating in Vietnam. public and registered fax machines are available in hotels, business and public offices.  Useful Telephone numbers: Police 113, Fire brigade 114, Ambulance 115, Telephone directory 116, Time inquires 117, Telephone repair service 119, Domestic long distance telephone service 101, International telephone service 110, Inquiries on socioeconomic, cultural information 108,

USEFUL PHRASES 
Greetings - Chao ong (ba) 
How are you? - Ong (ba) co khoe khong? 
Fine, thanks - Cam on rat tot 
My name is ...  - Tên tôi là ... 
I don't understand - Tôi không hiêú 
Restaruant - nhà hàng 
Telephone - diên thoai 
Hotel - khách san 

ENTERTAINMENT 
Vietnam is not the place to go for the latest in nightspots, but a number of large hotels have nightclubs and dance halls.  Bars are fairly easy to find, even in smaller hotels.  Try asking the locals for the current popular spots. 
 

Language:

The Vietnamese language belongs to a language group which was established a long time ago in East Asia.  Changes in material conditions over many centuries and the increasing demands of cultural life have influenced the Vietnamese language.  While adopting many elements of the Chinese language, the Vietnamese people changed many Chinese words, gradually creating Han-Viet (Chinese-Vietnamese) which incorporated purely Vietnamese words.  "Vietnamization" not only applied to the Chinese language, but also to French and other language groups, creating a diverse vocabulary for the Vietnamese language. Vietnamese is the official language; French, Chinese, English, Khmer and tribal dialects (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are also spoken. 

WRITING:

