Lee in Vietnam. When is the best time to go on holiday to Vietnam? How to book a hotel in Nha Trang yourself

Holidays in Vietnam in the summer are becoming increasingly popular. Every year everything more tourists People from all over the world come here to have a good time away from everyday worries and problems, to get acquainted with local traditions, cuisine and culture. Due to some blur geographical location In Vietnam, there is no clear answer about the time and duration of holidays in this country.

In order to understand when is the best time to fly to Vietnam on vacation, you need to proceed from the date indicated on the air ticket. The fact is that the territory of the country has an elongated location, which is why the climate in different parts of Vietnam at the same time of year has different temperatures.

Vietnam: where is the best place to go in summer?

Conventionally, Vietnam can be divided into 3 climatic zones - Southern, Central and Northern. The varied topography, changing wind direction throughout the year, and the difference in latitude create their own microclimate in these areas, completely different from each other.

Northern Vietnam

Summer in Northern Vietnam is usually rainy, with noticeably fewer sunny days than in other regions of the country. Winter here is cool, almost windless. The most popular resort here is Halong. Not far from it is the capital of Vietnam - Hanoi, as well as the city of Sapa, famous for its mountain landscape, and the largest port center is Haiphong.

Vacation in Vietnam is approaching - when is the best time to go on vacation in Northern part countries? The most favorable months for a pleasant stay in the north of the country are October, the first half of May and the whole of April. During this period of time there is quite little precipitation, and the water in the sea is well warmed up and suitable for swimming.

In winter, the air temperature here fluctuates between +17°+20° C. February and March are the months when it rains incessantly. The coldest month is January. Temperatures in the mountains can drop below +5°C, and frosts are common. average temperature air temperature in Northern Vietnam is +28°+30° C. The rainiest season is from the end of May to the end of September.

Central Vietnam

When to fly to Vietnam in the Central region of the country? The rainy season in this part of the state begins a little later than in other areas - early July and closer to August. The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in October-November. Sometimes during the rainy season, the country can be visited by typhoons that have powerful destructive power.

At this time, other regions of the country are already flooded with hot sun rays and receive thousands of visiting tourists on their territory. Danang, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An - these resorts are the most visited by travelers from all over the world. Peak attendance occurs in spring and summer - the most favorable times of the year for a family holiday. The dry season in Central Vietnam lasts from February to August. There is very little rain during this period, and the air temperature warms up to +30°+35° C. When moving to the northern part of the country, the temperature gradually decreases; when moving to the south, on the contrary, it becomes warmer.

South Vietnam: summer holidays

When is the best time to go on vacation to Vietnam, to its southern part? What conditions are created here for tourists to relax? The temperature in the southern region of the country, compared to its other climatic zones, is more or less stable throughout the year. The air temperature difference varies only by 3-4° C from month to month. The average temperature range is +26°+33° C.

The south of the country is incredibly popular among tourists, because it is in Southern Vietnam that resorts such as Mui Ne, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc Island, as well as the second most important city in the country, Ho Chi Minh City, are located. You can vacation in South Vietnam all year round.

If you want to see Vietnam, when is the best time to go on vacation to avoid the rainy season? The rainiest months in the region are the summer months. In general, the rainy season occurs from April to November. The amount of precipitation falling during this time is 90% of the total annual norm (this is approximately 2000 mm).

Don’t be afraid of these summer rains - they pour onto the ground, as a rule, in the evening and at night, and in the morning the sea coast is already warmed by the rays of the rising sun and welcomes the first lovers water procedures. Occasionally, strong typhoons can occur in South Vietnam, just like in the central part of the country.
Many tourists are not able to take a vacation in July or August. Therefore, we advise you to read the article:.
Holidays in Vietnam - when is the best time to go? to the southern region of the country? The most favorable months in terms of beach holidays, excursions, and study tours are from December to April. There is quite a bit of rain during this period of time, the water temperature is well warmed up (+25°+27° C). For travelers who cannot stand intense heat, it is best to go on vacation in January and February. From the end of February until May, South Vietnam is under the influence of the scorching sun; the hottest month here is April, the temperature sometimes reaches +37° C.

Holidays in Vietnam: how to combine business with pleasure?

Not all tourists come to Vietnam solely for the purpose of sunbathing on the snow-white sandy beaches, swim in crystal clear sea water, go diving, ride scooters and jet skis. Many travelers also visit the country to:

try the National cuisine;
get acquainted with the traditions and customs of local residents;
take part in excursion trips to important historical and cultural sites;
see the sights of Vietnamese cities with your own eyes;
purchase original souvenirs, gifts, natural cosmetics, etc.

