Vanuatu
Business meetings are generally casual. Business is conducted in Pidgin English or French. Office hours are typically 0730-1130 and 1330-1630 Monday to Friday.
Violent crime remains rare in Vanuatu but the overall economic decline brought on by the Asian financial crisis and Vanuatu's own internal problems have resulted in an increase in petty crimes such as thefts.
Vanuatu has three international-standard resorts, The Radisson, Iririki Island Resort and Le Lagon. There are smaller resorts with simpler facilities on Efate, Tanna Island and Espiritu Santo.
Telephone IDD is available for incoming calls and the country code is 678. There are no area codes. Outgoing international calls must go through the international operator. There are public telephones at airports and post offices. Some hotels have fax facilities. Telex/telegram service is available at the Central Post Office in Port Vila and at main hotels. Post offices are located on the main streets in Port Vila and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo. Post office hours: 0715-1130 and 1330-1600.
Electricity is 220 volts AC, 50Hz and uses the Australian 3-pin plugs.
240 volts AC. Australian three-pin plugs are in use.
There are many restaurants in the main tourist areas. Seafood features strongly on hotel and restaurant menus in Port-Vila and the main towns. The numerous ethnic backgrounds of the inhabitants of Vanuatu are reflected in different styles of cooking. Chinese and French influences are the strongest. Food is generally excellent everywhere. French cheese, pâtés, bread, cognac and wine are available in Port-Vila’s two major shops. Local fruit is excellent. National specialties:
• Lap Lap - grated yam, banana or manioc smothered in coconut cream and
cooked in an earth oven.
• Coconut crab. National drinks:
• Kava, a soporific drink made from the root of a plant related to the pepper tree. Vanuatu kava is the strongest in the world. It is non-alcoholic but is intoxicating.Tipping:
Not expected or encouraged, as it goes against local tradition.Nightlife
Port-Vila has several nightclubs with music and dancing. There is also a cinema. Evening cruises are organized with wine, snacks and island music. Traditional music and dancing take place at various island festivities to which visitors are welcome, and some hotels put on evening entertainment and dancing. Details are available from the Vanuatu National Tourism Office (see Top Things To See & Do).
