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