Vietnam in summer - where is the best place to go for a cultural holiday? Travel agencies recommend to people who want to combine beach holiday with cultural pastime, choose Hoi An resort for your trip. Tourists who dream of combining a beach holiday and exploring the huge city of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) can choose a route through Nha Trang or Phan Thiet. The most convenient way to get to these cities is from Ho Chi Minh City, which you can get a great look at if you stay here for a few days.

When is the best time to go to Nha Trang?

Nha Trang and Phan Thiet are the most visited cities in Vietnam by tourists, because they have everything for a comfortable and enjoyable time with the whole family:

excellent infrastructure;
well equipped beaches;
a lot of water, sports and other entertainment;
exciting excursions;
an endless number of all kinds of shops, boutiques and retail outlets with a variety of products;
a huge number of attractions;
excellent restaurants with national and European cuisine;
many comfortable hotels and inns.

When is the best time to go to Vietnam to Nha Trang? Only the traveler can decide. This city is hospitable throughout the year, because climatic conditions here they allow tourists to visit Nha Trang either in summer or in winter. Tourists are also attracted by Hon Tre Island, which is located in close proximity to the resort town. Between the island and Nha Trang there is the longest cable car, which gives travelers a lot of positive emotions.

Hon Che Island is also famous for its original amusement park - discos taking place inside an artificially created mountain. There are many attractions in Nha Trang, such as: Monkey Island, Cham Towers, Long Son Pagoda, ancient temples, etc.

When choosing a holiday in Vietnam, when is the best time to go and what to see in this country, it is advisable to think about it in advance. Flights from Russia to this amazing country were launched quite recently, but the number of Russians visiting Vietnam is increasing every year.

Hello. Holidays in Vietnam are a great option! If Vietnam magically suddenly found itself closer to Central Russia (say, somewhere in the vicinity of), the tourist flow to this country would, without a doubt, increase many times over. Indeed, among the tangible disadvantages of this direction is only a long and, therefore, expensive flight.

Almost everything else is a complete plus: an unusual and exciting “excursion”, beautiful beaches with ample opportunities for active rest, extensive and high-quality hotel base. And with all this, low prices in hotels, restaurants, excursions and everywhere else.

Despite all this, Vietnam has thoroughly spoiled the image of itself with creepy consumer goods markets with bales of all kinds of rubbish, talkative inhabitants and the aromas of fried herring. Perhaps many today will wrinkle their noses when they hear an offer to go there: “I’ve seen enough of this here.”

Meanwhile, the real Vietnam is the ancients temple complexes unknown civilizations and natural beauty national parks, healthy and tasty food (dietary rice and delicious fresh seafood), the cheapest diving in the world (coupled with an abundance of underwater inhabitants) and resorts with a distinct European flair: a former French colony, after all.

In addition, here there is an opportunity to have plenty of nostalgia for the recent social past: the flag is almost like our former one, and the pioneers in ties, and even the leader in the mausoleum.

The capital is Hanoi. Interesting cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue; popular resorts: Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc, .

About a third of the country is located at a level above 500 m above the sea, so the climate there is subtropical, and in areas above 2000 m it is even temperate. From April-May to October, the southeast monsoons bring warm and humid weather to the country - except in areas protected by mountains.

In the south of Vietnam (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) two seasons can be distinguished - wet and dry. The wet season traditionally lasts from May to November, with the rainiest months being June-August. The dry season usually starts in December and ends in April. This is the most favorable time for European tourists. The “velvet” months in the south of Vietnam are January and February: soft sun, refreshing sea water. From the end of February to May there are hot days without rain.

Climate of central Vietnam (from the resort of Nha Trang to the ancient capital of Hue): from February to August - clear, rain is rare, temperature +30...+35 °C. In mid-December there are heavy rains, in October - November typhoons are possible in the area of Da Nang and Hue, temperature +20...+28 °C.

In the north of the country (from Hanoi to the seaside resort of Ha Long), the winter and summer seasons are more clearly defined than in the south. Winter, cool and wet, lasts from November to February, with constant drizzling rain "fung" in February and March. The summer season begins abruptly in May: high humidity, temperatures up to +40 °C.

Vietnam customs

The import of foreign currency is not limited, but amounts over 3,000 USD must be declared: export of currency from the country is allowed only within the amount declared upon entry. The export of national currency is prohibited.

You can import duty-free 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco, 1.5 liters of strong alcoholic drinks or 2 liters of alcoholic drinks with a strength of up to 22°, 5 kg of tea, 3 kg of coffee, as well as other goods with a total value of no more than VND 5 million.

Household and computer equipment must be declared: all undeclared equipment will be allowed for export only upon payment customs duties or having a receipt confirming its purchase in the country.

The export of art and antiques is prohibited. jewelry and handicrafts without the appropriate permits.

