Frequently asked questions

A. Absolutely! We utilize many different products throughout our tailor-made tours focusing on community development, environmental protection, wildlife care, and social empowerment to at-risk groups. Some examples include

• Cooking classes and lunch stops at KOTO Restaurant in Hanoi
• Walking, cycling, cyclo/trishaw, Vespa, and electric car city tours when available
• Treks and homestays with Sapa O’Chau and other local communities throughout Southeast Asia
• Afternoon tea and dessert making at the Hoi An Reaching Out Teahouse
• Textile classes at Ock Pop Tok in Luang Prabang
• PHARE Circus in Siem Reap and Battambang
• Jaan Bai lunch stop in Battambang
• Elephant Sanctuary Visits in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
• Bear Sanctuary visits in Vietnam and Laos

In addition, we work with suppliers who understand the importance of protecting the environment, wildlife, and local communities. We only partner with Halong Bay cruises committed to protecting the area in regards to water pollution, regular trash clean-ups, and wildlife conservation.

A. While we do include information in our Tour Information section about visa requirements, it is always best to check your government’s official travel website to know the passport and visa requirements needed for each destination in your itinerary, as visa rules can change quickly and without warning. Examples of this page include

• US Citizens
• AUS Citizens
• UK Citizens

A. Please contact the relevant local embassy for information on how to best organise your visa/s. Some countries like Cambodia and Myanmar have easy-to-use online visa application forms to DIY, while other countries require more documentation, like Vietnam. In case of travel to Vietnam or multi-destination tours, Mundo Asia can help assist you with your application and organization to ensure more ease and comfort.

A. Mundo Asia can’t assist in the actual application of visas, but you can do this through the embassy or with our support.

A. For certain destinations, such as Vietnam, Mundo Asia assists in the application for the letter of invitation to enter the country. The ‘visa section’ of the Tour Information section will include information about what you need to send to us (scanned passports, flight tickets, etc.).

A. Yes, in some cases, there are additional fees to be paid at the airport to receive your visa, such as Visa On Arrival applications in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The fees depend on the duration of your stay and nationality of your passport.

A. Definitely! Travel insurance is mandatory for all guests and should be taken out at the time of booking. We suggest your policy to cover cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects (personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency evacuation) with a recommended minimum coverage of 200,000.00 USD for each of the categories of cover.

A. Yes, we strongly recommend having a personal insurance that covers cancellations, curtailments and loss of luggage and personal effects.

A. Please provide the travel insurance policy number and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number on the first day of the trip. If your travel insurance is connected to a credit card or bank account, please give all your details, such as he insurance policy number and emergency contact number rather than only the bank’s name and credit card details.

A. It is advised to travel with cash as well as a credit or debit card. Travellers’ cheques are not common practice anymore and not used within most destinations in Southeast Asia. Visa cards are the most accepted, following with Mastercard and then American Express.
Having a couple of options will assure that you are covered if one doesn’t work. In certain countries, it comes down to complete luck if you can withdraw money. Since many of the destinations we cover are cash-based societies, ensure you have enough cash secured in a money-belt or locked object in case payment by card is not available.

A. Currency changes depending on the destination(s) visited. Bring enough in USD, EUR, or GBP to exchange to local currency in your destination. Keep in mind some currencies, like the Vietnam Dong, Myanmar Kyatt, Laotian Kip, and Cambodian Riel cannot be exchanged outside of their respective countries, so if you have a lot of this currency at the end of the trip, exchange it back to a more popular currency like USD, EUR, or GBP.

A. This really depends on you. See our destination guides here for detailed information on standard costs in each country for local transport, meals, and souvenir prices.

A. Generally speaking, all our destinations are safe to travel to. Of course, when booking a trip with us, you acknowledge the nature of the itinerary is adventurous and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You will visit places where the political, cultural and geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in your daily life. Mundo Asia uses information from government foreign departments and reports from its own contacts in assessing whether the itinerary should operate.

