Flavours of Vietnam - this tour of Vietnam not only allows you to see the highlights of Vietnam as we journey from north to south, but also gives you the chance to sample and even prepare its delicious cuisine. We enjoy meals at local restaurants, aboard boats and in cooking schools. We visit a Buddhist Pagoda in Hue to learn about the daily lives of the nuns, followed by a traditional Buddhist lunch. We join cooking classes in Hanoi and in the beautiful old merchant town of Hoi An, visiting the local markets to buy fresh produce. And in amongst all this, we have time for a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, time to overnight on a traditional junk on Halong Bay, and time for a cruise along the Perfume River in historical Hue. A trip to the Mekong Delta gives you an insight into life on the waterways, with a sampan cruise around the floating markets. We return to Saigon to explore the Ch Chi Tunnels and see some of the highlights of this bustling city, ending our tour with dinner on a Saigon River cruise.

Hanoi - Cooking Lesson, Tour Old Quarter.  If you are an early riser, do not miss the opportunity to take a walk around the lake first thing and you will witness Vietnamese people of all ages carrying out their regular exercise routines. Tai Chi, badminton, power walking or jogging are some of the activities on show. If you have the energy why not join in.

Today we have a half day cooking lesson and morning market tour. At midday we will sit down and enjoy the fruits of our efforts – there are several menus to choose from and each menu consists of 3 dishes to prepare.

In the afternoon we will explore Hanoi’s old quarter with a cyclo ride touring the old quarter streets.

In the evening, you may like to go to a Water Puppet Show. This ancient art form dates back over 1000 years, but was virtually unknown outside of northern Vietnam until the 1960’s. It originated with rice farmers who carved the puppets from water resistant fig tree timber, modelling the puppets on the villagers themselves, animals and mythical creatures.  (B,L) 

Halong Bay & The Reunification Express.  Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. We return to Halong for the drive back to Hanoi, and should be back in the capital at around 4pm. You will have day rooms to freshen up in before boarding the Reunification Express for the overnight train to Hue. Our accommodation for the night is in 4-bed sleeper carriages. Please note that depending on the group size, you may be sharing a cabin on the train with other members of the group or with other travellers. (B,L)  

Hue - Buddhist Pagoda, Typical Buddhist Lunch, Perfume River by Dragon Boat.  Today we visit a Buddhist Pagoda to see the daily life of the nuns. We then go to a local restaurant featuring vegetarian Vietnamese food and eat a traditional Buddhist lunch.

After lunch we take a cruise along the romantic Perfume River. This gives us the chance to view how the Vietnamese work along the river, and maybe visit a couple of Pagodas and Mausoleums.

In the evening, there is an optional imperial dinner and chance to don traditional royal costumes. (B,L)

Please note: On some occasions the Buddhist nuns may not be available due to religious commitments. In this case we will still tour the Pagoda but without meeting the nuns.

Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City.  This morning we take a sampan cruise around Cai Rang floating markets, learning more about local life in the Delta.

In the afternoon we drive to Vinh Long where we embark on a 3 hour tour of the Mekong Delta. In the late afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. French colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards are permanent reminders of the city’s recent past. The energy that Ho Chi Minh City permeates will rub off on the most fatigued of travellers. (B)

Ho Chi Minh City.  The tour finishes after breakfast. 

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions. There will be times travelling long hours as there will be days where we have to cover great distances. Weather patterns can change dramatically - high altitudes tend to be a lot cooler.

You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx  for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

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 use your discretion and be sensitive to cultural differences in the countries that you visit, in particular visits to religious buildings and when taking photographs. Your Tour Leader will advise you of any specific customs to observe. Dress discretely, especially if you are visiting religious sites. For women this means skirts or long pants with T-shirt. For men, this means long shorts or trousers with a T-shirt. Always take your shoes off when entering temples or any religious site.

Care should be taken to respect the conventions of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other religious and ethnic groups, particularly in respect of clothing and footwear.

You might like to read up on the destinations that you are about to visit as these cities all have interesting sites and histories. We recommend a variety of guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and Insight Guides. All these publications have good general information as well as more specific country information that will help orientate you in the countries you visit.

Food is one of the highlights of any trip.

Vietnam has one of the most sophisticated and exciting cuisines in the world. Its historical influences and geographical gifts have created a cuisine rich in variety and vibrant in colour and freshness. Vietnam's culinary heritage combines elements from three of the world's most celebrated cuisines - French, Chinese and Indian. Paired with an acute sense of aesthetics and presentation, these influences give Vietnamese cooking a tremendous edible tapestry of flavours, textures and colours, which is sure to offer something that everyone will appreciate.

Most Vietnamese dishes are served accompanied with chilli sauce, fish sauce and soy sauce. The traditional Vietnamese breakfast is Pho - a large bowl of rice noodles flavoured with sliced beef or chicken and fragrant broth, and garnished with fresh coriander and bean sprouts. Vietnam has 3 main regions, the North, the Centre and the South, and each has a distinct cuisine. Generally the North is best known for its noodle soups and meats and seafood stir-fries. The Central region, especially around Hue has more elaborate dishes. In the South, where there is a greater abundance of spices, the food tends to be somewhat hotter. With over 3000kms of coastline, the seafood is delicious and varied. Crabs, prawns, crayfish and squid are in plentiful supply, as well as hundreds of varieties of fish.

Vegetarians, or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for, however in some places the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you may be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a very high standard. All accommodation is in comfortable tourist class accommodation. Depending on the tour, this ranges from overnight sleeper train or cruise boat through to delightful lodges and excellent hotels (generally 3 star or above).

If you wish to spend a few additional days in your start city before the departure of your tour, then we can arrange accommodation for you. If you would like to book accommodation to stay additional nights after the tour ends, we will be more than happy to arrange this for you as well. All our accommodation is carefully chosen, conveniently located, clean and comfortable.

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.

Kumuka endeavors to advertise a compliment of optional activities available locally during tours with selected ground handlers to make your tour more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners are selected for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. Whereas, Kumuka has developed a travel insurance policy to cover all activities offered during your journey, Kumuka can not be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by third party.

Below is a list of optional excursions available at your expense on your Asia tour. Please note that these are intended as a guide only and prices and availability cannot be guaranteed. Your tour leader will be able to organise any optional excursions on your behalf. The list below is by no means comprehensive. There will be other optional activities available. All activities are undertaken at passenger’s own risk.

All costs are in US$ and per person:

1. Imperial Dinner - Hue - Price depends on group size. Varies between US$25 and US$80 per person

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

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