Vietnam Geography, Climate, Custom, Visa & Money
The country is approximately 331,688 square kilometers. The topography consists of hills and densely forested mountains, with level land covering no more than 20 percent. Mountains account for 40 percent, hills 40 percent, and forests 75 percent. The northern part of the country consists of highlands and the Red River Delta; the south is divided into coastal lowlands, Dai Truong Son (central mountains) with high plateaus, and the Mekong River Delta.
he climate is tropical and monsoonal; humidity averages 84 percent throughout the year. Annual rainfall ranges from 120 to 300 centimeters, and annual temperatures vary between 5°C and 37°C.
Land boundaries: Total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km.
Vietnam is located between 9 and 23 degrees north. Eastern Vietnam has a long coastline on the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. It has a tropical monsoon type of climate; from May-Sep the south monsoon sets in, and the country is dominated by south to southeasterly winds. From October to April, the north monsoon is dominant with northerly to northeasterly winds affecting the country. There is a transition period between each monsoon season when winds are light and variable.
The country is mountainous in the northwest and in the central highlands facing the South China Sea, with peaks reaching up to 8000ft (2450m) In the north around Hanoi and in the south around Ho Chi Minh City, there are extensive low-lying regions in the Red River delta and the Mekong delta respectively
Vietnam has a single rainy season during the south monsoon (May-Sep). Rainfall is infrequent and light during the remainder of the year. Rainfall is abundant, with annual rainfall exceeding 1000mm almost everywhere. Annual rainfall is even higher in the hills, especially those facing the sea, in the range of 2000-2500mm.
For coastal areas and the parts of the central highlands facing northeast, the season of maximum rainfall is during the south monsoon, from Sep-Jan. These regions receive torrential rain from typhoons which move in from the South China Sea at this time of the year. The weather at this time is cloudy with frequent drizzle.
During the north monsoon, northern Vietnam has cloudy days with occasional light rain, while southern Vietnam tends to be dry and sunny. Temperatures are high all year round for southern and central Vietnam; but northern Vietnam has a definite cooler season as the north monsoon occasionally adverts cold air in from China. Frost and some snow may occur on the highest mountains in the north for a few days a year. In the southern Vietnam, the lowlands are sheltered from outbreaks of colder northerly air and the dry season is warm with much sunshine.
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When to travel to Vietnam?
It is suitable to travel to Vietnam throughout the year. Just keep note of the difference between the weather in the North and South of Vietnam. There are four seasons in the North of Vietnam ( Spring from Jan - Mar, Summer from Apr – June, Autumn from July – Oct and winter from Nov - Dec ). There are only two seasons in the South of Vietnam ( dry season from May – Sep and rainy season from Sep – Jan).
You are advised to bring warm clothes with you if travel in northern Vietnam from November to March. The temperature can drop till 5 degree in the coldest days and it can be lower in mountainous areas
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The basic principle of customs policy in Vietnam is that visitors should enter and exit with the same goods and personal possessions with the following exceptions
>> Cash amounts
greater than US$ 7,000 should be declared upon entry or exit
>> Souvenirs:
Visitors are free to buy products in Vietnam for personal use. The
exception to this principle is antiques. Antiques considered as
"national interest" and will be confiscated without refund. In
general this applies to articles of ancient (over 50 years old) or
of religious nature. "National interest" is interpreted by an expert
at the airport. In cases where a visitor is unsure of the
acceptability of the export of any goods purchased, they can check
with the Customs Office in either Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi for
prior ruling without risk of confiscation
>> To avoid confiscation of goods not purchased, visitors must be sure an accurate description appears on the Customs Declaration form upon arrival. Particular note should be taken of antiques purchased in other countries in the region which might possibly be deemed of Vietnamese origin. Also, extra care would be taken to declare loose gemstones and jewelleries.
>> Firearms, narcotics and other internationally prohibited goods are banned and those found in possession of such items are liable to prosecution
>> Duty Free
Allowance
Liquor with above 22 degrees concentration of alcohol: 1.5 litres;
below 22 degrees: 2.0 litres; alcoholic beverages: 3.0 litres.
Cigarettes: 400 nos; cigars: 100 nos ; raw tobacco: 500g
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Visa & Money
Visa
exemption:
-
Not more than 30
days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.
- Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South
Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.
(Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders are
exempted from visa requirements to enter Japan).
- French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are
exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and
are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on
several visits within six months since their first
immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid
diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges.
- Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic
or official passports from one of the two countries are
exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the
other's territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days
on each visit.
A regular tourist visa is valid for up to
30 days.
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Arrival in Vietnam
On the plane, the passenger will be given the Vietnam
Arrival - Departure Card to complete. This form includes
customs and health declarations. Upon arrival, the form
will be checked by an immigration officer who will take
one copy of the form. The passenger retains the other
half. The passenger proceeds to the luggage belt, then
to customs. The passenger shows the customs form to the
Customs Officer who will stamp and return the form.
Passengers must keep this form and keep it for use at
departure.
The
International departure airport tax:
Ho Chi Minh City : US$ 14
Hanoi
: US$14
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Money (Currency)
The currency of Vietnam is "Dong". The banknotes comes
in denominations of 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10
000d, 20 000d, 50 000d and 100 000d. At the time of
writing, US$1 = 16
000d.
Travellers' cheques can be cashed at major banks for a
service fee of 2% to 5%. Visa and Master Cards are
accepted at most of the larger hotels, restaurants and
shops. There are ATM machines in Ho Chi Minh City and
Hanoi.
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Tel : (+84) 47236713 / (+84) 1234837328 Fax: (+84) 47236713
Email: info@bluebelltours.net
Address: 02 / 158 / 193 Ngoc Ha – Hanoi – Vietnam
International License No: 0102020404
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