Vietnam is the land of howling islands, sun kissing beaches, terrific waterfalls and thunderous rivers. It is a gifted island with ancient traditions and customs. Hanoi is the capital of the country.
PopulationThe population of the country is about 78.5 million people. More than 16 percent of peoples are living in rural areas. About 90 percent of the populations are Vietnamese and 3% are Chinese. Other ethnic groups in the country are Thai, Khmer, Man, Meo etc. The official language of the country is Vietnamese. French, Chinese, English are other languages spoken in the country. The major religions are Buddhist, Roman catholic, Protestant, Confucian, Taoist are main religions followed in the country.
CurrencyThe official currency of the country is Dong (D). One US dollar is equal to 15,000 dong. The denominations of the currencies are 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, and 50,000 dong respectively. 200 dong notes are also in use but very rare. Other than local currency, American Dollar is considered to be hard currency. Other foreign currencies are not accepted. Credit cards are also accepted in many hotels and famous shops. Foreign exchanges facilities are available in State Bank of Vietnam and in some hotels.
ClimateThe country has tropical climate. The country has very hot summer, heavy rainfall, high humidity with two seasons. From November to April, the climate is very cold and dry in nature and during May to October the climate is generally very hot and wet. The weather is usually different between Northern and southern areas of the country. The average temperature ranges from 22 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius. Transport and Communication
Nowadays telephones and faxes are the main means of communications for the country. It is available all over the country. Many Internet cafes are available for quick communications. International airports are the main source for the visitors entering into the country. Other means of transports like trains, buses, taxis etc are available in the country.
Visa
Passport and visa are compulsory one for those who entering the nation. But exemptions are made to some country visitors to stay in the country without visas for a limited time i.e. not more than 30 days. The customs department does not allow the visitors who carry weapons, explosives, toxic chemicals, illicit drugs, fire crackers etc.
Some tips
The peoples are very pleasing in nature. Handshaking is the manner of greeting others. Beware of pickpockets. Remove your shoes while entering into Buddhist temples. Small gifts will make the peoples very happy. Ask permission while taking photos in the temple.