Our tour groups average around 12 - 16 people. We have run Special Request tours with as few as 3 clients and a couple of tours with more then 20 clients.
Yes it is. We call it a Ground Only Tour. You would meet the tour group in our arrival city and depart the tour in our departure city. You would be responsible for getting yourself to and from Vietnam.
Although it is called a Ground Only Tour, it will include all airline flights within Vietnam that the tour is scheduled to take. Everything listed on our itinerary would be included except for:
International roundtrip airfare from our west coast gateway.
Vietnam Visa Processing and fees.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance may not be available.
Please contact us if you have any additional questions.
Yes, everyone is welcome on our tours.
During the Vietnam War, South Vietnam was divided into four Corps Tactical Zones, also called Military Regions, and the Special Capital Zone (Saigon area) for purposes of military operations. The four Corps Tactical Zones were identified as I-Corps (pronounced as "EYE"), II-Corps, III-Corps and IV-Corps. Each Corps was an administrative and command area for tactical operations. I-Corps was located in the region nearest North Vietnam and adjacent to the DMZ.
Yes they are! We have had clients join us from Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom. We have also had inquiries from Guatemala, Hong Kong and Switzerland.
We will quote you a price for our "Ground Only Tour." See "land-only arrangement" above.
YES! We take great pride in getting our clients to the places they need to visit. Each tour is customized to the participants on the trip. The itineraries listed are our starting point. Once you sign up and send in your Special Request Form, we start adding additional locations into the itinerary.
Yes, some of our tours do go to Saigon.
Many of our tours are in the I-Corps area and as such they do not go through Saigon. About twice a year we do have a tour that does go to Saigon (please check our itineraries for those tours).
We can also provide you with what we call a Break-Away tour. If you are on one of our non-Saigon tours, during the last 3 or 4 days you would leave that tour, and along with one of VBTours tour guides, you would fly to Saigon to visit the locations that you want to see.
Please contact us if you have any additional questions.
Yes, you will have time on your own. The amount of time depends upon the tour and what cities we are in.
You will be surprised by the warmth of your reception. The Vietnamese live in the present and the future, the war is history. They warmly welcome people from all countries and races.
YES - Countries in the North America, parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean and parts or Pacific operate on 110 Volt / 60 Hz, while the rest of the world operates on 220 Volt / 50 Hz. In general, 110V includes voltage range of 100-125V and 220V includes 220-250V. Many countries operate on both 110V and 220V. Some hotels in Vietnam have dual voltage, but many use only 220V.
As mentioned above, not only does the voltage differ within countries but so does frequency (cycles per second). Countries use either 60 Hz (USA) or 50 Hz (VN).
Today the Internet is widely available throughout most towns and cities in Vietnam.
Almost all of the hotels that we stay at offer free Internet access from at least one or two computers located in the lobby or downstairs area. Cyber-cafes are also available almost everywhere.
If you are bringing your own laptop, notebook or netbook computer, many of the hotels provide free wireless Internet connections right in your room.
Other hotels provide in room wired instead of wireless Internet access. They also provide the Cat-5 cable to connect your computer to the network. You might want to bring along your own Cat-5 cable in case theirs is missing or damaged.
When using the Cyber-cafes, the hotel provided computers or the hotels computer networks, you should assume that all of these networks are unsecured and you should take all necessary precautions to protect your personnel information while using these resources.
Remember that the power supply voltage may vary from that at home, risking damage to your equipment. See our FAQ question: Is the electricity different in Vietnam?.
Yes/Maybe - If your cell phone uses the GSM quad-band network technology.
No - If your cell phone uses the CDMA network technology.
Check with your cell phone provider for the answer specific to your cell phone and service contract.
Yes, you will need a passport to visit Vietnam. Your passport needs to be:
valid
original signed
valid for 6 months beyond your stay in Vietnam
with at least two blank visa pages available for the Vietnam visa and arrival/departure stamps.
The Amendment pages in the back of the passport are not suitable for Vietnamese visa stamps.
Yes! If you are an USA Citizen, you will need a Visa to visit Vietnam. Vietnam Battlefield Tours will apply for your Electronic Visa when we book your tour. We will need from you a Clear, Full Color copy of your Passport Information Page with the adjoining signed Signature Page (Be careful to NOT cut off the numbers on the bottom and sides), plus two clear, Full Color 2x2 Passport Photos. You should submit these with your Registration Package.
If you are traveling with us on the “Ground Only” option, you might be required to get your own Visa. You will need to check with us.
Not a USA Citizen? - Vietnam has different requirements for different countries. You should check with the Vietnamese Embassy in your country for their requirements.
Go to our Tours Forms Page. All information is listed there along with the forms you will need to register for a tour.
YES, you can use a credit card to pay for your Tour.