In 1867, some colonial schools began to teach Quoc Ngu.  It was not until early in the 20th century that Quoc Ngu became widely used in the local primary educational system.  The introduction of Quoc Ngu constituted a new step in the development of the Vietnamese language.  While romanization received a reserved welcome in other Asian countries, it recorded extraordinary success in Vietnam, creating favorable conditions for cultural and intellectual development.  when the multi-ethnic Vietnamese nation was taking shape, a great monarchy was established in the North, and it began a southward expansion.  The Vietnamese nation underwent thousands of years of Northern domination.  This was why Chinese was used for a long time as the official written language.  Local mandarins of various levels were allowed to sit for examinations in the Northern Court (China), and were recruited into the administrative machinery of foreign invaders.  Based on Chinese characters, the Vietnamese worked out a unique writing system of their own called Chu Nom.  In Chu Nom, two Chinese characters were usually combined, one of which indicated the meaning of the Vietnamese word, while the other indicated pronunciation.  Chu Nom was welcomed and widely used by the masses in their daily life, as well as in transcribing their national history and literature.  According to researchers, Chu Nom probably originated around the end of the Northern domination period and early in the 10th century (the independence period).  The oldest evidence of Chu Nom currently available is a stele in the Bao An Pagoda in Yen Lang, Vinh Phu province, dating back to 1209 AD (Ly Dynasty).  It was not until the 13th century under the Tarn dynasty that Chu Nom was systematized and used in literature.  Nguyen Thuyen (alias Han Thuyen) and Nguyen Si Co wrote poems in Chu Nom.  Ho Quy Ly (1400 AD) made Chinese textbooks which translated the Vietnamese language using the Chu Nom writing system.  He also used Chu Nom to write royal proclamations and ordinances.  In the 15th century, Nguyen Trai, a national hero, used Chu Nom to write 250 poems in Quoc Am Thi Tap (Collection of Poems in the National Language).  The Chu Nom literature continued to be developed from the 16th century onwards and totally dominated national literary circles.  Ba Huyen Thanh Quan (the wife of the Chief of Thanh Quan district), Cao Ba Quat and Kieu Story of Nguyen Du, and the translation of Chinh Phu Ngam (Lament of a Wife Whose Husband has Gone to War) by Doan Thi Diem were quite noteworthy poems.  In conjunction with the development of the nation, the Vietnamese language was constantly developed and improved.  Around the 17th century, western missionaries came to Vietnam and learned Vietnamese in order to disseminate Catholicism.  They developed a romanced script to represent the Quoc Ngu (meaning national language) in order to translate prayer books and catechisms.  A number of Portuguese and Italian missionaries used Quoc Ngu to compile catechisms and Portuguese-Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Portuguese dictionaries.  Based on these works, Alexandre de Rhodes, a French Jesuit missionary, published the Vietnamese Portuguese-Latin dictionary which was a fundamental catechism in Rome from 1649-1651.  After Alexandre de Rhodes, Quoc Ngu was further improved by foreign missionaries and Vietnamese scholars.  In 1867, some colonial schools began to teach Quoc Ngu.  It was not until early in the 20th century that Quoc Ngu became widely used in the local primary educational system.  The introduction of Quoc Ngu constituted a new step in the development of the Vietnamese language.  While romanization received a reserved welcome in other Asian countries, it recorded extraordinary success in Vietnam, creating favorable conditions for cultural and intellectual development.  When the multi-ethnic Vietnamese nation was taking shape, a great monarchy was established in the North, and it began a southward expansion.  The Vietnamese nation underwent thousands of years of Northern domination.  This was why Chinese was used for a long time as the official written language.  Local mandarins of various levels were allowed to sit for examinations in the Northern Court (China), and were recruited into the administrative machinery of foreign invaders.  Based on Chinese characters, the Vietnamese worked out a unique writing system of their own called Chu Nom.  In Chu Nom, two Chinese characters were usually combined, one of which indicated the meaning of the Vietnamese word, while the other indicated pronunciation.  Chu Nom was welcomed and widely used by the masses in their daily life, as well as in transcribing their national history and literature.  According to researchers, Chu Nom probably originated around the end of the Northern domination period and early in the 10th century (the independence period).  The oldest evidence of Chu Nom currently available is a stele in the Bao An Pagoda in Yen Lang, Vinh Phu province, dating back to 1209 AD (Ly Dynasty).  It was not until the 13th century under the Tarn dynasty that Chu Nom was systematized and used in literature.  Nguyen Thuyen (alias Han Thuyen) and Nguyen Si Co wrote poems in Chu Nom.  Ho Quy Ly (1400 AD) made Chinese textbooks which translated the Vietnamese language using the Chu Nom writing system.  He also used Chu Nom to write royal proclamations and ordinances.  In the 15th century, Nguyen Trai, a national hero, used Chu Nom to write 250 poems in Quoc Am Thi Tap (Collection of Poems in the National Language).  The Chu Nom literature continued to be developed from the 16th century onwards and totally dominated national literary circles.  Ba Huyen Thanh Quan (the wife of the Chief of Thanh Quan district), Cao Ba Quat and Kieu Story of Nguyen Du, and the translation of Chinh Phu Ngam (Lament of a Wife Whose Husband has Gone to War) by Doan Thi Diem were quite noteworthy poems.  In conjunction with the development of the nation, the Vietnamese language was constantly developed and improved.  Around the 17th century, western missionaries came to Vietnam and learned Vietnamese in order to disseminate Catholicism.  They developed a romanced script to represent the Quoc Ngu (meaning national language) in order to translate prayer books and catechisms.  A number of Portuguese and Italian missionaries used Quoc Ngu to compile catechisms and Portuguese-Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Portuguese dictionaries.  Based on these works, Alexandre de Rhodes, a French Jesuit missionary, published the Vietnamese Portuguese-Latin dictionary which was a fundamental catechism in Rome from 1649-1651.  After Alexandre de Rhodes, Quoc Ngu was further improved by foreign missionaries and Vietnamese scholars.
 

Food Specialties:
Com (boiled rice) is eaten at the main meals of the day (lunch and dinner).  Rice is eaten together with a variety of different dishes and is made from different kinds of rice.  Typically fragrant rice is used, such as Tam Thom and Nang Huong.  An ordinary meal may consist of boiled rice and the following: Mon an kho (meal without soup) consists of dishes of pork, fish, shrimp, and vegetable cooked in oil, as well as vegetables, pickles, etc.  Mon canh (meal with soup) consists of a soup made with pork or spare-ribs, crab meat, and fish.  In the past several years, people in urban centers have begun to go out for lunch at the food stalls on the street.  Consequently, there has been a proliferation of temporary food stalls along many sidewalks and public spaces in the cities.  Some stalls are open until early in the morning to cater to regular customers.  Around noon, owners can be seen arranging tables and benches along the pavement to form makeshift shop floors.  After two or three hours, when there are no more customers, they begin to remove all of their wooden furniture, so that the place resumes its former appearance.  A well served lunch for one is very inexpensive. Banh Chung (Sticky Rice Cake) are a Vietnamese traditional dish that must be part of Tet meals.  As a matter of fact, every Vietnamese family must have sticky rice cakes among the offerings placed on the altar to their ancestors.  Bang chung is made of glutinous rice, pork meat, and green beans paste wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves, giving the rice a green colour after boiling.  Gio Lua (Lean Pork Pie) is available in Vietnam only and has different names in the north and south.  Foreigners as well as Vietnamese are fond of lean pork pie.  Gio lua consists of pork meat wrapped in fresh banana leaves.  The little bundles are then boiled.  The most delicious part of lean pork pie is the top layer since it absorbs the flavor of the banana leaves.  Pho (Noodles) is the most popular food among the Vietnamese population.  Pho is commonly eaten for breakfast, although many people will have it for their lunch or dinner.  Anyone feeling hungry in the small hours of the morning can also enjoy a bowl of hot and spicy pho to fill their empty stomachs.  Like hot green tea which has its particular fragrance, pho also has its special taste and smell. 

