Half Day Walking to Dao Ao Dai Villages

TVPalm prepares every walk in advance: local Dao guides, host families in Khuoi My and Lung Vai who open their homes for the visit, snacks, and coordination with the Tay Con Linh Sustainable Tourism Cooperative. Some of these commitments are locked in early and cannot be reversed. This policy exists so guests understand what they are committing to, and so the local people who work with TVPalm do not carry the loss when a booking is cancelled at short notice.

Non-refundable Deposit: 30%

A non-refundable deposit of 30% of the total tour price (minimum VND 500,000 per booking) is required to confirm the booking. Deposit must be paid within 72 hours of receiving the confirmed quotation. For bookings made within 14 days of departure, deposit is due immediately.

The deposit reflects early commitments with local Dao guides and community partners. It may be transferred to another TVPalm Adventure tour or a TVPalm Ecolodge stay within 6 months, provided written cancellation is received at least 15 days before the original departure date.

Cancellation Schedule

Time of cancellation is measured from the date TVPalm receives written notification at info@tvpalm.com.

Flexible Postponement

TVPalm encourages guests to postpone rather than cancel whenever possible.

• 15 days or more before departure: one free postponement within 6 months, subject to guide and community availability.
• 7 – 14 days before departure: postponement accepted with a 20% adjustment fee.
• Less than 7 days before departure: postponement subject to written approval; non-recoverable costs may apply.

Additional Requirements

• Medical Self-Declaration: mandatory at booking. Failure to complete: no walk, with standard cancellation terms.
• Personal travel insurance: strongly recommended, not mandatory. TVPalm will not refuse participation for lack of proof.

Cancellation by the Guest

Cancellation for personal reasons within the guest’s control — change of plans, personal scheduling, international flight cancellation, visa denial, or guest illness before departure — is handled under the Cancellation Schedule above. These situations are not force majeure and, where insurable, should be covered by the guest’s personal travel insurance. TVPalm always encourages postponement over cancellation.

Cancellation Due to Weather & Trail Safety

Mountain weather is the most common reason a walking tour is affected. TVPalm follows a safety-first rule that never bends to close a booking:

• Guide authority: the lead guide may reroute, shorten, or postpone the walk due to heavy rain, fog, landslide risk, flooded streams, or unsafe trail conditions. That decision is final and is made for guest safety, not convenience.
• If the walk cannot start because conditions are unsafe: TVPalm offers free postponement with the deposit carried forward, an alternative date, or an alternative itinerary of equivalent value.
• If the walk is interrupted mid-way for safety reasons: TVPalm assists with a safe return to the Ecolodge. Unused portions already delivered are non-refundable.
• Normal mountain weather — mist, cold, light rain, cloud cover — is part of the experience and is not grounds for cancellation or refund. We state this honestly before you book.

Force Majeure (Objective External Events)

If events beyond the control of either party — natural disasters, floods, landslides, road closures, typhoons, epidemics, government restrictions, or serious medical emergencies (with valid documentation) — prevent the tour from proceeding, TVPalm will offer:

• (a) Free postponement to a later date with the deposit fully carried forward.
• (b) An alternative itinerary of equivalent value where possible.
• (c) Partial refund after deducting non-recoverable costs already incurred at the time of cancellation.

Non-recoverable costs for this tour typically include: prepaid guide fees, small hosting fees paid to village families, and coordination costs. In case (c), TVPalm will provide a written breakdown of deducted costs upon request.

Cancellation by TVPalm

• Internal reasons (staffing, scheduling, minimum-numbers not met): full 100% refund — including the deposit — plus the option of free rescheduling at no additional cost.
• Safety, weather, or external reasons: the Weather & Trail Safety and Force Majeure sections above apply.
• TVPalm’s approach: we will always try to offer an alternative date or itinerary before refunding.

Written Request

All cancellation, postponement, or change requests must be submitted in writing to info@tvpalm.com. Zalo and WhatsApp messages are not valid until confirmed by email. The effective cancellation date is the date TVPalm receives and confirms the written request.

Refund Processing

• Timeline: approved refunds are processed within 15 to 30 business days from the date TVPalm confirms the cancellation in writing.
• Payment method: refunds are issued to the same payment method used for the original booking.
• Bank fees: international bank transfer fees are the guest’s responsibility.

No Refund for Unused Services

No refund is provided for unused portions of the tour — snacks not taken, activities not joined — whether by guest choice or by circumstances within the guest’s control.

Special Conditions

International Travelers

If you can provide written proof of flight changes or airline cancellation, TVPalm offers an additional 3-month postponement window beyond the standard 6-month window. Proof (airline confirmation, boarding pass change, cancellation email) must be submitted with the postponement request.

Repeat Guests

Guests who have completed a previous TVPalm Adventure or TVPalm Ecolodge booking are entitled to:

• One free postponement without the adjustment fee, even within the shorter notice window.
• Priority rescheduling on the new date, subject to guide and community availability.
• The Medical Self-Declaration Form is still required for the rescheduled tour.