THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAM Population: About 90 Million People Capital: Hanoi Flag: The flag of Vietnam is red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center. Visa: Tourists can get Vietnam evisa or Vietnam visa on arrival at international airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang easily. Shop Hours: Shops run from 7 or 8am to 11 or 11:30pm. Some are open from 1 or 2pm to 4 or 5pm. Bank Hours: Most banks are opened from 7am or 8am to 11am or 11:30am Some are open from 1pm or 2pm to 4pm or 5pm. Holidays January 1 Solar New Year's Day January/February Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan). The most important Vietnamese annual festival. This marks the new lunar year and the advent of spring. This is a three-day holiday, usually at the end of January or the beginning of February (according to the solar calendar). February 3 Anniversary of the Foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam April 30 Liberation Day, the day on which Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) fell to Hanoi in 1975. This holiday is commemorated nationwide. May 1 Labor Day May 19 Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh September 2 National Day of Vietnam Time: +7:00, Vietnam is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 14 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. A 5- 10% tip for a meal is a very small amount of money, but to the average Vietnamese, it could easily equal a day's wages. Avoid tipping too much, as it will set a precedent for others. Government-run restaurants catering to tourists add a 10% service charge to the bill. Porters, if they are available, can be tipped with American coins. Government-run hotels catering to tourists charge an automatic 10% service fee. For taxis, generous tips are not necessary but a small gratuity, however, is expected by cab drivers. GEOGRAPHY The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a sovereign and reunified independent country, has a high percentage of territorial waters. Vietnam borders with China in the north, Laos and Kampuchea in the West, and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Its lies in the center of South-East Asia. Vietnam's territory stretches from Lung Cu village (Ha Tuyen province) in the north to Rach Tau hamlet (Minh Hai province) in the south. It is a S-shaped peninsula, with thousands of off-shore islands and archipelagoes; the biggest of which are the Hoang SA (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes. Vietnam's mainland covers 331,689 square kilometers. Vietnam's coast line is 3,260km long and its inland border measures 3,730km. The country's total length, from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, is 1,650km. Its width, stretching from east to west, is 600km at the widest point in the north, 400km in the south, and 50km at the narrowest part in the Quang Binh province on the central coast. Vietnam is also a transport junction from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Three quarters of Vietnam's territory consists of mountains and hills. Vietnam has two major deltas, including the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong River Delta in the south. The Red River Delta, or Northern Delta region stretches for 15,000 sq. kms. Over time, deposits of alluvium carried from the Red River and Thai Binh River have accumulated to form the delta. The ancient Viet people settled at the junction of the two rivers. At that time, the wet rice civilization was established. The Mekong River Delta, or Southern Delta region is approximately 36,000 sq. km. The land is very fertile and has favorable climate conditions for agriculture. As a result, it is the largest rice growing region in Vietnam. PROVINCES Vietnam is composed of 61 provinces and centrally-administered cities grouped into regions as follows: Red River Delta: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Tay, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, and Ninh Binh. Eastern North Vietnam: Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Bac Can, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh. Western North Vietnam: Lai Chau, Son La and Hoa Binh. Northern Central Vietnam: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. Southern Central Vietnam: Quang Nam, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. Southern Central Highlands: Tay Nguyen Highlands, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dac Lac. Eastern South Vietnam: Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Mekong River Delta: Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. PEOPLE AND CULTURE The vast majority of the population is Vietnamese with minute percentages of Chinese. The Viet culture originated on the delta of the Red River and the Ma River where the Viet people cultivated paddy fields. They led a simple farming life in small villages, usually living around a communal house. Today the people living in the countryside follow this lifestyle. The Viet people are influenced by Confucianism, in particular the principle of respect for their elders. ETHNIC GROUPS The country is predominantly 85-90% Vietnamese, 3% Chinese, ethnic minorities include Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham, and other mountain tribes. RELIGION The major religious traditions in Vietnam are Buddhism (which fuses forms of Taoism and Confucianism), Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Caodaism and Hoahaoism. Buddhism was first introduced to Vietnam in the 4th century B.C., and reached its peak in the Ly dynasty (11th century). It was then regarded as the official religion dominating court affairs. Buddhism was preached broadly among the population and it enjoyed a profound influence on people's daily life. Its influence also left marks in various areas of traditional literature and architecture. As such, many pagodas and temples were built during this time. At the end of the 14th century, Buddhism began to show signs of decline. The ideological influence of Buddhism, however, remained very strong in social and cultural life. Presently, over 70 percent of the population of Vietnam are either Buddhist or strongly influenced by Buddhist practices. Catholicism was introduced to Vietnam in the 17th century. At present the most densely-populated Catholic areas are Bui Chu-Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Ho Nai-Bien Hoa in Dong Nai province to the South. About 10 percent of the population are considered Catholic. Protestantism was introduced to Vietnam at about the same time as Catholicism. Protestantism, however, remains an obscure religion. At present most Protestants live in the Central Highlands. There still remains a Protestant church on Hang Da Street in Hanoi. The number of Protestants living in Vietnam is estimated at 400,000. Islamic followers in Vietnam are primarily from the Cham ethnic minority group living in the central part of the central coast. The number of Islamic followers in Vietnam totals about 50,000. Caodaism was first introduced to the country in 1926. Settlements of the Cao Dai followers in South Vietnam are located near the Church in Tay Ninh. The number of followers of this sect is estimated at 2 million. Hoahaoism was first introduced to Vietnam in 1939. More than 1 million Vietnamese are followers of this sect. Most of them live in the western part of South Vietnam. CURRENCY The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND) which is used uniformly throughout the country. Exchange rate is approximately 1 USD = 23,000 Dong. Bank notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 / 50,000 / 100,000 / 200,000 / 500,000 Dong. Notes under 500 Dong have little value and are rarely used. The US dollar is more or less a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign currencies are not readily accepted. A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel bills. U.S. money is so common that change will frequently be given in dollars. You can change money at hotels and banks. Credit cards and travelers’ checks are accepted in major hotels, some restaurants and a few shops. These establishments often charge an extra service charge for these forms of payments. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Duty-Free Items - Visitors may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of liquor and an unlimited amount of film. Commercial goods and items of high value being taken out of Vietnam require export permits from the Customs Service. Antiques may be confiscated permanently. No local currency may be taken out of the country. The Customs Service Headquarters is at 21 Ton Duc Thang St., Ho Chi Minh City, Tel 90095. All visitors to Vietnam, should fill in declaration forms and show their luggage to Customs officials on request. Luggage, personal possessions and goods brought to Vietnam in amounts sufficient for personal use only, and not listed among noncommercial goods not to be imported, are exempt from tax. Travelers’ luggage as declared at Customs offices on arrival must be shown again at Customs when leaving Vietnam, except for articles which have been consumed or given as gifts. Visitors to Vietnam can bring with them unlimited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold, but these must be declared in detail on their customs forms.