2. See the beautiful waterfall of Indochina
Far from the noisy tourist centers, on the natural border of Vietnam and China, in the Caobang province, there is a picturesque Detian waterfall, or Banzok in Vietnamese. A powerful three-tiered cascade of water falls from a height of 30 meters, spreading a rumble for many kilometers. It has no equal in Southeast Asia, and it ranks fourth in the world. In the lower reaches of the waterfall, those who wish can swim on bamboo rafts, admire the extravaganza of water and light from the observation platforms. There are also many attractions in the vicinity of Banjok: the recently opened Tunlin Gorge, karst caves, and a stone forest. 
3. Spend the night in a fairy house
Dalat has one of the most unusual buildings on the planet. Despite the official name "Hang Nga Guest House", it is better known among tourists as Crazy House. This is due to the architecture in the fantasy style - the house is built in the form of a giant dry tree, pierced with many passages. Inside and outside there are stylized animals and mushrooms, some places are entwined with giant cobwebs. Tourists are invited to stay in themed rooms. Despite the external originality, they are quite comfortable, and the windows overlook the garden. The main visitors are couples in love from other countries. 
4. Plunge into the depths of the centuries
Of the eight towers built in the 7th-12th centuries by the inhabitants of the Champa kingdom, four have survived to this day. All of them are dedicated to the goddess Yang Ino Po Nagar and are intended for religious rituals. The Vietnamese are still confident that the Cham Towers protect Nha Trang from all kinds of disasters. The area is used for Buddhist ceremonies and worship of ancient ancestors. Tourists can visit the North Tower, at its entrance there is a statue of the god Shiva. Inside the hall, in which meditations have been held for many centuries, because of this, a special energy is felt here. The Po Nagar towers are located in the Nha Trang district. 
5. Enjoy the beauty of the 99 mountains island
Phu Quoc is the largest island and main resort in Vietnam, striking with the splendor of mountains and forests. There are 99 mountains on the island. Most of it is occupied by the Fukuoka National Park, where hundreds of species of animals and plants live and grow. Phu Quoc is famous for its numerous beaches with clear sea water and pearl farms. The world's finest pearls are sold here in specialty shops. The history of the island can be found in the Coi Nguon Museum, exhibits occupy 6 floors. Gourmets will appreciate the local fish sauce, recognized as one of the most delicious in the world. Location - Kien Giang province. 
6. Look into the caves
In the north of Vietnam, there is Ninh Binh province, which is replete with beautiful landscapes. The most interesting natural formation is Tam Kok, which translates as "Three Caves". Here the Ngo Dong River made its way right into the rocks and created several through karst caves. You can take a boat trip along the river, sail under quaint arches, admire the surrounding wildlife and bright green rice fields. For many tourists, this fantastic area resembles Halong Bay, only instead of the sea there are endless rice plantations and a calm, calm river. 
7. Visit the wettest place in the world
Bachma is a national park in Thyathien Hue province. There are high mountains, dense forests and the highest humidity in the world - 9000 mm of precipitation falls annually. The rainy season starts in September and lasts until December. In the sky above this area, you can almost always see fluffy white clouds - they remind the Vietnamese of white horses, which is reflected in the name of the park (Batma means "white horse"). More than 2300 species of plants and fungi grow on the territory. Lovers of beauty come here during the flowering period of red rhododendron. The fauna of the park numbers more than 1,700 species, including gibbons, leopards, pythons. 
8. Wander among the ruins of Michonne
The Michon temple complex was built during the heyday of the Champa empire and is dedicated to the god Shiva. At one time, there were more than 70 temples in the vast territory. Monarchs and representatives of the nobility took part in the religious ceremonies held here. Now the complex is a ruin overgrown with grass, but it still remains a holy place for believers. At the same time, it is also the most important landmark of Vietnam, which has great historical value. You can go for a walk around the complex as part of an excursion or on your own, but with a navigator, so as not to get lost. A museum is open near the complex, and the Cham show is periodically held in the cultural center, where you can watch and listen to ancient songs and dances. 
9. Visit sika deer
Among the three large islands of the Nha Trang Bay, Hon Thi is rightfully considered the most beautiful. While traveling through this paradise, tourists can admire high cliffs, steep cliffs, miniature islets. The landscape of the island is bizarre and varied; gardens, where the eyes of the Dragon, mango, longan, and grapefruit grow, organically fit into it. The permanent population of the island is sika deer, which are specially bred here, they can be stroked and even fed. And on Hon Thi, African ostriches are bred - daredevils can test themselves as riders and ride this huge bird. 
10. Immerse yourself in a fishing life
Not far from the resort of Phan Thiet is the village of Mui Ne. The whole life of its inhabitants is connected with fishing. Hundreds of fishing junks and boats dot the small harbor. At dawn, they go to sea to fish, and many bright lights are lit on their masts, creating an incredibly beautiful sight. At dawn, the fishermen return with their catch to their native harbor, where restaurateurs and tourists who want to buy the freshest fish and seafood are already waiting for them. Here you can buy huge shells, take colorful photographs that will help preserve the memory of exotic and beautiful Vietnam. 
So, I went in February, the ticket is economy class.
What you need to know in advance:
1. Don't take a lot of things with you. Economy class allows you to take 20 kg of luggage and 5 kg of hand luggage per person (business class - 30 and 10, respectively), excluding winter clothes. For the overweight you will be asked to pay at the rate of 15 bucks per 1 kg. The less you carry with you in your luggage, the more gifts, fruits, things you can take out of Vietnam on the way back. Among the obligatory things are comfortable, proven, open summer shoes (slates, flip flops), tanning products. From warm things: such as a turtleneck with a throat and long sleeves, do not take, for a trip to Dalat, "winter" things in which you flew out will do.
2. Be prepared for the fact that upon arrival you will have problems with digestion, stock up on medications for this case. There is nothing wrong: the local cuisine, climate change, an abundance of fruits are doing their job. It's not for long. Wet wipes are also indispensable in this case, to wipe your hands before eating!
3. If you love (will) walk, chances are that even the most comfortable shoes will rub your feet. Take a patch with you. Scuffs must be disinfected. I used iodine and softened the corns with coconut oil.
4. If you want to travel further than the tourist quarter, know that the further you go, the worse people understand Russian. And in English too. Download yourself a translator or use google translator on your smartphone, just be sure to download the Vietnamese language so that it is available without the Internet.
What you need to know on the spot
1. WiFi is available almost everywhere - in a hotel, in any cafe, salon, on the beach (but bad), do not hesitate to ask the staff for the password. I put my phone on the "on the plane" mode and communicated via WhatsApp. Those interested can spend money on a local SIM card. I didn't see the point in this.
2. Be sure to take your hotel business card at the reception. It is good to show it to a taxi driver if you get lost. Will take you without further explanation.
3. The guys from the Russian Information Center (RIC) will answer almost any questions. Moreover, it's free. They even gave us a card reader and access to a computer so that we could save the memory card from the camera.
And remember, we are tourists there, that is, people on whom the local population, by definition, makes money. Do not bargain for every thousand dongs, bargain within reasonable limits! Moreover, the Vietnamese have not yet learned to cheat and do not break the price for the Russians too much.
And now the particulars.
Hotel. We had Indochina, 2 stars. Neat, 6 floors, elevator. If you do not like the room, it is easy, if available, to change to another one. The rooms overlook either the courtyard (pluses - silence, minuses - a view of the building) or onto the street (pluses - a balcony, a good view, minuses - it's very noisy from early morning until late at night).
View from the hotel balcony to the street
The room has air conditioning, a refrigerator with drinks for some money, a TV with Russian Channel One. Combined bathroom - toilet, shower, sink. In that order, counting from the far wall. The room is cleaned every day, you can leave the laundry in the basket, for some money they will wash it for you. The price of washing depends on the quantity and type of clothing. Personally, in my room I only went to the shower and slept at night, the rest of the time - on the street.
Breakfast (buffet) is included in the voucher. The menu changes within such a list: hot stew (meat / fish / chicken with vegetables, vegetables), fried rice or noodles, something fried in breadcrumbs (fish / chicken / tofu), soup (there were 3 types in two weeks), Russian salad (like Olivier), vegetable salads, just sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, juice (2 types) and tea or coffee. All sorts of sauces. Plus a watermelon or a banana. It is possible to eat on the balcony from which you can see the sea.
The hotel is located in a good location (the second street from the sea), near the night market, Russian Information Center, cafe "3G", shops, at the entrance an inexpensive fruit point.
The construction site opposite is breaking the idyll. But this is the current misfortune of the whole of Nha Trang, the coastal zone is being actively built up.
Sea and beach... The sea (24 degrees and above) is a 5-minute walk from the Indochina hotel. We went to meet the dawn. By the way, until 6 in the morning on the square near the beach, exercises and dances are taught for free. The sea is not transparent, they say, the water is muddied by the river that flows into it nearby. The beach is open from 9:00 to 17:00, sun beds are paid - 40-50 thousand pieces, an umbrella is attached.
Come with your own - roll around for free. There was a strong wave, I floundered with pleasure, but many did not risk it. There is coarse sand on the beach, which, when leaving the sea, is skillfully clogged by a wave wherever possible. If you want a calm, transparent sea - go to Zoklet or the islands.
Money. It is better not to change the entire amount at once: it is inconvenient to wear and it is difficult to track expenses. 100 bucks is about 2 million, 700 thousand dongs, zeros dazzle in the eyes. On the first day, it is enough to change two hundred and it is advisable to be stingy until you get comfortable with the prices and find cheap points of sale.
There is a safe at the reception where you can keep money. They are sealed in a bag with duct tape to sign and give you a receipt. The most profitable money to exchange is the new $ 100 bills. Better to change in jewelry "Angora's Treasure" and "Princess", as well as in the "Russian Information Center".
They didn't change at the bank, maybe it's even more profitable there. At the hotel reception - an underestimated rate. To understand “how much is it in rubles?”, Drop three zeros from the price tag, and multiply the rest by three.
For example, a kilo of mango costs 25,000 dongs: the zeros were thrown away, 25 * 3, and we got 75 rubles. I could not get used to the bills themselves in 2 weeks: 100 thousand, confused with 10 thousand, and 50 thousand with 200 thousand, candy wrappers, what to take from them. Banknotes from 10 thousand and more - plastic. With them you can swim in the sea (in a secret pocket), nothing will happen to them.
Food. Remember the main thing - wash your hands before eating or wipe with wet wipes! Around a bunch of restaurants with fresh seafood. For lovers there is Chinese, Indian, Mexican cuisine, sushi, steakhouse (expensive place), pizzeria and burger king. But I would recommend the Vietnamese cuisine. Fresh shells, squid, shrimps, fish, etc., pho soups, salads. The food is neither spicy nor sour.
A huge plus is the frequent breakdowns with fruits. Here you can not only buy something exotic, but also order a smoothie. Any fruit will be whipped right in front of your eyes and served in a glass with a straw. For me, the best local smoothie is the mango smoothie.
BBQ buffet: choose what you cook and eat
Type, sit at the table, in the center of which is a pot of coals and a grate on which you cook yourself. Have eaten - go for a new batch of fresh meat. Alcohol - for separate money. Also try small eateries on the 4 line, there is inexpensive and local flavor.