FESTIVALS

Festivals have long been considered the traditional cultural activity of the Vietnamese people.  They are attractive to all social classes and have become a necessary part of people's lives for many centuries.  Festivals are the crystallization of cultural, spiritual, and physical activities that have been chosen, maintained, and improved over many generations.  Festivals are the living cultural museums of the way people live.  Festivals are a place to enjoy and learn about the people's crafts.  For example, the Master Pagoda Festival (HaTay) has puppet shows and the Hung Temple Festival (Vinh Phu) has the "Xoan" folk songs.  The Phu Giay Festival has "Chau Van" folk songs.  The Lim Festival has "Quan Ho" folk songs.  The drum beats that are mixed with traditional musical songs and dances create an never ending energy during the festivals.  Festivals are also a place to enjoy interesting games.  There are many festival contests such as wrestling, rowing, rice cooking, rope pulling, rope climbing, and chess playing.  There are also competitions between trained animals such as cock fights, buffalo fights, and pigeon races.  Festivals are an occasion to remember national heroes, the manifestation of religious freedom, and religious ceremonies.  Festivals are also a place where different people can show their own customs and habits.  Festival days are usually days where one can find social encounters, relationships, and love.  Many loving relationships have originated from tournaments, competitions, or during a few lines of singing.

FINE ARTS & CRAFTS
Vietnam is a country rich in handicraft products, thanks to the hardworking, dexterous, and creative qualities of the Vietnamese people.  For a very long time, handicraft products have been a source of cultural pride and a source of income for the people.  As the varieties of handicraft products are too numerous to be fully introduced, only a few typical items and their sources are mentioned here.  Woven tapestries and tho cam handbags are unique works from the skilled hands of the ethnic women living in the Northwest regions, such as Cao Bang.  Embroidered articles and silk products are famous from the regions of Ha Dong, Nam Ha, Thai Binh and Hue.  Wool tapestries from Hanoi and Hai Phong, and jute tapestries from Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Hanoi and Thai Binh, are much sought after.  Ceramic and porcelain items have been produced in Vietnam for a long time.  Ceramic and porcelain products glazed by traditional methods into beautiful art are well known in Bat Trang (Hanoi), Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong.  Copperware is fabricated by the skillful hands of coppersmiths in Nam Ha, Ngu Xa (Hanoi), Dong Son (Thanh Hoa), and Long Tho.  Jewelry products and metalwork are concentrated in Hanoi, Thai Binh and Hai Hung, while stonework are mainly produced in Da Nang (Five Element Mountain Region).  Wood products and wood carvings can usually be found in Phu Xuyen (Ha Tay), Hai Phong, and Hue.  There are thousands of types of handicraft products.  Some of these handicrafts have been internationally recognized and popularized, such as lacquerware.  While lacquer artists produce a limited number of paintings and sculptures, lacquer crafts have been part of Vietnamese life in many forms: vases, boxes, interior decorating items, jewelry, and office products.  With about 2,000 years of history, Vietnamese lacquerware and other products made by a community of handicraft artists, have established a firm and growing position in the domestic and international markets. 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
January 1: New Year Day, one day holiday.
February 3: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
April 30: Saigon Liberation Day, one day holiday.
May 1: International Labour Day, one day holiday.
May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.
September 2: National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, one day holiday.

Vietnam Traditional lunar New Year Festival (Tet Nguyen Dan): Four day holiday. It often falls between January and February. The holidays begin on the Eve and the first three days of a Lunar New Year.

OTHER MAJOR ANNIVERSARIES
February 3: Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party.
May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.
December 25: Christmas

The following major traditional festivals are listed by lunar calendar date:
The 15th of the 1st moon: Tet Thuong Nguyen.
The 2nd day of the 4th moon: New Year Festival of the Khmer ethnic minority people.

