Updated December 29, 2023
Vietnam Flag
Halong Bay, Vietnam
World Heritage Sites in Vietnam
As of 2021, eight World Heritage sites have been registered.
Vietnam Overview
Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country on the South China Sea, known for its beaches, rivers, pagodas, and vibrant cities.
The capital, Hanoi, has a huge marble mausoleum honoring the country's leading communist leader, Ho Chi Minh, and nearby is Halong Bay, a World Heritage site.
In the south, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) features French-era architecture, a museum that tells the history of the Vietnam War, and the Cu Chi Tunnels used by Vietcong soldiers.
official name of a countrySocialist Republic of Vietnam
national flowerLotus
area331,200 km²: 331,200 km
capital cityHanoi
country code+84
population： 92.7 million (2016) World Bank
political systemSocialist Republic
currency: Dong A banknote is 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000,There are 12 denominations: 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, and 500,000 dong. 100 and 200 dong bills are almost never in circulation. There are almost no coins in circulation.
Banknotes of Vietnam
official languageVietnamese: Vietnamese. The script uses Quôc ngữ.
ethnic composition: There are 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam, of which the Kinh (Vietnamese) are the most numerous, accounting for 851 TP3T to 901 TP3T of the total population.
religionReligion: The majority of religions are Buddhism (Mahayana Buddhism). Other religions include Taoism and the Catholic Church.
In the central part of the country (the territory of the former Champa Kingdom), Islam and Hinduism are prevalent, while in the south, the Hoa Hao religion and the Khao Dai religion as a mixed religion are prevalent.
The six officially recognized religions are Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Cao Dai, and Hua Hao.
The back two of these religions were born in Vietnam and are unique to Vietnam.
phoneTo make a phone call Ho Chi Minh City area code "28", Da Nang "236", Hoi An "235", Hanoi "24".
- From Japan to Vietnam 001/0033 etc. + 010 (international call identification number) + 84 (Vietnam's country code) + area code (take off the leading 0) + phone number of the other party
- From Vietnam to Japan 00 (international dialing code) + 81 (country code of Japan) + phone number of the other party (take off the initial 0 of area codes and mobile numbers)
- How to make a local call in Vietnam 0 + area code + phone number of the other party * "0 + area code" is not necessary for local calls.
Voltage and plug50Hz, 220V,A/C/SEMost of the plugs are of the composite type, which can be used for both A-type (Japanese shape) and C-type outlets with two legs.
Electricity Outlets in Vietnam
toiletMost of the toilets in the hotel are western style with a flush. When flushing, some toilets are flushed with water from a bucket placed at the side of the toilet.
For those that are not the flushable western type, do not flush the toilet paper, but throw it in a basket nearby.
Restrooms in shopping centers and luxury hotels are available while you are out and about.
mailVietnam's post offices are operated by VNPT, the Post and Telecommunications Corporation.
Airmail to Japan costs 16,000VND per postcard and 15,000VND for a sealed letter up to 20g.
There are also international courier offices in each major city, such as DHL, FedEx, and Sagawa Express.
水Vietnam's tap water is hard water, unlike that of Japan. Tap water should not be drunk due to sanitary problems.
It is recommended to have the ice removed as much as possible from food stalls, including juices.
public orderThe most common problems encountered while traveling in Vietnam are scams and rip-offs at cyclo-cycles, cabs, souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, and travel agencies.
Before DepartureMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Overseas Safety Web SiteCheck the safety information at
Vietnam General Administration of Tourism: Official guide of the General Administration of Tourism of Vietnam.
Vietnam NaviVietnam: A lot of information about Vietnam.
national anthemmarching song
Map of Vietnam
Basic Knowledge of Vietnam
Domestic Transportation in Vietnam
airplane
Vietnam's domestic flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, and Bamboo Airways.
Domestic flights should always be reconfirmed at least 24 hours in advance, as flight times can be overbooked or changed without notice.