Prices. Don't buy anything serious for the first couple of days. Go, see the prices, look for where and what is cheaper. From personal experience, the cheapest stores are the Sapphire chain. But even in them there is a difference for the same goods: ointment in one costs 17 thousand, and in the other - 20. The further from the first line, the more the cost of lunch in restaurants falls. The price tag strongly depends on the Chinese New Year, at this time Nha Trang is full of Chinese, prices are increased for them.
For all the seemingly cheapness, keep an eye on the money. They can melt before our eyes. That is why I do not recommend changing all the dollars at once.
Transport. It is easier to walk around the block and around. In the Russian information center, you can take a map of the area for free, ask where what is located. They will be happy to answer you.
Buses. They are used by conductors who do not know foreign languages well, and the ticket price depends (as far as I understand) on the distance of the trip. It's one thing when you go to the beaches of Zoklet - it's the final stop, it's another thing when you decide to drive a couple of blocks. It is very difficult to explain to the conductor where you are going. But you can.
Taxi. There are several of them, differing in the color of the car. Each firm has its own price range. In different cars landing - from 4 to 14 thousand. The rest of the price depends on the mileage and does not differ much. See the price tag either on the dashboard in the cabin or on the side of the car. Here are the three most inexpensive price tags:
The cheapest taxis in Nha Trang
There is a regularity - the larger the car, the more expensive the price of the trip. The most inexpensive are small silver cars. It is easier to get around by taxi, show the driver the location on the map (even on your phone) - and he will take you there. If you agree without a counter, you can try to bargain and throw 5-10 thousand from the declared amount. But based on personal experience, even without trading it will be cheaper than using the counter.
I didn’t ride rickshaws, I don’t like to exploit a person like a horse.
Fruit export... In hand luggage, you can carry no more than 5 kg per person. To be honest, we did not weigh our carry-on luggage. But rumors speak of the incredible cruelty of the Cam Ranh airport employees: "One guy was forced to eat 2 extra mangoes!"
I took separately in the package "winter" and a fruit basket, which contained exactly 5 kg of fruit. Since I took 8 kg of luggage to Vietnam, on the way back I managed to stuff 3 kg of passionfruit into my suitcase. Therefore, once again - do not take a lot of things if you want to take out more from Nha Trang: 5 kg can be in hand (no one will count +/- half a kilo), plus the remaining weight in luggage, which can be safely taken away for fruit. And the main thing in the fruits from Vietnam - they are sold out with a bang, he treated everyone a little bit and the basket is empty.
Places in memory:
Cafe 3g (somewhere here ) - not far from the hotel, good assortment, cheap beer "Saigon" (9 thousand dongs a bottle), in the evening the owner can treat him to moonshine.
Zoklet beach... White sand, shallow sea, small wave. One minus is to go far: by bus a little less than an hour and a half (200 thousand for four). But it was a pity for a taxi (750 thousand dongs for four round trip).
Long Son Pagoda - the reclining and seated Buddha. A functioning Buddhist temple. Please note that admission is free.
The Buddha, of course, is a remake, but it looks all the same - cool!
We got to the service (or whatever it’s called). Impressive.
Catholic cathedral... Catholic saw for the first time. Done solidly. Believing Christians can check themselves whether they are well versed in the New Testament: behind the cathedral, in sculptures, the last path of Christ is told, if you go from the right side, it looks like the path to Calvary.
The path of Christ to Calvary is represented in sculptures
Local tours / excursions. Tours are offered by anyone: the operator who brought you (with us it was Pegasus), the Russian Information Center, what smaller offices, such as "Pineapple-tour" and a hotel in the republic. Do not take the latter in any case! Having grabbed it, afterwards we did not dare to go either with "Pineapple" or with the RIC. However, even beginners can go to Winperl or Zoklet themselves, without tours.
In general, a resolute and courageous tourist will definitely find a reason not only to relax, but also to have fun. In Nha Trang there are also evening clubs, various attractions, numerous tours that you can go to yourself.
Have a nice holiday.
Vietnam is notable for its beautiful nature, ancient temple complexes and quality hotels with good service and low prices. The capital Hanoi and the bustling Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay and the resort of Phan Thiet - all about Vietnam: weather, reviews, tours and maps.
- Tours for the New Year to Vietnam
- Last Minute Tours Worldwide
There is an opinion that Vietnam is the same Thailand, only more natural, not so "captured" by tourists. In fact, these are two completely different countries, each with its own chips, and in Thailand there are very wild corners, and in Vietnam - resorts with the most advanced infrastructure. The real Vietnam is the ancient temple complexes of bygone civilizations and the natural beauty of national parks, healthy and delicious food, the cheapest diving in the world and resorts with a distinct European flavor: after all, a former French colony. In addition, here you can have plenty of nostalgia for the recent social past: the flag - well, almost like our former, and there are pioneers in ties, and even a leader in the mausoleum.
If Vietnam magically suddenly found itself closer to Central Russia, the tourist flow to this country would certainly increase many times over. Indeed, among the tangible disadvantages of this direction is only a long and, therefore, expensive flight. Everything else is solid pluses: an unusual and fascinating "excursion", beautiful beaches with ample opportunities for active recreation, an extensive and high-quality hotel base, low prices in hotels, restaurants, and excursions.
The South is the heart of the economy. Here is the largest city of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, and there are expensive hotels, the best restaurants, numerous shops and other benefits of civilization. The main resorts of the south are the luxurious Phu Quoc, youthful Nha Trang and the quieter Phan Thiet. More information about the country's tourist geography is described on the page "Cities and resorts of Vietnam".
Time difference to Moscow
4 hours
- with Kaliningrad
- with Samara
- with Yekaterinburg
- with Omsk
- with Krasnoyarsk
- with Irkutsk
- with Yakutsk
- with Vladivostok
- with Severo-Kurilsk
- with Kamchatka
Climate
About a third of Vietnam is located 500 m above the sea, so the climate there is subtropical, and in areas above 2000 m it is even temperate. From April-May to October, southeastern monsoons bring warm and humid weather to the country - except in areas protected by mountains.
In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet), two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The first traditionally lasts from May to November, the rainiest months are June-August. The second usually starts in December and ends in April. This is the most favorable time for European tourists. "Velvet" months - January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From late February to May, there are hot days without rain.
The best time to visit Vietnam is when rain is least likely: from April-May to October-November.
The climate of Central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August - clear, rains are rare, the temperature is +30 ... + 35 ° C. In mid-December - torrential rains, in October-November in the area of Da Nang and Hue, typhoons are possible, the temperature is +20 ... + 28 ° C.
In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Halong), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly marked than in the south. The winter, cool and humid, lasts from November to February, in February and March it is constantly drizzling "pound" rain. The summer season begins abruptly in May: high humidity, temperatures up to +40 ° C.
Visa and customs
Citizens of Russia arriving in Vietnam for up to 15 days do not need a visa, provided that during this time they will not leave the country, and on Phu Quoc Island you can relax without a visa for as much as 30 days. But in both cases, it is worth taking out a health insurance policy in advance for the entire duration of the trip.
- Is hotel reservation an invitation when applying for a visa to Vietnam?
How to get to Vietnam
From St. Petersburg you can get to Vietnam only with a transfer in Moscow, Europe or Asia, but from Vladivostok to Hanoi you can fly directly by Vladivostok Air (1 flight every 2 weeks).
Two low-cost airlines fly from China, Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam - Air Asia and VietJet Air.
Two daily trains run between China and Vietnam: Beijing - Hanoi (from 304 USD, travel time - 37 hours) and Nanning - Hanoi (from 37 USD in a double compartment, travel time - 11.5 hours). Both trains leave China in the evening and arrive in Hanoi in the morning. Prices on the page are for April 2019.
Search for flights to Vietnam
Transport
Domestic flights are great for moving between cities scattered across Vietnam. Prices are low, ticket prices start from 900,000 VND. You can also go by train, they are quite comfortable. It takes about 30 hours to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, during which time the whole country will fly past the windows. Buses are the cheapest option for traveling in Vietnam, but it is better to use them over short distances, otherwise it will take too much time.
Vietnam maps
Rent a car and moped in Vietnam
Those who are accustomed to renting a car in distant countries should think about it - the traffic in Vietnam is poorly organized, the rules are rarely followed, getting confused in signs and junctions is a piece of cake. In addition, for independent driving, you will have to issue a local driver's license, and they are issued only if you have a visa for 3 or more months. The solution is to rent a car with a local driver.
But for renting a bike or moped, you don't need a license. But this option is suitable for small resorts with low traffic, about driving a moped in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City without decent driving skills in Southeast Asia, it is better not to stutter.
- What documents are required to rent a car in Vietnam
Connectivity and Wi-Fi
Tourists rarely complain about mobile communications in Vietnam. It is inexpensive and covers almost the entire country, including small towns and villages. Local calls cost from 1700 VND per minute, a nice bonus - there is no roaming in Vietnam, you can use one SIM card in any city, a call to Russia will cost from 3000 VND per minute.
Everything is good in Vietnam and with the Internet, especially in large cities. Mobile Internet is often faster and more convenient than hotel Wi-Fi, but it needs to be connected separately, see the SIM card package for details. The speed and tariffs of the operators are about the same, which saves you from the agony of choice. Free Wi-Fi is available in almost all hotels and restaurants.
Vietnam hotels
In large cities of Vietnam, the choice of hotels is very diverse - from mini-hotels to luxury establishments. The service in them, in general, is at the average European level. Type of food - breakfasts (most) or half board, the "all inclusive" system is practically not found here. The buffet is extremely varied. All rooms from 3 to 5 "stars" are equipped with air conditioning, TV with satellite channels and telephone, more expensive options also include bathrobes, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, safes and minibars.
Accommodation prices are kept at about the same level throughout the year. A night in a luxury hotel in Hanoi will cost from 1,850,000 VND per day for a double room, in a four-star hotel - from 740,000 VND, in a good "three-ruble note" - from 200,000 VND, and accommodation for the night in a hostel will cost from 80,000 VND per person per day.
Mains voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz. The plugs are mostly flat connectors. Rooms in many hotels are equipped with universal sockets, which will accept plugs of almost any configuration. If necessary, the hotel staff will find the required adapter.
Money
The country's monetary unit is the Vietnamese dong (VND), in 1 dong 10 hao or 100 sous. Current rate: 1000 VND = 2.81 RUB (1 USD = 23205 VND, 1 EUR = 26176.39 VND).
It is better to go to Vietnam with dollars and euros, the dollar exchange rate is slightly more profitable, but for small amounts the difference is insignificant. Rubles are rarely accepted and give little for them. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, jewelry stores, travel agencies, markets and even at airports - the rate is about the same everywhere, there are practically no extortionate markups. But street money changers can deceive and give out 10,000 VND instead of 100,000 VND in the expectation that the tourist will not notice the difference.
A paranoid note: Vietnamese dong bills are made of thin plastic, it almost does not wrinkle and is not afraid of sea water. You can safely swim with a "cutlet" in a secret pocket of swimming trunks.
