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

Visa Requirements
Canadian citizens require a visa for 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. A visa on arrival is available at the three international airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

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 also accept US dollars, but you should be aware of the fact that a lower exchange rate will be used. It is therefore advisable to change a certain amount of Vietnamese dong to cover your day-to-day expenses.

Shopping
Ho Chi Minh City offers a huge variety of souvenirs and traditional handicrafts. Popular buys include lacquerware, ceramics, embroidery, silk and paintings. As with most countries, the Vietnamese government does not allow the export of any item of historic or cultural significance.

Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques must be in US dollars. You can change them to dong or to US dollars, with a 2 percent commission. Those issued by American Express, Bank of America, Citicorp, First National City Bank, Thomas Cook and Visa are accepted. They 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 upscale restaurants, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Food & Water
With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to achieve a fine taste, Vietnamese food can be considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Hanoi is well-known for Xoi chien phong (fried sticky rice most often enjoyed with buttery roasted chicken), Goi buoi (Salad of shaddock) and Cua rang muoi (fried salted crabs).

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, Caodaism, Hoa Hao and Hinduism. Spirit and ancestor worship, To Tien, is also practiced. Confucianism is probably the most pervasive doctrine.

Manners
The Vietnamese used to greet one another by clasping their hands, prayer-like, in front of their faces and bowing slightly. Unfortunately, this charming custom has been replaced by the handshake. When trying to gain the attention of a Vietnamese, try not to point or gesture excessively. This is regarded as rude. Call out their names if possible, if not 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 it is regarded as spiritually the 'highest' part of the body. Expect to be the centre of attention outside Saigon, Hanoi 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 stays and intensive travelling. Rabies is widespread in Vietnam, so you are advised to avoid dogs and other animals that may bite, as a precaution.

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 in the first place. Check with your physician about taking a course of antimalarials. 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 antimalarial drugs are needed.

Dengue fever: Also transmitted by mosquitoes, and 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 Hanoi is 04, Saigon 08, Hue 054 and Da Nang 0511. International calls from international hotels cost between US $3 and US $5, per minute.

Mobile Telephone
More roaming contracts are being signed with cellular phone providers in different countries.

Time Zone
Standard time in Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

Electricity
Electricity: 220V / 50V. However, electricity supplies can be unreliable in smaller towns.

Eating & Drinking
Vietnamese cuisine is a mixture of Chinese, French and Thai and is one of the most sophisticated cuisines in Asia. The basic ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine are rice and the famous fish-sauce, nuoc mam.
One of the specialties of Vietnamese cuisine is 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.

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.