Talk:Vietnam

Formatting and language conventions For articles about Vietnam, please use the 24-hour clock to show times, e.g. 09:00-12:00 and 18:00-00:00. Please show prices in this format: 1,000 dong and not ₫1,000, 1,000 ₫ong nor 1,000 VND. Please use American spelling (color, labor, traveled, realize, center, analog, program).

Archives Archived discussions can be found at Talk:Vietnam/Archive 2003-21

Banner

And perhaps we should also think of a new banner here for something more representative of Vietnamese culture. Like maybe a shot from the Perfume Pagoda or something. The dog2 (talk) 22:04, 24 March 2022 (UTC)

Some possible images to crop here: File:Heavenly Kitchen Pagoda, northern Vietnam (16) (38486376872).jpg, File:Hội An, Ancient Town, 2020-01 CN-01.jpg, File:File:Hanoi-lac-hoan-kiem.jpg The dog2 (talk) 17:48, 25 March 2022 (UTC)

Banner 1

@The dog2: Apologies for a late response. I made a banner out of the second one. There's a small speck on the first one, so it might not work properly (but I'll see how that looks) --SHB2000 (talk | contribs | meta.wikimedia) 03:23, 7 May 2022 (UTC)

@SHB2000: Looks good. What do you think of this new one vs the current one? The dog2 (talk) 17:15, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

I really can't decide tbh. The new one shows the cultural heritage better, while the current shows Vietnam's natural scenery. SHB2000 (talk | contribs | meta.wikimedia) 11:16, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Banner 2

Anyway, here's one of the third image you linked. --SHB2000 (talk | contribs | meta.wikimedia) 11:24, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Yeah, it's a tough one. Cultural heritage wise, I think the picture of the bridge looks more striking. The dog2 (talk) 15:22, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

You left out the current banner, which is also a good one. With the caveat that I'd like all of these banners to be used somewhere, if possible, I like Banner 2 the best. On the other hand, a similar image of Ha Long Bay that's sharper and in nicer light would probably be better than any of these. Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:26, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ It's a tough one for sure. Ha Long Bay is beautiful, and I have been there myself. The question is if natural scenery or cultural heritage is a better representative of tourism in Vietnam. The dog2 (talk) 21:52, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

I don't think we have to make that choice. We can simply choose between different images and pick the best picture, which is what I think I did. Ikan Kekek (talk) 22:23, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

I guess this could probably work if we want to make a banner using a higher resolution image of Ha Long Bay: . The dog2 (talk) 15:01, 31 May 2022 (UTC)

Vietnam by motorcycle

I moved a bunch of text from Da Nang, and there is probably more that applies to all of Vietnam. This section is quite long now, and seeing Vietnam by motorcycle is a popular activity. I think it is worth branching this subject off into its own article to be expanded further. Anyone interested in doing so? Ground Zero (talk) 18:34, 5 September 2022 (UTC)

I've started this article. Contributions would be appreciated. Ground Zero (talk) 12:33, 1 November 2022 (UTC)

Introducing "k" for 1,000 dong

Many places in Vietnam use the "k" (without "dong") to denote 1,000 dong. Actually no one even uses "dong", since the "k" denotes the currency utilisation. And nothing costs below 1,000 dong.

Should we formally allow "k" to be used? I think it would make text and articles more readable, since all those 0 don't really help.

Also, how about just skipping "dong" all together, since no one really uses nor understands it? Asking in shops how much it is and using the word "dong" does nothing to help — but maybe I am pronouncing it wrong.

Cheers Ceever (talk) 07:57, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

I think we have to remember that our guide is not just read by travellers on the road, it is also read by people sitting at home planning trips. It would be confusing not to have the currency denoted. People will get accustomed to the absence of it on signs in Vietnam soon after they land.

I get the point of using "k" instead of "000", especially as one sees it so much in the country, but I think it should be explained the first time it is used in an article for the benefit if the readers at home, so that it is clear that "k" is not the symbol for the country's unit of currency. Ground Zero (talk) 00:54, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

If "k" is the symbol they are going to see, it seems we should note the currency name (đồng) and symbol in the beginning of Buy, but introduce "k" in the next sentence and use "k" everywhere from that point on. –LPfi (talk) 09:55, 19 December 2023 (UTC)

Car-dependent country?

If you're familiar with Vietnam, please take a look at Talk:Driving in Vietnam and help resolve my confusion about that article. Thanks! —Granger (talk · contribs) 02:09, 18 December 2023 (UTC)

I've replied to you on the other page. --F30 (talk) 08:27, 18 December 2023 (UTC)

Border crossing scams

If anyone has crossed the border to/from Cambodia recently, I think it will be good if we can get an update on it. I've seen vlogs and read stories about being asked for a bribe by immigration officers. Apparent, if you are entering Vietnam with an eVisa by land, you have to bribe the immigration officer before they will stamp you in. The dog2 (talk) 16:55, 27 December 2023 (UTC)

And from what I've been seeing on travel vlogs online, you have to pay a bribe of US$2 to the immigration officer if you want to enter or leave by land with an eVisa. It appears that there's no way to avoid paying this bribe, as you will just be held up at the border otherwise. The dog2 (talk) 01:02, 28 December 2023 (UTC)

ATMs list

Why do we list the phone numbers of banks in the ATM list? Most travellers will use the bank's website to find an ATM, and not phone a call centre where they would likely have to speak to someone in Vietnamese to ask for the location of the nearest ATM. Ground Zero (talk) 15:29, 5 January 2024 (UTC)

Deleted. Ground Zero (talk) 14:31, 11 January 2024 (UTC)

Is it correct that you need to enter Vietnam on the exact date of entry mentioned in the evisa?

In the "Get in" section, the page currently says:

> However, you must enter on the date and at the place stipulated on the visa; you will be denied entry if you arrive on the wrong date [...]

Does it mean that if the date of entry on the evisa is 4th December and it is valid till the 4th of January, we can enter only on 4th of December? That's how the wording sounds like to me. I couldn't find this specific thing anywhere else on the internet. My understanding is that we can enter on any date in the validity period provided the port remains same. It is confusing. Libreravi (talk) 05:44, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

Yeah you'll be fine re the date. You can enter after the entry date, but you must exit before expiry date no matter when you've entered. I'll fix the sentence. Brycehughes (talk) 01:55, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

Thanks @Brycehughes for clarifying and editing the page. Additionally, the e-visa of Vietnam does not mention the port of entry and exit (which the traveler entered while submitting the application), so how would that be enforced? Libreravi (talk) 18:17, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

Oh, that's interesting. I have one from January 2023 that has the port of entry and another one from November 2023 that does not have the port of entry. So either they removed it, or sometimes they have it and sometimes they don't (my first entry was via land and my second was via air). I don't know. Brycehughes (talk) 21:48, 12 November 2024 (UTC)