Our rates do not include your international flight from/to your country. It is up to you to find the best flights based on your budget and your dates of stay. Once you arrive in our country, Authentik Travel will take care of visas, itineraries, transportation, local flights, tour guides, and accommodation etc.

- How to book your international flights?
Nowadays, it is easy to find the best flights on the internet. Here are some suggestions:
+Comparison of flights from: Ebookers.com,Flights.com, farecomfare.com
+Local ticketing offices.

Some International terminals for your reference:
In Vietnam: Noi Bai airport, Tan Son Nhat Airport, Da Nang Airport

In Cambodia: Phnom Penh airport, SiemReap airport
In Laos: Vientiane Airport, Luang Prabang airport, Pakse airport.
In Myanmar: Yangon airport, Mandalay airport,

The airfare may change every day. It may increase depending on the availability. The earlier you book, the better rate you may get.
To plan for your trip, we suggest booking your international flight first. It will then be easier for us to adjust the program accordingly to match your flight schedule.

Our high season is from October to the end of April. Avoiding traveling during this period is often synonymous with saving your budget.
Do not hesitate to use fare comparison websites to choose the cheapest airlines according to your travel dates.

Check directly on Airlines’ website if they do not make any promotions on your destinations.
Check several departure airports. It may be cheaper from one airport than others.

All these flights are included in the trip. You do not need to book them on your own:
+ we are a local travel company so we can get these flights with a better rate.
+ we can be flexible with these flights and our itineraries.

Your passport must be valid for 6 months and there must be at least 1 blank page for visa stamp.

Yes, a Vietnamese visa is required. There are 3 ways to get Vietnam visas:
-Obtain a visa at the Vietnamese embassy in your country.
-Get a visa on arrival at the airport in Vietnam (Authentik Travel offers a free visa-approval letter).
A Vietnamese visa is exempted for 5 nationalities: French, Italian, Spanish, English and German. They are given a single entry visa for up to 15 days in Vietnam. You only need to show the return tickets or travel plan to board the plane.
-Get E visa at the official website of immigration department. Please check and follow the instruction: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/trang-chu-ttdt 

Authentik Travel will take care of your Vietnam visa approval letter so you can get your visa on arrival easily at airport. We will only require a copy of your passports. We will send you the Vietnam visa approval letter via email.
-You need to print this visa letter, one letter for one person.
-Prepare 2 passport sized photos. (It's possible to get them once you land at the airport).
-Present your visa letter when you are boarding.
-Upon arrival at the airport, you will see the immigration office and the visa on arrival counter. Please show your passports and visa letters at the visa on arrival counter. Fill in the visa application form and get the visa stamp on your passports. The stamp fee is 25 USD for single entry and 50 USD for multi entry. It will take around 30 – 45 minutes to process this.
 

Process at  Noi Bai airport
At the end of the corridor, turn left or right depending on the direction,you will arrive in “Cấp Thị Thá»±c Visa – Visa insurance – Visa application”.
Show the officer there your Vietnam visa approval letter + 2 photos + Passport and wait for the process to be completed.
Pay the single/multiple entry visa fee according to your request and then receive your visa stamped passport..

Process at Tan Son Nhat airport:
At the end of the corridor, turn left or right depending on the direction, you will arrive in “Cấp Thị Thá»±c Visa – Landing Visa”.
Show the officer there your Vietnam visa approval letter + 2 photos + Passport and wait for the process to be completed.
Pay the single/multiple entry visa fee according to your request and then receive your visa stamped passport.

A sample of Vietnam Visa which is stamped on your passport on arrival at airport:

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on your arrival date.
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival without preparing any documents in advance including: EU citizens, North Americans and Australians.
Some African and Middle Eastern nationalities must obtain a Laos Visa BEFORE arrival.
You need: one passport sized photo and 30 – 42 USD cash for the visa processing fee.
 

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on your arrival date with 1 blank page left.
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival without preparing any documents in advance including: EU citizens, North Americans and Australians. The visa processing fee at the airport is 30 USD.
The second way: you can obtain an E visa on your own on the official government website: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/ The E-visa fee is 35 USD.
 

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on your arrival date and have 1 blank page left.
There are two ways to obtain a Myanmar visa:
The easiest way is E visa. It is very easy to get an E Visa on the official Immigration website:
https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/

The E visa fee is 50 USD and you can get a stamp on your passport on arrival (no more fees).
Please carefully read the notes before you apply for the E Visa https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/NoticetoTourists.aspx
The second way: you can go to the Myanmar embassy in nearby your city to submit the form and obtain the visa after a few working days.
 

Vietnam is a tropical country. It is hot and humid. Its dragon shape stretches over 1650km from the north to the south. With over 3000km of coastline along the East Sea, the climate can be very different depending on the area in which it is located.

Temperature: It is hot in the south all year round, whereas “winter” is only in the north. The temperatures can drop to 10°C. These” Cold” periods are not periodic as in other countries in Europe, America or Australia. It depends on cold air currents from China. In general, it does not last over 15 days. Usually, the coldest period is at the end of December.

