Making the most of Chan May
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The port primarily serves excursions to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam.
Sightseeing
With the Truong Son Mountains behind it, Chan May Cape forms a vast crescent. It sits beside Lang Co Beach, north of the Hai Van Pass, and is a renowned Thua Thien Hue provincial destination because its beaches are considered the finest in Central Vietnam.
Both Hue and Hoi An, each a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are about a 1.5-hour drive away. Da Nang and picturesque China Beach are nearer the port; soldiers used the latter to relax during the War.
Getting around
International driving licences are not recognised in Vietnam, so car-hire companies such as Hertz and Avis do not operate there.
Nearby places
Hue, pronounced "hway", merits a full-day excursion. It was Vietnam's capital from 1802 to 1945 and home to thirteen Nguyen Dynasty emperors. Three walls built concentrically around each other form the Citadel; within its centre stands Forbidden Purple City, where the emperor and his family lived. The word "Forbidden" is particularly apt because the Royal Palace resembles Beijing's Forbidden City.
Although Hue is fascinating, a call at Chan May offers other options: explore Hoi An's historic commercial seaport, visit Da Nang or go to China Beach, the stretch of sand where U.S. soldiers took R & R during the Vietnam War.
Money
The national currency is the dong (d?ng, VND), although U.S. dollars are widely accepted. For small amounts, the standard exchange rate is 16000 dong to US$1.
ATMs are becoming increasingly widespread and are available in most larger cities and every visitor destination.
You can negotiate the price of almost anything in Vietnam.
Staying connected
Vietnamese people speak Vietnamese natively, while English is becoming a more common second language. Studying English is compulsory in most schools.
Internet connections are available everywhere except the most remote towns.
Opening Hours and
Normal shopping hours are 0800/0830-2100/2200 daily.
Tet, also called Vietnamese New Year, is by far the most important holiday of the year and follows the lunisolar Chinese calendar, falling between late January and March. Shops close during the three days of Tet as people return home to their families, making travel in Vietnam somewhat difficult.