FAQs

Entering Vietnam, passengers are expected to declare:

Jewelry not for personal use and currency over USD 3,000.

Video tapes (they may be kept for a few days and screened).

Cameras, camcorders and other electronic equipment not for personal use.

Upon completion of this process, the Customs Declaration forms will be stamped with one retained by the Custom Declaration and a yellow copy returned to the visitor to be submitted upon departure. Don’t lose it! Firearms, narcotics and other internationally prohibited goods are banned and those found in possession of such will be liable to prosecution.

Duty-Free Items: Visitors may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of liquor and an unlimited amount of film. Commercial goods and items of high value being taken out of Vietnam require export permits from the Customs Service. Antiques may be confiscated permanently. No local currency may be taken out of the country.

To make payments through our website we accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express...

Payment Method.

You can choose from various payment methods for your packages reservation when you are making online booking with us. Depending on the country in which the booking takes place and the time of the booking. But whichever method you choose, you can rest assured that your payment is always safe. Hereby, we suggest some of our suggestions.

1. Directly to our Paypal account:

With Paypal you can send payment directly to us email address. When you make a reservation with us we will send for you a Paypal link. From there you can easy and safely to pay for your booking to our Paypal account. After confirming the payment, Paypal will send you a notification to confirm your payment. After we receive your payment from Paypal we also send you one email to confirm your booking.

4% Paypal Fee will be added to your bill.

You can pay us with Paypal even you have paypal account or not.

Paypal is very safe payment gateways, so it always requires you to put the 100% correct information.

In some cases, you need to wait 2 or 3 working days for reviewing your transaction of the Paypal to know that your transaction is complete or not.

If you have Paypal account already, please use your account to sent money directly to our email: info@auasiatravel.com

If you do not have Paypal account, please click to “PAYMENT CHANNEL” button we sent you to pay us by your credit card details.

2. Credit Card Authorization letter:

Using payment by Credit Card Authorization letter means you are authorizing us to charge on your credit card a certain amount of money for your booking. With this method, we will prepare all the documents and you only have to fill the information in to the form and send them back to us. You can do it at home. Here is following steps:

Step 1: Fill into Authorization letter (Prepare by us) with blank information Step 2: Scan 2 sides of your credit card for guarantee Step 3: Scan or copy your passport for guarantee Step 4: Send all the documents in above for us.

Notice:

This method of payment only using for Visa and Master Credit Card.

4% Fee will be added to your bill.

3. Bank Transfer:

Bank transfer is one of the popular ways of paying for goods or services these days, and because it can be done either in person in the local branch of your bank or using your online banking service it is both flexible in how it works but also secure.

Paying via bank transfer is simpler than you probably think it is. Bank transfers can be made from any branch of your bank or using your online banking services provided you have access to your bank’s online service. We will provide for you our bank account and it is easy for you to make your money transaction. After you are complete works at your bank branch you will inform us your transaction information by email and your transfer bank slips. We need 3 – 5 days for complete money collection from our bank before sending the payment confirmation to you.

Notice:

Bank fee is coved by the sender. Our bank account information will be provided by our sales people during the time dealing together with you.

4. Money transfer via third party:

Many of our customers may not be familiar with paying via money transfer agency such as: May Bank, Western Union, Money Gram…but It is so fast and efficient.

You will come to money transfer agency and then simply fill in the form as required. We will provide you the recipient information. Completely works with your branch you need to send us following information:

MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number).

Full name of the sender (first name, middle name and last name) Full address of the sender The sum of money Your order number (Or the answer for your secure question).

Notice: We will confirm your payment with you when we successfully withdraw money from the local agency. bank fee is coved by the sender.

5. One Pay Payment: Credit card payment:

We will send you a link, from here you will fill in your credit card information then pay us - this payment method is quick and also safe for users.

4% Bank Fee will be added to your bill.