Transport

In Vietnam, which stretches from north to south, the smartest way to travel between distant cities is to use domestic flights Vietnam Airlines or Jetstar Pacific. Most often, planes fly between two megacities - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (up to 10 flights per day), but other large cities are not deprived of regular flights.

Vietnamese trains are comfortable and run on schedule. The main route, Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, will last 30 hours. Purchase tickets It is recommended at least 3 days before the travel date directly at the station ticket office (local travel companies can easily cheat on the cost of the ticket and class of carriage).

It makes sense to use intercity buses for relatively short trips: constant speed limits on highways result in unreasonably long journeys. On the other hand, the prices for bus trips are negligible: you can get from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for only 450,000 VND.

When traveling at night, you should be very careful with your luggage: cases of theft are not uncommon (petty thieves are everywhere). It is better to put away players and other gadgets at the first sign of drowsiness.

Urban transport is well developed only in large capital cities: these are taxis, various motorcycle and pedicabs (“cyclo” or “cyclo”). Taxi fares do not need to be negotiated in advance: all cars have a meter that indicates the fare, and taxi drivers usually know some English. Taxi fare: VND 5,500-9,500 per kilometer plus VND 15,800-23,700 per landing.

Motorcycle and pedicabs will be happy with VND 15,800 for a 15-minute ride, but the amount of payment should be agreed upon in advance and bargaining is simply necessary in this case. Traffic on the roads is poorly regulated, so traffic jams in big cities- a common occurrence.

For diving enthusiasts

Diving in Vietnam is one of the cheapest in the world. At the same time, it is really interesting and organized at a quite decent level. There are many interesting dive sites off the coast of Vietnam. The best in this regard are considered to be Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Con Dao Islands. In addition to a wide variety of corals, you can see all kinds of mollusks, cuttlefish, octopus, squid, clown fish, moray eels, puffer fish, groupers, manta rays and barracudas.

The best time for diving is from October to April. Best season for diving in Nha Trang - February-October, and on Phu Quoc Island - from November to May. There are famous diving spots near Nha Trang: Muren Beach, Rainbow Coral Reef and many islands near the resort.

The Con Dao Archipelago National Reserve consists of 14 islands and is located 300 km from coastline. There you can find very rare mammals - dugongs (sea cows), large green turtles and many endemics - animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else.

Shopping and stores in Vietnam

Local shopping has two pleasant features: a wide selection of purchases and the most low prices in the region (unless, of course, you forget to bargain). Shops are open almost every day, seven days a week, from 7:30 until late in the evening. Many supermarkets in the capital and major cities open 24 hours a day.

From Vietnam you can bring things made of lacquer, bamboo, mother-of-pearl, items made of silver, pearls, mahogany and ebony - including very beautiful cutlery and boxes.

Another category of successful purchases is clothing and accessories made of silk, linen and cotton. Even in Saigon you can find very high-quality and beautiful gold products - not exactly at bargain prices, but quite reasonable prices, as well as products made from pearls - mainly from artificially grown river pearls, less often - cultured sea pearls.

It is worth purchasing various spices, especially Fukuoka black pepper. Representatives of the fair sex are guaranteed to pay attention to the national costume “ao dai”, consisting of a tight-fitting long shirt-dress with slits and pants (they are usually sewn to order).

Wonderful exotic souvenirs literally cost pennies here, and beautiful silver items cost almost nothing. Travelers returning from Vietnam usually take out silver jewelry and dishes, products made from natural silk, linen and cotton, souvenirs made from mahogany and bamboo, lacquerware and ceramics from their suitcases.

Vietnamese cuisine and restaurants

Vietnamese cuisine, although “omnivorous” (down to fried grasshoppers in bags made of newspapers instead of seeds), is at the same time quite light and, despite its unusualness, healthy. The products here are not subjected to long-term heat treatment. The basis of the cuisine is rice, noodles and spices, a variety of seafood.

Many dishes are seasoned with “nuok-mam” sauce made from fermented (read: “fermented in its own juice”) fish - however, the taste and smell is not at all as terrible as it might seem. As for soups, you should try the light and tasty “pho”: rice noodles with lean beef or chicken.

The French, former colonialists, also made a mark in local cuisine, making baguettes cut in half with all sorts of fillings popular as a “snack”. Green tea is traditionally popular in the country, and local coffee is considered very decent.

And they produce good red and white wines.

In state hotels and restaurants, 5% “for services” is usually added to the bill. In private establishments, if you liked the food and service, you can leave a tip of 5-10%.

Legends and stories of Vietnam

There you are short excursion into the tangled history of the Vietnamese people. More than three thousand years BC, the dragon king Lac Long Quan ruled the lands of what is now Vietnam. Once, puzzled by the continuation of the family, he decided to ask the fairy bird Au Ko for his hand in marriage.

The beauty was not slow to accept the offer and, on time, gave birth... a bag in which one hundred eggs were found, and from each came one heir-progenitor of one hundred Vietnamese families.

