One of the most fascinating places on earth, Vietnam is generally easy to travel thanks to an extensive rail, bus and air network. In hotels that cater to business travelers English is generally excellent. Constant haggling and putting up with touts is a fact of life once you leave a hotel here, but it's all part of the intensity that is Vietnam.
When to go
In general there are two seasons, a swelteringly hot and rainy season from May-October, and a much more comfortable season from November-April.
Costs
Although a beer is less than $1 and a meal at a decent restaurant less than $10, a shortage of high-end rooms has inflated room rates to the $200-400 per-night range for a luxury hotel. Air travel is relatively cheap--a one-way Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi trip on thoroughly modern Vietnam Air is around $65.
Health requirements
No special vaccinations are required. It is recommended that tourists drink bottled water when they travel in Vietnam and be careful of ice at street stalls. In hotels or better restaurants the ice is almost certainly made with bottled water.
Safety
There are numerous traffic accidents and crossing the street is a potentially dangerous adventure. Wait for a break in traffic and cross slowly. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare but petty theft and pick-pocketing is a nuisance in the major tourist areas.
Electricity
Currents run at 220V 50Hz. A voltage adaptor is a necessity, although many of the better hotels supply them--be sure the check well in advance.
Money
$1 is equal to 16,000 Vietnamese Dong. ATMs are plentiful everywhere but most eating and drinking establishments do not accept credit cards. Major hotels accept credit cards and sometimes cash travelers checks. Banks can cash travelers checks and sometimes give cash advances on credit cards.
Visas
Visitors from many Western countries need a visa to enter Vietnam. Visa prices range from $35-$65 depending on the country of origin and are good for 30 days. Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish citizens don't need a visa when they stay in Vietnam for less than 15 days.
