The main religion in Vietnam is Buddhism, which professes 55% of the population, 12% profess Taoism, 10% – Catholicism. Islam, Protestantism, paganism, Confucianism are also represented in the country.
Transport in Vietnam
Urban transport is well developed only in large cities, but even there there are difficulties with movement. There are 13 bus routes in Hanoi, but the traffic on them is irregular, and the network of stops is very confusing. The fare on a public bus within the capital is about 0.1 USD per trip. Tickets can be purchased at the station. There are also taxis in Hanoi. The main types of transport in cities are taxis, minibuses, motorcycle and cycle rickshaws. In a taxi, the fare does not need to be negotiated in advance – there are meters in the cars. A taxi ride will cost 0.45-0.6 USD per kilometer plus 1-1.5 USD per landing. Moto and cycle rickshaws charge 1 USD for a 15-minute trip, but it is better to negotiate the amount of payment in advance, you can bargain.
You can travel between cities by bus or by rail. Bus routes cover the whole country, but the speed of the buses is slow, there are frequent disruptions in the schedule and they are almost always crowded. In addition to regular buses, there are express trains, but their speed is not much higher. There are also minibuses, which are divided into public and superior. The latter are less crowded and are used mainly by foreigners. The fare on such a bus is several times higher than on the rest.
The main railway line is Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh, stretching across the country from north to south. Express “Unity” runs along the highway, spending on travel one way 29 hours. The express has both non-modernized second-class cars and soft sleeping cars. The soft sleeping car has eight separate compartments, each with four berths. All compartments are locked from the inside and there is a European-style toilet with a washbasin at both ends of the carriage.
Vietnam has a well-developed water mode of transport. The main ports are in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hong Gai, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Vung Tau. The rivers can be navigated in small passenger boats.
International airports are located in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
Foreigners in Vietnam rarely rent only a car, preferring to rent a car with a local driver. There are several reasons for this. Only a ninth of all roads in Vietnam are paved, while the rest are either gravel or unpaved. The roads are often washed out, they are constantly loaded with mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles and agricultural machinery. If you do decide to rent a car, you will need a driver’s license or national license with the appropriate mark from the local traffic police, which can be obtained by passing an exam. The cost of renting a car is low. Everywhere in the country you can rent a motorcycle or bicycle. A deposit will be charged at the time of signing the lease.
Plant and Animal World in Vietnam
The warm and humid climate of Vietnam is the reason for the huge variety of vegetation and animals. About a third of the country is covered with tropical and subtropical forests. Pine, broad-leaved trees, bamboo, and numerous lianas grow in mixed tropical forests. In the deltas of the rivers – dense mangroves.
The animal world of Vietnam is diverse, but its numbers have fallen sharply due to the destruction of many species of animals and illegal hunting. Gibbons, macaques, bears (Tibetan and Malay), tiger, tree viverras, squirrels, flying squirrels, a huge boa python, large monitor lizards (lizards), white and green parrots live in humid forests; in the savannah forests and savannahs – the Indian elephant, one-horned and two-horned rhinos (all of them are rare), antelopes, deer, wild bulls, wild boars, porcupine, peacocks, eagles, partridges, wild chickens, etc. Pink flamingos are found in river deltas and swamps, stork, pelican, heron, wild ducks, geese. In the rivers, fish of the carp family (gudgeon, carp, perch, pike) are most common.
Minerals in Vietnam
The northern part of Vietnam is rich in various minerals. The main ones are coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, bauxite, tungsten, tin, ores of rare earth elements. In the southern part of the country, deposits of coal, gold and molybdenum are known.
Banks in Vietnam
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00. ATMs operate around the clock.
Money in Vietnam
The national currency of Vietnam is the dong. There are 100 sous in one dong. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000 and 100000 VND. There are also coins in 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 200 dong, but they are gradually going out of circulation.
Credit cards of the main networks (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted in the country. Traveler’s checks in US dollars or euros can be cashed at major banks.
The most popular foreign currency in Vietnam is the US dollar. You don’t even have to exchange dollars for dongs – they are accepted almost everywhere. In the capital and major cities, you can pay in euros, yen, yuan or baht.
Rate: 100000 Vietnamese Dong (VND) = 3.99 USD
Political State in Vietnam
According to the 1992 constitution, Vietnam is a socialist republic, and the highest body of state power is the National Assembly, elected by popular vote for a five-year term. According to politicsezine, the National Assembly elects a President from among its deputies, and the President requests the Parliament to appoint or remove the Vice President, the Prime Minister, and the President of the Supreme People’s Court. The President, Prime Minister and other leaders of the country are in office for the same term as the National Assembly.
Population in Vietnam
The population of Vietnam is 75.2 million people. Vietnam is a multinational country. 54 ethnic groups live here, each of which has its own original culture, traditions and customs. 84% of the population is represented by Vietnamese, 2% – by Chinese, the rest – by Thais, Khmers, Meo, Man, Cham, Muong peoples.
Language:
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. There are many dialects of the Vietnamese language throughout the country, as well as other languages spoken by various ethnic minorities, such as Khmer and Loatians. The most common foreign languages in Vietnam are Chinese, English, French and Russian.
