FAQs

What are your booking terms and conditions?
To read our Booking Terms and Conditions, please click here

What happens if my flight is canceled?
Your booking agent protects your trip in several ways. If your flight is canceled due to bad weather, mechanical breakdown of the aircraft you are scheduled to travel, or an organized labor strike (provided the strike occurs after they pay their premium) they can take a later flight. Our 24-hour emergency assistance service can make all the arrangements.

Do you offer any pre-tour or post-packages? How much is it?
Generally, we customize every tour according to your interest. The tour prices vary depending on the chosen activities and time of booking. We are happy to send you an individual tour offer – just give us a call, send us an e-mail, or use the contact form on the website.

How to cancel the booking I have made?
Contact us if you booked directly or else contact your travel agent

How can we transfer payments to you? Do you require a deposit for bookings?
We require an upfront 30% deposit for your reservation. You can pay either by bank transfer or by credit card.

What should I expect if I have booked an airport transfer?
After collecting your luggage and completing the immigration and customs procedures, you will walk through the exit gate. Take your time to look for a burgundy-colored welcome sign with the Asianway Travel logo and your name (as pictured) being held by one of our drivers or tour guides. Airports in South East Asia are often crowded but they are safe. Please take your time to look around and attempt to locate the Trails of Indochina representative.

What happens if I have booked a transfer but cannot find it on arrival at the airport?
Please call the emergency number listed on your tour confirmation voucher. If you don’t have a mobile or cell phone, please ask the airport staff to show you to the nearest phone booth. Normally the transfer driver is at the airport, and it is a matter of giving you directions so that you can find the driver.

What happens if the hotel cannot find our booking when we arrive?
The first step is to ask the tour guide to contact us so that the situation can be resolved straight away. If the hotel is still unable to find your booking, they must contact us at one of the given numbers of contact person.

In case of an emergency on tour, who will I contact?
When on tour, your tour guide is the first point of contact. We have our own operations offices across the region, so emergency assistance is available 24 hours per day. Please see the office contact details listed on your itinerary or tour voucher.

What medical precautions do I need to take before the trip?
It is important to visit your travel medical doctor or specialist travel clinic several months before you travel to allow time for the accurate recommended courses of vaccinations (if necessary). This is particularly important if you suffer from any medical condition and/or are traveling with young children.

Will I get diarrhea/dengue fever/malaria while traveling?
Diarrhea is the most common medical problem that travelers face. Most cases can be attributed to a change in diet which exposes you to different strains of bacteria. Other causes are food poisoning such as typhoid - a form of salmonella - amoebiasis, giardiasis, or simply too much chili.

For mild diarrhea, make sure you keep drinking plenty of fluids, such as re-hydration salts available at all chemists, or diluted soft drinks. Condier medication such as Lomotil or Imodium only if you need to travel, as they are not cures. For severe diarrhea with fever, seek medical attention if symptoms persist for more than 48 hours. Prevention is the best cure, so be careful of what you eat and drink, and also wash your hands before eating.

It is very uncommon for tourists to experience any issues with Malaria or Dengue fever while visiting Southeast Asia. Both diseases are carried by mosquitoes and are present here, but both are rare and not prevalent in the main areas where tourists tend to visit. However, if your visit will take you deep into the jungle or trekking for several days, you may consider consulting your travel doctor about anti-malarial medication.

Are there good hospitals/healthcare in Southeast Asia?
Vietnam: Yes, there are international standard healthcare facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang & Hue.
Cambodia: Yes, there are international standard healthcare facilities in Phnom Penh & Siem Reap.
Laos: No, there are no international standard healthcare facilities in Laos. Although there are good-standard local hospitals in Luang Prabang & Vientiane

Are there many landmines in Southeast Asia?
Vietnam: There are some landmines in the remote countryside however these areas are not visited by tourists.
Cambodia: There are many landmines in some provinces of Cambodia and several National Government Organizations (NGOs) are working to de-mine the areas. In areas where mines are present, the safe paths are clearly marked. Follow the paths and the advice of your tour guide.
Laos: There are many landmines in some provinces of Laos and several NGOs are working to de-mine the areas. In areas where mines are present, the safe paths are clearly marked. Follow the paths and the advice of your tour guide.

How many days in advance should I apply for Travel Insurance for my trip?
As most travel insurance policies would have trip cancellation coverage, you would be suggested to proceed with the insurance as soon as your itinerary is confirmed.

Why should I consider travel insurance?
Illness, an accident, or a death in the family is often a source of great contention between travelers and their travel agents for cancellation, refunds, and compensation on their travel packages. While we can't eliminate travel risks, travel insurance can minimize and protect you against such financial loss. Travel insurance is not compulsory, although it is highly recommended to take out a travel insurance policy before your departure. This will be really helpful in case of a medical emergency evacuation. The travel insurance will cover hospital and medical expenses as a consequence of an accident occurring to the bearer during the period of insurance and/or unforeseen illnesses that arise during that period as well.