How to avoid problems
Vietnam is one of the safest places in Asia, but even here pickpockets and scammers should be wary. The latter are found in various places - an officer at the border who demands money for a free visa, an unfortunate pedestrian who suddenly materialized under the wheels of a bike with a tourist at the wheel, unscrupulous hoteliers and sellers can be a swindler.
As for everyday life, you should not drink tap water, it is better not to order drinks with ice in small cafes, not to lean on unusual food and fruits at the beginning of the trip, and to keep yourself in control in the presence of alcohol.
What other troubles can happen in Vietnam, how not to turn your body into a continuous crimson fire, where to change money and buy a SIM card, how not to lose the location of local residents, and also where to run and call in case of trouble, is described in the article “How avoid problems in Vietnam. "
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Vietnam beaches
Vietnam stretches from north to south along the shores of the South China Sea - there are incredibly many beautiful beaches in the country. Some are home to popular resorts and nightlife, others are ideal for extreme recreation - surfing, kiting or diving, and still others are magnificent for their wildness and desolation. Almost all the beaches of Vietnam are sandy, but in some places there is a pebble cover.
Within the boundaries of cities and resorts, most of the beaches are municipal, with free admission, changing cabins, showers and washbasins, sand is regularly cleaned and trash is removed, and umbrellas and sun loungers will cost a ridiculous 320,000-60,000 VND per day (you need to bargain). The pages "Beach Holidays in Vietnam" and "Beaches of Vietnam" will help you to choose your strip of gentle sand and gentle sea.
- Where in Vietnam you can combine beach and sightseeing holidays
- Which Vietnam resort is best for windsurfing
Diving
Diving in Vietnam is one of the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is really interesting and organized at a quite decent level. There are many interesting dive sites off the coast of the country. The best in this regard are Nha Trang, Hoi An, Con Dao and Phu Quoc Islands. In addition to a wide variety of corals, you can see all kinds of molluscs, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, clown fish, moray eels, blowfish, groupers, manta rays and barracudas.
The most suitable time for diving is from October to April. The best diving season in Nha Trang is February to October, and on Phu Quoc Island from November to May. Near Nha Trang there are famous diving sites: Muren Beach, the "Rainbow" coral reef and many islands near the resort.
Con Dao Archipelago National Reserve consists of 14 islands and is located 300 km from the coastline. There you can find very rare mammals - dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemic animals and plants that do not live anywhere else.
Lovely Vietnam
Shopping
Vietnamese cuisine and restaurants
The best photos of Vietnam
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Legends and stories of Vietnam
Here's a quick excursion into the intricate history of the Vietnamese people. For more than three thousand years BC, the dragon king Lac Long Quan ruled the lands of present-day Vietnam. Once, puzzled by the procreation, he decided to ask the hand and heart of the fairy bird Au Ko. The beauty did not hesitate to accept the offer and within the set time gave birth to ... a sack in which 100 eggs were found, and from each came one heir, the progenitor of 100 Vietnamese families. Whether the lady incubated the offspring or placed the offspring in an incubator - history is silent, but since then every self-respecting Vietnamese speaks of himself as a "child of a dragon, a grandson of the gods." The end of the story is very modern: after a while the couple separated - Lak Long Kuan chopped off half of the sons and left with them to the sea, and Au Ko took the remaining fifty and went to live in the mountains. How correctly Lev Nikolaevich remarked about happy and unhappy families!
To understand the secret of Vietnam's charm, look at any home in a small Vietnamese town. Here it stands, with a narrow facade, literally 3-4 meters, stretched far from the road (the fact is that families here are allocated not an area for houses, but a footage along the street, and very small), two- or three-story. The façade is very elegant, even, perhaps, somewhat variegated, double doors in its entire width are hospitably open. Above the entrance, evoking vague memories of the "20th Congress of the CPSU," flaunts a red flag with a gold star in the center. On the floor above, there is a small altar with a dark bronze Buddha dormant surrounded by smoking incense. And at the very top, on a tiny balcony, entwined with something with small pink flowers, the marble-white Virgin Mary humbly bows her head.
Guides in Vietnam
Entertainment and attractions
Vietnam is ready to delight guests with a variety of diverse activities: from riding elephants, visiting snake restaurants with crocodile reserves, national parks and fishing to casinos and nightclubs. The Ku-Chi guerrilla tunnels are considered the highlight of the country's excursion program, but besides them, there are more than enough attractions here.
TOURISTS ANSWERS:
About theft
What is serious, probably, can happen to you upon arrival in Vietnam - it is pickpocketing, because theft is not such a rarity here. It is not customary to use violence against visiting tourists here (due to the harsh punishments that deter those who could decide on such actions), the main problem is still in the actions of pickpockets and other "petty" criminals. Therefore, do not "sparkle" with money, do not carry with you constantly documentation, and better hand it over to the safe at the reception... You can keep with you the amount of funds required at the moment and photocopies of documents. When calculating count carefully the change- the locals, as elsewhere, are not averse to making some extra money on newcomers who, paying for the goods, “count the crows”. As for all kinds of swindlers, they are more common in the northern part of the country; communication with local sellers also often does not cause positive emotions.
About taxi drivers
When traveling by taxi agree with the driver in advance that the board will go according to the distance traveled - and check that the taximeter is on... There are enough people who like to earn extra money on transportation, the main thing is that at the end of the trip they do not rip off a huge amount from you: after all, taxi drivers are a separate race, they think the same in any country - since a visitor and with money, you can be a fool. As for the cycle rickshaws - negotiate the cost of the trip in advance and do not allow any changes while driving.
On the excesses of the bad
Fans of romantic adventures with local night workers need to keep an eye on their pockets - they would also like to get in there if you yawn. As for gambling, there are special establishments for foreign citizens; an attempt to involve locals in this case may be criminalized. With drugs in Vietnam, everything is very tough - it is categorically not advised to store, use or distribute (they will be punished severely - in Vietnam there is even the death penalty for serious crimes, and not only in this country - in Southeast Asia it is generally practiced).
On vacation, in principle, you should observe certain boundaries in behavior, if you do not want to become the prey of thieves or fraudsters - even more so if you are vacationing in another country (and so “different”!). I mean, first of all, of course, the way of spending time so beloved by Russian holiday-makers is drunkenness: everything is banal here - in such a state you can not only be robbed or dragged into some kind of scam. In Southeast Asia, there were cases with tourists when the locals offered them to try drugs, they agreed, and suddenly, out of nowhere, the police appeared, demanding a ransom. And finally, such an elementary advice - do not swim while intoxicated, was it worth going to distant lands in order to drown there ...
About healthcare
Insure yourself. You can take out insurance at your travel agency. Alternatively, you can pay a fee to International SOS in order to be able to use the medical services they provide. Emergency medical care in this country has not yet reached the level of Western countries, and it is unlikely that it will be soon, but branches of international hospitals are opening in large cities. In remote regions, however, there are problems with adequate medicine. Most of the villages have pharmacies and clinics. If you are not going to travel to places far from the modern beaten tourist routes, then you have nothing to worry about. The two main diseases in the country are malaria and avian influenza, but these troubles only affect remote areas, especially those near the Cambodian border. Use insect repellent, take in a trip minimum required medications(this is an obligatory point of any trip, and even more so to such an exotic country). More tourists in Vietnam may face such troubles as diarrhea and sunstroke(naturally, separately). The reason for the first lies in poorly cooked food, the second - in the abundance of sunlight. To protect yourself from the first trouble, try to eat where you are sure that there will be no bad consequences, especially when it comes to street food. When familiarizing yourself with local cuisine, behave wisely - after all, it can be difficult for a European to get used to them right away, local exoticism with its abundance of spices is not well absorbed by everyone. Save yourself from the second trouble with sunscreen, protect your head from direct sunlight with the help of hats and drink plenty of water. And the water must be bottled, running-through drinking is strictly prohibited - and this also applies to most third world countries. For those who came to the country for the first time, a certain period of adaptation to the local climate and food is required.
On a note: police phone -113, fire service -114, ambulance -115.
About etiquette and local customs
The locals are friendly towards visitors. A rule that is valid not only for Vietnam, but, probably, for any country in the world: learn a few words in the local language, and you will have a completely different attitude, because people are pleased when foreigners show interest in their language. It is worth showing respect for the local population in the style of behavior - for example, you should not walk around the city in beach clothes - for such a "outfit", in fact, there is the beach itself ... This is especially true for women. And indulge in the caresses of the southern sun topless is also not accepted here. You can talk about the war with the locals, but most of the people - those who can become your interlocutors - were born after those dramatic events, so the conversation is unlikely to be interesting and informative. In restaurants, you can eat with the devices that are more convenient for you - use at least chopsticks, at least a fork or a spoon. Local breakfast usually takes place in the early hours, while there is no heat, lunch lasts a long time, and they also dine early. Tips are usually not left here, you can thank the waiters by slightly rounding off the invoice amount.
In general, behave more or less calmly and carefully, and your vacation in Vietnam will pass without problems and leave only good memories!
Is the answer helpful?
Currency 
Vietnam's currency is called the Vietnamese dong (denoted by the symbols ₫ or VND). Subdivided into 10 hao or 100 sous. 1 US dollar = about 20,000 VND. International ATM machines can be found in most tourist centers throughout the country. It is better to use dongs if you shop in the countryside, but dollars are also accepted in larger centers. Credit cards are also accepted in many places, although small shops and restaurants may not accept them.
Safety 
Vietnam is a rather safe country to travel. But, as in a number of Asian countries, petty theft is a major problem in tourist centers. Especially in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, where robberies occur most often. Violent crimes against foreigners, however, are not very common, but just keep everything under control when you go for a walk in the evening. Fraud, especially by travel agencies, is a plague in Vietnam and remains the main source of complaints among tourists to this day. So, before contacting any agency in Vietnam, research reviews on the Internet or contact those through which your friends signed up for services. Tours from Hanoi to Halong are at the height of bad deals.
Police 
It turns out that the local police do not speak English at all. Usually tourists go to the police with complaints about dodgy travel agents - in practice, policemen can do little, you don't even have to waste time. But, if it makes you feel better, apply as much as you want.
Health
Vietnam's health care is better than neighboring Cambodia and Laos, but still underdeveloped by Western standards. If there is any serious problem (pah-pah), I'm afraid I'll have to evacuate to Singapore or Thailand. Well, don't forget about the insurance.
Transport 
Vietnam has a comprehensive public transport system. Planes, trains and buses cover the whole country. However, the transport here is kind of slow, so if you are trying to see how much more Vietnam in your short trip, you risk spending most of the time on the road. Bus and train tickets for joy are very affordable. But it is better to book train tickets in advance.
Visas 
Entry into Vietnam is pretty straightforward. If you are traveling before 15, you do not need a visa. If for a longer period, a visa will be required. A visa to Vietnam can be obtained directly at the border upon arrival, and there is no visa fee for Russian citizens. If you want to stay in Vietnam longer, you need to make an online application through the Vietnam Immigration Department (then the visa will be pasted into your passport upon arrival at the airport) or contact the Vietnam Consulate in Moscow in advance. Also, your passport must be valid for at least another six months at the time of entry into the country.
