Experience Unmatched Luxury at La Veranda, Vietnam’s 5-Star Resort

SOUTH OF VIETNAM – HO CHI MINH CITY Summary Area: 2,095.5 sq. km Population: 9,396,000 (2011) Administrative divisions: – Urban districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu. – Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh. Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham Geography – Ho Chi Minh City is nestled within the Mekong Delta, where Saigon River flows through – The city is an important economic and political center of Vietnam Climate – Saigon climate is hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the wet season from May to November, and the dry season from December to April. There is sunshine all year round. History – In the 19th century, Saigon was under the French control and was the biggest and busiest city in Indochina. – In April 1975, the North and the South of Vietnam reunified, and Saigon was renamed into Ho Chi Minh City. Tourism Ho Chi Minh City is an important tourist attraction of Vietnam as it contains many vestiges of the past. It shows the cluster of Eastern and Western cultures via the architecture, costumes, and customs. The historical relics in the city attracts a large number of tourists each year. General information Ho Chi Minh City – the center of Southern Vietnam covers an area of 2,095.5 sq. km and has the population of 9,396,000 (2011). It consists of 19 urban districts (District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan, and Tan Phu) and 5 rural ones (Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, and Binh Chanh). Similar to Hanoi and Da Nang, the majority of the population is the Kinh people. There are also citizens from Hoa, Khmer, and Cham ethnic groups. Geography Along with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is one of the two important cities of Vietnam. It is the center of economy and entertainment. The city is nestled within the Mekong Delta, where the Saigon River flows through. The Saigon Port, which was founded in 1862, is a big inland river port. Climate In general terms, Saigon climate is hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the wet season from May to November, and the dry season from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27⁰C. The city receives sunshine all year round. History This land was used by the Khmers as a hunting area 500 years ago. In late 19th century, the French colonizers invaded this area, and turned Saigon into a bustling city, and the economic center of Indochina. Traders from different countries came and established the major trading center there. Saigon became the largest city in Indochina in 1874, when the China Town (Cho Lon) merged into. It was considered the Pearl of the Far East. In April 30, 1975, the Viet Cong tanks hit the gates of the Independence Palace and marked the reunification of the North and the South of Vietnam. Since then, Saigon has been renamed into “Ho Chi Minh City”, under the name of the great leader of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City still is a crowded and bustling city. The past and the present stay together in the city, where you can easily find the ancient French architectural works stand next to new skyscrapers. Tourism Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large number of visitors to Vietnam. The City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, and cultural houses. Recently, many additional tourist areas evolved with significant investment such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa, which draw numerous people from all over the world. Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City still possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas, Notre Dame Cathedral). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH Reunification Palace The Reunification Palace – Dinh Doc Lap is absolutely a must-visit stop for any Saigon Travel Tour. It is considered a landmark of Saigon. Similar to the United States’ White House, Dinh Doc Lap was the home and the workplace of Southern Vietnam Governors during the Vietnam War. During the Fall of Saigon, the palace marked the end of the War when the Northern Vietnam Army tanks crashed its main gates on April 30th, 1975. The Reunification Palace is not only an extremely important historical site but also a masterpiece of architecture. It is a combination of Eastern and Western styles. Nowadays, it has become a meeting place of the Government and also a national historical and cultural site which attracts a huge number of tourists from every part of the world each year. Address: 106 Nguyen Du Street, District 1, HCMC Opening hour: Everyday, 7.30 am – 5.00 pm Entrance fee: Around 20,000VND/adult Notre Dame Cathedral This is the city’s Catholic Church built in 1880, which has become the worship place of a large Catholic Community in Saigon. Notre Dame Cathedral was constructed with French-imported materials only.  The twin towers of the church is a distinctive feature which are approximately 60 meters high. In 2005, there was a miracle in the church that the statue of the Virgin Mary shed tears. With its distinctive Western design as well as religious value, the Notre Dame Cathedral is regarded a must-stop place that every traveler should visit. Address: Han Thuyen Street, District 1 Opening hour: Everyday, 8.00 am – 5.00 pm Entrance fee: Free Recommend: If you visit on weekdays, use the side gate (if the main gate is close) to get inside the church Museum of Ho Chi Minh City Also known as The Museum of the Revolution, the museum is placed in a beautiful French palace (Gia Long palace), which used to be the home of French Governors and President Ngo Dinh Diem – the final residence of the South Vietnam Government. That museum displays the developments of Saigon as well as the revolutionary movement. Visiting the museum, travelers will get exposure to the history of the past Vietnam, to see what happened in Vietnam War through photos, and see how Saigon has changed time after time. Especially, there is a corridor leading the way from that palace to the Reunification Palace. Address: 65 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m – 6:00 p.m Entrance fee: Free War Remnants Museum Once known as the ‘Museum of American War Crimes’, the Museum was first opened to the public in 1975. It offers a shocking reminder of the long and brutal Vietnam War, with many graphic photographs and American military equipment on display, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane, a single-seater attack aircraft, and a 6,800kg conventional bomb. Address: 26 Vo Van Tan Street, District 3 Opening hour: Everyday, 7.30 am – 12.00 pm, 1.30 pm – 5.00 pm Entrance fee: Around 15.000VND/guest Cu Chi Tunnels Nestled about 40 kilometers from the city center of Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels is the underground tunnel which was used by Vietnam Army during Vietnam War. It was a 250 kilometer-long tunnel bug by elementary tools and bare hand and was the place where the Vietnamese stay and live during the War. It was later the Viet Cong base during Tet Offensive event – a major military campaign on January 1968. It was used to store weapons and food, as a hospital and a hiding place and living quarters for Viet Cong armed forces. The tunnel, therefore, played a vital role in the victory of Vietnam during the War. Nowadays some plots are open for tourism. Visitors can come inside the tunnel and experience how Vietnamese people did to survive during the War. Address: Ben Dinh, Nhuan Duc, Cu Chi Ward Opening hour: Everyday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Entrance fee: Around 80.000VND/guest Central Post Office Located at Paris Commune Street, District 1, Saigon Central Post Office is a must-stop destination for Saigon City Tours.  It is a typical colonial French Building. The post office was built in 1891, based on the design of Eiffel – the globally famous French architect and has become the busiest post office in the city. As a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, the post office attracts tourists with typical characteristics of French-style architecture. Walking into the Central Post Office, visitors would feel like they are brought back to a 20th-century building in Europe rather than an Eastern post office. Nowadays, the post office still offers all kinds of traditional postal services such as mailing, selling postcards or stamps, and exchanging foreign money. Address: 2 Cong Xa Paris, District 1 Opening hour: Everyday, 7.00 