VIETNAM in COMFORT

HANOI, HA LONG BAY, REUNIFICATION EXPRESS, HUE, HOI AN, HO CHI MINH CITY, CU CHI TUNNELS / LONG TAN & VUNG TAU

Please note: the itinerary below is a sample itinerary and can be modified as required by your group to suit your travel style and budget. Please contact us for a complete range of itineraries.

• 10 days A$1660pp (3 star hotel option), (4 star option $1920 - excluding airfares)
• For convenience we have listed this trip price in Australian dollars but can naturally accept payment in any currency

International Airfares: Tailor Made Vietnam can readily arrange a very competitive airfare for your group to anywhere in the Southeast Asia from Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. We are also happy to provide you with the details of flight travel agents anywhere in the Middle East and in Europe.

Tailor Made Vietnam can also arrange flights for individuals and groups to anywhere in the world (please see our ‘Who we are’ section)

This 10-day tour of Vietnam has been specifically designed for travellers wishing to experience all that Vietnam has to offer. This trip includes visits to the country’s main cities, towns and attractions, as well as seldom visited provinces and places of interest designed to provide travellers with an overview of the historical circumstances that have shaped the country into what it is today. While designed to be highly enjoyable, this trip will be of particular interest to those interested in the country’s turbulent history. This trip also includes visits to the historic trading ports of Hue and Hoi An and magnificent Ha Long Bay.

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi Your group leader will greet you upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and escort you to your hotel. Following a short group meeting, your group leader will run through your itinerary and answer any questions you may have. We will then set out to explore the city, and enjoy our first taste of Hanoi’s wonderful northern cuisine. (B, D)

Day 2 Hanoi This morning we will visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Here we will learn of the turbulent years following the Japanese occupation of Vietnam, the Vietnamese struggle against the French and Americans, and the creation of one of the world’s few surviving socialist states. This will be followed by time exploring the city’s Old Quarter, once the heart of the city and now a thriving centre of commerce. In the evening, before dinner, we will take in a performance of Hanoi’s famed water puppets. (B)

Day 3 Ha Long Bay An early morning bus ride today will bring us to one of Vietnam’s most beautiful natural attractions, Ha Long Bay. Along the way, we will stop at a village famous for its manufacturing of ceramics and handicrafts by disabled children from the northern provinces. Arriving in Ha Long Bay before lunchtime, we will jump straight on our private boat to go cruising among the limestone peaks of this secluded bay. Whilst in Ha Long Bay we will have the opportunity to visit caves, swim, kayak around the islands and dine on a seafood banquet. (B, L)

Day 4 Hanoi / Reunification Express Returning to Hanoi around midday we will have time for lunch and some last minute shopping before visiting the famous Hoa Lo prison , also known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’. This prison was built by the French to incarcerate Vietnamese dissidences and then much later held American pilots shot down over Hanoi in the late 1960s. In the evening we will board the overnight Reunification Express train heading south. In the comfort of 4-berth sleepers we pass through the former Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on our way to the cultural capital city of Vietnam, Hue. (B)

Day 5 Hue Arriving in Hue early we will set out at a leisurely pace by bicycle or cyclo. Although Hue has sustained damage from natural disasters and wars, the city and most of the architecture remain. After visiting some of Hue’s major tombs and sites today we will venture into the countryside to explore markets and isolated villages far removed from the mainstream attractions. (B, D)

Day 6 & 7 Hoi An A morning bus ride will take us to the former silk route trading town of Hoi An; a contemporary of the other major Asian trading ports of Malacca and Macau. Hoi An is a true highlight of our journey with its wonderful architecture, friendly people and great food. Hoi An was declared a World Heritage site in 1998 and serves as a model town for travellers interested in the development of sustainable tourism. The town is also an ideal place for independent exploration and features rural scenery and a beautiful beach overlooking the South China Sea, which we will also enjoy during our time here. (2B, 1D)

Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City A 1-hour morning flight takes us to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, the powerhouse of the south and a place of fascinating contrasts. Travelling by cyclo we will journey into the city’s Chinese district enjoying its bustling street life, ancient pagodas and huge markets. We will also take time to visit the War Remnants Museum and learn about the American War in Vietnam from a local perspective.

Day 9 Cu Chi Tunnels (Option 1) This morning we take a half-day journey to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, once home to communist guerrillas in their struggle against the French and Americans. This afternoon we will also visit a temple belonging to followers of the Cao Dai religion. In the evening we will journey back to Ho Chi Minh City, leaving plenty of time to do any last minute shopping. (B)

Day 9 Vung Tau / Long Tan / Nui Dat (Option 2) This morning we take a 3-hour bus ride to Vung Tau on Vietnam’s East coast. Upon arrival we will tour VungTau city and enjoy a stop at one of the local beaches where we have the chance to swim, relax and talk with the locals. After lunch we will visit Nui Dat, the former site of Australia and New Zealand’s main military base, and visit the Long Tan Memorial which was erected in memory of one of most famous battles in Vietnam. Following this we will return to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving shortly before dinner. (B, D)

Day 10 Depart Ho Chi Minh City Your group leader will take care of all your flight confirmations, escort you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport and wave you farewell. (B)

Key (All breakfast included), L –lunch, D-dinner)

Summary

Grading: Easy. Anyone with reasonable fitness should be able to take part. There are no real physical difficulties. You will be expected to carry your own luggage throughout the trip but only for short distances. Accommodation: Accommodation is on a twin share basis. All hotels are clean and comfortable, centrally located with air-conditioning. Soft sleeper train 1 night - Train compartments are 4-berth soft-sleepers with air-conditioning.
Transport: Bus, boat, plane, cyclo/ bicycle, train
Group size: Minimum 16, maximum 34

Land Tour Inclusions:

• All accommodation and transport including 1internal flight en route
• Domestic departure taxes and transfers
• Tailor Made Vietnam group leader throughout the tour and local English speaking guide’s where required
• All sightseeing and entrance fees for museums, attractions and sights as described in the itinerary
• Complimentary pre departure meetings to discuss trip details at the venue of your choice.
• All breakfast, 2 lunches, 4 dinners and water with all included meals

Land Tour Exclusions

• International flights to/from Vietnam
• Travel insurance
• Vietnam Visa
• 8 lunches & 6 dinners

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