classic vietnam & cambodia what's...

TRIP NOTES

Classic Vietnam & Cambodia16 days | Hanoi to Siem Reap

Classic Vietnam & Cambodia - 16 days updated on 24-11-2016

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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An inspirational 16 day journey

through Vietnam and Cambodia!

Taking in the limestone peaks of

Halong Bay and lush rice paddies

along the Mekong. From one

capital city to another, visiting

farms and floating markets, imperial

palaces and ancient temples.

Finishing at Siem Reap and the

spectacular Angkor Wat!

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Hanoi - the 'Paris of the Orient' and capital

of Vietnam; The Old Quarter, Tai Chi at HoanKiem Lake, Chau Long Market

• Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay - UNESCOListed region with thousands of beautifullimestone peaks and islets

• Hue - the Perfume River, Imperial City andancient walled Citadel, Royal Tombs

• Hoi An - UNESCO Listed former merchanttrading post, famed for its beautifullypreserved architecture

• Saigon - Cosmopolitan and commercialhub of Vietnam; The Reunification Palace,the War Remnants Museum, Notre DameCathedral, Dong Khoi Street, the OperaHouse and People's Committee Building

• Cruising on the Mekong Delta - one of theworld’s greatest river regions. Cai Be andCai Rang Floating Markets, Dong Hoa HiepIsland and Mekong Delta rural life

• Tra Que - rural farming village outside HoiAn

• Phnom Penh - Cambodia's capital City.Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the NationalMuseum

• Siem Reap - attractive riverside town andgateway to the Angkor Temple Complex

• Angkor Thom - The last capital of the KhmerEmpire. The South Gate, the lost temple ofPrasat Chroung and the Bayon Temple

• Angkor Wat - the world's largest religioustemple

• Ta Prohm - the jungle enveloped 'TombRaider' temple

• Tonle Sap Lake - Cambodia's largestfreshwater lake and Kompong Phlukfloating village

What's Included• 13 nights standard hotels. Superior (4 star)

and deluxe (5 star) properties are alsoavailable

• 1 night aboard a luxury Halong Bay Junkboat

• 1 night overnight train - Hanoi to Hue. 4berth soft sleeper cabin

• 15 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 2 dinner• 2 domestic economy flights: Da Nang to

Saigon and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.Speed boat: Chau Doc to Phnom Penh

• Airport arrival and departure transfer• All transfers and transportation in private air

conditioned vehicles• Services of an English speaking guide for all

scheduled sightseeing• Guided tour of Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon,

Phnom Penh and Angkor Temple Complex• Hanoi - Vietnamese Cooking Lesson• Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay overnight

Junk boat cruise• Hue - boat trip on the Perfume River• Tra Que village experience including bike

ride• Sampan cruise on the Mekong Delta,

including stops at Cai Be Floating Marketand Dong Hoa Hiep Island

• Siem Reap - Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake

What's Not Included• International flights and visas. Vietnam

visa letter included - stamping fee requiredupon arrival

• Tipping - an entirely personal gesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : HanoiHello Hanoi! Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport youwill be met and transferred to your hotel. Spendthe remains of the day at leisure. Overnight -Hanoi

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Day 2 : Hanoi cooking class

Begin your holiday, the traditional Vietnameseway, with a bowl of steaming Pho at one ofHanoi's most popular eateries. After enjoyingthe national dish it is time move on to HoanKiem Lake for a morning stroll. This central lakeis focal point for many of the local residentswho live close to the lake and gather there eachday to practice Tai Chi, play badminton anddo aerobics. Then it is time for a fun cookingclass at one of the best schools in Hanoi, witha renowned local chef to teach and assist you.The cooking class begins with a trip to a localmarket to shop for the produce that you willneed for the class. Then, it is back to the cookingcentre for a fun hands-on experience. At theend of the lesson, you can enjoy your deliciouscreations! On your return home you can impressyour friends with some authentic Vietnameserecipes.

