Travel Terms and Conditions

Please review carefully before confirming your booking

Reservations
To make a reservation, please call our San Francisco reservations office at (888) 681-0808 or (415) 731-4377. You may also submit a secure, online registration form or send or printable fax reservation form. We accept Visa, Master Card, and American Express for initial deposit and the balance of the land cost may be paid by check or credit card. Early reservations are recommended — infrastructure within Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar is limited and airlines and hotels typically fill months in advance of high season, especially during the Lunar New Year and December holiday periods.

Please Note: For our cycling adventures, additional Terms and Conditions apply.

After we receive your reservation form and deposit, we will confirm your itinerary and send your confirmation packet. This package contains a detailed trip itinerary; visa applications and instructions; medical, health, and insurance information; clothing and equipment recommendations; recommended reading list; and general information on the countries you will be visiting, including maps and guidebooks. Airline tickets, final itinerary, and final trip briefing (with all local office and staff contact numbers and a group meeting location) will be sent out approximately three weeks prior to departure. In the meantime, you will have access to our exclusive online client site, with recent information on culture, restaurants and news by country.

Payment Schedule for all Tours
At time of reservation: A US$500 or 10% non-refundable deposit per person (may vary for certain trips or tour extensions). Balance due 90 days prior to departure or upon receipt of invoice (including airfare if arranged through Indochina Travel). Please note: tour fees not submitted by their due date may result in cancellation of tour arrangements without notice. Payment schedules for private tours vary, please see detailed itinerary for specific information for such tours.

Our Responsibility to You
Once a confirmed booking has been received, Indochina Travel is obligated to fulfill all proposed services and arrangements at the highest level of quality and will strive to exceed client expectations whenever possible. Indochina Travel endeavors to act with the utmost integrity and act fair and reasonable at all times and is registered as a California Seller of Travel (#2090856-50). Under the California Seller of Travel Law and participates in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRC) which may provide refunds for travel services failed to be delivered as contracted and paid for by participants in the TCRC. For more information visit their web site at www.tcrcinfo.com. Indochina Travel is also a member of the U.S. Tour Operator's Association (USTOA).

Land Cost
Land cost typically includes the highest quality or five-star accommodations with private bath where available; some meals (typically all breakfasts), baggage handling, and porterage; airport and ground transportation; sightseeing and activities as outlined in the trip itinerary: entry fees and permits; services of English speaking leaders; emergency medical and air evacuation insurance through International SOS; cost of research, itinerary development, documentation, and educational materials; activities; equipment and mechanical support. Itemization of costs will not be provided.

Land cost does not include: international airline unless arranged; domestic or regional airfare on certain trips; en route accommodations at stopover cities at the beginning and end of your trip; passport, visa, excess baggage, airline fuel surcharges, security and airport departure fees; some meals to allow for individual choice of restaurants (although a wide variety of recommendations will be provided); alcoholic beverages, tips (customarily based on satisfaction with service), laundry, telecommunications charges, and other items of a personal nature; expenses resulting from delays due to bad weather, trail, river, and road conditions, sickness, government action and bureaucracy, and flight delays; or trip cancellation/delay insurance (optional through Indochina Travel).

Errors and Omissions
We make every endeavor to ensure the correctness of your bookings, however it is ultimately the responsibility of the traveler to inspect and ensure all confirmed bookings made are correct. Travelers must review confirmed bookings and contact Indochina Travel immediately to make any changes or corrections. Indochina Travel will not accept responsibility for errors beyond 72-hours after receipt of final, confirmed itinerary or summary of bookings. Indochina Travel is not responsible for bookings or services listed in a confirmed itinerary that have not ultimately been paid for and reserves the right to omit or cancel such bookings and services at anytime without advance notice. If such bookings or services are due to an error on our part, these bookings or services may be substituted or a refund issued.

Airline Tickets and Required Travel Visas
Indochina Travel may facilitate or assist with required travel visas, however it is the travelers ultimate responsibility they have the correct visa or documentation required for each country they will be visiting. Indochina Travel will accept no responsibility for errors made with visas, visa authorization documentation, or procedures. Note: online itineraries are for client reference only: traveler must confirm actual flight times on your flight tickets or confirmation documentation. Travelers should re-confirm any international flights which require such.

Changes, Cancellation and Refunds
If it becomes necessary for you to cancel your trip (or any portion thereof), you should immediately notify your travel agent or Indochina Travel in writing, by Email or by fax. Indochina Travel will assess a cancellation fee (below) to cover loss of non-refundable advance payments we have made on your behalf to hotels, airlines, personnel and local agencies. Any changes to a confirmed itinerary before departure are subject to a $150 change fee plus associated services, hotel and/or airline fees.

Cancellation Fees and Other Charges
Indochina Travel requires you have cancellation insurance for your trip fees. Cancellation fees charges apply to all bookings (right).

Fees for cancellation or changes to international airlines may vary, please inquire at time of purchase. Indochina Travel will not grant partial refunds for any unused trip arrangements after the trip has commenced, or any refunds to trip members who do not complete any portion of the itinerary. Indochina Travel will not be responsible for costs associated with traveler's electable changes to an itinerary, including change of accommodations, airline, activities, sightseeing or itinerary, for any any reason whatsoever. This includes change of accommodation deemed unsatisfactory by traveler. Indochina Travel reserves the right to cancel trips are below the trip minimum (usually four persons). All trip members will be notified a minimum of 30 days before the trip departs and will receive a full refund. In the event of a trip cancellation, Indochina Travel is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by a trip members. (e.g., non-refundable advance purchase airline tickets, delayed flights, layovers, medical expenses, and passport and visa fees). Indochina Travel reserves the right to substitute tour bookings of equal or greater value or quality, such as accommodations, without provision for refund. Indochina Travel also reserves the right to cancel tour services for non-payment, and/or payment or in the event of credit card charge dispute filed by traveler.

Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance
In some countries Indochina Travel may provide emergency air evacuation insurance at no extra charge. You must have insurance for trip cancellation, medical, repatriation, and loss of property. We provide a quote for insurance through our affiliate, CSA Travel Protection. Please review our Insurance Information Page for more information and rates.

Participant Responsibility
Trip members soon the responsibility to select or design a trip most appropriate to their physical abilities, skills and interests. Members are responsible for been insufficiently good health to undertake their trip and be adequately prepared for the environment traveling in, which may be far different than their own. By signing the Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Forms sent in your confirmation mailing, you acknowledge you have no known condition which would endanger yourself or others by participating in these tours.

Limitation of Liability
Indochina Travel, its owners, agents, employees, and affiliated companies here by give notice that they act only as agents for hotels, transportation companies, land operators, and suppliers of travel services, and assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever in connection with the operation, safety, condition, or service of any aircraft, motor vehicle, boat, bicycle, kayak, other conveyance, in, lodge, or hotel which may be used in whole or in part, for services to Indochina Travel trip members. Indochina Travel, its operators, airlines, and agents will not be responsible for any act, error, or a mission, nor for any injury, lost, accent, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, or damage which may be occasioned by any cause whatsoever, including acts of nature, civil disturbance, crime, government restrictions and actions, or failure of any means of convenience to adhere to publish schedule.

Conditions beyond our control, such delayed flights, weather, governmental bureaucracy, or other conditions may affect our travel arrangements. Indochina Travel reserves the right, either prior to or after departure, to alter or omit any part of an itinerary, including substitution of hotels or guides, or to change any means of conveyance without notice and without allowance for refund, with the liability for increased costs — if any — to be borne by the traveler. Although we try to fulfil a confirmed itinerary, Southeast Asia consists of under-developed countries with primitive infrastructure, differing cultural perspective of organization and urgency, and varying degrees or lack of English fluency. Delays, flight changes and cancellations, road accidents, and other unpredictable inconveniences may occur. Indochina will do whatever is possible to minimize the effects of these and any other problems may they arise but will not be held responsible for associated costs for circumstances beyond our control. Please consider carefully if you are comfortable traveling in such an environment.

Hotels and other facilities may not be equivalent to those found relative to other countries. If during your tour you elect to change accommodations, rooms, or other arrangements, Indochina Travel will not be responsible for any associated costs. Indochina Travel bears no responsibility for any goods purchased during your tour, whether or not made by recommendation or with assistance from Indochina Travel guide's or staff. Caveat emptor applies to a much greater degree in the region. Unless on a private tour, you must be over 17 years old to participate on a Indochina Travel tour unless a specific arrangements are made with parent or guardian.

If into Indochina Travel decides to cancel any tours, due to acts of insurrection, disease, strikes, acts of god, or any other cause beyond the control of Indochina Travel, refunds will be based upon the difference between the original trip price and the cost of services already provided. Indochina Travel reserves the right to accept or reject any person as the trip member at any time. Trip members deemed disruptive to a tour may be asked to leave without refund for unused services.

Private, Custom Tour
Most of our tours are private, custom tours. The creation of custom itineraries can very time consuming, and these trips are typically equal to or more expensive than our set departures. Indochina Travel will provide examples itineraries at no charge. Subsequent itinerary development is is charged at US$$250 and this deposit will be credited for the final payment of your trip. It is not refundable should you decide to cancel. Subsequent changes to a confirmed itinerary incur a change charge of $150 not including airline, services and hotel fees. No changes or alterations may be made to an itinerary within 7 days of departure. If a private journey is canceled more than 90 days prior to departure there’s a non-refundable cancellation charge of the itinerary development fee plus normal cancellation fees (see cancellations and refunds). For cancellations less than 90 days prior to departure, please refer to our regular cancellation/refund schedule. Please request our private tour information for more details on how to arrange a private trip.

Travel Documents and Visa Requirements
Travelers are required to have passports (valid for six months beyond the return date of their tour) and any required visas or visa on arrival documentation. Although Indochina Travel may assist or facilitate obtaining required visas and visa on arrival authorization, it is the ultimate responsibility of the traveler to verify they have all required travel documentation and verify such documents are valid and correct. Although Indochina Travel may facilitate or assist with required travel visas, Indochina Travel accepts no responsibility for any mistakes, errors, or other issues regarding visas or visa authorization forms which is the travelers ultimate responsibility.

Airline Conditions
Booking Terms and Conditions for airline tickets:
- We require up to 72 hours to process all airline tickets
- Tickets are refundable less airline penalty and other fees for cancellation prior to departure date
- Fares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until the purchase is confirmed by the airline and a ticket number issued.
- Ticket changes may be subject to airline penalty and other change fees
- Once a ticket is issued, it may not be reassigned to a different passenger or airline
- The name on each ticket must match passport name.
- Name changes are typically not permitted once the reservation has been confirmed.
- Tickets are non-upgradeable economy-class.
- Traveler is responsible to have all required travel documents for travel, including valid passport, visa, and inoculation record.
- No shows are non-refundable
- Seating, meal, and other requests should be made direct with airline web site or call center
-Airline tickets are subject to specific rules and regulations imposed by the individual airlines which are subject to change at any time and beyond our control.
- In the event of an attempted chargeback by the purchaser on a non-refundable airline ticket, service fee, or a fare adjustment that meets the terms and conditions of the airline and this agreement, the customer agrees to refund the full amount of any chargeback or other fees for chargeback resolution.

Questions? Concerns? Please call us at our reservations office at (888) 681-0808 or (415) 731-4377 Pacific Standard Time or our Hanoi office at (84-4) 3562-6665.