Precipitation: In the north of Vietnam (Hanoi), the rainy season lasts for 5 months, from mid-May to September. In the center of Vietnam, it occurs later and ends in November. The precipitation is even more abundant in the north.
Storms: Vietnam is one of the most prone countries in Southeast Asia with storms and flooding. Only the north of Vietnam and central parts are really affected by storms which happen from August to September.
There is not really a bad time to visit Vietnam as it may be bad in some regions but you can still experience a radiant time in other regions.

From October to November:
This is the best time to visit Northern Vietnam. It is cool, dry and sunny.  In Central Vietnam, this is known as the end of the rainy season. There is no rain and it's hot in Southern Vietnam at this time.
From December to the end of February:
During this period, Northern Vietnam experiences winter with mist, drizzle, humidity and the temperatures often drop to close to 10°C The center is better with higher temperatures. However, this is the best time to visit the south which has a temperate climate and is very pleasant.
For the beach break holidays, all the most beautiful beaches are in the south where it is always hot and sunny.
 

For details, please have a look at: The Best Time To Visit Vietnam

Laos is a country that has both a tropical and subtropical climate with two great seasons:
The dry season: From October to April. The average temperature is 21°C. During November to February, it is 25°C. However, it may be 40°C in the plains from mid-March to late April.

The rainy season: From May to September. Warm and humid winds from the south will bring the monsoon. During this season, it is difficult to move around. The temperature in Vientiane is 30°C and the precipitation is around 300mm. Sometimes, the thermometer shows up to 45°C but it is not often. Therefore, during this season, we recommend you to visit the northern region of Laos.
 

Cambodia is the same as other tropical countries as it has two seasons. Winter is from November to March. Summer is from May to October (this is the monsoon season).
Winter is relative to the 'dry season' with temperatures from 25°C – 30°C. Summer is very hot (up to 35°C), and is especially humid (violent short rain showers at the end of the day). April and May are two particularly stifling months.
 

It is the same as Cambodia. Myanmar has two different seasons: Dry and wet.
The dry season lasts from October to May and the wet (monsoon) season is from June to September. All the beaches are affected strongly and most of them are closed during the monsoon season. Despite this, you can easily visit other areas such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake without any problems.

Rain is often at night and early morning. In the daytime, there are short, heavy rain showers. 
The great thing is that you will get good deals for traveling during this season.    
The hottest months are from April to June. The temperature usually reaches astronomical levels.

The cold months are from November to February. This is the best time to travel to Myanmar. However, it is also the high season for traveling. The limited number of hotel suppliers may be a problem during this period.
In general, the best time to travel to Myanmar to get good deals or promotions is from May to September. The best time to travel and enjoy the great climate in Myanmar is from October to the end of March. We recommend avoiding April as it is the water festival and New Year. (For those who are keen on festivals only).
 

No vaccination is required to visit our destinations. In case you are taking a specific medical treatment, please bring a sufficient amount of medication for the duration of your trip.
In general, in each destination, there are many kinds of medicine available in pharmacies; however, it would be better to bring your own ones. It is suggested to take: bandages, analgesic pills, antidiarrheal pills, anti-mosquitoes cream, sun cream and medicines against colds and angina.

We suggest you protect yourself from malaria. For more information, please contact the tropical medicine department of your hospital.
Traveling to off–the-beaten-track areas requires a good physical condition. For instance, a long journey on damaged roads may be not good for your fragile back.
 

Here are some tips for choosing your insurance during your trip.
Bank card insurance:
The insurance associates with your credit cards (Visa, Visa Premier, Master Card, Gold) are not enough. They offer different services depending on your banks.
Travel insurance: We advise you to purchase an International health insurance policy. The second insurance can cover all your healthcare costs.
 

During your stay, we recommend staying in good 3+ star accommodations. Therefore, you will be away from this nuisance. In the homestay, your accommodation will include mosquito nets. In case you are going out after sunset, your mosquito repellent is a great choice.

The voltage is 220V-50Hz and all the sockets are suitable for European electrical equipment. 
Electric power may be cut without any notice, especially in the remote areas. Therefore, do not forget to bring your power bank and flashlight.
Please see some kinds of electrical outlets in the photos:

  

To make a better plan for your holiday in Vietnam it is a good idea to check out this 2019 holiday calendar in Vietnam:
Most businesses, government offices, banks and stores will be closed on the following days:

-Christmas and New Year: The expats who live and work in Vietnam or neighboring countries will come to visit Southern Vietnam and Halong bay in large numbers. Accommodation and other services are often booked well in advance. Therefore, we advise you to book your trip as soon as possible to ensure great availability and choice of accommodation.

-Lunar New Year: From 4 February to 8 February 2019: This is the most important festival in Vietnam. All the administrations (governments, bank offices…) are closed. The majority of restaurants in the north stop their business during these days. Most Vietnamese people will have days off to celebrate this holiday. They usually return to their home towns.
In addition, trips 10 days before and after this period are very dense. Therefore, it is very difficult to book trains or domestic flight tickets.
We advise you to avoid traveling during this period for the following reasons:
The price is twice as high than usual.
Some tourist attractions are closed such as markets and tourist sites
Services are no longer ensured: catering, tour guides, transportation and accommodation may not be available due to the lack of manpower.