Spend the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps takestroll along the ancient streets of the exotic oldquarter and immerse yourself in the sights andsounds of Vietnam's enchanting capital.Overnight - Hanoi (B, L)

Day 3 : Halong Bay CruiseHanoi - Halong Bay. This morning transfer fromyour hotel in Hanoi to Halong City, the drivetakes about 4 hours and you will stop off for arefreshment break en route. Upon arrival meetthe crew of the traditional Junk boat at the dockand cruise to the famous islands of UNESCOListed Halong Bay and on to Bai Tu Long Bay.Aside from the cave visit and swimming, thereis a chance to explore this stunning area by seakayak. Return back to the Junk for a scrumptiousdinner and watch an incredible sunset over thebay. Overnight - Halong Bay - Junk boat (B, L,D)

Day 4 : Bai Tu Long Bay

Halong Bay - Hue. Wake up to the fresh air,gentle breeze and amazing views of the baythis morning. Cruise through Bai Tu Long andvisit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng -where you can learn about the daily life. Enjoylunch onboard before returning to the mainharbour and travelling back to Hanoi, arrivinglate afternoon.

There is a chance to freshen up at a hotel beforeyou transfer to the train station for the overnightjourney on the Reunification Express railway linesouth to Hue. Accommodation aboard the trainin four berth shared cabins, which are simple butcomfortable.Overnight - Sleeper train (B)

Day 5 : Imperial Hue

Upon arrival in Hue, transfer directly to thehotel. Hue was the Vietnamese capital duringthe Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and ruins ofthe city’s regal past can still be seen inside theCitadel and the Imperial City. Created in the19th century, the Imperial City was modelled onthe Forbidden City in Beijing and holds manypalaces and temples inside its giant walls. Manyof the buildings were damaged by French aerialbombing and the Tet Offensive in 1968. Nowit is slowly being restored thanks to generousfunding by UNESCO.

Your tour begins after breakfast with the ancientwalled Citadel containing the former ImperialPalace. Spend the morning wandering throughthe enclosure before lunch and a trip into thesurrounding countryside to see the final restingplace of the Emperors at two of the mostimpressive Royal Tombs. This evening enjoy ascenic cruise along the Perfume River.Overnight - Hue (B, L)

Day 6 : Hoi AnHue - Hoi An. This morning, continue southto the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An.The five hour drive takes you along the SouthChina Sea coastline with breathtaking viewsparticularly as the road winds its way up Hai VanPass (“Pass of the Clouds”).

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An wasa thriving international commercial port forChinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portugueseand Arab merchants. Today, Hoi An is aquaint riverside town, renowned for its silk andpopular with tourists for its eclectic architecture,tailors shops and numerous cafes. Some of thebuildings in the narrow streets have remainedunchanged for more than a century and much ofthe town is now heritage-listed. This afternoonenjoy a half day walking tour through thenarrow winding streets of the Ancient Quartervisiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the JapaneseCovered Bridge.Overnight - Hoi An (B)

Days 7-8 : Hoi An villageexperience

Today enjoy a full day tour which gives youan insight into the lives of the farming andfishing communities in this beautiful region ofVietnam. Begin your adventure by cycling out

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into the countryside through emerald greenrice paddies. After a short ride you will arriveat the village of Tra Que. This charming littlesettlement, on the edge of Hoi An, is famousfor its sweet scented green vegetables thatspice up Hoi An’s famous delicacies such asCao Lau and Mi Quang. On arrival learn aboutthe history of the village and the cultivation ofthe vegetables. Continue with a walk aroundthe vegetable garden and join the farmers inpreparing the land and planting some crops.Finish off your village experience with a funcooking demonstration. Later, return to Hoi Anand board the Eco Tour boat for a river cruiseto meet and engage with local fisherman. You'llalso have the opportunity to experience rivernet fishing with the locals and paddle a uniquebamboo basket boat, known as a coracle, as youexplore the area’s coconut palmed waterways.Spend day 8 at leisure, relaxing in Hoi An.Overnight - Hoi An (B:2, L:1)

