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Provided Services

Homestay program/

Hostel finding support

Buddy System City tour

Vietnamese class Pocket booklet

I will come back again

Viet Nam I

love you

Now all I talk about is how wonderful

Vietnam is, especially it's people

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Vitual Statistics

Official name: The Socialist Republic of Viet NamCapital: Ha Noi CityPolitics: Single-party systemArea: 331,212 km2

Calling code: +84Time zone: GMT +7Population: 90 millionLanguage: Vietnamese (official)Religion: Indigenous religion : 45.3%

Buddhism: 16.4% Christians (most Catholics): 8.2% Unreligious: 30%

Currency: Viet Nam Dong (VND)

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Vietnam is a multi-nationality country with 55 ethnic groups. The Viet (Kinh) people account for 90% of the country's population. The other 54 ethnic minority groups make up nearly 9 million people.

PEOPLE

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Vietnam is a monsoon tropical country but each area has its own specific climate. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has two seasons, the dry and rain. The weather in HCMC is really hot, the average temperature ranges from 22°C to 27°C year-round. In dry season is about 36°C to 39°C.

You should bring shorts and T-shirts

to be more comfortable.

CLIMATEHO CHI MINH CITY

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Languages

English Vietnamese PronunciationHello Xin chào Sin ciaoGoodbye Tạm biệt Dam bietThank you Cảm ơn Cam uhnSorry Xin lỗi Sin loyNo Không KhomYes Vâng/dạ Vang/yaHow much? Bao nhiêu Bow new

Bottled water Nước đóng chai Noouhc dom jai

Stop Dừng lại Yoong lieI love you Tôi yêu bạn Toy iju ban

Help me Cứu kju

Common phases

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You should visit these websites for more information about Viet Nam

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marilyn-downing-staff/the-nine-best-things-to-d_b_1777232.html

http://www.vietnamtourism.gov.vn/

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Basic Currency InformationAs of 24th June 2014

1 US Dollar 21,300 VND

1 Euro 28,810 VND

1 Great British Pound 35,922 VND

1 Singapore Dollar 16,832 VND

1 Australian Dollar 19,894 VND

1 Hongkong Dollar 2,716 VND

1 Canadian Dollar 19,599 VND

1 Thailand Baht 645 VND

1 Japanese Yen 206 VND1 Swiss France 23,535 VND

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Bills

Five hundred Viet Nam Dong

One thousand Viet Nam Dong

Two thousand Viet Nam Dong

Five thousand Viet Nam Dong

Ten thousand Viet Nam Dong

Twenty thousand Viet Nam Dong

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Bills

Fifty thousand Viet Nam Dong Five hundred thousand Viet Nam Dong

Two hundred thousand Viet Nam Dong One hundred thousand Viet Nam Dong

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Transportation

Bus: you can find bus everywhere. Buses are considered as the cheapest and convenient transportations. We have different buses for you to get around the city. Our LC will provide you bus map in order to be easy to get around the city. Base fare is 6,000 VND; but prices go higher the farther the destination is.

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Motorbike taxi: motorbike taxi is a convenient choice for passing through routes too narrow for cars and buses. It is also the fast public transportation. You have to show the driver your destination and ask them how much does it cost at first; prices go higher the farther the destination is.

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Taxi: in Ho Chi Minh City, taxi is considered as the most luxury transportation but it is very comfortable. Depending on how far do you want to go. In each taxi will have an equipment to estimate from kilometers you travelled to bills. So remember to check this carefully.

Some well-known brand: Mai Linh (08) 38 38 38 38 Vinasun (08) 38 27 27 27Vina taxi (08) 38 111 111Saigon Air (08) 38 118 118Comfort Savico (08) 38 21 21 21

Price: The prices depend on which kind of car and which brand:

4 seat car (per 1km) 15,000 VND – 16,000 VND 8 seat car (per 1km) 17,000 VND – 18,000 VND

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Cost of living In general, prices for basic necessities such as food, clothing, public transport…in Vietnam are not really high. You can easily find something that fits your budget; for every categories, Vietnam offers a wide range of available choices and prices. How much you spend depends on how personal lifestyle preferences.

