1, When is the best time to travel Vietnam?
The climate in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in the south is hottest and most humid in March and April. The dry season runs from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. In the north, the wet season is from May to September; December to March is the driest months and it is also cold.2, What extra clothing should I bring when I travel in the North of Vietnam?
Please see our guide to the different seasons and weather patterns. This will give you a guide to the different seasons and weather patterns Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa and so on in the north of Vietnam can present. This will also provide you with an idea of what clothing to bring for the different times of the year.
Or please contact directly to us for further detailed information about the weather in each place.
3, What if we have small children traveling with us?
For shared rooms with their parents, normally a child under 5 years old is free of charge. If an extra bed for your child is needed it would result in some additional costs. We recommend you to arrange a private tour just for your family, thus giving you and your family more room and comfort during van transportation and flexibility in your tour itinerary. It is the best to consult with your doctors before you bring your newborns or infants traveling to Vietnam. Before traveling, please talk with consultants to figure out how you will manage all the baby gear at all the sites.
If you book to stay at the homestay, your children under 5 years old are free of charge. You will have to pay for their foods/drinks yourselves.
4, Do I need to have some vaccination before the trip?
No vaccinations are officially required by the Vietnamese authorities, however immunization against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and Japanese encephalitis is advised. Please consult your doctors for further medical advice. Also plan to bring mosquito repellent. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and slacks from dusk onward and avoiding perfume is also recommended. In addition to an ample supply of any prescription drugs you are taking (and a prescription which can be filled in case your pills go missing) bring medicines for: Headaches, diarrhea, constipation, insect bites, sore throats, eye drops, cuts, etc. Medical standards outside Hanoi and Saigon.
5, How safe is it when I am traveling in Vietnam?
Above all, your well being is of paramount importance on all our trips. Our local staff constantly reviews every aspect of your adventure and our expert guides are fully conversant with the demands of traveling in remote and isolated regions.
6, What will happen if there is an emergency?
With Chapa travel, your guide will always have a mobile ‘phone and a means of summoning immediate assistance. You will also have direct telephone access Head office.
The international country code to dial into Vietnam is +84. To dial overseas from within Vietnam, dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.
Emergency numbers in Vietnam are: Ambulance (115); Fire (114); and Police (113).
7, What about travel insurance?
Travel insurance is compulsory for any participant. It is advised that all travelers should have travel insurance covered before your departure. This will be really helpful in case of medical emergency evacuation. It is with go safe. The travel insurance will cover against Hospital and Medical expenses, the cover relates to expenses as a consequence of accidents occurring to the bearer during the period of Insurance and/or unforeseen illnesses which arise during that period as well.
8, What about the food?
Your good health is a top priority on all our trips. We are therefore fully aware of the healthy appetites that build up when trekking, kayaking or touring and provide tasty and varied meals with plenty of fresh ingredients. All our food is prepared by genius cooks who ensure high standards of hygiene and who serve a sensible combination of local and Western dishes. . We also cater for vegetarians, and none-seafood individuals. Whereas sometimes you have to choose your own meals, eat only the well-cooked food at decent hotels and restaurants. While snacks may be offered for sale else where, one never knows the condition under which they were prepared or the health of the food handlers. You may want to bring along dried fruits and other "comfort" for the bus ride (there is a " dining car" on the train which serves drinks and light meals).
9, What do you serve if I am a vegetarian?
In this case, please advise us before so that we can order a vegetarian menu during your trip. Vietnam is famous for Vegetarian foods, tropical fruits. We are willing to serve at your taste.
10, Who is my guide?
Positive feedback from our clients validates our policy of employing local people as guide. Our guides are open-minded, qualified and enthusiastic young people who can accommodate your travel needs and provide you - the traveler, with first-hand knowledge of local history and culture. They are also curious about foreign culture and are keen to engage in cultural exchange with visitors. They are there to make your trip a success.
11, What about Responsible Travel?
We are highly committed in the friendly environment operation. Our style of travel is " environmentally, culturally and socially responsible - we call this 'Responsible Travel'. It involves working closely with local people and, where possible, training local people as trip guide and staff about how to protect the environment and decisions that affect their future. This is our mission to conserve the areas we visit, keep them intact and unspoilt by tourism and bring positive benefits to local communities.