In case of loss, damage, or injury, what should I do in order to make a claim?
Please contact your insurance company's claims department immediately. You need to fill in a claim form and submit the following documentary evidence to support your claim: Invoices and/or estimates for property damage, loss, or theft; full medical evidence and receipts for medical claims; birth and death certificates for personal accident/life insurance policies. Again, please make sure you check the policy before purchasing travel insurance.

Is it safe in the cities?
Generally, it is safe in the cities and towns of Southeast Asia. However, wherever there are tourists there are also pickpockets, so please do not carry many valuables when you are out. Use your hotel safe to keep your valuables and the bulk of your cash, credit cards & jewelry.

Are vehicles and boats safe in Southeast Asia?
Asianway Travel has strict guidelines in place in regard to our vehicle and boat supplier selection. We have procedures in place to inspect and audit our supplier's vehicles and boats annually and our criteria were developed to meet an international standard.

What is the vehicle standard I can expect?
The standard of vehicles across South East Asia varies between countries. In Vietnam, the quality of vehicles is more modern. They offer new models equipped with air conditioning, seatbelts, and comfortable seating. Luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, or limousines are available for hire but incur an extra charge.

In Cambodia and Laos, the level of development and tourism is lower than elsewhere in the region, therefore it is necessary for you to lower your expectations of the vehicles. The models are generally older and sometimes they may not be equipped with air conditioning, especially in more remote areas. Wearing a seatbelt is not common practice in these countries and be aware that not all the vehicles in which you travel will be fitted with seatbelts

Can I rent a car or a motorbike and drive myself?
In most countries, you can rent cars and motorbikes to ride yourself as long as you have an international driver’s license. However, please remember traffic and road conditions in South East Asia may be very different from what you are used to and we do not recommend this in general.

What is the limit for luggage on the domestic and regional airlines?
Each airline has its own luggage allowance policy. This amount varies between airlines, however, generally, the limit is 20kgs or 44lbs for the economy, and 40kgs or 88lbs for business class. Excess baggage is charged at a specific rate depending on the individual route

Where can I find current exchange rates for local currency?
One currency website we recommend is www.xe.com. On arrival at your destination, you can find current local exchange rates easily at the hotel reception or at most local banks. The rates offered by the hotels are often favorable to the bank rate as they do not charge commissions.

Should I use Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and/or Traveler’s Cheques?
Credit Cards
In Vietnam and Cambodia, credit cards are widely accepted at most hotels and better restaurants and shops. In Laos, credit cards are accepted in major hotels in main cities like Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Yangon (only). Bear in mind that a surcharge usually applies for credit card purchases at 3% (Visa& Mastercard) or 4% (American Express).
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) ATMs are now found widely across Southeast Asia, except for Myanmar. ATMs accept a wide variety of different card types and usually issue the local currency, except in Cambodia where it is USD. There is a maximum daily withdrawal limit, and this varies between different countries and banks up to from approx US$100 - US$400 per day. There will be a local fee for the ATM service, plus your own bank’s charges for foreign withdrawals and currency exchange.

Traveler’s Cheques
In Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, traveler's cheques are accepted on a limited basis and there is a fee for exchange in most cases.

Should I use USD, Euro, or the local currency?
In Vietnam, you must change money into local currency. However, the Vietnam Dong is not tradable outside Vietnam so you should only change a little at a time. In Cambodia, Laos & Myanmar, you can make larger purchases with USD but you will need some local currency for day-to-day small purchases like local restaurants, a bottle of water, souvenirs, etc. As a general rule across all countries, if shopping in the market or in a shop where you might bargain, you will probably get a better price in the local currency.

How do I bargain when buying things in Southeast Asia?
Bargaining is acceptable and common in small local shops and vendors in the market since they do not have fixed prices. You can start by discounting 50% of the offered price and slowly bargain upwards. The fixed price concept is applicable in international shops and department stores.

What is the best way to ship items home?
The vendor may be able to recommend a freight forwarder or shipping agent. If you choose to ship items home, we highly recommend that you buy shipping insurance and check the policy details including import tax in your country as shops will not be held responsible for damages or taxes incurred en route. It is better to be safe than sorry.

What is a reasonable amount to tip a tour guide or driver if I am happy with their service?
Tipping is not compulsory but it is greatly appreciated throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the service industry. For reference, we have provided a general guideline below.

Tour Guide/Drivers
If you are pleased with the services provided by your tour guide and driver, then a tip for their hard work will be very much appreciated. In general, we recommend around US$7 -10/day/traveler for guides and US$5-7/day/traveler for drivers if less than 4 people in a group. We recommend around US$5-10/day/traveler for guides and US$3-5/day/traveler for drivers if there are 5 people or more.

A tipping of 5-10% of the total bill in restaurants is appreciated. If you stay a couple of days in the same hotel, a tip to the maid service of $1-2/day is appreciated. For porters, US$1-2/time/room is acceptable.

Boat Cruise
If you travel on a local basic boat such as in the Mekong Delta, Nha Trang, Hue, Hoi An, etc., a suggested tip from US$5-10 per boat is appreciated - more or less depending on the group size and the trip's duration. For an overnight boat trip such as in Halong Bay or river cruises, the suggestion is $10 - $15 per person per night to cover all the boat crew.

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.