Vietnam Encompassed. 17 days Hanoi to Saigon. What's Not Included. What's Included

Transcription

1 17 days Hanoi to Saigon Ultimate Vietnam! Tai Chi and cooking lessons in Hanoi, cruising the Mekong Delta and Halong Bay, trekking in Sapa, lazing on the beach in Nha Tran and exploring the tunnels of Cu Chi. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 17 exhilarating days, visiting Hue and Hoi An en route. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Hanoi - the 'Paris of the Orient' and capital of Vietnam; The Old Quarter, Tai Chi at Hoan Kiem Lake, Chau Long Market, the Museum of Ethnology and Temple of Literature Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay - UNESCO Listed region with thousands of beautiful limestone peaks and islets Hue - the Perfume River, Imperial City and ancient walled Citadel, Royal Tombs Sapa - a former French hill station, nestled in the rugged Tonkinese Alps. Valleys, waterfalls and ethnic minority villages Hoi An - UNESCO Listed former merchant trading post, famed for its beautifully preserved architecture Saigon - Cosmopolitan and commercial hub of Vietnam; The Presidential Palace, the History Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Hotel D'Ville and Dong Khoi Street Cu Chi Tunnels - vast underground network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong Cruising on the Mekong Delta - one of the world s greatest river regions. Cai Be Floating Market, Dong Hoa Hiep Island and Mekong Delta rural life Nha Trang - coastal resort. White sandy beach, crystal clear water and off shore islands What's Included Hue - boat trip on the Perfume River Tai Chi lesson in Hanoi Vietnamese Cooking lesson in Hanoi Trekking in Sapa Nha Trang beach break and boat excursion 13 nights standard hotels. Superior (4 star) and deluxe (5 star) properties are also available. 1 night aboard a Halong Bay Junk boat 2 nights overnight train - Hanoi to Sapa return. 4 berth soft sleeper cabin. 16 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 1 dinner 3 domestic economy flights: Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Nha Trang and Nha Trang to Saigon Airport arrival and departure transfer All transfers and transportation in private air conditioned vehicles Services of an English speaking guide for all scheduled sightseeing Guided tour of Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay Junk overnight boat cruise Sampan cruise on the Mekong Delta, including stops at Cai Be Floating Market and Dong Hoa Hiep Island What's Not Included International flights and visa Tipping - an entirely personal gesture DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Hanoi Good morning Vietnam! Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport you will be met and transferred to your city centre hotel. Known as the Paris of the Orient, Hanoi is the charming capital and cultural heart of Vietnam. Spend the remains of the day at leisure. Overnight - Hanoi Day 2 : City tour, Tai Chi & Cooking - 17 days - 1 -

