VIETNAM

Vietnam is a long stretching country with lots of contrasts and a hugh coastline. If you have time, leave the main cities and explore!

Visas:

http://www.vietnamembassy.jp/english/consular/visa.html (website is suffering some problems, use the link below). Download the application form and post it with the cash (about ￥8000 - a price hike) and your passport in a special money envelope (kakitome) from the Post Office. It'll take about 5 days. You can apply for it in person while in, for example, Bangkok, if you change your plans. In Cambodia it is reportedly a quarter of the price for the same visa. If the embassy in Phnom Penh is closed you can get it done from an agency very quick and very cheap.
Make sure you ask for the maximum length of visa as reportedly they can sometimes be cut short by immigration staff at the airport. Also try http://vietnam.sawadee.com/visaform.htm
Vietnam Embassy in Japan Address: 50-11, Motoyoyogi-cho Shibuya - ku, Tokyo 151
Tel: 813-346 63 313, 346 63 314; Fax: 346 63 391, 346 67 652
Consulate: 346 63 311; Fax: 346 63 312

Money:

Dong but take US Dollars as they are accepted everywhere and hotel prices will be quoted in them.

Places to go:

Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon

Locals still call it Saigon. Busy little city where the locals put their nightclothes on at dusk and relax and party in the parks. The centre has undergone some recent reconstruction so aim for as new a map as possible. A taxi from the airport to the back packer area of Saigon,De Tham, should cost US$5.

to stay:
Betty's - guest house in the main tourist area - look around when the bus drops you off. Friendly family run, laundry, moped hire, flight bookings, and lovely owners.

to see:
Cu Chi tunnels - replicas of the tunnels used in the Vietnam War as hide outs for the Viet Cong. You can explore the smallest and darkest! Book a day trip, usually included with the psychedelic Caodai Great Temple - a multi-denominational barbie-pink church.

Hanoi

It takes 52 hours to go from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by road.

Halong Bay

Halong bay is beautiful it's about 2 hours out of Hanoi. You can book a 2 day boat tour from about 50$US or do an overnight boat trip for US$30. Ocean Tours provide great guides who tell all about the history of Hanoi. It's a 3 hour trip and then about 1/2 hour - 1 hour wait to get the boat headed out into the bay. If you have time it's highly recommend to spend the night on the boat. Swim in the warm bay at sunset. The accommodation on the boat's really nice. Kayaking can be a little short the next morning as it can take so long to get everyone in the kayaks. If you book a tour of Halong the transport will be included. Book tickets for a minivan at any travel agency in town (they are in practically every hotel).

Hoi An

Hoi An is a really nice town and the shopping is great. Cheap custom made clothes. You can fly from either Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City to Danang, which is very close to Hoi An.

Sapa

Up north. Worth a visit if you have time.

Nha Trang

In the north. The hotels are very cheap. Take a motorbike tour around the area or ride elephants on Monkey Island. Hike in the hills to see beautiful waterfalls. If you want beaches, stop in Nha Trang.
If you just want to relax, Whale Island about 2 hours north of Nha Trang is magical.

Out and about:

Go on a mission along the Mekong Delta. "fantastic and highly recommended"

Diving:

Rainbow Divers - information by a former Nagoya JET, Don Ross, who works there:
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), has awarded Rainbow Divers in Nha Trang a Career Development Centre (CDC) Award which recognises the achievements that they have made to training Instructors and setting diving standards in Vietnam. It is also the only National Geographic Divecentre in Vietnam. This means they can offer Diving and Diver Training at levels not available elsewhere in Vietnam.
They can offer: Discover Scuba Diving(for those with no formal diving certification) to Instructor Development courses and everything inbetween.

Website http://www.divevietnam.com - for more details. If you have any questions about travelling to Vietnam, want help finding accomodation or have any general questions contact Don don@divevietnam.com.

Leaving:

There's a fast boat between Laos and Vietnam that's cheap but potentially deadly. 7 hours crammed in tight, with no helmets and not enough life jackets. Extremely fast on the rivers and a lot of debris. Wind and rain in the face on bad days the whole way too.
There is a slow boat, that takes maybe 2 days. Maybe worth taking that instead if you're considering land routes.

Information

Ocean Tours in Hanoi: http://www.oceantours.com.vn - tours and general information.

TOP TIPS:

Buy copies of the Vietnam Lonely Planet on the street in Hanoi or Ho Chi Mihn or any of the major tourist cities for about US$5, if you can wait until then.

JET holiday info

Vietnam