Tap water in urban areas in Vietnam is chlorinated, but it is recommended that it should be boiled before drinking. Bank notes in dominations of 100d, 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2,000d, 5,000d, 10,000d, 20,000d, and 50,000d are presently in circulation. At present only certain travellers' cheques and credit cards are acceptable in big cities, including Visa, Master card, American Express. Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. Foreign language learning, particularly English, is currently in vogue among young people in hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang and other cities.
Tourist guides can speak English, French, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
Vietnam is a country where tourists can visit in all four seasons. The country's tourism service offers a range of programmes convenient to your circumstances. In the North, the best tourist season lasts from November to April the next year. Spring time is especially pleasant because of the cooler, drier climate. The most interesting one is the Lunar New Year Festival.