A. While we take all the precautions we can to make sure your belongings are safe, we are travelling to some exciting destinations that are sometimes home to some pretty skilled thieves. Do not bring too many valuable things with you like expensive jewelry or thousands of dollars in cash. Whatever valuable items you may have, please make use of the safe in your hotel room and lock your door at all times when leaving the hotel. If there is no safe in the room, use the hotel’s safe behind the front desk for valuables, with proof of receipt given once you hand the materials over to the front desk. Travel insurance is a must and a lockable bag or money belt will always help too.

A. Medical and vaccination requirements differ between nations and as we are not medical experts or doctors, we, unfortunately, cannot advise on this issue. Please see your general practitioner or travel doctor for details and advice about current vaccination requirements.

A. Availability of refrigeration cannot be guaranteed. As a general rule, our city hotels provide access to small fridges usually in the room; however, outside of this, especially when trekking or in homestay environments, you cannot rely on access to refrigeration. Please be sure to advise Mundo Asia if you are travelling with medication that requires refrigeration.

A. Medical and vaccination requirements differ between nations and as we are not medical experts or doctors, we, unfortunately, cannot advise on this issue. Please see your local general practitioner or travel doctor for details and advice about current vaccination requirements.

A. Our tour guides are trained to deal with these situations and we will endeavor to get you help as quickly as possible. If you must leave the trip early due to illness, our local offices will help you find appropriate medical care and ensure someone at home is aware of the situation.
We will do whatever we can to keep you safe. Your travel insurance, which is compulsory on all our trips, should cover any costs incurred if illness occurs.

A. Sure! Solo travel is so rewarding and we want to help you enjoy it to the fullest. For fixed departures, Mundo Asia’s trips are guaranteed to depart once they have a single fully-paid traveller, unless there is a minimum group size otherwise specifically specified.

A. Definitely! A general rule of thumb in Southeast Asia is to keep public displays of affection like kissing to a minimum, regardless of setting and who you love, as it is not considered proper etiquette and is usually kept behind closed doors.

A. Of course! See our excellent range of family itineraries here.

A. We pride ourselves on organizing the perfect mix of experiences in our family programs. Since our programs are all highly-customizable and created by local travel experts, we are able to add a wide array of activities suitable for every member of your family.

A. Unless explicitly stated on our adventure tour ideas, our itineraries are very safe with the average amount of fitness needed to complete all activities. Please note you do not have to participate in any activity you feel is too physically demanding, and we are able to completely customize each activity to your liking. We are also able to provide details on mandatory health requirements; however, the staff of Mundo Asia are not medical experts. Please ensure you have obtained proper and detailed medical advice at least two months prior to travel.

A. It depends on the destination(s) visited and type of holiday you choose. Please read our travel blog for more ideas on what to bring on your program.

A. Mundo Asia’s trips are guaranteed to depart once they have a single fully-paid traveller, unless there is a minimum group size otherwise specifically specified.

A. Many of Mundo Asia’s trips are designed to fit with other departures to create a longer “combination” trip; this means that some of your group may have already been travelling together for some time when you begin your trip. If you would like to know how many people are booked on your preferred itinerary or any combination trip it could be a part of, please ask prior to making the booking.

A. There is no limit for age of travel as long as you can ensure the members in the group are fit for travel. All travelers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian or an escort over the age of 18 appointed by their legal guardian. A minimum age of 18 applies to all of Mundo Asia’s adventure tours. Please check with your travel consultant at the time of enquiry.

A. Your tour guide(s) are certified by local governments and local inhabitants of the destination(s) you visit. Every city within the itinerary will usually have a different guide to help you gain an in-depth insight into the places you explore.

A. Our itineraries are designed to be fully customizable, so if you see a section of a longer tour that you would like to do, just ask your travel consultant to create a new package for you. For fixed departures, many of Mundo Asia’s trips are designed to fit with other departures to create a longer “combination” trip; this means that a shorter part of the combination trip can be available to book on the website instead of booking the longer trip. Otherwise, it is not possible to book a longer trip and only do part of it.

A. Of course! Since our tours are completely tailor-made, we are able to completely customize every aspect of the itinerary as you need and want. Please discuss with your Mundo Asia travel consultant for more details.