am – 8.00 pm Entrance fee: Free Jade Pagoda The Pagoda was built in 1892 and is dedicated to Taoism and Buddhism. This pagoda was an important meeting place of Chinese secret societies who planned to overthrow the government in Peking during the Manchu Dynasty. The pagoda is filled with incense, candles, and statues of various divinities and heroes. Address: 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, District 3 Opening hour: Everyday, 8.00 am – 5.00 pm Entrance fee: Free Recommend: Visitor can make donation. Giac Lam Pagoda It is the oldest pagoda in the city which has more than 250 years of history. The pagoda make tourists feel that they are entering a different world with its pungent incense, funeral tablets, and carved inscriptions. Carved wooden pillars describe the lives of the monks whose portraits adorn the walls. This pagoda also consists of many beautifully carved wooden statues of the Buddha, reincarnations of Buddha, judges, guardians from Hell, and the Buddha of Mercy. Address: 118 Lac Long Quan Street, District 3 Opening hour: everyday, 5.00 am – 8.00 pm Entrance fee: Free Thien Hau Temple This Temple was built by Cantonese fishermen in late 18th century and is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. The altar for the Goddess features three statues of the goddess “Thien Hau”. Votive paper offerings are burned in a large furnace at the entrance. Address:  710 Nguyen Trai Street, District 5 Opening hour: Everyday, 8.00 am – 4.30 pm Entrance fee: Free Ben Thanh Market It is the largest market in Ho Chi Minh City which has gone through a hundred year of history. The market is highlighted with French-style decoration with an outstanding clock tower at its entrance. Visitors can find a wide range of products in the market such as garments, textile, handicrafts, flowers, and vegetables. It is also a good place to try the authentic Saigon Cuisine. Address: Le Loi Street, District 1 Opening hour: Everyday, 6.00 am – 6.00 pm Entrance fee: Free Recommend: Ben Thanh Night market, which flanks the 2 side roads of the Ben Thanh Building, comes on at about 5 pm and all the way to 12 midnight Chinatown – Cho Lon Cho Lon is the largest China town in Vietnam. Not only does Cho Lon sell a wide range of product, it also displays the influences of Chinese culture in the architecture and customs. The majority of people living there is Chinese-Vietnamese people. The ancient works are well preserved. Visiting Cho Lon, tourists can take a glimpse at the life of the Chinese-Vietnamese community and the cluster of the past and the present. Address: District 5, Ho Chi Minh City Opening hour: 24/7 Entrance fee: Free TRANSPORTATION Ho Chi Minh City is the hub of the South. It is the main junction for railway, road, air, and water transportation systems for both domestic and international routes. Saigon is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The National Highway 13 is the main road connecting Vietnam and other Indochinese countries. Regarding railway transportation, Thong Nhat Express Train is the biggest railway system in Vietnam which comes throughout the whole country. Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is a big domestic and international airport. Flights within Vietnam and towards other countries are available there.

1. Customs regulations Thanks to the government’s policies to promote tourism, customs regulations are becoming far simpler. However, it is still necessary to pay attention to the basic information about essential documentation and things that you can and cannot bring along when arriving or leaving the country. Travelers can bring the maximum amount of the followings; if exceeding, you will have to declare your stuff and pay import taxes: – Cigarettes: 400 – Cigars: 100 – Tobacco: 100 gram – Liquor: 1.5 liters – Perfume and jewelries for personal use – Souvenirs and gift items valued under $ 300. There is no restriction on the amount of money, gold, or precious materials; however, large sums of foreign currency (US$5000 and greater) or gold (more than 300 gram) must be declared. Bear in your mind that you are not allowed to bring along the followings: – Weapon, ammunition, explosives and inflammable objects – Military technical equipment; drugs, opium and other narcotics – Anti-government literature; pornographic literature, etc. 2. Passports Passport must be valid for 6 months upon arrival in Vietnam. 