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Expedition Practical Information




Baggage

Baggage should be kept to a minimum as for much of the trip you will be carrying it! A rucksack that is large enough for you to comfortably carry what you need on the trek is ideal.

Personal expenses

This is an inclusive expedition where listed in the itinery. Where meals are not centrally provided this is to allow a degree of freedom to explore for some and for others to recover from a tiring day with the nearest meal available. Meals are cheap in both countries. All entrance fees, guiding, logistics, hotels and all water, soft drinks but not alcohol are included. Not included are visas, tips, optional excursions and personal expenses.

Money - Vietnam

Currency: Vietnamese dong

The banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 dong. In small towns, it can be difficult to get change for the larger notes, so keep a stack of smaller bills handy. Now that Ho Chi Minh has been canonised (against his wishes), you'll find his picture on every banknote.

Coins are being reintroduced for use in Vietnam, partially to help stave off the number of counterfeit banknotes. There are coins to the value of 1000, 2000 and 5000 dong.

Changing Your Money-Vietnam

There is now a reasonably extensive network of ATMs in major cities and this can be a convenient way to get your hands on money. It is also handy to have a combination of US dollars and travelers cheques for more remote or rural parts of the country. There are four ways to exchange currency: at a bank, through authorised exchange bureaus, at hotel reception desks, and on the black market. The best rates are offered by the banks, but the exchange bureaus are generally more conveniently located and have longer opening hours. The black market rate is worse than the legal exchange rate, so if you're offered better rates than a bank it's bound to be some sort of scam. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and JCB credit cards are accepted in the major cities and towns popular with tourists. It's virtually impossible to exchange travelers cheques outside the major cities and tourist areas. Visitors heading off the beaten track will either need to stock up on dong, or conduct a private cash transaction on the black market. It's a good idea to bring a small calculator with you for currency conversions, unless you're the kind of person who can divide or multiply by large numbers in your head.

Sample Price Guide-Vietnam

  • local iced tea - 1500.00
  • bottle local soft drink - 5000.00
  • local beer - 10000.00
  • process roll of color film - 50000.00
  • litre of petrol - 10000.00
  • litre of water - 5000-10000
  • souvenir t-shirt - 30000.00
  • street stall snack - pho bo - 10000.00
  • internet access per minute - 3000-10000.00
  • short taxi ride - 20000.00
  • internet access per hour - US$ 0.20-0.50

Tipping-Vietnam

Government-run hotels and tourist restaurants usually add a 5% service charge to bills so there's no need to tip (although staff may not get any of it). Leaving a small tip in other restaurants will be greatly appreciated by the staff. You should consider tipping hired drivers and guides, and it's polite to leave a small donation at the end of a visit to a pagoda.

Money Cambodia

Cambodia's currency is the riel. Its second currency (some would say its first) is the US dollar, which is accepted everywhere and by everyone, though change may arrive in riel. Dollar bills with a small tear are unlikely to be accepted by Cambodians, so it's worth scrutinising the change you're given to make sure you don't have bad bills. In the west of the country, the Thai baht (B) is also commonplace. If three currencies seems a little excessive, perhaps it's because the Cambodians are making up for lost time: during the Pol Pot era, the country had no currency. The Khmer Rouge abolished money and blew up the National Bank building in Phnom Penh.

It can be difficult to change travellers' cheques outside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Cash advances on credit cards are available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but charges are high. Otherwise, there are now ATMs in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Tipping is not expected in Cambodia, but salaries are very low and any gratuities for good service will be gratefully accepted. Bargaining is the rule in markets, but you won't need to be as forceful as you would in Thailand or Vietnam.

Sample Price Guide Cambodia

  • Newspaper: CR 1200
  • Internet access per minute: US$ 0.50-1.50
  • Krama (scarf): CR 3000
  • litre of water:CR 500-2000
  • large bottle of Angkor beer:US$ 1.50-2.50
  • noodle soup:CR 2000-4000
  • souvenir t-shirt:US$ 2.00

Meal Plan General

Meals are included as per the itinery after meeting the Expedition Leader on Day 1. There are several dinners that are not organised and it is expected on the days when exploring the markets and sights in Hanoi and Sa Pa that smaller groups will form to do different things and find their own local food. Also after the long days spent exploring the Siem Reap different groups will want to either go out for local food or relax in the hotel. Food will be prepared by our local cooks whilst trekking and we will source local fresh produce where possible.

Insurance

Adequate travel insurance is mandatory for everyone who participates in a Pioneer expedition. Please bring a copy of your insurance policy and contact numbers to give to your expedition leader in case of illness or accident

Accommodation

Based on twin occupancy, we use a variety of 3-4* accommodation. Single occupancy is available at some locations at an extra cost. On the trek we will be camping and you should note the personal kit required on the Kit List.

Expedition Team

The group size will be 12/13 plus expedition leader, although we may run the expedition with 2 groups to a maximum of 25 plus Pioneer Guide, English speaking local guides and local expedition crew.

Environmental Issues

As with all Pioneer expeditions, we are committed to maximising the benefits of our trips to the local community and minimising the negative impact associated with tourism. We employ local agents and staff, not just to benefit the local economy, but also to give you a real sense of the local culture. To greatly reduce our impact on the environment there will be a maximum of 12/13 team members - this helps to minimise the damage associated with large scale tourism.

Flights

International flights are going to be booked via an ATOL/ABTA company once numbers are known so we can book group flights together and receive a discount. It is anticipated that all UK flights will depart from a London based airport in order for the group to get together and travel as a group. Detailed flight instructions will be sent to you nearer the date of departure.