FAQs

What is the best time to travel in Vietnam?

The best time to visit Vietnam is in the months of November through to March. September, October, April and May are also popular though the weather is not as good. However, Vietnam can be at its most attractive during the monsoon due to lush growth of the vegetation.

What type of guides escort the tour?

Our local expert tour guides who specialize in a particular region will meet you upon arrival at the airport or at your hotel before the tour starts and travels with you on a day to day basis. By doing this our client will get the most benefit from our tour guide as they always share all the local knowledge of each destination as well as the insight culture & history of Vietnam.

What is the group size on your tours?

Private basis with minimum 2 to go! Frustrated at group tours that are cancelled at the last minute due to poor response? Do not worry, all our trips are based on a private basis with the luxury of having your own knowledgeable guide and transport. Being in a private tour, you can now choose your own departure dates and enjoy great flexibility during your tour, without having to follow strictly to a pre-fixed schedule.

How far in advance should I book the tour?

As a general rule, it is best to book as soon as you have made a firm decision on a particular tour in order to get the best price & best services arrangement. To make a booking, contact us at: sales@absolutevietnamtravel.com or haitx@absolutevietnamtravel.com to check for tour or service's availability, our sales or tour consultants will send you our best offers or customized travel itineraries. Finally, you just need to do a deposit payment of 30% of the tour cost via bank transfer or online payment via credit cards (Visa,Master).

What are the inclusions and exclusions of the tour packages?

Most of our tours have been included in the initial cost of your fully inclusive package; it might be Internal airfare, accommodation, breakfast or meals per day as per detail itinerary, entrance fees to scenic attractions, all transportation and some other specified service as mentioned in the confirmed travel itineraries.

How do I get my visa?

How do I get my visa?

A Vietnamese entry visa is required for all foreigners wishing to visit Vietnam except for citizens of countries having bilateral agreements on visa exemption with Vietnam. Only citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without an entry visa (valid for visit within 30 days). Those countries include: most Asian countries, Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland). All other citizens are required to get an entry visa before departure or a pre-approved entry visa (visa is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s International Airports) supplied before arrival in Vietnam.

Vietnam Visa Application

(Apply by yourself at your country) Applying to any one of the Vietnam Embassies and Consulates in the world. Documents needed: Passport of 6 months’ validity, visa application forms, and probably some others required by the embassy or consulate. Visa forms are available by getting directly at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country or by sending there a stamped, self-addressed envelope addressed to Visa Section. Fees are varying from embassy to embassy. It should take between 4 to 10 days depending on your country of origin.

Vietnam Visa on Arrival

In the event that there is no Vietnam embassy or Consulate in your country, or you just want to make Vietnam part of a multi-destination trip, then we recommend Visa on Arrival as your best option. Visa on arrival most likely the easiest way to obtain your visa without having to chase down embassies, consulates and the like prior to your trip, and is a valid alternative when applying for a tourist visa. The entry visa will be stamped on your passport as you pass through our immigration check point at the airport. Though valid for thirty days, it can be extended once you enter Viet Nam. With this type of visa, you only can enter the country by air. You need a paper which is called an “Approval Letter” from the Viet Nam Immigration Department in Hanoi. After we obtain the approval for you, we will forward you a copy by fax or email. Copies of the same document will be forwarded on your behalf to Vietnam immigration checkpoints at International Airports only, so that when you arrive in Viet Nam, the Immigration officers will have those documents on hand and will be able to issue your entry visa expediently.

What should I prepare to apply for my visa?

* Full name

* Date of birth

* Gender

* Nationality

* Passport numbers

* Passport expired date

* Arrival date

* Departure date

* Flight details ( optional )

What document do I need at the airport?

*Original passpor

*02 photos 3x5 CM

*Letter of visa upon arrival ( Approval Letter )

*25 USD stamping fee ( This Visa issuance fee can be change by our government at times)

What document do I need at the airport?

* Original passport * 02 photos 3x5 CM * Letter of visa upon arrival ( Approval Letter ) * 25 USD stamping fee ( This Visa issuance fee can be change by our government at times)

Will my plugs fit into overseas power points?

