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Geography Vietnam lies on the eastern seaboard of the Indochina peninsula. It borders China to the north and Cambodia to the west. To the east and south lies the South China Sea, which the Vietnamese call the East Sea. Mountains and hills cover four-fifths of Vietnam’s territory with the Truong Son range stretching over 1,400 km. Mount Fansipan (3,142m) is the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The most populated areas in Vietnam are the lowland alluvial plains: the Red River Delta (15,000sq. km, with a 3,000 km-long dyke network) in the south. Vietnam’s two biggest rivers, the Red River and the Mekong River, respectively discharge 122,109 and 1.4 million meters of water a year. Vietnam’s 3,260 km-long coastline features beautiful beaches like Lang Co, Danang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, and Ha Tien. National parks include Ba Vi, Cat Ba, and Cuc Phuong in the north, Bach Ma in the center, and Cat Tien in the south.

CUSTOMS & HABITS

A very popular belief among Vietnamese is the custom of the ancestor cult. In every household,an ancestor altar is installed in the most solemn location.Vietnamese believe that the soul of a dead person, even if dead for many generations, still rests along with their descendants on earth. The dead and living persons still have spiritual communion; in everyday life, people must not forget that what they enjoy and how they feel is the same for their dead relatives. On the last day of every lunar year, an announcing cult, cung tien thuong, is performed to invite the dead forefathers to return home to celebrate Tet holidays with their families. During the last days before Tet, all family members visit their ancestors’ graves; they clean and decorate the graves, in the same manner that the livings clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year. On the anniversary of an ancestor’s death, descendants and relatives unite and prepare a feast to worship the dead people and to ask for health and happiness for themselves. From generation to generation, ancestor worshipping customs have been religiously preserved. There are some small variations between those customs among the many Vietnamese ethnic groups, but the common theme of fidelity and gratitude towards the ancestor remains.

Villages – Guilds

The Vietnamese culture has always evolved on the basis of the wet rice civilization. Thus, the lifestyle of the Vietnamese population is closely related to its village and native lands.In Vietnamese society, people gather together to form villages in rural areas, and guilds in urban areas. Villages and guilds have been forming since the dawn of the nation. These organizations have gradually developed for the population to be more stable and closer together. Each village and guild has its own regulations called conventions.

The purpose of these conventions is the promotion of good customs within populations. All the conventions are different but they are always in accordance with the state laws. Approximately ten thousands such conventions are kept in the History Museum in Hanoi and in other museums throughout the country.

Customs of Chewing Betel and Areca Nuts and smoking thuoc lao

According to legends, chewing quid of betel and areca has been a custom since the Hung Vuong period and is connected to the antique legend of betel and areca.

A quid of betel, also called trau, is composed of four elements: an areca leaf (sweet taste), betel bark (hot taste), a chay root (bitter taste), and hydrated lime (pungent taste). The custom of chewing betel nut is unique to Vietnam. Old health books claim that "chewing betel and areca nut makes the mouth fragrant, decreases bad tempers, and makes digesting food easy". A quid of betel makes people become closer and more openhearted. At any wedding ceremony, there must be a dish of betel and areca nut, which people can share as they enjoy the special occasion.

During festivals or Tet Holidays, betel and areca nut is used for inviting visitors and making acquaintances. Sharing a quid of betel with an old friend is like expressing gratitude for the relationship. A quid of betel and areca nut makes people feel warm on cold winters days, and during funerals it relieves sadness. Betel and areca nuts are also used in offerings. When Vietnamese people worship their ancestors, betel and areca nut must be present at the altar. Nowadays, the custom of chewing betel remains popular in some Vietnamese villages and among the old.

Let’s not forget to mention thuoc lao or strong tobacco. For women, betel can initiate various feminine conversation, but for men, thuoc lao is related to their joyfulness as well as the sadness in their lives.Peasants always carry their dieu cay (pipe for smoking while ploughing the rice fields).

