VISA TO VIETNAM & CAMBODIA
You are strongly recommended to obtain visa
to Vietnam before traveling. If you are not able to
get visa, we are pleased to help you obtain the approval letter,
enabling you to get visa upon arrival. email address at
info@vietnamhorisontravel.com or
submit form send your request to us. We will complete the
application procedures and get the approval letter for you within 5
working days.
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO & FROM
VIETNAM/CAMBODIA
We are locally based travel agency so we do
not have promotion rates for all international flights to and from
Vietnam. Passengers are recommended to book flights to and from
Vietnam/Cambodia in advance. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon City)
are 2 major international gateways. Below are airlines have daily direct
flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. You can book with them online or
through local air ticketing agencies based in your countries.
Departure Tax: For
Vietnam there is a 14 US$ International Departure tax from Hanoi and 15
US$ International Departure tax from Ho Chi Minh City. If we book air
tickets for you. The taxes are included in the airfare.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
All internal flights are included in the
tour fares and are operated by
Vietnam Airlines or Pacific Airlines (All airport tax, gasoline
surcharged are included)
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels and type of rooms are specified in
the trip dossier. The room based on double/twin or triple sharing. When
you book full package tours with us, meaning that accommodation in every
cities and provinces are also included with daily breakfast prevailing
government tax and service charges.
Check-in time & check-out time at hotel:
from 12:00 - 14:00 o'clock. Early check-in or late check-out shall be
surcharged. The surcharges shall be collected by hotels.
Pre & Post Accommodation: You may wish to
extend your holiday by booking some pre or post tour accommodation - ask
Luxury & Leisure Travel for details and prices when you book your trip.
LOCAL TOUR GUIDES
To minimize the costing for customers as
well as to make sure you will be accompanied by experienced tour guides
who have good command of local history, culture and knowledge, we will
use different tour guides in places that you will reach there by
internal flights. You can also use 1 tour guide for the whole trip but
surcharges for tour guides' accommodation, meals and air transportation
shall be applied accordingly.
TOURS AND SIGHTSEEING
All entrances, permission and visiting fees
per programme are included in the tour fares. If you want to visit more
sites which are not mentioned in the itinerary, the entrance and
visiting fees shall be paid by tourists. They are optional
LAND TRANSPORTATION
-
Included: All airport pick up &
transfer plus land transportation per programme. Depending on people
in your group, we will arrange a suitable vehicles. Our cars or vans
are in good conditions equipped with A/C and driven by experienced
drivers.
-
Excluded: Because of fees for
luxurious car rental in Vietnam are extremely high so luxurious cars
or limousines like Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Camry, Prado Toyota are
optional and excluded in the tour programme. If you want to rent a
luxurious car for your holiday, please kindly advise us to get more
information and tariffs.
LOCAL DRESS:
Local Dress: In
Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home.
When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will
keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers.
In predominately Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim countries we ask that
you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and
singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy
sites.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
All activities which are not specified in
the programme are optional. Please fully consult our tour guides and
travel consultants prior to taking your optional activities.
TIPS & GRATUITIES
It is customary in Asia to tip service
providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the
service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an
expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your
tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable
significance to the people who will take care of you during your
travels. There are several times during the trip where there is
opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this
individually.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to
participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you
will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel
insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your
insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require
that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including
emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also
covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage
and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof
of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a
credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their
participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact
telephone number.
MEALS:
Some of meals are included and compulsory
while you traveling on the roads but the rest are exclusive as this
gives you the flexibility to go out and make your own choices as far as
where to go and what to eat. This flexibility reflects the very nature
of Vietnam Horison Travel's tours. Your tour guides will always be on
hand to offer recommendations and, in many cases, organize meals that
introduce you to the local specialties. These meals are optional.
FITNESS
A reasonably good level of fitness is
required for almost of our classic packages and you should be in good
health. Any physical preparation will always be to your advantage.
Anyone with respiratory or cardiac problems, or over the age of 60,
should fully consult their medical adviser prior to booking and we may
require full medical clearance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Many national governments provide a
regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with
international travel. We recommend that you check your government's
advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly
recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for
the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques,
cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home -
you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have
safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your
valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When
travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the
authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is
deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader will accompany you
on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free
time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at
your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with options
available in a given location please note that any optional activities
you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no
representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the
operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting
an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are
generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering
throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in
small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night
time excursions.
WHAT TO TAKE
What you need to bring depends on the
trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning
to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your
are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have
to walk more than 15-20 mintues with your bags which is why we
recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb.
Suitcases are not recommended for G.A.P Adventures trips! Most
travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size
(no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when
travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to
carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile
phones. If your trip involves overnights in homestays, villages or
camping then you usually have the opportunity to rent sleeping bags
if need be instead of bringing them with you.
CHECK-LIST
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Travel insurance (with photocopies)
- Airline tickets (with photocopies)
- USD cash and travelers cheques
- Credit or debit card (see personal
spending money)
- trip vouchers, pre-departure
information and dossier
- Any entry visas or vaccination
certificates required
- Alarm clock (optional, you can use
alarm call service at any hotel)
- Flashlight (optional)
- Wide brim Sunhat, Sunblock,
Sungalsses
- Insect Repellent
- Water bottle
- Small towel and swim wear
- Toiletries (biodegradable)
- Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
- Moneybelt
- Shorts
- Long trousers
- Hiking pants/track pants (for hiking
and adventure tours only)
- Shirts/T-shirts
- Warm clothes for Nov-Feb. Fleece,
Windproof/waterproof jacket
- Waterproof clothes for wet season
May-Oct. Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
- Cover for backpack or plastic bags
to keep clothes dry.
- Clothes for temples – long pants or
sarongs.
- Sleep sheet for trekking or sea
safari trips.
- Thermarest or sleeping mat and
travel pillow for trekking or sea safari trips.
- Snorkel gear – optional (also
available for hire)
- Camera and film
- Reading/writing material
- Binoculars
- Pocketknife
- First-aid kit (should contain lip
salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar
tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra
prescription drugs you may be taking).
PRECAUTIONS FOR TRAVELING DURING
VIETNAMESE LUNAR TET FESTIVAL
Please note that Vietnam is a developing
country whose infrastructure may differ from what you expect in your
homeland. Expect poor road conditions and be prepared for some
inconveniences due to such things as restaurants or tourist sites being
closed and our regular transport services not always being available,
especially so during the Tet holiday period (Vietnamese New Year).
Tet holiday period will be from Wednesday 6th February 2008 till Tuesday
12th February 2008. Most businesses will be closed and Vietnamese people
usually spend this period returning to their homes and celebrating with
their families. This will involve a major burden on all forms of
transport, and despite booking in advance, tickets for trains and planes
especially are difficult to obtain during this period.
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