1. More Info About Your Vietnam & Cambodia Trip

1.1 Fast Facts

1.2 Where We Visit

1.3 Weather

1.4 Itinerary Overview

1.5 Included / Excluded

1.6 Hotels

1.7 Room Sharing

2. Getting Prepared

2.1 Trip Countdown Timeline

2.2 Cancellations / Trip Moves

2.3 Visa Requirements

2.4 Vaccinations

2.5 Travel Insurance

2.6 Luggage

2.7 Local Currency

2.8 Phone, Internet & WhatsApp

2.9 Arrival Info & Entry Requirements

2.10 Departure Info

2.11 Airport Transfers

2.12 Packing Guidelines / Checklist

3. During Your Tour

3.1 Trip Execution & Tour Leader

3.2 Free Time

3.3 Schedule Changes

3.4 Behaviour On Tour

3.5 Safety Advice

3.6 Spending Money

3.7 Tipping

3.8 Laundry

3.9 Post Trip

4. Readiness Checklist

Checklist

1.1.1 FAST FACTS – VIETNAM 

Population

• 97 Million
• Capital city is Hanoi with approximately 8 million

Geography

• 331,699 sq km (1.4 times bigger than UK / About 4% size of US)!
• Its neighbors include China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west.
• At its narrowest point, Vietnam is only 48 kilometers (30 miles) wide.

Language

• Vietnamese (more than 20% of the population speak English)

Currency

• Vietnam đồng / VND – USD is also widely accepted
• 1 USD = 24,282 VND (roughly)
• 1 GBP = 30,585 VND (roughly)

Religion

• As a communist country, Vietnam has no official religion. But people are free to worship if they want to, and many follow what’s called the “Three Teachings” of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

1.1.2 FAST FACTS – CAMBODIA 

Population

• 17 Million
• Capital city is Phnom Pehn with approximately 2.3 million

Geography

• 181,035 sq km (1.4 times smaller than UK / about 2% size of US)!
• Its neighbors include Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
• Main geographical features are the low lying Central Plain, the lower Mekong River flood-plains and the Bassac River plain. surrounded by mountain ranges to the north, east, in the south-west and south.

Language

• Khmer is the official language. Several other languages are also spoken including Vietnamese, Lao, Chinese, Thai, English, French.

Currency

• Riel / KHR – USD is also widely used
• 1 USD = 4,000 KHR (roughly)
• 1 GBP = 5,000 KHR (roughly)

Religion

• Predominantly Buddhist.

1.2 WHERE WE VISIT

Hanoi City (2 nights)

Hanoi is the vibrant capital of Vietnam and a unique tapestry of history, culture, and a lively urban landscape. Once here, you’ll experience both the chaos of urban life and also the stillness of Hoan Kiem Lake with its iconic red bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple. You’ll take in the main city highlights such as as Hoa Lo Prison and the world famous “train street”!

Pu Luong (1 night)

Pu Luong is the complete contrast to Hanoi in that it feels like a sanctuary surrounded by nature. You will admire sunrises over the rice terraces, visit small villages set upon peaceful riverbanks and in general get to experience a completely different way of life. We’ll trek between two of the main villages here which is the best way to take in the natural beauty of this area.

Ninh Binh (2 nights)

Ninh Binh, often referred to as the “Halong Bay on land,” is another one for nature lovers as it’s home to some stunning landscapes you’ve likely never seen before. Emerald-green rice paddies engulfed by towering limestone “karsts” (cliffs) and intersected by the Tam Coc river means this area is extremely easy on the eyes. Another great experience in nature here.

Ha Long Bay (1 night)

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and often the stand-out image of Vietnam, is where you’ll spend one night upon our chartered boat. We’ll sail to the quieter La Han Bay area and enjoy some time in and around the water before a magical evening underneath the stars.

