DESTINATION: BHUTAN

DESTINATION: CAMBODIA

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Climate is tropical with warm weather all year round and has a dry and a wet season. The rains come with the southwest monsoon from May to November. It is dry for the rest of the year from mid-November to April. The dry season is in 2 parts – the first is not so hot till mid-February, after that up till May is the hottest. December is the coolest month. The climate is cooler in the highlands such as the Cardamon Mountains. The best months to visit are December and January.

The capital, Phnom Penh, has daytime temperatures of 30 °C in November and December, it rises steadily in January, and is highest in April, with an average of 35 °C and peaks at 40 °C and then, it falls slightly during the long rainy months. 

SPRING (March to May)

Hot and dry. The temperature steadily rises through February and March,peaking in April and May before the monsoons begin. 

SUMMER (June to August)

Hot and wet. The hot season continues as the monsoon rains begin temperatures are reduced.

AUTUMN (September to November)

Cool and wet. The temperatures doesn’t really begin to lower until October or November.

WINTER (December to February)

Cool and dry. These months are generally considered to be the best time of year to visit, with December and January offering the very best weather of the year - warm days, clear skies, no rain, light breeze, cool evenings.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Tonle Sap, The Royal Enclosure, Chong Khneas, Pre Rup Temple, Royal Palace Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Independence Monument, Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Fish Amok (catfish or white fish with yellow curry and spices), Lok Lak (stir-fried meat with salad), Lap Khmer (Lime-marinated Khmer beef salad) Kampot Pepper Crabs, Red Tree Ants with Beef, Nom Banh Chok, Green Mango Salad, Khmer Red Curry, Bai Sach Chrouk (Grilled pork and broken rice), banana blossom salad

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Textiles & batiks, Woven mats, Soaps and Candles, Silverware & Silver Jewelry, Betel nut boxes, Rice paper prints, Sculpture reproductions, Mekong Quilts.

WHAT’S GOOD TO DO

Visit historical sites, experience wet markets, monasteries, tour city on tuktuk, go bar-hopping, eat fried insects

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Learn about Cambodian history before you go

• Khmer is the national language of Cambodia. English is spoken only in major cities and hotels and attractions.

• Cover up in temples

• Currencies used: Cambodian Riel (KHR), USD

• Travelers are not allowed to bring in more than US$10,000 or KHR100,000

into the country, unless with declaration

• Major credit cards are rarely accepted, except at major hotels

• Singapore & Malaysia passport holders can stay in Myanmar & Cambodia for up to 1

months without visa

• Be mindful of the heavy traffic on the streets of Cambodia. Motorbikes can be very fast

• Street side food stalls are not recommended for travelers who have sensitive stomach

• Do not give money to begging children

DESTINATION: China - Northwest

- Tibet, Gansu (part of Silk Road), Xinjiang (part of Silk Road), Qinghai, Ningxia

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Hot, dry sunny in summer and severely cold and dry in winter. Desert regions can be scorching with heat in daytime. In general temperatures can go as high as 37 ° C in summer and it can fall to as low as minus 17 ° C in winter. Northwest China is home to the hottest place in China: Turphan which is situated in a 150m depression below sea level. Max temp: 47° C. NW China is dry (less than 4 inches of rain annually in many places)

Tibet has a harsh climate. Cool in summer but freezing cold in winter. Northern Tibet has sub-zero temperatures and a long-lasting winter from October to May or June. July and August are the best time to visit. Southern Tibet is mildly warm from May to October. But sunlight can be intense. Thin air cannot block off the sun or retain heat. Rainy season is from June to September and may block roads and make passage difficult. 

“There is very little water in Tibet. Snow frequently falls but rarely accumulates, and the climate is so dry that grain can be stored for 50 years. The extremes of hot and cold, coupled with the thin air and high altitude sunshine, are enough to break granite mountains into sand, and generate fierce winds, stinging hailstorms, and blinding dust storms.” (Source: factsanddetails.com)

Gansu (part of Silk Road) has different kinds of geographical forms: alpine regions, basins and deserts like the Gob desert. Climate therefore ranges from subtropical humid to alpine cold to dry. There is a huge temperature difference from day to night. Winter is cold and long and summer short and hot. Annual temperature ranged from 0 degC to 14 degC decreasing from southeast to northwest. The Hexi corridor tourist area has temperatures ranging from 0 to 6 degC. 

Xinjiang (part of Silk Road) Summers are long, partly cloudy and winters are cold, dry, windy. Turpan is the hottest spot in the province (47 ° C in June to August). With spring (April, May) comes sandstorms. No rain unless in mountains up north. Winter (Dec to Feb) has sub-zero temperatures. Late May through June and September through mid-November (especially) are the best times to visit. 

Qinghai Summer is short and has average temperatures of 4°C to 20.8 °C and winter is long with temperatures running at -7°C to -20°C. There is some pollution of dust and pollen in the air in spring and autumn. The 4 seasons change in an obscure manner. Temperatures can vary wildly depending on locations and altitudes. The best time for traveling in Qinghai is from May to September. In the middle of May, the grassland becomes green and the snow melts and the plateau comes alive. July, with an average temperature of 18°C, is the blooming season of rape flower around the Qinghai Lake. Endless sea of yellow rape flower surrounds the blue Qinghai Lake, which is the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai. 

Ningxia Summers are short and hot and winters long and cold. Average elevation of the province is above 1000m and temperatures range from -14 ° C to 27 ° C. Weather features: long days, strong sunny radiation, large temperature swings of 12 to 15 degrees. Rainy season is from July to September. Best travel time is May to October. 

SPRING (March to May)

Milder time of the year but can still be chilly until late May. In desert areas, there are often frequent strong winds and dust storms. On the greening grassland blooming flowers and cattle and sheep.

SUMMER (June to August)

Hot in the basin (Turpan 40 °C) and desert areas while cool and comfortable in

the mountainous region, such as Tien Shan, Kunlun and Altai Mountains. 

