Culture & Customs

Etiquette and cultural differences

Experiencing different cultures is one of the joys of travelling and it’s important that these differences are respected.

Knowing a few important customs of the Vietnamese people will help make your visit more enjoyable. Below are some pointers.

• Try not to get angry. Showing any frustrations or annoyances by shouting or becoming abusive is extremely impolite and unlikely to achieve a positive outcome.
• Pointing your finger is seen as offensive. Try to gesture using your whole hand instead.
• Refrain from public displays of affection, they are considered offensive. It is extremely rare to see couples holding hands.
• Wear shorts to the knees and cover your shoulders, particularly at religious sites.
• Always remove your shoes when entering a temple or somebody’s home.
• Remove your hat when entering a religious site, addressing the elderly or encountering esteemed people such as monks.
• It is improper to pat children on the head.
• When using a toothpick, it is polite to cover your open mouth
• Don’t leave chopsticks sitting vertically in a rice bowl as it looks very similar to incense sticks that are burned for the dead.
• When passing something to another person, use both your hands together or just your right hand. Never use just your left hand.

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Donations and gift giving

Although there is poverty in certain areas of Vietnam, please read the following points about donations and gift giving.

• Do not give money to people begging, especially children. This reinforces the belief that begging is an acceptable way to make a living. If children make money from begging, their parents are less likely to send them to school. Children working on the streets are also vulnerable to abuse.
• However in many places, it is considered acceptable to give to money disabled people or the elderly. Please ask your guide for advise.
• Giving money and goods to beggars can ac-centuate an unequal relationship between locals and visitors, with tourists being seen as purely money givers.
• Do not give sweets to children in villages that we visit.
• Do not feel that you necessarily have to give material things. Sometimes, giving your friendship, time and interest to locals can be the best gift of all.

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Tipping

Tipping is a personal matter and travellers are encouraged to tip any amount they feel is appropriate. For your convenience, we have included a suggested tipping guide below:

• Bellboy: $1-$2 per room
• Chambermaid: $1 per day
• Guides: $4-$8 per day, per person (depending on group size, performance and duration)
• Drivers: $1-$3 per day, per person (de-pending on group size, performance and duration)
• Restaurants: in smart establishments, you may find that the tip is already included in the bill. In local restaurants, tips are not expected but you may wish to leave loose change on the table.

Helpful Tips

Money

The official currency in Vietnam is the Dong (VND) which is a non-convertible currency.
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. ATMs are widely available throughout the country.
Vietnamese Dong can be pre-ordered through Travelex and the Post Office. In Vietnam Sterling can be exchanged for Dong.

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Post and telecommunications

The Vietnamese postal service is reliable but don’t put postcards into letter boxes, give them to your hotel to post or go to a post office.

Telephone connections are widely available but not cheap. A Vietnamese SIM card is a less expensive way of calling other countries, however your phone will need to be unlocked in order for it to work. Internet access is available in all major tourist places and you will find WiFi in most cafes in urban areas.

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Transportation

The traffic in Vietnam is busy, but slow. It may look like chaos but don’t be frightened to cross the road. Simply make your way shaking your whole hand at waist height. You’ll see other people doing the same thing and soon be crossing like a local with care.

Taxis are a popular way of getting around but make sure you use a metered company such as Mai Linh or Capital Taxis in Hanoi. A typical 10 minute journey should cost around 50,000 VND but prices tend to increase at night. Please note that we don’t recommend motorbike taxis and it may not be covered by your travel insurance.

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Health and wellbeing

Please be aware that Vietnam is still a developing nation and so some areas lack effective medical facilities. Rural areas may not have pharmacies and hospitals so make sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you take. If you need medical assistance please ask your guide or hotel. Please make sure that you have travel insurance for your trip. You should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information and advice on travelling to Vietnam before departure.

If you have a medical condition or allergy which requires particular attention, please advise us and carry a doctor’s letter that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit.

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Vaccinations

Before travelling, at least two months before departure, please contact your doctor for the latest medical advice on the vaccinations you need.

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Travel insurance (compulsory)

Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance that covers all activities planned on your trip.

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Price guide

Things are generally cheap in Vietnam. Here is a rough guide of how much things cost in main cities outside the hotels. Bear in mind that outside of the cities, things will be much cheaper.

Food

• Street food: from 10,000 VND
•  Restaurants: Western food: from 100,000 VND, Vietnamese dishes between 40,000 – 100,000 VND

Drinks

• Soft drinks: 8,000 – 15,000 VND,
• Beer: 8,000 – 20,000 VND
• Fruit juice: 30,000 VND
• Water: 10,000 VND
• Spirit and mixer: 60,000 VND

Passports & Visas

A visa is not required by British Nationals visiting for leisure for stays of 15 days or less days provided you only only enter once and are in possession of a passport with at least 6 months validity remaining and a return ticket to the UK.Those staying for longer or entering more than once will need to have arranged their visa before they arrive. This can be easily done online in the form of an e-visa.

For further up-to-date information, please refer to the Vietnam website: www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/

Flights

Vietnam is serviced by a broad spectrum of scheduled airlines and we have access to preferential rates on all of them. As part of the booking service we will run through the options available and offer a choice of flights. We have no affiliation with any airline and so our recommendations with be purely based on your requirements and the best price.

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Which Airline?

Vietnam Airlines are the only airline that currently flies direct to Vietnam, offering overnight flights into Hanoi and Saigon with good onward connections. There is also a good selection that offers a one-stop service with good connections. From Heathrow the most popular options include Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. From Manchester, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are the most popular. Other airports and airlines are available with 2 stops in at least one direction.

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Class of Travel

Keen competition means that most longhaul economy flights are a good standard, offering broadly the same level of service, but you may have a favourite or one you would prefer to avoid. Increasingly popular are the enhanced economy classes with airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines, who charge a more affordable premium for increased legroom and improved service. The ideal of course is upgrading to the comfort of Business or First and it’s worth getting a range of quotes as offers come and go.

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Stop-overs

There are a wide range of stop-over options. The most popular include Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, but others such as Seoul or Dubai can be easily added.

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Regional Flights

Those who live close to Heathrow can read on, but for those further away from the capital it may be worth considering a regional flight. Some airlines have a better regional structure than others and by booking a regional flight through your international carrier you will be able to check your bags through to your final destination. You will also have protection if there is a problem with your domestic UK connecting flight, as the international carrier will have a duty of care until you reach your destination.

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ATOL Financial Protection

When you book your Ex UK flights with us you will be automatically protected under our ATOL number and so fully protected financially. You also have the added benefit of having your whole holiday organised by one travel company which should not be overlooked.

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When To Book?

The algorithm that calculated that 8 weeks prior to departure was the optimum time to book a low cost flight doesn’t really apply to longhaul travel. Generally with scheduled airlines the majority of cheaper tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, particularly around peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and school holidays. You can book your seats up to 11 months in advance and we recommend early booking to gain the cheapest fares. Flexibility of dates and routes also help if you are looking for the best deals.

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Offset Your Carbon Footprint

It’s well publicised that air travel contributes to the rising levels of greenhouse gases and if you would like to offset your carbon footprint there are a number of organisations that offer the service. Below are a couple of choices that we think are good examples, planting trees to in the UK and overseas.

Woodland Trust - www.woodlandtrustshop.com/

World Land Trust - www.worldlandtrust.org/eco-services

And Finally

Please remember that when booking your flights we need you names exactly as they appear in your passports including any middle names.