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Capital: Papeete

Time zone: Ranges from -9 to -10 depending on the particular island

Telephone services: Country Code: 689 Outgoing Code: 00 (Operator’s assistance may be required.)

Emergency telephone numbers: Dial Operator

Tourist information: Tahiti Tourism Promotion Board, c/o maison de France, 178 Piccadilly, London W1V 0AL Tel: (020) 7629 2869 or (0891) 244 123 (information line).

Passport information: Valid passport required See France for details. See France

Visa information: See France

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for those over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: French Pacific Franc (CFP Fr) = 100 centimes

Cost of living:

Languages:

Weather:

Electricity:

Post:

Transport:

Special information:

Capital: Sana’a

Time zone: GMT + 3

Telephone services: Country Code: 967
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.

Tourist information: Yemen Tourist Company, PO Box 1526, Sana’a, Republic of Yemen Tel: (1) 330 039

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all except nationals of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and other holders of re-entry permits.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the falciparum form throughout the year. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Bilharzia, Rabies

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: Yemeni Riyal is preferred (YR) = 100 fils Yemeni Dinar is also in circulation. NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to YAR 5000 or equivalent Diners Club and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques can be exchanged in most banks and hotels. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: If you conform to traditional Yemeni lifestyle you can live relatively cheaply but if you want to purchase western food and enjoy en-suite facilities this will be expensive. All accommodation has to be booked in advance.

Languages: Arabic and English.

Weather: Climate varies according to altitude. Highland are warmer in the summer. During the winter (Oct to Mar) the nights can be very cold in the mountains. Temperatures in the summer can be very high. The best time to visit is Oct to Apr.

Electricity: 220/230 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Post: Airmail to Western Europe from Sana’a takes about 4 days, mail to and from other towns may take longer.

Transport: SEA: Local ferries connect ports. ROAD: The road network is mainly limited to desert track. Use of 4-wheel drive vehicles with a guide is recommended. BUS: There are regular intercity bus services. TAXI: Sharing taxis is the cheapest form of transport between cities. Fares should be negotiated before hand. CAR HIRE: Available in main towns. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is required.

Special information: NOTE: EXTREME RISK: – FCO advise against any travel to the Yemen at present. The rest of this advice applies when the situation improves – the potential for instability is likely to remain. The risk of random kidnapping remains. Travellers to Yemen should register with their local Embassy. Beachwear and shorts should be confined to the beach / pool. Smoking is forbidden in public during Ramadan. Where possible travel in organised groups with well-established tour agents. Armed theft of vehicles is common. There remains some danger from mines laid during the civil war in the Southern and Eastern Governances. Off-road travel is not recommended. Respect local sensitivities regarding religious sites.

Capital: Hanoi

Time zone: GMT + 7

Telephone services: Country Code: 84
Outgoing Code: International calls must be made though the operator.

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 13, Fire – 14, Ambulance – 15.

Tourist information: Vietnam Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: (4) 829 4253.

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.

Visa information: Visa required by all. Must be obtained prior to arrival. Must state your intended entry and exit ports correctly.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Exists in certain areas in the Falciparum variety which has been reported being highly resistant to chloroquine. Take care not to be bitten by mosquitoes.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia, Cholera, Dengue Fever, Japanese encephalitis, Plague, Rabies, TB, Typhoid in the Mekong Delta area. Comprehensive mediacl insurance is advised.

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.

Currency: New Dong (D) = 100 hao.
Exchange: US$ is the most favoured currency.
Limited acceptance of MasterCard and Visa. American Express and Thomas Cook travellers cheques are accepted at hotels and banks. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: 3 locations.

Cost of living: Caters for all budgets.

Languages: Vietnamese, French, Russian, English, Chinese.

Weather: Tropical. May – Oct = Tropical Monsoons. The remainder of the year is dry.

Electricity: 110/220 Volts AC 50 Hz

Post: Very slow usually taking up to 3 weeks Correspondence should be taken to the Post office individually, to minimise theft and tampering.

Transport: FLIGHTS: Regular services operate between the main cities. RAIL: Longer distance trains are more reliable than shorter routes. ROAD: Reasonable road network but driving can be hair raising. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP and test taken in Vietnam is required. BUS: Services are poor and over crowded.

Special information: Some parts of the country are closed to visitors. Unexploded mines/munitions are a hazard in some areas. Exercise caution if travelling in border areas. Be vigilant for street theft particularly of spectacles – it is advisable to keep them on a cord around the neck. Drug smuggling carries the death penalty. Comprehensive mediacl and travel insurance is essential. Avoid wearing shorts. Footwear should be removed when entering Buddhist Pagodas. Vietnamese people should not be touched on the head. PHOTOGRAPHY: Restrictions apply at ports, airports and harbours.

