Vietnam
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Capital
Hanoi
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Local time
2:05
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Population
93.57 m
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Driving side
Right
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Calling code
+84
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Currency
₫ VND (dong)
Vietnam
-
Capital
Hanoi
-
Local time
2:05
-
Population
93.57 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+84
-
Currency
₫ VND (dong)
-
Average Salary
$ 279
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Petrol price
€ 1.04 pl
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Precipitation
1 821mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
329 560 km2
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Protected Area
7%
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Forest Area
48%
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Agricultural area
35%
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Railways
3186km
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Annual air passengers
37.94 m
Population
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Ethnicity
Kinh - 86 %
Tay - 1 %
Thai - 1 %
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Religion
Buddhist - 9 %
Catholic - 7 %
Hoa Hao - 2 %
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Literacy rates
93.5%
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Languages
Vietnamese
English
French
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Armed Forces
522 000
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Alcohol consumption
8.7 l/person
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Smoking
47.1%
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Diabetes
6%
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Malaria
0%
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Tuberculosis
137 per 100k
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HIV
0.4%
Economy
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Industries
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, coal, steel, cement, chemical fertilizer
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Agriculture
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts
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Natural Resources
phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas, timber, hydropower
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Natural Resources
phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas, timber, hydropower
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Renewable Energy
36%
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CO2 Emissions
166 911kt
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Ease of Business
68 (Best=1, Worst=200)
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ATMs per 100k people
24
What not to do when visiting Vietnam
Vietnam Don't wear shorts, tatty beer t-shirts, skirts, low-neck tops and bare shoulders when visiting pagodas - it's extremely rude and offensive.
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Vietnam Don't show off. Keep a low profile and a cool head. Losing your temper in Vietnam means a loss of face.
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Vietnam Don't sit with your feet pointing towards people.
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Vietnam Don't show affection with a member of the opposite sex in public. Anything beyond holding hands is seriously frowned upon.
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Vietnam Don't touch someone's head and point with your finger.
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Vietnam Don't sit until shown where to sit. The oldest person sits first.
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Vietnam Don't accept the gift by one hand in Vietnam - it can mean you are not grateful. Always use both hands to show your gratitude.
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Vietnam Don't give handkerchiefs, anything black, yellow flowers or chrysanthemums as a gift. Bring fruit, sweets, flowers, or incense as a gift if invited to a Vietnamese home.
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Vietnam Don't forget to take off your shoes before entering a Vietnamese home.
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Vietnam Don't sleep or sit with the soles of your feet pointing towards the family altar when visiting someone's house.
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Vietnam Don't take video cameras into the ethnic minority villages - they are considered to be intrusive by locals.
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Vietnam Don't neglect to learn how to use chopsticks. Try to finish everything on plate and rest your chopsticks on top of your rice bowl when finished. Hold tie spoon in your left hand while eating soup.
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Vietnam Don't take a photo of somebody without asking for permission. Don't take pictures of anything to do with military.
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Vietnam Don't carry large amount of money or wear a lot of jewellery. Never leave your bags unattended.
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Vietnam Don't forget to offer a slight head bow and handshake with both hands when meeting. Among women and opposite sexes, a simple nod of acknowledgement is universal.
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Vietnam Don't change money from not recognized moneychanger.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't lose the temper and cause "loss of face". The concept of "saving face" is extremely important in East Asian social relationships.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Vietnam Don’t leave your drinks or food unattended.
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Vietnam Don’t expect Vietnamese to say direct “no” even that’s the right position for them - they are more indirect communicators and avoid negative responses.
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Vietnam Don't expect to sleep late as Vietnam starts moving at 6am and the noise can e overwhelming.
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Vietnam Don't forget to do some haggling at outdoor markets, but not at indoor shops and restaurants.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't provide your passport as collateral when hiring vehicles - better use cash as deposit.
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Vietnam Don’t be a victim of mosquito-borne diseases - protect yourself against bites by mosquitoes.
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Vietnam Don’t point to someone with index finger - it’s considered rude. Use the whole hand, palm flat.
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Vietnam Don’t use left hand to passing objects - use both hands.
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Vietnam Don't refuse a cup of tea when offered.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't be too affectionate in public - kissing, cuddling and similar behaviour are frowned upon if in public, especially amongst older locals.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't pull the motorbike in the middle of the road when trying to turn right as you might be hit from behind or from the front by others. Most of the traffic accidents are caused by this as it's common vehicles are overtaking within each of the sides in parallel and stopping in the middle can cause you big troubles.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't point at people or things with your feet - it's considered very rude as the feet are considered as the most inferior parts of the human body.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't show disrespect to Buddha or its images - large or small, ruined or not, it's regarded as a sacred object.
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Vietnam Don’t forget the rainy season usually runs from June to December.
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Hanoi Don't get stuck in Hanoi during the Tet holidays. It's Vietnamese New Year and biggest holiday in Vietnam - check your calendar, the dates change every year.
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South-Eastern Asia Don't try to outrun the rainstorm on your moped.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
South-Eastern Asia Don't touch a monk. Treat monks with the highest respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of woman.
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