DETAILS
Read on for other key trip information that you should know before you decide on joining the group.
TRIP AVAILABILITY
If this trip seems right for you then we encourage you to book early and secure your place with a deposit. Tour space is limited. Also, many services on this tour must be booked well in advance. To ensure your place, please check trip availability at your earliest convenience.
FELLOW TRAVELLERS
You will enjoy this group experience with a maximum of 16 travellers. This is a Solos Only tour (couple free). You are welcome to join with a friend, but couples do not join this tour. Tours depart with a minimum of 3 travellers.
THE PACE [3 out of 5]
This is a medium paced, small group tour. An average level of fitness at least is required for this tour.
There is a mix of days; between more leisurely days and other days that require longer periods on foot, standing, walking and climbing stairs. This tour is not suitable for anyone not able to stand and walk for long periods and/or unable to climb stairs without assistance. You need an average level of fitness (or above) to be suited to this tour.
Travellers of 70 years or over will be required to return a Fit to Travel form that is completed by their doctor. More Information > Visit Travel Fitness
Touring Physical Requirements
Touring is exciting and diverse and the best way to enjoy your travels is to be sure that you meet the minimum physical requirements required for touring.
In many destinations while touring could be walking on uneven surfaces such as cobble stoned streets, need to climb steep staircases, and/or walk up hills to reach attractions. Also, in some cities tourist transport has limited options for coach drop offs and pick ups and this may mean that travellers are required to walk some distance to reach attractions or hotels, even up to 15 minutes.
Some touring may not be suitable for travellers with mobility issues and/or low fitness levels. If unsure about your suitability for the trip please contact us to seek further advice.
TIPPING
Tipping is not included in your tour package.
Tipping may not be your custom, or the custom of your home country, however it is significant in many parts of the world for roles in tourism. It’s customary to tip tour service personnel including your group tour leader, driver, local guides, restaurant staff, and hotel porters. It’s also appreciated to leave small tips for room attendants and restaurant wait staff. We appreciate that for many travellers tipping is awkward, and they are unsure about how and what amount to tip. For this reason, we collect a tipping fund payment from each traveller and your tour leader manages it, and pays the tips for the included group services along the way.
The Tipping Fund
At the beginning of your tour, the tipping fund is payable to your tour leader. The fund does not cover tips for your group tour leader.
Your Tour Leader
As tipping is customary, please recognise your tour leader’s good service, and the custom of tipping tour leaders, and tip them at the completion of your tour. Your tour leader is away from home for the duration of your visit and tipping is a part of recognising this dedication.
ABOUT THE MEALS
It’s regular that our trips included welcome dinners and farewell dinners for our groups. In addition, we include other group dining experiences to ensure that everyone has the enjoyment of dining as a group. There’s nothing better than to share a meal with new friends and discuss the day’s adventures.
We like to include some evenings when dining is at your leisure. It’s an opportunity to make your own local discoveries.
The hotel breakfasts will generally have Asian/Vietnamese breakfast choices along with Western food choices. For the lunches and dinners included with our tour package these are Vietnamese meals.
Please be sure to advise us at the time of booking of any special dietary requirements. We always do our best to accommodate special diet needs and in most cases, special dietary needs can be met. However, in some destinations the variety of choice for certain special diets may be limited. If you are concerned, please check with us before you book.
Are you a flexitarian?
If you have dietary requirements, please advise if it is due to allergies or for medical reasons or if it is a personal preference and if you are flexible. Dietary requirements will limit choices. If a dietary requirement is not essential due to medical reasons and you are a flexitarian, then we recommend that you exclude your personal preferences if not necessary to provide more options with the meal choices.
GROUP GUIDE
This tour is escorted by an English speaking Vietnamese National, professional tour guide. Your guide is there to ensure the smooth operation of your tour, liaise with the coach driver, hotel and all other service providers connected with our tour. You will find your guide to be passionate about their history and culture.
The role of your GROUP GUIDE is to lead the group, take charge of all the trip logistics on tour, and of course, make sure the trip runs as smoothly as possible so ultimately you have the best possible experience. From time to time, as is the nature of travel, ‘hiccups’ can occur, such as unexpected delays to due to traffic congestion, unexpected weather conditions that make a change of plans necessary, and many other things that go hand in hand with travel. In these circumstances your group leader will do their utmost to make the best possible alternative plans – please be ready to accept that these situations are out of the control of anyone and trust in your group leader to assist as best as possible.
TRANSPORT
Touring is by private vehicle on road, and other transport includes:
- two domestic flights within Vietnam to reduce travel time
- an overnight boat cruise on Halong Bay
The cost of the domestic flights in Vietnam (and Cambodia, if joining the optional extension tour) are covered in your tour package price.
LUGGAGE INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS
Luggage – Domestic Flights
Maximum allowance for checked luggage is 20kg for internal flights in Vietnam, and 1 piece of hand luggage
Checked Luggage – International Flights
For airline luggage restrictions, refer to your ticket terms for your international limits.
If you travel business or premium economy please note that although the airline may have generous luggage allowances you luggage must suit the tour allowances which will be less.
Overnight Cruise
For the overnight Halong Bay Cruise you will be required to pack a small bag for the cruise, and your large luggage will be stored at the Hanoi hotel.
Coach/Bus Touring:
Maximum checked luggage allowance is a maximum weight of 20kg (40lbs). Hand luggage for flights must not exceed 7kg.
Luggage is limited to one medium size suitcase per person, the sum of its length/width and depth not to exceed 140cm (56") plus an overnight bag (airline bag size) which may be carried on board the vehicle. If your luggage exceeds this limit, we ask that you make alternative arrangements for the excess to be forwarded to the termination point of your tour. We suggest you have wheels on your suitcase, as there are certain places where assistance is not available
For the overnight cruise a small overnight bag is required, and main luggage is stored in the Hanoi hotel.
ABOUT MOBILE PHONE USE / INTERNET
You may like to purchase a prepaid sim card to take with you while travelling. Otherwise, ask your phone provider about International Roaming packages/offers for your mobile phone. SIM cards or international roaming packages can be good options to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Be sure the sim card you purchase will cover all the countries you are travelling to.
Many hotels these days offer WiFi—some for free, others for a modest fee.
WhatsApp
If you don’t already use this service, we recommend downloading this application also. It’s a mobile phone App that offers fast, simple, secure messaging and calling for free (data charges may apply – ask your phone provider).
As a general indication, for many of our tours, our guides use WhatsApp to communicate with the group.
TRAVEL GUIDE QUICK FACTS
Visit our Travel Guide page on our website for destination information.
