No you don't. I welcome all creative levels of experience. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner / Intermediate or Pro, you will definitely get something out of this retreat.

There are lots of women who attend my creative workshops that haven't done anything creative since they attended high school. The workshops that I offer are very flexible and I am conscious about tailoring it to each individual persons needs.

The only thing you need is a desire to jump in and "give it a go!"

You will fly into Da Nang International Airport (DAD) from which we have organised a taxi service to deliver you directly to the retreat villa.

Some flights may be direct from your country of departure, while others may require you to fly via Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or another airport.

If you require any additional help - please contact laura@laurajaneday.com

Hoi An and Vietnam in general has a low safety risk in regard to petty crime. I have never personally experienced theft of any kind or felt unsafe even when walking around a night.

In saying that, it's always important to be cautious and take precautions to prevent theft. This goes for any tourist destination and crowded areas in the world, not just Vietnam.

In general Vietnamese people are known for their friendly personalities, sometimes in tourist areas you may encounter some forceful street vendors wanting to sell you something, which you can politely decline. But overall, the locals are welcoming foreign travellers. They take pride in their rich history and culture and keen to share it with international visitors.

I will be providing a travel info sheet to all retreat guests before we depart for our trip, which will include helpful tips.

We have a trusted travel advisor Carly Hockey @soulful_travel_co who can help you to book connecting flights from your country of origin to Da Nang (DAD) Vietnam.

There will be an upfront engagement fee between $150 AUD to $300 AUD (plus gst) depending on the complexity of your travel booking.

The benefit of having a travel advisor is that you will have someone to contact directly to answer all of your questions before departure and they can plan and advise you based specifically on your individual needs, they also get access to exclusive agent only deals.

You can contact Carly via email: carly@soulfultravelco.com.au

Vietnam and its neighbouring counties such as Cambodia and Thailand are a melting pot of history and culture and a must to explore further. If you are wanting to include an extra one or two weeks and take the opportunity to explore more locations while you are in this beautiful part of the world, I would recommend engaging a travel advisor.

I personally loved spending time in Siem Reap Cambodia exploring the Angkor Wat complex as well as other locations in Vietnam including Ninh Binh, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. There is just so much to see!

Our trusted travel advisor Carly Hockey @soulful_travel_co will be able to help you plan an extension of your holiday.

There will be an upfront engagement fee between $150 AUD to $300 AUD (plus gst) depending on the complexity of your travel booking.

The benefit of having a travel advisor is that you will have someone to contact directly to answer all of your questions before departure and they can plan and advise you based specifically on your individual needs, they also get access to exclusive agent only deals.

You can contact Carly via email: carly@soulfultravelco.com.au

March is the ideal time to be visiting Vietnam for a retreat. You can expect moderate to warm temperatures with an average top of 28C and lows of 22C (Degrees Celsius)

Which is perfect for enjoying a dip in the ocean, sunbaking on the beach lounges or heading out on a bicycle ride though the rice fields.

This time of year is outside of peak tourism season, which means it will be less crowded in Hoi An.

March also boasts the lowest rainfall of the entire year, with an average 5 rainy days or 30mm of rain.

All art materials are provided for this retreat. The only other thing I would suggest to pack for our art sessions / free time would be if you have a special writing journal and pen you prefer to use.

For clothing - loose comfortable apparel is always a good option for travelling to Asia. Think light and loose fitting trousers, shorts, skirts and tops, as well as a sun hat and comfortable shoes such as sneakers and sandals or thongs.

If you are like me and tend to sweat on high humidity, packing black clothing is always a safe bet.

I will be providing a full packing list to all retreat guests before we depart for our trip.

Breakfast is a choice between fresh tropical fruit such as watermelon, pineapple, mango and passionfruit. Eggs with a fresh baguette, pancakes with pineapple or banana and chocolate syrup or a specialty noodle dish from Hoi An (Cao Lau)

Tea and coffee will be served at breakfast and afternoon tea. There is also fresh fruit juices available.

Lunch will be a selection of delicious Vietnamese food such as - fresh spring rolls, fresh papaya salad, noodles, vegetable fried rice, fried tofu, morning glory with garlic, grilled eggplant, grilled vegetables and steamed rice.

Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Tea are all included as a part of the full cost of the retreat.

Guests will purchase their own Dinner and Drinks each evening (apart from the final night celebration dinner which is included). Laura will provide Restaurant suggestions and arrange group dinner bookings with the villa staff for those who choose to eat dinner out as a group.

Please see the next FAQ question below if you have special dietary requirements.

Yes. We can cater to special diets such as vegan and vegetarian, please get in touch with me as soon as possible to notify me of your preferences so I can alter the retreat menu to your requirements.

For dairy and gluten intolerance and sensitivity the menu can be altered as well. However, it is good to be aware that while the restaurant will do its best to eliminate what you request there may still be traces of gluten or dairy.

Yes! For this retreat we do offer a payment plan. We understand that you may not be able to pay in full so we have made it easier for those who want the option of paying for the retreat over 6 x monthly payments.

If you require any additional information about how to pay - please contact laura@laurajaneday.com

No one books a retreat with the intention of making a cancellation. We are aware that in some cases unexpected events do occur, please consider purchasing travel insurance in the instance that you have to cancel your trip due to this reason. It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policies prior to booking your retreat ticket. 

If a request for cancellation is received ninety (90) or more days prior to the start date of a retreat, a refund of the retreat cost minus a $50 AUD administrative fee will be issued.

If a cancellation request is received between eighty nine (89) days and sixty one (61) days prior to the start of a retreat, 50% of the retreat cost will be refunded.

If a cancellation request is received less than sixty (60) days prior to the start of a retreat, the retreat will be non-refundable. No exceptions can be made for any unexpected event, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.

No refund will be given if a retreat guest is a no-show or leaves early or arrives late. 

To issue a cancellation request please email: laura@laurajaneday.com

We reserve the right to cancel the retreat in the event we do not reach minimum numbers. In which case the balance of your retreat ticket will be refunded in full. Notification of retreat cancellation for this reason will occur at least 1 month (30 days) prior to the retreat start date.

We recommend that you purchase your own travel insurance to cover trip cancellation. In the instance that the retreat is cancelled, we cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses incurred, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or retreat cancellations. It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policies prior to making any purchase decisions in regards to travel expenses related to your trip.

If you have questions or would like further assistance please email: laura@laurajaneday.com

Unfortunately - No it is not.

Between the accommodation and the activities we have planned for this retreat it will not be accessible by a wheelchair.

I hope to one day find a venue that will be able to cater for all abilities, but unfortunately for this Vietnam retreat we are not accessible.

There are 4 x twin share rooms available. So it is possible to bring another person along to the retreat. 

If both of you want to participate in the planned retreat activities you will have to purchase 2 x retreat tickets. You will both be entitled to $200 AUD off the ticket price, if you choose to share a room. 

If you would like to bring an additional person (non retreat guest) and want to book a room this is still possible.

1 x non-retreat guest is FREE for each double or twin share room booked by a retreat participant.

If you choose to bring a non-retreat guest you will NOT be eligible for the twin share $200 AUD discount. 

This extra person will NOT be able to participate in any of the planned retreat activities.

Breakfast will be provided for this additional guest, but we ask that they take their morning meal in the room to respect the integrity of the paying retreat guests. No other food or drinks will be provided for this extra guest, and we ask that they create minimal sound disturbance to the group participating in the retreat.

If you have any further questions please email: laura@laurajaneday.com