Vietnam - ICT Online

VIETNAM
Intercontinental Consultants
and Technocrats Pvt. Ltd.
A-8, Green Park, New Delhi - 110 016, India
VIETNAM
AREA: It covers a total area of approximately
331,210 km2 (127,881 sq. mi) making it almost the size
of Germany. Long and narrow on a north-south axis,
Vietnam is about twice the size of Arizona The
combined length of the country's land boundaries is
4,639 km (2,883 mi), and its coastline is 3,444 km
(2,140 mi) long.
GOVERNMENT: Communist state
CAPITAL: Hanoi
PRESIDENT: Truong Tan Sang
PRIME MINISTER: Nguyen Tan Dung
POPULATION & LANGUAGE:
In 2012, the country's population was estimated at approximately 90.3 million.
Currently, the total fertility rate of Vietnam is 1.8 (births per woman), which is largely
due to the government's family planning policy, the two-child policy.
The official national language of Vietnam is Vietnamese a tonal Mon–Khmer
language which is spoken by the majority of the population. In its early history,
Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters. Vietnam's minority groups speak a
variety of languages, including Tày, Mường, Cham, Khmer, Chinese, Nùng, and
H'Mông. The Montagnard peoples of the Central Highlands also speak a number of
distinct languages. A number of sign languages have developed in the cities. The
French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is spoken by many educated Vietnamese
as a second language, especially among the older generation and those educated in
the former South Vietnam. Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech
and Polish – are known among some Vietnamese whose families had ties with the
Soviet bloc during the Cold War. In recent years, as Vietnam's contacts with Western
nations have increased, English has become more popular as a second language.
The study of English is now obligatory in most schools, either alongside or in many
cases, replacing French. Japanese, Chinese and Korean have also grown in
popularity as Vietnam's links with other East Asian nations have strengthened.
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE:
Vietnam occupies the eastern and southern part of the
Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia, with the South
China Sea along its entire coast. China is to the north,
Laos to the west and Cambodia, which lies along the
south.
Vietnam in the northern regions has a humid subtropical
climate, with humidity averaging 84% throughout the year.
However, because of differences in latitude and the
marked variety of topographical relief, the climate tends to
vary considerably from place to place. Winter or dry
season, extends roughly from November to April, and is dry only by comparison to
the rainy or summer season. During the summer monsoon, occurring from May to
October heavy rainfall is felt. The climate in the southern regions especially Ho Chi
Minh City and surrounding Mekong Delta is predominantly Tropical savanna climate
with high humidity and a distinct wet and dry season.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE:
According to the 2009 census, the dominant
Viet or Kinh ethnic group constitutes 85.8% of
the population. A largely homogeneous social
and ethnic group, the Kinh possesses
significant political and economic influence over
the country. However, Vietnam is also home to
54 ethnic minority groups, including the
Hmong, Dao, Tay, Thai, and Nùng. Many
ethnic minorities – such as the Muong, Hoa
(ethnic Chinese) and Khmer Krom are also present.
The áo dài, a formal girl's dress, is worn for special
occasions such as weddings and religious festivals.
Other examples of traditional Vietnamese clothing
include the áo tứ thân, a four-piece woman's dress;
the áo ngũ, a 5-piece form, mostly worn in the north
of the country; the yếm, a woman's undergarment;
the áo bà ba, rural working "pyjamas" for men and
women; the áo gấm, a formal brocade tunic for
government receptions; and the áo the, a variant of
the áo gấm worn by grooms at weddings. Traditional headwear includes the
standard conical nón lá and the "lampshade-like" nón quai thao.
According to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, in 2010 about 45.3% of the
Vietnamese adhere to indigenous religions, 16.4% to Buddhism, 8.2% to Christianity,
0.4% to other faiths, and 29.6% of the population isn't religious.
ART & CULTURE:
Vietnam’s culture has been most strongly influenced by its neighboring country
China. For many decades other foreign influences were shunned and the majority of
the culture was based around the sharing culture of the communist countries such as
the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and others. In the early 1990’s though cultures from
other countries started to influence Vietnam. Now Vietnam has much more exposure
to the cultures of Europe, America and South-east Asia.
Traditional Vietnamese music varies
between the country's northern and
southern regions. Northern classical music
is Vietnam's oldest musical form, and is
traditionally more formal. The origins of
