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Inverse 27,324 23,282 30,613

NORTHERN VIETNAM

General Information

• Capital city: HaNoi

• Population: 96 million

• Principal cities: HaNoi, Hai Phong

• Official Language: Vietnamese

(Tiếng Việt)

• Minority languages: Tày, Mường,

Cham, Khmer, Chinese, Nùng,

H’Mông

• Religion: Folk or Irreligious (73.2%),

Buddhism (12.2%), Christian (8.3%).

• Currency: Vietnamese đồng (VND)

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Proposed Itinerary and sightseeing

1 to 2 weeks

HaNoi (2-3 days): discover the

effervescence of the Old Quarter

and the old-fashioned charm of the

colonial French Quarter. Don’t miss

the train passing through the city

streets (Ngo 224 Le Duan).

Sa Pa (2-3 days): trek through the

rice terraces in the ‘Tonkinese Alps’

Hoang Lien Mountains valley.

Cát Bà Island (3-4 days): cruise

and kayak the sublime karst

limestone peaks and emerald seas

scenery of the Halong Bay.

Basic words in Vietnamese

• Yes / No: Vâng (vuhng) / Không

(kohng)

• Hello: Xin chào (sin chow)

• Please: Làm ơn cho tôi (lam uhhn

jaw thoye)

• Sorry: Xin lỗi (sin loy)

• Thank you: Cám ơn (gam uhhn)

• Good Bye: Tạm biệt (tam bee it)

• You are welcome: Không sao đâu

(kohng sao doh)

• How are you? Bạn có khỏe không?

(ban ko kwe khom?)

• What’s your name? Bạn tên gì?

(ban thane zee?)

• My name is [Jordan]: Tôi là [Jordan]

(thoy la [Jordan])

Survival guide

▲ Tourist visa: some nationalities are exempt for up to 15 days

(French, Germans, Italian, Spanish…). If you are not or stay longer,

you need to apply in advance via online visa agents (around 17€),

consulate or embassy for a tourist 30 or 90 days visa.

▲ Cash: ATM are widely available in urban areas.

▲ Average daily budget under 40€:

✓ Cheap hotel: 9-13€. Dorm bed: 5-10€.

✓ Local noodles meal: 1-2€. Mango smoothie: 1-2€

▲ Vaccines : CDC recommends routine, Hepatitis A and Typhoid

vaccines for all travellers.

▲ Health: avoid bug bites to prevent Malaria (DEET 50% repellent spray

is advised) and animal bite (dogs, bats...) as rabies is endemic.

▲ Phone and Internet: prepaid SIM cards are easy to find and very

cheap. WIFI connections and mobile internet are widely available.

▲ Power plug: mostly Type A plug, also used in North America, Japan

and China. Type C “Euro” and D plugs can also be found.

Experiences

Meet the ethnic minorities of the North such as the colourful Dzao,

and ‘Flower’ Hmong and Tày people around Sa Pa and Lao Cai.

Markets and street food: there is no better place to immerse yourself

in the local culture and savoury culinary heritage.

Traditional food: try the Pho Bo (beef soup), the Bun Cha (pork

dish), a Bia Hoi (fresh brewed beer) and some Bahn Cuon (rolls).

Safety: Vietnam is generally safe and the crime rate is low. Avoid

travelling during tropical storm season. Pay attention to the chaotic

traffic, especially if you are planning to move around with a scooter.

Tam Coc (2 days): bark ride the river surrounded by the rice paddies

of the ‘terrestrial Halong Bay’ and wander into the nearby Bái Đính

Temple.

Option Hà Giang Province (2-3 days): hike the Quan Ba Pass

(Heaven’s gate) in the extreme north and nearby Ba Be National

Park for limestone mountains, caves, tropical forests and waterfalls.Transport

• Bus one hour on a local bus costs 1-

1.5€. Possibilities to take overnight

buses between main cities.

• Motorbike: renting a scooter is an

inexpensive way to freely discover

the cities and their surroundings.

• Train is a reliable way to travel

between Hanoi and the city port of

Haiphong, the North-East Lang Son

or Lao Cai near Sa Pa. Prices vary.

Travelingkompass.wordpress.com

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SaPa, North-West

The Halong Bay

Tam Coc Bái Đính temple

The Halong Bay

Old Quarter, HaNoi