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Vietnam Tour >
Vietnam
Classic Tour >
Vietnam Discovery Trip
VIETNAM DISCOVERY
15 days/ 14 nights
This is our most preferred programs
featuring a balance of culture and
adventure. The trip covers most
wonderful highlights of the country
including Hanoi – Mai Chau – Ha Long
Bay - Hue – Hoi An – Danang – Nha
Trang – Saigon - Mekong Delta within
15 days
Day 1 : Hanoi (D)
Meet and greet upon arrival to
airport. Transfer to our hotel in
town. This evening, your guide will
take you out to sample some of
Hanoi’s superb cuisine.
Day 2 :
Hanoi City tour
(B)
This morning we drive to the Ho Chi
Minh Complex, containing the
mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho
Chi Minh. The complex also contains
the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins
date back to the founding of the
city in the 11th century. We follow
this with a walking tour of Hanoi's
vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem
Lake, the focal point of the city.
The Old Quarter with its bustling
streets is home to hundreds of small
thriving businesses, each street
denoting its trade, such as Tin
Street or Fish Street. In the
afternoon, we will visit the Temple
of Literature, the site of Vietnam's
oldest university, dating back to
the 11th century. The temple is
dedicated to one of the world's most
famous scholars, Confucius. From
here we visit the impressive Museum
of Ethnology, the finest museum in
Vietnam. This museum is dedicated to
Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities,
several of which we will see on our
forthcoming trek.
Day 3 :
Hanoi - Hoabinh(B,L,D)
This morning we leave Hanoi head
west into the Hoa Binh Province. It
is a four-hour drive to Mai Chau
where we will have lunch, but we
will make stops along the way.
Following lunch we drive to the
H'mong village of Sa Linh 1 hour
away. From here we will start our
trek to the village of Hang Kia, a
1.5-hour walk. Our hosts for the
evening will be the Hmong minority
people. In sampling these peoples
hospitality, we find out a little
more about their lives and culture.
Tonight’s accommodation will
probably be a little more basic than
you would be used to.
Day 4 : Maichau Villages(B,L,D)
Leaving Hang Kia we continue our
trek to the White Thai village of
Van. It is a seven-hour trek, and in
places is quite steep, but the
stunning verdant scenery will be
more than adequate compensation for
any hardships! Tonight we are guests
of the White Thai in a traditional
stilt house.
Day 5 : Maichau - Hanoi(B,L)
Following breakfast we trek for
around two hours to the village of
Khoe where we are met by our vehicle
that will take us to Poomcoong
village where we are treated to a
local lunch. In the afternoon we
drive back to Hanoi, stopping en
route to visit Ho Chi Minh trails
Museum. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 6 : Hanoi-Halong bay(B,L,D)
This morning we head out for a 4
hour drive through verdant Red River
Delta to Halong bay where we board
our own private boat for a five-hour
cruise around the secluded and
majestic Ha Long Bay giving us the
chance to take in the stunning
scenery of this World Heritage Site.
Whilst on board a sumptuous fresh
local seafood lunch will be served.
There will be opportunities for a
swim and time to explore some of the
limestone caves in the area. Tonight
we stay overnight on the board.
Day 7 : Halong - Hanoi(B,L)
After breakfast we head out for a
wonderful exploration of Bai Tu Long
area. We have time to explore prime
beaches and floating villages. We
are treated to fresh seafood lunch
on board before our drive back to
Hanoi. Tonight we board the
Reunification Express for our
overnight train to Hue.
Day 8 : Hanoi - Hue(B,L)
Arriving to Hue, there will be a
transfer to our hotel for a freshen
up and breakfast. We then set out
for the exploration of Hue's famous
highlights, including the Citadel
and the Forbidden Purple City. Built
in the 19th century by the Nguyen
dynasty, the City was home to the
former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802
until 1945. In the surrounding
countryside there is the picturesque
Thiem Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda.
One of the most poignant displays
here is a car belonging to a former
monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon
and set himself alight to protest
against the South Vietnamese regime
and its treatment of Buddhists. Also
worth visiting are the tombs of the
former Emperors, in particular that
of Emperor TuDuc.
Day 9 : Hue - Hoian(B,L)
As we bid Hue farewell this morning
we continue our south bound journey,
this time in the comfort of an
air-conditioned bus. Today's
destination is the old trading town
of Hoi An. Along the way though we
will stop at Lang Co beach for
coffee and refreshments. From here
we head up to the Hai Van pass,
stopping at the top to take in the
stunning views north over Lang Co
beach and south over Danang city.
Continuing on our way down the other
side and into Da nang, where we will
stop at the Cham Museum, the famed
China Beach, and the Marble
Mountains. Arriving in Hoi An we
spend the rest of the afternoon
exploring and relaxing.
