Legal Matters

Civil Law
On paper it looks good, but in practice the rule of law in Vietnam is a fickle beast. Local officials interpret the law any way it suits them, often against the wishes of Hanoi. There is no independent judiciary. Not surprisingly, most legal disputes are settled out of court. In general, you can accomplish more with a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of good cognac than you can with a lawyer. The drug trade has made a comeback in Vietnam. The country has a very serious problem with heroin these days and the authorities are clamping down hard, Marijuana and, in the northwest, opium are readily available, hut giving in to this temptation is a risk. There are many plain-clothes police in Vietnam and, if arrested, the result might be a large fine and/or a long prison term.

Police
Vietnamese police are the best that money can buy. Police corruption is an everyday reality and has been acknowledged in official newspapers. If something does go wrong, or if something is stolen, the police can't do much more than prepare an insurance report (or a fee (no fixed cost). Hanoi has warned all provincial governments that any police caught shaking down foreign tourists will be fired and arrested. The crackdown has dented the enthusiasm of the police to confront foreigners directly with demands for bribes, but it still happens in more out-of-the-way places.

MAPS
Most bookshops in Vietnam stock a good range of maps. A must for its detailed road maps of every province is the Viet Nam Administrative Atlas, published by Ban Do. It is perfect for cyclists or motorbikers looking for roads less travelled and costs 68,000d in softback. Ban Do also publishes reasonable tourist maps of HCMC, Hanoi, Danang, Hue and a few other cities. Unfortunately, maps of smaller towns are practically nonexistent. Most of the listings mags produced in Viet-nam have city maps of Hanoi and HCMC, and there are some good hand-drawn 3D maps of Hanoi, Hue and Sapa available from Covit, a local publisher. Vietnamese street names are preceded with the words Pho, Duong and Dai Lo - on the maps and in the text in this book, they appear respectively as P, Đ and ĐL

MONEY
The first currency of Vietnam is the dong, which is abbreviated to 'd'. Banknotes come in denominations of 500d, l000d, 2000d, 5000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, 50.000d, l00.000d, 200,000d and 500,000d. Now that Ho Chi Minh has been canonised (against his wishes), his picture is on every banknote. Coins arc also in circulation, although they arc more common in the cities, including 500d, l000d and 5000d. The second currency is the US dollar and thai needs no introduction.
The dong has experienced its ups ami downs. The late 1990s Asian economic crisis which wreaked severe havoc on the regional currencies, caused the dong to lose about 15% of its US-dollar value. Since then the don’t has stabilised at around 16,000d to the US dollar. Where prices are quoted in dong, we quote them in this book in dong. Likewise, when prices are quoted in dollars, we follow suit While this may seem inconsistent, this is the way it's done in Vietnam and the sooner you get used to thinking comparatively in dong and dollars, the easier your travels will be. For a smattering of exchange rates at the time of going to print, see the Quick Reference section on the inside front cover of this book.

ATMs
It used to be just a couple of foreign banks in Hanoi and HCMC that offered ATMs. but Vietnamese banks have now got into this game in a big way. Vietcombank has the best network in the country, including most of the major tourist destinations and all the big cities. Every branch stocks a useful leaflet with a list of their nationwide ATMs. Withdrawals are issued in dong, and there is a single with-drawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125). However, you can do multiple withdrawals until you hit your own account limit. ANZ offers 4,000,000d withdrawals per transaction. Most banks charge 20,000d per transaction. Cash advances for larger amounts of dong, as well as US dollars, can be arranged over the counter during office hours.

Black Market
The black market is Vietnam's unofficial banking system that is almost everywhere and operates quite openly. Private individuals and some shops and restaurants will exchange US dollars for dong and vice versa. While the practice is technically illegal, law enforcement is virtually nonexistent. Ironically, black market exchange rates are usually worse than the official exchange rates, so the only advantage is the convenience of changing money when and where you like. If people approach you on the street with offers to change money at rates better than the official one, you can rest assured that you arc being set up for a rip-off. Fake notes or too few notes, they will get you somehow. Don't even think about trying it! Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, that's because it probably is.

