Walking with sightseeing in Vietnam

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Please inform us of any medical situation which may affect your enjoyment of the holiday. This is important because our leaders must consider both group and individual safety at all times.
Whilst out with the group, we respectfully request that you:

Please listen to any safety instructions and other directions from the leader
Keep group members in view, especially if weather or visibility is poor
Please stay where you are if you become separated from the group. The leader will retrace their steps to find you.

Each leader carries a first aid kit but is not allowed to supply any medication including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. You may wish to bring these items with you in your own kit (see Suggested Kit List).
In the unlikely event that your leader is incapacitated, please use any emergency kit in their rucksack and call emergency services.. Please then call our emergency number (sent in your final dispatch) and let us know there is a problem.
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Please contact us as far in advance as possible if you have any specific dietary requirements and we will do our best to meet your needs.
If you require a specific meal on the flight, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than 96 hours before travel.
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Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see if any health precautions are needed.
The following websites provide a wealth of information on travelling and health: http://www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/ or www.redplanet.travel/mdtravelhealth
Vaccines: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid & Tetanus vaccinations are recommended. Malaria and Rabies prevention are sometimes recommended too.
There have been reported cases of Dengue fever, you should use suitable insect repellent and wear appropriate clothing to avoid being bitten.
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Passports
Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your arrival date to enter Vietnam, and have a minimum of 2 blank pages. Your passport should not be damaged.
Visas
Vietnam has introduced visa waivers for the nationals of 13 countries, including the UK. Visa waivers allow for visits to Vietnam for up to 45 days without the need to apply for a visa.
If you are staying for extra nights then you can either:

Book a tour with a travel agent in Vietnam requesting that the agent applies for a visa pre-approval letter for your travel to Vietnam. On receipt of the pre-approval letter by the Vietnamese Embassy, your agent will inform you when to collect your visa from the Embassy;
Apply for an e-visa online through the online portal. E-visas are issued for stays of up to 90 days, single entry only. Use of the e-visa is limited to certain entry/exit points which you must select at the time of application. You cannot make any amendments once your application is completed.

Customs Rules
If you’re taking prescription medication into Vietnam, carry it in your hand luggage with a copy of the prescription. If it has a total import value greater than 100 US dollars (or equivalent), you must declare it at customs.
If you’re taking cash into or out of Vietnam, you must declare amounts over:

15 million Vietnamese dong
5,000 US dollars (or the same amount in other currencies)
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Vietnamese weather varies by region and time of year. Light breathable clothing is advised for warm days and the humidity in Vietnam. During winter (Nov- March) layers including a jacket/fleece is advisable especially for the evenings.  Rainy season is from May to October though tropical showers can be experienced during the dry season too.  
Essentials  

Walking shoes that have ankle support and good grip (heavy boots are not necessary) 
Waterproof jacket 
Insulated jacket/top
Lightweight clothing for the humidity
Walking clothing  
Walking socks (plus spares)  
Sunhat 
High-factor sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)  
Sunglasses with a dark lens 
Insect repellent
Torch (handy for hotel grounds and in the room) 
Water bottle (water is provided throughout the tour)  
Rucksack/day pack
Personal first aid kit (containing your medication, blister plasters, etc.) 
Passport 
Visa (if applicable) 
Copy of your travel insurance policy 

Recommended

Collapsible walking poles (if you prefer using them) 
Swimwear and travel towel (hotels have pools)
Snacks (for coach trips)
Dry bags
Camera/mobile phone

Optional

Mat (something small to sit on for picnics or rest stops when walking)
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Book your holiday ‘with flights’ and you can choose to depart from a range of UK airports* to your destination. For latest flight times and prices please call us on 0203-974-8865 or email reservations@hfholidays.co.uk  
If you choose to book your flights with us, we automatically include return transfers between the destination airport and hotel.  
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If you prefer to book the holiday without flights and make your own travel arrangements you will still be able to make use of the return group transfers between the airport and hotel, which are included in the cost of your holiday. You must contact us on +44 (0)20 3974 8865 or email reservations@hfholidays.co.uk at least 8 weeks before your holiday start date to provide your flight details if you wish to join the transfers. If you do not contact us, we will assume you are making independent travel arrangements.
If you are arriving ahead of the group, and are meeting them at the first hotel, please leave a message at the hotel reception for the HF Holidays’ leader or local leader, detailing your room number, and a mobile telephone number if possible. The leader will contact you once the group arrives. If you are arriving after the group, a message will be left for you at the hotel reception, welcoming you and giving details of the time and place to meet the group.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore, if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number.
We work with Campbell Irvine to provide you with competitive single and annual multi-trip insurance. Please see our website for more information and details of how to contact them for a quote: https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/about-us/booking-information/insurance.
For more information about healthcare abroad and its costs, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/.
If you are arranging your own travel insurance, please ensure it is adequate for your specific itinerary. Generally, this should include cover for walking at altitudes over 2,000m - the highest point on the harder walks may go up to 2,700m.
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Vietnamese, or tieng Viet (‘dee-uhng veeuht’) is the official language of Vietnam. It belongs to the Mon-Khmer language family and has Muong (a hill-tribe language) as its closest relative.
Most Vietnamese sounds also exist in English, so the pronunciation isn’t as hard as it might at first appear. Some basics to get you started include:
‘Xin chào’ (‘Sin jòw) – Hello
‘Tam biêt’ (‘Daam bee-uht’) – Goodbye
‘Vâng’ (‘Vuhng) or ‘Da’ (Ya) – Yes, in the North and South
‘Không’ (‘Kawm) – No
‘Làm on’ (‘Laàm ern) – Please
‘Cám on’ (‘Ğaám ern’) – Thank you
‘Ban có nói đuoc tiêng Anh không?’ (‘Baan ğó nóy đuhr-erk ding aang kawm?’ – Do you speak English?
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Luggage allowance 
1 piece checked-in luggage (max 30kg)
Please check details of your airline’s baggage allowance, as shown on your e-ticket. Remember to also check any connecting flights you may have booked.
Lost/damaged luggage 
If your bag or its contents are damaged or lost while in the airline’s care, this should be reported to the baggage service agents at the airport on arrival. They will assess the damage; in some cases, the airline may decide to settle your claim immediately.
You will be given a reference to quote to your insurance company if an immediate settlement is not possible - in many cases, baggage claims can only be accepted in writing. A baggage claim form must be obtained from the airport.
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Vietnamese Dông (VND). Credit cards are increasingly accepted. ATMs can be found in the major tourist locations.
It is easy to exchange foreign currency at banks, hotels and exchange bureaux - US dollars are easily exchanged, but if you are using them in shops etc, they must be clean, and not torn.
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GMT/UTC +7 hours
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Electricity supply is 220V with a frequency of 50hz.
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Suggested reading

Lonely Planet, Vietnam (Aug 2023)
The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Jan 2023)
Graham Greene, The Quiet American (Oct 2004)
Bill Hayton, Vietnam Rising Dragon (Sep 2011)

Maps
Although you won’t need them, if you’d like any maps of the destination, you can obtain some in advance from The Map Shop: https://www.themapshop.co.uk/ 
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