Day 9 : Saigon

Hoi An - Saigon. Transfer to the airport inDanang this morning and catch the flight toSaigon. Upon arrival, you will be met by yourguide and transferred to your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as the city is stillreferred to by all except officals, is Vietnam’slargest city. It is a fast-paced metropolis fullof contrasts, with street vendors selling fruitand vegetables next to glitzy western-style barsand boutiques. Amazingly, the city’s historydates back only 300 years. In 1859 the city wascaptured by the French and became the capitalof Cochin China. From 1956 until April 1975it was the capital of the US-backed Republicof Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is verymuch the heart of Vietnamese business andentrepreneurial activity. The French left theirmark with some fine colonial-era buildings such

as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the CentralPost Office.

Enjoy a guided tour of the city this afternoon.Highlights include the Notre Dame Cathedraland Old Post Office. Dong Khoi Street,which is home to many boutiques andfine restaurants, the Opera House and thebeautiful Peoples’ Committee Building. The WarRemnants Museum, Formerly known as theMuseum of American War Crimes, this is apoignant display of the futility of war and theReunification Palace which is one of the mostimportant buildings in the city. Here on 30 April1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended whena North Vietnamese Army tank crashed throughthe gates of what was, at the time the residenceof the President of the Republic of Vietnam.Overnight - Saigon (B)

Day 10 : Cruising the MekongDelta

Saigon - Can Tho. Enjoy a cruise on the MekongDelta today! Sightseeing begins with a visitto Cai Be's colourful floating market and avisit to some local home factories such as ricepaste making, rice pop corn, coco candies,and longans drying processing. Known as the'Rice Bowl' of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta isa beautiful fertile region with lush rice paddyfields and fruit plantations. Soak up the riversideviews as you cruise along the Mekong canalsto Dong Hoa Hiep Island. Discover beautifullandscapes, observe typical Mekong delta rurallife on the remote islands and enjoy a tastylunch at a superb Indochine style resort. Spendthe night in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.Overnight - Can Tho (B, L)

Day 11 : Cai Rang floatingmarketCan Tho - Chau Doc. Rise early for a morningboat trip to the extraordinary floating market at

Cai Rang. Observe boats jostling for position asthe locals engage in frenetic trading and be sureto have your camera ready for some great photoopportunities. Return to Can Tho before drivingto Chau Doc.Overnight - Chau Doc (B, L, D)

Day 12 : Phnom Penh city tour

Chau Doc - Phnom Penh. After breakfast, takea speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh,arriving at midday. Located on the banks of theMekong River, Cambodia's energetic capital isnoted for its beautiful colonial architecture andhistoric sites. See the highlights of this bustling,vibrant city on a guided tour this afternoon,including the fascinating Royal Palace, theSilver Pagoda, and the National Museum. Youcan climb the hill to Wat Phnom, the city’smain temple, where you’ll find throngs ofworshippers and troops of monkeys. Overnight- Phnom Penh (B, L)

Day 13 : Angkor Thom

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap. Spend time at leisurethis morning before your flight to Siem Reap.Upon arrival you will be met and transferredto your hotel. With its picturesque riversidelocation, colonial and Chinese-style architectureand leafy tree lined boulevards, Siem Reap isan ideal base to explore Cambodia's legendaryAngkor Temple complex over the next two days.

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This afternoon, ride a Tuk Tuk to visit 12thcentury Angkor Thom, the last capital of theKhmer Empire. Starting at the South Gate, takea walk along the ancient city wall to see thelost temple of Prasat Chroung. Continue on tothe spectacular Bayon temple, where you aresurrounded by the smiling faces of numerousBuddhas. Also visit the Terrace of the Elephants,the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the LeperKing.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 14 : Incredible AngkorWat!

