Vietnam - Travel Report

Vietnam is a poor but developing agrarian country controlled by a Communist government. The capital is Hanoi. The average GDP of Vietnam is $203.9 billion (2003 est.). The primary products of Vietnam are rice, maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts, cotton, coffee and cashews. A major contribution to the economy of Vietnam is in the form of services. The main trade partners are US, Japan, Australia, China, Germany, Singapore, UK, Taiwan, and South Korea. Banks and hotels in Vietnam will exchange dollars, and there is an exchange facility at the airport. ATMs are fast appearing all around Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, but outside these cities, ATMs are rare. Travelers checks are not commonly accepted in Vietnam. Heavy rainfall during Vietnam's annual rainy season, usually June through September, and again during the typhoon season from October to December, coupled with outdated and poorly maintained infrastructure, places much of Vietnam at high risk for seasonal flooding and landslides.