Vietnamese classical music can be traced
to the Mongol invasions of the 13th
century, when the Vietnamese captured a
Chinese opera troupe. Nhã nhạc is the
most popular form of imperial court music. Chèo is a form of generally satirical
musical theatre. Xẩm or Hát xẩm is a type of Vietnamese folk music. Quan họ, Hát
văn are also popular folk and spiritual music. Ca trù. Nhạc dân tộc cải biên is a
modern form of Vietnamese folk.
There are a range of traditional instruments, including the Đàn bầu (a monochord
zither), the Đàn gáo (a two-stringed fiddle with coconut body), and the Đàn nguyệt (a
two-stringed fretted moon lute).
Ancient authors include Nguyễn Trãi, Trần Hưng Đạo, Nguyễn Du and Nguyễn Đình
Chiểu. Some literary genres play an important role in theatrical performance, such as
hát nói in ca trù. Some poetic unions have also been formed in Vietnam, such as the
Tao Đàn.
Vietnamese cuisine features ingredients
such as; fish sauce, shrimp paste, soy
sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and
vegetables. Vietnamese recipes use
lemongrass, ginger, mint, Vietnamese
mint, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon,
bird's eye chili, lime and basil leaves.
Traditional Vietnamese cooking is known
for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil,
and reliance on herbs and vegetables, and is considered one of the healthiest
cuisines worldwide. In northern Vietnam, local foods are often less spicy than
southern dishes. Black pepper is used in place of chilis to produce spicy flavors. The
use of such meats as pork, beef, and chicken was relatively limited in the past, and
as a result freshwater fish, crustaceans – particularly crabs – and mollusks became
widely used. Many signature Vietnamese dishes, such as bún riêu and bánh cuốn,
originated in the north and were carried to central and southern Vietnam by migrants.
Vietnamese scholars developed many academic fields during the dynastic era, most
notably social sciences and the humanities. In recent times, Vietnamese scientists
have made many significant contributions in various fields of study, most notably in
mathematics. Hoàng Tụy pioneered the applied mathematics field of global
optimization in the 20th century, while Ngô Bảo Châu won the 2010 Fields Medal for
his proof of fundamental lemma in the theory of automorphic forms. Vietnam is
currently working to develop an indigenous space program, and plans to construct a
Vietnam Space Center by 2018. Vietnam has also made significant advances in the
development of robots, such as the TOPIO humanoid model.
ECONOMY:
Manufacturing, information technology and high-tech industries now form a large and
fast-growing part of the national economy. Though Vietnam is a relative newcomer to
the oil industry, it is currently the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia. In 2010,
Vietnam was ranked as the 8th largest crude petroleum producers in the Asia and
Pacific region.
As a result of several land reform
measures, Vietnam has become a major
exporter of agricultural products. It is
now the world's largest producer of
cashew nuts, with a one-third global
share; the largest producer of black
pepper, accounting for one-third of the
world's market; and the second-largest
rice exporter in the world, after Thailand.
Vietnam is the world's second largest exporter of coffee. Other primary exports
include tea, rubber, and fishery products. However, agriculture's share of Vietnam's
GDP has fallen in recent decades, declining from 42% in 1989 to 20% in 2006, as
production in other sectors of the economy has risen.
Vietnam has become a major tourist destination since the 1990s, assisted by
significant state and private investment, particularly in coastal region. About 3.77
million international tourists visited Vietnam in 2009 alone.
CURRENCY:
Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Symbol
₫
Subunit
1/10
1/100
hào
xu
Coins
No longer in use
Banknotes
100₫, 200₫, 500₫, 1,000₫, 2,000₫, 5,000₫ (these five - except for
100- are old issue, but still in circulation), 10,000₫, 20,000₫,
50,000₫, 100,000₫, 200,000₫, 500,000₫
Central bank
State Bank of Vietnam
Website
www.sbv.gov.vn
SOCIAL LIFE AND RECREATION:
The Vovinam and Bình Định martial arts
are widespread in Vietnam, while soccer is
the country's most popular team sport. Its
national team won the ASEAN Football
Championship in 2008. Other Western
sports, such as badminton, tennis,
volleyball, ping-pong and chess, are also
widely popular.
Vietnam has a plethora of festivals based
on the lunar calendar, the most important
being the Tết New Year celebration.
Traditional Vietnamese weddings remain
widely popular, and are often celebrated
by expatriate Vietnamese in Western
countries.
EDUCATION:
Vietnam has an extensive state-controlled network of schools, colleges and
universities, and a growing number of privately run and partially privatised
institutions. General education in Vietnam is divided into five categories:
kindergarten, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and universities. A