AUTUMN (September to November)

Cool weather but frequent winds. It’s fruit season: grapes of Turpan, honey melons of Kumul, bergamot pear of Korla 

WINTER (December to February)

Winter is cold and long-lasting in especially in mountainous regions where it starts to snow from October.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

Northwest China offers the chance to enjoy China’s last great wildernesses – the grasslands, mountains, lakes and deserts of the interior.

Tibet: Potala Temple, Dazhao Temple, Bakhor Street, Yamcho Lake, Zhashilunbu Temple, Mt Everest Base Camp, Lulang forest, Basongcuo Lake, Mila Mountain

Silk Road: Yellow River (Gansu), Ma Ta Fei Yan (Wuwei), Giant Buddha (Zhangye), Danxia, Jiayuguan Pass, Mingsha (Echoing Sand Mountain), Yueya (Crescent Lake), Mogao Grottoes

Xinjiang: Tian Shan Flaming Mountain, Jiaohe Ancient Town, Grape Valley, Heavenly Mountain Lake (Tien Shan), Urumqi Grand Bazaar, Kanas Lake, Hemu Village, WucaiRiver Bank, Urho Ghost City

Qinghai: Taer Temple & Monastery, Chakayan Lake, Kanbula National Park, Qinghai Lake & Bird Island

Qinghai’s mountains is also where China’s greatest rivers originate: the Yellow, Yangzi and Mekong rivers.

Ningxia: Zhenbeibao Ningxia China Hollywood city, Xixia Tomb, Helanshan

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Tibet: Tibetan Yak Meat, Momo,  Noodle Soup (Thukpa), Yogurt, Dre-si,  Butter Tea, Sweet Tea.

Gansu: Lanzhou Beef Noodles, Grabbing Mutton, Stir-Fried(Camel)Hump with Shredded Toppings, Snowy Mountain Camel Hoof, Wheat noodles or 'Niang Pizi', Jincheng Baita, Jincheng Babao Melon Carving, Baihe Tao, and Albino leeks with chicken and roasted pork, Baihe (Lily) 

Xinjiang: Xinjiang big plate chicken (Da Pan Ji), Turpan Raisin, Xinjiang whole roast lamb, Laghman (Pulled noodles), 

Qinghai: Hui-style Dumplings, Flag Flower Noodles, Mutton or yak in chopped noodle soup

Ningxia: Rinse or Grabbed mutton, Steamed Dove-Fish, mutton with wolfberry, Chopped cooked entrails of sheep, Gruel of sweetened fried flour, wide noodles

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Tibet:  arts & crafts of Tibetan culture: Thangka, Tibetan jewelry, Tibetan carpet, Tibetan knife, Tibetan mask, etc. Tibetan specialties: Buttered Tea, Saffron Crocus, Yak Meat, etc.

Gansu: Handicrafts: Paper-cut designs, scent bags, Yellow River windmills, shadow puppets show and Taiping 

Xinjiang:  Uygur-style hats, knitted sweaters, ethnic costumes, hand-made embroideries, jade carvings and carpets are all popular souvenirs bought by visitors.

Qinghai: carpet, blanket, plush, dried beef, ox and camel's hair, goat's hair, butter oil, milk powder, tendon, broad bean, pea, honey, highland barley wine, vinegar, knife, silver and bronze ware, Cordyceps sinensis, rheum officinde, Tibetan oriental wormwood, Saussurea involucrate, .

Ningxia: The famous 'Five Treasures': liquorice, Helan stone, sheepskin, Barbary wolfberry fruit and facai may be good choices for you.

WHAT’S GOOD TO DO

See famous sites and places of interest and soak into the different traditions and customs and lifestyles of locals with Turkish, Uyghur, Tibetan, Mongolian, Kazakh, Tajik, Kyrgyz influences

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

•Regularly check the weather in China at (http://www.weather.com.cn).

•Bring clothes for a wide range of temperatures and very comfortable shoes. The rugged terrain and the changeable weather along the Silk Road vary greatly. Bring sunglasses, suntan oil, dental & feminine hygiene supplies, medical supplies kit – as these may not be available on route.

•Food and drink on long train journeys such as from Beijing to Urumqi may be sold out mid-way so carry some of your own.

 •Toiletries like towel, toothbrush, toilet paper, must be brought along by the traveler since they cannot be bought on the train.

•Weather along the Silk Road is really dry, eat more vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water.

•Local time in Xinjiang is two hours later than the standard time in China, better to arrange your schedule from 9 am to 8 pm.

•Respect the local customs and ethnic culture in each place.

•Guidelines on dealing with monks: 

‘Shi’ or ‘Fashi’ is an honorable title of the Monks and Taoists, and ‘Zhaolao’, ‘Fangzhang’ or ‘Chanshi’ is title of the Governing Monk. ‘Heshang’ and ‘Chujiaren’ are regarded as the impolite way to address a Monk.

•Try not to get in a monk’s way or overtake him. Put your palms together and lower your head when meeting with the monks. Attempting to handshake, embrace or touch the head of the monk is considered sacrilegious. 

•Guidelines on worshipping in temples:
To enter the Buddhist temple, use the side entrance, especially the left one is the most appropriate instead of  the middle gate.

 

•If you are worshipping Buddha, you should cleanse your body, not eat garlic, onion, fish, meat, wine, or chew betel nut, smoke. A mouthful of the stinky smell is pretty disrespectful to the buddhas and bodhisattvas.

 

•When walking in the temple, be careful not to touch or deface any religious artifacts, and be silent and non-judgmental during religious ceremonies. At the same time, take care of children so as not to be rude to the Buddha.

 

•When devotees pray to the Buddha, they throw themselves down at their feet in admiration

• All international passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of return. Please keep your passports with you at all times.

• The Great(Fire)Wall of China blocks Western sites: like Facebook, Google (Gmail, Maps, translate)etc. 

• China’s preferred messaging app is Weixin (WeChat in English. Download the app it’s useful. Chinese booking sites like C-Trip and eLong often offer better rates than Western booking sites. Be sure to check both when planning your trip. . It is also very common in China to use Alipay and Wechat pay for cashless payment.

