journey to angkor wat detailed...

TRIP NOTES

Journey to Angkor Wat15 days | Hanoi to Siem Reap

Journey to Angkor Wat - 15 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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Discover the spectacular sights,

delectable cuisine and rich history

of Vietnam and Cambodia, on

an unforgettable journey from

Hanoi and the limestone peaks

of Halong Bay, to Siem Reap and

the magnificent temples of Angkor.

Visiting enchanting Hoi An, imperial

Hue, Saigon and the Mekong en

route.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Hanoi - Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter• Halong Bay - UNESCO Listed region with

thousands of beautiful limestone peaks andislets

• Hue - ancient citadel, Imperial PurpleCity, Royal Tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda andmonastery

• Hoi An - UNESCO Listed ancient town,famed for its beautifully preserved old city,tailors, handicrafts markets and nearbybeaches

• Saigon - ‘Pearl of the Orient!. NotreDame Cathedral, Old Post Office and WarRemnants Museum

• Mekong Delta - a maze of waterways, fertilefarm land and floating villages

• Cai Be waterways, cottage industries,mansion home and Dong Hoa Hiep Island

• Can Tho - lively market town in the MekongDelta and nearby Cai Rang floating market

• Cu Chi Tunnels - HQ of the Viet Cong• Phnom Penh - Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda,

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and theKilling Fields

• Siem Reap - Angkor National Museumand the temples of Angkor includingAngkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Bayon Temple andBanteay Srei

• Angkor Wat!• Tonle Sap Lake and the floating villages of

Kampong Phluk• The Phare NGO circus project

What's Included• 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinner• 12 nights 4 star and special class hotels• 1 night deluxe junk boat, 1 overnight

sleeper train (train standard basic, 4 berthcabin. Junk boat, private cabin)

• Economy class flights from Danang - Saigonand Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

• Guided sightseeing - Hanoi, Halong Bay,Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Saigon, Cu Chi,Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the Temples ofAngkor

• Halong Bay Junk boat cruise - opt to swim,kayak and explore caves

• Bicycle ride to Tra Que village and cookingdemonstration

• Sampan boat trips in the Mekong Delta

• Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake• Airport arrival transfer day 1 and departure

transfer day 15• All relevant transfers and transportation in

private air-conditioned vehicles• Escorted by an English speaking

Vietnamese and Cambodian tour guides• Visa approval letter for Vietnam (excl.

stamping fee required upon arrival)

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: USD$55-65, paid in USD• Entrance Fees: USD$135-145, paid in USD• International flights and visas. Vietnam

visa letter included - stamping fee requiredupon arrival

• Tip for your tour guides. We recommendyou allow USD$3 - 6 per day, per traveller.Tipping your guides is an entirely personalgesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : HanoiSaturday. Welcome to Hanoi, perhaps the mostgraceful, atmospheric and exotic capital cityin Asia. Airport to hotel arrival transfer. Theremains of the day offer free time for you toexplore the wide tree lined avenues, beautifullakes, ancient pagoda’s and thriving, historic oldcity, all easily navigated on foot. This eveningyou will have the opportunity to meet your tourguide and the rest of our tour group at our

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Journey to Angkor Wat




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welcome meeting which takes place at 17:00.If you are arriving overnight, your guide willrelay this information to you in the morning.Overnight - Hanoi

Day 2 : Junk boat cruising

Hanoi – Halong Bay. Early this morning ascenic drive leads us to the stunningly beautifulUNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay.Boarding our traditional wooden junk boatwe cruise the emerald waters soaking up thepanoramic vista of the thousand or so karstlimestone islands that stud the bay.

Later opt for a refreshing swim in one of themany sheltered coves before taking row boatsto the pristine waterway known as 'Dark & BrightLagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cookingdemonstration held on the sundeck before animpressive seafood dinner is served. Overnight- Halong Bay, Deluxe Junk Boat (B, L, D)

Day 3 : Hidden Grottoes,Halong BayHalong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Start the day witha Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditionalmassage. After exploring a lofty grotto hiddenbeneath towering cliffs we return to Hanoi.

