Vietnam

Currency in Vietnam can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized bureaux de change. However, the banks offer the best rates. The Vietcombank (a government bank), Incombank, Eximbank (a private enterprise) and Saigonbank are some of the main banks that are allowed to handle foreign currency transaction by the government. One will find these centres as well as ATMs only at the major cities or near popular tourist places. It is best to carry cash in case you are planning g visit small towns or villages. The most favoured foreign currency is US Dollar followed by Australian, British, Japanese, Singaporean and Thai currency. A commission is charged for changing money in banks. Avoid any kind of black market currency exchanges.

The nightlife in Vietnam is mainly restricted to major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi's nightlife is comparatively quieter and completely slows down after 10:00 pm whereas Ho Chi Minh City is clustered with bars, clubs, pubs and some very high-end venues most of them concentrated around District 1. In Hanoi, one will find nightlife in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. In small cities, one can enjoy the after hours at either small bars, hotels or some good cafe, especially in central Vietnam. Live music is usually from Philippines and Thailand performing at international hotels.

Vietnam offers a great shopping experience for its visitors. With its rich culture of art and craft, the country is known for its impressive markets especially in larger metropolises like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Textiles, tapestries, jewellery, metalwork, lacquerware and ceramics are some of the main items to look out for. There are also some regional specials such as woodcarvings, tapestries, the ceramics, the jewellery and metalware. Bargaining in the country is widely accepted and is quite a norm; however, make sure to be polite. There are several souvenir shops to be found in major towns and cities with either fixed price or giving very less discounts.

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Vietnam is country of many festivals, which gives its visitors a chance to take a glance into its vibrant culture. There is plethora of Vietnamese festivals throughout the year according to its Vietnamese Lunar Calendar. Tet Festival is one of the most popular festivals of the country celebrated with great zest throughout the country. The Lim festival, National Day and Tet Trung Thu or Mid-autumn Festival are the other major festivals of Vietnam. The perfume Pagoda Festival, Cau Ngu festival, Nui Ba Festival, The Mam Ngu Qua and Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival are among other important festivals of the country.

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Cleanliness and hygiene is usually maintained throughout Vietnam. However, it is recommended to boil water first before drinking or brushing teeth. Bottled water is easily available and quite cheep, but make sure that seal is unbroken. Also, prefer to eat well-cooked meat, fish, vegetables and peeled fruits. Medical and health facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are excellent and one can find health care centre in all provinces. However, facilities are limited and so is the supply of medicines. One must take vaccination against Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Vaccination against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are also advised. Carry first aid box and mosquito repellent as Dengue fever continues to be a problem.

Vietnam is a place of cultures and traditions and thus it is important even for tourists to take care of them. There are no handshakes or any physical contact between opposite genders in the city while greeting each other, only a slight bow indicated the greeting. Pointing towards anyone with a foot is considered disrespectful, as foot is believed to be lowly and dirty. Head is considered spiritually significant and thus it is inappropriate to touch that part of the body. Also, do not leave your chopsticks in the dish when you are done with your meal, it considered insulting. Although slurping loud while eating rice or noodles is sign that you enjoyed your food and it pleases the chef. Make sure to dress properly while visiting a temple, cover your arms, legs and shoulders and remove footwear before entering a temple and any house. The dressing style in Hanoi and Vietnam is quite liberal. Another advice is to keep ones temper in check as displaying anger is regarded as rude. Tipping is usually practiced at big restaurants and hotels but is not mandatory.

1. Make sure to brush up your haggling skills, as you will be overcharged for purchases almost everywhere. Price may come down more than 50 per cent.
2. You can book bus tickets using 12goasia to avoid any tourist scams.
3. Get ready for heavy traffic jams almost all the time, which gets a little horrid during peak hours.
4. If you hired a two-wheeler, be prepared to face the rule-breakers who like to ride in any direction they want.
5. Dress a little conservatively, especially while going to the temple. Make sure to cover your arms, legs, and shoulders.
6. Type An Chay on Google Maps to get a list of vegetarian options to eat at
7. Resist any argument and violence while there, as it is frowned upon.

Vietnamese food is has its own distinct flavour from as you travel from one region to another. Where the South Vietnamese food is spicy, the North Vietnamese food is blander. However, overall the cuisine involves less oil and more of fresh vegetables. The food is always flavourful with main dished usually based on rice, noodles and soy sauce. There is also a good amount of seafood and meat involved including plenty of fish and shrimps. To add to the flavour the list of spices and condiments is endless; limes, sugar, tamarind, lemon grass, ginger, fish sauce(nuoc mam), basil, mint, Serrano peppers, coriander, dill, lemon grass are just few of them. One will also find variety of exotic fruits to choose from such as mangosteen, green dragon fruit, pomelo and three-seed cherry. Coffee is a must try with its distinct Vietnamese twist. In general, Vietnamese cuisine is regarded as healthy.

Vietnam can be conveniently reached from India via its two international airports Tan Son Nhat Airport at Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai International Airport at Hanoi. There are several flight companies that offer direct services from various India cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Aurangabad, Goa and Ahmadabad etc. Flight services that ply on a regular basis include Air India, Malaysia Airlines, VietJet Air, Thai Airways, Malindo Airways, Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, and China Southern and many more.