• Get to the airport 3 (not 2) hours early for international flights to China and 2 hours early for domestic. Why? Chinese airports can be very crowded and you need extra time.

• China, with its huge population, is a crowded place so if you’re jostled when queuing or pushed when walking – know that personal space is limited in a congested country.

• Air pollution can be serious in some big cities like Beijing. Face masks are commonly used.

• Customer service from waiters and waitresses may not be what you are used to, so don’t be afraid to put your hands up and call for the fuyian if you want service.

• When you buy something from vendors use some small notes so you can avoid receiving forged money from them. Do not exchange for China Yuan with strangers in China.

• when bargaining try walking away during negotiations. If the seller calls you back, you can knock a bit more off the price.

• Don’t show off large denomination bills in your wallet, the seller will know you can afford to pay more.

• Also, to have a better bargaining position, don’t wear very expensive clothing or jewelry when shopping in China.

• It is also common practice for hotels in China to collect a porter fee. The guideline is RMB5 per luggage each time porter service is rendered.

DESTINATION: China -Northeast

- Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanxi

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

Temperate continental weather. Spring is cooler than autumn Autumn comes with fresh breeze in the morning. And winter is cold with thick snow outside such as in Harbin. But cold winters does not mean cool summers. Summer is quite dry and hot in August.

Inner Mongolia has a temperate monsoon climate. Cold, long winters with frequent blizzards; warm, short summers; from west to east, the climate changes from arid to semi-humid, and to humid in the northeast. Temperature changes can be drastic with huge variations. Rainfall is irregular.

Heilongjiang is chilly and dry in winter, hot and rainy in summer, and the weather is changeable during spring and autumn. The highest temperature even reaches 40 °C in Mohe County, and the lowest temperature is -52 °C in Mohe County.

Jilin has long, warm, and wet summers; the winters are short, frigid, and dry; and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from -19°C to 27°C. Best time of year to visit Jilin for warm-weather activities is from mid June to early September.

Liaoning’s annual average temperature is about 9 °C. January is the coldest month with the lowest temperature is -11 °C, while the highest temperature in hottest July is 24 °C. Summer is the rainy season in Liaoning.

Shanxi has a continental climate with cold winter and hot summer. ... In summer, it is rainy and scorching. The temperature stays quite high, and most of the rain falls in this season. When autumn comes, temperatures fall gradually and the weather turns cool.

SPRING (March to May)

Spring is the season when flowers bloom. Weather is comfortable for tourists. Places like Dalian is warm and green during spring days. 

SUMMER (June to August)

Hot in the day but cool at night in summer. 

AUTUMN (September to November)

Autumn is generally sunny, cool and dry, and the foliage watching season is in November.

WINTER (December to February)

Winter temperature often tends to drop below zero. January is the coldest month with the monthly average temperature of about -8.5° C.

 WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

Inner Mongolia: Ulunbutong Grassland, Xilamulun Grand Valley, Huanggang Liang, Asihatu Stone Forest, Lake Dalinor, The Ordos Grassland Tourist Area, Hulunbuir Grassland, GenheWetland at Eerguna, Enhe Russian Village, Moerdaoga National Park, Aoluguya, Ewenkin Museum.

Heilongjiang: The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival , Stalin Park, Flood Control Monument, Central Street, Volga Manor, Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise (Harbin), Yabuli Ski Resort, The Snow Village (Mudanjiang), Yangcao Mountain & Ten Miles Corridor (Snow Town), Siberian Tiger Park

Jilin: Changchun Film Theme Park, Jingyuetan Ski Resort (Changchun), Puppet Manchurian Palace Museum (Changchun), Mt Changbai (Lake of Heaven)

Liaoning: Imperial Palace (Shenyang), The Red Beach (Panjin)¸ Yalu River, Xinghai Square

Shanxi: Mt Wutai (Qingshui), Hanging Temple, Xuan Kong Temple (Datong)¸ Yun Gang Grottoes (Datong), Yellow River Hukou Waterfall, Piyao Ancient Wall, Ancient Street of Qing and Ming Dynasty (Pingyao), Qiao Family Courtyard (Pingyao)

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Inner Mongolia: Milk food "baishi" or white food and meat food "hongshi" or red food. Milk food – milk tea, cheese, milk skin, cream, milk curd, sour milk and fermented milk.

Meat food: mutton, beef and sometimes camel meat. Dishes: shouba rou (boiled mutton), kao quanyang (roasted whole sheep), kao yangtui (roasted mutton leg), kao yangpai (roasted mutton chop), mutton barbecue and instant-boiled mutton.

Budaatai khuurga – An authentic Mongolian rice meal, Chanasan Makh (Chunks of mutton are boiled in salted water), lamb chop, Dongbei-style Twice-cooked pork, Airag, Roasted Whole Lamb (Kao Quan Yang), Basi Sweet Potatoes,

Heilongjiang: Harbin red sausage, braised salmon, mushroom chicken soup, big bread, “da lie ba” (2.5 kg sourdough loaf), “ di san xian “Three delicacies on earth (mix of potatoes, peppers and eggplant)

Jilin: Hui Baozhen dumplings, Qingling fish, Jilin fried starch, white meat with black pudding

Liaoning:  suan cai (pickled Chinese cabbage stir fried with vermicelli), chicken and mushroom stew, lamb kebabs, malatang (spicy and hot) soup.

Shanxi: Knife-cut or scissor-cut noodles, Kaolaolao (oat flour noodles), Sorghum Fish, Cat’s ears noodles, fried boiled pork, Shanxi cake with herb stuffing, Pancake with steamed port stuffing, Mutton pot with Chinese yams, Datong copper hotpot, Taiyuan meat jelly, Tijian noodles

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Inner Mongolia: Mongolia knife, carpet, cashmere, cheese, ox horn handicrafts, camel fur

Heilongjiang: Panax (ginseng), pilose (antler of young stag) and marten (fur) are the 3 Treasures of Northeat China, hedgehog fungus (herb), fur clothing, hats, leather shoes, dried sausages

Jilin: 70 species of wild medicinal herbs including codonopsis pilosula, cortex Phellodendri, fritillaria, rhodiola rosea, wood frog, boschniakia rossica, ganoderma lucidum, bracken, osmund, and black fungus 

Liaoning: Eight Treasures of the sea: sea cucumber, abalone, scallop, prawn, mussel and oyster, hanging paintings, screens, lamps, embroidery and glass ornament products.

