Vidotour

Header

+84 (0) 28 3930 2626

145b Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St., Dist. 3., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Mon – Fri 8.00 – 17.00 (VNT)

Contact Us

Working with us

RATES & VALIDITY

At VIANTOUR, we believe in transparency! Our rates are quoted in U.S. Dollars, reflecting the current exchange rates, and are subject to change without prior notice. To keep things fresh, please contact us directly for the most accurate quotes, as our rates and validity details aren’t featured on our Website.

Heads up! Compulsory gala dinners and peak season surcharges apply during public holidays and national events like Christmas, New Year, Tet Lunar New Year, and more. We’ll keep you informed about any extra charges during the booking process.

GROUP BOOKING POLICY

Traveling with friends? For groups of 15 full-paying travelers, the 16th person gets to join for FREE in a half-twin room! And if your group reaches 20 full-paying travelers, the 21st person can enjoy a single room on us!

CHILD POLICY

Traveling with little adventurers? Here’s how it works: - Infants: Kids under 2 sharing a room with 2 adults can stay for FREE! - Children under 12: If your child shares a room with 2 adults: - Extra bed needed? Enjoy a 15% discount. - No extra bed? They’ll get a fantastic 25% discount.

When it comes to accommodation, children up to 11 years old can share a room with their parents at no additional charge (note: breakfast isn't included). If an extra bed is requested, it will be charged at our standard triple room rate, which includes breakfast too!

DEPOSIT

FIT & Group travelers: - Full payment for air tickets is due within 5 days of booking. - Hotel/ Flight/ Cruise… deposits will be specified at the time of booking.

PAYMENT

FIT travelers: Full prepayment is required 14 days before services commence. Group travelers: Full prepayment is due 30 days prior to service commencement.

CANCELLATIONS

For FIT travelers: Cancellation charges kick in from the day we receive your written notification: - 29-21 days before departure: 10% - 20-11 days before departure: 25% - 10-3 days before departure: 45% - 48 hours before departure: 75% - Within 24 hours/no show: 100%

For any air arrangements, cancellation fees will depend on the type of airfare and airline policies. Please note, refunds won't be granted for any unused or cancelled services after the tour begins.

For Group travelers: Different cancellation policies apply, so please inquire when you confirm your booking.

LIABILITY

At VIANTOUR Indochina Travel, we connect you with airlines, hotels, and local operators but aren't responsible for any loss, injury, or damage sustained by tourists outside the tour programs. Any additional expenses arising from delays, accidents, natural disasters, or political unrest are the responsibility of the travelers. Our programs, prices, and conditions are based on information valid at the time of printing and can change without notice before or during your tour. By participating in our tours, you agree to these terms!

TOUR INFORMATION

Most of our tours have daily departures, and we also offer seat-in-coach tours with fixed dates based on your inquiries. Since flight schedules are often in flux, be prepared for potential adjustments to sightseeing tours. While we offer an array of accommodation options, room availability may vary, especially during high-demand seasons. We strive to provide the best, but sometimes alternative accommodations may not meet our usual standards. Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for any discrepancies related to accommodations in Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia. Also, please note that visa fees are not included in our tour prices.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

- A Welcome Kit & departure gift - Private transportation in comfy, air-conditioned vehicles - Internal airfares (economy class) within Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia - Domestic and international airport taxes - Hotel accommodation (twin share) including breakfast - Meals as detailed in itineraries (food only) - Entrance fees, boat fees, and other specified charges - English-speaking local guides (with options for French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian guides available at extra cost, subject to availability)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to the frequency of flight changes and cancellations, we can’t guarantee that the proposed itinerary can be executed as planned. Changes or cancellations can happen with little notice, even post-confirmation. If there are any schedule changes, we’ll do our utmost to arrange an alternate program within the original quoted costs. We retain the right to pass any additional costs beyond the original budget to tour operators, travel agents, or participants after consulting with the agent.

NOTES

For further terms and conditions, we’re always ready to discuss based on our working history, business volume, and reservation periods. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Travel Consultants for more information or assistance – we’re here to help!

