TOO MANY VIETNAM DESTINATIONS? Vietnam is surprisingly large and bursting at the seams with majestic landscapes, natural wonders, and vibrant culture. You can't see it all in a typical 2 or 3-week vacation, but no worries. You can definitely have an amazing and unforgettable experience in that time! With so many great Vietnam destinations, choosing is tough. but we can help narrow down your choices. We think these 12 Vietnam destinations are the best for your precious vacation time. Hanoi capital , Ninh Binh , Sapa , Ha giang , Mai Chau , Halong bay , Hue , Danang , Hoian , Nha Trang Beach , Ho Chi Minh city and Mekong delta .

Introduction Vietnam's days as a pariah state, cut off from the rest of the world are long gone. Today the country boasts numerous land crossings with all of its neighbours and international flight connections to Australia, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA (among others). You can also enter by boat from Cambodia and by train from China. Airports Vietnam has two hub international airports, Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. A third airport, Da Nang Airport , in Da Nang, accepts a far smaller number of international flights. Over a dozen other domestic airports are scattered across Vietnam. Airlines Vietnam Airlines ( www.vietnamairlines.com ) is Vietnam's national car

Currency Vietnam's currency is called the Vietnamese dong (VND). It's around 20,000 dong to US$1. International access ATMs can be found in most tourist centres across the country. You will be expected to use dong for cash purchases is rural area, but in larger centres US dollars are accepted. Credit cards are accepted, though small businesses, especially restaurants may not accept them. Safety Vietnam is a safe country to travel in. Petty theft is a problem in tourist centres -- especially Saigon and Nha Trang where snatch and grab robberies are a major issue. Violent crime against foreigners remains rare, but use your common sense when out in the evening and stay in control. If you feel threatened, especially in a bar or club environment, swallow your pride and leave. Scamming especially

List of Do's and Don'ts in Vietnam Vietnam is a friendly and safe place to travel. With a sprinkling of common sense, your trip should be smooth and trouble free. Tourists usually complain about over-aggressive street vendors, tour operators with a bad attitude and dangerous driving. However, with a cool head and sensible planning, one can avoid these problems. DO'S Greetings are no different to western countries, there are no cultural formalities that as a foreigner you would be expected to know or practice. Vietnamese dress conservatively. Despite the heat, it's best not to show off too much skin. If you do, especially girls, you'll only draw stares from the locals. Dress well when visiting pagodas. No shorts or tatty beer t-shirts. Shoes are fine, and rarely will you have to remove them

Vietnam visas & border crossings Tourist visa The Tourist Visa for Vietnam must be issued before arrival and the typical visa is valid for 30 or 90 days. This is the most popular style of visa used by travellers to Vietnam. In some rare cases, the visa begins to expire from the day it is issued, so it is a good idea to get your visa as close as possible to your intended arrival date. The cost of a Vietnamese visa varies tremendously depending on where you apply -- a Vietnamese tourist visa costs A$70 in Sydney, Australia, but just US$25 in Jakarta, Indonesia and US$30 in Bangkok, Thailand. So, if you have the time, get your visa from a Vietnamese embassy somewhere in Asia rather than in your home country. We have heard that Vietnamese visas arranged at the consulate in Sihanoukville, Cambo

Northern Vietnam Northern Vietnam has a cool to cold season (courtesy of the northeast monsoon from November to March) and a warm to hot wet season (from April to October). December and January in particular can get quite frosty in the far north of Vietnam -- pack accordingly. This time of the year can also see heavy mists that can run for days -- these can reduce visibility in places like Sapa and Ha Long Bay to frustratingly short distances. The wettest months of the year in Hanoi are July and August, the driest, December and January. Central Vietnam Central Vietnam is kind of a transitionary area climate-wise from the north to the south. As the coast line is shielded by the Truong Son mountain range the rains that come with the southwest monsoon don't make it to the coast, so between Ap

Travel planning So you're leaving on a holiday to Southeast Asia for the first time and you're sitting in front of your computer thinking: Now what do I have to get done before I leave? No two trips are exactly the same--after all everyone has different travelling styles, budgets, tastes and interests--but many of the aspects of planning a trip are largely the same, especially the planning required before even leaving. Just as there is no "right" way to travel, there is no "correct" way of travel planning. Some people enjoy planning down to a minute level of detail, while for others anything more than a passport, backpack and plane ticket is over-planning. We're going to cover all the bases here, to create a broad travel checklist for planning a trip to Southeast Asia. You're of course wel