Name: Vietnam
Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Area: 331,6881 sq km
Continental shell area: 700,000 sq km
Inland co-ordinates: 
Longitude: 102°10' - 109° 30' East
Latitude: 8°30'-23° 22' North
Capital: Ha Noi
Major Cities: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hue.
Climate: Tropical in south; monsoon in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March). Average temperatures for the year range from 22° to 27°C. In Hanoi, the average is 23°C, in Ho Chi Minh City, 26°C and in Hue, 25°C.

Race: 85% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham.
Language: Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French, Khmer...
Official Language: Vietnamese
Religion: Majority Buddhist, others include Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao.
Government: Socialist Republic State
Population (in mil): 79.4
Literacy Rate: 95.9%
Time: GMT + 7 (same as Bangkok and Jakarta time)
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Weights & Measures: Metric with local variations. 

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND) of the State Bank of Vietnam is unanimously used in the whole country including bank notes of 200 VND, 500 VND, 1,000 VND, 2,000 VND, 5,000 VND, 10,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND and 100,000 VND.

Customs and Immigration: On arrival in Vietnam, you must complete black and yellow duplicate arrival-departure-customs declaration form named VIETNAM ARRIVAL-DEPARTURE CARD. The black  one will be kept by the Customs officer while the yellow one is used widely for hotels, guest houses and private hosts registration. It is a must for your departure. Do not risk to lose it.

Customs demand that you declare foreign currency in excess of US$7,000. Gold items and jewelry not for personal use; video tapes, compact discs. Duty free allowances are 200 cigarettes, two liters of alcohol, perfume for personal use.

Travelers Cheque & Credit Cards: Traveler’s cheque and credit cards (American Express, Visa, Master Card, JCB) are exchanged for Vietnamese dong in banks and exchange counters. Cards can be used in travel agencies, hotels, and major restaurants. US currency is exchanged for Vietnamese dong and treasury notes in banks, exchange bureaus, hotels, and jewelry shops. When leaving the country, remaining Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.

Shopping: Vietnamese art and craft articles have been displayed in many international fairs. Articles made of lacquer, rattan, bamboo, and palm are quite popular. Vietnamese are also experts in making articles out of wood, animal hide and horns, and tortoise and oyster shells. Other items such as embroidered articles, objects inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ceramic objects, gold and silver jewels, and painting are also very popular. These can be purchased in shops or in factories.

Tourism seasons: Vietnam is located in a tropical and we can organize tour all year round. The climate in Vietnam is divided into two distinguished seasons: the rainy and the dry season.
In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the next year. During this period, the weather is cooler and drier. There are several ritual ceremonies and folk festival to highlight the arrival of Spring. The Lunar New Year festival (Vietnamese traditional Tet) in Ha Noi will allow tourists to enjoy the Tet’s atmosphere, Tet’s markets, and Flower markets. Tourists visiting Vietnam during that season are recommended to bring along warm clothes. The period from May to October is convenient for the tour to sea bathing or climbing to the mountain. In the South, the temperature is warm all year round. The average temperature is approximately 27oC (80-60oF); therefore tourists need thin garments, sunglasses and hats. It is convenient for organizing cultural tour, environment tour and sea tour.

Visa: Visas and valid passports are required for all visitors. Tourists can obtain one-month visa at any of the entry point (Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang).

Business hours: Government Offices and most of companies are working from 7:30am till 04pm or 5pm. Avoid doing business during the siesta hours of 11:30am to 1:30pm. Saturdays and Sundays are off to offices.

Immunizations: Contact your public health clinic regarding immunizations. Malaria is not a problem in cities but care must be taken in rural lowland areas.