Itinerary
Best of Vietnam (45 yrs & over)
16 days17 October - 1 November 2009
| Start: End: |
Day 01 - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Day 16 - Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Maximum group size is 26 persons. | |
| Download Tour Itinerary | |
| Tour Pace: Comfortable to Moderate. This tour contains some leisurely days with some more active days of touring including a few early starts. Travellers should have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the tour. The more active days include walking tours and (optional) bicycle tours in the countryside, sometimes on uneven terrain. |
|
Highlights:
|
|
| Hotel List* Ho Chi Minh: 3 star Mekong Delta/Cantho: 4 star Hoi An: 3 star Sapa: 4 star Halong Bay: overnight cruise boat Hanoi: 5 star * Hotel List: If hotels are listed or provided prior to receiving your travel packs they are to be used as a guide only and are subject to change should circumstances dictate. |
|
Day 1 Sat Arrival Day Ho Chi Minh
This is the first day of the tour and the group meets with the tour guide in the hotel lobby at 7:45pm for our group welcome dinner. [Dinner]
Day 2 Sun Discover Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh
Your first full day in Vietnam starts with a city tour and discovery of all the key iconic places of Ho Chi Minh City; Binh Tay Market, Jade Emperor Pagoda, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office. Plus some free time to make your own discoveries.
Day 3 Mon Mekong Delta Cantho
This morning we transfer to Cai Be (3 hours) for a boat tour with stops along the way to arrive at Vinh Long before transferring to Cantho in the Mekong Delta for the evening. Seafood meals are a focus on the local restaurant menus and you may like to try the local mouse that features on some menus. [Lunch enroute]
Day 4 Tue Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh
Today you are up early to make sure you see the best of the local trade on the Mekong Delta with a boat tour of the floating market and a walk in a local village of Cantho (great photo opportunities this morning). If you prefer to lie in, you can make your own plans for the morning in Cantho (just let your tour guide know you will not be joining the morning boat tour). In the afternoon, we transfer back by bus to Ho Chi Minh city for the night.
Day 5 Wed Chu Chi Tunnels Hoi An
Excursion to the renowned Cu Chi Tunnels. After your visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels there’s a packed lunch ready for you en route in the bus, before you reach the airport for an afternoon flight to Danang. From Danang we transfer to the historic town of Hoi An for the next three nights. Flight Info: VN326 Departs 17:20 Arrives 18:30.
[Lunch enroute]
Day 6 Thu Hoi An Tour Hoi An
Start your day with a morning city walk, the best way to become accustomed with historic Hoi Ann. The tour includes, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation Hall, Japanese Bridge and Phung Hung House. There’s a leisurely bike tour to get know the city further afield. Or if you prefer a bit of free time, take time out to do some shopping or soak up the atmosphere of Hoi An.
Day 7 Fri Free time/beach time Hoi An
It’s great to have leisure time and this is a great spot to do it. Relax by the resort pool, wander around Hoi An, make time for some souvenir shopping, get some clothes tailor-made, soak up the town’s atmosphere or visit the local beach.
Day 8 Sat From Hoi An to Hue Hue
A day out on the road as we transfer to Hoi An via the Marble Mountains and Hai Van Pass. [Lunch]
Day 9 Sun The Perfume River Hue
We enjoy a boat tour on the Perfume River to the royal tombs area. In the afternoon, there’s a two hour cycling tour which is a highlight as you roam into the countryside around Hue to get you among local village life. If cycling is not your preference you can choose to do your own thing around town (just let your tour guide know).
Day 10 Mon Heading North to Hanoi Hanoi Overnight Train (to Sapa)
A short morning flight to Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines VN240 Departs 08:20 Arrives 09:55.
There’s a city discovery with a visit of the Prison Museum, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside only), Temple of Literature and a walk in the Old Quarter. This evening you take the night train to Lao Cai. It’s a sleeper train with four beds per berth. No dining facilities are on board but there is a group dinner before boarding the train. There is also time for purchasing snacks and drinks before the train journey. [Lunch. Dinner]
TIP– have a small travel bag/day pack available that you can use for the visit to Sapa. Large bags will be stored at the hotel in Hanoi as it is not possible to travel with your main luggage bag on the train.
Day 11 Tue Market & boat tour Sapa
Excursion to the weekly Coc Ly market with a boat tour before transferring to Sapa.
Day 12 Wed Silver Waterfall Sapa
An excursion to Silver Waterfall. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.
Day 13 Thu Ta Phin Sapa Overnight Train (to Hanoi)
Today we have an excursion to Ta Phin.
Day 14 Fri Hanoi to Halong Bay Halong Bay Huong Hai Junk, Cruise
This morning we make our way to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise of the bay. A major highlight of your Vietnam Explorer tour! Make sure you pack your swimwear.
Note for single room bookings; a single cabin can not be guaranteed on the overnight boat tour on Halong Bay and you may be required to share with another person (of the same gender). [Lunch and Dinner]
Day 15 Sat Halong Bay to Hanoi Hanoi
We continue the cruise in the morning before transferring to Hanoi in the afternoon. This evening there is a grand farewell dinner. [Lunch. Dinner]
Day 16 Sun Our Final Day Hanoi/Depart
A customary cyclo tour in Hanoi plus some leisure time before departing from the hotel to the airport for your return home.
Meal Key: (BB) = Buffet Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Hotel Dinner (HD) = Highlight Dinner
Included:
ACCOMMODATION
12 nights accommodation based on quality tourist class hotels (quality 3 star, 4 star and one 5 star hotel stay in Hanoi). 2 nights sleeper train with 4 beds per berth. 1 night accommodation on boat cruise.
SIGHTSEEING
Included as per the itinerary. Entrance fees to tourist and sightseeing locations included in tours.
MEALS
Daily full buffet breakfast. Other meals as detailed by itinerary.
TOUR GUIDE
Services of a professional Vietnamese National English speaking Tour Guide throughout.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation by air-conditioned coaches including city tours and excursions (no transportation during time at leisure)
Two domestic flights in Vietnam in Economy Class, including ticketing and domestic airport tax. Flight details quoted in the itinerary are subject to airline changes such as flight times or flight numbers.
Four boat tours (including cruise on Halong Bay with overnight on the boat* )
Bicycles provided as indicated by the cycle tours on the itinerary.
PORTERAGE
One piece of luggage per person (up to 20kg), in and out of hotels provided as per itinerary.
SERVICE CHARGES
Service charges and local taxes on services provided as stated in the Itinerary.
DOCUMENTATION
A travel wallet containing the itinerary with hotel information.
Note:
Every endeavour is made to ensure all services are included as per your quote request, however it is your responsibility to check all inclusions in the attached itinerary as any items not specified will incur supplementary charges.
Not in included:
- Other meals not included on the itinerary.
- Tipping Fund. There is a compulsory tipping fund of US$70 per person, payable directly to your tour guide on commencement of the tour*
- Tips for your Tour Guide. Your tour guide will take care of tipping hotel porters, the tour bus driver and driver assistants, local guides, boat crew, restaurant waiters for meals included in the itinerary and other miscellaneous tips for services while on your tour. The tipping fund does not include a tip for your tour guide and it is customary to tip your tour guide on completion of the tour. You should budget USD$2 per person per day for this tip.
- Travel Insurance, Visas and items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, camera fees, excess baggage fees, optional tours. Any additional domestic airport departure taxes if applicable.
