Vietnam Visitor Information
When in Vietnam the best thing to do is to have some firsthand visitor information about the country. There are some local customs which need to be followed and respected across the country since the country has been born out a grueling brutal war that has claimed the lives of thousands of its people. When in Vietnam, it is customary to take off your shoes when visiting a temple or a mausoleum. The respect thus shown goes a long way in building a harmonious relationship between the people and the tourists from other countries in Vietnam. Even if you do not know the language, English is generally used and followed all across the country.
It is also customary to observe silence when in a temple or pagoda. At some places, be careful about the entrance notice that prohibits taking photographs of the monuments and the deities inside. The Vietnamese are fun loving people and can make your moving around a lot more pleasant if you respect their sentiments and emotions. Tipping is allowed in all major hotels and restaurants.
Winter is the dry season. This season spreads across the months from November to April and is usually pleasant. The temperature falls substantially as compared to the hot and humid summer months but it is never hard on the people of Vietnam. At all times the winds from the South China Sea keep the warm currents coming in. This is the time when visitors and tourists move around the country and hotels and resorts are filled up quickly. Bookings are done way in advance to ensure that you have the accommodation that you are looking for. The Vietnam summer is wet with monsoons and the temperature remains humid throughout. The moisture in the atmosphere has a telling effect on those not accustomed to the harsh summer months in Vietnam. People from other countries avoid the summer months in Vietnam since water logging and muddy streets are a common feature in the main cities of Vietnam.
Vietnam supports a number of ethnic communities. Settlers from India, China and the local Malaysian Muslim followers have spent generations in Vietnam. True to their individual religion, these people have their own temples, pagodas and mosques in place. There are a number of churches too in the city of Hanoi and Saigon. You may also find many monasteries dotting the rich green landscape as you move across from Hanoi to Saigon.
The Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi serves many foreign airlines operating through Vietnam and is a busy hub of activity all through the day. The airport is responsible for the extensive economic growth of the country. Many multinational corporate brands have been working from Hanoi and the Noi Bai Airport has been a major help to these corporate houses. Similarly, the Tan Son Nhat airport in the Ho Chi Minh City has been catering to the requirements of the people of the south. Here too industrialization and rapid economic growth has been possible because of the airport. The Tan Son Nhat airport has been acting as the gateway for exports of Vietnamese products and also for importing the various know how that is required to perform in harmony from other countries.
Vietnam has progressed in giant strides immediately after the war. Though there have been smaller skirmishes within the country, the Government has been alert enough to quickly end them with massive success. Vietnam today stands as the symbol of growth and development in every sector of the economy. Buddhism was one of the principal religions that came down to the country when it was a part of China and there have been a number of iconic monuments in celebration of Buddhism throughout Vietnam.