Our Preferred Method of Payment is a Check. If you wish to pay by Credit Card, an additional 3.5% will be added to the amount that you are Charging.
Call our toll free phone number at 887-231-9277 and speak to us directly. We will need you credit card information, and your credit card billing information so that we can bill your credit card directly. Or, if you like, we can issue you an invoice through PayPal. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express.
Our tour prices are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling alone but, would prefer to share a room we will do everything we can to assign you a roommate (like-gender) but we can't guarantee that we will be able to do so. If we are not able to assign you a roommate, then the tour specific single occupancy supplement will be assessed.
A single supplement is a fee imposed by hotels and guesthouses on single travelers. Tour prices are quoted based on two people sharing accommodations. If someone takes a room by themselves, they have to pay the per-person price plus the single supplement fee. Check the tour itinerary for the single supplement cost for that tour.
Yes, we do our best to book a room for you based on your requirements. Please note that Vietnam does not have the same stringent non-smoking polices as the U.S.
Travel Insurance is Highly Recommended. Vietnam Battlefield Tours Does Not Provide Travel Insurance nor do we Sell Travel Insurance.
The travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth will let you compare travel insurance policies from many different companies. Once you decide on a policy, you can purchase it directly from their website located here: http://www.squaremouth.com/
Cancellations/Deposits for the tour programs and all optional extensions are refundable when a cancellation notice is received in writing 76 days prior to the date of tour departure. Cancellations less than 76 days, but before 46 days prior to date of tour departure, are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. Within 45 days prior to date of tour departure, all payments are non-refundable. See our Terms & Conditions.
Trip Cancellation Insurance would cover all payments not refunded by VIETNAM Battlefield Tours.
Before My Trip Departs
Because of liability restrictions, we cannot off medical advice. You will need to check with your doctor or other health care provider about any vaccinations that you might need or want to get before visiting Vietnam.
For detailed Health Information for Travelers to Vietnam, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's web site at this link: CDC
For our International Flights, we use EVA Airlines; for our Domestic Flights, in Vietnam, we use Vietnam Airlines.
The short answer is: 1 piece of checked baggage per person, baggage shall not exceed 20kg (44 lb).
The more detailed answer involves your
Domestic Flight(s) in the U.S. getting to and from our departure city (Los Angeles)
Your International Flights to and from Vietnam and
Finally your Domestic Flights in Vietnam.
Domestic Flights within the United States - getting to/from our departure city (Los Angeles). You should check with your air carrier for baggage limits and fees.
International Flight to/from our departure city to Vietnam on EVA Airlines -
2 pieces of checked baggage per person, each baggage shall not exceed 23kg (50 lb)
1 carry on item (small suitcase or backpack). This should not exceed 7kg (15.4 lb) or be larger than (22 x 14 x 9 inches) in size.
1 personnel item (lady's purse or briefcase).
Domestic Flight within Vietnam on Vietnam Airlines -
1 piece of checked baggage per person, baggage shall not exceed 20kg (44 lb)
1 carry on item (small suitcase or backpack). This should not exceed 7kg (15.4 lb) or be larger than (22 x 14 x 9 inches) in size.
1 personnel item (lady's purse or briefcase).
Yes. Once we arrive in Vietnam and your bags are loaded onto the bus, the bus driver with handle your bags between the bus and the hotels. The hotel bellmen will handle your bags between the hotel lobby and your room. You are expected to "Sherpa" your own baggage to and from the airport in Los Angeles, and once in Vietnam, between the airport baggage terminal and our tour bus.
The hotels in Lao Bao and Tay Ninh in which we occasionally stay don't have bellmen. In those hotels, you would have to take your own bags up to your room.
Tipping is not expected in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. You are responsible for nominal tips (usually $1.00 - $2.00) to hotel bellhops or laundry personnel, if you choose to use them. If you wish to tip the staff at the hotel or restaurant for their service, give the tip directly to that person. If you have any questions about tipping while on tour, ask your American tour guide.
Vietnam Battlefield Tours will present all end-of-tour gratuities to our Vietnamese guides, our intrepid bus drivers, and our bulk-baggage handlers. You will not be asked to contribute. We choose to do this rather than annoy you with the awkward and confusing process of how much to give and to whom.
Please note that Vietnam Battlefield Tour guides are prohibited from accepting personal gratuities.
Yes, we can!
We stay at the Four Points by Sheraton - Los Angeles International Airport Hotel. Here is the contact information:
The Four Points Sheraton 9750 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Phone 310-645-4600 or Toll Free at 888-627-8640.
Reservations can be made by calling either of the phone numbers above or on line from this link. Four Points by Sheraton.
Here are a couple of options for you.
(1) If you are staying at the Four Points Hotel you can arrange for your car to be parked there while you are on your tour to Vietnam. Check their website for pricing and availability.
