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Understanding Vietnam: Home

This guide provides useful information and links to resources on Vietnam.

At A Glance

HOAN NGHENH!

The following information have been carefully selected for your reference. Some resources may have bias perspectives. Please approach the SMU Libraries (library@smu.edu.sg ) should you have any doubts or need clarifications.

This introduction video brings you around Vietnam - when to go and the top things to do.

  • Demographic Trends
    Learn more about the population distribution 
    and density of Vietnam.

 

Learn more about Vietnam provinces and capitals through this educational video.

Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Vietnam. Vietnam is a land of striking landscapes, a mix of booming cities, colonial towns, traditional villages and otherworldly islands.

  • Vietnam Traffic
    Vietnam is known for traffic jams during the peak hours of the weekends, holidays, the number of motorbikes is too many.

Need To Know

This section helps prepare an individual before embarking to Vietnam, such as learning the cultural etiquette, basic conversational phrases, and even some useful local contact numbers.

Cultural Dos and Don’ts

Vietnam is a nice, peaceful and friendly destination. To get a great experience with the locals, knowing the following DOs and DON'Ts in Vietnam from a cultural point of view is important. .

  • Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Comply with internal rules and regulations, and be well-mannered, polite at tourist sites and public places.
  • Be respectful to the elderly, children and women.
  • Contribute to the environmental protection and keep Vietnam environment clean.
  • Refrain from causing damage to the artifacts of historical and cultural properties.
  • Encourage behaviour of reducing the amount of food waste.

Basic Conversational Language

Some phrases in Vietnamese that are handy to know when visiting Vietnam.
 

  • xin chao (Hello)
  • tam biet (Goodbye)
  • ban khoe khong (How are you?)
  • xin gam on rat nhieu (Thank you very much)
  • lam quen voi ban (Nice to meet you)
  • cai nay bao nhieu tien (How much?)
  • hen gap lai (See you soon)
  • More phrases

Phone Apps

  • DUOLINGO
    Lessons are broken down into bite-sized chunks and it feels like you’re playing a game. Duolingo is a great introduction, but it can feel like you’re learning a random mix of information, often through repetition. The more you do, the more robust your vocabulary will be.
       
     
  • TANDEM
    The only way to become fluent in a new language is to speak it. Tandem is geared toward conversations with native speakers. The idea is that you can help one another learn new languages via text, audio, and video chat. The app vets you and then helps you to find a partner who shares your interests. They teach you and you teach them.
       

Currency

Vietnamese Dong (VND)

More details on the exchange rate.

Dialing Code

+84

Useful Numbers

  • Police: 113
  • Fire: 114
  • Ambulance: 115
  • Singapore Embassy in Vietnam
    • Hanoi: (84-24) 3848 9168
    • Ho Chi Minh City: (84-28) 3822 5174
  • Embassy of Singapore
    • Hanoi: +84-24-38489168 (Main line)
    • Ho Chi Minh City: +84 (28) 38225174
  • International hospitals in Vietnam

Databases

Local Media Source

This section links to the various local news media in Vietnam.

RSS News Feed

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What To Look Out

This section informs the common scams and crimes to look out for when visiting Vietnam.


Scams

Crime & Security

History of Vietnam

All Vietnamese dynasties explained, Vietnam war and French Indochina explained in 8 minutes

Find out about the long history and gruelling war fought in Vietnam, how it happened and how it affected the citizens till today?

Learn the truth who really lost the Vietnam War. The Communists in North Vietnam actually signed a peace treaty, effectively surrendering. Did the United States win or lose the Vietnam War?

Books

This section lists some recommended readings about Vietnam.

Useful Links

This section provides useful links to the Vietnam social media.


Social Media

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism​

    

Acceptable Use Policy

Electronic resources (e.g., databases, datasets, e-journals, e-books and streaming audio/video) provided by the SMU Libraries are governed by license agreements that restrict use to current students, faculty and staff of SMU and the Singapore Copyright Act.

The use of electronic resources must comply with the Appropriate Use of Electronic Resources Policy and Singapore Management University Acceptable Use Policy