Whether the lady hatched the offspring or placed the offspring in an incubator - history is silent, but since then every self-respecting Vietnamese speaks of himself as “the child of the dragon, the grandson of the gods.”

The end of the story is very modern: after some time the couple separated - Lac Long Quan chopped off half of their sons and went to sea with them, and Au Ko took the remaining fifty and went to live in the mountains.

How correctly our Lev Nikolaevich noted about happy and unhappy families!

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Vietnam

Vietnam is ready to delight guests from the north with a variety of diverse entertainment: from elephant riding, visits to snake restaurants with crocodile sanctuaries, national parks and fishing - to casinos and nightclubs.

The highlight of the country's excursion program is the Ku Chi guerrilla tunnels, but besides them, there are more than enough attractions here.

IN national park Ha Long Bay is one of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. Several thousand small limestone islets and cliffs rising from the sea waters and having weird shape, make you believe in the legend of this place. It says that the Ha Long Islands were created by a giant dragon that lived in the mountains. Bizarre cliffs and rocks are shaped like a turtle, camel, cat, dog's head or dragon.

Hanoi has Buddhist, medieval and recent communist sites, as well as natural beauty in abundance.

Da Nang has beautiful " Marble Mountains» Ngu Nan Son and pagodas with unique statues. In Phan Thiet - famous statue Reclining Buddha.

Vietnam hotels

In the major cities of Vietnam, the choice of hotels is very diverse - from mini-hotels to De Luxe establishments. Their service is, in general, at the average European level. Type of meals - breakfast (most) or half board, there is practically no all-in. Buffet extremely diverse.

All rooms from three to five stars are equipped with air conditioning, TV with satellite channels and a telephone; more expensive rooms also have bathrobes, a hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, safes and minibars.

Mains voltage 220 V, frequency 50 Hz. Plugs generally have flat connectors. Rooms in many hotels are equipped with universal sockets, to which plugs of almost any configuration will fit - and if the plug still does not fit, the hotel staff will find the necessary adapter.

Do you need a visa and who?

Exotic Vietnam is moderately loyal to Russian tourists: on the one hand, entry into the country is simplified almost to the maximum (a visa for up to 15 days for tourism purposes is not needed), on the other hand, a visa will still be required for a longer visit.

But even in this case there should not be any difficulties: a visa to Vietnam can be obtained without any unnecessary hassles directly at the border upon arrival. Which is nice - Visa fees not available for Russian citizens. Well, if you don’t want to wait for a visa to be issued at the airport, you can get it in advance at the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow.

A visa-free 15-day stay in Vietnam is possible no more than once every 30 days. If you plan to leave and return to Vietnam (for example, as part of combined tour), a visa will be required for re-entry.

Thus, Russian citizens arriving in Vietnam have three options:

1. Visa on arrival

If your stay in Vietnam lasts more than 15 days, a visa can be obtained upon arrival in one of international airports Vietnam: in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi or Da Nang. To do this, at the “Visas upon arrival” counter in front of passport control you will need to present:
a foreign passport valid for at least six months at the end of the trip;
return tickets;
visa permission - confirmation letter (Approval Letter).

By the way, the confirmation letter is a document with a unique code issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. It is not difficult to obtain; the easiest way is to order it online on one of the specialized websites (the price ranges from 15 to 38 USD, depending on the type of visa and the speed of processing). A confirmation letter will be sent by email and must be printed and then presented at the border control point.

The time to obtain a visa at the airport is approximately half an hour to an hour; tourists from Russia are issued it free of charge.

2. Applying for a visa at the consulate

Vietnam is famous for its heavenly beaches, and go there primarily for their sake. However, this paradise will also appeal to diving enthusiasts - diving here is one of the cheapest in the world, but at the same time it is perfectly organized, and there are interesting dive sites, and you can dive throughout the year, just changing resorts.

Those who like excursion holiday , will appreciate the wealth and safety historical monuments. There are medieval imperial citadels, French colonial quarters, and partisan catacombs from the Vietnam War. And natural ones are like that small country amaze with their grandeur: the gigantic Mekong Delta, the most big cave of the world Son Doong, Bay of 3000 Ha Long Islands. Makes a great holiday seasoning local kitchen with a pleasant French accent.

Tours to Vietnam

Popular resorts

Vietnam on the map is stretched along the meridian with a winding line. At the top, in the north, is the country's capital -. In the center is ancient capital Hue, popular among lovers of excursion holidays.

Beach resorts begin a little further south, in Nha Trang, the most famous and popular of them. Even further south follow, especially suitable for surfers and kiters. Below begins the Mekong Delta, as well as the “Paris of the East”, the industrial and tourist center -.

In the extreme south of the country, the sea gives way to the Gulf of Thailand. In it, at the very borders of Cambodia, is located the largest island of Vietnam. Paradise beaches with white sand and coconut palms, you should look there, on its western shore.

Hotels

The level of hotel service in Vietnam is very high: even 3-star hotels in their comfort and quality of service are close to the European “fours”. And local “fours” and even more so “fives”, especially when it comes to historical hotels, are real luxury.

Animation for children, children's clubs and special entertainment programs are not yet available in every resort hotel; information about them must be clarified in advance. Also, not all hotels operate in the all-inclusive format, which, by the way, is not so much in demand. On Vietnamese resorts I don’t want to sit around the clock in a hotel when there are so many interesting and tasty things around.

You can come to Vietnam without even booking a hotel in advance. In large tourist centers you can always find available rooms right on the spot.

Tours to Vietnam

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow are given.

Weather

Currency

The national currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong. Its cost is such that you should have banknotes of 50,000 and 20,000 dong with you as “changes” to pay for a pedicab (“siklo”) or buy a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The largest bill is half a million dong.

It is best to take with you on a trip U.S. dollars: you can pay with them here as freely as with the national currency. The euro has no such circulation.

Visa

Visa to Vietnam need not for Russians who are going to come for a period of up to 15 days.

Those who plan to stay in the country longer need to obtain a visa. It can be single or multiple, but in both cases it is issued for a period of 1 or 3 months. To obtain a visa, you need to collect a package of documents and contact the consular department of the Vietnamese Embassy. The visa is issued within 5 - 7 working days. However, you can also apply for a visa on arrival at any of the main airports in Vietnam. It's both faster and easier.

Round-trip flights to Vietnam

Prices for tickets per person departing from Berlin are shown.

What to bring from Vietnam

Even by standards South-East Asia prices in Vietnam are very low, so no one comes here without souvenirs. Russians often bring tropical fruits, medicinal artichoke tea and coffee from Vietnam, including such an exotic and expensive variety as “kopi luwak”: it is also cheaper here than, for example, in Vietnam. Snake wine and medicinal tinctures for snakes, scorpions and other poisonous creatures have become souvenir classics. Men consider them beneficial for their health.

Women love Vietnamese island pearl jewelry and silk clothing. On vacation, many even order the national women's Ao Dai costume, which consists of a long silk shirt and trousers, from local dressmakers. A traditional conical hat made from palm leaves goes perfectly with it.

Vietnam is amazing country with a touch of French charm. In previous articles we have already written about holidays in Vietnam in general. Here we will touch on several interesting facts about the country, its culture and its inhabitants.

1. The majority of the population travels on scooters and motorcycles. The Vietnamese call this type of transport a “motorbike”. 3 people on one moped is not the limit; can carry large cargo with them.
Only wealthy Vietnamese have cars, since the high tax on car imports and the lack of domestic production make them practically unavailable.

2 . Traffic on the roads can seem completely crazy, especially in large cities like Ho Chi Minh City. But in fact, this is a clearly organized swarm of motorcycle bikers. You just need to get used to the fact that the main people on the road are people on iron horses.

3 . Mini French baguettes This incredibly delicious invention of mankind was inherited from French colonization. What is a baguette? This is a small crispy baguette, cut lengthwise, and inside there is a filling of your choice: fried egg, vegetables, fried meat or fish, fresh vegetables. Sometimes they add hot sauce on top and then it's just an amazing dish.

4 . Another interesting fact— . Vietnam is famous throughout the world for its coffee, I will say more, the Vietnamese occupy a leading position in coffee exports in the world. In Vietnam, coffee is drunk very sweet, sometimes condensed milk and lots and lots of sugar are added. The drink iced coffee is also popular here, you can even find instant

5 . ice coffee. Cheap alcohol. There are no duties on alcohol in the country as such, so it is sold here, sometimes for ridiculous money, for example, beer Saigon

6 . costs 7,000-10,000 VND ($0.3-0.5). Moreover, sparkling water costs the same in stores. The world's longest cable car over the sea in Nha Trang.

7 . The road connects the resort town of Nha Trang and the island of Hon Tre, where the amusement park is located. Its length is 3,300 km.

8 . Vietnamese currency. The Vietnamese dong is denoted ₫ or VND. Due to rising inflation since 1987 in Vietnam, all purchases are in thousands, like in Belarus. For example, drinking water 5,000 VND at the current exchange rate is about 15 rubles. The Vietnamese love Russian tourists. A couple of times people came up to us on the street and asked us where we were from, and we proudly said “From Russia”, to which the reaction was simply amazing - they started speaking to us in Russian. This is due to the fact that the USSR provided active assistance to North Vietnam in American-Vietnamese

9 . The short stature of the Vietnamese people. With my height of 1.70 m, I was often half a head taller than any Vietnamese passing by. Accordingly, all vehicles, including slip-on basses, chairs and tables in local cafes are designed for people of short stature. If I was comfortable on chairs, in buses with low ceilings, then my companion, 1.93 m tall, often felt absolutely uncomfortable: on city buses, he had to stand in a half-bent position, on tiny chairs his knees were just above the table, it was very difficult to watch funny.