3. Visas Getting visas in advance is required for some nationalities, but some don’t. Travelers with tourist visas can stay for 30 days. The standard length for people from visa-exempt countries (Norway, Finland, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN members) is 15 days. The validity of visas is short; hence, check your plans before applying for single or multiple visas. A single-entry visa (30 days of validity) costs , while a multiple-entry visa (90 days of validity) costs . (Modafinil) It is also easy to extend the visa in Vietnam. Types of Visas Visa on Arrival (VOA) It is the most preferred method for travelers coming by plane, as it is much cheaper, faster, and more convenient. The VOA is only available if you are heading to one of Vietnam’s five international airports (Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Can Tho). The procedure is very simple: fill in an online application form and pay the agency fee (about $20), then you will get a Visa on Arrival approval letter signed by Vietnamese Immigration via email. You need to print it out, show it on arrival in a separate queue at customs, and pay your visa stamping fee in US dollars. The costs for single-entry and multiple-entry stampings are $25 and $50. Visa via the Embassy or Consulate Visa can also be obtained via Vietnam’s Embassies and Consulates in other countries, but the process may be slower. It takes about a week to get a Vietnamese Visa in European countries. E-visas Since 2017, travelers are enabled to apply for visa online via the Vietnam Immigration Department. 40 nationalities are eligible to register. However, the E-visas are single-entry only, and cannot be extended. The cost is $25. You can check the latest conditions and apply at: https://immigration.gov.vn/ Visa exemption Citizens of certain countries which have exemption agreements with Vietnam may visit the country without visa for a period of time. Followings are the list of visa-exempted nations: Country Days Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia 30 Philippines 21 Japan, South Korea, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK 15 Myanmar, Brunei 14 4. Embassies and Consulates Regarding countries with no visa exemption agreements with Vietnam, travelers have to contact the Vietnam Embassies or Consulates in their countries to register or extend the visa. In case any problems occur, visitors should contact their country’s embassies and consulates in Vietnam to ask for support. There are 80 embassies in Hanoi, and 58 consulates and 3 representations in other cities. List of Embassies and Consulates EMBASSY & CONSULATE ADDRESSES CITY TELEPHONE WEBSITE Algerian Embassy 1 3 Phan Chu Trinh HN 84 4 38253865/39332151 American Embassy The American Center 1 st Floor, Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh Street, HN 844-3850-5000 http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/ Argentinian Embassy 360 Kim Ma Street, Daeha Business Centre, BA Dinh District HN 84438315262 / 38315263 http://www.embargentina.org.vn Australian Consulate 5th Floor, The Landmark Building, 5B Ton Duc Thang, District 1 HCM 84-8 3521 8100 http://www.hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/ Australian Embassy 8 Dao Tan Street, Ba Dinh District HN 84-4 3774 0100 http://www.vietnam.embassy.gov.au/ Austrian Embassy Prime Center, 53 Quang Trung, 8. Floor, Hai Ba Trung District HN 84/4 3943 3050-3/3943 3051 http://www.aussenministerium.at/hanoi Bangladeshi Embassy Villa # D6B-05, Vuon Dao, Compound, Subway #675, Lac Long Quan Road, Tay Ho District HN 84-4-3771-6625,/3771-7829 Belarusian Embassy To Ngoc Van Road, 66, Tay Ho District, HN 84 4 37 19 29 74 http://www.vietnam.belembassy.org/ Belgian Embassy Ha Noi tower, 9th floor, 49 Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem District HN 84 4 3 934.61.77/7884 4 3 934.61.79/80/81 http://www.diplomatie.be/hanoi Brazilian Embassy 14, THUY KHUE STREET – villa D-6/7, Tay Ho District HN 844 843-0817/2544 British Embassy 31 Hai Ba Trung Street, Central Building HN 84 4 936050084 4 9360550 / 46 www.uk-vietnam.org/ Bulgarian Embassy 5 Nui Truc Str,Van Phuc, PO.Box 