Money

The currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). The New Dong equals 10 Hao or 100 Xu. Notes are available in denominations of VND 50'000, 20'000, 10'000, 5'000, 2'000, 1'000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are no longer used. Exchange rate: 1 USD is 14080 VND (Jun 2000)

Item	Japnese yen	US dollar	Vietnam dong
cigarettes	100 yen	95 cents	13,250 dong
beer	110 yen	1 dollar	14,600 dong
taxi(5 km)	380 yen	4 dollars	50,500 dong
mineral water	50 yen	50 cents	6,700 dong

Food

CHA GIO: The Vietnamese Version of the eggroll, Cha Gio is a seasoned mixture of eggs, ground pork, and sometimes crab or shrimp rolled tightly in rice paper and deep-fried. The proper way to eat these delicacies is to roll them in a piece of lettuce with a slice of cucumber and dip it into the Nuoc Mam(fish sauce).

GOI SEN: Vietnamese salad flavored with fish sauce. It is a mixture of lotus stem, prawns, roast pork, and crushed peanuts, and is usually served with a fried shrimp cakes.

SUP MANG TAY CUA: Light, tasty asparagas crab soup. Its thick and creamy soup mixed with the crab meat gives it a rich taste you will never forget!

CAFE: Stop by one of the cafes in the city, and enjoy its rich, sweet taste. It is served hot, iced, black or, as is common in Vietnam, with a layer of sweetened condensed milk in the bottom of the cup.

Geography

Area	329'566 km²
Capital	Hanoi
Borders	China(1281 km),Laos(1555 km) and Cambodia(982 km)
Highest point	Fansipan (near Sapa), 3143 m
Time	2 hours behind Tokyo
Measures	Metric
Electricity	mostly 220 V, 50 Hz, some 110 V, 50 Hz
Office Hours	Offices: Mo-Sa 7:30 - 16:30 Banks: Mo-Sa 8:00 - 15:00

Language

English	Vietnamese
Hello	Xin chao
Good Bye	Tam biet
Thank you	Cam on
Sorry	Xin loi
How much is it?	Bao nhieu tien?
What is it?	Cai nay la cai gi?
No thank you	khong, cam on
Yes	da
No	khong

Museum

Cham Museum: Built in 1915, the Museum of Champa Sculpture in Danang displays an intensive and diverse collection of Champa sculpture dating from the 7th to the 15th centuries. The artifacts displayed at the museum are altars, statues and decorative works collected from Hindu and Buddhist temples and towers. Champa sculpture displays various styles. Sometimes they were influenced by other cultures but no matter at what period or in what style the Champa artifacts were made they always display original characteristics.

Shopping

Ao Dai is the traditional "dress" worn by Vietnamese women. This two-piece garment made of silk consists of a long flowing smock worn over baggy trousers reaching all the way to the ground. Teenage school girls trade in their blue and white uniforms for all white Ao Dai, and you'll often see them pedalling their bikes, with the smock of their Ao Dai draped over their handlebars. Older women wear Ao Dai of Various colors, often with intricate patterns and designs, in formal or work settings. Stroll around the Silk(Hang Gai) Street in Hanoi and you will find two or three blocks of small shops that all specialize in silk and embroidery.If you want to have something made, you can choose from one of existing designs, bring your own clothes to copy or just show them a picture. It takes approximately 30-40 dollars to have your own ao dai tailored in 24 hours.

It is hard to ignore ceramics on a visit to Vietnam. Many shops at the market in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are lined with all sorts of variations; old, dusty pieces touted as antiques that definitely are not; a few choice items that possibly are old; bright and modern vases; ornaments, lamp stands and stools; and classic Chinese style blue and white bowls and plates or tiny fine cups. Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh each have an active ceramic center lying just outside their boundaries. From Hanoi, the village of Bat Trang is just six miles downriver to the southeast. From Ho Chi Minh City, the area of Song Be is a popular half-day trip to visit some of the many scattered factories.