Health Health care in Vietnam varies in quantity and quality. Big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have very good private and state-owned hospitals and clinics, while it is often hard to see a doctor in rural areas. Pharmacies, however, can be found in almost every town. Write down the name of the [...]

Pedalling slowly on his rented bicycle, Jerome Gastel, a visitor from Switzerland , enjoys the fascinating architecture of Hanoi ‘s Old Quarter. Vietnam was a strange country to the 28-year-old some months ago but he has no regrets about visiting the country after a letter from his friend advised him to do so. In the [...]

Vietnam’s official language is Vietnamese, a tonal language spoken as a mother tongue by 90% the country’s population. Vietnamese is written using a 29 letter alphabetical system. However, the accent of Vietnamese varies from province to province. Besides Vietnamese, around 50 other languages are spoken by ethnic minorities. English is a popular foreign language and [...]

Take a gastronomic tour of Vietnam, but be warned – do not read this article if you are even slightly hungry. 1. Pho They call it beef noodle soup, and such it is, but so much more. It is Vietnam in a bowl. Pronounced like ‘fur’ (but drop the ‘r’), it is beef noodle soup [...]

Knowledge of local etiquette should help you avoid inadvertently causing offence or, worse, sparking an international incident! And it will endear you to your hosts. Here are a few tips to help you go native. Dress code Respect local dress standards: shorts to the knees, women’s tops covering the shoulder, particularly at religious sites. Always [...]