10 HN 84 4 38-45-29-08 Cambodian Consulate No. 41, Phung Khac Khoan, HCM 848 829 2751 Chinese Consulate General 39 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1 HCM 848-8292457 Chinese Embassy 46 Hoang Dieu Road HN 844 8453736 http://vn.china-embassy.org/eng/ Consulate General of Canada 9th Floor, The Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi Street, District 1 HCM 011 84 8 827-9899 https://www.international.gc.ca/ Consulate General of France 27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, BP 307 – Q. 1 HCM [84] 8 35 20 68 00 www.consulfrance-hcm.org/ Consulate General of Indonesia 1 8, Phung Khac Khoan Street, D 1 HCM 84-8 825-1888, 825-1889 Consulate General of Malaysia 1 208 Me Linh Point Tower, No. 2, Ngo Duc Ke Street, Distric 1 HCM 84-8-829 9023 www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/hochiminh Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany 1 26 Nguyen Dinh Chieu – Q. 3 HCM 84 8 38 29 19 67 www.ho-chi-minh-stadt.diplo.de/ Consulate General of the Lao PDR 93 Pasteur St, District l HCM 84 8 829-7667or 829-9275 Consulate General of the Lao PDR 1 2 Tran Quy-Cap Danang 84 51 821-208 Consulate General of the Netherlands Saigon Tower, suite 901 , 29 Le Duan Boulevard,, District 1 HCM 84 8 8235932/33 www. mfa.nl/hcm-en Consulate General of the Philippines 40-5 Pham Viet Chanh St., Ward 1 9, Binh Thanh District HCM 84 8 3518 0045 Consulate General of the United States 4 Le Duan Blvd., District 1 HCM 84-8-3520-4200 http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/contact.html Consulate of Iceland 18 Ngo Quyen, Hoan Kiem District, HN HN 84 4 936 6868 Consulate of Iceland 80 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Q1, Ho Chi Minh City HCM 84 8 38274 462 Consulate of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos 40 Quang Trung Street HN 84-4 8252588 Consulate-General of Japan 13-17 Nguyen Hue, District 1 HCM 84-88225314 www.hcmcgi.vn.emb-iapan.go.ip/ Cuban Consulate Phung Khac Khoan Q 1,° No. 45 HCM 848 08 829 7350 Embassy of Brunei Darussalam Villa No 8 and 9, Van Phuc Diplomatik Quarter, 44/8 and 44/9 Van Bao Street , Ba Dinh District HN +84 4 943 5249 / +84 4 943 5250 Embassy of Cambodia 71A,Tran Hung Dao St HN 844 942 4789 / 942 4788 Embassy of Canada 31 Hung Vuong Street HN 84 4 734 5000 http://www.international.gc.ca/vietnam Embassy of Chile Suite 1201-1203, 1 2 th floor, 2 Ngo Quyen Street, Tung Shing Square Building, Hoan Kiem HN 84 4 9351147/84 4 9351148 Embassy of Cuba 65 A Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem B.P 79 HN 844 942 4775/884 942 5070-71 Embassy of Egypt 63 To Ngec, Quang An Ward Tay Ho HN 844 8294999 – 8294996 Embassy of Finland 31 Hai Ba Trung, Central Building HN 84 4 826 6788 Embassy of France 57 Tran Hung Dao – Hanoi HN [84] 4 944 57 00 www.ambafrance-vn.org/ Embassy of Greece 28 Thanh Nien Road , Ba Dinh, Hanoi HN 8443 7152254 Embassy of Hungary 360 Kim Ma Street, Daeha Business Center, 1 2th Floor HN 84 4-7715714 Embassy of Indonesia 50, Ngo Quyen Street HN 84-4 825-6316, 825-3353, 825-7969 /www.indonesia-hanoi.org.vn Embassy of Ireland Vincom City Towers [8F], 191 Ba Trieu Street,Hai Ba Trung District HN 84 4 3974 3291 www.em bassyofireland.vn Embassy of Israel 68 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District HN 84-4-8433140/1/2 hanoi.mfa.gov.il Embassy of Japan 27 Lieu Giai , Ba Dinh District HN 84 4 3846-3000 www.vn.emb-iapan.go.ip/ Embassy of Malysia 43 – 45 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District HN 84-4-734 38 36 / 84-4-734 38 49 www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/hanoi Embassy of Mexico 14 Thuy Khue T-1 1, Hanoi, HN 844 847-0948 www.sre.gob.mx/acerca/directorio/embaiadas/vietnam Embassy of Mongolia Van Phuc Diplomatic Quarter, Villa 6 Hanoi, Vietnam HN 84-4-38453009 http:// mongembhanoi.com/ Embassy of Morocco Chu Van An, Ba Dinh District HN 84 47 34 55 86 / 84 47 34 55 87 Embassy of Myanmar A-3 101-104, Vanphuc Diplomatic Quarters, Kim MA St. HN 84-4 845 3369, 823 2056 Embassy of New Zealand Level 5 63 Ly Thai To Street HN 84 4 824 1481 Embassy of Pakistan Villa 44/2, Van Bao Street, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound HN 84-4 37262251 www.mofa.gov.pk/vietnam/default.aspx Embassy of Romania 5 Le Hong Phong