large number of public schools have been constructed across the country to raise
the national literacy rate, which stood at 90.3% in 2008.
A large number of Vietnam's most acclaimed universities are based in Hanoi and Ho
Chi Minh City. Education is not free; therefore, some poor families may have trouble
paying tuition for their children without some form of public or private assistance.
Regardless, school enrollment is among the highest in the world and the number of
colleges and universities increased dramatically in the 2000s.
TRANSPORT:
Air
Vietnam operates 21 major civil airports,
including three international gateways:
Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang International
Airport in Da Nang, and Tan Son Nhat in
Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat is the
nation's largest airport, handling 75% of
international passenger traffic. According
to a state-approved plan, Vietnam will
have 10 international airports by 2015 –
besides the aforementioned three, these
include Lien Khuong International Airport, Phu Bai International Airport, Cam Ranh
International Airport, Phu Quoc International Airport, Cat Bi International Airport, Cần
Thơ International Airport and Long Thanh International Airport. The planned Long
Thanh International Airport will have an annual service capacity of 100 million
passengers once it becomes fully operational in 2020.
Vietnam Airlines, the state-owned national airline, maintains a fleet of 69 passenger
aircraft, and aims to operate 150 by 2020. Several private airlines are also in
operation in Vietnam, including Air Mekong, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, VASCO and
VietJet Air.
Road
Vietnam's road system includes national roads administered at the central level;
provincial roads managed at the provincial level; district roads managed at the
district level; urban roads managed by cities and towns; and commune roads
managed at the commune level. Bicycles, motor scooters and motorcycles remain
the most popular forms of road transport in Vietnam's urban areas, although the
number of privately owned automobiles is also on the rise, especially in the larger
cities. Public buses operated by private companies are the main mode of longdistance travel for much of the population.
Road safety is a serious issue in Vietnam – on average, 30 people are killed in traffic
accidents every day. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Hanoi and Ho Chi
Minh City, as the cities' roads struggle to cope with the boom in automobile use.
Rail
Vietnam's primary cross-country rail service is the Reunification Express, which runs
from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, covering a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres. From
Hanoi, railway lines branch out to the northeast, north and west; the eastbound line
runs from Hanoi to Hạ Long Bay, the northbound line from Hanoi to Thái Nguyên,
and the northeast line from Hanoi to Lào Cai.
In 2009, Vietnam and Japan signed a deal to build a high-speed railway using
Japanese technology; numerous Vietnamese engineers were later sent to Japan to
receive training in the operation and maintenance of high-speed trains. Using
Japan's Shinkansen technology, the line will support trains travelling at a maximum
speed of 360 kilometres per hour. The high-speed lines linking Hanoi to Vinh, Nha
Trang and Ho Chi Minh City will be laid by 2015. From 2015 to 2020 construction in
the aforementioned areas will begin.
Water
As a coastal country, Vietnam has many major sea ports, including Cam Ranh, Da
Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Gai, Qui Nhơn, Vũng Tàu and Nha Trang.
Further inland, the country's extensive network of rivers play a key role in rural
transportation, with over 17,700 kilometres (11,000 mi) of navigable waterways
carrying ferries, barges and water taxis.
Further out in the South China Sea, Vietnam currently controls the majority of the
disputed Spratly Islands, which are the source of longstanding disagreements with
China and other nearby nations.
COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY:
Since 1997, Vietnam has extensively regulated public Internet access, using both
legal and technical means. The resulting lockdown is widely referred to as the
"Bamboo Firewall”. The collaborative project OpenNet Initiative classifies Vietnam's
level of online political censorship to be "pervasive”, while Reporters Without Borders
considers Vietnam to be one of 15 global "internet enemies”. Though the
government of Vietnam claims to safeguard the country against obscene or sexually
explicit content through its blocking efforts, many politically and religiously sensitive
websites are also banned.
Television
Vietnam Television, or VTV, is the
national television broadcaster of the
Vietnam. It was established in Hanoi with
technical assistance and training from
Cuba in September 1970. VTV now is
the largest television network in the
nation, broadcasts in nine FTA channels
and is available internationally via