Hoi An (3 nights)

A former port-city which is well known for it’s colourful old town, ,dissected by a network of canals, containing a very mixed architecure (wooden Chinese shophouses, temples, French colonial buildings, Vietnamese tube houses and Japanese bridges) reflecting its melting-pot history. We have some activities lined up here for the group, but it’s also the perfect place for you to venture alone (so we’ve included some free time).

Ho Chi Minh / Saigon (2 nights)

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is another big bustling metropolis city – this time in the south of Vietnam – which has a much more modern feel than Hanoi. You’ll have some time to enjoy the city itself, but we also use it as a base for visiting the nearby Chu-Chi Tunnels (a relic from the Vietnam War) and the Mekong Delta (a network of river tributaries connecting Cambodia and Southern Vietnam).

Siem Reap (3 nights)

We only spend a short part of the overall trip in Cambodia, and we choose to spend it in Siem Reap, the jumping off point to visit Angkor Wat Temples (which you’ll do together with the group). There is also plenty to do in the city itself – known as the epicentre of ‘chic’ Cambodia – so we’ve left some time at the end for you to explore at your own pace.

1.3 WEATHER

This trip covers a lot of distance, from Northern to Southern Vietnam, and then to Cambodia.

Therefore the temperature changes quite a bit – it gets warmer as we go south – but in general it is expected to be warm and sunny and with little rainfall (this is the dry season).

Do make sure to bring something warmer though for the evenings in Northern Vietnam, which can get a little cooler.

Northern Vietnam: Hanoi + Ninh Binh + Ha Long + Hoi An

Average daily high around 22C / 72F (Note – slightly higher in Hoi An which is closer to 26C / 79F).

Southern Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City

Average daily high around 32C / 90F

Cambodia: Siem Reap

Average daily high around 33C / 91F

1.4 ITINERARY OVERVIEW

A summary version of the itinerary. You can find the more detailed version here.

A detailed hour-by-hour schedule will be provided 10 days before the trip.

1.5 INCLUDED/EXCLUDED

Included:-

• 15-days / 14-nights: 2 Hanoi, 1 Pu Luong, 2 Ninh Binh, 1 Ha Long Bay, 3 Hoi An, 2 Ho Chi Minh City, 3 Siem Reap
• Accommodation in hand-picked 3 & 4-star hotels (based on sharing twin room)
• Meals – All breakfasts, 7 lunches & 3 dinners
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure
• All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
• 3 internal flights (Hanoi – Da Nang) (Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City) (Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap)
• A trip host (“Tour Leader”) plus various local experts

Excluded:-

• International flights to get you to Vietnam and from Cambodia
• Alcoholic drinks 
• Water & soft drinks (outside of those provided with meals)
• Additional meals (outside of those explicitly stated as included)
• Optional activities during free time
• Tips (for Tour Leaders, local guides, bus drivers etc…)
• Travel insurance

1.6 HOTELS

As standard, we use the hotels listed at the bottom of our itinerary page.

From time to time we may need to change a specific hotel if for example it’s not available on those given dates. But in such situations, we will always replace with another hotel at the same quality.

Some special notes regarding hotels:-

• Hotel check-in is not until 3pm. Sometimes earlier check-in is possible, however, it won’t be possible to know in advance because it will depend on hotel availability that day (and what time other hotel guests check-out). The only way to guarantee an early check-in is if you’re willing to pay for the hotel from the night before.

• You will be sharing a twin room with a fellow traveler of the same gender, unless you specifically paid extra for a private room (these are dependent on availability, see prices in FAQ section of itinerary page).

• If you are planning to tag on extra days on either side of the trip, we can help book you into our hotels. We can only guarantee this if you let us know more than 70 days before the trip and we can only do this for a maximum of 2 nights on either side. Any longer and we recommend you book directly with the hotels. Note – contact us for rates for pre and post-trip accommodation.

1.7 ROOM SHARING

As standard, the default on all of our trips is that you will share a room with another traveler. These will be twin rooms, with 2 separate beds, and shared by a max of 2 people.

