Wander to Vietnam – Final Details (Feb)

Tourist Visas

➜ Vietnam: Most travelers to Vietnam need a visa, however, citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries can obtain an “E-Visa” online. As a result, you can skip the process of obtaining a tourist visa from the Vietnamese Embassy and can simply take care of the procedures online.

The online visa application can be a frustrating/challenging process at times. To make it easier, we can handle the entire process for you at a rate of $75 USD, which includes the visa fee. If you’re interested, please send us an email to team@wanderingearl.com.

Otherwise, here are the steps:

Visit this official Vietnamese government website: https://evisa.gov.vn/
Click on “Apply Now”
Follow the instructions

Here is some information you will need to complete the process:

Passport details
Passport photo in PDF (Size Minimum 10 KB, Maximum 300 KB)
A recent photo: forward facing selfie with a neutral background should work (you will need to upload this to the system): minimum size 350 pixels, size no larger than 1MB.
Arrival details
Dates of the trip / arrival and departure dates
Entry / Exit checkpoints (Tan Son Nhat Int Airport / Noi Bai Int Airport)
Name and address of the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Intended temporary residential address) – Alagon Hotel & Spa (Address: 1291 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam). Phone: +84 28 3828-2888
Payment method

*Important: Please ensure your visa includes your middle name (if applicable) to avoid issues with airline boarding or entry into the country.

*Important: We suggest entering your arrival date a few days earlier than planned to allow flexibility in case your plans change.

*Important: Once your visa is issued, you MUST print out a copy of your E-Visa approval email. You will need this to check in for your flight and at immigration in the Ho Chi Minh airport. Please also send us a copy of your visa to team@wanderingearl.com

*It would be best to apply for your visa as soon as possible, as the process can take more than 10 days to be approved.

➜ Cambodia – For those joining our Cambodia post-trip extension, citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries can conveniently obtain a visa upon arrival. This means you won’t need to go through the process of getting a tourist visa from the Cambodian Embassy beforehand. Please remember to bring $36 USD in exact change and 3 passport-size photos (colored, with a white background, and a 2″ x 2″ size) so we can secure your visa as soon as we arrive.

Airport Arrival

Please follow the below instructions upon arrival at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport:

After exiting the plane, walk through the terminal building to the immigration inspection.
Once through immigration, follow the signs and go to the luggage area. Collect your luggage from the correct carousel and then pass through the customs inspection.
After you exit the baggage/customs area, you’ll enter the Arrivals Hall. Please head for the main exit of the Arrivals Hall and walk outside. Once outside you will find a driver with a sign that says “Wandering Earl Tours”.

If you are unable to find your driver, please contact your tour leader, Sakai, at +1 (510) 806-5488, or our local contact, Phuong, at +84 986-443-242.

Please note: When arriving into Vietnam, you are sometimes required to fill out a landing card or tell the immigration officer where you will be staying in Ho Chi Minh City. Here are the details: Alagon Hotel & Spa (Address: 1291 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam)

WhatsApp Group

We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.

Tour Leader

Your tour leader for this adventure is Sakai Naismith. Backed by over 20 years of travel experience and a decade as a tour leader, Sakai has an in-depth understanding and passion for exploration. He’s not only a veteran in global travel, but he was also based in Southeast Asia for many years, making him the perfect leader for this tour. Sakai will introduce himself and share more details about himself and the trip when we create the WhatsApp group chat approximately 2 weeks prior to the tour.

*Our tour leader will be there to ensure the trip runs smoothly and our local guides are there to share the wonders of their country!

Staying Connected

Vietnam and Cambodia both have generally strong internet connection in the main cities and all of our accommodations will have WiFi. However, you can expect weaker connections in rural areas, with occasional poor connectivity. In general, the internet access will work and you’ll be able to do whatever you need to do online, but it might take longer than normal with the potentially spotty connection.

The easiest way to stay connected during the tour will be to purchase an E–SIM before the trip, as this will allow you to stay connected from the moment you land at the airport.