Getting married is an important event in a Vietnamese’s life. The procedure of the ancient wedding

Depending on habits of specific ethnic groups, marriage includes various steps and related procedures, but generally there are two main ceremonies:

Le an hoi (betrothal ceremony): Some time before the wedding, the groom and his family visit the bride and her family with round lacquered boxes known as betrothal presents composed of gifts of areca nuts and betel leaves, tea, cake, fruits, wines and other delicacies covered with red cloth and carried by unmarried girls or boys. Both families agree to pick a good day for wedding.

Le cuoi (wedding ceremony): Guests would be invited to come to join a party and celebrate the couple’s happiness. The couple should pray before the altar asking their ancestors for permission for their marriage, then to express their gratitude to both groom’s and bride’s parents for raising and protecting them. Guests will share their joy at a party later.

Funeral Ceremony

“The sense of the dead is that of the final,” says a Vietnamese proverb, meaning that funeral ceremonies must be solemnly organized.

 Formerly funeral ceremonies went as following: the body was washed and dressed; then a le ngam ham, or chopstick, was laid between the teeth and a pinch of rice and three coins were dropped in the mouth. Then the body was put on a grass mat laid on the ground according to the saying “being born from the earth, one must return back to the earth.” The dead body was enveloped with white cloth, le kham liem, and put into the coffin, le nhap quan. Finally, the funeral ceremony, le thanh phuc, was officially performed.The deceased person’s sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law had to wear coarse gauze turbans and tunics, and hats made of straw or of dry banana fiber. The deceased person’s grandchildren and relatives also had to wear mourning turbans. During the days when the dead were still laid out at home, the mourning went on with worshipping meals and mourning music. Relatives, neighbours, and friends came to offer their condolences.The date and time for the funeral procession, le dua tang, must be carefully selected. Relatives, friends, and descendants take part in the funeral procession to accompany the dead along the way to the burial ground. Votive papers were dropped along the way. At the grave site, the coffin is buried and covered. After three days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, le mo cua ma or worship the opening the grave; after 49 days, le chung that, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the

altar. And finally, after 100 days, the family celebrates tot khoc, or the end of the tears. After one year is the ceremony of the first anniversary of the relative’s death and after two years is the ceremony of the end of mourning.

Nowadays, mourning ceremonies follow new rituals which are simplified; they consist of covering and putting the dead body into the coffin, the funeral procession, the burial of the coffin into the grave, and the visits to the tomb. The deceased person’s family members wear a white turban or a black mourning band.Nowadays, mourning ceremonies follow new rituals which are simplified; they consist of covering and putting the dead body into the coffin, the funeral procession, the burial of the coffin into the grave, and the visits to the tomb. The deceased person’s family members wear a white turban or a black mourning band.

Climate
Vietnam is essentially a tropical country with a humid monsoon climate. The average annual temperature is over 20 degrees Celsius throughout the country.

Administrative Divisions
Vietnam has 64 provinces, including five municipalities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Can Tho and Danang).

Special food
Tourist can find a wide range of special food in Vietnam even inside or outside the restaurant.

In the North:
- Nem (spring roll)
- Pho (rice noodle soup)
- Cha Ca (grilled fish)
- Banh cuon (rolled rice pancake)
- Banh tom Ho Tay (Ho Tay fried shrimp cake).

In the Central:
- Banh beo Hue (Hue bloating fren-shaped cake)
- Banh la cha tom (grilled rice cake with cray fish)
- Com sen song Huong (Perfume river mussel cooked rice)
- Cao Lau Hoian (Hoian vermiicelli)
- My Quang (Quang soft noodle soup)

In the South:
- Xoi chien phong (bloating fried sticky rice)
- Lau mam (mixed vegestable and meet hot pot)
- Goi Buoi (salad of shaddock)
- Ca nuong trui (bare fried fish)
- Cua rang muoi (fried salted crabs)