10 . Tanning is not held in high esteem in Vietnam. Tanning here is considered the lot of beggars, don't be surprised if you see a girl in the +35 heat completely bundled up: in long gloves, a jacket, trousers, etc.

11 . Russian and international driving licenses are not recognized in this country. But ours compatriots they still successfully rent motorbikes, as there is no such control.

12 . Russian rubles, like euros, are not accepted in Vietnam, but the Vietnamese willingly accept dollars.

13 . Vietnamese daily routine. The Vietnamese day begins almost at dawn, and at 6-7 am life in the cities is in full swing. As soon as the sun disappears behind the horizon at six in the evening, literally in 5-7 minutes, life slowly slows down.

Therefore, while in Vietnam, try to shift your daily routine back by 2-3 hours so that you have time to go outside before the onset of hellish heat at 12-15.00.

14 . Particular ebbs and flows. Don't be surprised if you don't find half the beach in the morning. The roads also disappear, for example, in Vung Tau there is a small one, during low tide you can reach it on foot, but when the tide is high, the only way to the temple is under water.

15 . Mountain city Dalat. Due to its location in the mountains, the city has a sharply different climate; it is cooler here than in other cities. When going to Dalat, it is better to take warmer things with you, but not overdo it, a jacket and jeans will be enough.

16 . And one last interesting fact. Halong Bay off the coast of Vietnam is recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.

There will be no problems with communication and the Internet in Vietnam; in this regard, everything here is created for clients: Thais, study, why do you need my passport when buying a SIM card! Which of the three major cellular operators to choose is not at all important - the tariffs and conditions are absolutely the same. You can buy a SIM card even in small shops, and you don’t need any documents for this. The quality of communication is good almost everywhere, with the exception of remote areas.

Attractive features of Vietnamese cellular communications:
no internal roaming, tariffs are the same throughout the country;
low rates for international calls, they are slightly higher than for domestic calls;
replenishment of the balance using a special card, which can be purchased in the same place as the SIM card (there is a code on the card that is entered into the phone, accessible instructions are on the back side);
good quality Internet, prices for it among operators are also almost the same.

Mobile Internet is quite capable of competing with hotel Wi-Fi and even winning against it. It is more profitable to buy traffic packages. The Internet speed is quite decent, but, of course, it cannot be compared with the Russian one. Wi-Fi is available in the vast majority of hotels and guesthouses, as well as in more or less large cafes and restaurants.
Bottom line: Vietnam has some of the bestin Southeast Asia, conditions for Internet and mobile communication services.

Language and communication

Vietnamese is also difficult to understand, like most Asian languages. At least for Europeans. A big plus is the presence of an alphabet based on the Latin alphabet. That is, these are not hieroglyphs or other elegant script; the words can at least be roughly read. In my impression, there are a lot of short words that add up to long phrases. The Vietnamese speak abruptly but expressively. There are also all sorts of icons above the words, they are important - they indicate the tonality.

Hello	Xin chào	Xin Chao
Thank you	Cảm ơn	Kam on (sometimes spoken through the nose, komyn)
Guest House	Nhà nghỉ	Nia ni (in places where there is a lack of hotels, you need to look for accommodation using this sign)
What is the price	Bao nhiêu	Bao nu
Rice with additives	Cơm tấm Gà Vịt Bò CA Tom	Kom tam kom - rice, the basis of the kitchen, kom tam - this is the simplest and cheapest dish, rice with several types of pork and vegetables, instead of pork (tấm), you can order any types of meat with rice: Ga - chicken Wit - duck Bo - beef Ka - fishTom - shrimp
Rice plate	Cơm Đĩa	Com Dia Rice with several fillings is a traditional main dish

At least they know English in resort areas, but the pronunciation of the simplest words sometimes changes so much that it is difficult to identify them. However, in Nha Trang and Mui Ne, many middle-aged citizens can speak Russian perfectly.

In general, the Vietnamese language has six tones; it is unlikely that you will be able to reproduce many words correctly the first or even the hundredth time. Therefore, I recommend using translators; now this is very easy to do using phones and other gadgets. If the translation is inaccurate, pictures from the Internet, gestures and facial expressions will help.

