Background information

Geography

Vietnam covers and area of 330,363 sq. km and is about as big as Italy or New Mexico. The country has three main geographic regions - the tropical south dominated by the Mekong River estuary, the dry central region, and the more temperate north comprising the Red River delta and mountain highlands.

Climate

Vietnam’s climate is very diverse because the country covers a wide range of latitudes and altitudes.

The North: The cold season is between November and April when average temperatures are around 60°F/16°C and it is often wet and chilly. In the hot period, between May and October, the average temperature is about 86°F/30°C.
Central: Central Vietnam offers a combination of climates: that of the north and the south of Vietnam. The southern part has less rainfall and the temperatures are similar to those in the south. The northern part has more rain and significant changes in temperature. The rainy season in the centre lasts from September to December. Especially during the months of October and November central Vietnam is hit by typhoons with strong winds and heavy downpours.
The South: The temperatures in the south are constant all year, ranging from 77-86°F/25-30°C. The dry season is from November to April and the wet period from May to October.

CURRENCY

The currency issued by the Vietnam State Bank is the dong (abbreviated "d" or VND), which is used uniformly throughout the country. There are presently bank notes in circulation in dominations of:

100 dong, 200 dong, 500 dong, 1,000 dong, 2,000 dong
5,000 dong, 10,000 dong, 20,000 dong, 50,000 dong, 100,000 dong, 500,000dong

Traveller's cheques and credit cards (American Express, Visa, Mastercard) are exchanged for Vietnamese dong at the banks. Cards can be used in travel agencies, hotels, and major restaurants. US currency is exchanged for Vietnamese dong and treasury notes in banks, exchange bureaus, hotels, and jewellery shops. The exchange rate always changes. When leaving the country, remaining Vietnamese currency can be exchanged for US dollars at the exchange bureau at the airport.

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