Upon arrival into Hanoi an hour or so is spentexploring by cyclo (rickshaw) the quixotic webof streets, known as the ‘36 streets of the oldquarter’. The motorbike swarming narrow lanesare each named after various guilds of thecity’s artisan who established themselves herecenturies ago. There is Silver Street, Silk Street,Comb Street, Paper Street and more. The mazeof rambling streets is framed by narrow fronttube houses. Stop to sample the exotic fruits,sizzling noodle dishes and delightfully stickysnacks being offers by the pavement vendors.

A little time will be given to freshen up beforeboarding the our train (4 berth sleeper cabin,basic standard) on the ‘Reunification Express’railway line to Hue. Overnight - Sleeper Train(B)

Day 4 : Imperial Hue

Breakfast boxes will be served on the train.Arriving to Hue, we disembark and drive toour hotel. If rooms are ready we can check in,if not we'll depart shortly after on a guidedsightseeing tour of the 19th-century Nguyenempire capital. We visit the Thien Mu Pagoda,home to the oldest monastery in the city, whose21m high tower has become something of asymbol for Hue and the citadel. Within thecitadel is the Imperial Purple Palace, an exactcopy of the Forbidden City in Beijing, with itsimpressive ramparts, formal moats and imperialpalaces, some of which lay in ruin.

In the countryside lies the Royal Tombs of theNguyen kings, here we’ll view the elaboratemausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh.As the sun sets opt for a cruise in a long boatalong the gentle Perfume River or enjoy someretail therapy at the ever lively Dong Ba Market,a few minute's walk from our hotel. Overnight- Hue (B, L)

Day 5 : Road of the OceanClouds

Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. Todaywe take the scenic Hai Van Pass (Road of theOcean Clouds), which offers magnificent viewsof beaches to one side and lush hills to theother. En route we stop for a walk along MyKhe beach, a beautiful stretch of coastline whichwas nicknamed 'China Beach' by the Americansduring the war and famously featured inFrancis Ford Coppola’s movie ‘Apocalypse Now’.Perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim in the seabefore continuing our journey south along thecoast to Hoi An.

Onward to Hoi An. The charming, old-worldtrading port of Hoi An with it cobbled streets,traditional homes and tiny shop houses is aperfect place to lose yourself in a by goneera. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along thewaterfront, delightful craft shops and artisansincluding some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors(whose services come at a nominal price), can allbe found here. Overnight - Hoi An (B)

Days 6-7 : Tra Que village &free time

A bicycle ride into the countryside, leads usto Tra Que village. Here,we discover age oldfarming practices and learn about traditionalmedicine. It’s a hands on experience todaywhere we’ll assist with tending the fields andgardens and cooking lunch.

Day 7, is a free day for you relax orindependently explore. You may wish to takea relaxing rowboat journey along the river orspend the day lazing by the beach or hotel pool.It’s also possible to take an optional excursionto the most holiest and evocative of Vietnam’sCham sites, My Son or to Quang Ngai, thesite of the My Lai massacre memorial. Themassacre was a significant turning point in theVietnam War and the story is told through photo

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presentation on a walk through the village.Overnight - Hoi An (B:2, L:1)

Day 8 : Cruising the Mekong

Hoi An - Saigon. Early morning flight to Saigon.Drive to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to asthe ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile MekongDelta is famous for its abundant harvests oftropical fruits, flowers and rice, as well as itfantastic views while boating along the canals.

Taking our sampan from Vinh Long we’ll cruisedownstream from Cai Be through the maze ofwaterways watching the hubbub of daily lifeon the river. Passing colourful trading boats,house boats and children swimming we stopto visit some of the local cottage industriesthat produce popcorn, coco candies and paperalong the way. Lunch is served today in atraditional wooden home on Dong Hoa HiepIsland. Overnight - Can Tho (B, L)

Day 9 : Mekong & Saigon

Can Tho - Saigon. Early today we visit CaiRang floating market and drive to Saigon.Once called the Pearl of the Orient, modernSaigon is a thriving metropolis on themove. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants,designer malls and swanky bars and spas arescattered between ancient pagodas, colonialera landmarks and lively street markets. Ourwalking tour of Saigon includes visits to theNotre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office and the

sombering War Remnants Museum. Evening atleisure. Overnight - Saigon (B)