Time to explore more of the Angkor TempleComplex, undoubtedly one of the world'sgreatest archaeological sites! Rise early thismorning to avoid the crowds and travel by TukTuk to visit the incredible jungle envelopedtemple of Ta Prohm, which featured in thefilm 'Tomb Raider'. Next, visit the spectacularAngkor Wat temple - the world's largestreligious building and Cambodia's number oneattraction! Enjoy a guided tour around this hugestructure and learn about the glories of theKingdom of Angkor before returning to thehotel for a late breakfast and a rest.

Continue sightseeing this afternoon with a visitto the temple of Banteay Srei or ‘Citadel of theWomen’. On your way back to Siem Reap, enjoythe sunset from the top of the pyramid-shapedtemple of Pre Rup.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 15 : Boating on Tonle SapLake

This morning take a Tuk Tuk to the edge of SiemReap and enjoy a fun buffalo cart ride throughthe countryside until you reach the Cambodia’slargest freshwater lake; the Tonle Sap. Board aboat and spend the rest of the morning at oneof the largest floating villages on the lake whichis called Kompong Phluk. In the village you willwitness the fascinating daily lives of the localpeople who live on the water. The boat serviceis provided by local people, and the profit goesdirectly back to the community. The rest of theday is at leisure.Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 16 : Siem ReapToday your exciting Asian adventure comes toan end after breakfast, hotel check out and atransfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Cambodia Country Guide

Entrance Fees - collected inUSD.Entrance fees to most sites are not included,although reasonably priced. In Cambodia, wecollect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (theamount is noted under exclusions on page oneof this document). A breakdown of the entrancefee total is provided upon arrival. All fundscollected in Cambodia for entrance fees arepayable in USD.

Tipping Kitty - collected in USDAt the start of your tour, we take a smalltipping kitty (the amount is noted underexclusions) from all tour participants to covertips throughout your holiday. This saves you thehassle of knowing when and how much to tip

bellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, trainconductors and other support staff throughoutthe tour.

This amount does not include a tip for yourtour guides. For a job well done, we wouldsuggest USD $3 - 6 per person per day. Tippingyour guide is an entirely personal gesture andultimately the amount is up to you.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Cambodia from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideTetanus, Typhoid, Hep A, Diptheria and Polio arerecommended.

There is the risk of malaria in parts of Cambodiaso it is very important to check with yourdoctor before you go, to see whether malarialmedication is required for the areas you arevisiting. Yellow fever is not present in Cambodiabut a yellow fever vaccination certificate isrequired from those travelling from an infectedregion.

WaterTap water in Cambodia is not considered safeto drink. It's recommended to only drink bottledmineral water, which is readily available inhotels, shops and restaurants.

ClimateCambodia has a tropical monsoon climatewith two seasons; Rainy season from May toNovember, when the countryside is lush andgreen, and dry season from late November toApril, when there are long days of glorioussunshine and clear skies. Temperatures inCambodia remain fairly constant and warmthroughout the year, apart from in thenorth, when winters (December to March) aregenerally colder.

Guides and GroupsOur longest group tour in Southeast Asia is ourBangkok to Angkor Wat - 23 day tour. All othergroup tours that we offer are sectors of thislarger tour. As such on your holiday you mayhave travellers join you part way through yourtour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Saigon or PhnomPenh) or end their tour when you continue on.

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Guiding:In Cambodia, a Cambodian national guide isoffered for arrangements in Phnom Penh. Uponarrival to Siem Reap you will meet a specialistregional guide who will lead your tour from hereon.

If travelling on our Thailand & Angkor Templestour, your Cambodian tour guide will meet youupon arrival to Siem Reap Airport and conductall arrangements from there forward till yourreturn to Thailand.

Time & VoltageCambodia is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich MeanTime(GMT).

The voltage in Cambodia is 230v. In Cambodia3 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flatprong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin europeanplug (type C) and many of the new 4 and 5star hotels use the British standard 3-pin plug(type G). To cover all bases, it is best to pack aninternational travel adaptor!

