Introductory Information
WHY INDOCHINA TRAVEL
- We were the first American Tour Operator in Vietnam (1994), with offices in
Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
- We arrange only private, custom tours, and planning begins long before you
arrive
- We organized the very first arts, bicycling, culinary, photography and family
tours in Vietnam
- Our guides and staff are simply the best; ask us for references
- Nobody knows Vietnam better: call and ask us the tough questions
- About half of our travelers have never used a tour company before, and almost all
change their initial plans with us
Important Dates
Tet—the Lunar New Year—occurs in January or February, avoided for
travel.
Vietnam also celebrates Christmas and Western New Years.
NEED TO KNOW
- Toss the guidebook, skips the museums, temples and crowds—the highlight of the
country are the people.
- Finer hotels can fill up to six months in advance of high season.
- A world-class culinary destination, plan your dining with us.
- Think of Vietnam as the main course—and Angkor and Laos as an appetizer and
dessert, respectively.
AIRLINES
Contact us for details on routing and airlines, using mileage points, or to receive a
quote.
TRIP COST
Our luxury, private custom trips start from US$350/day per person.
Note that we only arrange all-inclusive trips.
CLIMATE (When to go)
Best : Mid-October through February
Moderate : March to June
Rainy : Mid-July through September
[View Vietnam Climate Chart]
[View All Asia Climate]
BOOK TO PACK
Catfish & Mandala
By Andrew X. Pham
This true story is an immensely engaging, highly personal, and insightful book by
Vietnamese-born Pham who comes from California, where he grew up, to explore the country
of his birth.[More Books & Film
on Vietnam]
BEFORE YOU GO
We meticulously plan each trip from our U.S. and in-country offices. Our comprehensive
pre-tour packet covers every detail of your trip and travel in Vietnam.
TOP TRAVEL TIP FOR VIETNAM
Toss the guidebook ... Ignore TripAdvisor... Your friends may well have loved Saigon, but we
know places you'll enjoy far more. Vietnam's a destination where reading about travel can
lead one astray, for the country not only changes rapidly, with some places no longer as
compelling, but also misleading about what is most interesting about Vietnam -- the
Vietnamese -- whom are unfailing warm, gregarious, funny, fascinating, and hands-down the
highlight of travel to Vietnam, if not all of Asia. We not only plan unique sights and
activities, but remarkable people encounters that few visitors experience.
FOOD & CUISINE
In this largely Buddhist country, vegetarian or seafood-only options are delicious and
typical. Lack of wheat and bread in traditional and modern Vietnamese cuisine makes
avoiding gluten a breeze as well. Our long experience organizing culinary trips means
you will dine and experience the cuisine, from must-eat venues to some of the best
street food in the world.
Read more Vietnamese cuisine
BIKE, HIKE, and KAYAK
We love biking the region and organized the very first cycling trips in Vietnam through
our adventure wing VeloAsia in
1994. We still like to blend in cycling to our trips, from leisurely spins outside of
Hue to rigorous rides over the central highlands and beyond (our spectacular
off-the-grid Hanoi to Luang Prabang tour is one of Asia's best kept secrets). We also
plan caving, hiking, and in 1994 also organized the first kayaking expedition for
National Geographic.
Passports
Important: Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the ending date of your trip; please
check your passport is indeed valid for this amount of time.
Visas
Vietnam requires a visa or visa authorization before arrival, which Indochina Travel will
arrange. Unless transiting through the airport, these countries also require a re-entry visa if
passing through more than once. For all other countries, your visa will be processed after
arrival, including Laos and Cambodia. Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore do not
require a visa. For visa information by country, please see our Visa information page. For
specific visa procedures and forms, also see by country (below).
*Although Indochina Travel may assist with obtaining visas or visa on arrival
authorization, each traveler bears the ultimate responsibility to ensure they have the
required documentation for entry.
Immunizations and Vaccinations
A COVID proof of vaccination is required for international airline travel. No other vaccinations
are required. However, health requirements may change and we recommend you check with a medical
professional and the Centers for Disease Control Web site for current information on your
destinations. Malaria does not occur in most places where you will likely be traveling. For an
incidence map, please search on the CDC's Malaria Map Application. Although Malaria data is
limited for Vietnam, it does not occur in cities.
Cancellation, Delay and Travel Insurance
Indochina Travel requires travelers are covered by some form of trip cancellation and delay insurance.
