Before You Arrive
The Stories We Carry | November 2 to 15, 2026
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
We're getting closer to welcoming you to Vietnam.
Over the next 14 days, we'll travel through Northern Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and Sài Gòn. Along the way, we'll meet local communities, share stories, explore our relationship with Vietnam, and make space for connection and reflection.
Before we meet in Hà Nội, we've put together everything you need to help prepare, from what to pack and helpful apps to travel insurance, domestic flights, and frequently asked questions.
You don't need to prepare for every moment. Just arrive with the essentials, an open mind, and a little curiosity.
Your Travel Essentials
Before departing for Vietnam, please make sure you have:
A valid passport and approved Vietnam visa, if required.
Your international flight itinerary and accommodation information.
Travel insurance covering your full trip.
A working mobile data plan, SIM, or eSIM.
Access to our Heritage Tour WhatsApp Community.
Any personal medications and important medical information.
Digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance, and travel reservations.
Vietnam eVisa: https://evisa.gov.vn/
We recommend keeping important documents accessible on your phone, with backup copies saved somewhere secure.
If you're arriving earlier or extending your stay beyond November 15, please double check your accommodation arrangements and travel dates.
01. Before You Leave
Pack Light. Travel Comfortably.
We'll be traveling through several regions of Vietnam, each with its own weather, landscape, and pace.
Hà Nội and Mai Châu may have cooler mornings and evenings. Đà Lạt and the Central Highlands can be noticeably cooler, especially during our early morning activities. Sài Gòn will generally be warmer and more humid.
We recommend packing versatile, lightweight clothing that you can comfortably wear throughout the experience.
02. What to Pack
Clothing & Footwear
Lightweight, breathable shirts and everyday clothing
Comfortable pants, shorts, or skirts
Walking shoes with good support
Comfortable sandals or casual footwear
A light jacket, sweater, or packable outer layer
Clothing suitable for light outdoor activities and cycling
Modest clothing for temples and cultural visits
Swimwear for accommodation pools or personal time
Sleepwear and personal essentials
Everyday Essentials
Small backpack or day bag
Reusable water bottle
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Hat or cap
Insect repellent
Compact umbrella or light rain jacket
Personal toiletries
Prescription medications
Portable charger and charging cables
Travel adapter if needed
A Few Packing Suggestions
Uniqlo is one of our recommendations for affordable, comfortable, and lightweight travel clothing.
Their AIRism, DRY EX, and other packable basics are especially convenient for Vietnam's warmer weather. A lightweight jacket or sweater will also come in handy in the Central Highlands.
You don't need to purchase an entirely new wardrobe before your trip.
Vietnam has plenty of great options for clothing and shopping, from local boutiques and independent Vietnamese brands to shopping centers and markets.
You'll also have opportunities for free time throughout the Heritage Tour, so if you forget something or simply want to explore the local fashion scene, you'll have time to shop.
We actually encourage leaving a little extra space in your luggage for anything you might want to bring home.
Laundry During the Tour
Laundry services will be available at several accommodations throughout our experience.
Availability, turnaround times, and additional charges may vary, but you won't need to pack 14 completely different outfits.
Your Luggage Allowance
We'll be taking two domestic flights during the Heritage Tour, each with slightly different baggage allowances.
Vietnam Airlines
Checked Baggage: 23 kg
Hand Baggage: 7 kg
VietJet Air
Checked Baggage: 20 kg
Hand Baggage: 7 kg
Our recommendation: Keep your checked luggage at or below 20 kg and your hand baggage at or below 7 kg throughout the tour.
This will help you stay within both airlines' allowances and make traveling between destinations much easier.
Keep your passport, medications, valuables, electronics, and important travel documents in your hand baggage.
03. Helpful Apps to Download
A Few Things That Make Vietnam Easier
We recommend downloading and setting up a few apps before arriving in Vietnam.
Grab
A convenient option for booking cars, motorbikes, and food delivery throughout Vietnam.
Xanh SM
Another transportation option, offering electric taxis and ride services.
Google Maps
Helpful for navigation, saving places you want to visit, and exploring during your free time.
Google Translate
Useful for reading signs, menus, and communicating during independent exploration. Download Vietnamese for offline use.
Our primary communication platform for important announcements, daily meeting times, reminders, and itinerary updates.
Set Up Your Payment Methods Before Arriving
For Grab and Xanh SM, we recommend creating your account and adding a credit or debit card before arriving in Vietnam, where supported.
This will make booking rides much easier, especially for airport transfers and during your free time.
It also means you won't need to worry about carrying Vietnamese cash for every ride.
Some apps may require phone verification or additional setup, so it's helpful to have everything ready before departure.
04. Money and Everyday Spending
Do I Need Vietnamese Cash?
We recommend carrying some Vietnamese đồng (VND) for smaller purchases, local markets, street food, and independent activities.
Many hotels, restaurants, cafés, and larger businesses accept cards, but cash is still useful throughout Vietnam.
You can withdraw money from local ATMs or exchange currency after arriving. Please note that international ATM and bank fees may apply.
