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Vanuatu Visitor Guide
The ideal tropical weather is the dry season (May to October) with temperatures around 23, this is known locally as Winter. June, July and August are the coolest months with less humidity. November to April is the wet season, or Summer with temperatures up to 32; it is hot, humid with periods of heavy rain.
Business Hours/Siesta -
Offices and shops open 7:30-11:30am and 1:30-5:00pm Monday
to Friday. many shops open on Saturday morning. Local general stores open seven days. Siesta
(lunchtime) is 11:30am-1:30pm when businesses and shops
close. Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, banks and the
Port Vila market, remain open.
Post Office -
The Post Office opens Monday to Friday 7:30am-4:30 pm and
Saturday 7:30-11:30am; for stamps, parcels, postcards,
packaging, express mail services, facsimiles, phone cards,
stamp collection and souvenirs.
Currency/VAT - Vanuatu's local currency is the Vatu (Vt). Australian dollars and credit cards are widely accepted in Port Vila, however the outer islands prefer Vatu. There are branches of the ANZ and Westpac banks in Port Vila, where currency can be exchanged from Monday to Friday. VAT of 12.5% is charged on goods and services; there is no income tax in Vanuatu.
Tipping - In accordance with Vanuatu custom; neither tipping or bargaining are practiced in Vanuatu.
Visas and Entry Requirements -
All visitors must have a return/onward ticket and a passport
with a four month minimum validity beyond their arrival
date. For stays up to 30 days; nationals of the
Commonwealth and EU countries, Fiji, Japan, Norway,
Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and USA do not
require visas. To extend permits (up to four months
maximum) contact the Immigration Department on telephone
22354.
Transport/Travel -
Driving in Vanuatu is on the right-hand side of the road, so
please take care. cars and 4WD vehicles are available for
hire.
Buses are a great way to get around town. Any minibus with a red B on the number plate will take you on its route in central Port Vila for Vt100, and trips further afield cost Vt200. Taxis are metered, but for long rides, negotiate the price in advance. Some taxis can be hired for a full or half day for sightseeing or trips around the island. Vanair flies to the outer islands of Vanuatu.
History, Geography and Custom -
Vanuatu is an archipelago - a Y-shaped string of 80 islands; the
main islands being Efate, Santo, Malakula and Tanna. Formerly known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was an Anglo-French
Condominium from 1906 until independence in 1980 when it became
a self-governing Republic and a member of the Commonwealth.
Port Vila is the capital. The ni-Vanuatu people, a Melanesian race, dominate the population of around 200,000; however French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Pacific Island races add to this harmonious multi-cultural society. While Bislama is the lingua franca and national language; English and French are widely spoken, in addition to over 110 local languages. Traditional cultural life or "kastom" varies from island to island in Vanuatu. Pigs, particularly those with circular tusks (a national emblem) are an important part of the traditional economy used for exchange, rituals, ceremonies, food and as a sign of one's power and prestige. Traditional life revolves around ceremony and birth, death, marriage, status achievement, initiation, and the farming calendar are significant celebrations. Creative and artistic items, song, dance and other forms of expressive performance are specific to the occasion and differ between the many islands. Vanuatu is a land of diversity. Coral seas, tropical islands and fish rub shoulders with volcanoes and rainforest. Snorkeling and wreck diving, game fishing or soft adventure, it's all here to enjoy in a country with a colourful history, a rich culture and a warm welcome. Every island has its own history and traditions, so visiting one, or several, will add to your Vanuatu experience.
The above courtesy of AIR VANUATU in-flight magazine 'Island Spirit'
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