You will always share with another traveler of the same gender, and we will typically pair you with someone around the same age. You will share with this person for the duration of the itinerary.

Note that we operate this way because – by splitting the room cost between two people – it allows us to keep the overall OWR trip price down.

It is however possible for you to pay extra for a private room if you prefer. Prices for this are shown in the FAQ section of the itinerary page. We hold a limited number of private rooms and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (therefore please check in with us for availability).

In our experience, most people are happy sharing a twin room and it typically works out well.

Some Important Things to Consider:-

SNORING

If you snore, then we highly recommend that you book a private room. While we understand that this will cost you more, it is important to think of the negative impact/experience the snoring could have on any potential roommate.

LIGHT SLEEPERS

Likewise, if you consider yourself to be a light sleeper and are easily woken by the sounds or movements or others, then we also recommend you also consider booking a private room in order to get the most out of the experience.

In addition…

If you would like to book a private room then it is much better to do this in advance of the trip! If you originally signed up for a shared room and then request to move to a private room during the trip, it will be much more challenging because:-

• We cannot guarantee that there will still be rooms available (since we will have released our OWR allocation by then).

• Our quoted OWR rates will no longer apply (it will be whatever last-minute rates the hotels provide).

Therefore, it is much better for you if you can make this decision ahead of time!

2.1 TRIP COUNTDOWN TIMELINE

This is what you should expect in the lead up to your trip.

• Book trip (secure your spot with a deposit)

• Book international flights (these can be booked at any point after we’ve confirmed your spot – don’t leave too late as price will go up closer to trip)

• Purchase travel insurance (this will cover for issues leading up to trip as well as during)

> 70 Days Before Trip (cancellation penalties kick-in beyond this point)

• Full balance must be paid
• OWR sends survey: requests flight information, dietary requirements, health conditions, emergency contacts etc…(must be returned within 7 days)

> 10 Days Before Trip

• OWR sends day-by-day schedule, optional activity recommendations & some final info to prepare you for trip

> 3 Days Before Trip

• WhatsApp group created with all trip attendees + Tour Leader

> Trip Start Date

• Welcome meeting is typically scheduled for 6pm on first day. This is where you will meet your Tour Leader and other guests (note – we may change this time depending on overall group arrival times. If it changes we will notify you).

2.2 CANCELLATIONS / TRIP MOVES

The £200/$250 deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel at any point, you can put this towards any future trip you book with us (in any location).

The rest of the balance is refundable up until 70 days before the trip. From that point the following cancellation terms will apply:-

> 30-70 days before trip – 50% refund

> 0–30 days before trip – 0% refund

Important Note – it is not possible for us to make exceptions to these terms since from the 70 days mark we will commit payments to our local suppliers in Vietnam and Cambodia and will be bound by their strict cancellation terms. This is why it’s very important for you take take out a travel insurance policy which includes trip cancellation (from the point of booking the trip).

This applies also to requests to change to an alternative future OWR trip, when such requests are made within 70 days of your scheduled trip departure. 

2.3.1 VISA REQUIREMENTS

UK Citizens

• Vietnam – you DO NOT need a visa (as long as your visit is less than 45 days).

• Cambodia – you DO need an e-visa to enter the country. You can apply at the link below:-
  https://www.evisa.gov.kh
  Cost is $36 (£28)
  Apply for Visa Type T
  Must be done at least 3 days before travel but we recommend doing as soon as possible
  Note – only fields with red asterisk required. You do not need to complete the section on hotel booking confirmation.

US Citizens

• Vietnam – you DO need an e-visa to enter the country. You can apply at the link below:-
  https://e-services.mps.gov.vn/bocongan/bothutuc/tthc?matt=26277
  Cost is $25
  Apply for Single Entry
  Must be done at least 3 days before travel but we recommend doing as soon as possible

• Cambodia – you DO need an e-visa. See instructions above

(if you are from a different country, please check requirements specific to your country).