Day 10 : Chu Chi Tunnels,Phnom PenhSaigon - Phnom Penh. This morning wevisit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a sprawlingunderground network of tunnels and livingquarters used by the Viet Cong during thewar. Then we drive to the Cambodian border(crossing at Moc Bai/Bavet) and continue on tothe capital of Phnom Penh. Today the nation’scapital offers a bustling mix of Asia’s pastand present, a city quickly taking its placeamongst the trendy capitals of the region withsuperb restaurants and a number of attractions.Overnight - Phnom Penh (B, D)

Day 11 : Royal Palace, Crimesof Pol Pot

Today we’ll enjoy a full day sightseeing tour ofPhnom Penh starting at the National Museumof Fine Arts, a graceful terracotta building oftraditional design housing the world’s finestcollection of Khmer sculpture. We continue withthe Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, famed forits lavish decorations – the floors are paved withsilver tiles and statues of Buddha are encrustedwith thousands of diamonds.

We later come face to face with the horrorsof the Pol Pot regime as we visit Toul Sleng(Security Prison - S21), a school that wasgruesomely transformed into a torture chamberunder the Khmer Rouge, and visit the KillingFields where over 10,000 people were executed.Overnight - Phnom Penh (B)

Day 12 : Siem Reap & AngkorWat

Phnom Penh – Siem Reap. Hotel check outand transfer to the airport for our includedflight to Siem Reap. After time to freshenup we visit the Angkor National Museum - afascinating archaeological museum dedicatedto the collection, preservation and presentationof Angkorian artifacts and Khmer civilisation,with collections mainly dated from KhmerEmpire's Angkor period circa 9th to 14th-century.

This afternoon we explore incredible and iconicAngkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all the temples within the Angkorcomplex. It is a massive three-tiered structurecrowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65meters from ground level. Believed to be thelargest religious building in the world, AngkorWat contains thousands of wall carvings andextensive bas-reliefs. Spend the evening atleisure. There are plenty of great bars andrestaurants in the compact city centre whichis easily navigated on foot. Overnight - SiemReap (B)

Day 13 : Angkor Thom & NGOcircus project

Early this morning opt to see Angkor Wat bathedin the spectacular golden light of sunrise.Later we drive out to see the well-preservedtemples of Banteay Srei, stopping at an exotic

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butterfly sanctuary along the way. Consideredby many to be the art gallery of Angkor withsome of the finest stone carvings in the world,Banteay Srei is dedicated to Shiva and containslavishly decorated libraries and stunning reliefsof divinities.

We return to the Angkor Temple Complex thisafternoon to explore the ancient city of AngkorThom. Surrounded by an 8m high wall AngkorThom was the last capital of the Great KhmerEmpire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. InAngkor Thom you will see the fabulous BayonTemple, Baphuon, the royal enclosure, and theTerraces of the Elephants and the Leper King.The last stop on our tour of the Angkor Complexis Tra Prohm Temple, which unlike the othertemples here has been left in the same ruinedstate that it was first discovered in. Swallowedby the jungle, vast muscular roots envelop thecrumbling towers and walls whilst the trees’foliage dapples the temple in shadow.

This evening you're guaranteed to beentertained watching the incredible PhareCambodian Circus. The Phare NGO circus projecttrains street kids to become very talented circusartists and the popular show blends circus skillswith interpretations of modern life and issues inCambodian society. Overnight - Siem Reap (B)

Day 14 : Ton Le Sap Lake

This morning we visit the floating village ofKompong Phluk. Houses built on soaring stiltshover over the Tonle Sap Lake whilst nearby, thepetrified trees of a flooded forest are revealedwhenever the water level drops. After a boat tripon the lake and lunch, we return to Siem Reapwhere the afternoon and evening is free for youto spend at leisure. Perhaps pick up some lastminute souvenirs at the central market or headdown to lively Pub Street.

