Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).  You will be met on arrival, and transfered to your hotel in Saigon, overlooking the beautiful Saigon River. Champagne and flowers will be waiting in your room.

There is no itinerary planned for today, so if you arrive early, you are free to explore Saigon, or just relax at the hotel, enjoying the champagne.

Ho Chi Minh is a bustling city with an exciting blend of east-meets-west architecture and restaurants. It is very fast paced and full of contrasts, with street vendors selling fruit and vegetables next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. In Chinatown there are dozens of temples and pagodas, and the French left their mark with buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.

Saigon - Fly Nha Trang.  We transfer you to Saigon airport for the flight to the beach side city of Nha Trang where you meet your local guide. You will be staying at a luxurious resort where newlyweds are pampered and greeted with more champagne and flowers in the room. Do as little or as much as you wish, from massage, swimming, watersports, lazing by the pool or exploring the town.

In the evening enjoy a sunset cocktail cruise off the coast of Nha Trang. (B) 

Please Note: Champagne is only included by the resort for honeymooners. A surcharge applies for non-honeymooning couples.

Nha Trang.  Today is a day at leisure. (B)

Quy Nhon. Today is a free day to enjoy the day spa, Tai Chi, yoga, swimming or simply lazing by the pool. Day trips are optional to explore the surrounding Cham culture. (B)

Hoi An.  A walking tour of the city or a seafood feast at the beach (located 3km from the town) could be arranged today. Or you may prefer to try the tailors at one of the many tailor shops in town. If you choose to take a walking tour, follow the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 years old Tam Ky ancestral house and the Japanese Bridge The beautiful and picturesque town of Hoi An, with its mix of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architecture was a thriving international commercial port from the 16th to 18th centuries, the main trade being silk and ceramics. Today it is a quaint riverside fishing town. Some of its many attractions include the Chinese Assembly Halls, built between the 17th & 19th centuries for the large Chinese merchant population. Also worth visiting are the ancient ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for 15 generations. Hoi An is also famed for its tailors' shops. This stems from the time when the town was a major stop along the Silk Road and other trade routes.

In the evening, why not enjoy a candlelit dinner at one of the many gourmet restaurants.  (B)

Hanoi.  The tour ends today with a transfer to the airport for your departure flight (B)

Please ensure that you have provided us with your flight details to enable us to organise the arrival and departure transfers.

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.
• 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.

Vietnam's elongated shape includes tropical and subtropical zones and is responsible for the varied climate in the country.

The South (from Ho Chi Minh City to Phan Thiet) - The south is hot year round and has two seasons: one wet the other dry. The wet season lasts from May to October and you can expect daily downpours. These are usually brief and easy to predict. The dry season from November to April is generally sunny and humid.

The Centre (from Nha Trang to Hue) - For most of the year Nha Trang is bathed in beautiful sunshine but between November and December the area can have heavy rain. Dalat, at an altitude of 1,500m is cooler than the coastal area, particularly from November through to March. Danang and Hue both experience typhoon activity from mid October to mid December when the climate becomes cooler, more overcast and wet.

The North (from Hanoi to Sapa) - Summer in the north lasts from May to October where temperatures range between 30-35 degrees Celsius with the occasional burst of heavy rain. The temperature varies from 10-15 degrees in winter (December to March). February and March can be damp with drizzle and overcast skies.

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