Shanxi: Polished Lacquer ware, Handmade Cloth Shoes, paper cutting art, Chinese silk dolls, Fenjiu Wine (Fen jiu), Shanxi Vinegar (Shanxi lao chengcu), Dough Figurine (Miansu or Mianren)

WHAT’S GOOD TO DO

Hiking, exploring nature, visit National Import and Export Commodities Fair, The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, do DIY Russian Doll session, watch Three Manly Skills of Mongolia: Horseback Riding, Archery & Wrestling & Enjoy a night of campfire, attend Peak(Heyday) Dynasty Kangxi Ceremony, experience kart ride, go to Indoor Ice and Snow Paradise (Harbin), watch Harbin Wanda Central Grand Theatre’s spectacular show on ice/ Russian theme performance, go skiing, eat hotpot in ice palace hotel, watch ice-covered wonderland of trees covered with rime ice, visit temples and ancient monuments

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Cold (as in bone-chilling cold) is the greatest challenge in Northeast China. So go prepared. In Harbin for example the temperature can drop to -30°C in winter and windchill will bring it even lower. Wearing layers of clothing or layering is the usual way to fight the cold but extremities like the hands, feet and ears must also be protected. And carrying a thermos flask for hot water (available for free in some places) is also a good way to weather the cold temperatures. 

• Don’t feel bad haggling in China - storekeepers will not be offended if you bargain. However, places like shopping malls, supermarket, large stores, department stores or other corporate chains will not accept bargaining. 

• Use public transport freely. China has built a very comprehensive transportation system with flights, trains, highways and waterways, as well as local city transportation, such as taxi, public bus and metro.

• Restaurants with many foreigners tend to be unauthentic and over-priced.

• Luxury goods in China are expensive because of a luxury tax. Even local Chinese go to Hong Kong to buy them.

• All international passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of return. Please keep your passports with you at all times.

• The Great (Fire)Wall of China blocks Western sites: like Facebook, Google (Gmail, Maps, translate)etc. 

• China’s preferred messaging app is Weixin (WeChat in English. Download the app it’s useful. Chinese booking sites like C-Trip and eLong often offer better rates than Western booking sites. Be sure to check both when planning your trip. . It is also very common in China to use Alipay and Wechat pay for cashless payment.

• Get to the airport 3 (not 2) hours early for international flights to China and 2 hours early for domestic. Why? Chinese airports can be very crowded and you need extra time.

• China, with its huge population, is a crowded place so if you’re jostled when queuing or pushed when walking – know that personal space is limited in a congested country.

• Air pollution can be serious in some big cities like Beijing. Face masks are commonly used.

• Customer service from waiters and waitresses may not be what you are used to, so don’t be afraid to put your hands up and call for the fuyian if you want service.

• When you buy something from vendors use some small notes so you can avoid receiving forged money from them. Do not exchange for China Yuan with strangers in China.

• when bargaining try walking away during negotiations. If the seller calls you back, you can knock a bit more off the price.

• Don’t show off large denomination bills in your wallet, the seller will know you can afford to pay more.

• Also, to have a better bargaining position, don’t wear very expensive clothing or jewelry when shopping in China.

• It is also common practice for hotels in China to collect a porter fee. The guideline is RMB5 per luggage each time porter service is rendered.

DESTINATION: China - Central

-Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

Central China which includes cities such as Beijing and Tianjin has a continental climate. Weather is not as extreme as in the north-east but winters are very cold, the average temperatures in January ranging from -10 °C to 0 °C ; windstorms can come from the Mongolia desert, while snowfalls are not common. Summer is hot and it's the only time for rainy weather, while in the other seasons there is usually lots of sunshine. 

Beijing has temperate and continental monsoon climate - hot and rainy in summer, cold and dry in winter, and short spells of spring and autumn. The coldest month is January with the average temperature of -4 °C, and the hottest season is July (at an average of 26 °C) with most rainfalls. Autumn is the recommended season to go. But it is also the peak and can be very crowded and it’s best to avoid Chinese National Day (the beginning of Oct.).

Hebei has summers that are long, warm, humid, and partly cloudy and the winters are freezing, dry, and mostly clear. The hottest months are July, August, and then June. July has highs around 32.6°C with temperatures around 23.7°C at night. Over the course of the year, the temperature ranges from -9°C to 30°C and is rarely below -13°C or above 34°C.

Tianjin is windy and dry in the spring, hot and rainy in the summer (June to August), cool in the autumn, and cold and snowy in the winter (December to February). Average temperature is 12 °C. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of around 27.8 °C and the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of around -4.3 °C. The best time to visit is in spring from March to May and autumn from September to October. The natural scenes are most beautiful in the two seasons.

Shandong has a semi-tropical monsoon climate, with 4 seasons and hot humid summers (with the average temperature of 28 °C) and cold dry winters (with the average temperature of 0 °C). The rainfall decreases from coast in the southeast to the northwest. The best time to visit Shandong province is from March to November.

Henan is humid subtropical to the south of the Yellow River and bordering on humid continental to the north. It has hot, humid summer and cool to cold, windy, dry winters. Average temperature is 14 °C, the coldest month is January with the average temperature is about 0 °C, and that of the hottest July is 27 °C. But temperature difference within a year can be very big, lowest: -22 °C and highest: 44 °C. The rain falls mainly in summer (from May to July). Best seasons to visit are spring (February to April) and autumn (August to October).

Shaanxi has a continental monsoon climate, and can be considered arid. Winters are long, dry, and cold, while summer is warm and humid. ... Shanxi is one of the sunniest parts of China; early summer heat waves are common. The coldest month is January, the average temperature is about - 12° C and 26° C for the hottest July. In winter, the wind coming from the north is usually strong and dusty. The temperature range changes widely between day and night. Shanxi Province has lower temperatures than other areas in the North China Plain because of its higher altitude and the nearby mountains blocking the south-east ocean airstream.

