Best of Indochina 24 Days

What is the weather like in Laos?
Laos has two seasons. The rainy season runs from May through October and the dry season from November to April. For the most part, Laos is hot, although there is a good deal of fluctuation between summer and winter temperatures at higher elevations. The capital, Vientiane, ranges from the upper-20s Celsius (mid-70s Fahrenheit), in January to mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit) in April and May. In the mountainous region, however, temperatures can plummet to near-freezing in December and January. During the rainy season, the highest precipitation is in southern Laos.

What is the weather like in Cambodia?
Cambodia has a tropical climate that is warm and humid with two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season. During the peak of the rainy season (June to August), the humidity is higher and the temperatures can reach the upper 30ºC (86ºF), From September to early November, it is wet and slightly cooler, Seasonal flooding in Phnom Penh and the rest of Cambodia occurs in late July and early August which may cause disruption to travel. The dry season (November to May) is pleasant from November to February and becomes hotter from March to May, where temperatures can soar as high as 38ºC (100ºF).

What is the weather like in Vietnam?
In general, Vietnam has a tropical climate with average annual temperatures ranging from 22ºC (72ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF). There are two distinct seasons: wet and dry. From April to October, most of the country is affected by south-western monsoons. The rains, which tend to be concentrated in the late afternoons, provide welcome relief to the heat. Travel to very remote areas may be affected by the rains, but overall they should not interfere with your trip.

Packing for a trip to Vietnam can be challenging, as the climate can vary depending on when and where you go. When the weather isn’t ideal in one area, it’s great in another. While Hanoi is cold enough to warrant a coat from December to February, this is an excellent time to visit Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Although the temperatures are consistent year round, various parts of the country, at certain times of the year, can be affected by unpredictable storms which may cause flooding.

Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Ninh binh, Halong bay, Sapa, Quang Binh)
The north is defined by four seasons with a cold winter and hot summer. The temperature can range from 5ºC (41ºF) in winter up to 35ºC (95ºF) in the summer. From April to October, it is generally warm and humid with average temperature around 31ºC (90 ºF) and heaviest rainfall between July and August. The average temperature during the cold season (December to February) is 20ºC (68ºF). However, in the mountainous regions in the far north such as Sapa, the temperature can at times drop below zero (32ºF). The loveliest time of the year to visit is from September to December when there’s a good chance of clear skies and low humidity.

Central Vietnam (Hue, Danang, Hoian)
The average high temperature in the central region is 30ºC (86ºF). Heavy storms and highest amount of rainfall occurs from October to December and is prone to flooding. The best time to enjoy the beach weather and cultural sightseeing is between February to August.

Southern Vietnam (Ho chi minh city – other name: called Saigon, Mekong delta, Dalat..)
The south has a dry and rainy season. The highest amount of rainfall is from June to October with 80% average humidity. The average high temperature year round is 32ºC (90ºF). The central highland town of Dalat has a year-round temperate of 18ºC to 21ºC (64ºF to 70ºF) earning it the epithet “City of Eternal Spring”. Beach destinations such as Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc Island are warm and sunny most of the year. However, the rainy season varies for each destination: Nha Trang (October to December); Phan Thiet (July to November); and Phu Quoc (June to September).

How can I use a local mobile phone service?
Mobile phone service is available across in South East Asia, except Myanmar where the GSM network does not support the global network. Ask your guide to bring you to a local phone shop to purchase a SIM card to obtain a local number and prepaid credit. Please make sure your phone set is compatible to the local network. Coverage in rural areas, especially in the Angkor temple areas (Cambodia) is inconsistent.

How can I get in touch with my family, workplace and friends?
Telephone:
Most hotels now have IDD phones in rooms. If you have worldwide coverage, you can bring your own mobile phone and use it to make domestic or international calls. Check with your mobile phone provider for the costs before using it abroad as it may be expensive.

Internet:
Major hotels these days have wireless broadband access in rooms or public areas. Cyber cafes are popular and are easily found in major towns and cities. In many Internet cafes, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafes are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones suitable for Skype conversations.

Which countries require me to obtain a visa?
Most countries in South East Asia require you to obtain a visa. Please check carefully with your travel specialist regarding specific visa requirements for each country you plan to visit as the legislation does change frequently. Thailand offers a free visa on arrival to most nationalities. Other countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar offer a “visa-on-arrival” service that requires you to pay a fee at the airport, or you may prefer to obtain this in advance through the relevant embassy or a visa agent. For visa-on-arrival in Vietnam, you must submit some paperwork before you arrive. Please note there can be long queues on arrival at immigration counters.

What do I need to obtain a visa?
Please make sure your passport is valid for more than 6 months from the date of arrival in each country you are visiting. Please also remember to check that you have sufficient blank pages in your passport as most visas require a full page. There are varying costs of visas in each country and you are usually required to pay a USD fee to process the visa on arrival. Please check this amount before you arrive so that you can have the correct money available.

When I get the visa-on-arrival authorization letter, what should I do?
Once you receive the copy of the visa on arrival authorization letter, please recheck all relevant information including the entry date and passport information. Note down the entry date which must be exact as per the date of your arrival flight. Remember to bring this copy along to board the plane to your destination. If you forget, it could be problematic and you might have to fly to a neighboring country and wait for the new approval letter.

If my flight home from Cambodia has a stopover in Vietnam which I already visited before the Cambodia trip, will I need to get another Vietnam visa?
If your stopover does not involve leaving the airport area then a Vietnam visa is not required. But if it is a connecting flight with a couple of transit hours in between and you want to get to a city for other sightseeing or shopping, then a multi-entry visa is needed.