Epic Vietnam with Children

The best place in Southeast Asia to witness the convergence of the old and new is Vietnam.  Vietnam of today is a youthful nation fuelled by the desire for modernisation and commercialisation while protective of its traditional past.  In the stoic political capital of Hanoi in the north and vibrant cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City in the south, you will observe modern cities in the making, the Hong Kong’s of tomorrow. But along small streets, like those in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, you will still find silversmiths practising their century-old trade, far removed from the modern changes around them.  The former imperial capital of Hue and the ancient port city of Hoi An offer an evocative glimpse into the country’s rich historical past. Impressive structures from the 18th century Nguyen Dynasty are a living testament to the royal legacy of Vietnam’s glorious days.

It is the contrasting characteristics of the country, from its historical past to its modern developments and its diverse landscapes and people that will leave a lasting impression.

A long, skinny country curled around the East Sea, Vietnam has 3,450km of coastline and a central spine of mountains, including the highest peak in mainland Southeast Asia, Mount Fansipan.  Vietnam’s shape is often compared to two rice baskets on a shoulder pole.  The narrow band of lowland deserts and steep mountains in the centre give way to broad expanses of river deltas in the north and south.  Having begun its journey in Tibet, the Mekong River divides into nine tributaries and feeds the agricultural region of the Mekong Delta.  Meanwhile, the Red River Delta is the economic centre of the northern region notably known for farming and villages specialising in producing handicrafts.

Vietnam boasts amazingly varied landscapes; from precipitous mountains to uncharted forests, emerald terraced rice fields to deserted pristine beaches.  While large resort developments are heavily concentrated along the stretch of East Sea in Danang, there are still many parts of the country that remain untouched like the castaway islands of the Con Dao archipelago, an ideal getaway for those seeking an off the beaten path experience.

VISA: Please ensure your passport is valid more than 6 months from the date of return for every country you are visiting. Please also ensure there is sufficient space in your passport to allow for all immigration procedures, taking note that some South East Asian countries take up a full page for the visa sticker and need yet more space on a separate page for entry & exist stamps.

Kindly note that visa service is not included in this proposal. Please contact Epic for any visa service or guidance. Please note the following general information is subject to change concerning visas.

Vietnam: A one month single entry visa is available on arrival with a pre-arranged visa invitation authorisation letter.  The visa invitation letter processing time is two weeks, rush service may be available at additional cost. The costs per person for the visa invitation authorisation letter processing fee are US$50 and an additional US$25 per person must be paid in cash on arrival along with two passport photos at the Visa On Arrival Counter located in the International Airport.  Selected nationalities can travel visa-free for 15 days if arriving by air or can apply e-visa (subject to change). 

CURRENCY: Dông (VND; symbol ₫). Notes are in denominations of ₫500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of ₫5,000, 2,000, 1,000 and 500.

Import and export of local currency is limited to ₫15,000,000. Import and export of foreign currency over US$7,000 should be declared at customs.

The US Dollar is the most favoured foreign currency. Australian, British, Japanese, Singaporean and Thai currency, as well as the Euro, can usually be changed in the larger cities; great difficulty may be encountered in trying to exchange any other currencies. There is a commission charge for changing money in banks.

BANKING: Banking hours vary from bank to bank but are generally open from Monday-Friday 08:30-16:00; some may close for lunch. Many banks are also open on Saturday morning; all banks are closed on Sunday.

An increasing number of outlets accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards. However, outside main towns and cities, it is wise to carry cash. There are ATMs in many major towns, but not in rural areas. ATMs issue Dông, and the single withdrawal limit varies, depending on the bank, ranging from ₫2,000,000 to much larger amounts.

Travellers' cheques are accepted in banks, money changers and some hotels although most travellers now use debit cards because of the increased number of ATMs. It is best to take US Dollar travellers' cheques to avoid additional exchange rate charges and expect to pay a high commission.

Motor vehicles are well equipped with air conditioning although it is limited to a 2006-2012 range. Luxury cars such as Mercedes or limousine are available for hire but incur an extra charge.  Wearing a seatbelt in Vietnam is still not common practice – be aware that the vehicles in which you travel may not be fitted with seatbelts in accordance with the current convention. If you want to take a taxi to somewhere, for quality assurance, choose larger company taxis, such as Mai Linh, that are available throughout the big cities.  Make sure to check your taxi driver starts the meter. Bring small notes with you for the payment.  To avoid any misunderstandings, it is useful to have the address written down.

TRAIN: The Vietnamese key route is the north to south line known as the Reunification Express. Each sleeper carriage has about 5-7 cabins and one small basic toilet at the end of the carriage. Please lower your expectation if you have to take this means of transportation since all train in Vietnam is Russian old types. The train system is slowly being modernised with technological advances.

HEALTH: Please consult your doctor to discuss your particular health or immunisation requirements. For further information, please refer to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov

MEDICAL: The standard of medical facilities within Vietnam varies. International care facilities can be found in the major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Danang. Facilities in public and rural hospitals are well below international standards and medical evacuations to a major centre may be required even for a relatively small injury. If a problem arises where you are in need of medical attention, the best option is to visit an international clinic. Please contact your hotel or guide for information on clinic services and to find one that is appropriate for Western visitors.

YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION:  A Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate is only required for travellers coming from – or in transit through an airport of – a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. The vaccination requirement is imposed by this country for protection against yellow fever since the principal mosquito vector Aedes aegypti is present in its territory.

If you are visiting Vietnam and you live in or have travelled through a yellow fever zone, then you need to have a yellow fever certificate to show that you have been vaccinated against the illness.  When you arrive in Vietnam, you will be asked for your yellow fever certificate. You need to show this at the medical counter before queuing for immigration.

Check to see if you have been in any of these places during the last six months. Please consult your doctor to discuss your particular health or immunisation requirements.

AFRICA - Risk of yellow fever transmission exists in these countries:

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.

AMERICAS - Risk of yellow fever transmission exists in these countries:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Validity of Certificate:  A yellow fever certificate is valid for ten years after vaccination.

Children: A vaccination certificate is required for children over one year of age.

Common Procedure:

1.   Complete yellow fever form

2.   Wait in queue for an assigned health counter

3.   Submit required documents to immigration officer and proceed to arrival immigration counter

In general, Vietnam is very safe for travellers.  Violent attacks are rare, although petty theft is a problem in big cities. Where possible, secure your valuables in the hotel safe.  Remember to record your traveller’s cheque numbers and credit card information—just in case.

• Do not leave your wallet or mobile phone in the back pocket of your pants or anywhere else that’s easily reached (like an outer zip-up compartment on a backpack).  Be especially vigilant in markets and other crowded places like ports and train stations.
• Pick-pocketing and purse snatching are more of a problem in Ho Chi Minh City than smaller towns or cities. Some thieves approach on motorcycles, grab your belongings and race off before you’ve realised what’s happened. If you ride in a cyclo (pedicab), it is advisable not to carry or wear things of personal value (i.e., jewellery, lots of money). Wearing a money belt or something that can be easily tucked away is considered safer.
• Use common sense and don’t walk alone after dark. You’re always better off avoiding cyclos or motorbike taxis at night; ask your hotel or restaurant to call a reputable taxi firm. If confronted by a mugger, do not resist.
• When crossing the street on foot, move at a slow and steady pace. Fight the urge to weave and run! Walk slowly, looking up and meeting the driver’s eyes, and the traffic will flow around you. For best results, follow a local.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. However, bottled water is widely available and cheap; make sure the seal is unbroken before drinking. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. However, pasteurised milk is widely available now. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit should be peeled.

Vietnamese cooking is varied and usually superb, as the profusion of Vietnamese restaurants in New York, London and Berlin contest. It is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese and French traditions, with a plethora of regional variations. As in all countries of the region, rice or noodles usually provide the basis of a meal. Not surprisingly, fish is plentiful. Pride is taken in the fact that the freshest of vegetables are used and the vegetables and fruit served is seasonal.

Tipping is now quite customary, especially in tourist areas, and is much appreciated in a country where salaries are still low. Upscale restaurants and hotels may add a 5-10% service charge to the bill.

Because of its geography, the climate in Vietnam varies greatly from north to south with three distinct climatic zones. Tropical monsoons occur from October to April in the centre and from May to September in the north and south. It is almost totally dry throughout the rest of the year. It can get exceptionally hot, however, all year round, but the north has a cooler time between October and April. Temperatures around the country can reach up to 40C in the height of the hot and rainy season (May to September), but the northern highlands and Hanoi can often seem chilly and damp in the winter.

There is no one ideal time to visit Vietnam as a whole but at any time of year there will be sun somewhere. The high season is from September to March but bad weather can disrupt travel in the centre of the country during this period, particularly from September to December. For the beaches in the centre of Vietnam, Danang, Hoi An and Nha Trang, it is best to go between May and August. The autumn is the best time to visit Halong Bay when there should be clear skies.

If your trip to Vietnam includes stops at beaches and mountainous areas, you will need clothes for all temperatures.  A swimsuit, sunglasses, a hat, t-shirts, shorts that are not too revealing, long trousers, some light-weight, long-sleeved tops and a light jacket that is wind and rain-resistant will get you through most trips. If you plan to visit northern Vietnam in the winter, you’ll need a warm coat. Mountainous areas can get chilly; choose clothes you can layer.

If trekking is on your agenda, you will need sturdy footwear with traction—plus lots of socks.

Slip-on shoes or sandals are useful for visits to pagodas or people’s houses, as you’ll save time taking your shoes on and off.

Larger cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offer upscale bars and restaurants, so be sure to pack some clothes and shoes for a nice evening out. It’s not advisable to bring your flashy jewellery.

The standard household (hotel) electrical supply in Vietnam is 220 volt, 50 Hertz, but you may find that 110 volt, 50 Hertz outlets are still in use in some places. In Vietnam, the standard socket accepts a two round pins plug without a ground pin (Type A), but non-standard two flat blade (Type B) or two rectangular blade sockets and plugs are still in use.

