HOSPITALITY. The Vietnamese are renowned for their gracious hospitality. With their welcoming personalities, the Vietnamese have a willingness to share their homes and culture with foreigners. Indulge in their kindness and you will return with sweet memories to write home about.

RELIGION. Buddhism remains the primary religion in Viet Nam, followed by Catholicism and a number of other religions. Cao Daism is an extraordinary religion whose saints include Victor Hugo, Joan of Arc, Jesus, and Buddha. There are many customs practiced by the Vietnamese that are not considered religious, but are considered cultural customs. These include the belief in the prosperity shrines found in every shop or business as well as a belief in the afterlife of all beings, thereby requiring the Vietnamese to commemorate their dead through offerings on the anniversary of a loved one's death.

LANGUAGES. Vietnamese is the official language of Viet Nam though Chinese is spoken by some locals, mostly in Chinatown. Other ethnic minorities in the North such as the H'mong or Red Dzay speak native tongues specific to their tribes. Within the cities, English is spoken by the youth, and those in the tourism industry. French is widely used, though signage is mostly found in English and Japanese. It should be noted that the Vietnamese have a fierce loyalty to their distinct culture and language. Despite the millennium spent under Chinese rule and the century under French occupation, the Vietnamese continue to speak their own language.

FOOD. Viet Nam's cuisine is famous for its freshness and variety. The delicate flavors and aromatic herbs combined with light styles of preparation such as steaming food wrapped in lotus flower leaves add to the exotic nature of Viet Nam's foods. French influence is also apparent in traditional Vietnamese cooking while French and Italian restaurants can be found in abundance in the larger cities. Vegetarian dishes are commonly found in large part because of the Buddhist population in Viet Nam.

WEATHER. As a tropical country in which the southern region is rather close to the equator, South Viet Nam is generally hot year round, where the hottest month is April and the coolest month is January. The rainy season is from May to early November though showers are generally short bursts in the afternoons. Temperatures in the North cool off during the winter months and a few warm layers may be required when traveling there from November to February.

WHEN SHOULD I GO? The ideal time to travel to Viet Nam is between late October and March. In the North where the weather is cooler, one can travel as late as April or May. The South's proximity to the equator cause it to be much more tropical than the North so plan accordingly for the heat, but trips are available year-round. January and February are the highest season for travel due to the Tet - Lunar New Year holiday.