What's New: An Online Update for Frommer's Vietnam

In the fall of '05 American travelers surveyed on where they would like to travel to ranked Vietnam 5th in the world. Of the 3.4 million international tourists that visited Vietnam in 2005, U.S. citizens were second in number only to nearby China. Improved relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, an increase in efficient, international connections, new and stylish accommodation and transport services, and the lure of this culturally rich, alluring land has travel agents scrambling to meet the demands of the increase in visitors. Early 2006 has seen a boom, so expect lots upgrades to tourist infrastructure.

The national economy is up over $32 billion (an all-time high) and Vietnam exported 5.2 million tons of rice in 2005, earning U.S. $1.4 billion and rivaling nearby Thailand for productivity.

2005-2006 has been a banner period for Vietnamese diplomacy: Vietnam was indoctrinated into the World Trade Organization (WTO); a Vietnamese contingent assumed a seat in the United Nations General Assembly; and Vietnamese delegates attended the APEC summit in Korea, and the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia -- a change for the one time pariah nation. International investors pledged an estimated $3.8 billion to Vietnamese ventures in the year 2006, a telling sign of Vietnam's swift rise to the status of an "Asian Tiger" economy.

Over the lengthy war years, U.S. troops took part in "Operation Ranchhand" -- an effort to defoliate the country and uncover the elusive enemy by spraying deadly toxins, especially along the Ho Chi Minh Trail corridor. The result is multiple generations of Vietnamese born with severe birth defects and many health problems. In late 2005 victims of Agent Orange and the many harmful chemicals used during the Vietnam War brought a massive class action suit against the U.S. drug companies that made the chemicals. Though the law suit was summarily dismissed, the actions of Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin victims has attracted world attention. The fight is ongoing.

Health

If you are considering a trip to Vietnam, let's get something straight: Vietnam has not gone to the birds! As of yet Bird Flu is thankfully only transmitted from birds to humans -- not human to human. What international bodies and health crisis pundits fear (and predict) is a pandemic caused when the virus eventually mutates and becomes contractible from human to human. If/when this mutation happens, it will be only a matter of days before nowhere is safe. Vietnam and Asia in general poses no specific threat -- at least no more than anywhere else -- in this frightening model. It should be noted that predictions of this pandemic are just conjecture; it may take years for the Avian Flu virus to mutate if ever it does.

The Vietnamese government has been uncharacteristically forthcoming with information on new outbreaks of the disease among domesticated poultry stock, and to date millions of birds have been culled and millions more immunized. Keep an eye on the World Health Organization website (www.who.org) or the U.S. State Department Traveler's Health Page (www.cdc.gov/travel) for more information. You'll want to avoid any unlikely poultry farm tour junkets in Vietnam, and take general caution in markets, but know that Bird Flu presents no specific dangers in Vietnam other than your canceling your trip there because of misinformation. Read closely the general guidelines for health in Vietnam in the Planning Chapter of this first edition of Frommer's Vietnam for other important advice for a healthy and safe trip.

Safety

One of the greatest draws for travel in Vietnam is safety. There are no military or terrorist issues for foreigners visiting Vietnam. In fact the paranoid one-party government viscously guards its borders and territorial integrity and even a hint of espionage or subversive behavior is squashed (hint: don't engage in any espionage or subversive behavior in Vietnam and you are good to go).

Ho Chi Minh City has just introduced a special squad of tourist police dressed in bright green and trained to aid tourists in need of assistance in the town's main tourist corridors.

Getting There

Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com), the country's state owned (and only) domestic carrier, now runs over 200 flights between HCMC and Hanoi and is cooperating with American Airlines, among others for multiple routes to the U.S. and throughout Indochina. Jetstar (www.jetstarasia.com) of Australia plans to add a Vietnam flight to their schedule. The Dien Bien Phu Airport in the far northwestern highlands is planning a largescale renovation and increase in flights, expecting a larger tourist influx.

The international departure tax has been raised to $14.

Organized Tours

Exotissimo (www.exotissimo.com), a Vietnam-based travel agency popular for custom tours and transport now offers an exciting new soft adventure tour of the Mekong Delta which includes a basic yet comfortable homestay in an antique house at riverside.

Accommodations

Hue will greet a new 238 hotel, Celadon Hotel, some time in 2006, as well as the new 168 room Imperial Hotel -- much needed additions to one of Vietnam's most popular sites, the Citadel and the tombs of Vietnam's 18th and 19th Century royals.

Phan Thiet, near the beaches of Moi Ne, expects the opening of the new Orient Resort in coming years.

On little Phu Quoc Island off the southern edge of the Mekong Delta, lots of construction (and planning) is going down. Long Beach Ancient Village Resort in Duong To, a mid-market resort, will open soon, and Le Veranda Resort & Spa on Duong Dong Beach is just opening its doors now. Many reckon that little Phu Quoc will see development ala Thailand's Phuket, so get there before the road cuts and wrecking balls as it is still a quaint little backwater getaway.

Dining

The Sheraton Saigon has just opened a creative new restaurant, Mojo, specializing in gourmet Western and good treats and deli takeaway. The restaurant overlooks Dong Khoi Street, the heart of District 1.

Talk with fellow Frommer's travelers on our Vietnam Message Boards today.