Discover Halong Bay

A visa is required by all nationalities. A single entry visa should be arranged in advance of travel. Visa fees are not included in your tour cost and it is your responsibility to arrange all necessary visas. Wendy Wu Tours can organise your visa's at an additional cost, please contact our Reservation Department for more details.

Phone Calls
International and domestic calls can be made from your hotel room. It’s a good idea to check call costs with hotel staff or your local guide before making calls, as this can be expensive. A service charge may also be involved. To call Australia – the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 61, then the local area code (omitting the first 0), then the number.
 
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are quite popular in Vietnam and you will find high quality coverage. Vietnam has active roaming agreements with most of the service providers. Please make sure you are aware of associated costs and have activated your international roaming prior to departure.
 
Internet & Email
Internet cafes can be found in all major cities and even in some small towns. This is often the easiest and cheapest way to stay in touch. Most hotels have a business centre with internet access, but at a slightly higher rate. Some hotels may have wifi which usually comes at an additional cost and may only be available in hotel lobbies. 

Tipping for Short Stays and Independent itineraries is not compulsory however is appreciated and normal for guides & drivers to receive them from tourists. In your final documents, Wendy Wu Tours will advise a guideline for tipping to be given to your local guides & driver. Tipping is at the discretion of each individual.

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure.  In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs.
 
We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy. We are aware that people like to take home souvenirs, so we endeavour to ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity – we do our best to ensure that you don’t get ripped off. 

Meals included in your tour cost are indicated on the itinerary. Breakfast is a combination of local and western food, usually served buffet style at the hotel you are staying in. Lunches and dinners consist of traditional cuisine and are served at reputable local restaurants. As is traditional in this region, lunch and dinner consists of small dishes of local cuisine which is then placed on the table for everyone to share so you can experience the variety of speciality dishes. Our customers usually find that the amount served is more than ample.

We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or unusual in taste. Drinks will be at your own expense and are to be paid for at the end of each meal. Beer is widely available and cheap. Western style wine is very expensive to import and is not widely available except at upmarket restaurants. Bottled drinking water, soft drinks, and fruit juices are also widely available – remember that you should only have ice or fruit juices from a trusted restaurant, where they will use boiled or bottled water.

Due to the French colonial influence in some Southeast Asian countries, black tea (commonly referred to as 'lip-ton' by the locals), coffee, and baguettes are available in most places. However, the local style is to have sweet condensed milk with their tea and coffee. Fresh dairy milk is not usually served but many restaurants will provide this if requested. ‘Cafe Sua-da’ (or iced coffee with milk) is a favourite choice amongst the locals.