2 Hanoi - Sapa. This morning head to Hoan Kiem Lake which is the very heart of the city. Residents of Hanoi congregate around the lake early each morning to partake in Tai chi, aerobics and other light exercise. Enjoy a Tai Chi lesson with the locals and take a stroll around the lake before tucking into a traditional Vietnamese breakfast (Pho) at a café boasting marvelous views of the lake. After breakfast prepare yourself for a truly unique cooking experience! Vietnamese food is healthy, simple to cook and downright delicious. This half day cooking tour in Hanoi will provide you with a hands-on lesson on how to shop for and cook authentic Vietnamese food. Begin with a quick walk to the famous Chau Long market, where you learn more about the various ingredients that go into a Vietnamese dish including vegetables, fruits and Vietnamese herbs and spices. It's then onto the Hanoi Cooking Centre for your hand's on cooking lesson. The cooking class is held in small groups (2 to 16 people) to enhance interactivity with the head chef. You will have one cooking station between 2 persons. At midday sit down and enjoy your own Vietnamese creations accompanied by local beer or wine, and receive detailed recipes cards to take home. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided city tour of Hanoi. Having celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 2010, the city has a rich and fascinating history. Sightseeing includes the Museum of Ethnology (closed Mondays), widely acknowledged as the best in the country, containing an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam s 54 ethnic minority peoples and the Temple of Literature - Vietnam s first university dating back to This evening at approx 9pm, board an overnight express sleeper train from Hanoi to the border town of Lao Cai (soft sleeper berth cabin). Overnight - Sleeper Train (4 berth shared cabin) (B, L) Day 3 : Trekking in Sapa The train pulls into Lao Cai at approximately 06:00am this morning, transfer to Sapa for breakfast. Located 1500m above sea level, Sapa is a former French hill station, nestled in the rugged Tonkinese Alps and surrounded by lush valleys and verdant rice paddy fields. This morning take a light trek to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May. Walking to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These minority people, including the Red Zao, Hmong and Tay people, walk to Sapa to trade at the markets. Tonight you spend the night at the hotel in Sapa town. Overnight - Sapa (B, L) Day 4 : Red Dao Village Sapa - Hanoi. Start your morning with a hike to a beautiful waterfall before continuing on to a picturesque Red Dao village. Red Dao women wear giant red scarves around their heads and their clothing is embellished with colourful red embroidery and coins. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Sapa before returning to Lao Cai to board the overnight train back to Hanoi. Overnight - Sleeper Train (4 berth shared cabin) (B, L) Day 5 : Crusing on Halong Bay Upon arrival in Hanoi, freshen up before driving to Halong City (approx 4 hours), stopping for refreshments en route. At UNESCO Listed Halong Bay limestone peaks and forest clad islets, hidden coves and beautiful beaches await discovery! Board your Junk boat and cruise to the famous islands of Halong Bay and onto Bai Tu Long Bay, stopping to visit a cave and swim in the warm waters. There is a chance to explore more this stunning area by sea kayak. Return to the Junk boat for a tasty dinner and a memorable night in beautiful surrounds. Overnight - Halong Bay - Junk boat (B, L, D) Day 6 : Halong Bay to Hue Halong Bay - Hue. Wake up to see a spectacular sunrise over the bay! This morning cruise through Bai Tu Long and visit the floating fishing village of Vong Vieng - where you'll gain a fascinating insight into local life. Cruising back to the dock arrive into Halong City around noon then transfer back to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight - Hue (B) Day 7 : The Imperial City of Hue Hue was the Vietnamese capital during the Nguyen Dynasty and ruins of the city s regal past can still be seen inside the Citadel and the Imperial City. Created in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and holds many palaces and temples inside its giant walls. Many of the buildings were damaged by French aerial bombing and the Tet Offensive in Now it is slowly being restored thanks to generous funding by UNESCO. Your tour begins after breakfast with the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial - 17 days - 2 -

3 Palace. Spend the morning wandering through the enclosure before lunch and a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of the Emperors at two of the most impressive Royal Tombs. This evening, take a scenic boat cruise along the Perfume River. Overnight - Hue (B, L) Day 8 : Walking tour of Hoi An Hue - Hoi An. This morning, continue south to the riverside town of Hoi An. The five hour trip hugs the coastline along the South China Sea with breathtaking views particularly as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass ( Pass of the Clouds ). From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, renowned for its silk and popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century and much of the town is now heritage-listed. Days : Nha Trang boat trip Hoi An - Nha Trang. On day 10 transfer to the airport in Danang and fly to the coastal resort of Nha Trang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remains of the day at leisure. Nha Trang is a popular coastal resort in central Vietnam, with 7kms of white sandy beach and pristine waters surrounded by archipelagoes and mountains. Experience the beautiful coast of Nha Trang aboard a boat on day 11. The first stop is Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island, before heading out to Hon Mun Island for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear waters. Breaking for lunch at the fishing village of Lang Chai, there is time to walk around the village before boarding the boat back to Nha Trang harbour. Overnight - Nha Trang (B:2, L:1) Days : Free time in Nha Trang Nha Trang - Saigon. In the morning on day 14, transfer to the airport and fly to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remains of the day at leisure in this lively and cosmopolitan metropolis with its gleaming sky scrapers, expensive restaurants, bars and designer shops, which stand in stark contrast to the ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks and ramshackle markets. On day 15 take a morning excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, north west of the city. This immense network of connecting underground tunnels, were used by the Viet Cong and one of the famous battle grounds in the Vietnam War. Watch a short introductory video on the construction of the tunnels before exploring the maze of tunnels, accompanied by the guide. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs from B52 bombers. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Overnight - Hoi An (B) Day 9 : Free day in Hoi An Spend a day at leisure on the beach or having clothes made by one of the expert, inexpensive tailors that Hoi An is famous for. In the evening, you might want to stroll Hoi An's romantic, silk latern lit streets and dine in one of its fantastic riverside restaurants. Overnight - Hoi An (B) Spend the next two days at leisure in Nha Trang. The resort is ideal for scuba diving, snorkelling or simply relaxing on the sandy beach. Sample some of the delicious seafood in some of the many restaurants and perhaps enjoy a spot of retail therapy at Cho Dam Market. Overnight - Nha Trang (B:2) Days : Saigon & Cu Chi Tunnels Returning to Saigon at around 2pm, stop for lunch before visiting some of the city's major attractions including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum. Overnight - Saigon (B:2, L:1) Day 16 : Cruising the Mekong Delta Today enjoy a full day cruise excursion on the beautiful Mekong Delta, one of the world's greatest river systems. Known as the rice bowl of Vietnam the Mekong Delta has lush rice paddy fields and colourful fruit orchards, enchanting villages and bustling floating markets. Early morning transfer to Cai Be - Phu An where you board the Cai Be Princess at - 17 days - 3 -

