Your BLT Vietnam & Cambodia Tour starts today:Find out about BLT and your tour organiser

Learn about your destinationAsk question

Sign up

Business and Leisure Travel• North Queensland's largest independent travel agency• Locally owned and operated since 1986• Offices in Cairns, Townsville, Weipa, Horn Island (Australia's top

agency)• Call centre for West Wing aviation, partners in Torres Air Charters• Over 40 local employees• Fully licensed, insured and accredited• Member of the Magellan buying group

For those of you watching this presentation online:My name is Andrea McNamara

I have worked as an international travel consultant for over ten yearsI have been with BLT for the past four years

I am not a professional presenter (hence the amateurish presentation) nor a professional tour guide. I run one group tour per year, the rest of the time I

sit at my desk in Sheridan Street and book travel.

I have a keen interest in all things Asian and am learning Chinese in my free time.I have escorted five tours to China and one to Vietnam and Cambodia. The previous Vietnam/Cambodia Tour was

in 2013, the same tour, the same cruise but a few improvements for 2015

I design our tour and organise it all from start to finish.I make the itinerary, get the best deals from suppliers, airlines, cruise companies, etc. I organise payments and visas, all you have to do is turn up. And then I get to travel with you. We have tour guides at the destination and if all runs well I

just tag along and take you shopping and dancing.

It never quite works out that way: I have been to doctors, dentists, in the back of an ambulance, at police stations and once even in the back of a police car with my tour members.

Travel with Friends

Meet your fellow travellers before departure.

Solo travellers welcome

Age is no barrier: attitude is!Only happy travellers are encouraged to come :)

Getting there:We fly with Cathay Pacific from Cairns to Hong Kong,

overnight in Hong Kong and the next morning from Hong Kong to Hanoi with Dragon Air, Cathay Pacific's short haul carrier.

Route map Hanoi to Hoi An is a flight, Saigon to Siem Reap is a cruise

First Stop Hanoi, Vietnam's Capital City

HanoiA big, bustling city

The old city has narrow streets,

shops and market stalls everywhere

busy, busy friendly people

mopeds everywhere

Challenge: learn to cross a road

order a Pho Soup

Hanoi citizens feel windows are overrated, hence long houses with windows in the front and back only. Our hotel rooms have windows, but can face a courtyard or another building close by.

Accommodation StandardAll or hotels are four star hotels or a little better

Hanoi and Saigon hotels are centrally located city hotels.

Hoi An and Siem Reap accommodation is in resorts.

Some hotels don't have enough rooms of the same room type, you might get upgraded to a higher room category, I have no influence over who gets which room.

1 night junk accommodation was a little basic on the last tour

7 night Mekong cruise: please refer to pictures that follow later

Stop 2, Halong BayWe travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay by coach

It takes several hours in slow traffic

The ride is quite entertaining, spot who can carry the most on one moped

Half way along there is a big souvenir shop. All products there are made by people with birth defects from Agent Orange. If you plan to buy souvenirs, this is a good place to do some charity.

We embark for lunch and disembark after breakfast the next day. Delicious meals are provided on board. Excursions are scheduled

Halong Bayovernight on a Junk Boat

Hoi An• A lovely resort town to relax and unwind• Have a day by the pool• Go to the beach• Take a cooking class• Have some clothes or shoes tailor made• Hire a bike• Shop till you drop• or sit still and do nothing

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)• The Paris of the East• A city with a very French flair• Another busy, busy place but very different from Hanoi• Interesting sight seeing, lots of history• Buzzing city centre with busy night life• Check out 'the Rex' bar or 'Saigon Saigon' or have coffee at the

'Continental Hotel' like 'the quiet American'

Cu Chi Tunnel ExcursionOne of the highlight of the tour, don't miss it.

Whilst Vietnam has a long history of wars with many different countries, they don't dwell on it. This site is factual and educational but not

upsetting.

