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Telephone & Fax
For the all-important numbers like emergency services and the international access code, please call : General information service (Tell:1080) that provides everything from phone numbers and train and air timetables to exchange rates and the latest football scores.ect... It even provides marriage counselling or bedtime lullabies for your child - no kidding! You can usually be connected to an operator who speaks English or French.
Domestic Calls
Phone numbers in Hanoi, HCMC and Haiphong have seven digits. Elsewhere around the country phone numbers have six digits. Telephone area codes are assigned according to the province. Local calls can usually be made from any hotel or restaurant phone and are often free. Confirm this with the hotel so you don't receive any unpleasant surprises when you check out. Domestic long-distance calls are reasonably priced and cheaper if you dial direct. Save up to 20% by calling between 10pm and 8am.
International Calls
Charges for international calls from Vietnam have dropped significantly in the past few years. With the introduction of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), international phone calls to most countries cost a flat rate of just US$0.50 per minute. The service is easy to use from any phone in the country; just dial ĐT: 17100, the country code and the number. International and domestic long-distance calls can be made at hotels, but it's expensive at the smarter places. However, many of the cheaper hotels and guesthouses now operate VOIP services which are very cheap. Another option is to make these calls from the post office, which have handy displays telling you the cost of the call. Reverse charges or collect calls are possible to most, but not all, Western countries including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.
Mobile (Cellular) Phones Vietnam is putting a lot of money into its cel¬lular network. Vietnam uses GSM 900/1800, which is compatible with most of Asia, Europe and Australia but not with North America. If your phone has roaming, it is easy enough, if expensive, to make calls in Vietnam. Another option is to buy a SIM card with a local number to use in Vietnam. There are at least six mobile phone companies battling it out in the local market with gimmicks galore to attract new customers. All these companies have offices and branches nationwide. Be aware that mobile-phone numbers in Vietnam start with the prefix Tell: 09 and cost more to call than a local number.
 Fax
Most post offices and hotels offer fax services. Hotels charge considerably more than the post office.
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