4 around 10:00am. First stop is the colourful floating market at Cai Be. Then visit some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying processing. The cruise continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island where you can observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An Resort, a superb Indochine style resort before disembarking mid-afternoon and returning to Saigon. Overnight - Saigon (B, L) Day 17 : Goodbye Saigon After breakfast and hotel check out, included transfer to Saigon airport for your onward flight.(b) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Vietnam Country Guide Entrance fees - collected in USD Entrance fees to most sites are not included, although reasonably priced. In Vietnam, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour (the amount is noted under exclusions). A breakdown of the entrance fee total is provided upon arrival. All funds collected in Vietnam for entrance fees are payable in USD. Tipping Kitty - collected in USD At the start of your tour, we take a small tipping kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all tour participants to cover tips throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, train conductors and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guides. For a job well done, we would suggest USD $3-6 per person per day. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture and ultimately the amount is up to you. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Vietnam from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended. Malaria in Vietnam Areas with malaria: Rural only, except none in the Red River Delta and the coast north of Nha Trang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. None in Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon. Estimated relative risk of malaria for travellers: Low Water The tap water in Vietnam is generally considered safe to drink, but as a precaution against stomach upsets you may want to drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available from shops, hotels and restaurants. Visas From 1 July 2015 onwards UK passport holders will not need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to 15 days. At customs you will need show your return airline ticket/e ticket as proof of your date of departure. If you're exiting Vietnam via a land border then your tour itinerary will be accepted as proof so please have this available to show to border police if requested. A visa is required for stays of 16 days or longer and if you are planning to return to Vietnam within 30 days of your last departure you will also need to purchase a visa. Most other nationalities including Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, South African and USA passport holders require a tourist visa to visit Vietnam. Travellers can choose to independently apply (or we can arrange this for you, see notes below) for a 30 day tourist visa (single or multiple entry) from the nearest Vietnamese Embassy or via the more convenient method of applying online. The cost is approx USD$20. After submitting an application you will receive a confirmation number, then upon arriving to Vietnam you would receive the actual visa and additionally pay a stamping fee of USD$45. The stamping fee for a multiple entry visa, for entries within one month is USD$65. Applying in advance and then collecting your tourist visa upon arrival is available to all travellers entering the country via Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City - Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Danang International Airport. ON THE GO ARRANGING YOUR VIETNAM VISA Upon confirming a holiday to Vietnam with us, if you require a visa please download a copy of our 'Vietnam Visa Data List' available on our website within the SE Asia, under the title of 'Visa Info'. Should you complete the form and return it as a Microsoft Word document via to us 6 weeks prior to your departure we will arrange the visa for you (effectively saving you USD$20). Then approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your departure we will forward to you a 'Visa Confirmation Letter' which carries a confirmation number'. You will need to present the 'Visa Confirmation Letter' and a 'Vietnam Visa Entry & Exit Form' (we have a link to this form on our website or you can pick up one upon arrival) to immigration officials upon arrival into Vietnam along with 2 passport photos and a stamping fee of USD$45 or USD $65 for a multiple entry visa. A Visa will then be stuck into your passport and you can enter Vietnam. Please note: This service is not available for South African passport holders who must obtain a tourist visa from the nearest Vietnamese Embassy in advance and pay the stamping fee directly to the embassy prior to travel. 'The Visa Confirmation Letter' (irrespective of whether you apply for your visa independently or through On The Go Tours) will contain personal information such as your passport number, nationality and date of birth of yourself and other travellers on one inclusive list. PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date, if it is not you may be refused entry into the country. Climate Vietnam has a varied climate due to its geography. The south is hot year round and has two seasons: The wet season lasts from May to October, with brief, daily showers. The dry season from November to April is generally sunny and humid. In the north, the summer - 17 days - 4 -