Capital: Port Vila

Time zone: GMT + 12

Telephone services: Country Code: 678
Outgoing Code: Calls must be made through the International operator

Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 22 222, Ambulance – 22 100, Fire – 22 333, Doctor – 22 826

Tourist information: Tourism Council of the South Pacific, 375 Upper Richmond Road West, London SW14 7NX Tel: (0181) 392 1838 Fax: (0181) 878 0998

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid for at least 4 months beyond period of stay. Return Ticket Required. Regulations may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except the following for visits up to 30 days, providing they are bona fide tourists in possession of confirmed onward travel documents. Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, USA, EU countries, Japan, French overseas departments and territories, all commonwealth countries, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Fiji, South Korea, Federated states of Micronesia, Marshall Islands Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), and Thailand

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety in most parts of the country, throughout the year, which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine

Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink

Currency: Vatu (V) = 100 centimes
Exchange: Facilities are available at the airport and trade banks
Credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Australian dollars are the preferred currency in travellers cheques
ATM availability: Unavailable

Cost of living: There are three international standard resorts, which are expensive, as well as smaller resorts and conventional hotel-style accommodation, which are affordable. Moderately priced self-contained apartments and bungalows are available around Port Villa on the main island. Usual services are inexpensive

Languages: Bislama (Pidgin English). French and English are widely spoken. There are many (local dialects totally over 100).

Weather: Hot and Humid. Wet season: Nov – Feb

Electricity: 220 volts AC 50 Hz. Australian type flat 3 pin plugs are used

Post: 7 days

Transport: FLIGHTS: The government’s airline operates domestic flights, private airlines also operate domestic flights. SEA: Inter Island ferries operate from Port Vila and Espiritu Santo to the northern and southern islands. ROAD: BUS: Limited bus service. CAR HIRE: Major car hire operators have offices in Port Vila. DOCUMENTATION: A national driving licence is acceptable

Special information: Traditional customs should be respected. Beachwear should be confined to the pool/beach side. Consumption of alcohol is not permitted outside licensed premises

Capital: Oranjestad

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 599 Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 599 382211

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism, same as Aruba

Passport information: Valid passport required by all except nationals of: Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands holding an Identity card. The USA holding voter’s registration cards or birth certificate, and alien residents of the USA with an Alien Registration card. Canada with proof of citizenship. San Marino holding a national ID card or a passport not expired by more than 5 years. Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad, and Tobago and Venezuela with a national ID card. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure

Visa information: Up to date visa requirements can be obtained from the Office of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 6 months of age coming from infected areas

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food

Currency: Netherlands Antilles Guilder or Florin (NAG) = 100 cents NOTE: Import and export of local currency is restricted to NAG 200.
Visa and MasterCard are accepted in large establishments. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted.
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately

Cost of living: Despite the island’s small size it has a variety of restaurants and accommodation at moderate prices

Languages: English is the official language. Papiamento, French and Spanish are also spoken

Weather: Hot climate with cooling sea breezes

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC 60 Hz

Post: 4 – 6 days

Transport: ROAD: A very small island with very few roads. The whole island can be walked around in a few hours. CAR HIRE and TAXI: Companies operate in Oranjestad. DOCUMENTATION: National licence is sufficient

Special information: Twice a year sea turtles clamber onto the volcanic black sand to lay their eggs, and giant land crabs hunt on the beaches every night

Capital: Charlotte Amalie

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 340
Outgoing Code: 011

Emergency telephone numbers: All services – 911

Tourist information: US Virgin Islands Division of Tourism, Molasses House, Clove Hitch Quay, Plantation Wharf, York Place, London SW11 3TW. Tel: (020) 7978 5262 Fax: (020) 7924 3171.

Passport information: See the USA entry

Visa information: See the USA entry

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

Food & drink: Water is considered drinkable, normal precautions should be observed with food

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents
All major credit cards and travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars are accepted All credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are acceptable
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately

Cost of living: Expensive, especially in the tourist centres. However, luxury items up to $1200 are cheaper, as they are duty-free

Languages: English, Spanish, Creole is widely spoken

Weather: Hot climate with cool winds. Aug – Oct is the wettest period

Electricity: 120 volts AC, 60 Hz

Post: Up to 1 week

Transport: SEA: Ferries operate services between islands. ROAD: Well-maintained roads connect all main towns but not much else. TAXI: Available on all the islands. They follow set routes and their prices are published. CAR HIRE: There are international agencies operating at the airport and in the main towns. DOCUMENTATION: A national licence is acceptable

Special information: The islands have more hotels per square mile than any other in the Caribbean