Itinerary. Accommodation: Pullman Saigon Centre (3 nights), (Meals included: dinner) Day 3: Cu Chi underground village and Ho Chi Minh City

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1 Vietnam

2 Itinerary Accommodation: Pullman Saigon Centre (3 nights), (Meals included: Day 3: Cu Chi underground village and Ho Chi Minh City We drive into the countryside to Cu Chi, to explore the famed underground village and discover the area where the Vietnamese guerillas lived and fought during the war. (Walk around Cu Chi Tunnels: 1 mile/1½km. Level walk). We return to the city for a sightseeing tour, including Notre Dame Cathedral and Vinh Nghiem pagoda. We also enjoy a walking tour of Cholon (Chinatown) and Thien Hau temple. We walk through the bustle of the cosmopolitan city and the busy Vietnamese and Chinese communities. (Ho Chi Minh City: 1¼ miles/2km. Level walk.) Journey south to north, discovering Vietnam s variety of landscapes, cultures, sights and flavours. Explore chaotic Ho Chi Minh City, with its remnants of the Vietnam wars, and beaches, coastal forests and echoes from the ancient empires of the coast. Savour the beautiful landscapes of Halong Bay and around Sapa, and wonder at the historic city of Hanoi. Day 4: Mekong Delta Day 1: Departure from the UK Day 2: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City We transfer to our hotel before enjoying a stroll to the Reunification Palace. Today we travel south towards Ben Tre on the Mekong Delta. This is an area of small fishing villages, houses on stilts, wetlands and bustling river life, one of the most evocative of Asian scenes. 2

3 trade routes from the ancient empires of China and Japan and beyond. It is now an attractive town, perfect for wandering around. Accommodation: Litlle Hoi An Central (2 nights) (Meals included: breakfast, lunch, Day 6: My Son and Hoi An Walk in the local countryside and experience the daily life of the locals who work in the coconut industry. You ll have the chance to work alongside them if you wish to. Visit the handicraft workshop and transfer to the pier to take a rowboat along the palm creek. Stop to visit the grapefruit and coconut gardens to enjoy coconut juice and seasonal fruit while listening to folk songs. Choice of motor-cart or bicycle along the village road to reach Mr Ten s garden. Lunch will be taken at a local house which will feature dishes of the Mekong river region. After lunch, walk into the village and meet the locals. Take a boat trip along Ba Lai river. Stop to visit the coconut coir manufacturing facility. Continue cruising and passing the coconut processing workshops located along the river. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Day 5: To Hoi An An early flight to Danang in the centre of Vietnam. We then transfer to Hoi An, stopping en route to discover the culture of Vietnam s ancient civilizations at Cham museum. The well preserved ancient town of Hoi An was one of the world s most prosperous port towns in the 15th century, serving Morning visit to the ancient city of My Son for walks in the Holy Valley area, a 4th century religious sanctuary. Its history is reflected in the remaining temples and towers. (My Son: 1¾ miles/3km. Mainly level with some undulations). In the afternoon we take a walking tour along Hoi An s narrow, winding and peaceful ancient streets to visit the Fujian Congregation Hall, the 400 year old Japanese covered bridge, the Tan Ky ancestral house and Hoi An museum. (Hoi An: 1½ miles/2½km. Level walk.) Day 7: Hué This morning we travel north from Hoi An, stopping at the Marble Mountains. The walk affords good views of the surrounding area and the coast. We also stop at the famed Non Nuoc stone carving village and China beach. We continue to Hué, the ancient capital of Vietnam. En route, we enjoy sightseeing stops at Cloudy Pass and Lang Co beach. Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village hotel (2 nights) (Meals included: breakfast, lunch, 3

4 Day 8: Hué different perspective. This evening we have the opportunity to hear traditional Vietnamese music, at the Water Puppets show. Accommodation: Pan Pacific (formerly called Sofitel Plaza) (1 night) Day 10: Hanoi to Sapa Today we have a walking tour of the ancient heart of Hué, once the Nguyen capital of Vietnam. Visit the Royal Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, and take a boat ride on the Perfume River. Impressive city walls enclose a collection of palaces, temples and courtyards that have survived the centuries. This was the power house of 18th century Nguyen Emperors, an important centre for arts and religion. These influences are still visible around Hué today. Later we walk through the lively Dong Ba market, where you can find Hué s speciality the poem hat and an array of fruit and vegetables. After breakfast we depart Hanoi on the new highway to Sapa. On arrival in Sapa, settle in to your hotel, explore Sapa town and local market. Sapa is situated in marvellous scenery and was developed as a health resort by the French in the early 1920 s. Indochina s highest mountain, Mount Fansipan (10,300ft/3,143m) overlooks the town. Accommodation: Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa (2 nights) (Meals included: breakfast, lunch, Day 11: Sapa After breakfast we have two walk options which introduce us to the traditions of Black H mong and Dzay minorities. Day 9: To Hanoi Transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi. This afternoon we take a walking tour of the capital, which may include visits to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, the Ngoc Son temple and the charming Sword Lake. We will then be taken around the city streets on one of Hanoi s cyclos (pedal rickshaws). This is a great way to see Hanoi s bustling Old Quarter from a Easier walk: Cat Cat / Lao Chai Tavan Spectacular scenery as we walk to Cat Cat village passing a waterfall 4

5 and continuing through rice paddy terraces and along a narrow river. We return by transport to Sapa. After lunch we take the hill-tribe route through Lao Chai and Tavan where the Dzay minority live. (Sapa to Cat Cat: 1¼ miles/2km, Lao Chai village and to Tavan: 1¾ miles/3km) Harder walk: Cat Cat Y Linh Ho Lao Chai Tavan We begin on the same route but then head toward Muong Hoa valley. We will also pass through Lao Chai with its Black H mong residents and then Tavan village, a Dzay minority village. We meet the rest of the group in Tavan in the afternoon. (Sapa Cat Cat Y Linh Ho Lao Chai Tavan: 8¾ miles/14km) Day 12: Bac Ha Market and Night Train to Hanoi Accommodation: Phanxipan train (1 night) Day 13: To Halong Bay We arrive in Hanoi early morning, stopping at a hotel to wash and take breakfast, before we begin our three and a half hour drive to Halong Bay. Along the way we stop to see the beautiful scenery of the Red River Delta with its rice fields and water buffalo and catch a glimpse of everyday life. On arrival, we board our cruise boat, the Paradise Peak, for a cruise in Halong Bay. Halong Bay is known as the Bay of the Descending Dragon and is one of the world s most beautiful natural wonders. We cruise the peaceful waters past small fishing villages and towards the magnificent views of this bay of 3,000 islands. This afternoon we stop on one of the islands to visit a fishing village, before anchoring on a quiet bay where we enjoy the evening amid beautiful surroundings. Accommodation: Paradise Peak luxury boat(2 nights) Today we visit the most popular market in the region at Bac Ha. Hill tribe people buy and sell animals, silverware, embroidery, handicrafts and stock up on provisions. We ll take a walking tour of nearby Pho village and Hmong Palace. Later this afternoon we transfer to Lao Cai for our overnight train journey to Hanoi. 5

6 Day 14: Halong Bay Today we cruise around a different part of the bay, taking the time to relax and enjoy this idyllic part of our Vietnamese tour. Day 15: Halong Bay and Hanoi After a morning on our luxury boat, we arrive back at port and disembark to travel back to Hanoi. Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi (formerly Sofitel Plaza (1 night)). Day 16: Hanoi Today is a free day to explore Hanoi further before the late evening flight back to the UK. (Meals included: breakfast) 6

7 Accommodation Our accommodation, though varied, is all of a high standard, using 4 and 5- star hotels throughout. In Ho Chi Minh City we stay at the Pullman Saigon Centre in the heart of the city near to Notre Dame Cathedral and Reunification Palace. The modern rooms offer stunning views and the hotel has the highest rooftop bar in the city. 148 Tran Hung Dao Boulevard, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: +84 (0) Little Hoi An is a 4 star hotel housed in a colonial style building. The Hotel is adjacent to the old town and features an outdoor pool and private beach area, this will be our hotel at Hoi An. 91 Hung Vuong Street, Hoian City. Tel: +84 (0) full modern conveniences, and are set around a pool and tropical gardens. The hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group. 130 Minh Mang Road,Hue. Tel +84 (0) The Pan Pacific Hanoi is our base in the capital. This large 5-star hotel has an excellent central location close to Hoan Kiem Lake. It has large rooms and an extensive range of facilities. 01 Than Nien Road, Hoan Kiem Dist Hanoi Tel +84 (0) In Sapa, we stay at the Victoria Hotel, a lovely 4-star resort hotel, perched on top of a hill overlooking the valley, in the style of a traditional mountain chalet. Rooms offer a touch of local authenticity with traditional handicrafts yet provide the comfort of an international hotel. Xuan Vien Road, Sapa Town. Tel: +84 (0) In Hué, we stay at the Pilgrimage Village, a wonderful boutique hotel in quiet countryside outside Hué. Rooms are thatched bungalows designed in a traditional Vietnamese style yet with 7

8 For our overnight train journey we travel in a comfortable tourist class train with two people per four berth cabin. Wash basins are located in each carriage. This is an enjoyable way of experiencing train travel from the north of the country back to Hanoi. This isn t however the Orient Express! html The highlight has to be our two nights' cruising on our deluxe Paradise boat amidst the stunning setting of Halong Bay. 8

9 Before your holiday We hope you find this information comprehensive if not please visit our website for more details or contact us. All details correct at time of writing (July 2016). Passport and visa requirements are subject to change; please check with your consulate before you travel. We would advise that you check your government s travel advisory before travelling. For UK travellers, please check In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be your HF Holidays leader or local leader. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as follows: Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm Tel +44 (0) or +44(0) ( from overseas) Fri - Mon 7pm - 9am Tel +44 (0) Airport parking & accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at Kit List Please try to keep luggage to a minimum as you will need to carry it yourself at airports and between your transport and your hotel. Good walking shoes, with spare laces Walking sandals/flip flops Walking socks Lightweight fleece Lightweight waterproof trousers and jacket Shorts Long trousers and long-sleeved light coloured shirts with collars to protect from the sun your clothing should ideally be pretreated with insect repellent and in-built sun protection (available from specialist clothing stores such as Rohan, Cotswold Outdoor) Sun hat Warm jacket, hat and gloves Comfortable clothes and shoes for evenings and sightseeing Sun protection sunglasses, high factor sunscreen and lip protection Water bottle at least 2 litre capacity Lightweight survival bag Small/medium rucksack (30 litre) a bin liner will keep contents dry if it rains Soap and hand sanitizer gel Insect repellent Universal adaptor plug Universal sink plug Personal first aid kit including: personal medication, tissues, plasters, blister kit, painkillers, antiseptic wipes, Imodium, rehydration sachets Passport (and copies); booking confirmation; insurance cover 9

10 note; HF Holidays registration form Optional: trekking poles, camera, umbrella, binoculars, swimming costume and towel. Please ensure you have access to emergency funds should you need them; carrying a credit card is probably the most convenient method. Please note that your HF Holidays leader reserves the right to refuse to take any guest on a walk should they consider that a lack of suitable clothing/footwear may affect safety. Baggage allowance 1 piece checked-in luggage (max 20kg). Please check details of your airline s baggage allowance, as shown on your e-ticket. Remember to also check any connecting flights you may have booked. Passports & visas Passports must be valid for one month after visa expiry. A tourist visa is required for most nationalities. British passport holders do not need to apply for a tourist visa for stays of up to 15 days. This means you do not need a visa for this holiday. (This is valid until 30 June 2018). If you are planning to stay longer than 15 days and up to 30 days, an e-visa can now be obtained via /. You will need to upload a copy of your passport data page and a photograph (remove spectacles). You will receive a registration code. Cost is 25 USD. If your e-visa is approved, please print the e-visa and take it with you to Vietnam. The visa must be obtained beforehand from the Vietnamese consulate: Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Victoria Road, London, W8 5RD ( Please contact the embassy by at consular@vietnamembassy.org.uk for relevant fee information. You should retain the yellow customs form on entry to Vietnam; this is required for exit. Other countries should consult the embassy for advice. Travel insurance If arranging your own travel insurance, please ensure it is adequate for your specific itinerary. Health advice This is subject to change and we would highly recommend that you consult your doctor before travelling. For further information on country specific advice, visit or Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus vaccinations are recommended. Malaria and Rabies prevention are sometimes recommended too. Dengue fever may also occur in-country. Please note: the use or possession of some common prescription or overthe-counter medicines is banned in some countries. If you will be carrying medication, please check with the country s embassy/ consulate prior to travel. As an extra precaution: Keep your medication in its original packet Take a copy of your prescription too 10