5 months (May to October) are hot and there is the occasional burst of heavy rain. In the winter (December to February) temperatures drop in the north and it can be damp. The coastal region of central Vietnam is blessed with long months of sunshine, although there is rainfall in November and December. At this time there can also be some typhoon activity in the central coastal region. Guides and Groups Our longest group tour in Southeast Asia is our Bangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour. All other group tours we offer (with the exception of our Vietnam with Teens and Flavours of Vietnam tours) are sectors of this larger tour. As such on your holiday you may have travellers join you part way through your tour (in Luang Prabang, Hanoi or Saigon) or end their tour when you continue on. Guiding: A Vietnamese guide will escort all arrangements throughout Vietnam. Time & Voltage The voltage in Vietnam is 220v. In Vietnam 3 types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flat prong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug (type C) and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels use the British standard 3-pin plug (type G). To cover all bases, it is best to pack an international travel adaptor! Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight saving. Money The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong. Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally at the airport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollar notes are widely accepted and shopkeepers use both currencies interchangeably. You can often pay for items in USD and receive your change in USD notes and coins in VND. Make sure that your USD bills are crisp and clean and you will have no problem using or exchanging these throughout your stay. ATM machines can be found in all major cities though it is not common to pay with credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops for purchases. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended as they're often difficult to exchange and incur high fees. Essential Packing Sleep sheet if taking an overnight sleeper train. These also can be easily purchased in Hanoi at a cost of USD$5. Ask you guide for info on where to buy these. A day pack to carry all your essentials when out sightseeing each day. An overnight bag, if you are staying aboard the Junk boat in Halong Bay. As we will be returning to Hanoi it is not essential that you take your big bag/ suitcase with you. Lightweight cotton garments. Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flip flops/ thongs DEET based mosquito repellant & antihistamine cream Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universal adaptor will cover all bases Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho. Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of your passport Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume and torch Arrival Transfers If your tour or short stay includes an airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) our arrival procedure is as follows: Arrive to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport, Saigon - Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Proceed to the immigration counter and present your invitation letter. Complete an immigration form and submit your photographs and stamping fee of USD$25 (this can take some time). After collecting your luggage proceed to the arrival hall. As you enter the arrivals hall, look for our On The Go Tours representative. He/she will be holding a prominent On The Go Tours logo signboard. After meeting you will be escorted to our awaiting transportation and transferred to our tour start hotel If, for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes in the arrival hall) or your flight is delayed please call the emergency contact number as stated on your tour voucher. If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includes an airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) we will be at the airport, ready to transfer you to your hotel. Further if you are booking pretour accommodation with us an airport arrival transfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to 9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrives very, very early in the morning) you will need to purchase a night of pre-tour accommodation to save you waiting until standard hotel check in time, which is generally 2pm. Airline Luggage Allowance If your tour includes international or domestic flights within the region please be mindful that the free baggage allowance for Economy class travel is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of hand luggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight is charged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keep this in mind whilst shopping. Trains in Vietnam It's not the Orient Express, but Vietnam's Reunification Express. On a number of our group tours we include an overnight train journey on the Reunification Express Railway Line between Hanoi and Hue. The particular SE series train that we use on this journey is the highest class of train available in Vietnam. It's titled as being the nation's fastest train; though by international standards it's quite the opposite. Never the less, our journey between Hanoi and Hue takes approximately 14 hours and travellers are accommodated in 4 berth 'Soft Sleeper' cabins. Aboard each wagon are 9 compartments that comprise of 4 bunks per compartment. 4 persons of mixed sex share one compartment. You may be sharing with people from your tour group, other tourists or Vietnamese people. Who you will share your cabin with is ultimately - 17 days - 5 -

6 dependent upon how the Vietnamese Railways Corporation configures the bookings. Cabins onboard are comfortable though not comparable to European standards. A western style toilet (with a varying degree of cleanliness) is located at either end of the wagon. Airconditioning (not always operational in the summer) and lighting are controlled from inside the cabin, which is also lockable. Luggage can be stored in a compartment under the bottom bunk. Linen and a pillow are provided though we strongly recommend that you bring your own sleep sheet (easily purchased in Hanoi at a cost of USD$5). The cleanliness of the train varies according to wagons assigned to the journey for that particular day. Some wagons are spotlessly clean whilst others can be unclean and should have been decommissioned long ago. Irrespective of the particular train you take, they all have large clear glass windows that allow for uninterrupted views of stunning landscapes and never ending rice paddy fields days - 6 -