Organize your stay North
Money North
The national currency is the dông, abbreviated to VND(Vietnamese Dông). VND 500,000, 200,000, 100,000, 50,000, 20,000 and 10,000 bills are printed on polymer (to thwart counterfeiters and because they are more resistant). Classic" paper bills in denominations of 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100 VND. Beware of possible confusion between VND 100,000 and VND 10,000 bills. The latter are smaller... Also between VND 500,000 and VND 20,000 banknotes, whose blue color, faded by time and wear, ends up blending together. Even though a law stipulates that everything must be paid for in dông, in tourist areas many prices are advertised in US dollars. The euro is much less widely used, but increasingly accepted.
Exchange rates: 1 € = 26,859 VND; 1 US$ = 24,657 VND (January 2024).
Budget & Tips North
The strength of the euro means you can travel to Vietnam in (very) good conditions, at a relatively low cost compared with other destinations.
For travellers on a budget, comfort may not be optimal, but the disadvantage will be more than compensated for by greater proximity to the rhythm of the country. Reserved, even harsh, Vietnam will nonetheless reward patient and available spirits without necessarily being equipped with a thick wallet.
Budget : on average €50/day (budget hotels, public transport and local restaurants). Some ascetics have made a fine trip on a more modest budget...
Comfort budget : average €100/day (for a luxury cruise on Along Bay or the Mekong Delta).
Luxury budget : from €150/day (top hotels and the best restaurants at every stopover).
Passport and visas North
Since August 15, 2023, the Vietnamese government has introduced unilateral visa exemption for citizens of France, Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy for stays of up to 45 days (44 nights), for single entry and without distinction as to reasons for stay or passport type.
For stays of more than 45 days. For a 3-month (90-day) e-visa: US$95 (multiple entries). Neither the visa waiver nor the tourist e-visa can be extended or renewed on the spot. The French Embassy in Hanoi is not in a position to intervene on these matters, which fall within the competence of the Vietnamese authorities.
Multiple entries. Please note! A multiple-entry visa(nhiêu lân) is required for trips to Cambodia, for example, and subsequent return to Vietnam. The Vietnamese Embassy in France (https://ambassade-vietnam.com/fr/) grants multiple-entry visas, but it is essential to specify this when applying. Similarly, if, at the end of your stay in Vietnam, you are going to another country and, to return to France, you have to go back through Vietnam to catch an international flight, make sure that there is no transfer within Vietnam (Hanoi-Hô Chi Minh-Ville). Again, you'll need a multiple-entry visa. Tourist agencies can take care of the formalities.
You canapply for a visa at the Vietnamese embassy in Paris. The expiry date of the French passport must not be less than six months before the end of the validity of the visa or the stay in Vietnam. Possibility of obtaining a visa by post, using the form available on the embassy website. Please allow 15 days for processing.
Forall other questions concerning entry formalities in Vietnam and for contact details of the Vietnamese Embassy in France: https://ambassade-vietnam.com/fr/
Driver's license North
The French driving license is not recognized in Vietnam. Since December1 , 2014, you can present your international license accompanied by your French driving license, including if you live in Vietnam. If you reside there, on the basis of a bilateral agreement between France and Vietnam, you can also request the exchange of your French driving license for a Vietnamese license (translated by a sworn translator) by contacting the traffic and transport department in your city of residence. This license also allows you to drive two-wheelers up to 175 cc.
Some expatriates do drive, but they are rare, and given the legal provisions and traffic conditions, it is preferable to use the services of a chauffeur. For tourists, in any case, this is a must when renting a car.
Health North
Although the country's doctors are often highly competent, medical and hospital infrastructures still suffer from serious shortcomings, particularly in terms of quality of care and hygiene. Social security coverage is virtually non-existent, leaving the poorest, mainly rural, populations without access to healthcare. International cooperation is active. Improvements are real, but often remain one-off or temporary. For foreign residents and visitors accustomed to Western health standards, local health services are out of the question, unless absolutely necessary. In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and certain tourist towns, there are private medical centers of international standard. Their fees are inevitably high, and prior insurance is essential.
In Hanoi, see the Hôpital Français de Hanoi (www.hfh.com.vn/) and in Hô Chi Minh-Ville, the Centre Médical International (www.cmi-vietnam.com/).
The main health risk in Vietnam remains malaria. Year-round transmission in the highlands below 1500 m south of 18°N latitude, particularly in the 4 provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum, as well as in Binh Phuoc province and the western parts of the coastal provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Quang Nam and Quang Tri. Absence of transmission in urban centers, the Red River delta, the Mekong delta and the central coastal plains. It is therefore important to protect yourself against mosquito bites (by wearing covering clothing and using repellent on exposed parts of the body), as this also helps prevent other infections with the same mode of transmission, in particular dengue fever, which is widespread in the tropics. In addition to protecting yourself from mosquitoes, you'll need to take chemoprophylaxis (a preventive anti-malarial medication), to be arranged with your doctor. Beware, too, of stray animals carrying rabies. Tap water is not drinkable. Ice cream served in restaurants and cafés does not always meet food hygiene standards.
Mandatory vaccination North
It is advisable to check that your health record is up to date (DT Polio, etc.). No vaccinations are required, but depending on the type of stay, the Institut Pasteur (https://www.pasteur.fr/) recommends vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis (for stays in rural areas) and typhoid fever.
