Hong Ngoc I (New Building)

29 Hanh Manh St

Hoan Kiem District

Hanoi

Vietnam

Tel: +844 3828 5053

Check in for this hotel is at the main Hong Ngoc I building opposite (34 Hanh Manh St)

NOTE: Tours departing between 15th May and 18th August 2012 will meet at the following hotel instead:

Hong Ngoc 5

95 - 97 Nguyen Truong To Street

Hoan Kiem District

Hanoi

Vietnam

Tel: +844 3928 9725

Hanoi. Today is a joining day, and the pre-departure meeting will be held at 6pm on this day at the joining hotel. The meeting will be about your tour, and will be conducted by your local guide. This meeting will take place in the hotel foyer, and gives you a chance to meet the other people who will be in your group during the tour.

Lao Cai – Lung Khau Nhin Market - Sapa.  Upon arrival at Lao Cai station, you will be transferred to Lung Khau Nhin market, which is 70 km Northeast of Lao Cai. You will enjoy beautiful scenery along the ride until you arrive in Muong Khuong. From there, you turn into a dirt road, which goes up into the  mountains. The tiny market is surrounded by pine trees, forests and villages. Flower Hmong, Tu Di, Tay and Giay ethnic minorities come to buy and sell local products such as food and material for agriculture and fabric.

After exploring the market, you will be able to visit a village of Black Dao. You will then head back to Muong Khuong and have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, you get back into the car for the journey to Sapa where we overnight.  Sapa, originally a Black H’mong settlement, served as a French retreat after its European discovery by a Jesuit missionary in the early 20th Century until its French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when the Vietnamese took over. Here you can visit the church, museum and take a walk up Dragon’s Jaw Hill offering excellent views of the town.  (B,L) 

Can Cau Market - Bac Ha.  We leave the village early at 6:30am, and head for Can Cau market. It takes approximately 2 hours to get to Can Cau - a small market situated in a valley surrounded by mountains and only 7 kms from China. The market shows the typical cultural features of the minorities in remote mountainous areas in Vietnam. You can also enjoy the colourful costumes of the local villages - different colours of the mountains. The villagers attend the market in the hope of finding "the other halves of their lives".

We depart the market and transfer to Bac Ha. On the way, spend time visiting a village of the Flower H'mong and then check in to our hotel in Bac Ha. There is then free to explore the town. Lunch will be in Can Cau or in Bac Ha.  (B, L)

Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi at approx 5.30am, we transfer to our hotel. 

The day is free for you to explore Hanoi further, or maybe do some last minute shopping.  (B)

Hong Ngoc 1

34 Hang Manh St

Hoan Kiem District

Hanoi

Vietnam

Tel: +84 4 3828 5053

Fax: +84 4 3828 5054

NOTE: For the 10 Jul 12 and the 14 Aug 12 departures, the finishing point for the tour will be at the following hotel instead:

Hong Ngoc 5

95 - 97 Nguyen Truong To Street,

Hoan Kiem District

Hanoi

Vietnam

Tel: +84 4 3928 9725

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. 

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the guide will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

In most of the hotels in Asia you may be required to deposit your passport at Reception. This is a perfectly normal practice and nothing to be concerned about. Just make sure that you retrieve it when you check out of the hotel.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your Asia trip. Country entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com provides visa information. Please consult your relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs. Certain visas cannot be obtained once you have started your tour, and during the peak summer months it can take longer than normal to get visas, please allow extra time to do this.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

You MUST obtain a Vietnam visa in your home country before joining the tour.

Please note that regulations and costs change frequently so it is advisable to check the current rules. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your holiday and onward travel. Kumuka cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is refused entry to a country because they lack the correct documentation.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Asia, but we do recommend you are covered for *diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus.

NB* A Yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from infected areas. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information. Please consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling in Asia.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

The official currency is Dong which is non-convertible. The US dollar, preferably crisp clean bills, is widely accepted among major shops and restaurants. Travellers cheques can be cashed at authorized foreign exchange outlets and banks and require presentation of a passport. There is normally a 2 to 5 percent transaction fee for cashing Travellers cheques. Visa and Mastercard are becoming more accepted in many of the larger hotels and restaurants, especially in the major cities. Make sure that the Vietnamese notes you receive are not torn, because many shops and restaurants will not accept them. The largest denomination is currently 500,000 dong (approx. US$33). The government introduced new 500,000 and 50,000 notes made from plastic rather than the regular paper notes. In 2004 Vietnam introduced coins for smaller transactions. These are in the form of 200; 1,000 and 5,000 Dong. Other paper denominations include 2,000; 5,000; 10,000 and 20,000. Most are clearly identifiable by colour.

There are a number of international banks operating in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with 24hour cash withdrawal facilities, including ANZ Bank in Hanoi and the HSBC in Ho Chi Minh City. Here cash can be withdrawn on Visa and Mastercards as well as other cards such as Cirrus.

Please note that the Vietnamese Dong is non-convertible outside Vietnam.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$15-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

US dollars cash is more widely accepted than pounds sterling.

US dollars cash are needed to pay for visas on borders.

Carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport. ATM's are now available at arrival airports.