Street HN 84 4 8452014 Embassy of Russia 191, La Thanh street, Hanoi, Vietnam HN 84 4 833-6991, 833-6992 www.vietnam.mid.ru Embassy of Singapore No. 41 & 43 Tran Phu Street HN 84-4-38489168 Main line www. mfa.gov.sg/hanoi Embassy of Slovakia 6B Le Hong Phong Str. HN 84-4 845 4334-5 www.mzv.sk/HANOI Embassy of South Africa 3rd Floor, Central Building, 31 Hai Ba Trung Street HN 84-4-9362000 /+84-4-9362003 Embassy of Spain 15th Fl. Dacha Business Center, 360 Kim Ma Str HN 84-4-771-5207 / +84-4-771-5209 Embassy of Sweden 2, Nui True Street, Khu Ba Dinh District HN 84 4 726 04 00 www.swedenabroad.com/hanoi Embassy of Thailand 63-65 Hoang Dieu Street HN 84-4 823-5092 to 93 Embassy of the Czech Republic 1 3 Chu Van An HN 84-4 38454131-2 http://www.mzv.cz/hanoi Embassy of the Lao PDR 22 Rue Tran Bing Trong HN 844 942 9746, 942 4576, 942 2735 Embassy of the Philippines 27-B Tran Hung Dao St. HN 844 943-7873/ 3849/ 4493 / 7948 / 9826 www.hanoipe.org Embassy of The Republic of Iraq HN 84 4 – 9424141 Embassy of The Republic of Korea 4 th Fl., Dae Ha Business Center,Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, HN 84-4 831 5111/6 Embassy of Turkey 4 Da Tuong Str., 4th Fl., North Star Bldg. HN 84-4 822-2460 Embassy of Ukraine 6, Le Hong Phong Street Ba Dinh District HN 84-4-37344484 /84-4-37344492 www.mfa.gov.ua/vietnam General Consulate of Singapore The Saigon Centre, Level 8, 65 Le Loi Boulevard, District 1 HCM 84-8 8225174 www. mfa.gov.sg/hochiminhcitv General Consulate of Ukraine 4/4 Hoang Viet Street, Tan Binh District HCM 84-8 8222490 German Embassy 29, Tran Phu HN www.hanoi.diplo.de/ Honorary Consulate General of Finland 203 Dong Khoi, Suite #206, 1 st District Ho Chi Minh City HCM 84 8 8272 029 Honorary Consulate General of India 55-Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street , District 3 HCM 84 8-38237047 Honorary Consulate of Sweden 8A/1 1 D1 Thai Van Lung, 5th Floor HCM 84 8 823 68 00-2 www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/5616/a/20794/l/en/pd/561 Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic 2 Pham Minh Duc, Ngo Quyen Dist., Hai Phong HaiPhong 8431/3836539 Honorary Consulate of the Czech Republic 28 Mac Dinh Chi, Quan 1 HCM 848/38290585 Honoray Consulate of Chile 79/2/1 Phanke Binh, Dakao, Distrit. 1 HCM 84-8-9102108/84-8-9102903 Indian Embassy 58-60, Tran Hung Dao HN 84-4-8244989 Italian Embassy 9, Le Phung Hieu Street HN 84 4 825 6256 www.embitalyvietnam.org Palestine Embassy HN 840408522947 Polish Embassy in Vietnam 3 Chua Mot Cot HN 84.4.3845.2027 www.hanoi.polemb.net/ Royal Danish Consulate Genera 20 Phung Khac Khoan St. HCM 84.8.8228289 Royal Danish Embassy 19 Dien Bien Phu Street HN 84 4 8231888 http://www.ambhanoi.um.dk Royal Danish Embassy in Vietnam 19 Dien Bien Phu Street HN 84 4 823 18 88 Royal Netherlands Embassy Daeha Office Tower, 6th floor , 360 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi HN 84 4 8315650 www.netherlands-embassy.org.vn/ Royal Norwegian Consulate 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Somerset Chancellor Court, 5th Floor HCM 84 8 3822 1696 www.norway.org.vn/Embassy/Consulate- HCMC/ Royal Norwegian Embassy 1 0th Floor, Block B, Vincom City Towers, 191 Ba Trieu Street HN 84 4 3974 8900 www.norway.org.vn/ Royal Thai Consulate-General 77 Tran Quoc Thao Street, District 3 HCM 848 932-7637-8 www.thaiconsulatehochiminh.com:8080/ Taipei Economic and Cultural Office 5th Floor HITC Building,239 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay District HN 2-844-833-5501 www.teco.org.vn Taipei Economic and Cultural Office 336 Nguyen Tri Phuong St., Dist. 10 HCM 002-848 834-6264~7

How to get to Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) There are two basic ways to get to the island from Saigon: by sea and by air. By sea Tourists can choose either the route Sai Gon – Rach Gia – Phu Quoc or the route Sai Gon – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc. Please note that this way may not be suitable for the elderly and children due to long hours on the bus and on the boat. Route 1: Sai Gon – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc Via the route of Sai Gon – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc, there are two stops where tourists can catch a bus to Rach Gia: Le Hong Phong