Vietnamese language 
Vietnamese is very difficult. The written language can mislead foreigners, as some Latin letters do not sound at all the same as, say, in English. But don't even bother. In tourist towns and resorts, many Vietnamese speak English, although this is far from the overwhelming majority. In more remote areas, those who speak English can generally be counted on one hand. Some old Vietnamese can speak French rather than English.
Weather 
Vietnam has two seasons - hot dry season and hot wet season. But for us in Vietnam it is always very hot and somehow sweaty. Vietnam can be divided into three main zones where the weather conditions are quite different at the same time of the year.
And a few more words 
Vietnam, however, is not the most popular country in this area among tourists. Perhaps the root of this problem is fraud. I don’t know, it’s just that somehow more of us go to Thailand, everything is already tailored for our compatriots. But, in spite of all sorts of nasty things that are written on the Internet, and which I wrote, it is still a very random concept. I mean, you don't have to be shod with ten minutes after landing. The overwhelming majority of Vietnamese are honest and hardworking, they would rather treat you to beer than rip off a couple of dozen extra dollars for the same mug. And yet, such cases do happen, and you need to be a little more careful. Of course, if you climb into the jungle, away from the noisy tourist centers, the less likely you are to be warmed up by a travel agent. On the other hand, who wants to go to the jungle if you just want to lie on the beach? So don't worry too much. Vietnam is a magnificent country, and although it will be a bit more expensive to come here than to neighboring Cambodia, Laos and our good old Thailand.
Features of the mentality 
If you are invited to visit in Vietnam, then do not be surprised that the festive dinner will take place on the floor. But do not flop anywhere - there is a seat for all family members, so let the person who invited you show you where to sit. But this will most likely be the place next to the host, or the most comfortable place (since you are a special guest). And after dinner you will be offered to rest and stay overnight. It is not customary to finish everything off your plate - this way you show that you are not full, and you will quickly get more food. By the way, do not be surprised if the Vietnamese slurp and touch their feet with their hands while eating - this is generally normal. 
On the other hand, you will notice that fruits are eaten here very decorously: they are peeled and cut, and not bite off from a whole piece. It is also a little embarrassing that the Vietnamese can calmly spit on the floor next to the interlocutor, leave two meters and go to the toilet (if on the street, of course) or throw the leftovers right on the table, and not on a plate. With all this, it seems like lack of culture, the Vietnamese are still very tactful and modest people. They are also very friendly. If you ask a Vietnamese about something on the street, he will certainly join the conversation and ask everything he needs. It is also quite normal that two men here walk by the hand or in an embrace - this is just a manifestation of friendship. At the same time, the open manifestation of tender feelings between a man and a woman in public places is not very common, so you should be more respectful.
Is the answer helpful?
In fact, a lot of kind and wonderful people live in Vietnam, which in no way prevents some of them from shamelessly deceiving tourists. Therefore, the example of Vietnam should be taught prudence. And the thing is that so-called dummy travel agencies are widespread here. Therefore, you can easily be sold or does not exist at all, or, at best, an excursion that does not match the description. 
In Vietnam, unfortunately, as well as in many countries of Southeast Asia, petty theft is very common, as is the snatching of bags and wallets. A lot of scammers are engaged in closely monitoring naive and inattentive tourists, who, instead of keeping an eye on their belongings, consider the crows in the area. Therefore, it is worth keeping all valuable things, especially cameras and bags in front of you, tightly pressing them to the body. Don't make yourself an easy target for street thieves.
In Vietnam, as in any other eastern country, it is customary and necessary to bargain. One has only to ask the seller a question about the cost of the goods, as you can immediately notice that he will think about how much money can really be ripped off you. Experienced sellers not only see, but even feel inexperienced buyers literally a mile away.
Therefore, keep in mind that sellers inflate the price in advance, knowing that any tourist will bargain with them. The most banal thing that can be advised here is that when going shopping, dress as simply as possible, in any case, try not to look like a rich man. For example, before going to the market, you can pull out all large bills from your wallet and stock up on only a trifle. And then more often tinkle her to add that this is all your money. Usually sellers at the sight of budget buyers are not so impudent. 
Even in large Vietnamese cities, not to mention small ones, it is customary to go to bed at eleven o'clock in the evening. Of course, the work of clubs and bars does not stop at night, but shops, restaurants and other organizations usually close at this time. Therefore, if you are staying in a hostel or guesthouse, specify in advance what time they close and what to do if you return later than this time.
In Vietnam, a seemingly simple act like crossing a road can seem like a real challenge. In fact, pedestrian crossings are marked here, but in fact this does not mean anything. Even when you step on the crossing, you should not wait for the flow of motorbikes to stop right there in front of you. And here you have to go at your own peril and risk. 
Therefore, a good advice - raise your right hand up and start slowly crossing the street. In this case, the drivers will somehow orient themselves, but just keep moving at a slow pace and do not make sudden movements. Do not try to maneuver in any way, it is better to move in a straight line. Just do not cross the road in front of large buses in this way, because it is much more difficult for them to brake. The Vietnamese themselves, in general, never raise their hands when crossing, they are probably kamikaze in life. But tourists practice such a rule of behavior all the time.
If you are not afraid to buy food on the street, then in any case, try to buy it where it is cooked right in front of you on an open fire. Never eat peeled fruits and raw meat. All of this can be pretty dangerous. Drink only bottled water, remember that drinking tap water in Vietnam is strongly discouraged. The Vietnamese themselves do not drink it and do not cook anything from it.
| All about Vietnam | |
Welcome to Vietnam!
Getting to know Vietnam
(description, history, visa, customs regulations)
| Vietnamese flag |
 Vietnamese coat of arms |
| official language |
Vietnamese |
| capital | Hanoi |
| Largest cities |
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hanoi |
| form of government |
Parliamentary republic |
| the president | Truong Tan Shang |
| territory | 329.560 km 2 |
| population | 92.477.857 people |
| currency | Vietnamese Dong (VND) |
| airline | Vietnam Airlines |
| internet domain | .vn |
| ISO code |
VN |
| MOK code | VIE |
| telephone code |
+84 |
| Timezone | UTC + 7 |
Socialist Republic of Vietnam is one of the most populous countries in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochina Peninsula! From the east and south, the country is washed by a warm one, which over the centuries has washed off the coast as if it were trying itself in the role of a capricious artist.
Vietnam lives according to Greenwich Mean Time UTC +7. This means that Vietnamese time is exactly 4 hours ahead of Moscow time. Moreover, there is no translation of the arrows, according to which the whole country should live according to summer or winter time. Quite recently this was characteristic of Russia, but now we do not have such a concept either. On our website you can find out about between other cities of Russia, and about
The territory of Vietnam is only 66th in the world ranking. Bizarrely curving, it stretches for 331.210 km² from north-east to south of the peninsula, defining borders with neighboring countries. In the north and north-west, the border of Vietnam adjoins the PRC and Laos, and in the south-west it meets the territory of Cambodia.
This is an undeniably amazing country in every way!
What makes it so unique is not only the above, but also the fact that the development and politics of the country were under the rule of third-party states for an extremely long time, but although this greatly weakened the country, it could not completely conquer it.
Since the second half of the 19th century, Vietnam was a French colony, which undeniably left its incurable scars. However, a new scar will appear already during the Second World War, when new uprisings broke out in Vietnam, “fueled” by the US hatred of the communist governance structure, which was rapidly spreading throughout Southeast Asia.
In Vietnam's long history, it was not the last wounds inflicted by bloody wars: the first Indo-Chinese war with France (1946-1954), and the second Indo-Chinese war with the United States (1957-1975). The Socialist Republic of Vietnam was facing a new shock, which almost completely weakened Vietnam, which had not recovered from the brutal and incinerating conflicts raging in Southeast Asia. The last scar was left by the third Indochina war with China, which lasted from 1975 to 1988.
Having shed rivers of blood, terrible scars remained on the modern face of the state, which are visible with the naked eye, because most of the Vietnamese shrines, temples and other attractions were destroyed, looted and unfortunately it is no longer possible to restore them, and those that have survived to this day are worn traces of past colonial invaders and supporters of other political views, pathetically demonstrating their dubious superiority. This is clearly visible in the entire architectural mask of Vietnam.
Having decided to visit this country, we have a quite reasonable question:? " We will answer briefly - we need it. After that, without a twinge of conscience, we will delve into the process of disclosing this issue, because it exists as a visa-free entry to Vietnam, exactly like a visa.
Visa-free travel is not available to all foreign citizens wishing to visit Vietnam. Citizens of the following countries can stay in Vietnam for a maximum of 15 days:
- Russia
- Japan
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
Citizens of the Philippines can stay in Vietnam a little longer (21 days) without obtaining a visa. Citizens of the following countries have a visa-free entry to the territory of Vietnam and the right to stay here for no more than 30 days:
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Cambodia
As for Russian citizens wishing to exercise their right and rest in Vietnam for 15 days, upon arrival in the country, each citizen must present the following documents:
Documents for a visa upon arrival in Vietnam
1. A valid international passport, the validity of which must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of the end of the trip;
2. Return ticket, or a ticket to travel to a third country;
3. Customs declaration, which must be kept until leaving the country. To be completed directly at the airport upon arrival in Vietnam.
If a tourist wants to rest in Vietnam for more than 15 days, then he will have to worry about obtaining a tourist visa in advance or apply for it right upon arrival at the Vietnam airport. When obtaining a tourist visa for Russians, you must appear at the Vietnamese consulate. They are located in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok (addresses of consulates in the article "")
Vietnam visa documents
With me:
1. A valid passport (its validity must exceed 6 months before the end of the holiday itself, planned in Vietnam)
2. Originals of return tickets
3. Invitation (recommendation) letter from the Vietnamese side - Invitation letter, which is prepared by the tour operator if you used the service of the travel agency (a separate fee is charged for this, the cost is from 1000 rubles, the production time is about a week from 5 to 10 days)
4. Two color photographs 4 × 6 cm
5. Completed application form
6. When visiting Vietnam with children under 18:
- If traveling with one of the parents:
It is necessary to obtain written consent for the child to leave from the second parent (if the second parent is not alive, a copy of the death certificate is provided). Mothers with the status of "single mothers" bring with them to the embassy an extract from the registry office in form No. 25. If the whereabouts of the second parent is unknown, a police certificate is provided.
- If the trip is carried out without parents:
A photocopy of the consent to leave the child from both parents is required (if the parents are not alive, then a copy of the death certificate is provided). If the mother of the child has the status of a “single mother”, then an extract from the registry office is prepared in accordance with Form No. 25. If the whereabouts of the second parent is unknown, a police certificate is provided.
When receiving a visa upon arrival in Vietnam, a Russian tourist presents the following documents to the visa officer:
1. Invitation (recommendation) letter from the Vietnamese side - Invitation letter, which is prepared by the tour operator, if you used the service of the travel agency (a separate fee is charged for this, the cost is from 1000 rubles, the production time is about a week from 5 to 10 days)
2. A valid international passport, valid for at least 6 months from the date of the start of the trip
3. Two color photographs 4 × 6
4. A completed application form, which can be obtained directly on the plane or upon arrival at the airport in Vietnam. The application form is issued at the Landing Visa counter and is free of charge.