CurrencyThe official currency of Cambodia is theCambodia Riel but USD is also widely acceptedand sometimes preferred in larger stores andsupermarkets.

Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other majorcurrencies can be exchanged in Cambodia atvarious bureau de changes in major cities andtowns. However foreign currency is also widelyaccepted and often desired more so it can givethe shopper more buying power. ATMs can befound in all larger towns and cities and some fivestar hotels. We recommend you take a mixtureof cash (preferably USD) and credit/ debit cardsfor ATM's. It's advisable to request bank notesin smaller denominations, as it can sometimesbe hard to get change from large notes andsmaller notes are handy for smaller purchasesand gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Essential Packing• Lightweight cotton garments. Ladies will

need to have their shoulders and legs (tobelow the knee) covered when visiting theRoyal Palace in Phnom Penh and AngkorWat. Please pack accordingly

• Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flipflogs/ thongs

• DEET based mosquito repellant &antihistamine cream

• Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 roundpin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universaladaptor will cover all bases

• Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho/umbrella

• Two spare passport photos & a photocopy ofyour passport

• A small daypack for your day-to-day needs• Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume

and torch

VisasBritish, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand,South African and USA passport holders areable to obtain a 30 day tourist visa upon arrivalto Cambodia when entering via PochentongInternational Airport in Phnom Penh, SiemReap International Airport (in the Angkor WatRegion) and at the Moc Bai (Vietnam) and Bavet(Cambodia) land border. We use the Moc Bai/Bavet land border crossing for all our grouptours that travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia.

At each of these entry points you must submita photocopy of your passport (identificationpage) and one passport size photograph. Thecost of the visa is currently USD30. Note: at theland border sometimes immigration will ask formore. In this situation point to the sign abovethe ticket window indicating that the cost isactually USD30 (subject to change). Further, youare best to give the exact amount i.e. USD30as often if you give more you will not receivechange.

Alternatively, it is now also possible to obtainan e-visa in advance of travel. The e-visa allowsfor a length of stay up till 30 days. The e-visa isvalid for 3 months from date of issue, not date ofarrival, so please ensure that you do not obtainthis visa to far in advance. Online processingtime for this visa is 3 days. The e-visa is validfor entry via Pochentong International Airport

in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap International Airport(in the Angkor Wat Region) and at the Moc Bai(Vietnam) and Bavet (Cambodia) land border. Itis not valid at any other land or water border.To obtain an e-visa for Cambodia go to: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/Default.aspx

It is also possible to obtain a 30 day tourist visaprior to arrival via the Cambodian Embassy inyour home port, though please note tourist visasarranged with the embassy are valid for onemonth from date of issue, not date of arrival.

PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for atleast 6 months after your departure date, if it isnot you may be refused entry into the country.Visa requirements are subject to change andvisa procurement is solely the responsibility ofthe traveller and not of On The Go Tours.

Vietnam Country Guide

Entrance fees - collected in USDEntrance fees to most sites are not included,although reasonably priced. In Vietnam, wecollect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (theamount is noted under exclusions on pageone of this document). A breakdown of theentrance fee total is provided upon arrival. Allfunds collected in Vietnam for entrance fees arepayable in USD.

Tipping Kitty - collected in USDAt the start of your tour, we take a smalltipping kitty (the amount is noted underexclusions) from all tour participants to covertips throughout your holiday. This saves you thehassle of knowing when and how much to tipbellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, trainconductors and other support staff throughoutthe tour.

This amount does not include a tip for yourtour guides. For a job well done, we wouldsuggest USD $3 - 6 per person per day. Tippingyour guide is an entirely personal gesture andultimately the amount is up to you.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Vietnam from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide

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Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus arestrongly recommended.

Malaria in VietnamAreas with malaria: Rural only, except none inthe Red River Delta and the coast north of NhaTrang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. Nonein Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon.Estimated relative risk of malaria for travellers:Low

WaterThe tap water in Vietnam is generally consideredsafe to drink, but as a precaution againststomach upsets you may want to drink bottledmineral water, which is readily available fromshops, hotels and restaurants.

