VIETNAM FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
TOUR COST from AUD2,348.00** Per Person Twin Share
Day 01 HO CHI MINH CITY ARRIVAL (L)
You will be met on arrival at Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport and transferred to the hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a centre of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This afternoon the sightseeing tour acquaints us with the city's major sights. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before exploring the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975. Close to this palace are some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. Then, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 02 HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Cu Chi (75 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City) to visit an amazing complex of underground tunnels the former stronghold of the Viet Cong with a network of tunnels three levels deep stretching over 200km. Return Ho Chi Minh City. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, visit Chinatown, Thien Hau Pagoda, the History Museum (in case this visit falls on Monday we will visit the War Remnants Museum instead) and make a quick photo stop at the former Presidential Palace.
Day 03 HO CHI MINH – MY THO – SAIGON (B/L)
08:00: After breakfast at the hotel, our tour guide will take you to the Mekong Delta. Arrive My Tho city, board a private boat (with cover) cruise on the Mekong River(Tien river) visit Quy island, enjoy tropical fruits in the orchard. Continue to a part of Bentre province where you will have the opportunity to watch local villagers producing coconut candy in the workshop, 5 minutes of trekking on the village way and try a rickshaw or cart (drawn by a horse), cruising through the smaller canals on local sampans, try honey in bee keeping house…Lunch at a local restaurant with a specialty of Mekong region: Deep fried “Elephant ear fish” rolled with rice paper … Back to HCMC in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 04 HO CHI MINH – DANANG – HOI AN (Flight) (B/L)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to the central port city of Danang. On arrival at Danang airport you will be met and transferred to Hoi An, on the way stop to visit Marble Mountain and Cham Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant in Danang. Arrive Hoi An check-in to the hotel.
Day 05 HOI AN
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to the central port city of Danang. On arrival at Danang airport you will be met and transferred to Hoi An, on the way stop to visit Marble Mountain and Cham Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant in Danang. Arrive Hoi An check-in to the hotel.
Day 06 HOI AN FREE TIME (B)
Free time for a personal visit or just relax. Overnight in Hoian.
Day 07 HOI AN – HUE (B/L)
Begin the morning with breakfast at the hotel, overland to Hue via Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass. Afternoon, visit Hue Royal citadel and Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
Day 08 HUE CITY (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Take a dragon boat on Huong river, passing Dong Ba market to Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit Tu Duc tomb. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon is free. Overnight in Hue.
Day 09 HUE – HANOI (Flight) – LAO CAI (Night train) (B/L)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi. You will be met and transferred to Hanoi for check-in. After lunch, visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Art Museum. After dinner, transfer to the train station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.
Day 10 SAPA (B/L)
Transfer to Sapa and check in to the hotel upon arrival. In the afternoon drive to Lao Chai, staging point for the day’s hike. See the H’mong at work and at play in their distinctive dark blue dress. Continue hiking to the village of Ta Van to visit members of the Zay tribe. Return to Sapa late afternoon. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 11 SAPA – HILL TRIBE MARKET – HANOI (Night train) (B/L)
Visit Coc Ly market to meet minority people. Take a boat cruise on the Chay river, stopping at a riverside to meet Tay minorities. Picnic lunch. Transfer to Lao Cai train station for overnight train to Hanoi.
Day 12 HANOI – HOA BINH, MAI CHAU (B/L
The train will arrive in Hanoi at 5.00 am. Breakfast at a local restaurant then Visit the Ethnology Museum.
Depart Hanoi for Hoa Binh province and the town of Mai Chau. This scenic drive takes around three hours. Along the way, we pass fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies.
Check-in to traditional stilt house of the Thai people situated in a picturesque valley.
After lunch, we begin our trekking. The verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the colourful local population makes this an unforgettable experience. Today we walk along gravel tracks and small paths used by the locals.
After dinner, exchange culture with the minority people, we enjoy minority dances. Overnight in Mai Chau.
Day 13 MAI CHAU – NINH BINH – HOA LU (B/L)
Breakfast at the traditional stilt house.
We have a 3 hour drive (110km South) to the city of Ninh Binh, also known as the “Terrestrial Halong Bay” and the Ancient Capital.
Lunch is served at a local riverside restaurant.
It will be an exciting day highlighted, by a 2 hour boat ride in a hand-woven bamboo row boat down the Tam Coc streams enjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks. Visit Bai Dinh pagoda, one of the biggest pagoda in Vietnam. Drive to Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 14 NINH BINH – HALONG (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Halong, check in on board.
Check-on boat
Start cruising
Have lunch on board
A fantastic cruise in Ha Long bay, visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, visit Sung Sot cave and a swim at Titov beach.
Relax and enjoy the sunset
Enjoy dinner on board.
Fish or relax and spending a night on board.
*** Beautiful kayaking route from Titov beach to Luon Cave for those who book kayaking option (kayaking time after visit the Sung Sot cave)
Day 15 HALONG – HANOI (B/L)
Have breakfast on board
A morning cruise to visit Man’s head island, Tortoise island, visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat, Bai Tu Long bay
Arrange luggage and check-out
Have lunch on board
Arrive at Halong wharf.
Disembark and return to Hanoi with stopovers at ceramic and hand embroidery workshops en route. Overnight in Hanoi.
TOUR PRICES Quotation based on Twin Sharing Room – Charged in Australian dollars per person. Valid until 30 Sep. 2017
From AUD2348.00 per person
* All prices are NOT applied for the period from Dec. 24th to Jan. 5th and during Lunar New Year 2017
* All prices are NOT applied for compulsory Gala Dinners on Christmas and New Years’ Eve.
Package includes
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Accommodation with daily breakfast at hotels and homestay
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Private transfers and transportation on tour
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Local English speaking guide
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Entrance fees as per the itinerary
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Boat trips as mentioned
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Meals as specified
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Mineral water on sightseeing days
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Cooking class
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Fishing tour in Hoi An
NOT Included in the tour prices
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Vietnam visa
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Air fares from Australia
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Other meals and all drinks/water at meals
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International and domestic flight & airport taxes
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Other tours and optional tours/ services
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Hotel early check in / Late check out
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Personal expenses
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Tips and gratuities.
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Surcharge & compulsory Gala Dinners on Christmas and New Years’ Eve