2.3.2 PASSPORT

To enter Vietnam and Cambodia, your passport must meet the following conditions:-

• Be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive
• Have at least 2 blank pages and no damage.
• (entry can be refused if you do not meet these conditions)

2.3.3 DIGITAL PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

All international travellers arriving at any Vietnamese airport are now required to complete a free Digital Pre-Arrival Declaration before going through immigration.

It takes about 3–5 minutes and generates a QR code to present on arrival.

You can complete it here: https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/

The form should be completed within 3 days before departure. Once you’ve submitted it, you’ll receive a QR code — please take a screenshot of it.

2.4 VACCINATIONS

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entering Vietnam and Cambodia, only recommendations. 

Standard travel vaccinations – information online tends to vary, we recommend checking with a reputable source such as those below (or the equivalent from your own country) 

Vietnam

US: 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/vietnam

UK: 

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-east/vietnam

Cambodia

US:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cambodia

UK:

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-east/cambodia

Please read through these and compare with your current vaccination status (it is your responsibility to ensure you are adequately vaccinated).

2.5 TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all guests have travel insurance in place prior to joining our trips.

Some important info relating to this:-

• You must have travel insurance in place to join the trip. No exceptions.
• We will ask you to provide your policy number and 24hr emergency contact number (this will be part of the OWR survey 70 days pre trip).
• At a minimum it must cover the mandatory elements mentioned in our booking terms (personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation).
• However, we strongly recommend you also include the “trip cancellation” coverage. This will cover you for things that can happen between booking the trip and the trip actually starting. Examples are: changes to your personal circumstances, destinations becoming unsafe to travel, flight issues stopping you from joining the tour etc…
• We recommend that you start your coverage from the point of booking the tour.
• It is your responsibility to ensure your policy covers all of the activities specified on the trip itinerary, in addition to any optional activities you plan to do.

There are numerous policies on the market and you should choose whichever is most appropriate for you. Here’s a small selection to consider:-

World Nomads

Allianz Travel Insurance

BattleFace

Tru Traveller

2.6 LUGGAGE

• You can travel with a suitcase or backpack, the choice is completely yours (fyi most people typically do suitcase)
• Luggage allowance for hold baggage on internal flights is 23kg.
• It’s worth considering whether you could do the trip with cabin luggage only – this would mitigate any risk of lost luggage by the airlines on your international flights (which is not frequent but does happen from time-to-time).

 2.7 LOCAL CURRENCY

The local currency is the dong (VND) for Vietnam and riel (KHR) for Cambodia. 

If you bring pounds, dollars or euros, you can exchange upon arrival or simply use the ATM to withdraw cash (remember to inform your bank in advance).

2.8 PHONE, INTERNET & WHATSAPP

In most locations there is good phone signal and internet access and WIFI is available in hotels & restaurants.

Check out the plan of your phone provider to understand if data roaming is included as part of your package. If not, it is very easy to buy an e-sim, in which case we recommend Holafly or Airalo services.

Alternatively it is possible to buy a local prepay sim upon arrival into the airport in Hanoi. This will cost around £10/$15.

We will use WhatsApp as a means of communicating with the group while on tour and recommend you download this to your phone if you don’t already have it.

2.9 ARRIVAL INFO & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

This tour starts in Hanoi and ends in Siem Reap (we will get you between the two cities over the 15 days). 

To join the trip you will arrive into Hanoi Nội Bài International Airport (airport code HAN)

Ideally you should arrive at the hotel by 6pm on the first day. This is when we have our welcome meeting and afterwards go for dinner (although if you arrive later it’s fine to catch up).

There will be someone there to meet you upon arrival as you walk through the gates (they will have a sign with your name on it). 

Hotel check-in is not until 3pm but if arriving earlier you can drop off your bags and go explore the surrounding area. 