A. You are allowed to make changes to your itinerary before departure, but keep in mind that although Mundo Asia will not charge an additional handling fee, there may be additional charges when dealing with hotels, airfare, cruises and other activities. If you would like to change a participant in your group, it is possible to transfer to a third party if the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the trip. Changing to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period and Mundo Asia takes no responsibility if the booked services are non-transferable. During the trip, you are not required to participate in any activity you do not want to, but there will be no refunds or exchanges made with respect to accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transport or any other services included in the tour price, but not utilized.

A. Since we are a local agency, we are constantly working to ensure the best price for you in each of our tailor-made itineraries. With no middle-man, less mark-ups, and direct contracts with suppliers, we are able to keep costs low and the quality high.

A. If you can find the exact same itinerary with the same products used on a different website, we will match that price (see terms and conditions). If you’ve purchased from us online or, if you haven’t yet purchased but you have found a better price with one of our competitors, contact us here. In order for us to verify the price, simply provide details of the itinerary, where the itinerary is being advertised, and the price at which it is being offered for sale. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for us to verify your claim and get you the best price possible!

A. Yes, there is a single supplement but it the percentage depends on the itinerary booked. Please let us know if you will be travelling alone and we will try our best to accommodate this request to your budget accordingly.

A. We accept credit card, bank deposit, PayPal, bank transfer, and cash on arrival. Please see our terms and conditions for more information.

A. Yes, your credit card details are totally safe. Not only is our website SSL encrypted, but we don’t store or keep your credit card details. The payment is usually facilitated through internationally standard third-party encrypted payment gateways such as PayPal and One Pay.
If you choose this route, there is a 5% handling fee taken by PayPal and 3% fee from One Pay. Mundo Asia does not charge any handling fees for this service.

A. It is best to pay in USD but we also accept EUR.

A. Sure. Payment is to be made in USD or Euro. All bank fees are to be paid by you.
Account name: Mundo Asia Company Limited
Account number: 0851370024060 (USD)
Bank name: Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank)
Bank address: 344 Ba Trieu – Le Dai Hanh Ward – Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, Vietnam, 10000
Swift code: BFTVVNVX085

A. As long as a deposit has been made according to our terms and conditions, we can assist you with this service.

A. Unless otherwise specified, you are required to pay a deposit equivalent to 30% of the land tour service of group members for the booking to be confirmed. If your booking is made within 30 days prior to the departure date, then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.

Please note that different deposit amounts may be required for different trips. In specific cases, an amount of deposit greater than 30% of the total trip cost may be required. Our sales staff will let you know at the time of booking.

A. Final payment of the remaining 70% balance is required no later than 30 days prior to the proposed departure date. Please refer to the booking confirmation invoice for all details regarding final payments. Please also note that full payment is required for airfare if booked through Mundo Asia. If this balance is not paid on or before the due date, Mundo Asia reserves the right to treat the client’s booking as cancelled.

In some special cases, cash payment on arrival can be required for specific bookings. Please refer to the booking confirmation invoice for details regarding this type of specific payment.

A. Yes, you can pay via PayPal. Payment is to be made in USD or Euro and all bank fees are to be paid on your side. Keep in mind the handling fee at 5% is higher than the local One Pay option which levies only 3%.

A. As soon as you make the deposit and it is confirmed by us! Please note that in some cases, a service may need full payment at time of booking as in the case with air tickets. If this is the case, we can only issue the confirmation once this particular service is fully paid.

A. Travel documents and airfare shall be compiled after the deposit has been received and are sent two or three weeks prior to departure. These documents shall be sent via email and should be printed out by participants and retained as a receipt.

A. Absolutely! Whenever you send us your requirements related to accommodation, we will send you a list of accommodation to select which one suits you the best. After finalizing your itinerary, we will send you the list of all activities and places you will stay

A. It depends on the request. There are limited hotels/resorts with standard triple rooms in their inventory. These are commonly double/twin rooms with an extra (rollaway) bed, limiting space within the room. Please inform all concerns accordingly to correctly manage expectations.

Extra bed rates / triple sharing room rates are available in the confidential tariff as well as single room supplements. It is common for single room supplements to be provided with twin/double rooms.

Preferences such as smoking/non-smoking, interconnecting rooms, king-size beds, and location of the room cannot be guaranteed or confirmed in advance and are subject to hotel policy and availability at time of check-in.

In case of the honeymoon or other special occasions, please let your travel consultant know so we can help create the perfect moments in every aspect of your itinerary.

A. We include fully-inspected boutique accommodation and cruise ships with character and charm throughout each of our itineraries. In addition, we also include brand-named luxury hotels, cruises, and resorts for those interested.
Although accommodations in the region may provide the client with information about their quality, the properties used and offered by Mundo Asia in this part of the world may not all have an official star qualification issued by an official government-accredited hotel association in the country of operation.
Mundo Asia provides its customers with its own internal star qualification which is based on its own experiences and certain criteria to ensure the client has a realistic interpretation of what to expect. Mundo Asia cannot be held liable in any way for misinformation between the hotel and client.

A. In most cases, yes. Mundo Asia always wants to ensure your comfort, therefore, our offered accommodation will usually have air-conditioning and heating. However, in more remote areas or homestays, pack accordingly in case the accommodation does not have these facilities. You will always be informed of this before the trip departure.

A. As usual, in city hotels, you will have access to western toilets. However, some tours traveling to remote regions and staying in homestays of ethnic minority groups should be ready to experience local bathroom styles.

A. Yes. Most hotels we use offer this service and when they don’t, you can use local services after checking with your tour guides beforehand for the most reputable place.

A. It depends on the hotel. Generally speaking, see the below reference

• Check-in time : 14:00 to 15:00
• Check-out time : 11:00 to 12:00

A. Yes, however, it is subject to availability and sometimes with an additional charge. Let us know beforehand to make proper arrangements.

A. Sure! Just let your travel consultant know and we will make it happen!

A. Luggage allowance depends on the country and airlines used. Generally speaking, the local airlines we use have an included luggage allowance of 20 kgs (44 lbs). If you would like to have a larger allowance, please let your travel consultant know, and pay the extra fees beforehand or at the airport.

A. It depends on your carrier. Local SIM cards are readily available in each destination we serve with very affordable “pay-as-you-go” packages and 3G/4G data plans. Ask your tour guide to help you pick the best one when you arrive to the destination.

A. Wi-Fi is incredibly prevalent throughout Southeast Asia, even in some surprising places. Most hotels, resorts, and cruises will have access to WI-FI in the room or in some special cases, common areas. However, on adventure tours, overnight cruises, and more “off-the-beaten-path” destinations, Wi-Fi can be weak, spotty, or non-existent.

A. We usually use coaches and cars contracted on a long-term basis. Transportation is always operated by fully-licensed drivers and in accordance with local safety standards.
When possible and with your consent, your travel consultant will utilize domestic and international airfare to save time during your itinerary.
Vehicles and boats are maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications, kept clean and in good working order, and registered and insured adequately.
On some itineraries it’s possible to join in long-distance travel by overnight train and city discoveries by scooter, cyclo, tuk tuk, and remork to try life as a local. We only use reputable operators for these activities.

Please be aware that standards of transportation in each destination are different yet Mundo Asia is committed to the best available means of transportation in this area of operation.

A. Usually, our drivers do not speak English. However, most of our packages include local tour guides who will assist you with all of your communication needs.
Please check the details of your itinerary to be aware of when you will be without a tour guide so you can make the proper arrangements. We will inform you of this beforehand.

A. We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case in advance.
Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information onto your leader. It is also a great idea to bring a card with your dietary requirements written in the local language for those times you are eating away from the group.

A. We utilize a wide range of food spots to fully immerse you in each destination visited. Depending on your itinerary, you can either eat with the group or branch out on your own. Tours will usually pass through street food stalls, local noodle shops, social enterprise restaurants, and nicer restaurants with all the usual amenities for special occasions.
Cuisine differs depending on the country visited, read here for more ideas on what to expect when traveling in Southeast Asia.