Vietnam forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

Wednesday, April 30, is the Vietnamese national holiday when the celebrate the end of the American War in VietNam and the beginning of the re-unification of the country.

May Day follows and, this year, many are taking Friday and Saturday off so they can enjoy a long weekend.

This has increased the number of Travellers and put a great deal of pressure on accommodation in all the popular destinations visited by "International Guests".

OpenTour bus prices have increased 15-20%; hotels by 20%.

This is in addition to the inflation rate (currently 21%) so you will have to dig deeper.

Hotels are required to post their prices on a form that is signed off and stamped by the owner / director / manager of the hotel. BE CAREFUL THAT RECEPTION CLERKS DON'T ADD A LITTLE EXTRA - for their own benefit. AND ALWAYS GET A RECEIPT AT HOTELS.

A government-owned hotel in HCMC was recently found to be doing just that. Standard prices were a maximum of USD$20 by the evening/night clerk covered up the notice and was charging USD$40. His other trick was to say "no change" - skimming the change into his pocket - as well as the security staff.

EXPECT RESTAURANTS to increase prices a little (2,000-5,000 Dong) these days over published menu prices as food staples are simply rocketing up in cost. Rice prices DOUBLED overnight last weekend and on Monday the government introduced some price controls.

Added complications are a shortage of pork in Central VietNam from "blue tongue" disease (not fatal for humans) and a general shortage of beef in the region.