Cash
Most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam, but away from the tourist centres the US dollar remains king. Viet-combank is the most organised of the local banks for changing cash and can deal with euros, pounds and pretty much anything else you are packing. The US dollar exchange rate worsens the further you get from the tourist trail, so stock up on dong if you are heading into remote areas. In small towns it can be difficult to get change for the larger notes, so keep a stack of smaller bills handy. Changing US$100 will make you an instant millionaire! It's a good idea to check that any big dollar bills you take do not have any small tears or look too tatty, as no-one will want to touch them in Vietnam. You cannot legally take the dong out of Vietnam but you can reconvert reasonable amounts of it into US$ dollars on departure.

Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and JCB cards are now widely acceptable in all major cities and many tourist centres. However, a 3% commission charge on every transaction is pretty common; check first, as some charge higher commissions than others. Some merchants also accept Amex, but the surcharge is typically 4%. Better hotels and restaurants do not usually slap on an additional charge. Getting a cash advance from Visa, Mastei Card and JCB is possible at Vietcombank in most cities, as well as at some foreign banks in HCMC and Hanoi. Banks generally charge a 3% commission for this service. This is handy if you want to get out large sums, as the ATMs have low daily limits.

Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. For a person who earns US$100 per month, a US$1 tip is significant. Upmarket hotels and some restaurants 33 may levy a 5% service charge, but this may not make it to the staff. If you stay a couple of days in the same hotel, try and remember to tip the staff who clean your room. You should also consider tipping drivers and guides - after all, the time they spend on the road with you means time away from home and family. Typically, travellers on minibus tours will pool together to collect a communal tip to be split between the guide and driver. It is considered proper to make a small donation at the end of a visit to a pagoda, especially if a monk has shown you around; most pagodas have contribution boxes for this purpose.

Travellers cheques
It is wise not to rely entirely on travellers cheques by keeping a reasonable stash of US dollars to hand. Travellers cheques can only be exchanged at authorised foreign-exchange banks, but these aren't found throughout Vietnam. Strangely, there are no banks at most of the land border crossings. The only way to change money at these places is on the black market. If you only have travellers cheques, stock up on US dollars at a bank, which will usually charge anywhere from 0.5% to 2% commission to change them into cash. Vietcombank charges no commission for exchanging Amex travellers cheques; a reasonable 0.5% for other types. If your travellers cheques are in currencies other than US dollars, they may be useless beyond the major cities. Hefty commissions are the norm if they can be exchanged at all.

Laundry

It is easy to get your laundry done at guesthouses and cheaper hotels for just a few US dollars. There have, however, been a number of reports of gross overcharging at certain hotels, so make sure you check the price be forehand. Budget hotels do not have clothes dryers, as they rely on the sunshine - so allow at least a day and a half for washing and drying, especially during the wet season. You can also elect to wash your own clothes as washing powder is cheap and readily available.

Internet Access

Today the internet is widely available throughout towns and cities in Vietnam. There is everything from trendy cybercafe’s to computer terminals in the lobbies of hotels and guesthouses, plus public internet access in many Vietnamese post offices. Many of the budget and midrange hotels in major cities offer free internet in the lobby. Some even offer free access in the room for those travelling with a laptop. The cost of internet access generally ranges from 3000d to 20,000d per hour, depending on where you are and what the competition is like. Printing usually costs around 1000d per page and scanning about 2000d a page.
Wifi access is spreading fast. Hanoi, HCMC and other big towns have plenty of cafes and bars offering free access. Many of the leading hotels also offer wifi, but in keeping with the four or five-star tradition, it is not a free service. For laptop travellers with older machines, check out the prepaid internet-access cards that can provide you with nationwide dial up to the net. FPT is one of Vietnam's largest ISPs, and its internet card is sold in most cities. Remember that the power supply voltage will vary from that at home. The best investment is a universal AC adapter, which will enable you to plug it in anywhere without frying the innards of your equipment.

Insurance

Insurance is a must for Vietnam, as the cost of major medical treatment is prohibitive. Although you may have medical insurance in your own country, it is probably not valid while you are in Vietnam. A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is the best bet. There is a wide variety of policies available, so check the small print. Some insurance policies specifically exclude such 'dangerous activities' as riding motorbikes, diving and even trekking. Check that the policy covers an emergency evacuation in the event of serious injury.