SPRING (March to May)

Temperatures rise as winter subsides. But evenings remain cool. 

*Shandong and Henan are famous for their Peony Festival for the month of

April every year.

SUMMER (June to August)

Hot and humid but shoppers will sweat it out for the summer sales!

AUTUMN (September to November)

Pleasant, comfortable weather with cooling breezes and lots of sunshine. 

WINTER (December to February)

Won’t snow all the time but temperatures can be around 10C at night. *Beijing and

Hebei Province will be snowing from end of December to February.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

Beijing: Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) & Aquatics Centre (Water Cube), Beijing Yuyong Pass Great Wall & Simatai Great Wall, Beijing Forbidden City, Beijing Temple of Heaven, Beijing Summer Palace, Beijing Tian An Men Square, Beijing Gubei Water Town, Beijing Beihai Park, The Place (Shimao Tianjie Mall), Beijing CCTV Building, Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Beijing Shi Sha Hai Pub Street, Beijing Wang Fu Jing Shopping District, Beijing Xiu Shui Shopping Mall, Beijing Qian Men Street, Beijing Sanlitun Shopping District, 

Hebei:  Hebei Mt Baishi, Hebei Mt Changyan, Hebei Baiyang Lake, Hebei Shennong Herbal Garden, Hebei Longxing Temple (Zhengding), Hebei Zhengding Ancient City, Hebei Jun Le BaoRanch/Dairy Museum.

Tianjin: Tianjin Porcelain House, Tianjin Five Great Avenues (Horse and Carriage), Tianjin Premium Outlet

Shandong: Haichang Whale Shark Museum (Yantai), Changyu Wine Museum, Gold Mining Town (Zhaoyuan), Yangjiabu Folk Culture Village & Kite Museum (Weifang), Jinan’s Moat River, Mt Taishan (by Cable Car), Black Tiger Spring, Temple of Confucius Mansion (Qufu), Eight Passes Scenic Area / Badaguan (Qingdao), Daming Lake Park (Jinan), Qingdao Beer Factory (Qingdao), Zhanqiao, Olympic Sailing Center (Qingdao), Firewood Court / Pichai Yuan (Qingdao)

Henan: Justice Bao Memorial Temple (Kaifeng), Statue of Huang Di and Yan Di (Zhengzhou), Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng), Longmen Grottoes (Zhengzhou), Jiaozuo Film City, Mt. Yuntai Scenic Area, Yellow River

Shaanxi: Terracotta Army (Xi’an), Mt Huashan (Huayin), Valley of Waves (Jingbian), Hukou Waterfall (Linfen), Ancient City Wall (Xi’an), Shaohua Mountain National Forest Park (Weinan)

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Beijing: Beijing kaoya (Peking Duck), Egg Crepe (Jianbing), Beijing honey yoghurt (Beijing suannai),

Hebei: Hebei Qingfeng Baizi Chairman’s set meal, Clay oven roll (Ganglu Shaobing), Bagao, Gaocheng Noodles 

Tianjin: Jian Bing Guo Zi, Goubuli Bun, Eight Large Bowls, Lama cake, Ear Hole Fried Cake

Shandong: Dezhou stewed chicken, Chicken ball in milk soup, braised sea cucumber with onion, braised prawns, braised intestines in brown sauce

Henan: Dengfeng Shaolin Vegetarian, Luoyang Ban ShuiXi Feast, Luoyang Water Banquet. Chinese Wild Yams, Carp on Noodles, Kaifeng Steamed Stuffed Buns, Jiao Hua Ji, Almond Tea Soup, Braised Yellow Carp with Brown Sauce, Donkey Soup.

Shaanxi: Rou Jia Mo, Biangbiang noodles, Taiwang feast, Flatbread in mutton soup (yangrou paomo), Kabob (chuan'er), Pomegranate juice (shiliuzhi), Xi'an meat burger (roujiamo), Cold noodles (liangpi), Steamed beef and wheat powder (fenzhengrou), Hot and sour soup dumpling (suantang shuijiao)

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Beijing: Beijing glass snuff bottles, Eight Treasures inkpad, blue glaze cloisonné, Beijing dough toys, 

Hebei: fresh water pearl necklaces, pendants, shell carvings

Tianjin: Yangliuqing painting, Weiji Kites, Niren Zhang Clay Figures, Chinese paper cutting, tea, ceramic Figurines.

Shandong: Lu brocade, Jade of Mount Tai, Yangjiabu Woodcut New Year Pictures, Zibo Porcelain, Qingdao Shell Carvings, Bo Xing Cloth Tiger, Qi Writing Brush

Henan: Miyu jade, Lacquerware made of Chinese parasol

Shaanxi: Calligraphy Rubbings, Tang Tri-color Porcelain Replicas, Terracotta Warriors Replicas, Paper Cuts, Dry-cured Beef, Dried Persimmon & Walnut & Shaanxi Jujube and Xifeng Liquor

WHAT’S GOOD TO DO

Sightseeing – many ancient and modern sites and sights, watching cultural shows and performances, steep yourself in Chinese history, shopping, tasting street food

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Digital payments are widespread in China and you get better deals paying with your phone

• Visit the hutongs and ancient sites – they are a blast from a past that is centuries-old

• Protect your lungs – many of the cities in China have heavily polluted air

• There are 8 different linguistic groups in China and over 100 dialects

• All international passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of return. Please keep your passports with you at all times.

• The Great (Fire)Wall of China blocks Western sites: like Facebook, Google (Gmail, Maps, translate)etc. 

• China’s preferred messaging app is Weixin (WeChat in English. Download the app it’s useful. Chinese booking sites like C-Trip and eLong often offer better rates than Western booking sites. Be sure to check both when planning your trip. . It is also very common in China to use Alipay and Wechat pay for cashless payment.

• Get to the airport 3 (not 2) hours early for international flights to China and 2 hours early for domestic. Why? Chinese airports can be very crowded and you need extra time.