For more information regarding payment please contact us at info@auasiatravel.com

In Vietnam the local currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND), which has a variety of notes ranging from 200 all the way to the 500,000 note. However the main notes are the 10,000 – 20,000 – 50,000 – 100,000, 200,000 and the 500,000. Please take care with 20,000 and 500,000 notes since they are both blue and can cause some confusion (and not everyone is honest enough to give you the right change).We recommend that you keep your 500,000 notes separate from your 20,000 and other VND notes to avoid confusion and loss of money. The US Dollar is widely accepted at major shops and restaurants throughout Vietnam, though the exchange rate chosen may often vary from the official one, making it more costly than VND. It is, however, very easy to exchange at banks, hotels and other exchanges throughout the country. The British Pound, the Euro and various other major currencies are also easily exchanged for VND. When exchanging your home currency for VND, ensure that your notes are undamaged, banks and exchanges wont accept notes which are torn, very crumpled, or have writing on them. Similarly, also make sure the VND that you receive is not damaged. The exchange rates fluctuate a lot, however the approximate rates can be viewed at:http://www.xe.com/currency/vnd-vietnamese-dong. ATM machines are now readily available throughout most cities and resorts. However, its still highly recommended that you always have some local currency with you. Visa and Master card are now becoming more accepted in many of the larger hotels and restaurants, especially in the bigger cities, the surcharge is usually around 3%.

You can amend your booking once we proceed booking, all amend fees will be charged based on cancellation time, flight or train tickets are issued or not....

Cancellation for redeemed vouchers may applied based on each situation out of vouchers' term and condition.

All redeemed vouchers must email to info@auasiatravel.com with your booking confirmation number from us if have, attached vouchers....

Eating in Vietnam ranges from noodle soup for 2USD, eaten on the street to a banquet style in one of the luxury hotels. Vietnamese restaurants offer a broad selection of tempting international fare that includes French, Italian, American, Indian, Chinese and Japanese food. Seasonal fruits (including tropical fruits such as dragon fruit, rambutans, and longans), fresh vegetables, and local seafood are readily available. All fruits and vegetables should be cooked or peeled. Vietnamese eat mainly rice and noodles. Typical Vietnamese dishes you can expect to try include “pho”, a type of rice noodle soup eaten for breakfast. “Com”, boiled rice is eaten for lunch and for dinner. Nuoc Mam, the fermented fish sauce is commonly used in almost all Vietnamese foods. Due to the strong Buddhist influence in Vietnam, vegetarian food is widely available. Running water is available in cities. Water from wells is common in the countryside. For drinking, bottled water or mineral water which is safe and available everywhere are highly recommended. Ice at international hotels is safe. Beer is provided locally and also imported. Some of the most popular brands of beer are Bia Hoi, 333, Saigon, Hanoi, Tiger, Carlsberg and Heineken.

For pick up services: Please provide us your hotel address, your room number to stay for pick up.

Any hotels/your stay are far from city center, we will set a meeting point for this pick up.

Any more information, please feel free to contact info@auasiatravel.com

Vietnam is particularly known for its various styles of lacquer ware and its growing silk industry. A wide array of other handicrafts is also available, including conical hats, hill tribe fabrics and handicrafts, silver jewellery, quality hand embroidery, wood carvings, ceramics, silk painting, brass and marble figurines and ivory and tortoise shell accessories. Dong Khoi street in HCMC is a good place for Vietnamese silk, handicrafts while Hanoi old quarter of 36 streets is full of queer local souvenirs. Hoi An in the centre of Vietnam is also a very good place to hunt for bargains. it is advisable to buy items at the your departure point like Hanoi Capital or Saigon to avoid having to carry all the goodies for the rest of the trip. Fine handicrafts, embroidery articles, rattan and bamboo products, lacquer wares, marble carvings are some of the products are worth buying in Vietnam. Silk in Vietnam are some of the highest qualities in the world. Women and men can have their clothes custom tailored in a day or two. A pair of suits costs only USD 100 to USD 150 including materials and labor. A t-shirt costs 3USD and 5USD an embroidered one. Tailors are located along all main streets downtown. Let us know if you like recommendations. Visitors are free to buy products in Vietnam for personal use. The exception to this principal is antiques. Antiques considered of national interest will be confiscated without refund or recourse to their return. In general this applies to articles of ancients ( over 50 years old ) or religious nature. “National Interest” is interpreted by an expert at the airport.

Most of the tours you can wear comfortable clothes but any tour includes a visit to temples, please wear clothes longer than your knees, clothes with sleeves. If you visit northern Vietnam, you should check with us the winter time for bringing warm clothes with you.

Cambodia is basically a very safe destination. As in every part of the world, it is important to never leave your belongings unattended. At some places you might meet some annoying souvenir sellers. A friendly “no” however, is mostly sufficient here.

Making a tour to Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia, Thailand) is as easy as you can expect. Just tell us what you want and we will offer you a most suitable tailor-made itinerary with the best price within 24 hours. The more detailed information you provide, the better we can customize the tour for you.