12, What is included in my trip?
Pending on specific trip our inclusions may vary from trip to trip, as an indication we include accommodation in clean, friendly located hotels/homestays with local character; all transfers & transportation including boat ride, train journey if any; experienced English speaking guide; domestic flights where specified in the itinerary; food as stated in the trip; other specific arrangement for special interest tours.
13, How can I make a booking?
Booking can be actually made on line. Once you are interested in the trip, you then can go ahead and sign up the tour by sending us by email, the completed reservation form so that we could process your booking. In case you won't find any option that matches your expectation or you want to follow your own itinerary, then do not hesitate to write to us a request via email please. We will work it out and tailor your trip to just what you long for.
14, What is your currency?
Vietnames Dong – VND
In Viet Nam credit cards are accepted at most shops and hotels in big cities, commercial center and tourist sites. If you pay by credit card, it will charge an additional fee at 3% for bank’s fee for Visa and Master.
US dollars/ Euro, preferably crisp clean bills, are accepted almost everywhere.
15, ATM Machines
In Viet Nam: available in most of the major cities.
You can withdraw cash at any ATM in big cities such as: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Hue, Hoian, Halong, Haiphong, Danang, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot , Vung Tau, Can Tho with commission
16, Do I need a visa to enter Vietnam?
Vietnam launched its new e-visa program for visitors from 40 countries starting from 1 Feb 2017. Vietnam currently allows tourists to enter visa-free from Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Belarus, Russia, Japan and South Korea. From 1 July 2015 to June 2021, the Government of Vietnam decided to exempt visa for British, German, French, Spanish and Italian citizens travelling to Vietnam (for all purposes) for a period of up to 15 days. Starting from 23 Nov 2015, the single-entry visa will cost USD25 instead of the current USD45, whereas the fee for multiple-entry visa with validity of less than 3 months will go down from USD95 to USD50.
17, How can I apply for a visa?
Visitors must obtain visa approval prior to entry. We offer the visa approval service. The procedure can be summarized as follow:
(1) Passport details and arrival, departure dates are to send to us no later than 14 day prior to your departure. (You can send by email; we need: full name as stated in passport, gender, date of birth, passport number, expiry date, nationality, arrival & departure date, place to receive your visa-please advise which Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate where your want to get your visa stamped)
(2) We then go ahead and submits these details to the Vietnamese Immigration Department.
(3) The Immigration Department will confirm us of visa approval and send it by fax/telex approval to the Embassy or Consulate in the country of visitors' residence
(4) We send you the approval document via email.
(5) You bring your passports & 2 passport sized photos to Vietnamese embassy to get the visa stamped (stamp fee will be paid by yourselves).
18, Can I cancel my trek if it is raining or misty?
At Chapa travel, we do our best to minimize cancellation penalties for our guests but we must abide by the cancelation policies of service providers Chapa travel contracted with. Chapa travel is a social enterprise and like normal businesses it has to cover its operational expenses. The contract between Chapa travel and their guests can only be cancelled by Chapa travel if dramatic problems like natural disasters, epidemics, political problems, etc, occur. In this case, the clients will receive back the total sum having been paid for services, but have no right to any indemnities. Gentle Reminder: Please review our terms and conditions before touring with us. Thank you.
19, How often do you cancel a trip?
As a general rule, unless otherwise stated, our policy is that all cancellation must be informed in writing either by email. Cancellations of trekking & homestay tours will be charged as follows:
| Timing for notification of cancellation | Penalty for tour cancellation |
More than 48 (forty eight) hours before the departure time of your tour
| Deposit of 30 % of the total service fee
|
From 48 (forty eight) hours to 24 (twenty four) hours before the departure time of your tour
| 70 % of the total service fee including the deposit |
Less than 24 (twenty four) hours before the departure time of your tour
| 100 % of the total service fee
|
If you cancel the hotel room, flight tickets, train tickets, bus tickets or the third party’s services, the cancelation fee will be counted based on the real spending.
20, How do you support the local people?
Each year, we have different projects to support for poor local people in different districts/ provinces in the North of Vietnam. With each booking of tour or train ticket, we will contribu $1 - $2 for the projects. Please click on this link: ….to have further information about the project.