Features of mentality

Compared to other Southeast Asians, Vietnamese may seem more gloomy, focused, and rational. And it is true. Of course, many smile and show cordiality, and in the tourism industry this is generally the norm. But it’s still difficult to call Vietnam a country of smiles. Another feature: the Vietnamese are in no hurry and have a fairly democratic attitude towards obligations: “tomorrow” can mean “tomorrow, but not exactly”, “most likely the day after tomorrow”, etc. However, the average traveler is unlikely to encounter this.

In general, the Vietnamese are friendly, but a little constrained when communicating with foreigners. But in everyday life they can be very noisy, especially children. They often live in large families, in the same house where they conduct business, the latter most often being a store, workshop, etc.

A foreigner is, first of all, a source of income, so everywhere in tourist places, nothing can be done about it. Vietnam does not show anything extraordinary here. Yes, sellers can inflate prices on the market, this is not uncommon, they round the numbers in the right direction, sometimes they are simply mistaken. However, given the general low level prices, such a load does not seriously affect the travel budget, because the change of one or two thousand dong will not make a difference. There are also cases of deliberate global inflation of prices (2-3 times), which is a real fraud. The latter, by the way, is found almost everywhere, so you need to be careful when making calculations.

Most Vietnamese people believe in spirits and honor their ancestors. But the operating temples are few in number, and no particular zeal has been noticed in religious services and celebrations. But religious tolerance is at the level: locals equally respect both Catholic cathedrals and Chinese churches. One of the main components of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese is the cult of ancestors. Each house has a special memorial - a home altar with photographs, in appearance reminiscent of a Thai spirit house, on which fresh fruits, rice, and other foods are placed. Under no circumstances should food be touched or taken; this is considered a severe insult.

Shopping. What should you bring?

Vietnam produces many products itself, without relying on rich neighbors, including cosmetics and medications, clothing and shoes. Therefore, from here it is quite possible to bring authentic high-quality products and things, that is, Vietnamese, and not Chinese souvenirs.

The first thing I will mention is the delicious coffee, which has been mentioned more than once. Coffee pots are also worth bringing, they are very convenient. However, there is one feature that needs to be given special attention. The cunning Vietnamese, realizing the demand of foreigners, put moussaka on all packs of coffee, this is the beast that produces Luwak coffee. The animal is very similar to an ordinary marten. However, natural luwak is very expensive, and what is sold under its guise, costing 10,000 VND per 100 grams, is ordinary Arabica.

Of course, Exotic fruits also should not be ignored. You can ask the sellers for special baskets so that the fruits do not get crushed on the road, and they will select the appropriate fruits.

Today, branches of the largest European clothing and footwear brands are located in Vietnam. Prices for goods are usually lower than in Russia. However, to get a truly high-quality item, it is better to contact specialized stores.

Medicines and cosmetics are popular among tourists. Particularly famous are ointments and balms (“the asterisk” is generally used here as a universal remedy), and among cosmetic products - coconut oil and masks. Some have a whitening element added, usually this is indicated right on the label.

Local kitchen. What to try?

Vietnamese cuisine delights with unusual combinations and exotic flavors. What’s especially nice is that you can adjust the spiciness yourself; there is a special plate with peppers and sliced lime on the table. That is, initially the dishes themselves are not spicy.

Visitors are also served a large plate of greens and free green tea. The Vietnamese themselves love coffee very much and, I must admit, it is exceptionally tasty here. Usually there is a set of sauces on the table. Be careful not to confuse soy sauce with fish sauce. The latter can be identified by the fish on the bottle label; it has a specific taste that not everyone will like.

National dishes.

Fo. This is a soup made with rich meat broth. Real pho takes several hours to cook. The “filling” of this soup is noodles and meat, as well as soybean sprouts, which are indispensable in Vietnam. The soup is prepared before serving: all other ingredients are added to the finished broth. The visitor himself adds lime and herbs to taste, as well as fish sauce if desired; it is quite appropriate in the soup and reveals some subtle notes of taste. The most famous beef pho is pho bo. But there is also pho with chicken - pho ga, with fish, shrimp or squid. The noodles, by the way, are rice. After all, rice is the head of everything.

Banh mi. The king of street food, which in Vietnam is generally not very diverse. Baguettes inherited from the French colonists, which are consumed here, by the way, in huge quantities, cut in half, spread with sauce, add meat and vegetables with herbs, and sometimes an omelette. You can also ask for a vegetarian banh mi, without meat.

Ban xiao. These unusual pancakes can also be found on street stalls. The dough for them is made from eggs with a little flour added. Essentially, it's an omelette with some extra ingredients. Pancakes are baked in small roasting pans over coals in round shapes. When the ban xiao is turned over, the filling is placed inside: shrimp, meat, bean sprouts, and folded into an envelope shape. However, there are many variations of this dish. The pancakes always come with sauce and herbs.