Obtaining a visa upon arrival for Russian citizens is a free service!
Every country has its own customs rules, which every tourist who crosses the border of a foreign state undertakes to comply with. So in Vietnam the following rules apply.
Import regulations into Vietnam
1. It is allowed to import an unlimited number of foreign convertible currency. Moreover, if the total amount exceeds US $ 3,000, then the currency is subject to mandatory declaration. Vietnam's customs regulations state that more than the declared amount cannot be exported from the country.
2. There is no duty on the import of the following goods:
- 1.5 liters of strong alcohol or 2 liters of drinks with an alcohol content of not more than 22 degrees (for example, 2 liters of wine or liquor (up to 22%));
- 3 liters of beer;
- 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco;
- 5 kilograms of tea and no more than 3 kilograms of coffee;
- 2 cans of black or red caviar, the weight of which does not exceed 100 grams;
- All personal equipment of the tourist (expensive video cameras, laptop and other photos, video equipment) must be declared, so that later there will be no unnecessary problems during its export;
- It is allowed to carry other goods, the total value of which does not exceed 5 million VND (Vietnamese dong);
- You can not transport any narcotic drugs and medicines, which contain narcotic substances. Without a written prescription (prescription) from a doctor for their use for health reasons, it will be impossible to smuggle such medicines! For these reasons, be sure to get permission from your doctor in advance;
- You cannot bring with you explosives, firearms, products of a pornographic nature or offending local culture on any media (be it a small harmless flash drive that you forgot to put out of your pocket by mistake);
While still on the way, while on the board of the aircraft, each passenger fills out a Declaration of Health. Upon arrival, each tourist is obliged to voluntarily undergo sanitary and epidemiological control. If after that the visitor does not show any symptoms of diseases such as AIDS, plague, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever and others, and all the customs rules described above are observed, then you can safely cross the Vietnamese border and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Otherwise, the tourist is waiting for treatment in one of the local hospitals, and not a full rest in Vietnam.
Export regulations from Vietnam
Every tourist must remember that not all goods that he purchases in Vietnamese shops and stores can be taken out of the country to his homeland. It is completely unpleasant to find out about this being already at the airport, when a smiling and overly kind employee in uniform asks you to say goodbye to the thing you like, for which a substantial amount of money has been paid. Well, if it was worth a penny, but when it comes to more expensive things, what to do then?
Then we suggest that you familiarize yourself, firstly, with the list of goods that it will be absolutely impossible to transport across the border of Vietnam:
- you cannot take out rare exotic animals and plants, as well as stuffed turtles
Including, it is impossible to export in large volumes a variety of stuffed animals, bones, teeth, feathers, bird nests, bird eggs without the appropriate permission (if they do not belong to the category of rare, endangered, exotic). If there are too many of these things, then the tourist may be mistaken for a smuggler.
- you can not take out unprocessed corals
If you bought a processed piece of coral in a store, then be sure to ask the seller not only a receipt, but also a special certificate for the products sold (the product must be licensed). If there is no such certificate, then it is better to refuse such a purchase.
If a tourist has bought gold or jewelry (made of gold, inlaid with precious stones), then everything that weighs more than 300 grams is subject to mandatory declaration and an additional special permit from the State Bank of Vietnam is required. In addition, one foreign citizen can take out of the country no more than 5 sets of jewelry.
If antiques or works of art of artistic and historical value were bought in the store, then in order to take them out of the country, you need to worry about their documentary registration. You can purchase under license from the Department of Fine Arts. These licenses may be available from retailers in the store.
Secondly, always keep the receipt for the purchased goods!
It is also important to keep in mind the weight of your luggage. When flying with Vietnam Airlines, the maximum allowable baggage weight is no more than 30 kg. Aeroflot limits baggage weight to 20 kg.
The culture of Vietnam has its roots deep in the origins of the Dong Son culture, which originated, as historians say, during the Bronze Age. The people of this culture ate rice and for this purpose they turned the Hong Ha River Delta into a large rice field. The Dong Shons, cultivating rice fields, were able to perfectly master the art of preparing exquisite rice dishes. In Vietnam, rice is an irreplaceable dish that decorates any table!
The Dong Shon culture is the first civilization of Indochina. Its disappearance occurred after when, in the II century. BC e. the Chinese invaded Dong Shon territory. They almost completely destroyed this culture, leaving behind fragments of the past, which are still found by archaeologists in the province of Thanh Hoa, located in the northern central part of modern Vietnam.
With its roots, the cultural tree of Vietnam is closely intertwined not only with the Dong Shon culture, but also, accordingly, with the culture of China and India, thereby becoming part of the Southeast Asian cultural sphere.
In the 10th century after gaining independence, the territory of Vietnam began to expand. It was decided to develop the southern territories, which ended with the capture of the state of Champa or Chapma, which existed in the 7th-17th centuries on the territory of modern central and southern Vietnam, and part of Cambujadesh - a feudal state of the 9th-13th centuries, which occupied part of the territory of modern Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, centered at Angkor. The result was violent encounters with locals who did not welcome strangers to their lands. This led to the fact that the cultural tree began to gradually grow and new lush exotic branches appeared, which brought their own characteristics to the culture.
But all this is nothing compared to other powerful branches that were born on the tree during the French colonization of Vietnam. Thanks to this, the tenacious grasp of European culture was able not only to reflect on the local architecture and religion based on Catholicism, but also to make its own changes in the basis of writing. It turns out Vietnam is the only country in Indochina with an official script based on the Latin alphabet.
After the overthrow of the monarchy, starting in 1945 and until 1976, the cultural tree of Vietnam finally got stronger, and now, having acquired a powerful tree camp, it finally blossomed under the influence of socialist and communist countries: the USSR, North Korea, Cuba and others.
All this undeniably affected all cultural layers of Vietnamese life: literature, music, theatrical art, etc.
Literature
At present, the literature of Vietnam is presented in mythological form in the form of legends about the Dragon King Lac Long Quan, about the birth of the first people from eggs, the heroic tale of Phu Dong, in the form of legends about the construction of the Koloa fortress, about the warrior Chung sisters. A cycle of epic legends of the Myongs, which narrate about the "Birth of Water and the Birth of the Earth", has survived to this day. In the XIII-XIV centuries, court poetry developed.
The literature was supplemented by new works that literally breathed with patriotism and humanism, sung in poetry, prose, poems of Vietnamese poets, leaders, philosophers. Among all this diversity, the following works stand out:
- Nguyen Chaya, who was not just a writer, but also a statesman, philosopher, historian;
- Nguyen Binh Khiema, who in his poems praised the contemplative light and trembling love for all living things;
- Thanks to his works, Nguyen Zu himself was able to bring the Vietnamese language to perfection, talking about touching, difficult trials in the life of the simplest fragile people with a great and difficult fate;
- The poetess, who used the pseudonym Ho Xuan Huong, was able in her explicit erotic poems to disguise the many faces of human masks and masks under which true human faces are hidden. Thanks to the play on words, Ho Xuan Huong presented new unique works, which are admired to this day.
In the last decades of the 20th century, the genres of Vietnamese literature are gradually "infected" by particles from the literature of European and American countries spread throughout the world and the prose writers Nguyen Hong (1918-1982), To Hoay, Le Luu, Nguyen Manh Tuan, poets Xuan Zieu (1916-1985), Te Lan Vien, Te Han, poet and playwright Nguyen Dinh Thi.
Among contemporary writers in Vietnam, the most popular is the writer Nguyen Huy Thiep (stories "Winds over Hua Tat," The General in Retirement). One of the most popular science fiction writers is Vu Kim Dung. A biologist by training, he predicted the cloning of living beings in his work "Beauty Returns".
Dance and music culture
For the Vietnamese, as for many other peoples, music and dance are an exquisite way to convey their innermost feelings, emotions so that no words are needed anymore! Music is a subtle thread of inspiration, stimulating people to exploits, giving hope for the best and allowing you to touch something that has never had a material appearance, and dance is a light shadow that colors the melody in other more variegated tones, conveying all the subtleties even more clearly this uncut diamond, consisting of a fountain of feelings and emotions. That is why, in Vietnam, there is a huge variety of musical instruments with their own unique voice, peculiar only to him.
Among the oldest instruments in the museums of Vietnam you can find: a bronze drum; bamboo langchen; the dan da stone tool, consisting of eight carefully cut stone plates; disc-shaped four-five-string guitar; a three-string guitar is given there; two-stringed violin dan none; bamboo flute om dit.
Theatrical art
Vietnam holds the record for the number of stage genres. The most popular sight among foreign tourists is the theater on the water, where tiny puppets dancing the floor with the clever tricks of the puppeteers act out on the water whole fragments from the lives of ordinary people and fairy-tale mythical characters. This art form appeared during the reign of the Li dynasty in the 11th century. For the theater on the water, all the puppets are made by hand, all actions performed on the stage are performed only to the live music of a real orchestra, and the curtain is located right on the water surface of the lake.
The beginning of the performance is always the same. To the accompaniment of cheerful music and drums, the boy-doll Tau appears in a loincloth and says: “Hello everyone! I probably don't need to introduce myself? "
It is not for nothing that the puppet theater is located on the water. And the point here is not only that all the glare from the setting sun and colored lanterns, which are distorted, bizarrely reflected on the water surface, paint their magical landscapes, but also that water is a portal to other worlds where its own rules prevail and laws alien to the human world. Water is not only the source of life on earth, but also a mirror, reflected in which you can influence your destiny. Thus, if you “play” some plot that water “sees”, you can change your fate in which there will no longer be room for those troubles that were played in the plot.
Another beloved genre of theatrical art, Theo, incorporates folk melodies accompanied by perky dances. Theo performances are based on folklore plots, plots of popular narrative poems. Teo theater still occupies an important place in the cultural life of the Vietnamese village.
The operatic art, which found its response in the Vietnamese classical opera - Tuong, which is considered a "high" theatrical genre, did not pass by either. Speaking of "classical opera", we imagine how the maestro waves his wand, an orchestral whisper is heard, drawing us into a stream of flowing melodies, and then we hear beautiful and unique singing ... So, classical Vietnamese opera is completely different and something unimaginable. The whole performance is based on a combination of music, pantomime, dance, poetry, acrobatics and fencing. The artists demonstrate a ton of skill and their performance is akin to a technically challenging circus show. The only difference, which complicates an already complex performance, is that there are no decorations, curtains on the stage, there is not even any definite designation of the time and place of the actions unfolding on the stage. The task of the actor is to fill in all the "missing", to oversaturate only with his own acting.
In the center of the Tuong performance is a heroic character performing a feat in the name of the country and the emperor. That undoubtedly fosters patriotism and love for the Motherland in young people. Tuong performances are based on the principles of grotesque, convention and symbolism, which can be traced in the poses, gestures, make-up, stage movement of the actors.
In the early 20th century, the Kailuong musical theater emerged. Kailuong introduced many modern folk melodies into his performances and adopted a number of Western theater accessories. The musical part, the orchestra were modernized, the scenery, the curtain, the stage appeared, the acting became more natural. The repertoire was formed not only due to traditional plots, but also performances on modern themes.