Culture & Tradition

Although court culture has been extinguished, popular street-level culture is vibrant and thriving. Drama is the mainstay of this culture, and just about any celebration is a good excuse for a pwe (show). Performances may recount Buddhist legends, or be more light-hearted entertainments involving slapstick comedy, dance, ensemble singing or giant puppets. Myanmar music is an integral part of a pwe; it originates from Thai and emphasises rhythm and melody. Instruments are predominantly percussive and include drums, boat-shaped harps, gongs and bamboo flutes. Over 85% of the Myanmar population is Theravada Buddhist. In the Rakhine region, towards Bangladesh, there are many Muslims. Christian missionaries have had some success among hill tribes but many remain staunch animists.The toys of Myanmar are not only for the children but also famous in the world, known as the Marionettes (or) Puppets of Myanmar. Its a combination of Myanmar Art and Culture, together to show the inner expressions of the Myanmar people. Myanmar also have festivals all around the year, at least one in each month of the year. The most famous festival of Myanmar is the Thingyan Water Festival, which is held from 13 April to 16 April every year.

MYANMAR MARRIAGE/WEDDING
In Myanmar, regardless of the means by which a young couple is brought together, the marriage ties are social rather than religious. The Myanmar custom is to do court marriage in front of the honorable judge superiors by signing officially before celebrating ceremony.
In modern times, especially among urban people, it is usual for some sort of public ceremony and reception to be held in the presence of parents and elders. The bride and groom are taken to their place in the stage by Master of ceremonies. The master of ceremony reads the Aubur-Zar, eulogy and oversees the performance of the marriage rites such as placing a four-foot long chain around the couple's necks, putting their hands together with palms facing each other, immersing their joined hands in a silver bowl containing scented water and soon. At the conclusion of the ceremony the guests are entertained with music & refreshments. The newlyweds greet the guests and thank them for gracing the occasion with their presence. After the festivities are over, the young couple pay respect (Kadaw) to the respective parents and elders. The newlyweds then proceed to prominent pagodas and say prayers for “successive long marriage life.
All is not yet over -- laughing friends and relatives bar the entrance of nuptial chamber by a gold chain and demand payment for entry. This payment is known as gare-boe “stone money". This is traditional custom of demanding money from the newly-married couple as joyous.

NOVITIATION CEREMONY
As the majority of Myanmar are Buddhist, novitiation is vitally important. Novitiation is the act of putting one's son into the Buddha's order of the Sangha.
In Myanmar culture, mothers pray for sons so that they could perform this religious duty of novitiation ceremony for their sons. The parent are very proud to have their sons become novice and improve their religious training.
During the summer holidays young boys enter the Buddhist order and become a 'son of the Buddha' for a week or more.
What the ceremony includes depends on the financial status of the parents. There may be entertainment by Myanmar culture orchestras; there may be a procession of the novice-to-be through the town on elephant, or a house for the humble people on ox carts. The noviate wears a crown made of gold thread and glittery sequins, dresses in princely garments of silk, wears a gold headdress and is followed by his parents, family members and local damsels carryings sets of yellow robes, offerings, ornate betel box and by music troupes and dancers.
Novices-to-be have to shave their heads. The boy's mother and father hold a white cloth to receive the falling hair, which they bury near some sacred place. Then they have to beg permission of the monk to be novitiates as they hold a roll of yellow robe with both hands. After investing the monks with the robes, the boys become novices. During his novice hood, he will not take any food after noon, but can have soft drink in the evening.
Novices must keep ten precepts and study Buddha's teaching. They must also meditate. Entering into the novice hood is the first step for them to understand the rules of nature in order to live the rest of their lives meaningfully, peacefully and successfully.

PUPPET
Myanmar puppets are made of clays and wood. For a toy prince puppet, a manly chest and wing-like jacket, accentuated by a wasp's waist and a sarong tucked underneath like a pant complete the picture. The jacket and sarong are made of thin muslin with a design of small paper clippings done attractively. Puppets are manipulated by strings attached at elbows, hands and knees. There are horses, monkeys, giants, elephants, tigers, clowns, even princes. Myanmar puppets are a famous cultural aspect of Myanmar. Puppet shows can be seen at some restaurants or at certain celebrations.