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Type items price

restaurant Meals, Inexpensive restaurant

20,000 VND to 100,000 VND

Meals, Mid-range Restaurant

100,000 VND to 200,000 VND

SIM Card Local call 35,000 VND to 60,000 VND

Wifi wifi Free wifi depends on the place

Market Water (500ml) 7,000 VND

Milk (350ml) 10,000 VND

Coke (can) 10,000 VND

others Fastfood (KFC, Lotteris, McDonald, Jollibee..)

From 30,000-100,000 VND

cafe From 20,000 VND

entertainment Cinema (Galaxy cinema, CVG cinema, BHD cinema…)

From 60,000 VND-120,000 VND per film

karaoke From 30,000 VND-60,000 VND per hour

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Famous Places in HCMCNotre Dame

CathedralIndependence Palace

Central Post Office

Ben Thanh Market

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Ben Thanh Market- Dist 1 An Dong Plaza- Dist 5 Tan Dinh Market- Dist 1

Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon)- Dist 5 Saigon Square Nam Ki Khoi Nghia (Dist 1)

Saigon Square Ton Duc Thang (Dist 1)

Source: HCMC’s 100 Interesting things

Shopping places for foreigners

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1. Phở (Vietnamese noodle soup)

Of course, this is the very first dish that you must try!!! If you don’t eat Phở that means you never come to Vietnam. (FYI: It’s pronounced as “Fuh”)

2. Gỏi cuốn (Spring rolls)A Vietnamese traditionally consisting of pork, prawn, vegetable, bún (rice vermicelli) and other ingredients wrapped in Vietnamese bánh tráng (rice paper). Just dip it in the peanut sauce and the food bring you to the ninth cloud This is the most popular street food in Vietnam.

FOOD

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3. Bánh xèo (Sizzling Pancake) Bánh xèo are savory fried pancakes made of rice flour, water, turmeric powder, stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp, diced green onion, and bean sprouts. We have two different versions of Bánh xèo: one is from the south of Vietnam with a bigger size and softer texture; another is from the Central of Vietnam with a smaller size and very crunchy texture

4. Cơm tấm (Broken Rice)Cơm tấm is made from rice with fractured rice grains. It is usually served with grilled pork (either ribs or shredded) over broken rice. The dish may also come with fried egg, bì (thinly shredded pork mixed with cooked and thinly shredded pork skin), chả (steamed pork loaf topped with egg yolks).

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5. Bánh mì (Vietnamese Bread)Bánh mì is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is a single serving baguette. It is sometimes called “Vietnamese sandwich”. It is usually more airy than its Western counterpart, with a thinner crust. Just one bite, and you will be speechless

6. Bánh bèoA bánh bèo is a variety of small steamed rice cake. It is white in color and typically features a dimple in the center, which is filled with savory ingredients.

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7. Bánh cuốn, bánh ướtLet imagine this: the rice batter is the cloth of Bánh cuốn and it wraps all the wonderful ingredients. And Bánh ướt is just the cloth of bánh cuốnAnd they both eat with chả lụa ( Vietnamese pork sausage), fried prawn cake, vegetables. Last but not least, the masterpiece of Vietnam sauce: nước mắm ( fish sauce)

8. Hủ tíu ( Rice noodle soup)Known as Kuy Teav in Cambodia, this rice noodle soup dish can be made with a variety of ingredients. It can also be served dry without the soup! Mmmm, it’s so hard to choose what to get at a Vietnamese restaurant…

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9. Tàu hủ (tofu)

Tofu is one of the favorite street snacks in Saigon. It is made from soybeans, white, fleshy, smooth as jelly but softer. There are various new kinds of Tofu, but it is originally served hot with sugar, coconut milk, a little ginger and sometimes added small pellets called Bánh lọt.

10. Chuối nếp nướng (Baked Vietnam banana wrapped in sticky rice)

Baked banana wrapped by sticky rice. The scent is a mixture of coconut, grilled banana leaves and the fleshy smell of peanut.

