MONEY

Vietnamese national currency is Vietnamese dong (VND), that value on the streets and in hotels are around 15 000 VND against 1 USD. In bank are rates obviously better, but just for small changing actually it does not matter. Those who rather pay with US dollars won't have any problems, because this currency is everywhere very welcomed, especially in hotels, tourist agencies and restaurants. With Euro we haven't tried to pay, but it's no problem to change them bank.

Costs:
Approximate costs in September 2005:

• Bottle of drinking water 1l: 8000-15000 VND
• Petrol (1 liter): 9000 VND
• Double room: 4-8 USD
• Beer: 7000-14000 VND
• Moped for one day: 5-8 USD
• One day trip: 10-20 USD per person
• Lunch in the street: 50000-70000 VND for two person

Prices are negotiable and for most of transactions negotiating is required, that is why consider mentioned prices only for guidance.

TRAVELLING AROUND VIETNAM

Bus:
Most widespread and also one of cheapest option for passing long distancies. Almost in every hotel is able to buy "Open Bus Tickets" for tourist buses, which bring you from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City within 2-3 days for 27 USD (approximately 2000km). Sounds it kind of terrible journey, but great advantage is that you can get out on any destination where this bus stoped and continue few hours or days later with other bus on same direction without any other expenses. These tickets are valid only in specialized tourist buses. This is actually no problem because buses goes twice in day and ussualy they are picking up passengers in particular famous tourist hotels. Is good to make seat reservation few days before in related hotels or bus offices. Further information can gain on place just ask.

But is not able to get everywhere by this tourist bus. In this case is possible to use local bus infrastructure which is very good extended and is not problem to get enywhere you want from main bus station. Ticket from Ha Noi to Hai Phong costs 25 000 VND. For travelling within Ha Noi and HCMC is also able to use public buses, that are very cheap and lovely air-conditioned. Tickets are able to buy directly in bus from 3000 to 6000 VND.

Motrocycle:
Definitely best option for short distancies. Within the cities is sometimes very helpfull to take a ride with local motorbikers, which you will bothering you everywhere and take you anywhere you want. Costs are negotiable and count approximately with 10 000 VND per kilometer. Especially in big cities we've had a lot of fun and adventure with these rides.

For those who are not afraid of local traffic is possibility to rent a bike very attractive and obviously also very advantageous regarding to petrol price and nice price for whole day hire a bike, as well. With parking is no problem at all because close to all attractions and sights is able to keep bike watch for minimal fee around 2 000 VND.
Bikes are renting almost everywhere. Driving licence and some experiencies are not essential, they would be happy to instruct you.

Train:
Other option for travelling is by train. Unfortunately for tourist with small budget as we have been is actually quite expensive. Due to high price we've went by train only once namely from Ha Noi to Sapa since we were thinking other option didn't existed. Mentioned ticket cost around 200 000 VND in sleeping-carriage. But train in comparison with bus is definitelly more confortable. Railways are very rare hence is not able to get everywhere.

Ship:
In case you will decide to visit Cat Ba island or Halong Bay you won't avoid of this option. Ship from Hai Phong to Cat Ba cost 70 000 VND and journey took us 4 and half hours. There exist exist option with faster ship (around 2 hours) but this is even more expensive and mostly still full.

Bicycle:
Best choice to explore the city is rent a bicycle, which is able to negotiate in almost all hotels fro around 1-3 USD per day. Don't expect latest models of mountain bikes with 21 speeds, but very simple old chinese bikes with cute basket on handlebar, that are anyway very usefull.

WHERE TO GO

Ha Noi:
Vietnamese capital city will definitelly impress to you, mainly its old town with streets specialized to one type of sortiment, which with approaching of night are changing to very busy and lovely places full of people as nowhere else. In Ha Noi are plenty of pagods, temples and museums so you will have a lot of opportunities to to spend a nice times. Accomodation in old town we've found for 6 USD for double room, hence there is no reason to search sleeping far away from downtown and don't experience downtown night life of locals.

Cat Ba:
Island with two small beaches and hotels filled main street guaranting nice sea view from your hotel room. Excepting Cat Ba national park is nothing more worth on island. But for those who'd like to see beautifulls of Halong Bay this island is very good option. Ship trip to Halong Bay and Monkey Island had cost 12 USD per person.

Sapa:
Very nice mountain city is located 1600 metres above sea level close to tallest mountain in Vietnam called Fansipan. For those who would like to beat this 33000 metres tall mountain, tourist agencies offering 2 days trips. Who do not have enough time for this trip, however, do not miss visit of ethnic minority in nearby village Cat Cat, that is reachable within 1 hour by foot.