The Mekong River CruiseThe Mekong River is a very long river, we are only travelling a section of it. Starting in Saigon we travel upstream along the mighty Mekong. My pictures show the Mekong River in March at the very end of dry season, the water levels were

rather low, yet it was still a big river. October is after the wet season, the river should be much bigger and higher

when we travel.

From Phnom Penh to Lake Tonle Sap the river changes direction twice a year. During the wet season it flows towards the lake, in the dry season it drains the lake.

This river is teaming with life. While cruising along you will always see busy people fishing or travelling up and down

the river for trade. There is never a dull moment.There are shore excursions every day, most times small

boats come alongside to pick us up.

Tioum Tou II CruiseThe next few slides are from the Tiou Tou II river cruise in March 2013.The boat has 14 identical cabins.All cabins are twin bedded, have air conditioning, a safe, a western style bathroom with shower. There is a small wardrobe and luggage storage under the beds. There is no TV in the cabins. There is free WiFi on the boat and a TV in the restaurant/common room.

Your cabin is where you sleep and

change your clothes. The place to relax is

upstairs

Cruising

Dining on the ship:Breakfast is buffet style, mainly western dishes

Lunch and Dinner sometimes buffet, sometimes table serviceThe menu is varied and comprises European and Asian delicacies. The pork roast was to die for.

One of the dinner menus

Excursions and River life

Early Morning on the Mekong

Gary the butcher helps a local colleague at the markets

Visit at a primary school above. Bring stickers if you want to be popular

Excursions in Cambodia are a little more challenging. You must be able to climb steps and negotiate rickety walk ways.

Entertainment on and off the boat. No TV, no casino, but plenty of fun with group members. Right: a performance by local children

Interesting markets at every stop

Whilst some prefer quiet conversation …

… others live it up

Our cruise comes to an end near the opening to Lake Tonle Sap. This is a shallow lake, we get transfers across the lake by speed boat, water levels permitting. Last time we had to take the coach journey several hours overland. That is also very interesting, you are not missing out either way.

Our Resort in Siem Reap (near Angkor Wat)

Nice?

Not far from Siem Reap we explore the temples of Angkor Wat.Built as a unifier for the Hindu and Buddhist religions it still is a hauntingly beautiful and spiritual place. It is world heritage listed, yet only small sections are roped off, tourists can walk amongst the ruins almost everywhere. Wear good shoes, lots of stones, steps and potholes.

Siem Reap is a lovely town, it has lots of resorts, shops and markets.There is also bustling night life at Pub Street.

Passport and Visas:

You need a current passportYour passport must have at least six months of validity on return (valid till 04 May 2016), if you have less validity please get it renewedAustralian passport holders need visas for Vietnam and CambodiaOther passport holders please let me check the rules with the embassiesI will give you visa application forms to fill inYou need two passport photos (one for each application), it is ok if they are not the same as on the passportI will collect the application forms and passports in August and send away for the visasIf you are travelling in August, please let me know I can send it away at a date that suits you. Urgent issues are possible for additional cost.

MoneyVietnam• Vietnamese Dong only• You can use American Dollars, they

are widely accepted but it is not encouraged by the government.• ATMs widely available, but on the

cruise you can’t get cash till we get to Phnom Penh.• Use cash, pay with credit card only

at trusted places (our hotels are fine).

Cambodia• The Cambodian Riel and US Dollar

exist parallel• ATMs dispense $US and Riel• If you pay in $US you get Riel as

change• ATMs are easily accessible with your

common cards, they also have ANZ there.• You can settle your cruise account

by credit card.

1 AUD = 16,340.00 Vietnamese Dong1 AUD = 3,144 Cambodian Riel

Currency cheat sheetI make one of these for both currencies and will hand them out with up to date figures.

