FAQ
What's included in the price of IE’s Laos and Vietnam travel packages?
- Sightseeing by cyclo-rickshaw, tuk-tuk, long boat, sampan boat & elephant back
- Overnight cruise on Halong Bay aboard junk
- Three nights in secluded Xe Pian National Protected Area
- Incredible local cuisine
- Excursions to local markets & villages
- Contribute by visiting local villages & sustainability projects
- Private Baci welcome ceremony
- Witness a sacred tak bat ceremony
- Accommodations in ecolodges as well as five-star & boutique hotels
- 33 meals
- All entrance fees
- Tips to porters, waiters, Halong Bay boat crew & drivers
- Arrival & departure transfers
Click here for complete terms and conditions.
Are visas required for Laos and Vietnam travel?
Laos: U.S. and Canadian citizens may obtain a Laos visa upon arrival at Luang Prabang airport or in advance from a visa service. For a visa upon arrival, cost is $35 for US citizens and $57 for Canadian citizens and you must have two passport photos.
Vietnam: U.S. and Canadian citizens must obtain a Vietnam visa in advance. One can obtain a Vietnam visa on arrival but it is an extremely slow, inefficient, infuriating and painful process. The fee for a Vietnam visa in advance is $120 per person for a single entry visa or $170 for a multiple entry visa.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Guests whose international air takes them through Vietnam en route to Cambodia or Laos will require a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa. Please ensure you apply for and receive the correct visa. Upon receiving your Vietnam visa, check the entry and exit dates as well as single or multiple, per your needs. The Vietnam embassy makes many mistakes with visas so check immediately to ensure yours is correct.
Cambodia: U.S. and Canadian citizens booked on the Siem Reap optional extension may obtain a Cambodia visa upon arrival at Siem Reap airport or in advance from a visa service. For a visa upon arrival, cost is $20 for U.S. and Canadian citizens and you must have one passport photo.
What vaccinations are required for travel to Laos and Vietnam?
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if entering Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia from an affected area. North America, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are not yellow fever affected areas. No other vaccinations are required. Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are malaria-affected areas, and you should take every precaution to protect yourself. The CDC recommends that all travelers to Southeast Asia be up-to-date on vaccinations for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), poliovirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis, which is endemic to Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia; however, you should consult with your personal physician. Your physician can prescribe anti-malarial drugs for your trip. There are different forms of malaria prevention, each with different risks. Talk to your physician to find out which is right for you.
How active is International Expeditions’ Laos and Vietnam travel package?
A trip to Southeast Asia is an active holiday that calls for good health. The excursions involve a great deal of walking, standing, and stair climbing, most of which will be in hot weather. You will have to climb/descend stairs and negotiate places where the footing is uncertain. In Laos, all tours involve climbing stairs. Sites such as Wat Phou and Phu Si Hill have several hundred steps to navigate. Other sites have fewer steps but still involve climbing. Most excursions involve a good amount of time in the open air and hot sun. There are much fewer steps to handle in Vietnam but tours there still involve walking and standing. Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are not destinations for anyone with serious difficulty walking.
What is the climate like in Laos and Vietnam?
The best time to visit Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia is November through March, when it rains the least and is not too hot. Guests can expect cooler evenings, nights and mornings but very hot late morning to late afternoons. There are strong sunshine and generally humid conditions. April through October is the rainy season. Siem Reap in particular can be very hot and humid. While historic average temperatures in Halong Bay are quite high, if there is mist or wind the temperatures drop.