Post offices

Every city, town, village and rural subdistrict in Vietnam has some sort of post office (buu dien). Post offices all over the country keep long hours, from about 6.30am to 9pm including weekends and public holidays (even Tet). Vietnam has a pretty reliable post service these days. Gone are the days of your stamps being steamed off and your postcards being delivered to the rubbish bin. International postal rates are similar to those in European countries. Postcards cost from 7000d to 10.000d depending on the destination. Items mailed from anywhere other than large towns and cities might take a month to arrive at their international destination. Airmail service from HCMC and Hanoi takes approximately five to 10 days to get to most Western countries. Express-mail service (EMS), available in the larger cities, is twice as fast as regular airmail and everything is registered. Private couriers such as FedEx, DHL and UPS are reliable for transporting small parcels or documents. Po.stc restante works well in post offices in Hanoi and HCMC. Foreigners must pay a small service charge for each letter received through the poste restante. Receiving even a small package from abroad can cause a headache and large ones will produce a migraine. If the parcel contains books, documents, CDs, DVDs or dangerous goods it's possible that a lengthy inspection will be required, which could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Travellers with Disabilities

Vietnam is not the easiest of places for disabled travellers, despite the fact that many Vietnamese are disabled as a result of war injuries. Tactical problems include the chaotic traffic, a lack of pedestrian footpaths, a lack of lifts in smaller hotels and the ubiquitous squat toilets. That said, with some careful planning it is possible to have a relatively stress-free trip to Vietnam. Find a reliable company to make the travel arrangements and don't be afraid to double-check things with hotels and restaurants yourself. In the major cities many hotels have lifts and disabled access is improving. Bus and train travel is not really geared up for disabled travellers, but rent a private vehicle with a driver and almost anywhere becomes instantly accessible. As long as you are not too proud about how you get in and out of a boat or up some stairs, anything is possible, as the Vietnamese are always willing to help.
You might try contacting the following organisations:
Accessible Journeys (Tell: 610-5210339)
Mobility International USA (Tell: 54 13431284)
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation
(Radar;Tell: 020-7250 3222)
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH; Tell 212-447 7284)
Vietnam Travel Guide's Thorn Tree  is a good place to seek the advice of other travellers

TOURIST INFORMATION

Tourist offices in Vietnam have a different philosophy from the majority of tourist offices worldwide. These government-owned enterprises are really travel agencies whose primary interests are booking tours and turning a profit. Don't come here hoping for freebies. Vietnam Tourism and Saigon Tourist are old examples of this genre, but nowadays every province has at least one such organisation. Travel cafes, budget agencies and your fellow travellers are a much better source of information than any of the so-called 'tourist offices'.

TIME

Vietnam is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time/Universal Time Coordinated (GMT/UTC). Because of its proximity to the equator, Vietnam does not have daylight-saving or summer time. When it's noon in Vietnam it is 9pm the previous day in Vancouver- midnight in New York, 8am in London and 3pm in Sydney

TOILETS

The issue of toilets and what to do with used toilet paper causes some concern. In general, if there's a wastepaper basket next to the toilet, that is where the toilet paper goes, as many sewage systems cannot handle toilet paper. Toilet paper is seldom provided in the toilets at bus and train stations or in other public buildings. You'd be. wise to keep a stash of your own with you at all times while on the move. Another thing to be mentally prepared for is squat toilets. For the uninitiated, a squat toilet has no seat for you to sit on while reading this guidebook; it's a hole in the floor. The only way to Mush it is to fill the conveniently placed bucket with water and pour it into the hole. Most hotels will have Western-style Joos, but squats are the norm in older hotels and public places. The scarcity of public toilets is more of a problem for women than for men. Vietnamese men often urinate in public. Women might find road-side toilet stops easier if wearing a sarong.

Women Travellers  

Like Thailand and other predominantly Buddhist countries, Vietnam is relatively free of serious hassles for Western women. But it is a different story for some Asian women, particularly those who are young. It's not un-common for an Asian woman accompanied by a Western male to be stereotyped as a Vietnamese prostitute. The fact that the couple could be married, or friends, doesn't seem to occur to everyone, or that the woman may not be Vietnamese at all. Asian women travelling in Vietnam with a Western male companion have occasionally reported verbal abuse. However, there's no need to be overly paranoid, as locals are becoming more accustomed to seeing Asian women. Things have improved as more Vietnamese people are exposed to foreign visitors. Sanitary napkins are available in larger cities, though tampons are harder to find.