Note: Between Feb - July the water levelsat Kompong Phluk village maybe too low togo boating, if so, we will visit Chong Kneasfloating village where it will still be possible togo boating. Afternoon and evening at leisure.Overnight - Siem Reap (B, L)

Day 15 : Free time Siem ReapSaturday. Today marks the end of ourmemorable journey. Spend the morning atleisure before hotel check out and yourdeparture transfer to the airport.(B)

Itinerary for travel prior to 18Feb 2017This itinerary relates to travel from 18thFebruary 2017 onwards. If you are travellingbefore this date please note that touringarrangements in Siem Reap on days 12 - 14differ. Prior to 18 February this trip spends 3days visiting the Angkor complex but DOESNOT include a visit to the Angkor Museum, thebutterfly centre or the Phare Cambodian Circus.The itinerary in brief is:

Days 1 - 11: Arrangements as per normal

Day 12: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap – breakfast.Transfer to the airport for your included flight toSiem Reap. After time to freshen up we visit thelast capital of the Angkorian Empire – AngkorThom. We continue to the monastic complex ofPreah Khan before heading to the mother of alltemples – Angkor Wat. In the evening we enjoya walking tour of the old market. Overnight SiemReap (B)

Day 13: Early this morning opt to see AngkorWat bathed in the spectacular golden lightof sunrise. Later we head out to Banteay Sreitemple, considered by many to be the art galleryof Angkor with some of the finest stone carvingsin the world. The temple expedition continueswith visits to Banteay Samre, East Mebon, PreRup, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm.Overnight Siem Reap (B)

Day 14: This morning we visit the Roluos groupof temples (Bakong, Lolei and Preak Ko), theearliest large and permanent temples built bythe Khmers. Later visit the floating village ofKompong Phluk. Houses built on soaring stiltshover over the Tonle Sap Lake whilst nearby, the

petrified trees of a flooded forest are revealedwhenever the water level drops. Note: BetweenFeb - July the water levels at Kompong Phlukvillage maybe too low to go boating, if so, wewill visit Chong Kneas floating village where itwill still be possible to go boating. Afternoonand evening at leisure. Overnight Siem Reap(B,L)

Day 15:Tour ends. Included transfer to theairport (B)

If travelling before 18th February 2017 pleasecontact our reservations team for a copy of the2016 Trip Notes.

Full Moon Festival departure -28 September 2017Our 28 September 2017 departure is a specialFull Moon Festival, Hoi An tour where wejoin in the Full Moon Festival (aka the MidAutumn Festival) celebrations in Hoi An. Specialarrangements on this tour are as follows:

Day 1: Thursday. Welcome to Hanoi. Airport tohotel arrival transfer. This morning is free for youto explore the wide tree lined avenues, beautifullakes and ancient pagoda’s and thriving old city.Meeting with our guide at 2pm we set of on footto explore Hanoi’s charming Old Quarter knownas the ‘36 streets of the old Hanoi’. There is SilverStreet, Silk Street, Comb Street, Paper Street andimportantly Hang Ma street where we’ll browseand learn about the history and traditions ofVietnam’s Full Moon Festival. there may even bedeliciously sweet traditional Mooncakes to beshared. Overnight - Hanoi

Days 2 - 5: Arrangements as per normal

Day 6: Today marks the height of the Full MoonFestival and we will be celebrating with thelocals. This morning we ride by rickshaw to alocal home on the outskirts of Hoi An wherewe will learn about the family’s long tradition oflantern-making and hand craft our own lanternsfor tonight’s festivities. Heading into town weexplore the local market stalls and authenticlantern shops before free time to visit one of themany great tailor shops, take a row boat downthe river or spend the afternoon relaxing by thehotel swimming pool.

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Tonight we make our way to the watersedge with hundreds of locals to release ourlanterns and enjoy the spellbinding spectacle ofhundreds of sparkling lights sailing down riverand lighting up the night sky. Overnight - Hoi An(B)

Day 7: A bicycle ride into the countryside, leadsus to Tra Que village. Here we discover age oldfarming practices and learn about traditionalmedicine. It’s a hands on experience todaywhere we’ll assist with tending the fields andgardens and cooking lunch. Overnight - Hoi An(B, L)

Day 8 onwards: Arrangements as per normal.

Guiding on your tourThis tour includes the services of 3 tourguides throughout the journey (one in Vietnam,another in Phnom Penh and the third in SiemReap) Each guide is native to their country and aspecialist in the region you are visiting.

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 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. Tipping

your 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.

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

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• 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 Airportin 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 guideDiphtheria, 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. None

in 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

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'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 summermonths (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 there

can 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 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• 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 toour awaiting transportation and transferred toour tour start hotel

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in the

TRIP NOTES





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arrival 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 ultimatelydependent 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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