Security North
Vietnam is not a dangerous country, although petty crime is on the increase in tourist areas (Sapa in particular). In Hanoi, you should always be vigilant, especially in the tourist streets of the city center: the 36-Rues and Hoàn Kiêm Lake districts.
But the best thing to do is to leave your valuables in the hotel safe when there is one (ask for a receipt when you leave them at reception)! Never travel with valuable documents or large sums of money. Watch your pockets. Watch out for children clinging to you, grabbing your hand, and unexpected jostling or collisions on the sidewalk (especially by bicycles or motorcycles), all of which are distractions for pickpockets.
For the latest information on local security, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr - Under the heading Zones de vigilance, the site indicates that the whole of Vietnam should be subject to reinforced vigilance. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the country's actual situation.
Time difference North
+ 6 hours in winter and + 5 hours in summer compared with France. This is the same time zone as for Bangkok or Jakarta (in universal time, GMT + 7).
Spoken languages North
A few stammered words in Vietnamese often change relationships. And even if you can't make speeches (the Vietnamese language, with its six tones, is one of the most difficult), learn basic words (merci, bonjour), counting and key phrases.
Even if it's not obvious at first glance, French is still spoken in Vietnam. It's not uncommon in markets or stores for people to be spontaneously happy to talk to you in our language, with a pleasant academicism in the use of certain old-fashioned formulas.
Although many Vietnamese have taken up Russian or German in recent decades, these two languages are now out of fashion.
Chinese and other Asian languages such as Japanese and Korean are attracting more and more students due to economic prospects. But in the end, it's English that's taking over. English-language textbooks are in everyone's hands and take up most of the shelves in bookshops.
Communication North
Telephone. Cell phones are now a must. You can use a mobile phone from France, provided you are connected to the GSM network and have purchased a SIM card in Vietnam. Passports may be required. Mobifone and Viettel operators offer the best coverage. For stays in mountainous and border areas, prefer Viettel. A card costs around US$5. In addition, the network is often disrupted and reception quality poor. If you want to keep your French package, you'll need to activate the international option (generally free) by calling your operator's customer service before you leave. When you use your French phone abroad, you pay for the call, whether you make it or receive it. In the case of an incoming call, your correspondent also pays, but only the price of a local call. All calls made to or from abroad are not included in the package, including calls to voicemail.
Internet. Vietnam was officially connected to the Internet on November 19, 1997. The number of subscribers is growing rapidly. Almost 70% of the Vietnamese population has Internet access. Broadband has been steadily expanding, but the Vietnamese authorities voluntarily limit network speed, through the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) they control. Access is therefore sometimes slow and erratic, but throughout the country, Wi-Fi is available in hotels, cafés and restaurants (some cities like Hanoi, Ha Long, Da Nang or Hôi An even offer free Wi-Fi), but here again, the connection can be temperamental. In any case, take the usual precautions to avoid letting your personal data fall into the hands of ill-intentioned people... 3G services have been available in Vietnam since early 2010, covering almost the entire country. The number of subscribers is rising steadily. The operator Viettel (www.viettel.com.vn), which depends on the Vietnamese army, has the largest 3G network in Southeast Asia. Since 2017, operators have launched the rollout of 4G networks.
Electricity and measurements North
Electricity. The voltage commonly used is 220 volts. Plugs are generally of the European type, but American-style flat-plug sockets are also available. A universal adapter is therefore advisable. Due to its rapid growth, Vietnam is facing a shortage of electricity. Power surges and cuts are fairly frequent and can damage overly sophisticated equipment. Take sturdy equipment with you, and be careful when using a laptop. Danger! Electrical installations are often outdated and poorly insulated. Be particularly careful in hotel bathrooms!
Weights and measures. Vietnam uses the international metric system. We therefore speak in meters and kilometers, grams and kilograms.
Luggage North
There's no need to pack too much (beware of excess baggage at airports, which has become very expensive!). Think about the return trip, and make sure you have enough room for souvenirs and locally-made clothes. Make sure your clothes are cotton, loose-fitting and long. This is important, as the Vietnamese attach great importance to clothing. Don't forget your bathing suit, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Shoes that are easy to remove, as you often have to take your shoes off to enter pagodas. On site, you may have trouble finding a pair in your size.
A pair of sheets. Very useful, as some hotels don't have them. But satin sleeping bags are available locally at very reasonable prices and do the trick perfectly. Don't forget your mosquito repellent lotion, essential for repelling malaria-carrying mosquitoes! A hydroalcoholic hand-washing solution can also be very useful in the absence of water points. Earplugs can help you fall asleep in Vietnam's often noisy cities. An external battery for recharging your phone can come in handy in the event of an unexpected power cut. And with an ever-increasing number of devices to recharge, a multiple socket outlet comes in handy in hotels.
Watertight freezer bags are very useful to protect your belongings (papers, phones, cameras...) from humidity, especially during the rainy season.
In conclusion, don't worry, you'll find just about everything in Vietnam (apart from specific prescription drugs and photographic equipment that is not widely available [in case of uncertainty, it's always a good idea to bring spare batteries]) and an oversight won't jeopardize your trip..