(2) Another option is to reserve a parking space in one of the nearby parking lots around LAX. All lots have shuttles to and from the airport. Some parking lots are a little more convenient and some are more secure than others. Prices do vary so you might want to check out a few different ones.
When I park at LAX, I park at the Hilton LAX parking lot. Parking is secure in the hotel's underground parking structure. Elevators bring you from the parking garage right up into the hotel's lobby and you can catch the airport shuttle right outside the door. Gene Miller
The Hilton LAX Hotel is located 0.4 miles from the Four Points Hotel.
On The Road In Vietnam
As Vietnam's economy and tourism develops, new hotels are founded almost weekly. Many of these hotels are rated as 3-star or above (according to international standards). Most of the hotels have comfortable and convenient facilities.
Services offered by hotels 3-star (or above) usually include:
All rooms are air-conditioned, equipped with a color TV, telephone, refrigerator and a double curtain.
All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, disinfected towels, glasses, soap, bath cream, shampoo, toilet paper, tooth brushes, and sometimes razors.
All employees wear uniforms to indicate their respective jobs, and positions.
Bedrooms consist of one or two beds, a wardrobe, a dressing table, ceiling and bedside lamps.
Additional facilities include restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and swimming pools.
Yes. Hotels entertaining foreign guests have English speaking staff. If you need help, you can ask the receptionists.
Yes. Generally laundry service is offered in all hotels. The laundry handed in the morning is returned the next day. Extra fees are charged if you ask for an express service. In some cities, service is available outside the hotel at a cheaper price.
Yes. Almost all of the hotels that we stay in while in Vietnam provide hair driers in the bathroom. If you are on a tour that will be spending a night in Lao Bao, then you might be without a hair drier for a day.
Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency of Vietnam. Bill denominations exist in 1,000; 2,000; 5,000; 10,000; 20,000; 50,000, 100,000; and a newly issued 500,000 bill that is worth approximately $22.00.
Many shops, restaurants, and hotels now accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. While a credit card is essential to traveling, it is often the case that you get better prices for cash, especially VND.
While it is illegal to import or export VND, you can change back your surplus of VND when leaving the country at the international airports.
The exchange rate is roughly 23,467 dong to $1.00 (1/27/2023). This is close enough for most street transactions.
You will probably want to change about $50 - $100 into dong. You will have ample time to do so. Keep in mind that over the last couple years, banks have dramatically increased the fees they charge for overseas transactions using credit and debit cards. While these fees are legal, they're basically another way for credit card companies to wring a few more dollars out of their customers.
For years, Visa and MasterCard have levied a 1 percent fee on international transactions. Recently, banks that issue those cards are tacking on an additional 1 percent to 2 percent. These are often called "currency-conversion fees" or "foreign transaction fees." (You'll also be charged a fee for withdrawing cash using your ATM card, so there's no way to get by completely fee-free.)
You should check with your Credit Card Issuer and see which one has the lowest fees.
You can exchange U.S. Dollars at any bank. The hotel desk can also exchange small amounts of money, but if everyone on the tour tries to exchange a hundred dollars on the same day, it isn't going to happen.
ATM machines are everywhere in the cities so you can use your AMT cards here. Be sure to let your bank know that you are traveling to Vietnam so that your card does not get shut down.
Most folks bring between $400 - $800 --- it all depends on how impressed you are with the goodies there, or how expensive your tastes are. Some veterans have shipped home fantastic marble statuary worth thousands, but they paid with a credit card.
Some stores have started to take Visa and Mastercard, but just a few. You may bring back to CONUS, a total of $800 per person in purchases without having to pay duty.
The U.S. dollar is the preferred currency for most items, but for some reason your drinks will be slightly cheaper if you use dong. As you know, you will have to buy your own drinks. Water, beer, and soda generally run about $1 - $2 each in the hotels and restaurants.
It is unwise to risk your health by drinking the tap water, although some luxury hotels claim that their tap water is purified and safe to drink.
Most hotels provide bottled water daily free of charge. Bottled water is also widely available in stores, restaurants, and street kiosks.
Once we head out of town and into the bush, we will be consuming large quantities of bottled drinking water. We will make sure you have enough water with you. You may want to bring Gatorade powder mix for your water. Due to the extreme temperatures in Vietnam, you will lose salt and electrolytes from perspiration, as well as from physical exertion. Gatorade may help to replace what you lose. Please check with your doctor if you cannot tolerate Gatorade or an equivalent product.
Smoking is not permitted in aircraft, motor coaches, museums, restaurants, or any place where smoking is prohibited.
VIETNAM Battlefield Tours -
5150 Broadway St. #473 -
San Antonio, TX 78209-5710 -
Phone: 1-210-568-9500 - Toll Free: 1-877-231-9277