• China, with its huge population, is a crowded place so if you’re jostled when queuing or pushed when walking – know that personal space is limited in a congested country.

• Customer service from waiters and waitresses may not be what you are used to, so don’t be afraid to put your hands up and call for the fuyian if you want service.

• When you buy something from vendors use some small notes so you can avoid receiving forged money from them. Do not exchange for China Yuan with strangers in China.

• when bargaining try walking away during negotiations. If the seller calls you back, you can knock a bit more off the price.

• Don’t show off large denomination bills in your wallet, the seller will know you can afford to pay more.

• Also, to have a better bargaining position, don’t wear very expensive clothing or jewelry when shopping in China.

• It is also common practice for hotels in China to collect a porter fee. The guideline is RMB5 per luggage each time porter service is rendered.

DESTINATION: China- Yangtze River Basin

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO 

At 6307 km long the Yangtze River is the third longest in the world and runs through 11 provinces. Located at latitude between 24°30′ and 35°45′N and longitude between 90°33′ and 112°25′E it is in the subtropics. The average temperature is 30 °C in July and 10 °C in January. In summer, thunderstorms and heavy rains are and raise the water level between July and September, while winter is short and cold. 

Spring and Autumn (April, May, September and October) is the best time for the Yangtze river cruise. Temperatures are in the range of 12-18°C in spring and 15-20°C in autumn. Some prefer to take winter cruises as it is less crowded and the low water level makes the views at the Three Gorges more breathtaking.

Hubei

The province of Hubei has a subtropical monsoon climate. The average temperature for a year is about 15 to 17 °C. Summers can be burning hot and humid with temperatures over 30 °C in the July (June, July and August) and winters very chilly (December, January and February) with the coldest month, January in winter averaging 0 °C. The best time to visit is spring and autumn.

Hunan 

Hunan has four distinct seasons. There is lots of sunshine and abundant rain. Summer is usually long and humid, and temperatures get higher in the northern regions. The average maximum temperature in July and August is 30 ° C.The average minimum temperature in December and January is 6 ° C. The average maximum temperature in July and August is 30 ° C.

Chongqing

Chongqing is known as one of the "three furnaces" of the Yangtze River Delta along with Wuhan and Nanjing. It also has a fog season in late autumn to early spring. The average low temperature in winter is about 6 °C. The average high temperature in summer is about 31 °C. Travel during the winter can be too cold and bleak. April, September and October are probably the best months for travel when there is less rain.

SPRING (March to May)

Temperatures rise gradually and evenings are cool

SUMMER (June to August) 

Hot and humid but summer sales are on!

AUTUMN (September to November) 

Pleasant cooling breeze and lots of

sunshine. Comfortable temperatures.

WINTER (December to February) 

No snow but temperature can be around

10degC at night.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge, Three Gorges Dam, The Fairy Stream, Shibao Village, Sanxiarenjia, Baidi City, Chuhehan Shopping District (Wuhan), Changjiang/Yangtze River Bridge (Wuhan), Yellow Crane Pavilion (Wuhan), East Lake/Donghu (Wuhan), Shennong Altar, Shennong Peak, Shennong Valley, Banbiyan and Golden Apes at Longtan Vally, Shennong Ladder (Shennongjia), Mt Wudang, Ladies Town (Enshi), Fenghuang County, Mt Tianmen (Zhangjiajie), Mt Tianmen Glass Walkway (Zhangjiajie), Mt Tiazi (Zhangjiajie), Yuanjiajie by Bailong Lift (Zhangjiajie), Ten Miles Natural Gallery (Zhangjiajie), Glass Bridge (Zhangjiajie), Huanglong Cave, Red Stone Forest National Geological Park, Baofeng Lake, Yunyang Longgang Scenic Area, Tiansheng Sanqiao, Fairy Mountain, Jinfo Mountain, HongyaDong, JiefangbeiShopping District, Chongqing City by Night 

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

San Xia Guo - 3 ingredients hot pot with no soup(cow, pig and sheep or pig trotters and pig head), Zhangjiajie, Sour & Salted fish, Smoked blood tofu, Tujia Steamed pork belly, cold noodles, stewed chicken with chestnuts, Loach drilling through tofu, straw hat noodles, Chongqing hotpot, mapo tofu, Fuqi Feipian (Sliced Beef Tripe in Chili Oil With Peanuts),Lazi Ji (Chongqing dry fried chicken with chilli),cold diced rabbit with chilli and peanuts, suanla fen (hot and sour glass noodles), mushroom hotpot, Jingzhou Fish Cake, Steamed Wuchang Fish, Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes, Xiaotaoyuan Soup, Wangji Chicken Soup, Hongshan Vegetable Bolts, Dongpo Pork 

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Three Gorges Ink-Stone, Xiaogan Cake, Tujia Stickup Picture, turquoise jewelry, trinkets, small sculptures (Hubei), silk flowers, jade cloud tea, bamboo baskets, the Tujia, the Bai and the Miao handicrafts, print paintings, Changsou pomelo, Rongchang paper fans, Shu brocade, Gastrodia Elata

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• All international passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of return. Please keep your passports with you at all times.

• The Great(Fire)Wall of China blocks Western sites: like Facebook, Google (Gmail, Maps, translate)etc. 

• China’s preferred messaging app is Weixin (WeChat in English. Download the app it’s useful. Chinese booking sites like C-Trip and eLong often offer better rates than Western booking sites. Be sure to check both when planning your trip. . It is also very common in China to use Alipay and Wechat pay for cashless payment.

• Get to the airport 3 (not 2) hours early for international flights to China and 2 hours early for domestic. Why? Chinese airports can be very crowded and you need extra time.

• China, with its huge population, is a crowded place so if you’re jostled when queuing or pushed when walking – know that personal space is limited in a congested country.

• Air pollution can be serious in some big cities like Beijing. Face masks are commonly used.

• Customer service from waiters and waitresses may not be what you are used to, so don’t be afraid to put your hands up and call for the fuyian if you want service.