Vietnam Airlines～The service is popular because it connects more than a dozen major cities and is well serviced.
Vietjet Air~ Vietnam's first LCC (Low Cost Carrier).
Pacific Airlines - A subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines. Older equipment and flight time delays, but several tens of dollars cheaper than Vietnam Airlines.
Renamed from former Jetstar Pacific Airlines to Pacific Airlines in July 2020/7.
Bamboo Airways~Bamboo Airways is an airline established by the FLC Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate.
Train (Vietnam Unified Railway）
The 1,726-km-long Unified Railway connects Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Nha Trang - Da Nang - Hue - Hanoi.
The shortest journey between Saigon and Hanoi takes about 31 hours and 30 minutes (fare: from VND1,375,000 for a bunk bed).
Seats include hard seats, soft seats, hard beds, and soft beds.
How to purchase tickets - Reservations are required for long-distance trains.
- Buy on website:Official Ticket Reservation SiteOnline ticketing and seat selection is available atAgency Siteis here.
- Purchase at train stations: Reservations and tickets can be made and purchased at the counter of each train station. Usually available about one month in advance.Saigon StationEnglish is spoken in
- Purchase at a travel agency (see below): If you are not confident in your English, it is more reliable to make arrangements at a travel agency.
long-haul bus
Buses are cheaper than other forms of transportation.
For public buses that depart from or arrive at the bus terminal of each town, tickets are purchased at the bus terminal; for tour buses operated by travel agencies, tickets are purchased at travel agencies in the city.
local travel agent
A well-established tour office that changed its name from Sin Café.
We offer half-day tours of Ho Chi Minh City, full-day tours of the Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong River cruise tours, Angkor Wat tours, and other English-language tours at reasonable prices.
It also operates tour buses to all parts of Vietnam. Head office in Ho Chi Minh City, with branches throughout Vietnam.
Reasonable Japanese-language tours are offered.
Japanese staff are stationed at the main office in Ho Chi Minh City, and there are also branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Siem Reap.
SKYhub Global Tour Lounge is a tour lounge for Japanese tourists located on Dong Khoi Street in central Ho Chi Minh City, a 3-minute walk from the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The lounge has a stylish and relaxed atmosphere inspired by Hoi An, the ancient capital of Vietnam.
Various services include ao dai rentals, local tours, beverage service, sundry goods sales, and cell phone chargers.
Popular is ao dai rentals, with Japanese-language staff on hand. There are also branches in Hanoi and Da Nang.
VELTRA
Beltra is a website and application that provides local tour and activity booking services for travel.
Bertra K.K. is a travel agency under the Travel Agency Law and operates this website and other travel-related services, with headquarters in Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Traffic Rules in Vietnam
There is no traffic etiquette that says people have priority, cars > bikes > people.
Watch out for motorcycles, even if you are walking on a sidewalk or at an intersection with a green light.
When crossing a street, go where there is a traffic signal. If there is no signal, match the timing of the local people crossing.
Never run and never stop.
Climate of Vietnam
Overall, Vietnam has a hot, rainy, tropical monsoon climate.
However, because the country is long and narrow from north to south, the climate varies greatly from region to region even during the same time of year.
Especially in winter (November to March), mornings and evenings in the north are cold enough to require jackets, while in the south, the daytime temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F).
Research the climate of your destination and dress accordingly before departure.
Access to Vietnam
Main Travel Destinations
Ho Chi Minh City... Vietnam's largest commercial city, which was called "Saigon" until 1975.
Hanoi・・・・・ A quiet capital and political center surrounded by lakes and greenery.
Danang・・・・・Danang is a beach resort in central Vietnam.
Hoi An・・・・The World Heritage Site of Hoi An is famous for the fantastic lights of its lanterns.
Hue・・・・・・Hue is an ancient city in central Vietnam. It is home to the "Monuments of Hue," the first World Heritage Site in Vietnam.
dalat・・・・ A tourist city located on the central plateau, it was developed as a summer resort during the French colonial period.