FAMILY AND FRIENDS -...
Transcript of FAMILY AND FRIENDS -...
Family and Friends Discovers Vietnam Pre-departure Information
Clothing and Equipment Whilst we are travelling you are responsible for your own luggage at all times. Therefore it is important that
your luggage is light enough so that you can comfortably move it around. The following list is a suggested
guide as to the items which should make up your luggage.
Clothing:
1 Thongs
1 General purpose shoes
6 Underwear/Socks (wash these in the
shower as you go)
1 Jeans
1 Swimmers
3 Shorts/skirts
1 Hat
6 Shirts
1 Sweater
1 Rash Shirt
Toiletries:
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• MouthWash
• Deodorant
Due to the heightened security at International
airport all of the above should be packed in your
main suitcase. If you intend to have any liquids,
gels or foams in your carry-on luggage they must
be in a container less than 100ml, which must
then be placed in a clear plastic bag.
Please do not have any aerosols in your carry on
luggage.
Personal First Aid:
• Imodium or Gastro-Stop (anti-diarrheal)
• Gastrolyte (replaces lost minerals and salt
should you get a dose of traveller’s belly!)
• Insect Repellent (Look for a brand that
contains DEET)
• Sun block (for body and also a sun block
stick for lips)
• Panadol and Throat Lozenges
• Aquim or Dettol hand sanitizer (rinse-free
anti-bacterial hand wash)
Equipment:
1 Suitcase/duffle bag (max weight of 30kg). You
are also allowed one item of hand luggage and
this can weigh no more than 7kg.
Please note: On domestic flights within Vietnam,
liquid bottles are not permitted in your carry-on
baggage.
1 Backpack – for day trips.
Miscellaneous:
• Small towel. As your group will be staying
overnight in homestays, a small bath towel will
be necessary
• Pillowcase (optional). Pillows will be provided
however you may feel more comfortable with
your own pillowcase.
• Sleeping bag liner (optional). Blankets will be
provided however you may feel more
comfortable with a liner. Keep in mind these are
also readily available in Vietnam and are in
comparison quite cheap so you may want to
purchase this during your trip.
• Sunglasses (It is strongly recommended that any
student who relies on lenses or glasses for safe
clear vision should bring a pair of serviceable
glasses in addition to contact lenses).
• Wet Ones (especially useful if you are required to
use a public restroom)
• Money belt (optional). As long as you are careful
with your money and are not intending on
carrying large amounts of cash around with you
a money belt is not really necessary. The cost of
living in Vietnam is relatively cheap so each day
the bulk of your money should be left in the hotel
safe and you should be carrying a minimum
amount of cash around with you.
Family and Friends Discovers Vietnam Pre-departure Information
Passports, Phones and cameras
It is important that you never leave your
personal possessions unattended.
Passports:
Your passport is the most valuable item which
you will have on tour. You must know where it
is at all times and when not required you will be
instructed to leave it at the hotel in the safety of
the provided lock boxes.
Phones:
Within your itinerary we have provided all the
hotel names and contact numbers. We suggest
that mum and/or dad purchase an international
calling card for Vietnam so that they can call you
at any time you are in your hotel. An average $10
calling card should provide about 90 minutes of
talk time. If you are bringing a mobile phone that
is set up for international roam you may SMS
your room number once you arrive at each hotel
to your parents so that when they call the hotel
they can be put straight through to your room.
Alternatively, local sim cards are available from
$5 AUD, this will avoid any surprises from
telephone companies back home.
In addition to the above we encourage all
students to set up skype or viber or any other
calling app which relies on internet use. All our
hotels have access to computers and wifi which
you will all be able to use.
Note: Vietnam international calling code: +84
(if dialing from a home phone dial 0011 84 . . .)
Spending Money
It is important that you never leave your personal
possessions unattended.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong.
The current exchange rate is approximately $1
AUS = 16 000 VND.
The main expenses whilst you are overseas will be
snacks, drinks during meals and any souvenirs
which you intend to purchase.
While overseas tipping is a nice gesture, we
recommend approximately $5 per day be left aside
just to say thank you to your guides, bus drivers
etc.
For those who are bringing ATM cards, there are
teller machines throughout the city areas and you
will be able to withdraw local currency straight
from these machines. Just ensure that your banks
ATM card is compatible with overseas teller
machines.
Family and Friends Discovers Vietnam Pre-departure Information
Photography:
Vietnam will provide many opportunities for
unique photography. However, there are a number
of principles we recommend you adhere to:
• Ask permission before taking photographs and
respect a refusal.
• Follow signs and regulations when taking
photos of government buildings or
installations. Vietnam is still run by a
communist government. If a government
soldier or security personnel takes your
camera you may not get it back.
• Do not pester men and women in traditional
ethnic dress for the ‘perfect shot’. Be
respectful if they say no or shy away.
Food and drink Do not drink tap water in Vietnam. Bottled water is
readily available for about $A0.50 per bottle. All
meals included in the tour are from good, reputable
tourist restaurants so have a go and sample the
food. Vietnamese cuisine has been described as a
gastronomic delight, most made using fresh local
ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.
Please note: Drinks are not included in meal
packages and need to be purchased separately,
however Vietnam School Tours does supply bottled
water on buses.
Toilet facilities
All hotels we use have bathrooms with Western-
style toilets but you may find Asian-style
('squat') toilets in public facilities at some tourist
sites and in some restaurants – toilet paper is
NOT supplied (we strongly recommend that you
carry a box of ‘wet ones’ with you on your day
trips). At the main tourist sites toilets charge a
small entry fee (usually less than 2000 VND/10
cents).
Dress Code We recommend that loose comfortable walking
clothes be worn most days. Respect the culture and
try to avoid wearing clothes which are too
revealing, in certain tourist sites such as some
government sites and pagodas shorts worn above
the knees and old worn t-shirts will not be
permitted.
Electricity
Most of the hotels will have universal
plugs while others will
have the typical 2-pin
sockets.
2-pin sockets will require
an adapter which most
hotels will be able to
provide.
Family and Friends Discovers Vietnam Pre-departure Information
Shopping Tips Prices in government and large department stores are usually fixed. When shopping at roadside souvenir
stalls and in free markets extensive bargaining is expected. As a guide start at less than half the asked price
and work your way up.
and work your way up.
1. Don’t buy everything in the first day or two.
2. Don’t feel obligated to shop. You’ll often find
several shop assistants trying to help you
make a purchase at the shop. This doesn’t
mean you have to buy; it’s OK to say no, or
just to look.
3. Bargaining is a national pastime in Vietnam
so you will find that most retailers except for
department stores will be prepared to
bargain.
4. At Ben Thanh Market the outside isles have
workers wearing blue uniforms, these are
government run market stores so you will not
be able to bargain
5. Keep your belongings safe! Vietnam is
regarded as a safe place to travel but it is
always wise to follow normal precautions.
Always be conscious of your valuables in
crowds and in public places. Do not carry
valuables in backpacks or leave your luggage
unprotected.
6. If unsure how much something is, ask them for
the price in Australian dollars. Most vendors
will know the current exchange rate.
Family and Friends Discovers Vietnam Pre-departure Information
Address: Vietnam School Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2373 Carlingford Court NSW 2118
Website: http://vietnamschooltours.com.au
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VietnamSchoolTours
Phone: +61 2 8812 3243