Circuits and trips to Vietnam

Tourists with Spanish nationality only need a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of return. For stays of less than 15 days, tourists with a Spanish passport do not need a visa. For stays of 15 or more days, a visa must be obtained (it is essential to present a prior authorization letter from the local reception at least 15 days before the flight departure date). Approximate price 25 US dollars.

The official language is Vietnamese, although some ethnic groups have their own dialect. French, a legacy of the colonial period, is spoken as a second language by some Vietnamese and English is spoken in commercial and tourist areas.

Mahayana Buddhism is practiced by 80% of the population. 8% of the population are Christians, of which about six million are Catholics and around one million Protestants. There are minorities practicing Islam and Hinduism.

You have to be very careful with pedestrian crossings since the truth is that almost no one respects them. It can be common to try to cross a street and find yourself among hundreds of vehicles around you. In this case, you have to be calm, be patient and learn to avoid the vehicles safely. Vietnamese people love to drink coffee and eat sunflower seeds, it is part of their culture, so when you enter a cafe, it will be common to see sunflower seed shells thrown everywhere. The beer culture is deeply rooted, one of the great pleasures of traveling around the country is trying them. The big brands, like 333 or Hanoi, are served everywhere, but it is recommended to look for bia hoy, a fresh draft beer brewed daily for immediate consumption, incredibly cheap.

The climate in Vietnam is tropical in the south and subtropical in the north, with monsoons; Humidity rarely drops below 85% on the plains. In mountainous regions (Dalat, Sapa), the climate is drier and winters can be harsh. There are two seasons: the dry season (from November to April in the south and from February to August in the center) and the wet season (from May to October in the south and from September to January in the center). Due to differences in latitude and variety of terrain, the climate differs considerably between regions. During the dry season, between November and April, monsoon winds come from the northeast along the Chinese coast and across the Gulf of Tonkin, where they pick up a lot of moisture. During the rainy season, almost 90% of precipitation occurs. During the typhoon season, from September to December, rainfall of up to 1,000 liters can occur in 24 hours.

No vaccination is required for travelers from Europe. It is recommended to drink bottled water and carry mosquito repellent.

The Dong is the official currency of Vietnam, it is divided into 10 hao. There are coins of 1, 2 and 5 haos and 1, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 Dong. And tickets of 5 haos and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 Dong. They can be obtained at ATMs, hotels, tourist spots and currency exchange vendors at international airports, just before the departure gates.

While cash is used for small purchases and street vendors, most establishments accept credit card payments. Hotels, boutiques, restaurants, grocery stores, and spas generally accept international credit and debit cards.

The common voltage is 220 V. The plugs and sockets are type A / C / G. In many cases adapters will be needed.

There are several ways to get around the country, from motorcycle rides (the country's means of transportation par excellence), flying directly from one point to another or taking land train and bus routes to admire the views along the country. path. Within the cities there are many taxis, buses and bicycles.

The time zone of Vietnam is GMT+07:00.

It has a reputation for being for all tastes and is based on fresh ingredients cooked at the moment. The most common are chicken, beef and pork, fish and seafood, abundant aromatic herbs, rice and rice noodles, soy and fish sauces. In addition, it shows quite a few regional differences between the north, the center and the south. The most popular dish of Vietnamese food is Pho, it can be eaten at all times of the day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a soup made with meat broth, rice noodles and pieces of meat, in more or less large slabs, or finely chopped, in meatballs. It is seasoned with lime, bean sprouts and pepper, and garnished with chives, mint leaves, basil or cilantro.

There is no set rule about tipping, but they are usually given to service personnel (drivers, guides, porters, waiters, etc.).