Please ensure that you have read all of the Vietnam and Cambodia entry requirements (it is your responsibility to ensure you comply):-

US Citizens

Vietnam Entry Requirements

Cambodia Entry Requirements

UK Citizens

Vietnam Entry Requirements

Cambodia Entry Requirements

(if from a different country, please check those requirements specific to your home country)

When going through passport control in Vietnam you may be asked to show the following:- 

• Passport (should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive)
• Evidence of return flight leaving Cambodia
• Vietnam hotel address: 41 Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm , Hà Nội, Hoan Kiem, Hanói, Vietnam

Please have this information on hand.

2.10 DEPARTURE INFO

You should arrange your flight home from Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (airport code SAI). We will arrange your airport transfer according to your flight time.

You can leave at any time on the last day. There are no activities scheduled for that day.

2.11 AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Airport transfers are included at both the start and end of the trip.

The following conditions apply:-

• We only do transfers between airports and our selected hotels. No other locations (other hotels, Airbnbs etc…)
• For those tagging on extra days, we will endeavour to include transfers up to 2 days outside of official tour dates. Beyond this we will not include transfers.

 2.12 PACKING GUIDELINES / CHECKLIST 

The weather during the trip will generally be warm and humid so it’s better to have the majority of your clothing for these conditions with some additional items like activewear for hiking, long tops/skirts/trousers for temple visits and longer lightweight clothing for mosquito protection in rural areas.

(see weather predictions above).

Evening wear

What you would typically wear in the evening on vacation will be fine. We’ll be going to some nice restaurants if you like to get dressed up but it’s equally ok to keep it casual.

We don’t recommend specific clothing items – because everyone has their own personal style – but below are some things to think about.

Documents

• Flight info (important to be able to show you have a flight leaving Cambodia)
• Travel Insurance info (especially your policy number & 24hr emergency number)
• Passport 
• Supporting documentation for medications – see advice here
• Visas (see section 2.3.1)

Things To Think About

• Beachware/swimsuits
• Comfortable shoes/trainers for walking day-to-day
• Day backpack/bag
• Activewear for hikes
• Longer lightweight clothing for mosquito protection
• Long tops/skirts/trousers for temple visits
• Sunglasses
• Hat for sun protection
• Power supplies/batteries – for phones, laptops, cameras etc…
• Power adapters (to convert to local supply) – see type required for Vietnam and type required for Cambodia
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Mosquito/bug spray
• Ear Plugs (if sensitive sleeper)
• Personal entertainment (books, podcasts etc… for travel time)
• Toiletries
• Personal Medication
• Travel sickness pills (if necessary)
• Light rain jacket
• Sweater for evenings
• Refillable Water bottle

Other

• Download WhatsApp on phone (to be used for group comms while on tour)
• Set up data roaming

3.1 TRIP EXECUTION & TOUR LEADER 

You Tour Leader is responsible for leading the group throughout the trip, they will be there from the welcome meeting at the start until the last morning when the trip ends. We will connect you with your Tour Leader – via WhatsApp – in the days leading up to the trip.

They will be your first point of contact for any issues during the trip but you can also contact us at [email protected]

3.2 FREE TIME

At various points during the trip the trip schedule will show ‘Downtime’ and ‘Free Time’ 

Downtime is where there are a couple of hours or so free between activities. There is probably enough time to go for a coffee, relax or go for a wander but not quite enough time to go do another activity. 

Free Time is where there is a sizeable chunk of time available – half day or full day – where you could feasibly go off and do another activity (outside of the OWR itinerary). It is there to give you flexibility to go do your own thing and explore your own interests. 

We will provide recommendations of possible activities for you to do during Free Time (we will send this 10 days before the trip).

We don’t recommend booking anything prior to arriving in Vietnam as typically most things can be arranged at short notice and often our guests decide to do things with other people in the group. 

3.3 SCHEDULE CHANGES

While we endeavour to operate all trips as described in the published itineraries we always reserve the right to change the trip itinerary (Vietnam and Southeast Asia in general are very dynamic where things can often change at short notice).

Changes may be necessary as a result of unforeseen circumstances, operational concerns, concerns for your health, safety, enjoyment or comfort. 

