Country Information

Capital: Caracas

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 58
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Doctor – 02 483 7021, Ambulance – 02 545 4545

Tourist information: Refer to the Venezuelan Consulate, 56 Grafton Way, London W1P 5LB Tel: (0171) 387 6727 Fax: (0171) 383 3253

Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Must be valid for at least 6 months. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure

Visa information: Visa required by all except the following countries who do require a 90 day tourist card issued from an authorised sea or air carrier: Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan (China) and Trinidad and Tobago. Nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece and Portugal who do require visas)

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended
Malaria: Exists in the Falciparum variety which has been reported as being highly resistant to chloroquine. Take care not to be bitten by mosquitoes
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is not required as a condition of entry but is recommended to all visitors who plan to travel out side of the urban areas
Other Health Risks: Bilharzia

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

Currency: Bolívar (B) = 100 centimos
Visa, MasterCard and Amex are widely accepted. Travellers cheques in US dollars are easily exchanged
ATM availability: Over 1500 locations

Cost of living: Caters for all travellers and budgets

Languages: Spanish. English, French, German and Portuguese

Weather: Most pleasant time is from Jan – Apr. Raining season = May – Dec

Electricity: 110 Volts AC 60 Hz American 2 pin type plugs are used

Post: 3 – 7 days to Europe. Internal mail can often take longer and surface mail to Europe may take up to one month

Transport: FLIGHTS: Connects all the major centres and is regarded as the most convenient form of internal transport. NOTE: The services are in heavy demand and may be overbooked. Passengers are advised to confirm seats well in advance. ROAD: Between main cities are of a high standard CAR HIRE: Available at the airport and in the major cities but is expensive. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required

Special information: Venezuela is still devastated by the floods and mudslides of mid December. Thousands remain homeless but there has been no serious outbreaks of disease. The coastal area around Caracas will be inaccessible to casual visitors for the forseeable future.

Capital: Road Town

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 1 284
Outgoing Code: 001

Emergency telephone numbers: Police 114, Ambulance 112.

Tourist information: British Virgin Islands Tourist Board, PO Box 134, Waterfront Drive, Roadtown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands Tel: 43134 Fax: 43866.

Passport information: A valid passport is required by all. Return Ticket required. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact embassy before departure.

Visa information: Nationals of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA, and Japan may stay up to 6 months, including nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Austria, Ireland and Portugal who do require visas, and nationals of Germany who may stay for up to 30 days) without a visa.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended

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

Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents.
All major credit cards are accepted. Travellers cheques, preferably in US dollars, are accepted
ATM availability: 6 locations.

Cost of living: Generally expensive and may prove difficult for the budget traveller.

Languages: English.

Weather: Tropical climate with cooling winds. Low rainfall and comfortable night temperatures.

Electricity: 110/60 volts AC 60 Hz. American 2 pin plugs are used.

Post: Up to 1 week.

Transport: ROAD: There is a good road network. TAXI: Usually operate according to fixed rates. CAR HIRE: There are 9 car hire companies. DOCUMENTATION: A temporary British Virgin Islands licence is required which will be issued for a small fee on production of a valid foreign licence.

Special information: Backpacking is actively discouraged. Beachwear should be kept for the beach or pool. Sixty islands to explore.

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

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: Kralendijk

Time zone: GMT – 4

Telephone services: Country Code: 599
Outgoing Code: 00

Emergency telephone numbers: Police 11, Ambulance 14. All services – 5997 8004

Tourist information: Caribbean Tourism Organisation, 42 Westminster Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RR Tel: (020) 7222 4335 Fax: (020) 7222 4335.

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

Visa information: Nationals of Australia, Canada the USA and Japan are allowed to stay for 14 days without a visa providing they have proof of return or onward tickets. Nationals of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK are allowed to stay for 90 days without a visa providing they have a return or onward ticket. NOTE: Enquire at the Ministers office at the Hague for a complete up to date list of regulations regarding individual countries.

Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from an infected area.

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 limited to NAG 200.
Credit cards are accepted in large establishments. Travellers cheques in US currency is the most welcomed.
ATM availability: 10 locations approximately.

Cost of living: Generally inexpensive goods, especially perfume, jewellery and alcohol

Languages: Dutch. Papiamento, English and Spanish are also spoken

Weather: Hot throughout the year with cooling sea winds. Wet season Oct to Dec.

Electricity: 127 volts AC 50 Hz.

Post: 4 – 6 days.

Transport: ROAD: Reasonably good but a 4-wheel drive may be required for extensive tourism of the island. CAR HIRE: Firms are located at the airport and large hotels. DOCUMENTATION: A valid national licence will be sufficient but drivers must be 23 years or older. TAXI: A good taxi service exists on the island

Special information: Beachwear is only suitable for the beach or poolside. Most bars and restaurants outside the two main hotel resorts are closed by midnight.