Most scheduled meals, transportation, and experiences included in the Heritage Tour are already arranged.
Personal shopping, additional food and drinks, independent transportation, and other personal expenses are separate.
Our suggestion: Bring more than one payment method if possible, and keep a little cash available for smaller everyday purchases.
05. Your Domestic Flights
Confirmed Flight Information
Both domestic flights have been confirmed and are coordinated by our team.
You do not need to book these flights independently.
November 7, 2026
Hà Nội → Đà Lạt
Vietnam Airlines | VN1573
Departure: 6:55 AM
Arrival: 8:50 AM
Included Baggage
23 kg checked baggage
7 kg hand baggage
November 13, 2026
Buôn Ma Thuột → Sài Gòn
VietJet Air | VJ357
Departure: 8:00 AM
Arrival: 9:00 AM
Included Baggage
20 kg checked baggage
7 kg hand baggage
What to Expect on Flight Days
Both flights depart early in the morning, so we'll be starting these days earlier than usual.
Our team will coordinate transportation to and from the airports and share meeting times, departure instructions, and any flight updates through WhatsApp.
Please keep your luggage within the stated allowances and have your passport accessible for check in.
Flight schedules remain subject to airline changes.
06. Travel Insurance
Travel With a Little More Peace of Mind
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for everyone joining our Heritage Tour.
While our team carefully coordinates the experience, unexpected situations can still happen, including medical emergencies, flight disruptions, lost luggage, and changes to personal travel plans.
We recommend choosing coverage for your entire international trip, including any additional days before November 2 or after November 15.
Our Travel Insurance Partner: SafetyWing
Third Culture Vietnam is partnered with SafetyWing, which offers travel medical insurance options for international travelers.
If you're still looking for coverage, you're welcome to explore their available plans.
Explore SafetyWing Travel Insurance
https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance
You're not required to use SafetyWing. You're welcome to choose whichever insurance provider and policy best fit your individual needs.
Before purchasing, please review the policy's eligibility, coverage limits, exclusions, and benefits carefully, especially for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, adventure activities, and preexisting conditions.
Not all travel medical insurance plans include comprehensive trip cancellation or interruption coverage.
Partner Disclosure: Third Culture Vietnam may receive a referral benefit if you purchase through our SafetyWing link.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our Heritage Tour officially begins on November 2, 2026, in Hà Nội.
Our team will share the final meeting instructions through WhatsApp before the tour begins.
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You're welcome to arrive before the official tour date.
For participants who requested additional accommodation at Signature by M Village Thợ Nhuộm, your reservation and payment information will be shared separately.
Additional hotel nights are not included in the Heritage Tour package.
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Your additional nights before the tour will be in a Private Room.
When the Heritage Tour begins on November 2, you'll transfer into your assigned Shared Room. The hotel team will assist with the room transition and your luggage.
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International airport arrival and departure transfers are not included in the Heritage Tour package.
We recommend using Grab or Xanh SM for independent airport transportation.
Transportation for our two scheduled domestic flights will be coordinated by our team.
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Absolutely.
We've intentionally created space throughout the itinerary for rest, personal exploration, shopping, journaling, and simply enjoying where we are.
Not every evening will be scheduled.
You're welcome to spend your free time however feels right for you.
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Expect a combination of city walking, cultural visits, cycling, light outdoor activities, and time in nature.
Some days will be more active than others, but the Heritage Tour is not designed around rushing from one attraction to the next.
If you have mobility concerns or need additional accommodations, please contact our team.
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November brings different conditions across our route.
Hà Nội and Mai Châu may have cooler mornings and evenings. Đà Lạt and the Central Highlands can feel noticeably cooler, especially early in the morning. Sài Gòn will generally be warmer and more humid.
We recommend bringing versatile layers and preparing for occasional rain.
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Not at all.
Our team will help bridge language and cultural differences throughout the tour.
We encourage everyone to remain curious, ask questions, and engage respectfully with the communities we visit.
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Our team will do its best to coordinate with local partners around dietary needs shared before the tour.
If you have any changes or additional concerns, please let us know as soon as possible.
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We recommend having mobile data available throughout your stay, either through a local SIM, eSIM, or international roaming plan.
A working phone number can also be helpful for ride services and local communication.
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You're welcome to bring a suitcase, but please keep the domestic flight baggage allowances in mind.
We recommend staying within 20 kg checked baggage and 7 kg hand baggage for both flights.
Lighter luggage will also make hotel transitions and traveling between destinations easier.
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No. We'll provide your Third Culture Vietnam journal.
You're welcome to bring your favorite pen or anything personal that you'd like to use during our reflection sessions.
What should I expect from our breakout sessions?
Our breakout sessions are intentional spaces to slow down, share perspectives, listen, and explore our individual relationships with Vietnam, identity, belonging, and community.
You are never required to share more than you're comfortable with.
There is no single Vietnamese experience, and there is nothing you need to prove.
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Our WhatsApp Announcement Chat will be the main source for meeting times, daily reminders, schedule adjustments, and important information.
Our online itinerary will remain available as a reference, but updates shared through WhatsApp will take priority during the tour.