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TRAVELING

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Nha Trang beach

-Nha Trang is well known for its beaches and scuba diving and has developed into a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers, as well as more affluent travellers on the Southeast Asia circuit.-Nha Trang Bay is also considered as among the world's most beautiful bays.

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Sapa, is a frontier town and capital of Sa Pa District in Lào Cai Province in northwest Vietnam. It is one of the main market towns in the area, where several ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giáy, Pho Lu, and Taylive.

The scenery of the Sa Pa region in large part reflects the relationship between the minority people and nature. This is seen especially in the paddy fields carpeting the rolling lower slopes of the Hoàng Liên Mountains.With the chillin weather of the mountainous area creates an ideal destination.

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Hạ Long BayHạ Long Bay (descending dragon bay) was inscribed as UNESCO’S World heritage for its limestone karstic geomorphologic features.

The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1,600 [12] limestone monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves.

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Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng national park

Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage in the North Central Coast region of VietNam.

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Hội An Acient Town

Hội An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site

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Phú Quốc Island

Phú Quốc, is the largest island in Vietnam. Fringed with white-sand beaches and with large tracts still covered in dense, tropical jungle, Phu Quoc has been quickly morphing from a sleepy backwater to a favoured beach escape of Western expats and sun-seeking.

Activities:diving the reefs, kayaking,exploring the backroads on a motorbike,dining on fresh seafood ….

Phú Quốc is also famous in Vietnam for its production of high-quality fish sauce and black pepper.

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Cần Thơ floating marketPeople said that “If one has not visited floating market, he has not visited the south-west of Vietnam”.Most of the boats here are packed with a lot of farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town (coconut, banana, watermelon, grapefruit, dragon fruit and so on.) While shopping on boat, one can also enjoy fresh fruits and see floating house of the locals along the riverside.

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Cát Tiên National Park

Cát Tiên National Park (Vietnamese : Vườn quốc gia Cát Tiên) is an important national park located in the south of Vietnam, approximately 50 km north of Ho Chi Minh City It has an area of about 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam.

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Cần Giờ DistrictCần Giờ is a coastal suburban district of Hồ Chí Minh City, Southeast region, Vietnam.All kind of attractions gathering in this marvelous place. Just take a bus and go straight to beach, explore the mangrove forest with thousand kind of birds and visit the monkey island! This is a total perfect package!

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FestivalTết holiday ( Lunar New year): This is our biggest festival. It lasts at least 5 days for everyone ( for students and pupils, Tet holiday lasts for nearly 2 weeks). We have many great things to do in Tet, such as: decorating houses, buying new clothes, family union, collect lucky money. And the most exciting things is traditional food!! There are variety of food, such as: sticky rice cake, traditional sweets,…

Mid-autumn Festival: Occur in the middle of August ( Lunar calendar). You will see a lot of stores selling moon cakes and lanterns

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Special occasions with days off!!! WOOHOO!!!

Hùng’s King Festival: March 10th (Lunar calendar)Independent Day of the South: April 30th

Labor Day: May 1st

Independent Day of Vietnam: September 2nd

Other common special occasions

International Women Day: March 8th You should buy flowers ( most popular) or gifts to give it to any girl or women you know ( especially when you are a guy)Vietnamese Women Day: October 20th Teacher Day: November 20th In this day, students, pupils and teachers have a day off. Students and pupils will visit their teachers houses and celebrate with their teachers.

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Do and Don’tDO

Do dress well when going to the pagoda. No shorts, mini skirt or tatty beer T-shirt

Do always bring a bottle of water with you because dehydration happen really fast in here

Do bring a photocopy of your passport and visa when you leave home. Left the origin at your place.

Do always bargain when buying something, especially in the market

Do hold your bag tightly and always watch out for your camera or cell phone

DON’T Don’t wear a lot jewelry made from gold

or silver. You will be robbed and get bad injury

Don’t across the street if you feel you cannot make it. The traffic in Vietnam is crazy and always busy, ask someone to help you.