There is an electricity supply of 220 volts throughout Indochina, in the cities and most towns. 240-volt appliances will work safely with this supply. However, there is no universal power point; they vary not just from one country to the next but from one hotel to another. You can buy adaptors, also known as conversion plugs, from hardware, department and Duty free stores in most places in Vietnam, they generally use the vertical two-pin (Japan) plug, or the round two-pin (Europe) plug.

What types of meals are served on tour?

Most of our package tours includes breakfast, 01 meal or no meal per day which is depend on where you travel. While you are on tour in the countryside or remote area or on the cruise we will includes meals as part of the package for the convenience.Breakfast is always included with your hotel in Vietnam.

Breakfast is usually a combination of Vietnamese and western style food, whilst lunch and dinner is in local Vietnamese restaurants. Seafood is the specialty in Vietnam but there will be a wide range of cuisine to choose from such as rice, noodles, meat and vegetarian dishes, including regional specialties. Beverages are at an additional cost and are readily available from restaurants, hotels or even from street vendors. If you wish to have meals specially prepared for you, based on dietary requirements, you will need to advise Absolute Vietnam Travel at the time of your booking so that these arrangements can be made.

Can I drink the local tap water?

Do not drink tap water, nor take ice with your drinks. Do not drink water in the shower and only use bottled water to clean your teeth. Most hotels provide 2 bottles of drinking water per day free. Bottled water is readily...

Is it worthwhile to have travel insurance?

It is a condition of travel take out travel insurance for your overseas travels, to cover you against any situations that may arise. Please enquire with one of our friendly staff or ask your travel agent for further details.

What immunization do I need, when traveling to Vietnam?

A Health Certificate is not required for travel to Vietnam. Please consult your doctor or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre in your capital city for your vaccination requirements.

How much money should I allocate for tipping?

Tipping in the Vietnamese tourism industry is not compulsory though it is appreciated and it is normal for guides and drivers to receive them from tourists. For independent traveler, a tip of USD 5 to 7 each per driver and guide per day is a good guide depending how much you do with them.

What are the transportation and train compartments like on the tours?

The travel modes on our Vietnam tours have been planned with both variety and enjoyment in mind. Car, Van, Coach, the Reunification Express train, boat trips of various sizes and varieties and flights are employed to make your holiday more enjoyable and enrich your ‘authentic’ Vietnam experience. You need to be of average mobility to be able to climb on and off small boats if you intend on going to the Mekong Delta or Halong Bay. Boat trips also occur in Hue,Hoian and Nha Trang.

When a tour uses overnight train travel, standard travel will be in shared cabin with 4 berth ‘soft sleeper’ carriages, you can get the deluxe cabin for 01 or 02 people with extra cost.However, they are not of the same standard as your train at home. The best train to Sapa is Victoria train which is runs by Victoria Hotel & Spa. It is advisable to take with you onboard any drinks or snacks you want to have during that journey. There is a western toilet per carriage but the facility is basic.

How much free time do we get whilst on tour?

As indicated in our itineraries daily activities are planned, however the programs are flexible, as whilst at the attractions a period of time is allocated where you are free to roam as you please. Generally, apart from a few performances, the evenings are at your own leisure.

Are there any baggage restrictions?

All passengers are limited to two (2) items of luggage each: One suitcase or backpack, with a maximum weight of 20kg and maximum size of 70 liters. One piece of hand luggage, with a maximum weight of 7kg. It is advisable that your hand luggage consist of a day “daypack”- a small bag which you can access during the day and carry items like your camera, drinking water, toilet paper, hat etc. It is essential that you have a lock for each piece of luggage.

Once I have booked, can I amend my booking?

Because we operate on a tailor-made basis, you can request alterations to any aspect of your holiday without surcharges. We will advise you of the cost or saving resulting from proposed alterations and, if it is acceptable to you, incorporate it into the price. If you ask for changes to be made after you have paid in full, but before your date of departure, any increase in the price must be settled by cash or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) upon your arrival. If changes result in a reduction of the price, you will be reimbursed upon arrival less any costs that we have reasonably incurred. If you ask for changes to be made during travel, we will advise you of the extra cost and only proceed on your instruction. Any extra costs that you have incurred by altering your itinerary must be settled at the most convenient time during your stay in this traveling country. If the alteration involves a reduction, we will refund you the saving, less any costs that we have reasonably incurred before ending tour. No refunds will be made for any unused elements of the itinerary.