Day 10 : Hoian(B)
Today there is plenty of time to
discover what Hoi An has to offer.
You can spend your time walking
around exploring the many Chinese
assembly halls and fascinating
ancestral homes, some of which have
been occupied by the same family for
fifteen generations. The town is
also famous for its shops in
particular it's large number of
tailors. If you wanted, you could
have a whole new wardrobe made for
you here! You might like to take a
boat ride with one of the local
women across the Thu Bon River.
Perhaps you would like to hire a
bicycle and head off on a scenic
ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km
away. There's even the chance to
improve your culinary skills with a
Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing
is for sure - there is no shortage
of things to do in this town! This
evening we transfer to Danang for
the overnight train to Nha Trang.
Day 11 : Hoian - Nhatrang(B)
We arrive in Nha Trang in the early
morning. Our time in Nha Trang is
free for relaxing and soaking up the
sun on the beautiful white sandy
beaches and swimming in the crystal
clear warm waters. You can go for a
scuba diving or take a mineral mud
baths
Day 12 : Nhatrang(B,L)
Following breakfast we embark on a
boat trip to nearby islands. Seafood
lunch will be served on boat or at
fishing villages. We continue our
cruise for more swim or snorkerling
at prime beaches. Tonight we board
overnight train to Saigon.
Day 13 : Nhatrang - Saigon(B)
Arriving to Saigon we transfer to
our hotel. A free morning in HCMC
for exploring some of the major
sights, including the Reunification
Palace, the War Remnants Museum and
Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown. In the
afternoon we embark on a 1 hour and
45 minute drive to visit the Cu Chi
Tunnels. This amazing network of
tunnels which stretched for over 250
kilometres, and was three levels
deep, gives the visitor a unique
experience and a feel of what
underground life in the American war
must have been like.
Day 14 : Mekong Delta(B,L)
We set off this morning for a drive
through the Mekong Delta to Cai Be
floating market. Here we will board
our private boat for a cruise along
the maze of waterways and canals to
Vinh Long. We will stop at the home
of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous
Delta lunch, before continuing our
exploration of the tributaries and
canals of the delta. Following these
visits we will once again board our
vehicle for the drive to Ho Chi Minh
City.
Day 15 : Departure(B)
Balance of the day at leisure until
the departure transfer to the
airport for your flight home.
Trip includes
-
English speaking guide
- All accommodation on twin share
basis with daily breakfast
- Meals as indicated
- All transfers/ transport
- Entrance fees and permits during
guided time
- Soft sleeper train Hanoi - Hue;
Saigon -Nhatrang
- Boat ride in Halong bay and in
Mekong river
Trip excludes
- International
airfares & airport taxes
- Pre/post trip arrangement
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Travel insurance
- Meals not indicated
- Other personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
Trip Price: In USD and per person,
from 2 people on ward
US$: 975
Single Supplement: US$ 217
Grade :
Standard
3 star hotels and
traditional home stays.
Transport :
Air-conditioned car or bus,
Soft Sleeper train, Boat,
Plane and Bicycle.
Spending Money :
You would need to allow for
additional sightseeing,
shopping, meals and drinks.
As a rough guide allow US$
25 EXTRA per day.
Visas :
Vietnam: Visas are required
to enter Vietnam for all
nationalities Cambodia:
Visas are obtained on
arrival. The cost is US$ 25
without 2 passport - sized
photos or US$ 20 with 2
passport sized photos.
Airport Departure Tax :
Vietnam:
International departure tax
is US$ 15 and included in
the airfare
Money Exchange :
Ensure you have US dollars
cash or US dollar traveler’s
checks before arriving. Most
hotels are able to exchange
US cash into local currency
but traveler checks need to
be exchanged at a bank. At
time of writing the exchange
rate was 1 USD = 16,130
Vietnamese Dong (VND).
Fitness Requirements :
You would need to be in
reasonable physical
condition to participate in
the treks. While they are
not challenging, the fitter
you are the more enjoyment
you would find in them.
Laundry :
Laundry facilities are
available at the hotels for
a nominal fee.
When:
These tours operate year
round however please note
that during the months of
October and November Vietnam
can experience heavy rains
and flooding. Therefore
itineraries are subject to
change, as conditions
require.
What to Take :
You will be responsible for
carrying your own luggage;
therefore it is in your own
interest to pack as lightly as
possible. We suggest a main
backpack with a reasonable
daypack for the treks and day
tours. Suitcases are not
advisable for the Hilltribe &
Halong Adventure & the Vietnam
Explorer. We also recommend
strong walking shoes/boots and
sandals or sports shoes for
walking on beach and daily use.
Joining instructions:
As you pass through immigration
and customs at Hanoi airport you
will be met by our guide and
drive and transferred to your
hotel.
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