Over the years we have experienced many travelers have to cancel or have their trip delayed for the most
unexpected reasons. Such insurance will likely include additional medical, lost baggage, and other
coverage. We are a longtime provider and have a good relationship with CSA Travel Protection, one of the
major insurance companies and would be happy to provide a quote.
Security
Despite Vietnam's tumultuous history, it is now amongst the safest places in the world to travel where
physical crime against travelers is unheard of and theft is rare. Vietnam is also pleasantly free of the
usual tourist hustle found in other places. When traveling with us, please entrust your your possessions
and valuables to your vehicle, always carefully watched by your driver. When not with us, please leave
your valuables and travel documentation in your hotel safe.
Airlines
Airlines: if we’ve not arranged your international airlines, forward your complete flight itinerary with
airline carrier, flight numbers, arrival and departure. Note: regional and domestic airline tickets are
issued in country, almost always as e-tickets except for Myanmar. For e-tickets, no paper ticket,
voucher, or receipt is required, simply check-in under your name with passport. Locator numbers listed
as backup in itinerary.
Luggage
Check-in luggage on most international carriers is now restricted to one bag weighing no more than 44
lbs. (20 kg). Regional and domestic carriers limit bags to 40-44 lbs (18-20 kg) and may charge steep
overweight fees. There is no limit to hand luggage or carry-on luggage weight as it is not typically
checked except for size.
Money Matters
Plan on bringing U.S. Currency for most expenses, which remains widely accepted throughout the region and
indeed, is the only acceptable currency for some transactions such as visa fees or airline departure
taxes. Although you may use credit cards (except AMEX) for fine dining and larger purchases in
Indochina, only cash is accepted in Myanmar. Please refer to your country departure notes (below) for
suggested amounts and denominations to bring. ATMs are common in larger cities but may be inconvenient
and unreliable. Travelers checks carry a hefty 4% surcharge to cash.
Internet & Telecommunications
Wifi or wired Internet is now ubiquitous in regional hotels, airports and cafes. Rural can have reduced
speeds, but connection is still easy to obtain. Note that your mobile phone will work fine with a
roaming plan in Indochina (coverage in Vietnam is excellent), even in remote areas, except in Northern
Laos where coverage can be spotty.
Departure Notes
Please note: a comprehensive, printed pre-tour packet will be mailed upon confirmation of your trip. The
pre-tour materials cover far more than the brief listing of key topics here and contain a wealth of
advice and essential information to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Please read them carefully
before your arrival.
VISAS & PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
All visitors to Southeast Asia must be in possession of a valid passport, with at least six months
unexpired validity from the date of your departure from the area. A visa or visa on arrival (VOA) must
be obtained before entering Vietnam (obtained through Indochina Travel. Visas for Cambodia and Laos are
issued upon arrival with no prior permission required. Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore require no
visa for U.S. or U.K. travelers. Although Indochina Travel may facilitate the securing of visas, it is
ultimately the responsibility of each individual traveler to ensure that they are in possession of any
necessary and valid visa and/or documentation and Indochina Travel assumes no responsibility for the
consequences of any failure to comply.
When traveling in a developing country, preparation is our hedge against unexpected but common issues
that may arise during a trip. Enclosed in your pre-tour packet is a Tour Guide booklet, which provides
useful information about Myanmar and your tour, please read the enclosed documentation carefully to
prepare for your trip. Despite careful prep era ti on and planning, please be prepared for events which
may change our plans.
LUGGAGE
Regional and domestic airlines restrict luggage to one piece with a weight of no more than 20 Kilograms
(44 pounds) per person. Your passport, travel documents, jewelry, money, camera, fragile items and any
medication should be hand-carried and not checked in. On domestic flights, each passenger is allowed one
piece of hand luggage. When planning your packing, please bear in mind on your trip may be constantly on
the go, staying in a new hotel at least every other day and you'll want to pack lightly for mobility and
convenience as well as have a day pack for your van. Checked luggage is required by the local
authorities to be at the airport two hours prior to your flight departure. If we are arranging check-in
for you, then we need to arrange collection of all bags before your departure in order to complete all
check in formalities for you. Please remember to retain your travel documents and any hand baggage.
TRANSPORT
Some road conditions in Indochina remain quite poor and traveling by car, bus, and bike can be bumpy.
Most available cars and coaches are quite old and therefore not in perfect condition, however rest
assured we will always do our utmost to arrange cars or buses of the best possible local quality
available for your transfers and tours.