VisasFrom 1 July 2015 onwards UK passport holderswill not need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to15 days. At customs you will need show yourreturn airline ticket/E ticket as proof of your dateof departure. If you're exiting Vietnam via a landborder then your tour itinerary will be acceptedas proof so please have this available to show toborder police if requested. A visa is required forstays of 16 days or longer and if you are planningto return to Vietnam within 30 days of your lastdeparture you will also need to purchase a visa.

Most other nationalities including Australian,Canadian, New Zealand, South African andUSA passport holders require a tourist visato visit Vietnam. Travellers can choose toindependently apply (or we can arrange thisfor you, see notes below) for a 30 daytourist visa (single or multiple entry) fromthe nearest Vietnamese Embassy or via themore convenient method of applying online.The cost is approx USD$20. After submittingan application you will receive a confirmationnumber, then upon arriving to Vietnam youwould receive the actual visa and additionallypay a stamping fee of USD$45. The stamping feefor a multiple entry visa, for entries within onemonth is USD$65.

Applying in advance and then collecting yourtourist visa upon arrival is available to alltravellers entering the country via Hanoi - NoiBai International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City -

Tan Son Nhat International Airport and DanangInternational Airport.

ON THE GO ARRANGING YOUR VIETNAMVISAUpon confirming a holiday to Vietnam with us, ifyou require a visa please download a copy of our'Vietnam Visa Data List' available on our websitewithin the SE Asia, under the title of 'Visa Info'.Should you complete the form and return it asa Microsoft Word document via e-mail to us 6weeks prior to your departure we will arrangethe visa for you (effectively saving you USD$20).

Then approximately 2 - 3 weeks prior toyour departure we will forward to you a'Visa Confirmation Letter' which carries aconfirmation number'.

You will need to present the 'Visa ConfirmationLetter' and a 'Vietnam Visa Entry & Exit Form' (wehave a link to this form on our website or you canpick up one upon arrival) to immigration officialsupon arrival into Vietnam along with 2 passportphotos and a stamping fee of USD$45 or USD$65 for a multiple entry visa. A Visa will thenbe stuck into your passport and you can enterVietnam.

Please note: This service is not available forSouth African passport holders who must obtaina tourist visa from the nearest VietnameseEmbassy in advance and pay the stamping feedirectly to the embassy prior to travel.

'The Visa Confirmation Letter' (irrespective ofwhether you apply for your visa independentlyor through On The Go Tours) will containpersonal information such as your passportnumber, nationality and date of birth of yourselfand other travellers on one inclusive list.

PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for atleast 6 months after your departure date, if it isnot you may be refused entry into the country.

ClimateVietnam has a varied climate due to itsgeography. The south is hot year round andhas two seasons: The wet season lasts fromMay to October, with brief, daily showers. Thedry season from November to April is generallysunny and humid. In the north, the summer

months (May to October) are hot and there isthe occasional burst of heavy rain. In the winter(December to February) temperatures drop inthe north and it can be damp. The coastalregion of central Vietnam is blessed with longmonths of sunshine, although there is rainfallin November and December. At this time therecan also be some typhoon activity in the centralcoastal region.

Guides and GroupsOur longest group tour in Southeast Asia is ourBangkok to Angkor Wat - 23 day tour. All othergroup tours we offer (with the exception of ourVietnam For Teens tour) are sectors of this largertour. As such on your holiday you may havetravellers join you part way through your tour (inLuang Prabang, Hanoi, Saigon or Phnom Penh)or end their tour when you continue on.

Guiding: A Vietnamese guide will escort allarrangements throughout Vietnam.

Time & VoltageThe voltage in Vietnam is 220v. In Vietnam 3types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flatprong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug (typeC) and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels usethe British standard 3-pin plug (type G). To coverall bases, it is best to pack an international traveladaptor!

Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does notobserve daylight saving.