Another option is to activate your home network’s ‘international plan’ which will allow you to continue using your phone as you would at home, with access to a data connection, for a fee that usually ranges from $5 – $10 per day.

Packing / Luggage Restrictions

For this tour we will take one inner flight from Ho Chi Minh to Da Nang and one from Hue to Hanoi. For each flight you’re allowed one checked bag of up to 44 lbs (20 kg), one carry-on of up to 22 lbs (10 kg) (max size 22″x14″x9″), plus one small personal item that fits under the seat. The same luggage restrictions apply for our flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap.

Itinerary (Vietnam)

February 10th: Ho Chi Minh City

Orientation meeting
Welcome dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants

➜ Accommodation: Alagon Hotel & Spa
➜ Included meals: Dinner

February 11th: Ho Chi Minh City

Full-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City on board a traditional three-wheel bicycle taxi, including several different neighborhoods, temples, markets and more
Sampling of some of the best Southern Vietnamese cuisine along the way
Evening acrobatics show at the city’s opera house

➜ Accommodation: Alagon Hotel & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 12th: Ho Chi Minh City ➜ Da Nang ➜ Hoi An

Early morning 1.5 hour flight to Danang
Transfer to Hoi An, a charming UNESCO World Heritage town with an enchanting mix of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese cultural influences
Orientation tour of Hoi An’s charming streets
Group dinner featuring the distinctive flavors and aromas of Hoi An’s cuisine

➜ Accommodation: Vinh Hung Riverside Resort & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 13th: Hoi An

Full-day walking tour of Hoi An, spotlighting the timeless feel of a well-preserved merchant house, the unique blend of Chinese and French architectural influences and the simple elegance of the Japanese Bridge
Silk weaving demonstration, where we’ll learn about the entire production of silk from silkworm to dress
Group dinner at a restaurant off the main trail

➜ Accommodation: Vinh Hung Riverside Resort & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 14th: Hoi An

Traditional cooking class where you’ll learn how to cook some of the best age-old Vietnamese recipes, followed by a delightful group lunch featuring the fresh and flavorful dishes you’ve made come to life
Free afternoon at leisure to enjoy Hoi An’s historic streets

➜ Accommodation: Vinh Hung Riverside Resort & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

February 15th: Hoi An ➜ Da Nang ➜ Hue

3-hour drive to Hue over the Hai Van Pass, including a few stops along the way
Freshly prepared lunch along the way
Sunset visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda to observe it against the orange-colored sky with the serene Perfume River flowing beneath

➜ Accommodation: White Lotus Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

February 16th: Hue

Full-day tour of Hue on the back of motorcycles to learn about the history, culture and architecture of this grand city, including the magnificent citadel, the forbidden Purple City and the immaculate mausoleums and pagodas scattered throughout
Late-afternoon dinner cruise down the Perfume River on a dragon boat to witness the changing colors of the sunset with the spectacular riverside scenery as a background

➜ Accommodation: White Lotus Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 17th: Hue ➜ Phong Nha

Morning drive north with a stop at the Vinh Moc Tunnels, an extensive underground network of tunnels that the Vietnamese lived in for up to 6 months at a time
French lunch by the coast
Tour of the DMZ between North and South Vietnam.
Reach Phonh Nha for a free evening at leisure to relax and enjoy the surrounding views
Home-made dinner at our resort

➜ Accommodation: Phong Nha Farmstay
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 18th: Phong Nha

Morning tour through the Phong Nha National Park, home to some of the most impressive scenery in all of Vietnam
Wind through mountains and valleys, along dramatic limestone peaks, through lush jungle and across bright blue rivers
Visit Paradise Cave, one of the largest cave system in the world
Free afternoon to relax or explore the town on your own, do some shopping at the markets or enjoy the surrounding nature
Another home-cooked dinner at our homestay

➜ Accommodation: Phong Nha Farmstay
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 19th: Phong Nha

Full-day local villages tour, offering a genuine glimpse into the daily lives of the communities
Group dinner

