Itinerary
Vietnam Explorer (28 to 44 years)
14 daysSaturday 24 October - Friday 06 November 2009
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Day 01 - Saturday, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Day 14 - Friday, Hanoi, Vietnam |
| Maximum group size is 22 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 even terrain. |
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Highlights:
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| Hotel List* Ho Chi Minh: 3 star Mekong Delta/Cantho: 4 star Hoi An: 3 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. |
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Day 1 Saturday Arrival Day Ho Chi Minh
This is the first day of the tour and the group comes together in the evening around 7:45pm with your Tour Guide before heading out for the welcome dinner. An airport-hotel transfer will be arranged for all passengers travelling on a group flight. If you have made your own travel arrangements the transfer to the hotel is by your own arrangement. [Dinner]
Day 2 Sunday Discover Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh
Your first full day in Vietnam starts with a city tour and discovering 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 Monday Explore the Country River Island
This morning you transfer out of Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. The rest of the day there’s a boat tour with various stops along the way to the River Island where you will be welcomed by a Vietnamese Family for a homestay. [Dinner]
Day 4 Tuesday Floating Markets Cantho
After a local homestay, today you will continue your discovery of the Mekong Delta with a boat tour to Vinh Long. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the Mekong Delta town, Cantho. Tonight’s a great night to get a group together to head out and try some of the local ‘delicacies’ of the region.
Day 5 Wednesday Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh
You wake 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 of Cai Rang and Phong Dien. There are great photo opportunities this morning! In the afternoon we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City (about four hours).
Day 6 Thursday Chu Chi Tunnels Hoi An
This morning we take 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. [Lunch enroute]
Day 7 Friday Hoi An Tour Hoi An
A city walk is the best way to become accustomed with Hoi Ann. The tour includes the History Museum, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation Hall, Japanese Bridge, Phung Hung House. There’s a leisurely bike tour for a few hours to get know the countryside around the town. Or if you prefer a bit of free time, take time out to do your own thing.
Day 8 Saturday Free time/beach time Hoi An
It’s great to have leisure time and this is a great spot to do it. Enjoy the nearby beach, 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.
Day 9 Sunday From Hoi An to Hue Hue
A day on the road as we transfer to Hoi An via the Marble Mountains, Cham Museum and Hai Van Pass with a city tour. We stop for lunch en route. [Lunch]
Day 10 Monday Boats and Cycling 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 to get you among local village life and visit the countryside outside of Hue. Or do your own thing around town.
Day 11 Tuesday Heading North to Hanoi Hanoi
A short morning flight to Hanoi (VN240 08:20 09:55). In Hanoi, there’s a city tour discovery including a cyclo tour in the Old Quarter. Rest of the day at leisure. [Lunch]
Day 12 Wednesday Halong Bay to Hanoi Halong Bay
This morning we make our way to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise of the bay. It’s a major highlight of your Vietnam Explorer tour! 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). If sharing is required arrangements will be advised by your tour guide. [Lunch & dinner]
Day 13 Thursday Halong Bay to Hanoi Hanoi
We continue the cruise in the morning before transferring to Hanoi in the afternoon. Transfer to hotel.
[Lunch. Grand farewell dinner]
Day 14 Friday Our Final Day Hanoi/Depart
The morning is at your leisure. A chance for some last minute souvenior shopping. Stays can be extended on request.
Meal Key: (BB) = Buffet Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Hotel Dinner (HD) = Highlight Dinner
Included:
ACCOMMODATION
11 nights accommodation based on quality tourist class hotels (quality 3 star, 4 star and one 5 star hotel stay in Hanoi), 1 homestay and 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 in 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 by 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$65 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. .
