Vietnam

Fact File

Population

88.5 million people

Capital City

Hanoi

Currency

Dong: 1 USD buys about 20,650 VND (as of August 2012)

Language

Vietnamese, Tay, Hmong, and Dzao

Attractions

Hạ Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Củ Chi Tunnels

Local Lingo

Chào anh.	Hello.
Hân hạnh gặp ông.	Pleased to meet you!
Chúc sức khoẻ!	To good health!

Did You Know?

• Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of coffee in the world. A popular blend of Vietnamese coffee is Kopi Luwak, which is collected after it passes through the digestive tract of a civet, commonly known as a weasel.
• Half of the population has the last name Nguyen.
• The letters F, J, W, and Z are not used in the Vietnamese alphabet.

Contact Us: For more information about Vietnam you can email us at vietnam@rusticpathways.com.

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“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”

Thich Nhat Hahn

Packing List

To Help You Come Prepared...

On some programs you will need to pack additional items that are not on this general packing list. Please make sure you read the notes for every program you are participating in which can be found on each specific program’s webpage. Students who are participating in multiple programs should pack the contents of the general Vietnam Packing List plus any special items listed for their specific programs.

Bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying.

Pack lightly for your journey! Airlines in Southeast Asia will not allow a checked bag weighing more than 15 kilos, so please pack accordingly. You must also be able to carry and load your own luggage, and space in the vehicles is limited.

Carry-On Luggage

A small backpack is the best carry on bag and will be useful on your program day-trips.

• Passport
• Airline tickets
• Wallet - with about $100 emergency money
• 2 Photo Copies of your Passport - you will give these to our staff when you arrive in Vietnam (2 additional copies should be kept in your checked luggage).
• Medications - Must alert staff, but keep these in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost).
• Sunglasses
• Toothpaste (under 3 oz.)
• Toothbrush
• Journal and Pens
• Refillable, durable water bottle - keep yourself hydrated to avoid jet lag.
• Snacks - Though Singapore Air serves some tasty meals.
• Books - Suggested reading: Dispatches and The Things They Carried
• Cameras - Don't forget to bring your chargers, batteries and memory cards! You can also bring your USB cords for downloading pics for emails.

Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry-on regulations of the TSA.

Checked Luggage

A medium sized duffel bag or large backpack work best. Wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried like a duffle over rough terrain.

Please bring at least a few outfits that can get dirty or destroyed for service work or adventure activities.

CLOTHING ITEMS

• Long Pants (1-2 - I suggest something lightweight and quick-drying)
• Underwear (7 - 10)
• Socks (4)
• Swimsuit (modest)
• T-Shirts (7) - 3-5 cotton shirts + 3-5 quick-dry shirts
• Tank Tops (1-2) Remember that you want to be culturally sensitive with your dress, so don’t bring
• anything too tight or revealing
• Long Sleeve T-shirt (1-2)
• Waterproof rain jacket (1)
• Shorts (3-4) - not too short or tight, as this is offensive in Vietnamese culture.
• Running Shoes (1)
• Sandals that are strapped (Chaco’s or Teva’s are recommended) - the Vietnamese live in sandals
• Flip-Flops (1) cheap, lightweight ones you can slip on and off easily
• Hat (1)
• Pajamas (1)

TOILETRIES

Please pack all items that could leak in a PLASTIC or ZIPLOCK bag

• Soap or Body Wash
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Sunscreen
• Sunburn cream or aloe
• Lip balm - make sure that it has sunscreen in it. Lip balm without sun protection actually attracts the sun. Burt’s Bees has some nice products.
• Insect Repellant (1-2 bottles of 35% DEET or more)
• Hand Sanitizer (1-2 small bottles per week)
• Small packs of Kleenex Tissues - Always carry these with you as public toilets in most of Asia do not supply toilet paper - you are meant to bring your own.
• Towel (1 - NOT white) - white towels get rather gnarly looking after a while.
• Contact lenses and solution, in a plastic bag

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries (to read at night or in the case of power outages)
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2) *for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)
• Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a personal kit is always helpful)
  • Band-aids
  • Triple Antibiotic Ointment
  • Anti-itch Cream (1 Benadryl Anti-itch Gel works great)
  • Medical Tape
  • Moleskin or preferred blister care
  • Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
  • Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
  • 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
  • 2 Gauze dressing
  • 5-8 Sterile wipes

OPTIONAL ITEMS

• Vietnamese phrasebook
• Deck of Cards, or other easily explained games.
• Picture of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, pet fish, etc.
• Frisbee, Aerobee, Hackysack, Football, Soccer Ball or Volleyball

PLEASE NOTE – Rustic Pathways will not be responsible for ANY lost or stolen items. During travel it is common for items to be lost or stolen so please bring only items you are prepared to part with.