Africa · West Africa · Gulf of Guinea
Benin
Capital · Porto-Novo
Cradle of vodun culture and the stilt village of Ganvié.
The essentials
Benin at a glance
- Capital
- Porto-Novo
- Region
- West Africa · Gulf of Guinea
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Languages
- French · Fon · Yoruba
- Dialling code
- +229
- Status
- Sovereign African nation
Plan around it
National days & key dates in Benin
The dates the diaspora marks abroad — independence, liberation and the festivals that fill a rented hall in Bangkok or Guangzhou every year.
Aug 1Independence DayFrom France, 1960
Jan 10Vodun DayNational traditional-religion holiday
Across the ocean
Where Benin people gather in Asia
These are the Asian hubs with the largest and longest-established African communities. Every one has a free country group and a live channel in the Hub.
🇹🇭ThailandBangkok — Sukhumvit Soi 3, the original Little Africa
🇨🇳ChinaGuangzhou & Yiwu — the trade corridor
🇯🇵JapanTokyo & Yokohama — students, athletes and engineers
🇮🇳IndiaDelhi, Bangalore & Pune — university towns
🇲🇾MalaysiaKuala Lumpur — study and business visas
🇦🇪United Arab EmiratesDubai — the aviation and re-export hub
Before you fly
Travelling on a Benin passport
Asian entry rules are not uniform across Africa. Some destinations are visa-free or visa-on-arrival for this passport; others need an e-visa or a full embassy application with proof of funds and a return ticket.
Open the Passport Index →Never land alone
Find your people first
Post in the Benin channel before you book. Someone from home is already in the city you are moving to — and they will tell you what the agent will not.
Open the Benin channel →Keep exploring