Money
The official currency is Dong. The Dong is non-convertible and at the time of writing trades at approximately 16,010 to USD1. The US dollar, preferably crisp clean bills, is widely accepted among major shops and restaurants. Travelers checks can be cashed at authorized foreign exchange outlets and banks and require presentation of passport. There is normally a 2 to 5 percent transaction fee for cashing Travelers checks. Visa and Master card are becoming more accepted in many of the bigger hotels and restaurants, especially in the larger cities.
Not to change too much money at one time, as you will end up with a large wad of notes. The largest denomination is currently 514,000 dong (approx. US$ 32), next 200,000; 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000Dong. There are coins in the form of 500; 1,000; 2,000 and 5,000 Dong.
There are a number of international banks operating in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with 24hour cash withdrawal facilities, including ANZ Bank in Hanoi and the HSBC in Ho Chi Minh City. Here cash can be withdrawn on Visa and Master cards as well as other cards such as Cirrus.

Safety
Vietnam was recently voted one of the safest destinations in the world. Women and independent travelers have found it relatively hassle-free and easy to travel throughout the country.

Clothing
Light, comfortable, easy to launder clothing is recommended. The temperature during winter months in Hanoi and the rainy season in the central region can be cool; a sweater or light jacket can be handy. Good walking shoes and sandals that can be easily removed are recommended, especially when entering temples and people"s homes.

Public holidays
The most important and widely celebrated public holiday of the year is Tet, the Lunar New Year. This public holiday usually takes place in late January or early February and lasts officially for three days. Other important public holidays include the Liberation of Saigon (April 30), International Worker"s Day (May 1), and Vietnamese National Day (September 2).

Electricity
Vietnam uses 220V electricity nationswide.
Post and Telecommunication

The Vietnamese postal system offers you most telecommunications services. You could find herein some special services such as: EMS (Express Mail Service), DHL Worldwide Express, UPS, Freight Forwarders.

Email & Internet: Thanks to the technology, E-mail and Internet services are available in most hotels and posts in Vietnam. Other places where you could find the same services are in the Internet Cafes (~95% are using ADSL) located in many streets of the major cities. Normally the post will charge you from 3000 VND to 6000 VND per hour for internet service (about 0.19 to 0.38USD) but it could be more in the hotels.

Telephone Booth & Telephone Card: Using a telephone booth is an easy way for you to call home. You can find telephone booths at post offices or in the street of major cities. Telephone cards are on sales at GPO, shops, restaurants, book stores. However, it is getting more popular and cheaper to make phone calls over the Internet. These days many Internet Cafes offer you this option.

Mobile phone: In Vietnam, GMS (Global Mobile phone System) is presently operated by four main suppliers: VINA PHONE, MOBIFONE and Viettel, S_Phone. Your mobile phone could be used here by roaming service. These suppliers offer also VINA and MOBI Pre-Paid Card services. The best way for you to use a mobile phone in the country is to buy a pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone.

Business hours
Government offices are open from Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Most businesses are open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Lunch time is usually between 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Many businesses, shops, and all government offices are closed during this lunch period. Shops are open from about 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, with some open longer.
Departure airport taxes
Noi Bai InternationalAirport
International departure tax: Free now
Tan Son Nhat Airport
International departure tax: Free now

Visas.
Visitors must obtain visa approval prior to entry. Vietnam Nature Travel  can arrange visas at reduced cost for visitors
 who book our service. The procedure is as follows:
- Passport details and arrival and departure dates are faxed to Vietnam Nature Travel not later than 14 days before passengers" departure to Vietnam.
- Vietnam Nature Travel  submits details to the Immigration Department.
- The Immigration Department notifies Vietnam Nature Travel of visa approval and sends a fax/telex approval to the Embassy or Consulate in the country of visitors" residence.
-  Vietnam Nature Travel sends a fax copy of the approval to the agent or individual concerned.
Note: Visitors can obtain a visa upon arrival in Vietnam. However, we recommend this option only in cases of
emergency as it much more expensive than a regular visa.

Arrival in Vietnam
All visitors must complete an arrival card. This should be submitted together with passport and visa to the Immigration Department officials, as well as the Customs officers. The Exit portion will be torn off and returned to the visitor, who should retain this for presentation upon departure. If you have not arranged a Vietnam Nature Travel representative to meet you at the airport, here’s what you should do: