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Group size: 8 to 16 guests ( Maximum )
Hotel grade: 3 star
Departure dates:
| Departure from Hochiminh city in Vietnam |
Departure from Sydney in Australia |
- April 5th, 2010
- May 8th, 2010
- June 12nd, 2010
- July 5th, 2010
- August 11st, 2010
- September 27th, 2010
- October 11st, 2010
- November 6th, 2010
- December 20th, 2010
- December 23rd, 2010
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- April 4th, 2010
- May 7th, 2010
- June 11st, 2010
- July 4th, 2010
- August 10th, 2010
- September 26th, 2010
- October 10th, 2010
- November 5th, 2010
- December 19th, 2010
- December 22nd, 2010
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Tour Highlights: This 12-day tour covers the length of Vietnam, from south to north, encompassing some of its most beautiful scenery and historically interesting cities. We explore the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh, the mighty Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi tunnels. Then, learn about the fascinating history of Vietnam by visiting the World Heritage Sites of Hue citadel and Hoi An ancient town. This tour also gives you the opportunity to experience the hidden charms of Hanoi and witness the extraordinary beauty of Ha Long Bay.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh arrival ( D )
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport. Welcome by your local guide and driver. Transfer to your hotel, welcome dinner. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. ( Superior room at the Lavender Hotel )
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Lavender Hotel
Address: 208 - 210 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
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Day 2: Ho Chi Minh city tour ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Start your sightseeing tour at the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of the war in April 1975. Then visit some impressive French colonial structures including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. Tour of Chinatown and Thien Hau and Quan Am pagodas. After seeing the Emperor Jade Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum, we end the city tour at Ben Thanh market where anything and everything is for sale. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh city - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi tunnels ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive west to Tay Ninh, headquarters of Cao Dai region. On arrival, attend the fantastic mid-day temple service when followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. On the way back, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network of tunnels constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation, etc. and were used as a military base for the Vietcong during the American war. Drive back to HCMC. Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh city - My tho - Ben Tre - Can Tho ( B/L/D )
8:00am pick up at your hotel. Depart for My Tho. Take a boat ride through the Bao Dinh natural canal, view the stilt houses and the fruit plantation along the river bank. Visit the My Tho wholesale fruit market. Proceed to Tortoise island and have lunch in the orchard. Enjoy a boat ride through Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruising under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. After trekking through the fruit plantation in Thoi Son island, enjoy a rowing boat ride along the creeks before returning to My Tho by motorised boat. Proceed to Can Tho via Vinh Long and visit the snake market. Check in at hotel. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Cantho. (Superior room at the Kim Tho Hotel )
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Kim Tho Hotel
Address: 1A Ngo Gia Tu street - Tan an Ward - Ninh Kieu District - Can Tho City
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Day 5: Can Tho – Cai Rang – Ho Chi Minh – Hoi An ( B/L/D )
After breakfast, take the morning boat trip to visit the Cai Rang floating market which is at its busiest at this time of day. Keep cruising through the small channels system and visit a rice noodle making village. Experience the "Monkey Bridge" in the Delta. Visit a second floating market (Cai Rang). Break for lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and transfer the airport for boarding flight to Da Nang VN332 (19:10 – 20:20). Pick up and transfer to the hotel, free your time. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hoi An. ( Deluxe room at the Hoi An Hotel )
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Hoi An Hotel
Address: 10 Tran Hung Dao St - Hoi An Town - Quang Nam Province - Viet Nam
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Day 6: Hoi An - My son - Hoi An ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for My Son to visit the Cham Holy Land, a World Heritage site, return to Hoi An, have lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, stroll around the town, visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An and the Chinese-style temples and pagodas. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hoi An
Day 7: Hoi An – Cooking class ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel, Visit local market to buy all necessary materials for the dishes to be cooked. Take 25 min. leisurely cruise along the Hoi An River to the Cooking School, then spend about 2-hours learning & practicing 3 Vietnamese dishes and enjoy your self-prepared lunch (join basis, private services from 11 up). Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An - Hue ( B/L/D )
BBreakfast at the hotel. Depart for Hue via Da Nang, visit the Marble mountain, the Cham museum. Stop for photos at the Hai Van pass and Lang Co beach. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Visit Dong Ba market, the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, and the ruins of the Purple Forbidden City. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Enjoy a night boat trip accompanied by a performance of Hue folk songs. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hue. ( Superior room at the Park view hotel )
Day 9: Hue - Hanoi ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Cruise on the Perfume River to visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Thien Mu pagoda and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a setting of gardens and lakes. Transfer to Phu Bai airport for boarding flight No VN 244 to Hanoi (13:30 - 14:45). Pick up at Noi Bai airport and transfer to hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant, free your time for shopping. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hanoi. ( Superior room at the Luxor Hotel )
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Boss Hotel
Address: 20 Lo Su St, Hoan Kiem Dist, Ha Noi
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Day 10: Ha Noi City Tour ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple, Tran Quoc pagoda and Quan Thanh temple. Cyclo ride around the old quarter streets from Hang Dau to Hang Gai. Lunch & dinner at the restaurants. Overnight at the proposed hotel in Hanoi.