Almost simultaneously with him, a whale-like “conversational drama” appeared. This genre is close to Western European analogous genre.
Flight to Vietnam
(flights, travel time, airports)
There are many airports in Vietnam, differing in the type of destination and the services provided.
The following airlines operate regular flights to Vietnam:
- Aeroflot,
- Vietnam Airlines,
- Transaero,
- Qatar Airways,
- Turkish Airlines,
- Singapore Airlines
During the peak season (during the tourist season), you can fly to Vietnam not only from Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok, but also from Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk. As for the second, direct flights to Vietnam for tourists will be seasonal. Therefore, you can clarify this information directly from the airport employees themselves or via the Internet.
You can get more accurate information on this issue thanks to the flight search form below. Here you can find cheap flights to Vietnam for the flights that interest you the most.
Flights on regular flights Moscow-Hanoi and Moscow-Ho Chi Minh are carried out in the evening or at night, therefore, the travel time flies by.
| departure / destination | flight time | note |
| Moscow / Ho Chi Minh City | about 9 hours | direct flight |
| Moscow / Hanoi | about 9 hours | direct flight |
| Saint Petersburg / Ho Chi Minh City | about 10 hours | with a transfer in Moscow |
| Yekaterinburg / Hanoi | about 12 hours | with a transfer in Moscow |
| Yekaterinburg / Hanoi | 9 hours 30 minutes | with a change in Beijing |
| Novosibirsk / Hanoi | 7 hours 20 minutes | direct flight |
| Novosibirsk / Hanoi | about 8 hours | with a change in Beijing |
Concerning airfare to Vietnam, then prices vary greatly. A direct flight, of course, will be much more expensive than a connecting flight. The average cost of a direct flight from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City will cost about 1000 euros (40.500 rubles).
There are many different resorts in Vietnam, suitable for any purpose, for every taste and budget. If you love to be in the center of attention and love to spin in a whirlpool of events, then you have a direct road to Mui Ne, where the entertainment industry is so developed that the fun can drag on even until the morning. He does not lag behind him and Nha Trang, which is literally saturated with a club atmosphere. However, in the high tourist season, it is not so easy to infiltrate here, and the point is not even the high cost of the tour, but the lack of tourist places. But this is according to travel agents. According to our data, you can get to Vietnam at any time, especially if you choose an independent vacation in Vietnam. On New Year's holidays, a large number of not only Russian tourists travel to Vietnam, but also a solid part of European tourists.
But this is not a problem either. If you are pretty fed up with the noisy, noisy hordes of curious tourists, then welcome to more secluded places in Vietnam: Phan Thiet, Da Nang, relaxation paradise - about. Phu Quoc and the places favored by "savages" in the depths of numerous coves and bays. Moreover, you can find a quiet place even in the noisiest places, because some beaches in Vietnam can be half empty even during the peak season.
But a trip is never limited to an empty, mediocre waste of time, when in another country we deliberately lock ourselves in a hotel and only do what we eat, drink and sunbathe. A real tourist has time to do everything to the maximum and see the country and show himself!
We also note the fact that not all resorts in Vietnam with their infrastructure will meet the high European requirements. Vietnam is a developing country that is just trying to be a hospitable hostess, striving to offer tourists not only something of their own, but also trying to meet accepted standards. Therefore, do not be surprised if, upon arrival in Vietnam, a hotel with the declared 4 * will not meet your expectations, and a nearby two-star hotel will not only surprise you with a low cost of living, but also offer much better services.
But do not be upset in advance, because even now you can choose the hotel you like online and book a room, about which you can then read all the reviews. That's why the pre-booking function is good. To do this, in the search form below, fill in the required fields and click on the "FIND" button. After that, a list of inexpensive hotels with available apartments will be generated in the new window that opens.
How lucky you are and what tour operators you will come across. You could buy a cat in a poke anytime, anywhere. It is a pity, of course, but until overly trusting people are worn out, those who seek to make a fortune on this will not be worn out either.
Although, at present, another feature has been identified - a deterioration in the quality of accommodation and services for tourists in those hotels that have managed to "put together" a name for themselves in another year. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to advise anything specific!
In the meantime, you think and choose any of the resorts in Vietnam, we will try to help you with the choice.
| List of resorts in Vietnam |
|
| Sapa | |
| Tui Hoa | |
| Phan Thiet | |
| Da Nang | O. Phu Quoc |
| O. Katba | Haiphong |
| Can Tho | Halong |
| Lao Cai | Hanoi |
| Longhai | Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) |
| Mui Ne | Hoi an |
| Nha Trang | Hue |
Vietnam climate and weather
Speaking about the weather of Vietnam, it is impossible to say clearly that such and such weather prevails here in the calendar winter, such and such in summer, and in the off-season such and such. The weather can be changeable, moody, and even treacherous. And all because this country has a rather diverse landscape.
In the north, as a rule, it is always colder, in the mountainous regions during the calendar winter the air temperature can drop below zero and for several months there is a real airy white snow in the mountains. In the south and on the islands, the weather is warmer, which allows you to enjoy your vacation and get warm sunbathing throughout the year. Another thing is the central region, which serves as a transitional canvas for mixing weather colors, there can be wet hot days and cool rainy weather that looks like our warm summer. In addition, it does not warm up evenly. So, for example, in the north of the country the sea is always colder by several degrees, and in winter it can cool down to +20 "C, +22" C. In the south, especially in the area of about. Phu Quoc sea is always warm, you can swim in it all year round.
Speaking about the weather, we always conditionally divide Vietnam into 3 regions: North, Central and South. In addition, each month brings to the mainland its own innovative solution, which radically changes the picture of the weather, so much so that in one part of Vietnam a squall wind will rage, threatening to turn into a real sea storm, and in another on a dark night or in the early morning a continuous a wall of rain, the traces of which will instantly disappear under the scorching rays of the friendly Vietnamese sun, and in another part, the same rains can even flood certain areas. Therefore, it is important to know when it starts, so as not to reluctantly spoil your vacation.
To give our readers a general idea, we recommend considering:
Vietnam landmarks
Vietnam is a great place to stay. Here you can relax both with your family and in a noisy company, armed with crazy ideas, which can be implemented in almost any resort. As for, even here things are going with a bang. The most preferred resorts for families with children will be resorts located in the south of Vietnam and on the southern islands. All resorts here offer entertaining entertainment for kids, allowing not only kids to have a good rest, but also their parents. In addition, in the south, the weather is more favorable and warm, which also adds a tangible plus to a full and comfortable vacation with children in Vietnam.
For the little ones, it will be interesting to visit Monkey islands... Cruises of this kind are not limited to a simple trip to the island in order to get acquainted with their abodes. Tourists are invited to take part in fishing, visit mineral and mud springs, admire the beauty of wild places near raging waterfalls, and also visit a circus performance.
Well, what kind of vacation is it without attractions? V amusement park "Winperl Land"(Vinpearl land) it is proposed to try out a lot of attractions from the most popular to very exotic, to admire the show of singing fountains, to try yourself in the role of skillful climbers and to conquer an impromptu summit, and why not take a ride on the cable car! Diversifies the rest and.
What to see in Vietnam Monkey Island
Literally every city and resort in Vietnam has something to see and admire. For example, if you are staying near Hanoi, be sure to visit Ko Loa village where an ancient military citadel has been preserved. There are quite a few monuments in the vicinity of this village, such as: Temple of Mi Tiau; community house Ngu Chieu Zi Kui; Bao Shon pagoda. A bit of mysticism will add to the excursion and such monuments as the Flag Tower, Ngoc Well and Ngu Sa Castle.
If you want to test your strength, then welcome to, located in the village Lemat, where different types of snakes are grown, even those that pose a potential danger to humans, because their poison is deadly. Having got acquainted with different creeping reptiles, slaves and eat them to taste. Yes, you are not mistaken. Lemat village is a major supplier of snake meat and supplies it to all provinces and major cities in Vietnam. The village is famous not only for its skilled chefs, but for its healers-serpentists, who, based on snake venom, carry out medical procedures and rituals. More information about the sights of Hanoi can be found in the article: ""
But being in the summer in Ho Chi Minh City, you can not only relax, but also taste the most amazing and exotic fruits, since here from mid-May to the end of August, an amazing healthy fruit festival... You can not only admire the displayed fruit "exhibits", but you should definitely try them! It is very easy to do this, since the organizers of the festival monitor the observance of an important rule - all goods must be affordable. At this time in Ho Chi Minh it is extremely profitable to buy fruit and vitamin bouquets at very attractive prices, because they cost 20%, or even 40% cheaper than the market value.
Continuing the conversation about the sights of Vietnam, we must mention about boat cruises around the islands... At Halong Marina, sales agents will be happy to guide you through all the routes that go around virtually all of the islands. During such excursions, you will certainly be introduced to the life and craft of ordinary fishermen, whose fathers and grandfathers from time immemorial earned their bread by fishing skill. Some excursions include a mini-fisherman's guide using special Vietnamese "tricks", mastering which you can greatly improve your result in catching sea fish. Self-caught fish will certainly be served with an evening meal.
Adventure lovers will love secret bunker(Kinh Thien), located within the city of Hanoi, which was built in 1967 according to the design drawings of Soviet specialists. All visitors can walk through the catacombs and expand their knowledge of the history of Vietnam.
The amazingly diverse nature is also pleasing to the eyes. Numerous national ones will demonstrate a different world, falling into which it is impossible to remain indifferent. Thanks to peculiar excursions, guides very often raise the problem of the ecological state of numerous natural monuments. This is especially the case for coral reefs, which have largely shrunk and are no longer growing over the past 7 years. Corals are gradually dying out while they are the exact receptors on the common ecological body of the planet Earth, judging by which one can learn about the state of "health" of nature.
(public transport, taxi, scooter rental, etc.)
In addition to bus tours and flights, Vietnam can be reached by train. It is a pity, however, that only a few trains run on two international routes. To travel by train to Vietnam, you can buy a train ticket from Moscow to Beijing. This "pleasure" will take about a week. Having collected a suitcase, thereby finally deciding what to take to Vietnam, we decide on one of the trains:
1. Fast train "Vostok" 020SCH, Moscow - Beijing "
- departure from Moscow 23:45
- travel time: 6 days 3 hours
- runs on Saturdays
2. Fast train 004З, Moscow - Beijing
- departure from Moscow 21:35
- travel time: 5 days 13 hours
- runs on Tuesdays
3. Express train 004SH Moscow - Beijing
- departure from Moscow 21:35
- travel time: 5 days 12 hours
- runs on Tuesdays
4. Train 020Ч Moscow - Beijing
- departure from Moscow 23:45
- travel time: 6 days 2 hours
- runs on Saturdays
Trains 004З, 004Ш pass through the territory of Mongolia, where you can "enjoy" the monotonous landscape of the Gobi Desert, and the territory of Katai. Accordingly, we will have to cross the border posts of Mongolia and China before we get to Vietnam, and this is already complicated by visa red tape. There will be several long stops along the way with transfers. During this time, tourists will have several stamps in their passports and will leave a residue from a not very pleasant trip ...
