Definitely the current 'in destination' of Asia in the last few years. Hanoi is the capital up in the north although Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the more important tourist city and the main entry point.

Vietnam Airlines offer direct flights into both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh from Sydney and Melbourne. Jetstar also offer direct flights into Ho Chi Minh. Thai Airlines (via Bangkok), Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Malaysian Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur) and Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong) offer the most popular indirect routes to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

The currency is the Vietnamese Dong ( Approximately 12,716 VND for 1 Australian Dollar).

Main tourist highlights:
Hanoi itself, with it’s Paris of The Orient tag is a great city to explore. The main things to check out are the Old Quarter, the beautiful and serene downtown lakes and the One Pillar Pagoda. Halong Bay with it’s beautiful karst limestone outcrops jutting out of the sea and Sapa in the far north comprise the others.

The Central Region’s main highlights are Hue, once the capital of Vietnam, it boasts great grand palaces, tombs of past emperors and great architecture. Danang is the stopping off point for those who want to learn more about the battles of the Vietnamese War. The real highlight of the central region is Hoi An. With it’s UNESCO world heritage listed status, scores of tailor shops who will make you pretty much anything you want with 24 hours for fraction of western prices, Cua Dai beach and the nearby ancient ruins of My Son, Hoi An has a lot to offer. Nha Trang is also popular for those who want to sample Vietnam’s beaches, it also offer good diving and snorkeling opportunities.

The South has three main attractions, the first being Ho Chi Minh. Must see’s when you are in Ho Chi Minh are the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels, Notre Dam Cathedreal and the Reunification Palace. Phan Thiet (a few hours drive north of Ho Chi Minh) is a great beach destination and has a number of good quality hotels spread along the towns coast. The Mekong Delta area is for those who want to experience some of the South’s wildlife and ecotourism projects and a boat ride on the Mekong is a great way to enter Cambodia.

Australian passport holders require a visa for Vietnam , a 30 day costs around $100. Most travel agents will organise this for you or contact:

Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

6 Timbarra Crescent, O'Malley, ACT 2606

Tel.: 02-62866059/62901549

Fax.: 02-62864534/62902908

For assistance in Vietnam, Australian passport holders should contact:

Australian Embassy,

Vietnam, 8 Dao Tan Street,

Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

Telephone +84 4 831 7755 Fax +84 4 831 7711
Web www.vietnam.embassy.gov.au

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