Transportationin Vietnam may not rate as the best in the world. But, easy for you canget flight to come in and you can get by quite easily in the cities.Taxis are by far the most convenient mode of transportation and notexpensive. If you want to try and be a little different, then the cyclo(three wheels) or pedicab is an interesting and enjoyable way toexplore a city. These are available at all street corners and can bethe best way to see a city rather than whizzing around in a taxi.Alternatively, you can also go by the motorbike taxis. A must do is totake the boat tours which are available for many destinations. Togetting the high land of vietnam, you can take a night or day train,with luxury cabin (air condition…) the train will make you fellcomfortable. From Vietnam, if you want to go to some country nearvietnam (China, Lao, Cambodia, Thai lan), flight or train is bestchoice.

Health

Thereare excellent hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and health carecentres in all provinces, but facilities are limited and there is alack of medicines. Health insurance is essential and should include cover for emergency repatriation by air. Immediate cash payment is expected for services.

Electricity

Vietnam runs off a 220V/50Hz system.

Communications

Theinternational country code to dial into Vietnam is +84. To dialoverseas from within Vietnam, dial 00 followed by the relevant countrycode and phone number.

Emergency numbers in Vietnam are: Ambulance (15); Fire (14); and Police (13).

AlthoughVietnam is in the process of modernising its communication systems. Theeasiest mode of communication is by telephone. All hotels allow the useof telephones and some do not charge for domestic calls. Internationaldirect dialling facilities are also easily available and standardcharges are applicable. However, if you are using this facility from ahotel, it may work out to be expensive. The most convenient way tocommunicate when you are in Vietnam would be to make use of cellularphone technology. All you need to do is buy a pre-paid phone-card andyou can be in touch wherever you go. Recharge the card when your talktime is over. All incoming calls are free in Vietnam, regardless ofwhere the calls come from. You have to pay the local rate for localcalls and the charges for international calls per minute are also veryreasonable. There is a concession when you call during off-peak hours:11:00pmto 7:00am. The cellular phone system in Vietnam is GSM. Eversince the government of Vietnam has permitted Internet usage in thecountry (in 1997). There are internet cafes in most hotel lobbies andbusiness centres, which you can use to access your mail by paying 4,000to 5000 VND per hour. However, some sites have been blocked by thegovernment.

You canalso use the good old-fashioned way of communication by using thepostal service. Post offices in the country are open from 8am to 8pm. Abooklet of ten postcards costs 10,000 VND. Letters and postcards takeabout two weeks to be delivered to either Europe or the USA.

Public Holidays

Note: When a public holiday fall on Saturday and/or Sunday, then the Monday following the holiday is substituted.