Trains "Vostok" 020SCH, 020H follow a different route, go around Mongolia. They enter a small circle, so on these trains we cross only the Chinese border.
Arriving in Beijing, we change to a train on the Beijing-Hanoi route (during the tensions between China and Vietnam, this train was canceled and then restored again). The train runs twice a week on Tuesdays and Sundays. After that, it remains to be patient for about two more days and we are there! Welcome to the capital of Vietnam - Hanoi!
It should also be understood that the humidity is quite high here. Therefore, not everyone has a good first impression of the country. Tourists often complain about the sultry stuffiness, sticky, covering the whole body, which, despite the clear sky, without any hint of rain, always causes a lot of inconvenience. You can get completely wet not only during the rain, but also just being outside under the scorching sun. Therefore, not everyone can feel good in Vietnam, and the process of adaptation (acclimatization) can be significantly delayed.
Upon arrival in Vietnam, we go through the usual registration procedure, and there you can already go anywhere in the country using all kinds of available transport.
Vietnam has a fairly well-developed transport system. Here you can either take a ride on the local public transport, or set yourself a goal to ride with the breeze in a rented car, bike or bicycle. Bicycles can be obtained free of charge in some hotels, provided that you are their guest. To do this, it is enough to go downstairs, in the lobby at the reception, a smiling girl will explain everything in detail.
By the way, the option with a scooter is much more popular. It is worth remembering that when you travel on your own bike around the country, getting into an accident is a trifling matter. And do not think that we are exaggerating, because experienced tourists, whose driving experience exceeds 5-7 years on motorbikes, turned out to be direct participants in an accident with varying degrees of difficulty. In addition, you cannot drive a bike without a helmet! Vietnamese roads are worse than Russian ones, some small pebble can bounce off, which at high speed looks like a stray bullet ...
It is still complicated by the fact that a good, solid roadway is laid only between large cities and resorts of the country, but country roads may not even know what asphalt is.
But it's worth telling about everything in order.
Taxi in Vietnam
The most surprising phenomenon is, perhaps, taxi in Vietnam... Surprising because besides conscientious taxi drivers, there are those who consider it their duty to rip off an extra penny from a gullible tourist. Therefore, we must keep our ears open with them! It is best to book a taxi and negotiate the cost in advance.
Usually, if you want to travel on an intercity route or in a city, the final cost will depend on the mileage. The calculation is something like this: for the first kilometer they take from 10,000 VND, and then the price tag is slightly reduced and for the next running kilometers they are charged from 8,000 VND per 1 kilometer.
As for the cost of a taxi ride from Hanoi airport to city and from city to airport, the price will be different. For such a service, taxi drivers charge from 250,000 VND to 400,000 VND. Again, we agree in advance on the cost of the trip, otherwise we loaded ourselves into a taxi with the thought of one price, and, unloading, we were stunned by the fact that the price tag soared up for some unknown reason.
Also popular among tourists bike taxi (or cycle rickshaw).
But this is for those tourists who like to travel light and prefer a slower fast drive to enjoy the sights and diversify their vacation, because this type of transport cannot be called practical. More often, taxi drivers in rickshaws bring tourists far from picturesque places, and shamelessly lay a route through popular and expensive retail outlets. For such a "curve" route, they receive a certain percentage of sales. What is remarkable is that just 2-3 years ago, this taxi cost a penny, but now, due to the increased popularity, taxi drivers have started to raise the price. The real cost of a trip by this type of transport does not exceed 10.000 VND. But for a ride on a pedicab, someone demands 100,000 VND from tourists for an hour's drive. Therefore, before getting on the rickshaw and getting comfortable, discuss the price in advance!
Mototaxi, as we said a little earlier, this is a very convenient form of transport, but it is just as dangerous. The average cost of a single trip from point A to point B does not exceed 15,000 VND. If a tourist makes it clear that his route will be long and it is important to visit several places during, say, a day, then he will be kindly offered their services at a very reasonable price. So, never agree to such an offer! For even if the price suits you and is agreed upon in advance, the final “payback” will still be different, since the taxi driver will demand an additional payment from the tourist for “idle time”. As a rule, the price for a car is always very high and exceeds 30% of the total cost for a taxi service.
Public transport in Vietnam
Bus the network in Vietnam is very well developed. You can plan a route to anywhere in the country. Tickets are not expensive, but there are many nuances here, without which the tourist risks paying many times more than is required.
The cost of the ticket depends on the length of the route, and bus connections between cities cost around 7.000 VND. Routes within the city do not exceed VND 5.000. Payment is made on the spot at the time of boarding. We recommend that all tourists prepare a trifle in advance, otherwise the fussy conductor simply will not hand over the change from a large bill, motivating this by the fact that he does not understand your English, he has no trifles, and so on. In addition, a child's ticket costs less than an adult, but conductors can rip off a child's ticket as an adult. It is useless to prove to the conductor that his calculation turned out to be wrong. It is better to pay the entire amount at once without change, than then suffer and argue with the conductor.
As for the routes. In Hanoi, there is a bus number 7 from the airport to Kim Ma station, and a bus number 17 from Hanoi airport to Long Bien station.
The most unusual and, perhaps, the most exotic will be a trip on the so-called Slip bass(Sleeping bus). On buses with equipped berths and air conditioning. Usually their route is very long. For example, a bus goes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with numerous stops. The road is also being delayed due to the difficult situation on the roads, because a very frequent occurrence among road users is ignoring all traffic rules. Sleeping places in such buses are arranged in two rows, like a reserved seat carriage. True, this type of transport is designed for not very tall people who are not overweight. Otherwise, the trip will be uncomfortable and uncomfortable. You can buy a ticket for such a bus right at the hotel. If such tickets are not sold at the hotel, then you will certainly be consulted and told where you can buy them. Usually private travel companies in Vietnam (sinh tourist site: www.thesinhtourist.vn) are engaged in this type of taxi, and buying a ticket, of course, is better directly from them or at any of their branches, which are spread across all major resorts. Intermediaries can drive up the price to a large extent.
About 3 years ago in Hanoi, the know-how among the tourist carriage started. This electric cars.
The buses are electrically powered, environmentally friendly and look very funny. The number of passenger seats does not exceed eight. Buses run along a predetermined route, 7 kilometers long, to the terminal station located in the northeastern part of the Lake of the Returned Sword. The route is purely tourist, as it was put into operation in order to familiarize tourists with the main attractions of the city. You can take the bus only after purchasing a ticket in advance and at any of the stops. The cost of such transport is approximately 15,000 VND.
In addition to the above, the country is also well established water transport... Of course, this pleasure is relaxing and is more intended for tourists, because locals prefer to ride motorbikes or use buses.
Rent a car and motorbike in Vietnam
Do you want to rent a car in Vietnam? Let's say right away: "Do you need it?" Of the cars, only taxis can be seen on the roads. As we have said many times, the road situation in Vietnam is extremely tense. Almost everyone "flies" on the roads like crazy, without observing the rules of the road. Why "ride with the breeze" with all the desire will not work. There is a special service for tourists - car rental with personal drivers. But be warned, getting stuck in traffic jams is a common thing. For cars, the leftmost lane is allocated, but it is often "clogged" by nimble scooters.
The cost of renting a car with a personal driver does not exceed the amount paid for a simple car rental and is approximately 250,000 - 400,000 VND per day.
The best and most widespread transport in Vietnam is a motorbike (scooter), a bicycle. Between cities it is better to travel by bike, if you like an active form of recreation, by scooter, by taxi (which will cost a pretty penny), by bus. The fastest, of course, is by plane, but why would a tourist who wants to get acquainted with the country fly across the country by plane? It's another matter if a trip to Vietnam is of a purely business nature and time becomes equivalent to money.
You can rent a scooter or bike literally at every step. This is not difficult. The cost of renting a scooter per day ranges from 140,000 to 250,000 VND. The cost of renting a bike per day is 50,000 - 70,000 VND.
Documents for renting a vehicle in Vietnam
From the point of view of Vietnamese law, it is impossible to rent a bike without a Vietnamese “A” category license! But this is the most frequent prohibition that tourists violate, because many companies issue bikes without any obstacles. Therefore, most tourists ride bikes without documents.
To get a scooter for personal use for a certain period of time, tourists may be required the following set of documents:
- International passport
- Rights (Russian and, if any, international rights are granted)
No documents such as an act of acceptance of the transfer of the rented vehicle are drawn up. Therefore, if suddenly they start demanding money from you for any scratches, dents that were left on the case through no fault of yours, then pay at a fixed, agreed rate and just leave.
Another point, in connection with the increasing cases of theft of bikes from under the nose of tourists, some companies require a passport to be pledged. This precaution goes beyond any boundaries, because the passport may not be returned until the tourist puts on his paw in excess of the amount he owed. Will reimburse the full cost of the stolen scooter and still has to remain. If a tourist begins to be indignant, then he is frightened by the police and threatened to complain to them, because the tourist was driving around the city without a license.
Some useful tips for tourists
Tips for bike rentals
1. You cannot sit behind the wheel of a bike without a helmet. This applies not only to the driver, but also to his passenger. They can be fined for this, although they will not be required to present the rights ...
2. When choosing a scooter, do not be guided by its appearance. Outwardly, the scooter can sparkle and look like new, but the filling will be just rotten ... The most important thing is its "driving" qualities. The scooter must first of all be serviceable! It would be nice to take a test drive and take a test drive. Check everything: the brakes, the speedometer, the amount of gasoline in the tank (it must be full), the suspension (they can be completely "killed"), check if there are external damages (the fewer there are, the fewer problems with the return), whether the horn is working properly, everything whether mirrors are in place and so on.
3. City traffic is limited to 30 km / h, or even less. Although you won't be able to drive faster, it's scary to drive you outrageously in such an ant chaos on the road.
4. At the first trip to Vietnam, try to keep to the side of the road and do not repeat the "feats" of seasoned scooters who pass the next intersection practically without slowing down.
5. If you become a participant in an accident, then consider yourself automatically guilty, if only because, simply does not have Vietnamese rights.
6. Remember to use a rearview mirror, if your scooter has one at all.
7. Parking is not possible wherever you like. For arbitrary parking near some shop or shop when returning to the scooter, a certain amount of money may be demanded from the tourist for the right to park in this place.
8. Be attentive on Vietnamese roads and turn your head 360 "!
Communication and communication
Vietnam is not such a well-developed tourist country, so not all parts of the country have a working internet. In a number of hotels, even if there is Wi-Fi, it works on its last legs.
However, the situation is improving every year. Currently, in the largest resort cities of Vietnam, there are practically no problems with the interruption of the Internet and telephony, and, by leaps and bounds, due to the high tourist demand, Internet cafes and clubs were popping out at every corner.
As for telephone communication in Vietnam, only 4 mobile operators offer their services.
- viettel
- beeline
- vinaphone
- mobifone
You can buy a local SIM card at any corner. It is not expensive and after activation there will already be a certain amount of money on the account, allowing you to enjoy the long-awaited communication with your family.
