Description

This long, thin country curves in an elegant S-shape down the eastern side of the Indo-Chinese peninsula, stretching almost 2,000 kilometres from the Gulf of Tonkin down to the Mekong Delta, with an almost unrivalled run of sandy beaches. The northern Red River Delta is the cradle of Vietnamese culture and home to the ancient city of Hanoi with its combination of broad tree lined boulevards and narrow alleyways packed with goods. To the east of Hanoi, on the Bay of Tonkin, is Halong Bay, where limestone outcrops soar out of the morning haze to create breathtaking vistas. Along the northwest border with China and Laos, there are lush, mountainous areas such as Sapa where many of Vietnam's colourful indigenous tribes live. The mountains widen out to form the Central Highlands, often referred to as the backbone of Vietnam. The colonial town of Dalat is on a plateau in the highlands, surrounded by lakes, forests, waterfalls and an abundance of flora. Much of the coast is fringed with white sandy beaches, beautiful bays and fishing villages. Hoi An is a dreamy backwater port on the central coast, full of peaceful wooden shophouses, and further inland over the Hai Van Pass is Hue, the Nguyen imperial city. The beaches of Vietnam along Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and the beautiful island of Phu Quoc are perfect for relaxation. The Mekong Delta in the south of the country is the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam and is home to women in conical hats, floating markets - where fruit and vegetables are piled high on wooden boats - and brilliant patchworks of rice paddy. Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) buzzes with energy; it is a city that never sleeps, where French colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers jostle for space. Vietnam is moving forward; the north and south reunified in 1986 and the government began to relax its rigid centralist control, although both regions still tend to preserve their distinct identities.

Getting There

There are no direct flights as yet from the UK to Vietnam, so flights into Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi from any of the south east Asian hubs; Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. The most popular option is an "open jaw" ticket, flying into one city and out from the other.

Visa Requirements

All visitors to Vietnam must obtain a visa prior to departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return from India and have at least 2 blank pages. We can arrange this on your behalf at a cost of £80.00 per passport using Royal Mail Special Delivery. Alternatively Ampersand can arrange a "visa authorisation letter" for the Vietnamese Visa for you, which enables you to obtain your visa upon arrival. For this or any other information, please contact your Ampersand Travel consultant. If you are arranging your own visa, the Vietnamese consulate is in South Kensington and you can find all the information on their website.

Health Advice

For information on vaccinations and health requirements, we suggest you contact your GP or a travel clinic such as Fit For Travel at least 2 months prior to departure for advice and to arrange immunisations. Recommended vaccinations for travel to Thailand and Indochina are polio, tetanus, typhoid, meningitis and hepatitis A. We also recommend you take anti-malarial tablets, but please consult your doctor for his/her advice.

Flying times from UK

Hanoi: 15 hours 15 minutes not direct
Saigon: Approx. 15 hours not direct

Local Time

GMT + 7 hours

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