Air Canada Vacations

Before you leave Canada

Entry requirements
Canadian citizens require a visa to enter Vietnam. It can be obtained through the Vietnam Embassy (in person, or by regular mail), or on arrival with an invitation letter from the Vietnamese Authorities. Visas are available on arrival at the three international airports (Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh or Da Nang). For all other nationalities, consult your consulate or tourist board for details. You can also visit www.voyage.gc.ca for up-to-date information.

Baggage
Please refer to aircanada.com for baggage information.

Airport check-in
It is recommended that you present yourself at the airport counter of the airline indicated on your voucher 3 hours prior to departure. Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations representatives will be available starting at 5 a.m.

During your stay

Currency
The currency of Vietnam is the dong. All goods and services can and should be paid for in dong. Exceptions are made in hotels and when buying international air tickets. Shops and restaurants in the bigger cities will also accept US dollars, but usually at a lower exchange rate. It is therefore advisable to carry a certain amount of Vietnamese dong to cover your day-to-day expenses.

Shopping
If you're particularly enthusiastic about quality textiles, clothes and handicrafts, shopping in Ha Noi will not disappoint. Ha Noi is indeed the perfect place to get wooden handicrafts, rice paper and silk.

Travellers checks
Travellers checks must be in US dollars. You can change them to dong or to US dollars (with a two percent commission). Those issued by American Express, Bank of America, Citicorp, First National City Bank, Thomas Cook, and Visa are accepted at major tourist hotels, but not in most shops. Vietnam is still very much a cash economy.

Credit cards
Visa, MasterCard and - with exceptions - American Express are accepted in virtually every hotel in major cities throughout the country, as well as in upmarket restaurants, especially in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Water
Unless it has been thoroughly boiled, do not drink tap water. You should also avoid ice in drinks, especially in the countryside.

Religion
Vietnam supports adherents of all the major world religions, as well as followers of religions that are peculiarly Vietnamese: Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, Protestant and Catholic Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, Cao Daism, Hoa Hao and Hinduism. In addition, spirit and ancestor worship, To Tien, is also practiced. Confucianism is probably the most pervasive doctrine of all.

Etiquette
The Vietnamese used to greet one another by clasping their hands, prayer-like, in front of their faces and bowing slightly. This custom has been replaced by the handshake. When trying to get someone’s attention, try not to point or gesture excessively; this is regarded as rude. Call out the perosn’s name if possible, or beckon by using the whole hand, palm downwards. Again, as in the other countries of Southeast Asia, do not touch people on the head as that area is regarded as spiritually the highest part of the body.

As a traveller, expect to be the centre of attention outside Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Ha Noi and the main tourist centres. React accordingly and be a good ambassador.

Health
No vaccinations are officially required by the Vietnamese authorities, but immunization against hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and polio is advised. Vaccination for typhoid fever is recommended for long stay and those travelling extensively. Rabies is widespread in Vietnam, so you are advised to avoid dogs and other animals.

Malaria: Malaria is widespread in the Central Highlands and some parts of the Mekong Delta. The best protection against malaria is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Check with your physician about taking a course of anti-malarials. If it is considered necessary given your itinerary, you might need to begin before your trip and continue for a time after you return. But if you are not travelling to the Central Highlands or going on overnight treks in the mountain region of Sapa, no anti-malarial drugs are needed.

Dengue fever: Also transmitted by mosquitoes, is often mistaken for malaria. Its symptoms are severe pain in the joints, high fever and extreme headache. Aside from avoiding being bitten altogether (this mosquito is active in daytime and is often a striped variety), there is no prevention available. Hospital treatment is urgently required.

Telephone
The country code is 84, the area code for Ha Noi is 04, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 08, Hue 054 and Da Nang 0511. International calls from hotels cost between 3 and 5 USD per minute.

Time zone
Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

Electricity
Electricity: 220V / 50V.
Electricity supply can be unreliable in smaller towns

Food
Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Chinese, French and a little Thai and is one of the most sophisticated cuisines in Asia. The basic ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine are rice and the famous fish-sauce, nouc mam.
 
With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to reach a fine taste, Vietnamese food can be considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide. Ha Noi is well known for the phó (rice noodle soup), bun thang (chicken, pork and shrimp rice vermicelli soup), mon oc (snail dish), cha ca (grilled fish pie).

One of the specialties of Vietnamese cuisine are spring rolls, ingredients and size vary depending on the region of the country. The traditional breakfast, chicken soup (pho ga) or beef soup (pho bo) is available at most of the food stalls on the main streets of nearly every city in Vietnam.

Climate
Vietnam’s climate is very diverse because the country covers a wide range of latitudes and altitudes.

The North: The cold season is between November and April when average temperatures are around 60°F/16°C and it is often wet and chilly. In the hot period, between May and October, the average temperature is about 86°F/30°C.

Central: Central Vietnam offers a combination of climates: northern and southern. The southern part has less rainfall and the temperatures are similar to those in the south. The northern part has more rain and significant changes in temperature. The rainy season in the centre lasts from September to December. Especially during the months of October and November, central Vietnam is hit by typhoons with strong winds and heavy downpours.

The South: The temperatures in the south are constant all year, ranging from 77-86°F/25-30°C. The dry season is from November to April and the wet period from May to October

Your departure from destination

Hotel checkout
Hotel checkout times may vary depending on the property but generally you must vacate the room by 12 p.m. (noon).

Duty-free shopping
After an absence of 7 days or more, Canadian residents are permitted to return with a maximum of 750 CAD of merchandise per trip without paying duty. Each time you leave Canada for at least 48 hours, you are eligible to declare up to 400 CAD of merchandise. A written declaration may be requested. Each adult is allowed 1.1 litres (40 oz.) of liquor, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, 200 tobacco sticks and 200 grams (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco. To calculate the number of days absent, do not count the day you left Canada but include the day you return. If you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks and loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “Canada-Duty paid”. Canadian made products sold at duty-free shops will be marked this way.

Airport check-in
Procedures are the same as for departure from Canada.

Customer care
For inquiries relating to extension of stay or change or hotel changes, please call Air Canada Vacations Customer Care department toll free at + 800 296-3408 or e-mail us at: prevoyageclientele@vacv.com We are at your service seven days a week; from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday ET and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.