Ninh Binh:
In the surrounding of this little city is located overland copy of Halong Bay, what is really worth to see. Best way to get there is by motorbike, but for sporty people and silence lovers, we are recommending bicycle. Getting there took us approximately one hour ride. In case you will missing your own map ask in hotel about this place. They've provided us with nice map.

Nha Trang:
Seaside town with great beaches and diving opportunity. Who'd like to spend few days of resting close to sea in lovely environment, won't find better place. We've negotiated scuba diving for 25 USD per person.

Hué:
In Hué are available straw hats in highest quality in near surroundings, that cost 20 000 VND. There is very nice to pay trip by ship over Perfume River and visit that plenty of pagods and beautiful ancient Tu Duc thomb. It had took us between 2 and 3 hours and cost it around 10 USD.

Dalat:
Another lovely mountain city with amazing markets and nice nature. There we've visited Tiger Cave, where before 30 years lived one tiger family. We haven't seen any tigers but on the other hand we've passed beautiful nature, coffee plantages and exciting dangerous bridges.

Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon):
City so terribly reminescent western culture. Altought on every corner are fast foods as KFC or asian equivalent of McDonald, I've really liked this city. Definitelly do not miss local restaurant with specialities as are fried crickets, minced snake or grilled rat. In HCMC you will no be bored, when you will have enough this officialy 4, but actually 8 milion population big city, there are plenty of offers to get a trip from local tourist agencies. We've took a trips to Cu Chi village, Cao Dai temple and amazing Mekong Delta (furhter information about these places you will find in your guide).

Mekong Delta:
The place where approximately 4 000 km long Mekong River is merging to South China Sea. Trip to Mekong Delta from HCMC costs from 10 to 20 USD per person(it depends on option you will choose), where is included for example ship trip, visiting island with animal names, nice green island where locals are manually making coconut candies and a lot of other activities(futher information about trips and sights can obtain in tourist agencies).

FOOD

About Vietnamese delicacies will be able to write a lot of books and romancies, but I'll mention just a few tips and recommendations.

For all time in Vietnam we've tried to avoid tourist restaurant, where were offering western modified meals, and we've tried to eat mostly on the streets. We didn't experienced any problems with stomach nor some other problems related with food. In the beggining we've took care of ice in drinks and products with water but most of fruite juices or coctails have been prepared with bottled water. In the streets forget about knife and fork, on the table will find only plenty of sauces and chopsticks.

All meals are prepared by only fresh ingredients and are very refreshing. Most often you will meet with traditional beef soup "Pho Bo", that is served in whole Vietnam both breakfeast, lunch and dinner. Don't be afraid you will overeat this delicious because in every restaurant is little different, but always very good. Another meal what will be with you all the time are vietnamese spring rolls,about them applies same as about Pho Bo. It's not worth talking about other traditional meals, because there are actually a lot of you will definitelly meet them on your trip around Vietnam.

When you will have an appettite to try something more "exotic" there is no problem to find for example fried snake, grilled rat, fried scorpion, frog, sparrow...I could name of that far too much, but briefly I can tell, that in Vietname are preparing almost everything.

Meat:
There are all kind of meat, but most favorite and even most spreaded is beef.

Fruits:
We've been really surprised, that fruits in compare with other foods, been quite expensive. In the markets is able to buy everything you know from home. My most favorite one was "Dragon fruit" for 5000 VND per piece. Delicious.

Water:
Drink and buy only bottled water and be carefull about bottle seals. From our own experience we know, that if is water suspicious cheap, probably will be draught at home. We are definitelly not reccommending drink this water! 1-1,5 littre of bottled water cost 8000 - 15000VND. Is good to bring with you empty plastic bottle to store, when you buying a water you can negotiate best price due to that.

ACCOMMODATION

All over Vietnam is able to find very cheap accommodation. We've been there in low seasson so was easier to negotiate better prices. Double room without air-conditioning all over Vietnam costs from 4 to 10 USD. We've been very surprised about very nice standard and facility of even these cheap rooms. Almost every hotel room was clean, had own bathroom with tub and hot water, cable TV and window. Best sleeping we have found in Sapa with beautiful view, big room with two beds, fireplace (didn't work but it was not so important), tub, TV, balcony and great restaurant for 4,50 USD for room per night.

SAFENESS

Excepting one incident when some small Vietnamese hands stole me 100 000 VND from my pocket, we haven't experienced andy other inconveniences at all. In most of hotels we weren't affraid left our either belongings nor money in room and nothing never got lost. But we are definitely don't reccomending this solution!

Even on the streets during the night we didn't felt sense of dangerous, because everywhere were a lot of people and all streets even the small ones been somehow ilumined.