• When you buy something from vendors use some small notes so you can avoid receiving forged money from them. Do not exchange for China Yuan with strangers in China.

• when bargaining try walking away during negotiations. If the seller calls you back, you can knock a bit more off the price.

• Don’t show off large denomination bills in your wallet, the seller will know you can afford to pay more.

• Also, to have a better bargaining position, don’t wear very expensive clothing or jewelry when shopping in China.

• It is also common practice for hotels in China to collect a porter fee. The guideline is RMB5 per luggage each time porter service is rendered.

DESTINATION: INDIA

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: India is huge. Different parts of India experience different weather conditions at different times of the year. The Indian Meteorological Service classifies 7 climatic regions: Himalayas, Assam and West Bengal, the Indo-Gangetic Plain/North Indian Plain (a huge section of north-central India), the Western Ghats and coast (south-western India), the Deccan Plateau (south-central India), and the Eastern Ghats and coast. In general, Northern India is cooler, Central is hot and dry, and South India has a tropical climate. The best time to visit India is between October and March (depending on where you go), when the weather is more likely to be warm, sunny, and dry. During this time, the north part offers clear blue skies.

India is hit by 2 monsoons yearly –- the southwest and the northeast monsoon. In early June the southwest monsoon, the bigger and more widespread of the 2, heads inland from the sea and makes its way up India’s west coast. By mid-July, most of the country is blanketed by rain. This clears in northwest India by October. The northeast monsoon hits India’s east coast during November and December. It’s a short but heavy monsoon. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala get most of the rainfall. Monsoons cause flooding and destruction and also widespread diseases. And disrupts transport services. 

SPRING (March to May)

Temperature range is from 27-30C. Good for sun lovers and beachgoers.

SUMMER (June to August)

Heat outdoors is over 35 ° C and humidity is high, insects reproduce quickly and are a nuisance. Visitors tend to go to the mountains for cooler weather. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are popular. Summer offers a good time to see tigers and wildlife in India’s national park – because animals come out of hiding in search of water. 

AUTUMN (September to November)

Not hot, just warm and a comfortable weather for tourists to visit. 

WINTER (December to February)

Himalayas open their ski resorts in December. Tourists also visit the desert state of Rajasthan in Winter when temperatures are more tolerable.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

The Taj Mahal, Agra, The Holy City of Varanasi, Harmandir Sahib: The Golden Temple of Amritsar, Amber Palace, Red Fort, Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Valley of Flowers

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Vada Pav, Masala Dosa, 

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Phoenix Market City Mumbai- largest mall in India with 600 brands

Sarees & kurtas, traditional Indian paintings, Indian spices, incense, tea, curry powder, Kutch embroidery, Ayurvedic products, Jodhpur blue pottery,  joottis and mojaris slip-on shoes, chappals flip-flops, thangkas paintings

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• You'll encounter this universal, all-purpose, spontaneous gesture all over India – the Indian headshake or head wobble which can mean many things: like "yes" or "OK," or a greeting, or to acknowledge what you are saying but not necessarily to agree with you. A fast and continuous head wobble means that the person really understands. The more vigorous, the more the understanding. A quick side to side wobble means "yes" or "alright". A slow soft wobble, sometimes accompanied by a smile, is a sign of friendship.

• You'll find ATMs on the usual major networks in all urban and tourist areas around India

• Avoid using remote ATMs at night when you may be followed while carrying a large amount of cash

• don’t talk too loudly about your love for steaks/hamburgers – cows are sacred in India

• don’t talk bad about cricket

• don’t dress provocatively

• don’t interact with your left hand

• don’t wear shoes indoors

• don’t frown when men hold hands – it’s normal in India

DESTINATION: MACAU

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Humid, sub-tropical climate. Average Temperature: 22 ° C. July is hottest – 28.6 ° C. Jan is coolest – 14.5 ° C. Humidity: 75 to 95%. 

Apr-Sep is the rainy season and subject to typhoons Jul till Oct. Peak travel period is Jun to Aug & Dec. 

SPRING (March to May)

Warm and a bit foggy. Temperature around 22 ° C. But temperature drops during evenings & night and a bit chilly. 

SUMMER (June to August)

Sunny most of the time with occasional rain. Day temperature around 28 ° C. And night temperature around 25 ° C. 

AUTUMN (September to November)

Pleasant cooling breeze and lots of sunshine. A very comfortable temperature around 23 ° C.

Best time of the year to travel!

WINTER(December to February)

Doesn’t snow. Cold but not chilling.  Day temperature around 15 ° C but can be

around 12C at night. 

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

City of Dreams, Ruins of St Paul's, Senado Square, Wynn Macau, Parisian Macau, Venetian Macau, Macau Tower

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Portuguese egg tart, Pork chop bun, Beef Offal, Hot Pot Clam, Mango Mochi 

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Almond Cakes, Cashew Cookies, Meat Jerky, Peanut Candy, Portuguese wine

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• The currency unit of Macau is Macau Pataca (MOP). Pegged to the Hong Kong dollar since the 1970s. Hong Kong dollar is a semi-official second currency in Macau and widely accepted.

• Cantonese is widely spoken

• low levels of crime

DESTINATION: NEPAL

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS:

Nepal’s climate is one of extremes. It ranges from sub-tropical with a rainy season in the South, a temperate climate in the low mountains, and arctic in the high mountains. And the weather is tied to altitude (300m above sea level in the Tarai lowlands , and around 3,300m in the mountainous regions). Temperature change in Nepal is a drop of 6°C for every 1,000 m you gain in altitude. In northern Nepal summers are cool and winters are severe, while in the south summers are very hot while winters are mild to cold. The mid-land regions are pleasant almost all the year round, although winter nights are cool.

In the Tarai (southern Nepal), summer temperatures exceed 40° C and higher in some areas, while winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C. In mountainous regions, hills and valleys, summers are temperate while winter temperatures can plummet to sub-zero. The Kathmandu valley has a pleasant climate with average summer temperatures of 20°C – 35°C and  2°C – 12°C in winter.