-Hung King’s Temple Festival: 14 April 2019. There are no disruptions during this holiday.

-Reunification and May Day: 30 April and 1 May 2019: It is also the beginning of summer. This is the high season for local tourists. They will take the opportunity to enjoy a beach break. Therefore, we advise avoiding some beaches such as Cat Ba, Hoian, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island…. These places are full of Vietnamese tourists so it will be very difficult to find accommodation or domestic flights. This also applies to all weekends in the summer season for any beaches and Sapa.

-Vietnam National Day: 2 Sept 2019: This year, it will fall on Sunday so there is a compensation day. Therefore, the holiday will last at least 2- 3 days. Local people will take these opportunities to enjoy the beaches or Sapa. It is less busy than at the beginning of summer. However, we still suggest booking everything in advance to avoid the fully booked services.
 

It is not compulsory. It depends on your satisfaction and your budget.
It is advisable not to give a too small tip. It is better to give nothing than give a small tip.
According to Vietnamese’s customs, tipping is usually given to tour guides, drivers, porters and rowers.
It is better to tip guides around 10 – 20 USD/day for tour guide and less for drivers, if you are satisfied with their services.
Rowing boat or Rickshaw is 1 USD/person
 

The difference in time is normally 4-6 hours from Europe and 10 – 12 hours from America and 3 hours from Australia compared to Asian time.

This is rare. However, it is the same as the rest of the world. Please be aware when walking in the very touristic sites.  Avoid carrying jewelry, as it may make you a target. It is better to leave your precious belongings in the safety box in your hotels.
In recent years, there have been some bag snatches from scooters in some big cities, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Therefore, you have to be careful with your personal belongings when you are in big cities.
 

Local currencies:
Vietnam: Vietnam Dong (VND). 1 USD = 22650 VND. 1 Euro = 27300 VND
Cambodia: Riel (KHR). 1 USD = 4000 KHR. 1 Euro = 4888 KHR
Laos: Kips (LAK). 1 USD = 8300LAK        . 1 Euro = 10 000 LAK
Myanmar: Kyat (MMK). 1 USD = 1355 MMK.    1 Euro = 1633 MMK
You can change money at airports, banks, hotels or any currency exchange shop.

Credit cards:
Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, big restaurants and modern stores, although it is common to pay in cash.
In Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, you should change to their local currency for your personal expenses.
In Cambodia, they accept both local currency and USD.
ATMs: you can withdraw local currencies at ATMs in the cities with limited amounts and an exchange rate following their bank. Therefore, we do not recommend using this other than for urgent cases.
 

Most hotels, restaurants and homestays offer free internet access. Wi-Fi is more and more popular.
Do not hesitate to ask for the Wi-Fi password

As in all the other Asian countries, the main rule is patience.  Avoid raising your voice tone.
Respect the local cultures:
Do not kiss. Just handshaking is popular.
During meals, do not put your chopsticks in the rice bowl vertically. It is a sign of death as it looks like the incense sticks in a funeral.

Wear suitable outfits. Avoid wearing clothes that are too revealing or showing too much skin.
Keeping a good attitude from your “face” is very important. Do not reveal your anger by raising your tone. You will lose face yourself and get no results. Discussions or contradictions must be done with gentleness, reciprocal respect and calmness. The criticism must be solved with a humorous attitude to avoid confrontation. If you are worried, just ask our guides and drivers for help.

To make a call from your country to:
Vietnam: dial 00+84+city code and number ( country code: 0084)
Laos: dial 00+856+city code and number ( country code: 00856)
Cambodia: dial 00+855+city code and number ( country code:00855)
Myanmar: dial 00+95+city code and number( country code: 0095)
Note: make a call to cellphone number: just dial 00+country code + number ( No city code)

To make a call to your country:
Dial: 00 + your country code + city code and number

Most of the main destinations have strong cellphone signals.
We advise you to stop the data roaming or data connection of your smartphones once you arrive in our country. Otherwise, the expensive roaming fee will be charged. 
This does not mean you are not able to contact someone in your country or lose internet connections.
Here are some tips:
You can use our  local data SIM card (3G) for a very reasonable price or use free Wi-Fi at accommodations, restaurants etc. Then you can use your apps such as: skype, Whatsapp, I-message, facetime, Facebook…
 

You are travelling to tropical countries. Only the north of Vietnam is cold (around 10°C), misty and humid in the winter from November to February. Other destinations are warm. So if you travel to Northern Vietnam in the winter, please bring your light, warm, and waterproof clothing.
The summer (from May to September) is hot in all of these countries. You can wear shorts but it is necessary to make sure that you wear suitable outfits while visiting monuments or sacred places.

In case you would like to bring some small gifts from home, we advise bringing some typical styles of your country such as perfume, lipsticks, T-shirts, pens, and local traditional souvenirs…
Please note that the remote or poor places such as the ethnic minority villages, school equipment and clothing are much appreciated.