Visa 

Tourist visas allow visitors to enter and exit Vietnam at Hanoi, HCMC and Danang air-poris or at any of its twelve land borders, three each with Cambodia and China, and six with Laos. Tourist visas are valid for a single 30-day stay. the government often talks about issuing visas on arrival to certain favoured nationalities, but as yet this sensible scheme has failed to materialise. Arranging the paperwork for a Vietnamese visa has become fairly straightforward, but it remains expensive and unnecessarily time-consuming. Processing a tourist-visa application typically takes four or five working days in countries in the West. It is possible to arrange a visa on arrival through a Vietnamese travel agent. They will need passport details in advance and will send a confirmation for the visa to be issued at your airport of arrival. In Asia the best place to pick up a Vietnamese visa is Cambodia, where it COST A around US$30 and can be arranged the same day. Bangkok is also a popular place as many agents offer cheap packages with an air ticket and visa thrown in. If you plan to spend more than a month in Vietnam, or if you plan to exit Vietnam and enter again from Cambodia or Laos, arrange a three-month multiple-entry visa. These cost around US$95 in Cambodia, but are not available from all Vietnamese embassies. In our experience personal appearance influences the reception you receive from airport immigration - it you wear shorts or scruffy clothing, look dirty or unshaven, you can expect problems. Try your best to look 'respectable'.

Telephone & Fax

For the all-important numbers like emergency services and the international access code, please call : General information service (Tell:1080) that provides everything from phone numbers and train and air timetables to exchange rates and the latest football scores.ect... It even provides marriage counselling or bedtime lullabies for your child - no kidding! You can usually be connected to an operator who speaks English or French.

Photography & Video 

Memory cards are pretty cheap in Vietnam, pretty fortunate given the visual feast awaiting even the amateur photographer. Most internet cafes can also bum photos on to a CD or DVD to free up storage space. It's worthwhile bringing the attachment for viewing your files on televisions, as many hotels come equipped with televisions. Colour print film is widely available and prices are pretty reasonable at about US$2.50 for a roll of 36 print film. Slide film can be bought m Hanoi and HCMC, but don't count on it elsewhere.Supplies of black-and-white film are rapidly disappearing, so bring your own. Photo-processing shops are located all over Vietnam and developing costs are about US$4 per roll depending on the print size selected. The quality is generally very good. Processing slide film is best saved for somewhere else. Printing digital shots is pretty cheap and works out at between l000d and 2000d a photo. Cameras are a reasonable price in Vietnam but the selection is limited. All other camera supplies are readily accessible in major towns, but soon dry up in remote areas. The Vietnamese police usually don't care what you photograph, but on occasion they get pernickety. Obviously, don't photograph sensitive sites such as airports and border checkpoints. Don't even think of trying to get a snapshot of Ho Chi Minh in his glass sarcophagus! Photographing anyone, particularly hill-tribe people, demands patience and the utmost respect for local customs. Photograph with discretion and manners. It's always polite to ask first and if the person says no, don't take the photo. If you promise to send a copy of the photo, make sure you do. For endless tips on better travel photography, pick up a copy of Vietnam Travel Guide's Travel Photography.

 Shopping

Vietnam has some fantastic shopping opportunities so it is well worth setting aside half a day or more to properly peruse. Hotspots include Hanoi, Hoi An and HCMC, each of which has a tempting selection of everything from avant-garde art to sumptuous silk suits. Some of the best buys on the block include gorgeous glazed pottery, classic lanterns, 'almost' antiques, embroidered tablecloths, fine furnishings, and lavish silk and linen creations in designer boutiques.

Vietnamese Puplic Holidays 

Politics affects everything, including public holidays. After a 15-year lapse, religious holidays were re-established in 1990. The following are public holidays in Vietnam:

+New Year's Day (Tet Duong Lich) 1 January

+Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnamese Communist Party (Thanh Lap Dang CSVN) 3 February - the date the party was founded in 1930.  

+Liberation Day (Saigon Giai Phong) 30 April - the date on which Saigon surrendered is commemorated nationwide as Liberation Day.

+ International Workers' Day (QuocTe Lao Dong) 1 May
 

+ Ho Chi Minh's Birthday (Sinh Nhat Bac Ho) 19 May

+ Buddha's Birthday (Phat Dan) Eighth day of the fourth moon (usually June).