By the way, it is better for tourists in Vietnam to call Russia on their own, since a call back from Russia to Vietnam is extremely expensive. The price difference is quite significant. A minute of conversation with Vietnam exceeds 70 rubles, and a minute of conversation from a local SIM card will cost around 5-10 rubles.
Read more about telephone communication in Vietnam in the article ""
Coming to Vietnam, many tourists may face a serious problem - misunderstanding. It is very difficult to reach out to the staff who do not understand us well. Of course, in the largest and most popular resorts and hotels among tourists, the staff speaks English quite well, but such a miracle is not possible everywhere. What to do then? Then it will save, which contains all the most frequently used phrases for all occasions. If necessary, you can print it and always carry it with you.
Vietnamese cuisine is a kind of vinaigrette, where several types of dishes from the national cuisine of China, France and India are mixed at once. Among the varied menu, you can easily find Russian restaurants with borscht, dumplings, dumplings, boiled potatoes with salted herring in oil with onions, fed up with mashed potatoes with a cutlet in Russia, and so on.
But we are not going to Vietnam to eat what we eat in our homeland. Give us exotic things, but more! And with this very exotic there are no problems here: fried crocodile meat, shark fin baked in foil, an underfried snake cooked on an open fire, fried locusts and some strange beetles, turtle soup, tender frog legs with vegetables, and terrible but the fact is dog meat.
All this is served with a good portion of incredibly tasty rice with a spicy oyster appetizer in the form of Rau Muong herb fried with garlic!
Almost not one Vietnamese dish is complete without rice. Rice is like our potatoes or our bread. Without it, nowhere! Any seafood, roast, vegetable casserole, marinated meat and hot sauces - all this is served with a side dish in the form of rice. It is customary for the Vietnamese to order the rice that is running out, which is what the locals do, and our tourists do not even think to repeat it.
But the main difference between Vietnamese cuisine is that everything must be fresh! Any seasoning, spicy herb, meat, rowan, seafood, vegetables and fruits that are the ingredients of the dish - everything must be fresh! Moreover, the Vietnamese prefer to use as little oil as possible and do not fry much (or do not heat it with oil at all) additional ingredients for complex multi-dish dishes. It is better for them to marinate the same meat for a longer time in a spicy-spicy marinade than overcooking or starting to cook a dish from lying or frozen meat or fish. And this directly suggests that Vietnamese food is healthy and not very high in calories. True, if you overeat all this yummy, then do not expect anything good from this.
At first glance, it is impossible to tell the difference between Vietnamese and Asian cuisine. And this is not surprising. The closeness and commonality of the Vietnamese and Chinese cultures affects. Therefore, the most delicious sushi rolls can be found not only in China, but also in Vietnam. Everything is fresh and delicious.
What else is notable and famous for Vietnamese cuisine?
Surely delicious and at the same time equally stinky nok-mam fish sauce! It is added to many dishes. By the way, boiled rice is also seasoned with this sauce, which makes a simple rice "porridge" incredibly tasty. The most delicious and excellent sauce is prepared on the island. Phu Quoc. Many tourists specially go to Phu Quoc for this sauce. Although this smelly miracle is done quite simply. Fish fry are placed in larger containers or barrels and sprinkled with salt. All this puff, slave-salty "pie" languish in the scorching Vietnamese sun for several months. You yourself understand that while the fish goes out and melts in the sun, then "juice" is released, which later becomes the very excellent nyok-nam sauce.
Let's not forget to mention the Pho soup, which is found in different variations and is as popular in Vietnam as we have cabbage soup. It can be either with beef or with any other meat. Its main ingredients are necessarily rich meat broth, rice noodles, vegetables, a lot of greens (although in some cafes and restaurants they may not put so much greens), ginger for spiciness, onions, cilantro and other spices, depending on the whim and imagination of the chef - the chef.
Vietnamese Cuisine Pho Bo Soup
There was Pho soup with mushrooms, which turned out to be superfluous and somewhat spoiled the taste of the soup. Still, mushrooms strongly "lubricate" the aroma, wedging with their unbroken note into the overall composition. You can come across different names of Fo soup, although its name depends on the "filling": Fo soup with beef - Fo Bo, with chicken - Fo Ga, with Fo Tea mushrooms.
Don't miss the Nam pancakes made with rice flour. This is another yummy that you can't help but love. Any ingredients can be wrapped in pancakes: seafood (king prawns, shellfish, etc.), vegetables, various combinations with meat and cheese, herbs and spices are used. More often stuffed pancakes are fried, but sometimes they are served without heat treatment, as in the picture. Which is also very tasty.
Vietnamese Cuisine Pancakes Nam
Overfilled with Pho soup, which the Vietnamese eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Nam pancakes, you can taste another masterpiece with a multifaceted rich taste - this is Boon Bo Nam Bo rice noodles! Bun noodles seasoned with nyok-nam sauce (or a bowl of sauce is brought along with the noodles) is served with meat, nuts and vegetables. It all looks beautiful and simple, but it is eaten so quickly that you do not have time to notice where everything went ...
A more refined and expensive dish is crab. Exclusively a crab, not a lobster, which largely loses to the favorite of the tasty race - the crab. Self-respecting restaurants and street cafes will never get a dish from a stale crab. Prepared exclusively from freshly caught! This is the basic rule, otherwise, all other shenanigans in the kitchen with stale crabs are equated with sacrilege.
(currency, addresses and opening hours of shops, what to buy, souvenirs, gifts, etc.)
First, before proceeding to disclose the issue of souvenirs and other spontaneous purchases made by tourists, it is necessary to decide how much money to take to Vietnam. And secondly, it is important to remember a number of secrets that will help you make the most profitable purchases.
How much money to take to Vietnam
Let's start with the fact that each specific tourist vacationing in Vietnam, the calculation of the budget is based primarily on his personal preferences. Some like to light up until the morning, others love to plan independent trips around the country, others are overly frugal and will not make unnecessary body movements if this is not included in the main tourist package, the fourth want to try everything at once, and the fifth join the ranks of frantic shopaholics who sweep away everything they need and do not need from the shelves of souvenir shops. That is why, it will not be possible to give a clear answer to the question posed earlier, although it is still possible to disclose the averaged data.
Thus, for a completely comfortable week-long vacation in Vietnam with minimal spending on entertainment (2-3 excursions, visiting a water park, etc.), accommodation and food will cost no more than $ 350 - $ 450 per person. From this money, you can also carve out a few dollars for the purchase of souvenirs, clothing, leather goods, textiles and other dust collectors, which remind you of the happy days lived in the expanses of sultry Vietnam.
But it also happens that not all tourists can meet the financial framework specified above. This is explained by the fact that, firstly, it is not in vain that they say: “How much money you take with you, you will spend so much,” and secondly, any tourist is distinguished by curiosity and credulity, which is used by smiling and extremely friendly Vietnamese. We are accustomed, coming to rest, to be liberated, not to notice the negative shine that periodically flickers in a heap of crowd of our own kind and carefree.
And the flickering negative awaits the tourist always and everywhere, especially in Vietnam. Vietnam is generally famous for its bad temper, for petty deceptions, thefts and trickery flourish here, which become more and more sophisticated every year. We have already talked about this in the article "" and tried to tell about all the features of recreation in this country. They even compared, trying to determine where to spend their vacation.
But this unpleasant moment is unable to completely blur the overall positive picture obtained as a result of his stay in Vietnam. And to keep our readers on the alert, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the basic useful tips for tourists that will help you save some part of your money.
Vietnam travel tips
1. Never buy souvenirs on sightseeing tours. In such outlets, through which the main tourist routes are laid, the price is very high. The difference in price can exceed 200,000 - 400,000 VND, and the total markup for the goods exceeds 100%.
2. It is best to buy seafood in the evening or night fish markets. All the products here are not only fresh, but also very affordable. However, remember that locals are sold at normal prices, while tourists are always told the price is much higher.
3. Therefore, we are always bargaining! The highest prices are for street vendors and those who sell goods on the beaches.
4. When shopping in large supermarkets, do not forget to check the price tag and calculate the total amount of items put in your cart or basket. It turns out that tourists are easily deceived here too. The seller at the checkout can punch the same product several times, when weighing the goods, the calculation is carried out according to the previously rewritten price tags, of course, they can weigh, cheat. And all this is done with a sweet smile on his face.
5. When buying any things, it is important to at least roughly know their market value. This will make it much easier to bargain with savvy sellers. not that high. This is exactly what those who deliberately inflate the cost of their goods are counting on.
6. When traveling around the country, keep your pockets supervised. The pinchers skillfully clean the pockets of tourists so much so that the loss is discovered only after some time, and there no traces can be found.
7. Vietnamese easily target targets and distinguish potential "victims" from the crowd. Therefore, the simpler you are dressed, the less expensive accessories, jewelry and expensive equipment - the less problems you have.
This, of course, is not all. The list can be expanded at times. We have given only the most common examples of deceptions and gave the most trouble-free advice to tourists.
Now it's time to talk about. But first, let us remind readers that it is best to pay for purchased goods in local currency. However, there may be some nuances here. The fact is that outwardly they can be very similar. A similar problem was faced by tourists vacationing in Egypt. Egyptian bills are all bright and appear completely indistinguishable from each other. So it is with Vietnamese money. The VND 100,000 bill is similar to the VND 10,000 bill. It is not difficult to guess that many tourists in questionable currency exchange points were deceived in this way more than once.
What currency to take to Vietnam
While still at home, exchange rubles for dollars, and upon arrival in Vietnam, you can exchange dollars for the local currency - Vietnamese dongs.
It is very difficult to find a favorable exchange rate to exchange rubles for dongs. It is much easier to exchange exactly dollars. In addition, in local shops, cafes and other places of mass gathering of tourists, you can pay with dollar bills. They are readily accepted.
Paying with euros is a thankless job. Too much is lost.
When using any public transport, it is important to pay for travel only in local currency, so as not to miscalculate and not overpay too much.
What to buy in Vietnam
As for other frequently purchased goods in Vietnam, these are certainly souvenirs: magnets; figurines; ceramics and dishes; local national ceremonial and traditional daily Vietnamese clothing; footwear and hats; leather goods (crocodile, snake); branded clothing made in local factories (Adidas, Nike); bijouterie; jewelry inlaid with precious, semi-precious stones and pearls; silk products (bed linen, paintings, fans, decorative umbrellas); clothing made from natural fabrics (linen, cotton) sold at low prices in local markets; Exotic fruits; handicrafts from bamboo, reed; various sweets; green coffee and tea; small and large household appliances and much more. You can't list everything! Vietnam is akin to Thailand, it opens up a lot of opportunities for tourists, which can be realized at reasonable and attractive prices. All this can be bought not only in the markets, but also in decent ones.
You can talk about Vietnam for an infinitely long time, because it is one of those countries that will forever remain in the memory of tourists. Vietnam is another Asian fairy tale, which always harbors several tricky mysteries, which only the most inveterate and inquisitive tourist who has traveled the whole world can solve!
We wish all our dear readers to join the flow of fascinating travels and join the ranks of those who were able to mark another country they visited on the map!
All pleasant trips, bringing unforgettable, lasting impressions and emotions!
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