Dear Traveller, Xin Chao! We hope you are looking forward to your trip to Vietnam. Vietnam is constantly surprising and evolving. The landscapes of vibrant green rice paddies, limestone sea cliffs and great rivers provide a backdrop to a culture that is as tenacious as it is fascinating. Much of life in Vietnam is lived out in the streets so this intoxicating parade of Vietnamese daily life may well leave you with lasting memories just as strong as the superb landscapes, incredible cuisine and fascinating history. Before departure, you should already have arranged your required visa for Vietnam. If you do not have this visa upon your arrival, you will not be allowed to enter the country and may be detained in the airport customs office until alternate arrangements can be made to issue you with a visa. If this is the case, please contact our local Exodus ground operator for assistance by using the emergency telephone number provided. Upon your arrival there are several money changers within the international airport arrivals area where you can exchange some money into the local currency - Vietnam Dong. Alternatively, you can also change money when you arrive at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City as the rates in most of Vietnam hotels are usually quite competitive. For the best return on your money it is recommended that you pay with Vietnam Dong throughout your journey. International ATM’s and banks are available throughout Vietnam (especially in the larger cities), so it should be fairly easy to access money during your travels. Your Exodus Tour Leader (carrying an Exodus welcome sign and wearing an Exodus shirt) will be in the International arrivals waiting area at Ho Chi Minh City airport to meet the group flight. If for some reason you arrive late and miss the group transfer, a taxi can be hired at the taxi stand located outside of the arrivals hall. Please request a metered taxi (make sure the driver turns the meter on) and also ensure that you have the name and address of your hotel handy for the driver The price for the drive from the airport to the hotel is likely to be around $15-20. The drive from the airport in Ho Chi Minh City to the hotel usually takes approximately 15-30 minutes depending on the volume of traffic. As you’ll quickly see, the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is extremely chaotic and really quite a sight to behold. Witnessing a family of 4 riding on the same motorbike is certainly not an uncommon sight! Upon arrival at the hotel, there will be a welcome letter posted by your tour leader at the front desk which will provide you with information regarding the time/location of the group welcome briefing scheduled for that evening. The tour leader’s name and telephone number should also be included in the letter so if you require any urgent assistance or have additional queries, please don’t hesitate to contact him. Your trip notes and pre-departure info will provide you with further details regarding your journey and should you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Exodus executive for Vietnam, Roberta De Adamo [email protected] or by telephone at 0208 772 3923. We look forward to seeing you soon! Long Nguyen PEAK Vietnam Exodus Local Operator in Vietnam