LANGUAGE
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. In HCMC, a large number of local people can converse in English. Most travel agencies provide experienced tour guides fluent in English, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), etc upon request.
For bargaining, the universal language understood by all is the language of the ubiquitous calculator.
ATTIRE
Saigon has two seasons – the hot and the rainy seasons. December to April is the hot season and May to November is the wet season. Light clothings (T-shirts, polos, short sleeve shirts & jeans, chinos or shorts) and comfortable shoes/sandals would be most suitable for the hot season. An umbrella or a rain coat would be handy for the rainy season; it normally rains for a short while each day, usually not more than an hour. There are, of course, the occasional hours-long downpours, but that's when your luck runs out on you.
However, you should dress respectably (as is expected ie no shorts, sleeveless Ts etc) when entering religious premises such as churches and especially temples and pagodas.
HEALTH
No vaccinations are presently required for visitors entering Vietnam. However, it is advisable that precautionary measures be taken for cholera, malaria, hepatitis A & B, typhoid and tuberculosis.
24-hour International Medical Centres are available in HCMC but it can be expensive for emergency care. You should get your travel insurance (which should cover emergency medical treatment and evacuation) prior to visiting Vietnam.
CURRENCY
The currency used in Vietnam is the DONG (VND). Both notes and coins are currently in use. The new notes are plastic notes. Notes are in denominations of 500,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000 (these are mostly plastic); 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500 and 200 dong (paper). Coins consist of 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200 and 100 dong.
Take note that the 20,000VND note is similar in colour to the 500,000VND note. And the 10,000VND note resembles the 200,000VND note. Don't give the wrong notes.
The US dollar and major credit cards are widely accepted in the city. It is best to change your money at the authorized money changers. They give better rates than the banks, the airport or the hotels. The money changers at Mac Thi Buoi St, Eden Mall and De Tham St (Pham Ngu Lao) usually give good rates. Ask at the goldsmith shops too (esp around Ben Thanh Market) - there are occasions when they offer the highest rates among all. And never ever change your money on the streets with strangers.
CUSTOM REGULATIONS
All visitors are required to fill out customs declaration cards upon their arrivals. One part of the card is kept by the customs officers at the inspection point just before you leave the airport. You are give the other slip to keep – which is to be surrendered upon departure. Don’t lose this slip or you’ll be in pretty hot soup when you depart, if you manage to depart at all. A hefty fine is definitely to be expected.
Note:
There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems that visitors may bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 must be declared.
The following items are prohibited:
- Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects.
- Opium and other narcotics.
- Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society
Upon departures, please note that certain antiques, precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam’s red-book may not be brought out of the country.
OPENING HOURS
All government offices are suppose to open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm (with one-hour lunch break). They are closed on weekends.
In local areas, offices are open from 7am to 11am and from 1pm to 5pm.
Banks are usually open from 8am to 3pm and closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, but we've come across big banks that close for lunch - meaning you cannot withdraw or change money there at that time.
Most shops are open from 8am to about 9-10pm. Markets are open even earlier, at the break of dawn.
INTERNET CAFES
Internet cafes and wifi cafes/restaurants abound in Saigon, especially in the back-packers area in Pham Ngu Lao. Skype and other VOIPs are easily available; so are overseas calling cards. Wi-fi is free at many cafes and restaurants. Hotels are also mostly wired or wireless. So the choice is wide indeed.
TIME
Vietnam time is GMT+7.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
Electrical current: 220 volts A.C; two-pin (round or vertical flat)