Don’t be unaware when strangers try to make friends with you .Generally, Vietnamese people is friendly but there are a few people will scam you.

Don’t involve with prostitutes and drugs. These two is completely illegal in Vietnam, so don’t try to get in jail

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PACKING

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toilet paper (hard to get in some places) Tissue (same) shampoo and conditioner toothbrush and toothpaste soap and face wash

dry towel and regular towel face cloth deodorant nail care - clippers, brush mouthwash

Hygiene

What do I need to bring???

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Health first aid kit – small one

is sufficient water purifier/ tablets Aspirin/ Tylenol Multivitamins Your own medicine

Weather Protection lip balm sunscreen sunglasses hat rain coat umbrella

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Vanity small mirror – some

places don’t have mirrors hair clip and elastics razors travel hair dryer travel curling iron

Extra Bags large and small back

pack carry-on purse Ziploc bags plastic bags mesh bag for laundry

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Electronics and Accessories extra batteries flashlight electricity converters sports watch clock radio Swiss army knife travel guides small night light Pocket translation dictionary

Clothing comfy slippers hiking shoes sewing kit string for clothesline, etc. detergent – small pack travel iron – not as necessary traditional clothes from your country

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Safety padlock for doors locks for back pack Money belt

Memories journal and pens glue stick and/or small stapler camera and extra film photos of family and friends to show people

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Visa and visa photocopies Passport and passport photocopies Work permit and work permit photocopies Purchased plane ticket

Medical Check-up Extra prescription drugs Contact information for the embassy in host country Have adequate money Cash, credit card, traveller’s cheques Mailing any items that can’t fit be carried onto the plane

Logistics

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Citizens from many country can get a

visa on arrival at the major points of

entry (usually at the airport).

Price:

1 month single 13 USD

1 month multi 14.5 USD

3 months single 19.5.5 USD

3 months multi 23.5 USD

*This price does not include stamp

fee at the border (first entry only).

Stamp fee:

45USD single visa

65USD multi 1 month

95USD multi 3 month

VISA

Citizens from following countries can get a visa on arrival but it is really difficult. They are required to pay extra fee from $25 - $105.

Albania – Algeria – Azerbaijan – Bahamas – Bahrain – Barbados – Benin – Bolivia – Bosnia -

Botswana - Burkina Faso - Burundi – Cameroon - Cape Verde - Mainland China - Costa Rica

- Côte d'Ivoire - Dominican Republic - Egypt - El Salvador – Ethiopia – Gabon - Ghana –

Greece – India – Iran – Jordan – Kenya - South Korea – Lebanon – Liberia – Malta – Mauritius

– Mongolia – Morocco – Namibia – Nepal – Oman – Pakistan – Peru - Puerto Rico – Qatar –

Rwanda – Senegal - Sierra Leone - South Africa - Sri Lanka – Tanzania - U.A.E.

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Citizens from the following countries can not get visa on arrival. They need to go to Vietnamese embassy in their country to apply for visa

Afghanistan – Mozambique – Nigeria – Togo – Tunisia – Turkey – Uganda – Zambia - Zimbabwe

Follow these links for more information about visa applying processVisa Procedure

http://www.smarturl.it/VisaProcedure [Process]http://www.smarturl.it/VISAfrom1Jan2013 [Visa fee changed and applied from 1 Jan 2013]

http://www.southeastasiabackpacker.com/visa-guide

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TIPS

- Split your money into small amount and use credit card instead of cash. Don’t exchange the money at airport.

- Bring your medicine along- Be active in learning Vietnamese, contacting with buddy.- Prepare gifts for host- Bring your country’s flag and souvenir for culture-

exchange activities.- Household Electricity in Vietnam: 220W- Photocopy and scan: passport, AN, TN letter and picture

(passport size)

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Đào Xuân TrườngVice President of Project ManagementEmail: xuantruong.dao@aiesec.netPhone: (+84) 126 754 2626

CONTACT

BOOKLET TEAM

• Nguyễn Văn Nguyên Khoa• Nguyễn Lan Thanh• Nguyễn Hoàng Như Mai• Lê Mai Trâm