The 8th day of the 4th moon: Buddha's Birthday.
The 15th day of the 7th moon: Tet Trung Nguyen.
The 15th day of the 8th moon: Mid-Autumn Festival.
The 29th day of the 8th moon: New Year Festival of the Cham ethnic minority people.
The 15th day of the 10th moon: Boat-racing festival of the Khmer ethnic people in the Mekong River Delta.

SOME POPULAR CULTURAL FESTIVALS (BY LUNAR CALENDAR)
The 2nd day of the 1st month: Wrestling Festival in Lieu Doi, Nam Ha.
The 5th day of the 1st month: Festival of Dong Da hill, Hanoi: Yo celebrate the anniversary of King Quang Trung's victory over 290,000 Qing invaders to liberate Thang Long (now Hanoi).
The 6th day of the 1st month: Festival of Eel-Catching in Pot in Ving Lac district, Vinh Phu province. This reflects the farmers' love for labor and the joy over bumper crops.
The 10th day of the 1st month: Festival in Trieu Khuc village, Hanoi. Cultural activities of a traditional handicraft village.
The 13th day of the 1st month: Lim Festival, Ha Bac. Festival of quan ho folk song singing. Boys and girls meet on river bank, on hill or in the yards of village's communal house and pagoda to sing and exchange emotions.
The 15th day of the 1st month: Festival of Spring on Ba Den mountain.
The 15th of 2nd month (formal date): Festival of Huong Pagoda, Ha Tay: Traditional festival lasting over 2 months.
Spring festival of buffalo fighting: in Tay Nguyen Highlands highlighting the martial spirit of the ethnic minority people.
The 10th day of the 3rd month: Festival of Hung Temple celebrating the death a anniversary of Kings Hung.
The 9th day of the 4th month: Giong Festival, Hanoi, commemorating Saint Giong, a legendary child hero who defeated foreign invasion and saved the nation.
The 26th day of the 4th month: Festival of Queen Su in Chau Doc.
The 5th day of the 5th month: Water Festival in Nha Trang. People in the city go to the beach and have a bath for health improvement.
The 16th day of the 6th month: Festival of Nghinh Ong in Tien Giang - Ben Tre.
The 30th day of the 7th month: Festival at Lang Ong, Ho Chi Minh City.
The 9th day of the 8th month: Buffalo fighting festival, Do Son, Hai Phong.
The 13th day of the 9th month: Festival of Keo Pagoda, Thai Binh. Traditional communal festival.
The 22th day of the 11th month: Festival of Dong Quan in Chan Tien Pagoda, Hanoi.

ELECTRIC POWER
Electric current in Vietnam is mostly 220 Volts, but 110 Volts system is still in use. Sockets are both round and flat types.

WATER SUPPLY
Tap water in urban areas in Vietnam is chlorinated, but it is recommended that it should be boiled before drinking.

CLOTHING
Relax clothes are recommended. In the South, light clothing is a must, but in highland areas (Da Lat, Sapa, Buon Me Thuot) warm clothing is appropriate at all times of the year.

HEALTH & MEDICAL FACILITIES:

No vaccination is required. But visitors should receive inoculations against yellow fever, hepatitis B, cholera, polio, typhoid, tuberculoses and tetanus. It is also advised that your clients take malaria tablets. We recommend that you check with the US Center for Disease Control - Traveler's Health Center in advance of any trip.  The best Vietnamese hospital in Hanoi and Saigon can deal well serious illnesses and have foreign staff. Major Hospital in Hanoi include Friendship Hospital, Viet-Duc Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital and International Department, Bach mai Hospital which is reserved for foreigners for medical examination and treatment. The Department is staffed with experienced experts, doctors and nurses who are able to treat serious cases.  Major hospitals in HCMC include Cho Ray Hospital (This is a large hospital with more than 1,000 beds. On 10th floor, there are rooms reserved for foreign patients. The hospital is staffed by experienced professors and doctors. Most of them were trained abroad and they can speak English or French), Nhi Dong Hospital and Thong Nhat Hospital (This is a modern hospital which consists of five buildings situated at the junction of Ly Tu Trong Rd and Cach mang Thang Tam Rd, Tan Binh District.)  In Ho Chi Minh City, there are thousands of pharmacies, and many private consultation rooms Equipped with modern medical instruments. Health insurance cards have been issued by the government. The card bearers can have medical checks and treatments in registered hospitals without paying any additional charges. As a general precautionary measure, we recommended that you take out health insurance before traveling overseas. You should consult with your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether your policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Note that some insurers will only authorize payment for medical evacuations performed by companies with whom they have pre-existing agreements.

Travelers alerts, warnings and information from various governmental sources: