Description
Discover Vietnam's many gems, from buzzing Saigon to quaint Hoi An to stately Hanoi and magnificent Halong Bay. Top this off with an adventure to visit the terraced fields and hilltribes of Sapa, a sea of verdant scenery.
Your Holiday Package Includes:
- Economy class flight to Saigon, return from Hanoi
- 14 night Vietnam Trails guided tour with Wendy Wu, Saigon to Hanoi
Includes:
- 4-star accommodation
- 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 14 dinners
- Touring with guides & entrance fees
- Authentic experiences & highlights
- Domestic transportation
- Visa fees for Australian passport holders
- Airport transfers
- Airline taxes
Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 11-25 September 2024
Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities & flight upgrades available on request
Itinerary:
Day 1 / Fly to Saigon
Fly to Saigon, Vietnam's largest and most evocative city. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Day 2 / Discover Saigon
Contemplate the horrors of guerrilla warfare at the astonishing Cu Chi Tunnels before returning to Saigon. Seamlessly blending past and present, Saigon is both a treasure trove of cultural sights and the city that is driving Vietnam towards a bright future. Visit the Central Post Office before heading to the Reunification Palace and the chilling War Remnants Museum.
Day 3 / Mekong Delta
Journey to Ben Tre to take a cruise on the Mekong. Paddle through the maze of palm-lined canals and get a glimpse of daily life on the Mekong Delta. Lunch on typical Mekong fare. Return to Saigon.
Day 4 / Journey to Hoi An
Fly to Danang and transfer to Hoi An. Take a walking tour of charming Hoi An – a wonderfully laidback and wilfully traditional place, whose lantern-lined streets are a delight to wander. Stop en route to visit Reaching Out, a social enterprise craft workshop, and watch the artisans at work.
Day 5 / Hoi An Cooking Class
Purchase fresh ingredients at the market for a cookery class at a local restaurant, consuming your creations for lunch. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure to further explore, perhaps visiting its famous 24-hour tailors and sandal makers, or many art and lantern shops.
Day 6 / Hoi An Free Day
Enjoy a day at leisure. Perhaps savour a relaxing coffee, pop into the town for a stroll or even head to the beach.
Day 7 / Imperial Hue
Leave Hoi An for Hue, taking a scenic route over the Hai Van Pass. Visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. Later, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, a complex of 40 monuments set in surroundings of gardens and pools. Continue to the old Thien Mu Pagoda before taking a cruise on the Perfume River.
Day 8 / Explore Hanoi
Fly to Hanoi this morning. After lunch, enjoy a tour of the city including the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda and the Confucian Temple of Literature. Wrap up your day with a traditional Vietnamese coffee – with an egg twist!
Day 9 / Travelling North
Today, take a road trip up north to Vietnam's northern Highlands, arriving in Sapa in the late afternoon. The vast panoramas of ribboning rice terraces that snake their way across these highlands are a testament to the extraordinary farming skills of the many communities of the region.
Day 10 / Sapa
Spend the next two days discovering this verdant and beautiful area of rolling hills and rice terraces with some light walking through the surrounding valleys and villages, and visits to ethnic minority communities including those of the H'mong people.
Day 11 / Sapa
Spend the next two days discovering this verdant and beautiful area of rolling hills and rice terraces with some light walking through the surrounding valleys and villages, and visits to ethnic minority communities including those of the H'mong people.
Day 12 / Mount Fansipan
Take a cable car ride up Mount Fansipan, the highest mountain in Indochina, arriving at the summit to enjoy incredible views from a breathtaking 3,143 metres. This afternoon, return to Hanoi before continuing to Halong Bay next morning.
Day 13 / Cruise Halong Bay
Spend two days aboard a traditionally-designed boat cruising amongst magnificent karst peaks on the tranquil green waters of Halong Bay. You'll even explore one of the bay's many caves. Spend a night onboard before returning to Hanoi the next day. On your last evening, attend the Quintessence of Tonkin show, a spectacular open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.
Day 14 / Cruise Halong Bay
Spend two days aboard a traditionally-designed boat cruising amongst magnificent karst peaks on the tranquil green waters of Halong Bay. You'll even explore one of the bay's many caves. Spend a night onboard before returning to Hanoi the next day. On your last evening, attend the Quintessence of Tonkin show, a spectacular open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.
Day 15 / Fly Hanoi to Australia
Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
Day 16 / Fly Hanoi to Australia
Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