BETEL LEAVES AND BETEL BOXES
Betel, tobacco and pickled tea is an expression in Myanmar Language that speaks of hospitality and welcomes a visitor to one's home.
Betel boxes, along with bowls and trays of all sizes and shapes, were important items of the regalia of the Myanmar Kings. Betel Boxes may be lacquer, silver or bronze, ornate or plain, depending on the wealth of the owner, and are part of the furnishings in the knife is.
The circular betel box at first glance, looks solid, but is in reality nicely fitted with a lid over a small container for holding betel nut. The top of the bowl is fitted with two shallow trays, one on top of the other. The upper tray has four little cups to hold ingredients for making betel nuts: cloves, cutch, and seeds, shredded wild Licorice or sweet creeper (Nwe-Cho). Lime, soft and pure, is kept in the brass phial. In the second tray is a layer of dried tobacco leaves. Only when the tray is taken out of the main bowl are green fresh betel leaves revealed.
Betel boxes also played an important part in courtship some fifty or sixty years ago. In those days houses had a kind of Loggia for marriageable girls of the family to entertain their suitors by betel box. The girl chatted with the young men until she chose the person she liked. She showed her preference for a particular young man by giving him a betel quid made of her own hands. The habit of serving the visitor with betel box is a sweet habitual custom of Myanmar people since Myanmar Kings era till now in some parts of the country

Festival & Events

Visa Requirements
A tourist visa for Myanmar can be obtained from any Myanmar embassy or consulate office world-wide. Visas are valid for 28 days after entering Myanmar and can take from one day to
two weeks or more to obtain, depending on the embassy involved and the current regulations. VISA ON ARRIVAL can also be arranged but needs at least 3 weeks.

Customs

When traveling from Cambodia to Vietnam be sure to detail a brief list of all antiques purchased in Cambodia. Upon arrival in Vietnam, have Vietnamese customs authorities confirmed and stamped this brief list. Basically, there are strict restrictions on exporting certain Vietnamese arts and antiques so identifying goods purchased in Cambodia in advance are a best thing to do.

Money

MONEY MATTERS * CREDIT CARD & TRAVELERS CHECK ALERT!!
As a result of the US sanctions, credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted in Myanmar at most hotels or at any banks. A few deluxe hotels have found a way to accept credit cards primarily for expenses. Therefore travellers should bring enough CASH for all expected expenses (USD or Euros are the easiest- larger bills get slightly better rate). * Please also note there are no ATM machines.

Currency - The Myanmar currency is known as the 'kyat' (pronounced 'chaat'). The official rate is about 6 kyat to the dollar but the 'real' rate is much higher. Visitors may change their dollars into kyat at the local market rate. Major hotels and a few restaurants will charge in USD but most other expenses in Myanmar will be in kyats.
For a general reference, as of January, 2010 the approximate exchange rate was One USD = 1000 Kyats, however this can vary up or down over a period of days and weeks.

Health & Safety

Myanmar is actually one of the safest countries in the world to visit. With a predominantly Buddhist populace and strict police, there is very little street crime and virtually none directed at tourists. Of course ordinary precautions such as not leaving your camera lying unattended should be taken. From a health stand point, visitors should have health insurance including medi- evac if needed as Myanmar does not have the facilities or enough skilled practitioners in many areas to provide more than basic health care if you are injured or sick. While no immunizations are formally required, malaria prophylaxis is often recommended by traveler’s personal physicians. Occasionally, typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations are also recommended. Drink only bottled or boiled water and it is suggested that food not be purchased from sidewalk vendors. Insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites is recommended, especially up-country and in wooded areas. The main destinations of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake are considered essentially non-malaria areas.

Post & Communications

Regular mail service does operate in Myanmar but it may not always be reliable.
Although it is allowed to bring mobile phones into Myanmar they will not work unless the visitor hires a SIM card locally, for use in Myanmar. These are available in Yangon and can be arranged through your local agent. International phone service is available at most major hotels though travelers should always check the rates before using IDD lines to ensure that the rate is not too high. In Yangon and Mandalay overseas phone service is fairly easy but in Bagan and more so Inle Lake, can be difficult though deluxe hotels at Bagan and Inle Lake can normally provide email service. There are some Internet Cafes in Yangon and Mandalay and major hotels will have internet and email as well.