satellite. VTV also operates the largest
cable network (VCTV) and a DTH satellite service. These carry the nine FTA VTV
channels.
Vietnam Multimedia Corporation or VTC operates five national channels and is the
only provider of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Vietnam. VTC's DTT service is a
subscription service though piracy of the signal is rampant. VTC is a Vietnamese
state-owned corporation under Ministry of Post and Telematics. In 2006, VTC Mobile
TV, one of the world's first subscription TV services for mobile phones, became
available using DVB-H. It is operated by Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, owners of
VTC.
Since 1991, hotels, restaurants, clubs, government offices and diplomatic
organizations in Vietnam have been permitted under license to install and operate
satellite dishes to bring in foreign programming. Nowadays, most of people in large
cities (such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) subscribe to a cable network. The
largest network is VCTV (a division of VTV), follows by that of Ho Chi Minh City
Television (HTV), Hanoi TV (HCTV), and Saigon Tourist Cable Service (SCTV) - a
joint venture between VTV and Saigon Tourist Company. The latest payTV supplier
is K+ - a joint venture between Vietnam Cable Television (VCTV) and Canal+, first
broadcast in later 2009 via Direct to Home (DTH).
Radio
The first Vietnamese-language radio
transmission was made on September 2,
1945, when Ho Chi Minh read out the
Declaration of Independence. Following
Reunification, all of the radio stations were
combined into the Voice of Vietnam, which
became the national radio station in 1978.
Today, Voice Of Vietnam (VOV) strives to offer diverse, high-quality programming
and in every aspect of mass media. It broadcasts on many channels, repeated on
Medium wave (MW) AM, FM and shortwave (SW) AM bands throughout Vietnam
and the rest of the world.
Newspaper
Vietnam's media sector is regulated by the government in accordance with the 2004
Law on Publication. It is generally perceived that Vietnam's media sector is
controlled by the government to follow the official Communist Party line, though
some newspapers are relatively outspoken.
As Vietnam moves toward a free-market economy with its doi moi measures, the
government has relied on the print media to keep the public informed about its
policies. The measure has had the effect of almost doubling the numbers of
newspapers and magazines since 1996.
Current large Vietnamese-language newspapers include Tuoi Tre (a "reformist"
newspaper), Thanh Nien (Youth), Người Lao Động (Labour or The Worker), Tien
Phong (Vanguard), Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon), and Hànộimới (New
Hanoi). Prominent French language newspapers include Saigon Eco and Le Courrier
du Vietnam. There are other, smaller provincial newspapers such as the Ba Ria
Vung Tau Daily Newspaper.
The largest online newspapers are
VnExpress, VietNamNet, Tuổi Trẻ,
Thanh Niên, Dân Trí, VTC News, and
VietnamPlus. The largest online news
aggregator in Vietnam is Báo Mới.
Telephone / Mobile
Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its
telecommunication system. Domestically, all provincial exchanges are digitalized and
connected to Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber optic cable or
microwave radio relay networks. Main lines have been substantially increased, and
the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly. As of 2012, there were 134 million
mobile phone subscribers, making Vietnam's rank 6th in the world.
Two satellite earth stations are in use: Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region).
The incumbent operator is the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, which
spun off from the Department General of Posts and Telecommunications after the
separation of regulatory and commercial functions of the latter in 1990. Following the
creation of a separate regulatory entity, market segments were opened to
competition, starting with mobile services in 1995. The international services market,
considered the most lucrative, was opened to other providers in 2000.
The international calling code for Vietnam: +84
Internet
Although basic Internet services had existed in Vietnam since the early nineties, the
first commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) opened for business in 1997. Since
1997 Vietnam has been connected by two gateways: one in Hanoi which connects
with Hong Kong and Australia, and the other in Ho Chi Minh City, which connects
with the United States by Sprint.
Vietnam ranks 16th in the world, in terms of number of internet users.
There are five ISPs operating: Netnam Company, Vietnam Data Communication
Company (VDC), Corporation for Finance and Promoting Technology (FPT), Saigon
Post and Telecommunications Services Corporation (Saigon Postel Corporation,
SPT) and Viettel Company.
Internet country code: .vn
Package delivery services: DHL Express in partnership with Vietnam Post.
PLACES OF INTEREST:

