When is the best time to Travel?

Vietnam stretches over 1,800km up the eastern coast of the Indochina peninsula and has various climates at the same time in different parts of the country

Winter season lasts from November to April in the north with temperatures averaging 16 degree centigrade. The rest of the year is considered summer time with heavy rainfalls and occasional storms.

The rainy season lasts from May to October in the south. However, it rarely rains the whole day long.  It gets dry after rainfall as quickly as it comes. The dry season is generally from November to April.

The central parts of Vietnam are affected by the South West monsoon from Laos during May -June which causes a muggy heat and sometimes produces typhoons and tropical storms during November – December, with long lasting rains. Despite of this fact, the months of November and December are constantly considered the peak period of incoming tourists.  January and February are still cloudy and rainy occasionally.

The best time for a long tour from North to South Vietnam would be from January till April and for those who wish beach holidays can come to enjoy warm water and sunshine in the central coast during summer time, from May to October.

DO & DON'TS

Eating out is no problem at all in major cities where you can easily find good restaurants. It is advisable to eat in hotels in remote areas unless you have a reliable advice from your guide. You should avoid uncooked, partially cooked or reheated meat, fish and raw vegetable, especially when they have been left out exposed to dust and flies.  Filtered and bottled water is usually available and safe.

Cameras, precious jewelries, cash, passport should be deposited at hotel or taken care carefully while you are traveling by train or walking in the streets. 

Local trains have been renovated and service on trains has been improved in the past few years.  However, the standard is still below international qualification and therefore travel by train is not recommendable to elderly people. 

WHAT MONEY SHOULD I BRING

Most major currencies can be changed in at banks and moneychangers. Traveler’s cheques are accepted at some international hotels only and cashed in at banks with your presence and the signing to be witnessed by the bank officers.

When cashing Traveler’s Cheques, it is necessary to take proof of purchase and passport to the bank. Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities. You should exchange some cash into local currency for daily transactions.  At press time the exchange rate is Vietnam DONG (VND) 15,000 per USD 1.

WHAT FOOD WILL I FIND ?

Besides rice, which is a staple of every meal, Vietnam has abundant food supplies and an elaborate cuisine. Some Vietnamese dishes have achieved international fame, including such traditional dishes as beef or chicken noodle (pho), pork sausage (gio lua), spring rolls (nem ran) and fish balls (cha ca).