Visas

The first three destinations of this tour all require a visa - and for me, on this occasion, that's a business visa. For India, the going rate from the UK is £107.00 for a multiple entry [as I may be going back there later] yearly visa. For Vietnam, the rate is £65 for s single entry visa. And for Russia, who the heck knows as there are so many elements in the process [I'll report back when it's all done, but I remember from the past that it can be absurdly expensive.]

For business visas to each of these countries the start point is a letter of invitation from your firm [if you have an office in these countries, which I don't] or your local client. For Russia, this needs to be formalised in Moscow first, and then scrutinised again at the Russian Consulate in London. All in all, quite a lengthy process. So, in recent years, to make it all a bit simpler, I've used an agency - DJB Passport and Visas - who are based in Shoreditch, the hip yet grim hinterland of the City of London. There's a handling charge and, if you want it, a courier charge. But it's all so much easier that doing it all yourself.