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See the best of Vietnam. If you want to gorge on all of Vietnam, we recommend a minimum of 10 days, but three weeks is preferable.
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K N OW B E F O R E YO U G O
Vietnam.
If you’re shy on time.
Read this before you even think about your first bowl of Pho.
If you’re shy on time, we’d suggest seven days in either just the north or just the south. You could fly into Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh, or start centrally (from Da Nang) and work your way up or down via Hoi An.
TO TRAVEL NORTH-SOUTH, OR SOUTH-NORTH?
Either way works, but if you want to ease your way into Vietnam, start in Hanoi: the north is less chaotic than the culture-explosion that is Ho Chi Minh City. Flight time. Fly direct from Auckland to Ho Chi Minh City in 11.5 hours with Air New Zealand (seasonal). Non-direct routes are also available. Visas. All New Zealand citizens need a visa prior to arrival. The easiest option is to talk to your House of Travel consultant. They will ensure your visa is obtained well in advance, without hiccups.
Editor’s Note. Whatever you do, eat noodles.
HOT TIP
With such dense traffic, crossing the road is daunting. Start by following the locals, but hang back because they don’t always get it right. Go slow and with caution.
Passport. The most important thing to remember is your passport expiry date. For entry, it must be valid for six months after your arrival in Vietnam. Currency. Dong is Vietnam’s currency. The extra zeros in all that Dong can be very confusing and 10,000 Dong looks a lot like 100,000 Dong. Triplecheck before handing over your notes.
CATA L A N PY R E N E E S, S PA I N
Water. Unless you want to play Russian roulette with your intestinal tract, steer clear of the tap water. Even to brush your teeth, we recommend filtered.
FAMILY ADVENTURES AT ANY AGE | 12
1 0 I N S P I R E | H OUSE O F TRAV E L
INCREDIBLE EUROPE | 14
TH E B E ST H O LIDAYS ARE CREATED TOGETHER .
ALL ABOARD TRAIN JOURNEYS | 16
Get adventurous and branch out. Cambodia to your left, Thailand a little further west and Laos looking down from atop. It’s easy to see all four countries in one trip — ask your consultant about tours and itineraries.
Getting around.
By STEVE LAWSON, House of Travel Jenny Nilsson
“Trains are reliable throughout Vietnam, but the Reunification Express train, which chugs between the north and south, is a real highlight. Slow but intrepid, if you have time to amble, the views are incredible.”
Weather differs by region.
Hanoi
Ha Long Bay
Top north. December and January are bitterly cold. North. May to October is hot and humid with high rainfall. November to April is cool and dry. Central regions. Experience hot, dry weather between January and August (lovely mid-30°Cs) while heavy rainfall can occur September to November.
Da Nang
South. Dry and hot from November to April, and warm but wet from May to October.
Ho Chi Minh City
