Overland to Vietnam

Vietnam shares land borders with Cambodia, Laos and China and there’re several border crossings open to foreigners with each neighbour, a big improvement on a few years ago.

From Cambodia

• Bavet (or Moc Bai);
• Kaam Samnor (or Vinh Xuong);
• Phnom Den (or Tinh Bien).

Read more information about these borders at Overland from Cambodia to Vietnam.

From Laos

• Donsavanh (or Lao Bao);
• Nam Phao (or Cau Treo);
• Nam Can;
• Tay Trang.

Read more information about these borders at Overland from Laos to Vietnam.

From China

• Youyi Guan (or Huu Nghi Quan – English name is Friendship Pass);
• Hekou (or Lao Cai);
• Dongxing (or Mong Cai).

Read more information about these borders at Overland from China to Vietnam.

Related topic: Tips for overland travel to Vietnam

internet access

Internet access in Vietnam

Today the Internet is widely available throughout towns and cities in Vietnam, including dial-up (VNN1260 or VNN1269) and ADSL (MEGA VNN). ADSL services are using in most hotels, guesthouses and cyber cafés while dial-up services can be used through telephone line.

Hotels and guesthouses may apply varied charges on internet usage. Cyber cafés are a good choice with just 2,000 to 3,000d per hour. Many post offices also offer this service.

It’s easy to access internet with a personal notebook or laptop (with “standard” modem) as hotels offer several facilities in the room. You can buy prepaid cards to save cost, they are sold at most post offices. Remember that the power supply voltage may vary from that at home, risking damage to your equipment.

Travel health

Vietnam travel health

Travellers tend to worry about contracting infectious diseases when in the tropics, but infections are a rare cause of serious illness or death in travellers. Pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, and accidental injury (especially traffic accidents), account for most life-threatening problems. Becoming ill in some way, however, is a relatively common thing. Fortunately, most common illnesses can either be prevented with some common-sense behaviour or be treated easily with a well-stocked traveller’s medical kit.

Heath care in Vietnam

Health issues and the quality of medical facilities vary enormously depending on where and how you travel in Vietnam. Many of the major cities are now very well developed, although travel to rural areas can expose you to a variety of health risks and inadequate medical care.

Some international hospitals/clinics in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (American, French and German doctors on staff)

In Hanoi: (tel code: 84-4)

• Hanoi French Hospital
  1 Phuong Mai Str.
  Tel: 577-1100, emergency: 574-1111
• Family Medical Practice
  Unit 109-112, Van Phuc, Blog A1, Kim Ma Str.
  Tel: 843-0748 (24hours))
• International SOS
  31 Hai Ba Trung Str.
  Tel: 934-0666, emergency: 934-0555
• Vietnam-Korea Friendship Hospital
  12 Chu Van An Str.
  Tel: 843-7231

In Ho Chi Minh City: (tel code: 84-8)

• International SOS
  65, Nguyen Du Str.
  Tel: 829-8520, emergency: 829-8424
• Saigon International Clinic
  8 Alexandre de Rhodes Str., District 1
  Tel: 823-8888
• Gia Dinh International Hospital
  1 Trang Long Str., Bin Thanh District
  Tel: 803-0678
• Franco Vietnamese Hospital
  6 Nguyen Luong Bang Str., District 7
  Tel: 411-3333

Resources of Health Advice for Travellers

Read the General considerations about International Travel & Health, including these issues:

• Travel-related risks
• Medical consultation before travel
• Medical kit and toilet items
• Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions and special needs
• Insurance for travellers
• Role of travel industry professionals
• Responsibility of the traveller
• Medical examination after travel

(Source: World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.int/ith/en/)

Advice for gay and lesbian

Advice for gay and lesbian travellers

Vietnam is splashed with color, from verdant rice fields, hot pink lanterns and day-glo boutiques, to the increasing visibility of gays and lesbians adding their own special hues to Vietnam’s rainbow.

Vietnam is a place to have fun, but also a place to use your common sense since the gay world here is still largely in the shadows and, as a result, some prey on the vulnerability of gay tourists. Nevertheless, no one should miss a chance to encounter the amazingly friendly Vietnamese, to learn about their rich culture and enjoy their warm hospitality!

There have never been official laws against homosexual activity in Vietnam. However, in May, 2002, state-run media labeled declared that homosexuality was a "social evil" on par with drug use and prostitution and proposed laws to allow the arrest of gay couples. Police raided a gay sauna in Saigon in November, 2002, and arrested and harassed law-abiding adults there, requiring them to take re-education classes even though they had not broken any laws.

A report by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs said the number of gay couples is on the rise, though it offered no statistics. The government reported that homosexuals have infiltrated the tourism, restaurant and karaoke bar industries and that their "eccentric behavior" went hand in hand with prostitution, drug use and HIV/AIDS. However, hopeful signs are emerging as well: the Communist Youth Newspaper carried a story in November 2002 about homosexuality that stated "some people are born gay, just as some people are born left-handed".

Shamefully, authorities turn a blind eye to real crimes that target gay men and visitors such as organized rip-offs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Homosexuality is not a crime, but blackmail is, so do contact the police if you are being threatened by a scam artist.

Vietnam foods

Vietnamese typical food and drinks

Eating in Vietnam ranges from cheap noodle soups on the street for about 25 cents to a banquet in one of the luxury hotels. Vietnamese restaurants offer a broad selection of international fare including French, Italian, American, Indian, Chinese and Japanese.

The most typical Vietnamese food is Pho, the noodle soup with meat in it. It is very cheap at around 10,000d per bowl and usually well spiced. The main types are: Pho Bo with beef, Pho Bo Tai with rare beef fillets and Pho Ga with chicken. Com – steamed white rice is eaten for lunch and dinner. Nuoc Mam is the fermented fish sauce used to spice absolutely everything in Vietnam.

Seasonal fruits such as dragon fruit, rambutans and longans, fresh vegetables and local seafood are widely available, although supply can vary by region and season. All fruits and vegetables should be cooked or peeled before eaten.

Drinking water or ice is generally not recommended, even in the cities. Bottled water is cheap and readily available, so we recommend you don't take the risk.

Vietnam is a beer culture and Hanoi is the “bia hoi” capital of Vietnam. Bia hoi (draught beer) is one of things you should not be missed. It’s the most popular beverage throughout the country and the cheapest beer in the world, 2,000d a glass. For the higher quality, there are plenty of local as well as imported brands, such as 333, Carlsberg, Hanoi, Tiger, Saigon, LaRue, San Miguel and Heineken.

Beside beer, Vietnam is also a place to enjoy tea (Thai Nguyen tea or “Thai tea”), coffee (“Trung Nguyen coffee”) or something heavier, wine (“Nep Moi” – the Vietnamese whisky).

TIP: Tram phan tram! and Zho zho!
Remember these words well as all over Vietnam, glasses of beer or wine are raised and emptied, cries of “100%” or “bottoms up” and “cheers!” echo around the table.

Eliectricity in Vietnam

Electricity in Vietnam

The usual voltage is between 220V and 240V, 50 cycles; but sometimes you encounter 110V, also at 50 cycles, just to confuse things.

Two-pin (ungrounded) plug is more popular than three-pin one. If you have any devices needing a special outlet, please bring its adapter kit. The best investment is a universal AC adapter, which will enable you to plug it in anywhere without frying the innards.

Don´t leave home without...

Following advice is collected from LonelyPlanet Guidebook

Bring as little as possible, Vietnam has pretty much anything you can find back home.

Necessary documents: your passport and visa (with their copies); 2 photos (3cmx4cm), tour dossier (if any) and others (if needed).

Cash in US$5’s, US$10’s, US$20’s and US$100’s (US dollars are commonly acceptable)

All the soaps and smellies are cheap and plentiful, and clothing, shoes and backpacks are all manufactured in Vietnam and available at a fraction of the price in the West. Tampons are available in all major towns and cities, but not in more remote areas.

A Swiss-army knife or equivalent come in handy, but you don’t need 27 separate functions, just one blade and an opener. A torch (flashlight) and compass are also useful.

Other handy things to bring are: name cards, as Vietnamese deal them out like a deck of cards; ear plugs to block the ever-present noise; a universal plug adaptor; a rain cover for the backpack; a sweater for the highlands and air-con bus trips; mosquito repellent to keep the bugs at bay; and a folding umbrella if you plan to visit during the rainy season (July and August are the wettest months).

Finally, the secret of successful packing: plastic bags – not only do they keep things separate and clean, but also dry. That means a lot at the end of a long, wet day.

More with Trafest

Michael Cherito - + 84.903454427. Email : trafest@trafest.com

www.trafest.com