Vietnam

Timeless Charm

Vietnam in Southeast Asia is a country of Timeless Charm, known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and bustling cities. Hanoi is its Capital, and its neighbours include China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west. As you see on the map, Vietnam is a long, narrow nation shaped like the letter S.

Vietnam will draw on your senses with deep history, beautiful landscapes, vibrant energy, and delicious food. A country of many contrasts. A loud, vibrant city where thousands of motorbikes buzz around in every direction to a distance of calmness of the oceans and intimacy of community of local life.

Leave the city behind and experience a ride on a motorbike that meanders through rice fields and coffee plantations. Stop and enjoy the local delicacies exploding with flavour and immerse yourself with the locals and enjoy a bowl of Phở.

Of course, there is the sad side to Vietnam’s history which you can experience from the many museums, architecture and buildings of the country’s war-torn past.

But Vietnam would not be what it is without its mix of history, culture, coasts, and landscapes, making it unique and leaving a lasting impression.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

Depending on what you want to experience in Vietnam, there is no wrong time to visit this wonderful country.

See below via Regions:

Best time to visit North Vietnam: January, February, March, April, October, November, December

The rainy season is May to early September – the air is hot and humid

The dry season is November to April, but far North gets very cold December to January – maximum temperature 20°C

Best time to visit Central Vietnam: February, March, April, May – typical tropical wet climate.

The dry, hot season from January to August up to mid 30°C, but the highest rainfall is from September to November.

Best time to visit South Vietnam: December, January, February, March, April with maximum temperatures of 30-32°C

Dry and hot – November to April
Warm – May to October
Rainfall – June to August

Climate:

Vietnam has both a tropical climate and a temperate climate zone, with all of the country experiencing the effects of the annual monsoon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Language:

Vietnamese is the official language.

English, French, Chinese, Khmer and various highlander languages are also spoken.

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Banks & ATMs:

Three leading foreign banks in Vietnam are HSBC, ANZ and Citibank.

ATMs are available at Vietnam’s major airports and around city streets and next to convenience stores and bars.

Plugs and Sockets:

There are three associated plug types, types A, C, and F

Plug type A has two flat parallel pins

Plug type C is the plug with two round pins

Plug type F has two round pins with two earth clips on the side

The standard voltage is 220V, and the expected frequency is 50Hz.

Highly recommended to carry a universal adaptor.

Safety:

On the whole, Vietnam is a friendly and safe country to visit. Tourism is the country’s primary source of income, so the locals treat tourists’ safety as their number one concern.

Be vigilant of your belongings, particularly in crowded areas and all tourists areas. These crowded areas are known for pickpocketers, bag snatchers, and even people snatching while driving motorbikes.

Flight Connections:

Vietnam Airlines is the national airline carrier of Vietnam, based at Hanoi Noibai International Airport (HAN).

Some major airlines that fly into Vietnam are:

All Nippon Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Korean Air and Emirates (to name a few).Search Skyscanner for some great airfares!