+ National Day (Quoc Khanh) 2 September-commemorates the Declaration of Independence by Ho Chi Minh in 1945.
 

 Gay & Lesbian Travellers 

Vietnam is a relatively hassle-free place for homosexuals. There are no official laws on same-sex relationships in Vietnam, nor much in the way of individual harassment. That said, the government is notorious for clamping down on gay venues, and places that are covered in the mass media are 'coinciden-tally' closed down days later. Most gay venues keep a fairly low profile. There is, however, a healthy gay scene in Hanoi and HCMC, evidenced by unabashed cruising around certain lakes in Hanoi and the thriving cafe scene in HCMC. Homosexuality is still far from accepted in the wider community, though the lack of any laws keeps things fairly safe. Major headlines were made in 1997 with Vietnam's first gay marriage, and again in 1998 at the country's first lesbian wedding, in the Mekong Delta. However, displaying peculiar double standards, two weeks later government officials broke up the marriage of the women and the couple signed an agreement promising not to live together again. With the vast number of same-sex travel partners - gay or otherwise - checking into hotels throughout Vietnam, there is little scrutiny over how travelling foreigners are related. However, it would be prudent not to flaunt your sexuality. As with heterosexual couples, passionate public displays of affection are considered a basic no-no. Utopia: features gay travel information and contacts, including detailed sections on the legality of homosexuality in Vietnam and some local gay terminology.

For father information or need help for Gay or Lesbian travellers to Vietnam , Please contact with us

Food 

Vietnamese cuisine has become a favourite throughout the Western world and a journey through Vietnam is a gastronomic treat. For the full story on Vietnamese cuisine, see the Food & Drink chapter.

Festivals & Events 

Major religious festivals in Vietnam have lunar dates; check against any Vietnamese calendar for the Gregorian dates. If you know when Tet kicks off, simply count from there. Special prayers are held at Vietnamese and Chinese pagodas when the moon is full or a thin sliver. Many Buddhists eat only vegetarian food on these days, which, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, fall on the 14th and 15th days of the month and from the last day of the month to the first day of the next month. Tet (Tet Nguyen Dan) The Big One! The Vietnamese Lunar New Year is Christmas, Hew Year and birthdays alt rolled into one. Lasting from the first to seventh days of the first moon, the Tet Festival falls in late January or early February for more on Tet. Holiday of the Dead (Thanh Minh) It's time to honour the ancestors with a visit to graves of deceased relatives. Fifth day of the third moon. Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Death A big celebration at Buddhist temples and pagodas with lively processions. Eighth day of the fourth moon. Summer Solstice Day (Tiet Doan Ngo) Keep the epidemics at bay with offerings to the spirits, ghosts and the God of Death. Fifth day of the fifth moon. Wandering Souls Day (Trung Nguyen) Second in the pecking order to Tet, offerings are made for the wandering souls of the forgotten dead. Fifteenth day of the seventh moon. Mid-Autumn Festival (Trung Thu) A fine time for foodies with moon cakes of sticky rice filled with lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, peanuts, the yolks of duck eggs, raisins and other treats. Fifteenth day of the eighth moon. Confucius' Birthday Happy birthday to China's leading philosophical export. Twenty-eighth day of the ninth moon. Christmas Day (Giang Sinh) Needs no introduction, this is not a national holiday, but is celebrated throughout Vietnam, particularly by the sizable Catholic population.

France Paris (Tell: 014414 6400; 62-66 Rue Boileau, 75016;
Germany Berlin (Tell:030-509 8262; Konigswinter St 28, D-10318)
Hong Kong Wan Chai; ( Tell: 22-591 4510; 15th fl. Great Smart Tower, 230 Wan Chai Rd)
Italy Rome (Tell: 06-6616 0726; 156 Via di Bravetta, 00164)
Japan Tokyo (Tell: 03-3466 3311; 50-11 Moto Yoyogi-Cho, Shibuya-ku, 151); Osah (Tell: 06-263 1600; 10th fl, Estate Bakurocho BIdg, 1-4-10 Bakurocho, Chuo-ku)
Laos Vientiane ('S 21-413 409; Thai luang Rd); StWifMW; (ĐT:41-212 239; 418 Sisavang Vong)
Philippines Metro Manila (Tell: 2-525 2837; 67 Đ Pablo Ocampo, Makati City)
Thailand Bangkok (Tell:,2-251 7202; 83/1 Wireless Rd 10500)
UK London (Tell:020-79371912; 12-14 Victoria Rd, W8 5RD)
USA Washington (Tell:202-8610737; 1233 20th St NW, Ste 400, DC 20036);
San Francisco (Tell:415-922 1707; 1700 California St, Ste 430, CA 94109)