Lau soup. This is a hot pot that has become quite well known. The Vietnamese very accurately translate this phrase into Russian as a hot pot. The already familiar brazier with smoldering coals is served on the table, and a pot of ready-made broth is placed on top. Then you can prepare the dish yourself, adding noodles, mushrooms, seafood, etc. In Vietnam, cafes for open air, where they only serve hotpot. Some offer only one type of meat; information about the chosen specialization can be determined by the sign with an image of the animal on it.

Ka fe. Coffee. Yes, drinking coffee in Vietnam is a whole ceremony, no worse than a tea room in China. The main feature is the use of unusual exclusive coffee pots. Believe me, I have never seen anything like this anywhere else. They are installed on a mug or glass and are a small container with a perforated bottom. Coffee is poured into the container and filled with water, the liquid seeps through the bottom into the mug, it’s even pleasant to watch this, and even more so to drink. The drink is most often served with the addition of condensed milk for sweetness.

Holidays

There are not many public holidays in Vietnam, and they are not celebrated very actively. Independence Day, May Day, Victory Day pass almost unnoticed.

The only exception, but what an exception! — New Year according to the lunisolar calendar - Tet. In terms of dates, it roughly coincides with the Chinese New Year.

This is truly a global celebration. Tet falls at the end of January and beginning of February (between the 20th of these months) and is celebrated for up to a week. Streets and houses are decorated with flowers and fruits, special dishes are prepared, and gifts are given. Throughout the country, in large cities, carnival processions, fairs and special rituals associated with the cult of ancestors are held.
Throughout the entire holiday week during the Tet period, it is impossible to catch the Vietnamese at work; all institutions, and often even shops, are closed . The resorts are crowded. Although most sellers raise prices, discounts are also possible on Tet; they say that you can visit Ha Long Bay for free, but you will have to book accommodation much in advance.

Safety

In general, Vietnam is safe; according to statistics, serious crimes occur here very rarely. But petty robberies are the scourge of the big cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. You need to watch your things and bags very carefully; they can be snatched from your hands or from your shoulders by bikers passing by. It is better not to take out phones and money demonstratively and keep them under constant control, hiding them in places inaccessible to thieves. However, thefts also happen at resorts, so valuables should be stored in the hotel safe.

A large number of incidents have recently been related to riding bikes. There is one peculiarity here: the police can be very invisible in Vietnam, however, in the event of an incident, they appear immediately. This, of course, is trivial, but in order to ensure safety, all means are good, therefore: follow the rules traffic, be careful on the road, don’t drive, don’t drive drunk. The Vietnamese themselves may not follow traffic rules— It’s generally difficult here, but what is allowed to a local is prohibited to a stranger. Dedicated to those who are annoyed by constant beeping signals on the road: “It’s better this way than running into a bus rushing at all speeds!”

1. Tourists often complain about poor conditions public transport in Vietnam. I can advise you not to neglect taxis, in some areas it is very affordable way movement. Keep an eye on the counter!
When purchasing bus tickets, it is better to contact directly the offices of carrier companies, for example, Futa, Han cafe, and not to tourist centers, there the markups are sometimes 100%. I’ll give you an approximate price guide: a ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne costs 130,000 VND, from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat - 220,000 VND, from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang - 215,000 VND.

2. Vietnamese get up and go to bed very early, at 5-6 am and 9-10 pm respectively. It is better to plan all business interactions with them for the first half of the day. It should also be taken into account that in most of the country, with the exception of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, all streets die out at 22-00. Shops and cafes are closing, buses are not running. Of course, there are 24-hour establishments, but there are not many of them. Yes, even in big cities nightlife Only the central regions live.

3. Don't be afraid to try signature ones National dishes in authentic cafes, they are the most delicious and cheapest here. It’s the same with seafood; in a cafe near a fishing village or at the market it will definitely be cheaper and fresher than in a posh restaurant or bokeh (specialty seafood restaurants). Of course, you must first visually determine the level of service and hygiene. By the way, a well-known feature - the habit of throwing garbage from the table onto the floor, which everyone who has been in Vietnam notes, is due precisely to a specific sense of hygiene. Vietnamese people find it more acceptable to sweep away trash than to touch it with their hands.

Vietnam is a country full of pleasant surprises that can surprise even experienced travelers. Picturesque nature, ancient culture, warm sea are the three pillars on which Vietnam’s popularity among tourists lies. But there are other bonuses. Do you want cheap seafood? Go to Da Nang, the cafes right next to the beach are full of seafood delicacies for reasonable prices. 100 thousand for a huge plate of mussels, I think it's pennies! Do you want coolness, tired of the sun? Go to Dalat. Do you want to ride the waves? Mui Ne is already preparing surf for you.

Do you want to go to Vietnam? Pack your suitcase and... Let's go!

The material used photos provided by vietnamtravel, Vietnam Motorbike, pixabay and unsplash

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