AUD VND AUD VND AUD VND 1 = 16340.18 10 = 163401.84 100 = 16340182 = 32680.37 15 = 245102.76 200 = 32680373 = 49020.55 20 = 326803.68 300 = 49020554 = 65360.74 25 = 408504.59 400 = 65360745 = 81700.92 30 = 490205.51 500 = 81700926 = 98041.10 35 = 571906.43 600 = 98041107 = 114381.29 40 = 653607.35 700 = 114381298 = 130721.47 45 = 735308.27 800 = 130721479 = 147061.65 50 = 817009.19 900 = 14706165

Tipping & Begging• The tips for drivers and tour guides are included in your tour• Additional tips for bell boys, rickshaw riders, house maids, waitresses are up to you.• Tipping is not compulsory, but I think it’s nice• Remember that many people work on minimum wages and $1 goes a long way. I

recommend taking USD one dollar notes and being generous to those who deserve it.

• Begging is not allowed in Vietnam. There are many disabled people who sell books and post cards.

• There are many beggars in Cambodia. The country is so poor, many people earn only $30 per month. Beware of begging children … not sure if one should encourage that.

• In October 2014 the temperatures in Hanoi were 28-33 Degrees during the day, 22 at night• The same month in Ho Chi Minh City had highs in the early thirties and night

temperatures of 24 Degrees.• It will be hot, lose clothes, shorts, skirts and sandals are all appropriate. Maybe

one nice outfit if we go out at night.• There are no formal nights on the cruise, unless we choose to have one.• When visiting temples and sacred sites please cover your shoulders and knees

(men and women)• There may still be some rain, bring a poncho or rain coat• You can buy really cheap clothes over there

Weather & Clothing

Health• Mobility is important, you must be able to walk a few blocks, get on and off the

boat and climb stairs up to second floor unaided.• There are no compulsory vaccinations but please check with your doctor what is

recommended for you• Take your prescription medication with you• Bring some travel medicines, i.e. Gastro-stop, antiseptic creams or powder, band

aids …• There are good doctors and dentists in Vietnam and Cambodia• Health care is more basic than here, but you will be looked after if need be• Everybody MUST have travel insurance. You can choose which insurance you use,

but provide me with your policy number and emergency phone number if I need to contact them on your behalf. If you don’t have insurance please ask me for a quote.

Payment• The tour cost is as per itinerary• Pay $1000 deposit when you sign up• Pay a further $2000 by 01 June 2015 (my deadline for the cruise

payment)• Pay balance by 01 August 2015• If you pay in full now, there will be no currency adjustment• If you pay later we are subject to currency fluctuations with our boat

and we may have to adjust the price in accordance with the exchange rate.

Tour modifications• You can:• Take only the Vietnam tour and leave the group in Saigon, please ask for

price• Extend your trip in Cambodia or continue on to another country under

your own steam• Take a stopover in Hong Kong on the way back• Upgrade to premium economy or business class on CNS-HKG-Cns, please

ask me for the price• Breakaway fee for the airfare is $50• You cannot fly ahead of the group and meet us in Hong Kong, the group

fare stipulates we must all depart on the same flight.

My ideal group• I have travelled with many groups before, many of them agent groups on famils

and I have been tour leader for seven groups• I am the tour leader for 20+ people, I organise the program, look out for

everyone, take you to doctors and hospitals, sort out problems. But I am not a nurse or a personal assistant. • I want everyone to have fun and get the most out of their trip• This means a little consideration and cooperation on everyone’s part• It’s easy: be on time, share the front seat, speak up if there is a problem (I can’t

fix it if I don’t know about it), don’t be petty, enjoy the ride• Not everything always goes to plan when you travel, sometimes we have to roll

with the punches and make the best of a situation.

Let the fun begin• Sign up today, 8 cabins are still available• If you can’t take part in the tour or wish to travel Indochina on your

own, please have a look at other trips we can offer. • There are many options from the budget to the luxury traveller and

everything in between.• Please contact me for all your questions, whatever I don’t know I

promise to find out for you.