HEALTH & IMMUNIZATIONS
While no immunizations are formally required, malaria prophylaxis is often recommended for travel in
remote areas. As health requirements change without notice, please check with Centers for Disease
Control, physician or public health service for current required or recommended inoculations. The
biggest health risk and the most common with our past travelers is stomach issues. Drink only bottled or
boiled water and tea. Food should not be purchased from sidewalk vendors without recognizing you face a
greater risk of getting a bug and avoid any raw greens and vegetables.
Insect repellent should be brought, especially up-country and in wooded areas (we recommend 3M's
Ultrathon in spray bottle). Recent news articles have mentioned a general increase in Dengue fever risk
in SE. Asian countries. The tropical sun can burn in minutes, bring wide brim hat, sunshirts and a sweat
proof sunscreen (we like Bullfrog gel and spray). All travelers are required to have medical-evacuation
insurance. Hospitals in Indochina are inadequate for advanced medical care, although a few private
clinics may provide emergency care, in the event of serious illness or injury, medical evacuation to
Bangkok or Singapore will be recommended.
EMERGENCY
All travelers are required to have emergency medical insurance for their trip, which includes emergency
air evacuation services. Your credit card company may provide such coverage, please check. Ask us for a
quote on insurance if you require coverage.
MONEY MATTERS
For convenience, plan to bring enough US cash for your trip (in mint-condition bills), as there are few
ATM machines and credit cards are not widely accepted, and not all foreign currencies (other than US
dollars) and travelers cheques are not accepted in Indochina. If you intend shopping for souvenirs, you
will need to ensure that you are carrying sufficient US Dollars in small denomination notes that are in
mint condition. Only payment for extra charges in larger hotels may be made by Visa and MasterCard.
Note: American Express is not widely accepted in Indochina nor much of Asia). On tour your expenses will
be limited to visa on arrival fees (US$25), some meals, souvenirs, airline departure fees, and
gratuities (about $20-50 per day for your guide, about half that for your driver).
Vietnamese currency is known as the 'dong'. The official rate is about 21,000 dong to the dollar. Dollars
may be changed into dong at a good rate in your hotel. Major hotels and a few restaurants will charge in
USD but most other expenses in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia may be made in USD or local currency.
COMMUNICATIONS
Your mobile phone will work in Indochina, and at a low roaming rate though check your mobile plans for
travel plans or packages.
Internet is widely available at hotels with decent bandwidth, but is unreliable in remote areas. Please
plan accordingly.
ELECTRICAL
Electricity in Indochina is typically 220-volt although 110 volts can found as well. What does this mean
for you? Not much, your iPad, Kindle, mobile phone, digital camera and laptop adapter will take the
higher voltage without issue. However, check the fine print just in case. Devices with motors and no
adapter, such as hairdryers, will burn out (almost all hotels do provide hairdryers). Electric power
sockets come in varieties, including round two-prong with dual US style outlets (at most luxury hotels).
Your Kindle, camera, laptop or other device should automatically accept 220-volt without issue, but
check your adapter fine print. Sporadic power outages are common.
WHAT TO WEAR
Light clothing is adequate for Indochina and most low-land tourist areas. High elevations around Luang
Prabang may reach near freezing at night during the 'winter' season but is usually pleasant during the
day. Travelers should bring appropriate cold weather clothing during the winter. Revealing clothing is
not welcome in this conservative and largely Buddhist region. When visiting religious shrines and
temples, modest dress is required and easily removable footwear is recommended since such sacred grounds
must be visited only in bare feet (no socks). A sarong is handy for covering up before entering
religious sites (not required for Angkor). Bring a hat and sunglasses, and umbrella for rainy season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This is not a grand tour of Europe, but hopefully why you have come - for an authentic, deep cultural
experience in countries closed off to the world for decades. You will be very safe, always looked after,
can expect wonderful service, and a comfortable and a typically pleasant if not exceptional trip.
However, Indochina remains a primitive, undeveloped country with the inconveniences are random issues
that arise with travel in such places.
GIVING
No doubt you will be moved by the wonderful people you meet along the way. many who live in poverty. It
may be hard not to feel compelled to give something, but think about doing so will change the dynamic of
your people encounters and those who follow you. If you do feel compelled to give, we recommend pens,
simple to carry with you, useful and beyond the budget of most families. We never encourage giving
money, candy or the like. For giving before or after your trip, we recommend these charities.
CONTACT US
With 20 years experience in Indochina, we know our stuff! Please contact us with any questions you may
have, either in our San Francisco reservations office at (415) 418-6800 or our headquarters in Hanoi at
011 +(84-98) 397-6486.
