Plan your tour in advance and select your tour operator. Booking the tour in advance provides benefit of discounts provided by tour operators. Select your tour operator depending upon the company you expect on the tour. I decided on SOTC as the group consisted travelers from Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Mumbai and other cities. It was a cosmopolitan group which made our entire journey quite enjoyable.

Your Tour operator will guide you on the Visa aspects because you need a separate Visa for U.K. and a separate Visa for Schengen countries consisting of remaining European countries on the tour. Other than having your passports ready, a number of documents are required to be submitted for obtaining Visa, particularly to U.K. (London).

You will need foreign currency during the tour abroad, more so if you plan to do shopping. For UK it is preferable to carry some Sterling Pounds. For other European countries, you may carry Euros. If you plan to do shopping at Dubai Airport, it is preferable to carry US Dollars. You can always obtain and carry a EUROCARD from any bank which issues Euro Cards. Foreign Exchange Bureaus in your area can also issue foreign currency on your providing details of your passport, ticket and visa. If you have Euro Card and some currency on hand, your tour will be comfortable.

In U.K. and Europe, for using toilets, you have to pay charges. Having small change ready after reaching there would be advantageous.

You can carry an International SIM Card for cellphone. There are reputed companies like Matrix, Lyca Mobile etc. who issue international SIM Cards.

If your cell phone is installed with software like “Cybercop”, please either remove the software from your handset or take another handset which does not have such software.

Make sure that your tour operator obtains Insurance cover for your trip. Else, you may arrange for the same.

Obtain and keep ready your latest Bank statement for last 6 months which should include a balance in the account to the extent of your tour cost. Also keep your Income Tax Returns for the last 3 years ready. If you are salaried person, salary slip for last 6 months will be required. Also NOC from employer if you are working in Central or State Government undertaking together with leave sanction letter. For businessmen and retired persons, details will be provided by the tour operator. These will be required for VISA purposes.

It is advisable to carry basic medicines for cold, fever,pain, headache etc. Also any other medication required by you, will have to be carried with you for the duration of the tour with prescriptions. If you are likely to be sea-sick during sea-travel like at Venice, or during road travel, keep vomit bags ready with you.

During the month of May, we found that the climate in U.K. and European countries was moderate except for Switzerland, particularly Mt.Titlis and Jungfrau. It is also known that it sometimes rains in Switzerland. So, carry warm clothes including body warmers.

Currency within Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong (VND). Some places also accept US Dollars.

Exchange rate ranges between 23150 to 23085 for one USD. Advisable not to return from your trips with VND as conversion rates are lower.

Things to carry – global adapter, power bank, fork/spoon (if you cannot eat with chopsticks like me), walking shoes.

India has visa on arrival for Vietnam but you have to fill the form for evisa. Check http://immigration.gov.vn for details. The visa fees is to be paid at Vietnam airport (42$ in total)

You can access airport free wifi for around one hour in Vietnam.

Monuments have a dress code so make sure to avoid sleeveless, short skirts and shorts as covering of hands and legs is considered important.

Most tourist destinations have entry fees ranging between 30,000-50,000 VND.

Do try Bun cha and Pho and try to eat it from the street vendors

Intemix and Circle K are their supermarkets

You can ride a cycle for short distances or also hire motorcycle cabs through Grab app for easy movement within the city.

Propaganda posters can be bought in stores.

You can buy Ao Dai (national attire) and the Non La (conical bamboo hat).