The enquiry and quotation procedure is completely free of charge. Please feel free to fill in the following form.

Or you can contact us at info@auasiatravel.com or fill in the link for tailor- made tour: https://auasiatravel.com

In order to book any tour, you just need to select your preferred tour(s), all tour-related information is available and sufficient by different tabs, and then click “Book this tour” on our website. News Travel booking form template will automatically call trip tour name, you will be asked to fill in the existing fields. Once the form has been filled up, please click “Submit” to send you tour inquiry to News Travel for your inputs to be processed. You may also “Reset” to cancel information you have just filled up. After your booking request has been received, all necessary arrangements will be made in accordance with your inquiry. Normally, we will respond you within 1-2 business days. Confirmation message will be sent to you by email with all required details including payment terms& conditions.

Vietnam has strict laws on bringing in anti-government literature, pornography, firearms and weapons. CDs and tapes are often retained for screening, but will be returned after a few days. It is illegal to remove antiques from Vietnam. When buying handicrafts, especially those that look old, ask the retailer for a receipt and a declaration that the item may be exported.

Tipping is not compulsory when you use our services. Tipping for service is at very much at your discretion, however, it is much appreciated and particularly rewarding when a good job has been done. Normally a tip of a couple of dollars is very well received, if you have a private tour guide or driver around $5 per day is the average rate. We can advise you directly about this, if you require it.

VIETNAM VISA: This MUST be applied prior to your travelling date. This letter can be obtained via 3 main ways:

+ Contact nearest Vietnamese Embassy in your place.

+ Apply online via our governmental immigration department official website and follow instructions (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt)

+ Use our service: We can assist you to arrange E-Visa to enter Vietnam; all you need to do is to send over your details. The fee is 52 USD/person for single entry including the stamp fee in which you do not need to pay any extra fee at the airport.

We can assist you to arrange E-Visa to enter Vietnam; all you need to do is to send over your details (mentioned below). The fee is 52 USD/person / 80 AUD/person for single entry including the stamp fee in which you do not need to pay any extra fee at the airport.

- Passport scan (with passport expiry date must be AT LEAST 6 MONTHS VALID from your arrival date in Vietnam).

- Portrait photos (4*6cm) (without glasses).

- Date of entry - Port/ gate of entry (must be correct, otherwise, your entry may be denied).

CAMBODIA VISA: This can be done on arrival. There are 3 ways:

+ Contact nearest Vietnamese Embassy in your place

+ Apply online via our governmental immigration department official website and follow instructions (https://www.evisa.gov.kh/application_new)

+ Do it upon arrival: you can make it upon arrival. Just prepare 35 USD/person in cash and 1 straight photo.

We use all air-conditioned vehicles operated by experienced and skillful drivers during your tour:

Group from 1 – 2 persons: 04 seat car.

Group from 3 – 4 persons: 07 seat car.

Group from 5 – 6 persons: 16 seat van.

Group from 7-9 persons: 24 seat coach.

Group from 10-15 persons: 30 – 35 seat coach.

Group from 16 persons: 35 – 45 seat coach.

In the more adventurous tours, four-wheel drive vehicles will be used. Domestic air fares quoted are based on economy class. Business class can be arranged on request with surcharge.

Vietnam weather

There is not really a right or wrong time to visit Vietnam as during most months of the year you will experience both sunshine and rain in varying quantities. Welcome to a country with 2000 + miles of coastline and three different weather systems.

Whilst Vietnam is typically warm and humid, the weather can vary significantly from one region to another due to the countries length. At times there has been snow (yes white snow!) in the mountainous far north whilst the beaches in the south enjoyed 32 °C and sunshine. It pays to imagine the country as three separate destinations when researching weather for your intended visit and the following information will hopefully help you unravel the complexities.

North Vietnam Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau & Ninh Binh

Hanoi and North Vietnam has a distinct winter and summer season. The cool but mostly dry winter lasts from November to April when temperatures average 17-22°C with the coldest months being January - March. Summer lasts from May to October when it is hot and humid and the region experiences its highest rainfall. July to September are often the wettest months of the year. During these months severe weather can prevent junks sailing in Halong Bay although such weather is rare.

South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, The Mekong Delta, Dalat & Phu Quoc

With temperatures remaining constant year-round the climate of the south is split into two simple seasons, wet and dry. The dry season begins in November and ends in April/early May with late February to May being slightly hotter and with higher humidity. The wet season lasts from May to early November with the months from June to August receiving the highest rainfall of the year. Throughout much of the wet season rainfall is generally heavy but short lasting, often occurring in a mid-afternoon heavy downpour.