Street, District 10 and Mien Tay station. At the first stop, Phuong Trang is a reliable bus that serves tourists 31 rides every 30 minutes every day. Tourists should book their seats via calling on 08 3833 3468 at least 24 hours in advance to guarantee their seats, especially in peak season. Another way to book a seat is to go to their website at https://futabus.vn/en-US , fill in the information, choose your favorite spot, and pay. Both the hotline and the website are supported in the English language so that the booking process can be easily done by foreigners. From Mien Tay station, there are several buses such as Kumho Samco, Mai Linh, Ba Dung, Tuyet Hon, Chau Ha that go to Rach Gia (Kien Giang). As the bus takes 6-7 hours, it’s recommended to pick up one that departs at night, in order to reach Kien Giang in the morning. The price for each bus ticket ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 VND (5.3 – 6.6 USD). On special occasions, the price can go up to 210,000VND (9.2 USD). When reaching the bus station in Rach Gia, tourists can choose to walk or to get on a motorbike taxi for half a dollar to get to Rach Gia boat station which is only 1km away. There are several hydrofoils between Phu Quoc and Rach Gia with Superdong offering the most reliable service, providing one morning and one afternoon departure from Rach Gia for the 2.5-hour journey and with prices ranging from 240,000 – 330,000 VND depending on age. For more information on the prices, tourists can find out at http://superdong.com.vn/dich-vu/gia-ve-tau/. Route 2: Sai Gon – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc Via the route Sai Gon – Ha Tien – Phu Quoc, tourists also catch a bus and then a hydrofoil or a ferry to get to the island. Phuong Trang Bus, also known as FUTA Bus Lines offers 6 departures every day from Mien Tay Bus Station at the price of 170,000 VND/seat. Again, tourists should book their seat beforehand via calling on 0838.309.309 or the website of the bus lines at https://futabus.vn/en-US. From Ha Tien, Superdong departures three times per day at 7:30 am, 8:00 am and 1:15pm with the price of 230,000VND/adult. Ferry is an alternative choice yet it takes longer time and the destination is far from Phu Quoc’s center. Ferries leave Thanh Thoi (Ha Tien) and reach Da Chong Port (Phu Quoc) after a two-hour journey. From Da Chong, travelers can take a motorbike taxi, which is called “xe om” in Vietnamese, to get to Duong Dong town. Transferring by ferry is also suitable for motorbike travelers as the ferry can carry common vehicles. However, it’s not recommended for a group of girls/families with kids to take this route as taxis are not always available around the port. By air This is the fastest and the safest way to get to the island. Domestically, flights to Phu Quoc are available from many cities in Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City (45-minute flight), Hanoi, Rach Gia and Can Tho via Vietnam Airlines (the national carrier) and several budget airlines: Jetstar Pacific, Vietjet air and Vasco (a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines). In peak season, there can be as many as 15-20 daily domestic flights to Phu Quoc, but it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment as flights to Phu Quoc can sell out during the high season of December to April. From Phu Quoc International Airport, visitors can travel 9 km to the main town of Duong Dong by taxi, motorbike or hotel transfer. The fare for taxi should be 10,000VND/km, and around 6,000VND/km for motorbike taxi. Located on Phu Quoc Island (Vietnam), discover a time almost forgotten and immerse yourself in the romance of bygone Indochine. This French inspired mansion by the sea is set on a wide stretch of untouched beach embraced by lush and tranquil botanical gardens. Beautifully designed and inspired by the colonial styles of the past, this luxury beach resort and boutique hotel is for those who love an island ambience and the tranquillity that a tropical beach setting brings. Enjoy an artful blend of authentic local and fine French cuisine at beach restaurant Phu Quoc, infused with a rich sense of history, while you soak in the romantic ocean views and cooling sea breeze. Tel: +84 (0) 297 3982 988 Email: contact@laverandaresorts.com