➜ Accommodation: Phong Nha Farmstay
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 20th: Phong Nha ➜ Dong Hoi ➜ Hanoi

Morning drive to Dong Hoi, followed by a quick 1-hour flight to Hanoi
Free time and optional group lunch upon arrival
Orientation walk and optional Northern Vietnam dinner at one of our favorite restaurants

➜ Accommodation: Oriental Suites Hotel & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast

February 21st: Hanoi

Full-day walking tour of Hanoi, where you’ll experience the Old Quarters, some of the city’s hidden corners, as well as a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Bach Ma Temple
Group lunch
Egg-coffee tasting
North Vietnamese dinner

➜ Accommodation: Oriental Suites Hotel & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 22nd: Hanoi ➜ Bai Tu Long Bay

2.5-hour drive to visit one of the most gorgeous natural destinations in Vietnam – Bai Tu Long Bay
Board our traditional junk boat and settle in with a fresh seafood lunch
Visit hidden caves and lagoons, swim in the emerald water and watch the sunset
Dinner onboard

➜ Accommodation: Signature Cruises
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

February 23rd: Lan Ha Bay ➜ Hanoi

Optional morning kayak adventure through a nearby lagoon
Visit to a floating fish farm to learn about the traditional way of life of the local fishermen
2.5-hour drive back to Hanoi
Farewell dinner, capping off the trip with one last taste of Vietnamese cuisine

➜ Accommodation: Oriental Suites Hotel & Spa
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 24th: Hanoi / Departure day

You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

*Please note: While we do our best to follow the above itinerary, changes may be made to any aspect of the tour due to a variety of potential situations or unforeseen circumstances.

What’s Included?

Wandering Earl Tours Expert Tour Leader
Small group (maximum 12 participants)
Accommodation (13 nights – 3*/4* hotels, guesthouses, and a cruising boat)
Breakfast every day, 7 lunches and 11 dinners
Transportation in Vietnam (vans, internal flights and a overnight cruising boat)
Local English-speaking guides in each destination
All mentioned activities and entrance fees
Water throughout the trip
Gratuities at hotels/included meals
All airport transfers

What’s Not Included?

Flights to/from Vietnam
Passport/visa fees
Meals and activities not mentioned
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Gratuities

Post-trip Itinerary (Cambodia)

February 24th: Hanoi ➜ Siem Reap

Free morning in Hanoi, with time to explore the Old Quarter’s bustling streets, visit a nearby café for a cup of Vietnamese coffee, or simply relax at the hotel
Late afternoon flight to Siem Reap, arriving in Cambodia at around 7:00 PM
Check into our centrally located hotel
Free evening to rest before the next day’s early morning wake-up

➜ Accommodation: Sala Siem Reap Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast

February 25th: Siem Reap ➜ Angkor Wat ➜ Siem Reap

Half-day sunrise tour of Angkor Wat’s main temples and ruins, discovering the stories behind one of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures
Return to Siem Reap in the early afternoon for lunch
Boat trip to the floating village of Kampong Kliang, known for its towering stilted houses and unique way of life
Head back to town in the evening, where we’ll have an optional dinner and drinks at the lively Pub Street

➜ Accommodation: Sala Siem Reap Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast

February 26th: Siem Reap

Morning tour of Angkor Wat’s lesser-known temples, discovering some of the hidden corners and quieter spots many visitors miss
Lunch at an NGO hospitality training center established by our own guide, learning about local initiatives aimed at empowering the community
Visit the APOPO organization, where specially trained rats help detect landmines and make the region safer for everyone
Tour Artisans D’Angkor to see traditional Khmer crafts being made, from intricate carving to fine silk weaving
Return to Siem Reap after dinner

➜ Accommodation: Sala Siem Reap Hotel
➜ Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

February 27th: Siem Reap / Departure Day

Private airport transfer based on the time of your departure flight

➜ Included meals: Breakfast

*Please note: While we do our best to follow the above itinerary, changes may be made to any aspect of the tour due to a variety of potential situations or unforeseen circumstances.