Moving to Vietnam

Spending a few days, a week, or even a month in Vietnam can make an impression that lasts a lifetime.

The barrage of noise coming from motorcycles and scooters in the street is an endless cacophony of sound in Vietnam. Its capital, Ho Chi Minh City, has been dubbed as Asia's newest tiger economy. At quick glance, newly minted skyscrapers have started to sprout in the inner city, but when you look below, into streets, war relics are still scattered around the city.

The ravages of war painted a dark history on the Vietnamese people, but these are extraordinary people with amazing resilience. The stigma of war is the last thing on their mind, as they march forward to rebuild and to aspire for a much brighter future.

The country is a long strip of mountainous land on the tip of Indochina facing the China Sea with a total surface of 331,114 square kilometers and a population that comprises 85% Vietnamese followed by Chinese at 3% and the remaining residents being minorities such as Muongs, Tais, Meos, Khmers, Mans, Chams, and others who dwell in the mountains and high plateaus. Vietnam's amazing ethnic diversity reflects the vast variety of religions: ancestral cults, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism all mix in this Asian country.

Furthermore, the ancestral miscellany gave birth to a rich mix of flavors in Vietnam. Although it's ethnic foods are very similar to Chinese dishes, distinct Vietnamese flavor comes from its ample use of fresh herbs and soup-based dishes.

The Vietnamese language (kinh) is also a blend of Khmer, Thai and Chinese languages. Other widely spoken languages include Chinese, English, Russian and French. Don't be surprised that one can encounter an elderly citizen who can speak French fluently. In the corporate world and during business transactions English is the preferred language.

The national currency, the dong, is not convertible, but the US Dollar is commonly used- it's even considered as the third currency in the country. Credit cards and travellers' cheques have slowly started to be accepted in local stores. Banks are open from Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 11am and from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

The climate varies from the sub-tropics in the North to the tropics in the South. In the city, humidity is high, with average ranging around 84%. Get ready for torrential rain during monsoon season from June to September.

Visa Requirements

One needs to apply for a Vietnamese visa in advance in order to gain entry. Visit http://www.vietnam-visa.com or http://www.guidevietnam.com/travel/vietnam-visa-passport.html for further information on visa requirements and visa exemption. Take into account that the country is plagued with bureaucratic red tape; Vietnam's visa regulations undergo changes often and travelers are obliged to check the visa requirements before the trip and not rely on outdated information.

A visa is required for all foreign nationals except citizens of Bulgaria, Cuba, Korea (Dem Rep) and Romania; nationals of Malaysia and Thailand can stay for 30 days and nationals of the Philippines for 21 days. Transit passengers continuing their journey within 72 hours are often exempt as well, provided that a return ticket is on hand.

Although a visa on arrival process has been introduced, it still requires a pre-arranged application to the Hanoi Immigration Department; this mainly benefits nationals of countries without Vietnamese embassies.