The average temperatures in the south range between 25 - 35°C year-round. In the far south, the beaches of Phu Quoc enjoy a monsoon climate with two seasons; wet (late-July to late October) and dry (November to July). Visits to Phu Quoc can be made year-round although the best time is during the dry season (outside of October the chances of sunny days remain high). Dalat is wet from June to October making outdoor pursuits problematic. From November to May it is far dryer although cold in December & January.

Mountainous Far North Sapa, Ha Giang, Bac Ha

The climate in Sapa and Vietnam’s far north-west is divided into two seasons: the dry season runs from October to late March with the wet season lasting from April to September. It can get very cold in December and January, especially at night.

The best months to travel in the north-east (Ha Giang) is during the dry season, from October to April, although December and January can get very cold. We recommend avoiding travelling in Ha Giang during the rainy season (May to September).

Trekking and adventure: The best trekking conditions in Sapa and the northwest are from September to November and from March to May. Daytime temperatures range from 15-28°C, and night-time temperatures from 10-18°C. Trekking and cycling are possible year-round, however the wintertime can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.

Central Vietnam Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang

Hoi An, Hue & Danang in the centre of Vietnam have hot and dry weather from mid-January to late August, with temperatures often reaching the mid-30's °C. During the winter months the rainfall increases with October and November achieving peak levels, occasionally in the form of typhoons.

Hue is often cooler than Hoi An, especially early in the year. In addition, with each sitting on opposite sides of a small mountain range the weather can often differ between the two greatly on any given day.

Quy Nhon is a six hour drive south of Hoi An and shares a similar weather pattern although the dry season is slightly longer due to its proximity to the southern system. At the far south of Central Vietnam, Nha Trang benefits from a longer dry season (typically January to September), with high temperatures and little raining . The rainy season runs from October to early December with almost half the annual rainfall falling in October and November.

Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of New York, 7 hours ahead of London, 1 hour behind Perth and 3 hours behind Sydney.

Vietnam is one of the safest countries for traveling. Women and independent travelers have found it relatively hassle-free and easy to travel throughout the country. Petty theft, such as pickpockets and drive-by bag snatchers, is more rampant in HCMC than elsewhere in the country. Visitors are advised to avoid wearing extravagant jewelry or carrying large amounts of money when walking in the streets. If you do choose to drive a motorbike or ride a bicycle, always wear a helmet.

As our advice, you should try food in small local restaurants, that’s the best way for you to feel the local breath in terms of food culture. Most of expensive restaurants in Vietnam quote their menu in local currency while in the middle of the range, the rates may be both in USD and VND. While choosing a place for eating, we strongly recommend you choose places which are busy and look well-scrubbed, a stick to fresh, thoroughly cooked food. Restaurants where you can see food cooked, eg: steaming bowls of noodle soup along a street tall, are often a good bet and being a lot of fun.

Vietnam Dong is the official currency in Vietnam, which you can’t purchase or difficult to purchase outside of the country. Major Banks in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city can handle quite a lot of different currencies, however, USD is the most widely accepted. So we recommend taking a combination of USD cash, USD traveler’s cheques with the bulk in traveler’s cheques for safety reasons. American Express, Visa are the most popular brands.

You can change cash and travelers’ cheques at big hotels or at authorized foreign exchange banks in main cities. Outside the main cities and tourist area, authorized foreign exchange banks are few and far between. So if heading off the beaten path, remember to stock up with enough cash (USD or VND) to the last trip.

Wherever you travel to, you’ll always find someone willing to change dollars cash into VND, though rates will vary. When receiving dong, you’ll be presented with a huge pile of notes. Refuse any badly torn notes and ask for a mix of denominations so that you always have a few low-value notes in hand.

Despite of the fact that Vietnamese government attempts to outlaw the practice, the US Dollars still acts as an alternative currency which is almost completely interchangeable with Vietnam Dong. Many prices, especially for hotels, tours and expensive restaurants, are still quoted in USD, though you can pay in dong if you’d rather - just check what exchange rate they’re using.

For everyday expenses, we recommend you carry a mix of US Dollars cash and Vietnam Dong. For larger items or when the exchange rate works in your favour, use dollars. For cyclos, local food stalls and small purchases, it’s best to use Vietnam Dong. In either case, make sure you always have a stock of small notes so that there is no need to worry about change.