Shopping & Dining

Yangon and Mandalay have some larger shops that carry modern items but the best part of shopping in Myanmar is at the small shops and local markets (as well as at the larger Scott market in Yangon ) where you may find a wide variety of interesting artifact and craft goods of Myanmar.
Yangon has some excellent venues for fine dining topped by the award winning Le Planteur restaurant which serves French Indo-cuisine. For the most part as one travels in Myanmar, and if eating outside a major hotel, meals are more of the traditional Chinese-Burmese dishes which are very delicious. While dining in major hotels, usually Asian and International style cuisine are both offered.

Other tips


LOCAL TIME
Myanmar Time is GMT + 6.5 (and is 30 minutes behind Bangkok time)
For comparison: New York is GMT - 5, Paris is GMT + 1, and Hong Kong is GMT +8

LANGUAGE & RELIGION
Myanmar people speak Burmese although quite a few can also speak English.
The vast majority of Myanmar people (about 87%) are Buddhist with a minority of Christian, Muslim and Hindu.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Myanmar has three "seasons": Hot Season - March to mid-May with average temperatures 25-38 C Rainy Season - mid-May to September with average temperatures 23-33 C. "Winter" Season - October to February with average temperatures 18-24 C. The main tourist season is during the Winter season, but it doesn't rain much up-country and the travel season is now virtually all year long. In fact many prefer the rainy season for its lack of crowds and the cool weather.

WHAT TO WEAR
Warm weather clothing is quite adequate for Yangon and most tourist spots although up-country around the Inle Lake area and other higher elevations the temperature may reach near freezing at night during the 'winter' season. Travelers should bring appropriate cold weather clothing if traveling there. Additionally, suggestive or revealing clothing is never a good idea in this conservative and largely Buddhist culture. When visiting religious shrines and temples, modest dress is required and easily removable footwear (such as sandals) is recommended since such sacred grounds must be visited only in barefeet (no socks either). Hats and sunglasses are usually appreciated, as is an umbrella for the rainy season. (May – September). Sunscreen will also be of use to travelers as Myanmar is a sunny place, especially in high season (Oct – April)

VOLTAGE
The voltage throughout Myanmar is 220-230 Volts AC. Because the voltage may be inconsistent, valuable or sensitive equipment like stereos and computers should have appropriate electronic protection. Electrical sockets may be two pronged, usually able to take round or blade style plugs though sometimes you need a 3 prong adaptor. The most convenient solution is a universal adapter able to fit any of these configurations.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Cameras, (still, video and digital) are permitted in Myanmar. Some good quality film is available in Yangon and Mandalay at the better hotels. However for professional quality film it is best to bring your own as the selection here is limited. Print film is generally available in all the main tourist areas. Restrictions on photography include military facilities and any structure considered strategic (including bridges and train stations).

COMMUNICATIONS
Although it is allowed to bring mobile phones into Myanmar they will not work (only mobile phones on the local system function in Myanmar). Travelers should always check the rates before using IDD lines as the cost can be quite high at hotels. In Yangon and Mandalay overseas communication is fairly easy but in Bagan and especially Inle Lake, can be difficult although deluxe hotels at Bagan and Inle Lake may be able to provide email service. There are some Internet Cafes in Yangon and Mandalay but not elsewhere. Major hotels will have internet and email as well though access to hotmail, gmail, and yahoo accounts are not currently allowed.

GRATUITIES & TIPPING
No one should feel obligated, but it is common to tip drivers, guides, waiters at local restaurants and also usually hotel porters for good service.

RULES OF THE ROAD
In Myanmar cars, trucks, and buses rank first on the roads with pedestrians a distant second. Since Myanmar drivers assume that pedestrians will make way for them, travelers should be alert when crossing streets, especially in busy downtown Yangon.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX
There is a departure tax of $US 10 payable on international flights. There are no taxes for domestic flights.