You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Visa:

Visitors from certain countries require a visa to enter Vietnam. Please see updated information on Vietnam Visa.

If you are staying more than 15 days and from a Western country, you'll still need a visa (or approval letter from an agent) in advance. If your visit is less than 15 days, some nationalities are now visa exempt (for a single visit, not multiple-entry trips).

Tourist visas are valid for either 30 days or 90 days. A single-entry 30-day visa costs $25 USD.

If you are staying longer than 15 days and need to obtain your Visa ahead of time you can find all the information at The Vietnam Immigration Portal.

Visa on Arrival (VOA) is the preferred method for most travellers arriving by air since it's cheaper, faster and you don't have to part with your passport by posting it to an embassy. Online visa agencies email the VOA to you directly. Do this online using either:

Vietnam Visa Choice - Online support from native English-speakers and this agency guarantee your visa will be issued within the time specified.
Vietnam Visa Center - Competent all-rounder with helpful staff well-briefed on the latest visa situation. Offers a two-hour express service for last-minute trips.

It can only be used if you are flying into any of Vietnam's five international airports, not at land crossings. The process is straightforward: you fill out an online application form and pay the agency fee (around $20 USD). You'll then receive by email a VOA approval letter signed by Vietnamese immigration which you print out and show on arrival, where you pay your visa stamping fee in US dollars, cash only. The single-entry stamping fee is $25 USD, a multiple-entry stamping fee is $50 USD. This process takes about 30 - 90 minutes at the airport upon arrival. First, you will go to the right side of the Visa desk and hand over your passport and proof of payment (it is located right in front of the customs security desks, impossible to miss). Approximately 30 - 90 minutes later they will say your name into a microphone and show a picture of your passport on a large tv screen. When you hear your name you can go to the left and side of the visa desk and pick up your passport with the attached Visa.

If you would like additional assistance in securing your visa, we recommend you consider using the services of CIBTVisas: https://cibtvisas.com/?login=WildWomenExp

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

Tipping for all services are included in your trip price with the exception of your main tour leader and your driver.

Tip for your Tour Leader is recommended at $10 USD per person per day. Tour Leader tips can be paid in USD or Vietnamese dong “per person per day” means each wild women in the group contributes this amount.
Tips for driver should range from $5 USD per person per day. Driver's tips can be paid in USD or Vietnamese dong “per person per day” means each wild women in the group contributes this amount.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum of two people per room/tent), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel companion. Single accommodations are available. Please email support@wildwomenexpeditions.com for your request.

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Apricot Hotel

Junk Boat - Indochine La Ha Cruise- March and April trips (co-ed, not Wild Women exclusive)

Junk Boat - Orchid Trendy Cruise- November trips (co-ed, not Wild Women exclusive)

Hidden Charms Hotel

Avana Retreat

ELECTRICITY / INTERNET / WIFI / CELL COVERAGE

In Vietnam, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type A, type C and type D are used. The standard voltage is 110 / 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz.

Free internet access is available at the hotels. You'll be able to use your mobile phone in most urban areas of Vietnam, although remote and mountainous areas may have limited network coverage.

POTABLE WATER

Drinking water is provided throughout the expedition.

It is advised to not drink the tap water, even in major hotels in Vietnam.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

QUICK FACTS ABOUT VIETNAM

🌦 Weather & Climate
The weather in Vietnam will generally be hot and humid. You do need to be prepared for all types of weather though. Mother Nature has been changing the weather patterns lately. Be sure to pack some warm layers for the possibility of a few cool days and evenings.
Weather in Vietnam - Lonely Planet
⚡ Electricity
Electricity in Vietnam is 220V, with a frequency of 50hz.
💻 Useful Websites
Essential guide to Vietnam - Lonely Planet
- Bathrooms
Bathrooms will sometimes be a ceramic throne (most hotels have western flush toilets) and sometimes bathrooms will be VERY simple… think hole in the ground with a beautiful view of nature.

The issue of toilets and what to do with used toilet paper can cause confusion. In general, if there’s a wastepaper basket next to the toilet, that is where the toilet paper goes (many sewage systems cannot handle toilet paper). If there’s no basket, flush paper down the toilet.

Toilet paper is usually provided though it’s wise to keep a stash of your own while on the move.

The scarcity of public toilets is more of a problem for women than for men. Vietnamese men often urinate in public. Women might find roadside toilet stops easier if wearing a sarong. You usually have to pay a few dongs to an attendant to access a public toilet.

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:
The currency of Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong (₫). If you need to change the currency you will usually find a currency exchange counter at international airports. You will have to show your passport in order to be able to exchange money.

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter.

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
One of the most convenient ways to get cash in local currency is by using an ATM. You will often receive better exchange rates, even though you have to pay a service fee, as with most ATMs outside your bank network.
Credit Cards
If you have a credit card, you can use the ATM to purchase Vietnamese currency directly. Your monthly balance usually shows the exchange rate you received on purchases made with the credit card.
Cash
This is the best way to pay for items in the communities we will be visiting.

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Hill Training.

The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].