Dalat

My Son Sanctuary

Ho Chi Minh City

Mekong Delta

Nha Trang

Sapa

Hue

Hoi An

Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

Ben Tre

Cu Chi Tunnels

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

The Sand Dunes of Mui Ne
Time Difference: Vietnam is 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead of India
TRAVEL TIPS:

Avoid buying sim cards, tours, airport transfers etc from your hotel; they put a
premium on all these services.

Do not drink tap water and choose only good mineral water kept away from the
sun.

Avoid cycle rides as the pollution levels are high.

Avoid motorbike taxis (xe om), they charge a bit less than a taxi for the same
distance but the risk of injury through accident is great.

There are three or four reliable taxi companies in the south, Mai Linh and
Vinasun are the most common and the most reliable. Smaller companies may
literally take you for a ride. Rogue taxis are known to lock their doors and refuse
to let you out unless you pay an exorbitant fee. Always insist on a metered taxi.
Hanoi taxis are less reliable and rip off whoever they can, including other
Vietnamese. Try a small Hanoi taxi company called 'Hanoi Star' for reliability and
honesty.

Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious
sites, etc. Make an offering to the gods and put a donation into the box if you
want to make a good impression.

Leave your valuables behind in the hotel safe box at all times.

When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left
and right and walk slowly. Make eye contact with oncoming motorbikes and
check that they see you so that they can avoid you. Be prepared for zebra
crossings to be ignored and for motor vehicles to expect you as a pedestrian to
give way to them.

At rush hour motorcyclists take to the pavements in droves in attempt to beat
traffic jams, endangering the lives of pedestrians.

Wear a mask when walking in the cities, to avoid breathing in vehicle fumes and
other noxious smells.

Be prepared to walk in the streets with the traffic. The pavements are for
motorbikes to park on, people to sit and eat, or just lounge around on.

When walking be prepared for people to stroll casually into your path and
expecting you to navigate around them.

Don't offer money directly to beggars or minority people – instead donate to a
local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.

By all means, sample the delicious street food but for hygiene's sake only at
venues that are busy with a big turnover.

Diaharrea pills are cheap and readily available in Vietnamese cities. Avoiding
milk drinks, smoothies, dicy street food, etc will help to minimize stomach
problems.

Always ask permission first before taking photographs, especially in minority
areas.

Arrange for medical insurance (including the provision for emergency evacuation)
prior to departure, as there is no free medical treatment available in Vietnam and
the standard of local health facilities is below international standards. Choose an
international facility if you need treatment - there are some excellent ones, but
they are usually expensive (Victoria International Clinic in Saigon is an
exception).

Mind your change - the 100,000 and 10,000 notes look similar; the 20,000 and
the 500,000 are both blue. While most Vietnamese are honest and used to
tourists fumbling for the right currency values, a few will actively try to shortchange you. Take your time to count the zeroes or you'll unintentionally make
someone very happy.

Be prepared to bargain, especially at markets, where you should pay about half
of the asking price (except at fixed price stores).

Avoid very cheap excursions (e.g. to Halong Bay, the Mekong, etc), because you
will get what you pay for - lots of time on the bus, few of the sights you were
promised.
VISA REQUIREMENTS:
These requirements have been changing very fast so it is advisable to talk to your
agent or to the embassy before arranging for documents.
A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of application for the visa.
One visa form filled with attached documents.
Two passport-size photographs with white background 35×45 mm
A covering letter from the applicant.
Leave letter from the company.
Entry and Exit form, Approval form
Return air ticket.
Visa is on arrival to Vietnam.
The visa on arrival facility however is available only on entry in Vietnam by air, all
other modes of entry currently do not permit visa on arrival facility.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:
Holiday
Comments
January 01
New Years Day
January 02
New Years Holiday
Public Sector.
Compensated by Sat. 27 Dec 2014
February 15
Tet Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
Holiday
Comments
February 16
Tet Holiday
Public Sector.
Compensated by Sat 14 Feb
February 17
Tet Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
February 18
Tet Eve
Vietnamese New Year Eve
February 19
Tet Nguyen Dan
Vietnamese New Year
February 20
Tet Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
February 21
Tet Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
February 22
Tet Holiday
Vietnamese New Year
April 28
Hung Kings Temple
Festival
Gio To Hung Vuong
April 29
Public Holiday
Public Sector.
Compensated by Sat. 25 April
April 30
Reunification Day
Marks the fall of Saigon in 1975
May 01
International Labour Day
September 02 National Day
Marks Vietnam's declaration of
independence in 1945
USEFUL NUMBERS:
Police
Tel: 113
Fire
Tel: 114
Ambulance
Tel: 115
Directory Assistance
Tel: 116
International Operator
Tel: 110
Time
Tel: 117
EMBASSIES:
Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi:
Address:
17, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi
India.
Tel: 301 8059
Fax: (91-11) 2301 9818
(91-11) 2301 0532
Embassy of India in Vietnam:
Address:
58 – 60 Tran Hung Dao Street,
Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi,
Vietnam.
Tel: +84-4-38244989
+84-4-38244990
Fax: +84-4-38244998
Website: www.mofa.gov.vn/vnemb.india
Email: ebsvnin@yahoo.com.vn
Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m
Website :http://indembassy.com.vn/
Email: admin@indembassy.com.vn
Office hours: 09:00 hours to 17:30
hours (Monday to Friday)
ICT Contact in Vietnam:
Ms.Nguyen Thi Diem Trinh
Administartion Assistant
T07, A View Apt., Nguyen Van Linh Avenue, Phong Phu comm.
Binh Chanh Dist., HCHC
Tel 84-862 686 288
Fax 84-862 686 338
Mob; 84-949 112 099
Email: sunnykg1211@gmail.com