During the rainy monsoon season between June to August, it rains an average between 200-375 millimeters in Kathmandu

There is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons o bloom while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

SPRING (March to May)

Mildly warm in lowlands, moderate at higher altitudes. Time for flowers to bloom – especially the national flower of Nepal – the spectacular rhododendron. 

SUMMER (June to August)

Monsoon season. Hot & wet. Rainy almost every day with thunderstorms in the evenings.

The mountains offer more comfortable weather.

AUTUMN (September to November)

Best time to visit for those who do trekking and love the mountain views. Peak tourist season. Season of Hindu festivals like Dashain & Tihar.

WINTER (December to February)

Cool weather and clear sky with some snowfall in higher regions. Good for trekking in lower elevations. 

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath Stupa

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Momos (steamed buns), Yomari (steamed rice-flour dumplings)

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Singing Bowls, Pashmina shawls (beware of fakes), rice paper products (made from lokta bark), beads & jewelry, handicrafts, Thangka paintings

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Do not trek alone. Always hire a guide or trek with other people. This is especially for women who travel single

• Avoid water that is not bottled or boiled

• Avoid raw vegetables and pre-cut fruit as much as possible

• Nepali, formerly known as the Parbate Bhasa or Gorkhali, is the official language of Nepal

• Other than Nepali, Maithili is another popular language

• Avoid hugging, kissing and public displays of affection. And dress conservatively.

•Do not step over outstretched legs or touch people with your feet – considered impolite.

• Do not mess with Yaks – they can be hostile

• Avoid taxis with no meters

• Take off your shoes when going into holy places 

DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: Climate is tropical and generally hot & humid throughout the year. For travelers – what they need to be aware of is the dry and wet seasons. Or essentially – the country’s 2 monsoon seasons. The South-Western monsoon brings showers to the south west of Sri Lanka between May & Sept while the dry season is from Dec to Mar. In the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka the North-East monsoon brings wind & rain between Oct & Jan and the dry spell is between May & Sep. Temperatures are fairly steady with coastal regions at 25-30 ° C and the highlands 15-18 ° C. 

SPRING (March to May)

March is good time to go to Sri Lanka. Rainy season hasn’t come. Weather is warm and

Sunny. The occasional rain comes in the night.

SUMMER (June to August)

With Summer comes the south-western monsoon. Be prepared for several hours of rain each day.

AUTUMN (September to November)

Monsoon showers become “zenithal” rains. They usually come at noon and 

are not so heavy.

WINTER (December to February)

Sun shines throughout the day. Rain may come but are usually in short bursts of half an hour.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE 

Sigiriya, Udawalawe National Park, Hill Country’s Haputale Mountains, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Dambulla Cave Temple, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo Fort & Pettah, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, 

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Fish ambul thiyal (spiced fish cubes), Kottu (hamburger)

WHAT’S GOOD TO BUY

Moonstones, sapphires, saris and sarongs, handwoven items, Buddha and elephant figurines & carvings, tea and spices

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

•Go slow, take time to relax

•Infrastructure and transport not of highest standards so manage your expectations

•You may have to wait for cows to cross the road, and not be frightened by the monkey suddenly jumping out from behind or the immovable elephant in the centre of the road

•Be prepared too for crazy bus drivers.

•Beware of Tuk Tuk scams

•Everyone needs a visa to get into Sri Lanka. The visa can be purchased and done online, so just print it out and show the paper to customs as you go through

•Official language of Sri Lanka is Sinhalese

DESTINATION: VIETNAM

WHEN’S GOOD TO GO

GENERAL WEATHER CONDITIONS: TROPICAL/TEMPERATE. Hot tropical climate in the South with temperatures above 18 ° C for all months in the year. Temperate climate in the North and mountainous regions with warmest temperatures around 22 ° C and the coldest at 18 ° to -3 ° C. Bes travel Period: Feb-Apr and Aug-Oct (temperatures less intense, milder rainfall) Mar & April – lowest rainfall.

Mean annual temperatures are around 25 to 27 °C in which the coldest month has a mean temperature of 22 to 25 °C and the hottest month has a mean temperature of 28 to 30 °C .

WINTER (December to February)

Cool, occasional light rain in the North, warm and dry in the center and the south.

Sapa temperature may drop to 0 ° C.

AUTUMN (September to November)

Clear skies, light winds and a good time to visit Hanoi, Sapa, Halong

Bay 

SUMMER (June to August)

Wet and hot period from North to South. Sun shines from 7am to 7pm. Evening thunderstorms.

.

SPRING (March to May)

After Winter, temperature rises together with humidity. Drizzling rains in the North with temperatures around 19 ° C. The central regions remains wet with temperate

weather until May, while the South has hot dry weather from March to May.

WHAT’S GOOD TO SEE

Halong Bay,Sapa Rice terrace fields, Imperail Enclosure & Perfume River, Hue, War Remnants Museum (Ho Chi Minh City) Notre Dame Cathedral (Ho Chi Minh City) Cu Chi Tunnels (Ho Chi Minh City) Hoan Kiem Lake (Hanoi) Statue of Jesus Christ (Vung Tau) Whale Temple (Vung Tau) Mekong Delta (My Tho) Citadel Complex of Hue (Hue) French Village (Ba Na Hills, Mekong Delta, Ba Be National Park, Train Street(Hanoi) 

WHAT’S GOOD TO EAT

Gôi Cuon (Rice paper spring roll) Pho (Beef or chicken soup with rice noodles) Bun Cha Hanoi (Grilled meat served over noodles)

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW (BEFORE YOU GO)

• Walk slowly and in a predictable way when crossing the road, motorcycle traffic can be frightening.

• No fixed prices. Use your bargaining skills.

• Beware of pickpockets.

• Count the zeros when paying and take time to count the change.

• Currency notes are in polymer and can stick together when wet.

• Currency exchange fee and ATM withdrawal fee for using ATM cashpoints.

• Buses crowded but quite reliable. Agree on price before setting out in taxis. Motorbike taxi – confirm price first and use safety helmet. Cyclo-pedal taxi (rickshaw pulled by bike) Slower but a great ride. (Metro coming soon in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh city)