Any changes are at the discretion of OWR. 

This includes the right to replace Tour Leaders, alter accommodations, change transport, modify the order in which places are to visited, and make any other changes to the itinerary. 

We will inform you of any such changes as soon as reasonably possible.

3.4 BEHAVIOUR ON TOUR

We request that all guests take responsibility for their personal behaviour on the tour, specifically to:- 

• Respect the decisions of the Tour Leader (and raise concerns respectfully)
• Show respect and consideration for the other members of the group
• Drink alcohol responsibly
• In addition we have an absolutely zero tolerance no drugs policy.
• Be on time to start activities as per the schedule (be respectful of the time of other members of the group)

We also ask that you read about our OWR Trip Style prior to joining the trip.

3.5 SAFETY ADVICE

In general Vietnam and Cambodia are safe countries to travel. 

Millions of foreigners visit every year and the vast majority of those are trouble free. 

However, we do recommend taking some extra precautions and being more vigilant than you typically would in your home country. 

• Leave jewellery / expensive handbags etc… at home
• Don’t go wandering outside the tourist areas without a local
• Don’t flag taxis – get the hotel / restaurant to call them
• Use ATMs inside banks / shopping malls rather than on the street
• Keep only small amounts of cash on you when out and about
• Drink alcohol moderately, avoid making yourself vulnerable (and don’t leave drinks unattended)
• Avoid walking alone at night
• Don’t go off to party with people you’ve just met! 

We also strongly recommend reading the travel advice provided by your government / consulate / foreign office.

23.6 SPENDING MONEY

We include include just about everything on the tour. 

The itinerary was designed so that while you’re in Vietnam and Cambodia all you need to do is focus on enjoying yourself. 

With that said you will likely need a little spending money which we estimate as follows: 

• $400 – $600 (US)
• £300 – £500 (UK) 

(for other currencies please convert)

These estimates factor in lunches and dinners not included within the itinerary; snacks and water; a couple of alcoholic drinks each day; and optional activities during free time. 

You may need more depending on your tastes and for additional items such as souvenirs. 

We also recommend you have access to additional funds in case of emergency.

3.7 TIPPING

Tips for guides are not included and are therefore completely at your discretion.

You will encounter various local guides and drivers during the trip and if you are planning to tip it is useful to carry some cash for this purpose. A little goes a long way in Vietnam and Cambodia and guides will be extremely appreciative of anything you give.

At the end of the trip you my also want to tip your Tour Leader who would have been with you for the full duration of the trip. A recommended amount is $5-$10 (£4-£8) per day (per person), but this is completely up to you and you should only tip what you feel comfortable with.

3.8 LAUNDRY

We know that some travellers prefer to pack light and do laundry while on tour. Laundry services are common and pretty cheap in Vietnam and Cambodia, speak to your Tour Leader who can recommend some spots along the way.

3.9 POST TRIP

We will send you a survey asking for feedback on your experience.

If you enjoyed the tour we would love it if you could recommend us on Google and/or Facebook.

We also have some special offers to those on our trips:

• If you book a new trip within 2 weeks of your current trip ending, you get a £200 / $250 discount.

• If you book a new trip after this point, we still offer a £100 / $125 discount.

We know this is a lot of information to digest, therefore, here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re ready for your upcoming trip.

Have you:-

• Purchased your international flights to Vietnam and from Cambodia?
• Purchased travel insurance?
• Paid your full balance with OWR?
• Checked your passport validity? (at least 6 months from the date you arrive + 2 blank pages with no damage)
• Checked that you have the recommended vaccines?
• Obtained visas if necessary?
• Completed the OWR survey (will be sent 70 days before the trip)
• Checked our packing guidelines?
• Set up your data roaming + downloaded WhatsApp?
• Made plans  for how you will access cash in Vietnam and Cambodia for tips etc…
• Read our OWR Trip Style document to ensure you are comfortable with what to expect?

If so – you are good to go!