Embassies & Consulates in Vietnam
With the exception of those for Cambodia, China and Laos, Hanoi's embassies and HCMC s consulates do very little visa business for non-Vietnamese. It's important to realise what your country s embass' can and can't do to help if you get into trouble. Generally .speaking, it won't be much help if the trouble you're in is remotely your own fault. Remember that you are bound by the laws of the country you are in. Your embassy won’ t be sympathetic if you end up in jail after committing a crime, even if such actions are legal in your own country. In genuine emergencies you might get some assistance, but only if other channels have been exhausted. If you have all your money and documents stolen, it might assist withs getting a new passport, but a loan for onward travel is out of the question. The following are some of the embassies and consulates found in Vietnam.
Australia  Hanoi (Tell: 831 7755; 8 Duong Dao Tan, Ba Dmh District); HCMC (Tell: 829 6035; 5th fl, 5 B Đ Ton Duc Thang)
Cambodia Hanoi (Tell:825 3788; 71 A Pho Tran Hung Dao); HCMC (Map p336; ĐT: 827 7696, 41 Đ Phung Khac Khoan)
Canada Hanoi (Tell: 823 5500; Đ Hung Vuong); HCMC (Tell: 827 9B99; 10th fl, 235 Đ Dong Kho
China Hanoi (Tell: 845 3736; Pho Hoang Dieu); HCMC (Tell: 829 2457; 39 Đ Nguyen Thi Minh Khai)
France Hanoi (Tell:943 7719; Pho Tran Hung Dao); HCMC (Tell: 829 7231; 27 Đ Nguyen Thi Minh Khai)
Germany Hanoi (Tell:845 3836; 29 Đ Tran Phu); HCMC (Tell:822 4385; 126 Đ Nguyen Dinh Chieu)
Japan Hanoi (Tell: 846 3000; 27 Pho lieu Giai, Ba Dinh District); HCMC (Tell: 822 5314; 13-17 ĐL Nguyen Hue)
Laos Hanoi (Tell: 825 4576; 22 Pho Tran Binh Trong); HCMC (Tell: 829 7667; 93 Đ Pasteur);
Netherlands HCMC (Tell 823 5932; 29 ĐL Le Duan)
New Zealand Hanoi (Tell: 8241481; level 5,63 Pho Ly Thai To); HCMC (Tell: 822 6907; Ste 909,235 Đ Dong Khoi)
Philippines Hanoi (Tell: 825 7948; 27 Đ Pho Tran Hung Dao)
Singapore Hanoi (Tell: 823 3965; 41-43 ĐTran Phu)
Sweden Hanoi (Tell: 726 0400; 2 Đ Nui Truc)
Thailand Hanoi (Tell: 823 5092; 63-65 Pho Hoang Dieu); HCMC (Tell: 932 7637; 77 ĐTran QuocThao)
UK  Hanoi (Tell: 936 0500; Central Bidg, 31 Pho Hai Ba Trung); HCMC (Tell:829 8433; 25 ĐL Le Duan)
US  Hanoi (Tell: 7721500; 7 Pho Lang Ha, Ba Dinh District); HCMC (Tell: 822 9433; 4 ĐL le Duan)

 Discount Cards

Senior Cards
There are no 'senior citizen' discounts for pensioners, as all foreigners who can afford to fly to Vietnam are considered rich enough to pay the full whack.

Student & Youth Cards
Ditto for student cards. Carry one if you are travelling through the region, but it will gather dust in your wallet while you are in Vietnam.

Dangers & Annoyances 

Beggar Fatigue
Just as you're about to dig into the scrumptious Vietnamese meal you've ordered, you feel a tug on your shirt sleeve. This latest 'annoyance' is a bony, eight-year-old boy holding his three-year-old sister in his arms. The little girl has a distended stomach and her hungry eyes are fixed on your full plate. This is the face of poverty. How do you deal with these situations? If you're like most of us, not very well. Taking the matter into your own hands by giv