Vietnam's Country Information
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| Name : |
Vietnam |
| Official Name : |
Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
| Capital : |
Hanoi |
| Climate : |
Tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March) |
| Race : |
85%-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham |
| Language : |
Vietnamese, Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages |
| Official Language : |
Vietnamese |
| Religion : |
Majority Buddhist, others include Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao. |
| Government : |
Communist State |
| Population (in mil) : |
79.4 |
| Literacy Rate : |
91.9% |
| Visas : |
A 30-day Vietnamese visa costs US$40 from an agent in Bangkok.
Visa extension is difficult. |
| Immunisations : |
Dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and a minor threat (especially to pregnant women) of dioxins found in the defoliant Agent Orange. |
| Time : |
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| Electricity : |
220V, 50 Hz |
| Weights & Measures : |
Metric with local variations. |
| Currency : |
Dong |
| Travellers Cheque : |
Travellers cheques in US$ and US dollars are widely accepted in the country.
4 ways to exchange currency : bank, hotels, authorised exchange bureaus and black market.
Dong is useful in rural areas as it is impossible to exchange foreign currency outside major cities |
| Credit Cards : |
Credit cards are accepted in major cities and towns. |
| Tipping : |
Tipping is not customary. |
| Bargaining : |
Bargaining is common in the country. |
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