11 If possible, ask your chemist to write the name of your medication in the language of the country that you re visiting Dietary requirements Please contact us as far in advance as possible if you have any specific dietary requirements. We will do our best to accommodate you. If you require a specific meal on the flight, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than 96 hours before travel. Travel tips for a comfortable flight We ve put together a few simple tips to help make your flight as comfortable as possible, ensuring you begin your holiday in tip-top shape. Move about. Change position and avoid crossing your legs. Immobility poses the greatest risk in the development of clotting disorders. Get out of your seat and walk around as regularly as possible to improve circulation No pills. Unless advised by your doctor, do not take sleeping tablets on the flight; this will reduce your mobility and make you feel sluggish Protect your ears. If you experience discomfort due to the cabin pressure changes, suck a sweet, chew, or hold your nostrils and gently blow through your nose; this should equalise the pressure. If you still experience problems, speak to a member of the cabin crew Drink plenty. Ask a member of the cabin crew if you are thirsty. Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee or carbonated drinks as these will dehydrate you. Instead, try to drink plenty of fruit juices or water Eat light. Avoid heavy meals and foods air expands at altitude and heavy meals will result in that bloated feeling Moisturise. Your skin, especially your lips and nostrils, may feel dry so moisturising creams may help. If you wear contact lenses, always carry your glasses with you, as your eyes may feel dryer than usual Stay loose. Wear loose fitting, comfortable shoes and clothes Flight socks are recommended to help prevent DVT on longhaul flights Lost/damaged luggage If your bag or its contents are damaged or lost while in the airline s care, this should be reported to the baggage service agents at the airport. They will assess the damage and in some cases the airline may decide to settle your claim immediately. You will be given a reference to quote to your insurance company if settlement cannot be reached. In many cases baggage claims can only be accepted in writing. A baggage claim form must be obtained from the airport. HF Holidays with-flight guests For those travelling on our HF Holidays group flight, please proceed to the arrivals hall once you have passed through passport control, customs and baggage reclaim, when you arrive at your destination. Your leader or local leader will assemble the group in the arrivals hall. Look out for the HF Holidays sign. 11

12 Independent travellers If you are arriving ahead of the group, and are meeting them at the first hotel, please leave a message at the hotel reception for the HF Holidays leader or local leader, detailing your room number, and a mobile telephone number if possible. The leader will contact you once the group arrives. If you are arriving after the group, a message will be left for you at the hotel reception, welcoming you and giving details of the time and place to meet the group. If your flight arrives before the group flight and you would like to join the transfer to the first hotel, please contact our Abroad Administration team on (0) They will have a list of the relevant transfer costs. Safety on your holiday Once you have made your booking, you will receive a pre-holiday questionnaire where we ask for details of next of kin, and insurance details. We need to have this from you at least 4 weeks before travel. Please also inform us of any medical situation which may affect your enjoyment of the holiday Please listen to any safety instructions from the leader Keep group members in view, especially if weather or visibility is poor If you become separated from the group, please stay where you are, the leader will retrace their steps to find you Each leader carries a first aid kit but is not allowed to supply any medication including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines, and antiseptic cream. You may wish to bring these items with you In the unlikely event that your leader is incapacitated, please use any emergency kit in their rucksack and call emergency services on 115 (ambulance), 114 (fire) or 113 (police). Please then call our emergency number (see page 9) and let us know there is a problem. Tipping Tips have been included in your holiday price for key services such as local guides/ driver/restaurants. Any additional tips are at your own discretion. Climate Vietnam s climate varies from south to north, and from lowland and coastal areas to highland and mountain regions. There are also distinct seasons in the far north of the country. In general our holidays are during the drier season. Temperatures in the south of the country rarely fall below 20 C, with daytime temperatures in the high 20 s. Further north temperatures are lower, but even in Hanoi the average daily temperature is usually in the high teens. There may be some light rainfall in the central coastal area during our visits. In the higher mountain areas temperatures during the day are ideal for walking, and rarely drop to freezing at night. Local currency & money matters 12

13 Dông (VND). Credit cards are increasingly accepted. ATMs can be found in the major tourist locations. It is easy to exchange foreign currency at banks, hotels and exchange bureaux. Traveller s cheques are not advised. US dollars are easily exchanged, but if you are using them in shops etc, they must be clean, and not torn. Suggested reading and maps Lonely Planet Vietnam 2016 Graham Greene The Quiet American Bill Hayton Vietnam Rising Dragon 2011 Maps can be obtained in advance from The Mapshop Electricity 220V, 3 round pin plugs Group size Group size is maximum 24 plus HF leader GMT/UTC +7 hours Time difference HF Holidays Ltd, Catalyst House, Centennial Court, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3SY, UK 13