TRAVEL TIPS

• Bank and currency
• Travelers’ checks
• Credit cards
• HONG KONG BANK ( Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
• Banking hours
• Laundry
• Meals
• Shopping
• Jewelry
• Learn some Vietnamese

Bank and currency: Vietnamese currency is the “Dong”.  Though it has not been valued on the world market, it depends greatly on the fluctuating price of gold in Vietnam.  The “Dong” is represented by the following denominations; 200d (red), 500d (red), 1,000d (brown/green), 2,000d (brown/pink),5,000d (blue), 10,000d (red), 20,000d (blue), 50,000d (green).  These currencies are all in the form of paper money.  As a rule of thumb, 11,000d = 1US$.  Besides gold, the US$ has been the 2nd best way of holding a steady currency.  In the past few years the Vietnamese currency rate has been very steady due to its economic prosperity.  The US$ is accepted everywhere in Vietnam.  It is sometimes the best currency to carry due to its easy exchange to dong.  It is advised that Vietnamese currency be used while traveling through Vietnam because you can buy more with the dong that you can with the dollar.  The present rate fluctuate from 13,500 – 14,000 Dong = 1 USD.

Travelers’ checks:  Traveler’s checks can be used in major hotels and banks.  You can also cash your checks at the banks for cash U.S dollars (small comm. apprx.1.8 %) or change directly to VN dong (no change).  American Express travelers’ checks or Thomas Cook are the most widely used.

Credit cards:  This type of payment was just introduced since 1993.  Now it is becoming the most preferred way to pay in Vietnam.  Credit card (Visa, Master Card, Diner’s Club, JCB) of any nation including U.S credit cards are accepted in major hotels, shops, banks and where you see credit card stickers.  Credit cards can also be cashed for currency at the bank.  The main central bank of Vietnam is Vietcom Bank (The Vietnam Commercial Bank) has branches all over the country.  The only bank in Saigon where you can get money from a teller machine is Hong Kong Bank:

HONG KONG BANK ( Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
75 Pham Hong Thai Street, District 1, VIETNAM
Telephone: (848)829-2288
fax: (848)823-0530

Banking hours:  M - F 8.00 - 11.30am, re-open 2.00pm - 4.00pm; Sat:8.00 - 12.00pm; Sun: closed.  For government work hours it is the same as above but Sat;8.00 - 4.30pm.

Laundry:  It is rather cheap in Vietnam and generally available wherever you go.  Don’t hand in your laundry to the hotel if you stay for only one night because this service may take longer than one night, especially when the weather is wet.  In the main cities of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) or Hanoi, clothes are machine dried and can be done in a day.

Meals:  It is advisable to have hot, well-cooked meals (including vegetables) until you think you get used to the Vietnamese foods, which always have lots of fresh vegetables.  Sea products are super: fresh fish, lobster, crabs, Cuttlefish.  Notice that meals are not all served at the same time, but sometimes one after another.   Eating utensils will mostly be chopsticks.  Just request for a fork (pronounced “ nia”) if you haven’t mastered the chopstick.  Ice cubes especially served on the roadside or small towns should be avoided.  Just request for chilled drinks (pronounced “ Op Lan”).  The trend is starting to move towards chilling the drinks instead of putting ice in it.  Tipping when eating is probably the most asked question.  It is a western introduction.  In the large cities when dining in large hotel restaurants tips are included.  If you feel the service was good you can tip around 10,000 – 20,000 Dong ( around 0.80 – 1.50 USD).  As you travel and eat on the roadside it is not required that you tip.  If you feel compelled to tip because the service was good then an amount of 2,000 – 5,000 Dong ( 0.15 – 0.30).  TIP: Roadside restaurants do not always have prices on them, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU’RE PAYING FOR YOUR FOOD.  Our guides will gladly assist in situations like this.  You will find that the cuisine in Vietnam will vary in taste and color from south to north.  Please do try and you will discover a whole new world of herbs and flavor that will tickle your taste buds.

Shopping:  There is surprising number of products to buy in Vietnam.  Though it is advisable to buy items at the your departure point like Hanoi Capital or Saigon to avoid having to carry all the goodies for the rest of the trip.   If you are deciding to buy here are a few tips; wood products it is better to buy in the south and if you plan to buy ceramics it is better in the North.  Fine handicrafts, embroidery articles, rattan and bamboo products, lacquer wares, marble carvings are some of the products are worth buying in Vietnam.  Silk in Vietnam are some of the highest qualities in the world.  Women and men can have their clothes custom tailored in a day or two.  Let us know if you like recommendations.

Jewelry:  Jewelry can be made to your specifications and especially if you have a picture of the style you like.  Precious stones should only be bought from the government jewelry company as they have certification of origination, which you will need when you leave Vietnam and enter your country.  The government jewelry company is called SJC or in Vietnamese “ Cty. Vang Bac Da Quy”.  Purchasing from here will give you peace of mind that the rock you’ve purchase is real.

Learn some Vietnamese:  Your first introduction to the Vietnamese culture will probably be the language, so what better time then now to start learning.