Some modern hotels and office blocks have three pin round (Type D) or UK three pin square sockets (Type C).

Before travelling to Vietnam, it is wise to survey your various items that you will need and that require electricity to operate. Verify you have the proper adaptors, converters, or transformers to get electricity in Vietnam.

Adaptors are sold in local markets and usually available from your hotel.

CULTURAL ETIQUETTE: 

• In Vietnam, revealing clothing is unacceptable off the beach. Shorts are generally fine – as long as they aren’t too short.
• When visiting pagodas, temples or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi, shorts and tank-tops are unacceptable (no cameras allowed inside HCM Mausoleum). Your knees and shoulders must be covered. Footwear and socks must be removed in pagodas.  Shoes are usually removed when entering private homes too.
• Upon meeting someone new, people may simply nod to each other or may shake hands. Using both hands to shake someone’s hand is a warm gesture of respect.
• Beckoning someone by crooking your finger is considered rude. The correct way to call someone over is to extend your hand with the palm down and flap your fingers towards your wrist. To ask for the bill in a restaurant or shop, extend one hand in front of you with the palm raised and pretend to write on your palm with the other hand.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: It is highly recommended that all clients obtain comprehensive Travel Insurance. Please provide Epic with a copy of your insurance policy prior to travel. If you require assistance in obtaining travel insurance please contact us.  Policies should be checked to ensure that they include ALL medical situations as well as the following:

• Hospitalisation and repatriation
• Cancellation
• Missed flight connections
• Loss of baggage
• Loss/breakage of valuables such as cameras (care should be taken on rough roads)

TOILETRIES & MEDICATION: While imported beauty products are readily available in major cities, you’d be wise to pack staples like sunscreen, contact lens solution, tampons and mosquito repellent.  It is advised that your prescription medication is in its original box with the label along with the prescription to avoid any complications that may arise at Customs.  Many medicines are available in Southeast Asia without prescriptions.  If you plan to purchase medication, choose a reputable supplier and read the labels carefully, particularly paying attention to the expiration date.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Bring a money-belt to safely carry your travel documents and cash, and ensure that your luggage has a lock.  Bring photo-copies of your passport and visa, plus some extra passport- sized photos if you’re applying for an on-arrival visa (just in case).  When flying into or within Vietnam, you will probably be given baggage claim tags (they might be stuck to the back of your ticket).  Keep these, as you will need to show them when leaving the airport.

PACKING ESSENTIALS: What you take will naturally depend upon where you are travelling, and it can often be difficult to decide what to pack, nevertheless, the following should act as a useful checklist of essential items worth thinking about taking.

• Passport – Ensure that it is valid and in good condition with empty pages available.  Make a photocopy as well.
• Copy of visa approval letter (if your visa is to be obtained on arrival)
• Insurance – Ensure that it will be valid for the whole journey
• Passport Photos – Will invariably be needed for identification passes and certain overseas visas
• Emergency contact numbers: Trails of Indochina, Insurance Company, friends and family.
• Debit/credit card cancellation numbers
• Air tickets and Itinerary
• Money belt – Ensure that it is discrete and comfortable to wear
• First Aid kit - Basic travel kit to cover basic mishaps which may occur along the way
• Personal Medication –with international doctors’ note to ensure easy passage of medication across international borders
• Sun block – High UVA protection ideally
• Sunglasses & sunhat
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Mosquito spray & insect repellent
• Long sleeve top and trousers – Useful to protect against mosquitoes at dawn and dusk and the sun through the day
• Camera & battery
• Security code pad lock
• A small amount of currency in USD small notes

GRATUITIES: While not compulsory, tipping is greatly appreciated throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the service industry. If you are pleased with the services provided, please use the below guide for reference. Please note all prices are quoted in USD

• Guides (>4 travellers): $10 - $15 per day per traveller
• Drivers (>4 travellers): $5 - $7 per day per traveller
• Guides (<5 travellers): $5 - $10 per day per traveller
• Drivers (<5 travellers): $3 - $5 per day per traveller
• Restaurants: 5-10% of the total bill
• Hotel Maid Service: $2 - $3 per day
• Porters: $2 - $3 at time of service
• Local Boat Transport: $5 - $10 per boat
• Overnight Cruise: $20 - $30 per person per night (to cover all crew)

TIME ZONE: Vietnam operates on Greenwich meantime +7 hours. Vietnam does not observe daylight saving hours.

COUNTRY CODE: Vietnam’s country code is + 84

MOBILE PHONES: Your guide can assist you to purchase a local SIM card and/or hand set at any mobile phone shop. ‘Top up’ credit vouchers are available at most phone shops, particularly ones displaying the network logo, or local post offices. You can place international phone calls and send faxes at post offices or at most hotels, although hotels often charge extra fees.

INTERNET: Wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet access is available in most hotels throughout Vietnam and free Wi- Fi is available in many restaurants, cafes and bars. Be careful to not save your password or sensitive information on public computer terminals.