Day 11: Hanoi – Halong ( B/L/D )
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart to Halong, enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta. You will have a chance to take photos.
Comfort break The distance from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.
12:00pm:: Arrive Halong Bay. Welcome aboard The Paloma. Meet the captain and crew and join us for a welcome cocktail as we tell you about life onboard.
+ Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind.
+ Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.
+ Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or on the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the Bay, its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.
Afternoon: While we make our way to Bai Tu Long Bay, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by or take an afternoon nap in your cabin.
+ Early afternoon we arrive at Cong Do Island with its many lagoons home to numerous species of sea-life, such as shrimp, crab, fish, squid and aquatic plants while south-west of the island has a preserved, almost undamaged coral reef. We drop anchor.
+ Opportunity to go swimming in the clear warm waters or go kayaking. Kayaking is suitable for all levels and ages. Our expert will run through the safety procedures and after a basic paddling lesson our experienced guide will lead you to explore the Bay, its lagoons and beaches.
+ For those who prefer a relaxing afternoon, make the most of sunbathing on deck or pamper yourself with a massage and sauna in our luxurious spa.
Early evening: Back on board, enjoy the sunset with evening cocktails and fresh fruit.
+ Take an opportunity to refresh and then join friends for a pre-dinner drink in the bar.
+ A BBQ dinner is served in the restaurant or outdoor dining area, which is a gastronomic delight.After dinner, unwind in the bar where there is a selection of books, magazines and board games or relax in the spa; watch a movie on our plasma TV; join some of our team to go cuttles fishing at night or take a late night swim under the stars.
+ Accommodation and overnight on junk (Superior cabin)
Day 12: Halong – Hanoi Departure ( B/L )
6:30am: For the early risers join us for a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.
Take an opportunity to view the sunrise over the Bay or have an early morning swim
Breakfast, coffee and tea and served.
We set sail again and head to Vong Vieng floating fishing village.
Drop anchor.
Our guide will give you some information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.
Disembark and travel on the sampans rowed by the local people. They will be your guides through their fishing village where you can meet the locals, visit the school and pearl farms. See at first-hand what life is like living on the water.
We are proud of our working partnership with, and support of, this community.
Back on board we start to head back the harbour.
10:00am: Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store.
An early lunch is served.
12:00pm: Return to the shore and disembark from The Paloma as our crew say farewell.
Transfer to minibus or private and return to Hanoi . Arrival back to Hanoi and transfer to the airport for flight departure. End of services.
Package price: US$ 1531 / person ( Twin / Double share )
+ Single supplement charge US$ 462
Tour price includes:
• A/c private minibus for pick up, transfer & sightseeing as per program
• Domestic flights: Ho Chi Minh – Da Nang; Hue - Hanoi (economy class)
• English speaking tour guide for the whole journey
• Private boat trips in the Mekong Delta, Hue
• Share cruise in Ha Long Bay
• Kayaking paddles
• All entrance fees
• Cold mineral water and cool tissue on bus.
• Hotel accommodation based on Twin or Double room share
• Meals as indicated in the tour program (B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Approved invitation letter for Vietnamese visa
Tour price excludes:
• International flight to/from Vietnam
• Single supplement charge : US$365/person.
• Vietnamese entry visa fee : US$25/person
• Travel insurance
• Drinks & other meals not mentioned in the program
• Personal expenses
• Tips for driver & tour guide |