Useful Information Before Traveling

• 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. Click here to download application form and send it back to us to our email address at info@vietnamluxurytravel.com . We will complete the application procedures and get the approval letter for you within 7 working days.

             [+] Stamping fee shall be settled directly at the arrival airport: 25 USD per passport (by cash only)

             [+] Approval Letter processing fee: 10 USD per passport

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.

             [+] Vietnam Airlines - http://www.vietnamairlines.com 

             [+] Thai Airways - www.thaiair.com 

             [+] Singapore Airlines - www.singaporeair.com 

             [+] Air France - www.airfrance.com 

             [+] Cathay Pacific Airways - www.cathaypacific.com 

             [+] Air Asia from Bangkok, Thailand - www.airasia.com

             [+] Tiger Airway from Singapore - www.tigerairways.com 

             [+] United Airlines - http://www.united.com 

             [+] Southern China Airlines - www.cs-air.com/en/ 

             [+] Japan Airlines - www.japanair.com 

             [+] United Airlines - http://www.united.com 

             [+] Malaysia Airlines - www.malaysiaairlines.com 

             [+] Qantas Airways cooperated with Jetstar - www.qantas.com.au

             [+] Korean Air - www.koreanair.com 

• Departure Tax:  For Vietnam there is a 14 USD International Departure tax from Hanoi and 15 USD 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:

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 Luxury & Leisure 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

CHECK-LIST

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• USD cash and travellers 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.