MoneyThe official currency in Vietnam is theVietnamese Dong.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other majorcurrencies can be exchanged locally at theairport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollarnotes are widely accepted and shopkeepers useboth currencies interchangeably. You can oftenpay for items in USD and receive your change inUSD notes and coins in VND. Make sure that yourUSD bills are crisp and clean and you will have noproblem using or exchanging these throughoutyour stay. ATM machines can be found in allmajor cities though it is not common to paywith credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops forpurchases. It's advisable to request bank notesin smaller denominations, as it can sometimes

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be hard to get change from large notes andsmaller notes are handy for smaller purchasesand gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Essential Packing• Sleep sheet if taking an overnight sleeper

train. These also can be easily purchased inHanoi at a cost of USD$5. Ask you guide forinfo on where to buy these

• A day pack to carry all your essentials whenout sightseeing each day

• An overnight bag, if you are staying aboardthe Junk boat in Halong Bay. As we will bereturning to Hanoi it is not essential that youtake your big bag/ suitcase with you

• Lightweight cotton garments• Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flip

flops/ thongs• DEET based mosquito repellant &

antihistamine cream• Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round

pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universaladaptor will cover all bases

• Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho• Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of

your passport• Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume

and torch

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the Inclusionssection of these Trip Notes) our arrivalprocedure is as follows:

Arrive to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport,Saigon - Tan Son Nhat International Airport.Proceed to the immigration counter andpresent your invitation letter. Complete animmigration form and submit your photographsand stamping fee of USD$25 (this can take sometime). After collecting your luggage proceed tothe arrival hall.

As you enter the arrivals hall, look for our OnThe Go Tours representative. He/she will beholding a prominent On The Go Tours logosignboard. After meeting you will be escorted to

our awaiting transportation and transferred toour tour start hotel

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight is delayed please callthe emergency contact number as stated onyour tour voucher.

If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includesan airport arrival transfer (as indicated in theInclusions section of these Trip Notes) we willbe at the airport, ready to transfer you toyour hotel. Further if you are booking pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrivaltransfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrivesvery, very early in the morning) you will need topurchase a night of pre-tour accommodation tosave you waiting until standard hotel check intime, which is generally 2pm.

Airline Luggage AllowanceIf your tour includes international or domesticflights within the region please be mindfulthat the free baggage allowance for Economyclass travel is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of handluggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight ischarged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keepthis in mind whilst shopping.

Trains in VietnamIt's not the Orient Express, but Vietnam'sReunification Express. On a number of our grouptours we include an overnight train journey onthe Reunification Express Railway Line betweenHanoi and Hue. The particular SE series trainthat we use on this journey is the highestclass of train available in Vietnam. It's titledas being the nation's fastest train; though byinternational standards it's quite the opposite.Never the less, our journey between Hanoi andHue takes approximately 14 hours and travellersare accommodated in 4 berth 'Soft Sleeper'cabins.

Aboard each wagon are 9 compartments thatcomprise of 4 bunks per compartment. 4persons of mixed sex share one compartment.You may be sharing with people from yourtour group, other tourists or Vietnamese people.Who you will share your cabin with is ultimately

dependent upon how the Vietnamese RailwaysCorporation configures the bookings.

Cabins onboard are comfortable though notcomparable to European standards. A westernstyle toilet (with a varying degree of cleanliness)is located at either end of the wagon. Air-conditioning (not always operational in thesummer) and lighting are controlled from insidethe cabin, which is also lockable. Luggage canbe stored in a compartment under the bottombunk. Linen and a pillow are provided thoughwe strongly recommend that you bring yourown sleep sheet (easily purchased in Hanoi ata cost of USD$5). The cleanliness of the trainvaries according to wagons assigned to thejourney for that particular day. Some wagonsare spotlessly clean whilst others can be uncleanand should have been decommissioned longago. Irrespective of the particular train youtake, they all have large clear glass windowsthat allow for uninterrupted views of stunninglandscapes and never ending rice paddy fields.

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