Banks are open Monday to Friday and some are open on Saturday morning. In the main cities travellers’ cheques can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureaux, but this can be very difficult in small towns.

Some Hotels will also change money.

How much should I take?

• Please bring lightweight walking shoes or sandals, and a day sac. Pack essentially for hot conditions: days are hot and humid. Lightweight rain gear is essential at all times.
• Because of limited luggage space on transport, we must limit each passenger to ONE main suitcase or frameless backpack and one day bag. Your main bag must not weigh more than 20 kg’s.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers checks etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Please note that sleeping bags are not necessary for the homestay as bedding is provided. Mosquito nets are also provided. Some clients prefer to provide their own sleep sheet.

Walking boots are advised because of the sometimes wet and slippery conditions.

Luggage for the trek should be packed in a daypack or small backpack, as you will be required to carry your own personal luggage. Excess luggage can be stored at the hotel in Sapa, and collected the following day en route to Can Cau market.

The day trek covers about 15kms, at lower altitudes but in hot conditions and hilly terrain. During the summer, due to the high levels of humidity, trek conditions are likely to be more demanding. Even in summer clients need to be prepared for all sorts of weather, including cold weather. In winter it can be very very cold.

The walk should be suitable for anyone with an average level of fitness and mobility.

Please note that the itinerary is subject to charge due to weather, road conditions etc as this tour covers remote areas. 

The Vietnamese Lunar New Year

The most important and widely celebrated public holiday of the year is Tet, the Lunar New Year, which coincides with the cycle of the moon. This public holiday usually takes place in late January or early February and lasts officially for three days, although many businesses are closed the entire week.

There is no more colourful time to be in Vietnam than during the days leading up to Tet Nguyen Dan, the most important festival of the year for Vietnam's Kinh ethnic majority. Since the first day of lunar year is thought to set the tone for the next 12 months, everyone strives to plan the perfect Tet. In Hanoi, the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter buzz with activity. Everyone is in a rush to get a haircut, buy new clothes, spruce up their homes, visit friends, settle outstanding debts, and stock up on traditional Tet delicacies.

Businesses hang festive red banners which read "Chuc mung nam moi"(Happy New Year) and city streets are festooned with coloured light. Stalls spring up all over town to sell nothing but cone -shaped kumquat bushes. Others sell flowering peach trees, symbols of life and good fortune which people bring in to their homes to celebrate the coming of spring. As vendors pour into the city with peach trees strapped to their bicycles, the streets look like moving pink forests.

In the south, people bring yellow mai (apricot) branches into their homes and place a coconut, a papaya, a mango and a custard apple on the family altar. Spoken in the southern dialect, the names of these fruit form a prayer for success and fulfillment.

Three crucial meetings are said to take place on Tet. The first meeting is between three family deities: Tien su, the deity responsible for introducing the family to its traditional career; Tho Cong, who oversees the land where the family lives; and Tao Quan, the Kitchen God, who cares for the family's food. The second meeting takes place between the dead and the living. People place offerings of food and drinks on their ancestral altars, light incense, and invite their ancestors to join the family's Tet celebrations. The third meeting involves the immediate family. On New Year's Eve, family members gather for a dinner of traditional food like banh chung (a square cake made of sticky rice stuffed with beans and pork), mang (a soup of boiled bamboo shoots and fried pork) and xoi gac (orange sticky rice). This is followed by a visit to the local pagoda and perhaps an outing to see the town's fireworks.

Please note that for tours which coincide with the Tet festival, many shops may be closed. and it may be necessary to amend the itinerary at short notice. We will, however, endeavour to try to ensure that all included sights are still visited.

For detailed climate information see www.kumuka.com

Travel Tip: Always bring a lightweight, waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella even during the height of summer - this should prepare you for anything!

Vietnamese, the official language, is a tonal language that can be compared to Cambodia's official language, Khmer. With each syllable, there are six different tones that can be used, which change the definition and it often makes it difficult for foreigners to pick up the language. There are other languages spoken as well such as Chinese, Khmer, Cham and other languages spoken by tribes inhabiting the mountainous regions. Although there are some similarities to Southeast Asian languages such as Chinese, Vietnamese is thought to be a separate language group, although a member of the Austro-Asiatic language family.

In written form, Vietnamese uses the Roman alphabet and accent marks to show tones. This system of writing called Quoc Ngu, was created by Catholic missionaries in the 17th century to translate the scriptures. Eventually this system, particularly after World War I, replaced one using Chinese characters (chu nom), which had been the unofficial written form used for centuries.

English will be spoken in the larger cities. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installation

Pre-booked transfers - If you have booked an arrival transfer, please look for our representative who will be holding a sign with your name or Kumuka once you have cleared Customs and Immigration.

Making Your Own Way - The Meeting Point for your tour is advised at the beginning of this dossier. If you have not arranged for us to meet and transfer you on arrival and are therefore making your own way to the Meeting Point it is best upon arrival at to take a metered taxi. Drivers may want to negotiate a price before leaving the airport. Do not agree to this, insist that they switch on the meters and pay the amount that it displays when you arrive at your destination.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com