16 Day Explore Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An Hanoi Halong Bay

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1 16 Day Explore Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An Hanoi Halong Bay

2 16 Day Explore Vietnam FROM $3,499 PER PERSON, TWIN SHARE Vietnam is the perfect combination of cultural adventure, ancient delights, delicious food and stunning natural beauty. The old and modern worlds seamlessly coexist, making it a popular and endlessly fascinating travel destination. Enjoy cruising the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Book Now Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 1

3 DAY 1 Australia Ho Chi Minh City Meals included 4 Silverland Yen, or similar Your adventure begins! On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. Enjoy your first night in Ho Chi Minh City, a beacon of modern day Vietnam and a buzz that will leave you spellbound. Please note: Some flights may depart the night before. DAY 2 Ho Chi Minh City Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner 4 Silverland Yen, or similar This morning we head out to visit the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. This building is now a museum and venue for Government official receptions. Your next stops are the two famous landmarks of the city, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in between 1863 and 1880 with materials imported from France and is also referred to as Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where the Vietnam War crimes are displayed. This is the most popular museum in Vietnam with approximately half a million visits annually. Afterwards, enjoy leisure time until you are picked up from your hotel at 16:30 for a drink at the Rex Rooftop Bar to enjoy the fantastic city lights as well as local night life on Nguyen Hue walking street below. Tonight enjoy an Inspiring Taste on a progressive Seafood Trail extravaganza a night eating adventure that starts at 18:00 where you will be picked up from the Rex. You will discover one of Ho Chi Minh City s snail streets. Here we ll try a range of snails... but don t worry, they re not really snails. Ôć is the Vietnamese word that s shorthand for all crustaceans, so you will be able to sample a variety of seafood the best seafood in Ho Chi Minh City, no less including sea snails that are eaten with a safety pin, mussels, scallops and tasty prawns-on-a-stick. You ll get the chance to buy some snacks from wandering vendors too, so you ll get the most authentic experience. Depending on who walks past, the snacks could include sliced green mango, boiled quail eggs or rice crackers, as well as more exotic offerings. On this tour, you will be required to participate in the rowdy Vietnamese toasting ritual (even if you re only drinking soft Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 2

4 drink) of mot-hai-ba-yo! In most cases your tour will start in a little alley near the zoo, then adjourn to Snail Street for two more stops. The progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza usually includes hotpot and a quick dessert at a local market. During the tour, you ll hear stories of the local area, and learn how to taste the history in simple street food. At the end of the tour you ll also have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and history (as well as a very full stomach!). This is a fantastic tour for the adventurous. If you re brave, you ll have the chance to travel on xe om (motorbike taxis) to order a range of unusual dishes, however, there is a taxi optional available for you too. DAY 3 Ho Chi Minh City Cu Chi Tunnels Ho Chi Minh City Meals included Breakfast, lunch 4 Silverland Yen, or similar After your breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked and driven to the eerie Cu Chi Tunnels a definite highlight of the trip. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120km of tunnels under ground and were built by the sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam War. You ll hear the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different types of underground halls, secret working and meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, you will enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla s food during the war). This afternoon you will return to Ho Chi Minh City for your overnight hotel stay. DAY 4 Ho Chi Minh City Meals included Breakfast 4 Silverland Yen, or similar You will have a free day to explore the city on your own. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (1 of 4): Mekong Delta Full Day Tour with Lunch: You will be picked up at your hotel, then depart for My Tho. On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, see the stilt houses, fruit plantations and the fishing villages along the river bank. You will proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh in Ben Tre, where you will visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy and observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 3

5 village. You will then enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadows of the water coconut trees along natural canals then enjoy seasonal fruit and honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals. The bus will then take you back to your hotel in Saigon. DAY 5 Ho Chi Minh City Hue Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner 4 Cherish, or similar You will have free time until your airport transfer for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at your leisure before dining at the hotel for dinner. DAY 6 Hue Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner N/A An incredible day awaits! Travel into the rugged mountain landscapes of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Once on top of this famous ancient structure, take in the exceptional views. While here, enjoy an Inspiring Taste and sip some wine while you admire the incredible view from on top of the wall. Continue on your journey to learn about Jade, China s most precious and celebrated stone before driving to the remote Gubei Water Town which sits spectacularly in the shadow of one of the most beautiful Great Wall section - Simatai. It is a rare ancient village with a combination of natural landscapes and dramatic scenery making Gubei the China you have envisaged. On arrival, enjoy time at leisure to wander the narrow laneways and canals. Tonight your Inspiring Stay will be a boutique Chinese Courtyard inn. While not a modern 5 star hotel, staying in a courtyard inn gives you an insight into the Chinese way of life. DAY 7 Hue Hoi An Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner N/A Today, you will be transferred to Xi an by flight. You will be met by your tour guide and escorted to your hotel. Xi an is one of the oldest cities in all of China, with a history of over 3,000 years. As one of the four great ancient capitals, it served as Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 4

6 the capital city during several of the most significant dynasties in China s history. Xi an is now home to a great number of precious and ancient relics but is best known as the starting point of the famous Silk Road and where the towering Terracotta Army can be found. DAY 8 Hoi An Meals included Breakfast, lunch 4 Hoi An Waterway Resort, or similar Optional Inspiring Sight (2 of 4): My Son Sanctuary Half Day Tour with lunch - Your guide will pick you up at around 8.00am and take you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as a burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of the same historical significance as Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on a boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River to Hoi An for lunch. After lunch, you will be dropped back to your hotel. DAY 9 Hoi An Meals included Breakfast, lunch 4 Hoi An Waterway Resort, or similar Today you will have a free day to explore Hoi An on your own or relax by the beach. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (3 of 4): Hoi An Boat and BBQ Sunset Tour - Take to the streets and the waterways to discover the charm of one of Vietnam s most loved towns. On this unique boat and bike tour in Hoi An, you will escape the hustle and bustle, weaving through the backstreets to reach the country lanes that lie outside the town s borders. Start your Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 5

7 Hoi An tour with the bike portion, and follow country laneways to reach some of the villages that are dotted throughout the region, stopping to talk to the locals and learn more about life in this part of Vietnam. Pass emerald rice paddies, snaking waterways and plenty of waving children as you discover some of the beautiful landscapes found in this region. Next up, your Hoi An boat tour! Follow your guide to the banks of the Thu Bon River to take to the waterways and discover even more of the area. Cruise the river, heading out to one of the river s small islands where a barbecue feast awaits. Feast on local specialties and watch as the sun sets over the river, with bobbing local fishing boats adding to the atmosphere. Jump back in the boat to cruise along the river, watching the last of the sun s rays disappear behind the rice paddies before heading back to Hoi An. Watch the twinkling lights of the city appear as you approach the dock, before heading through the bustling waterfront crowds and back into town. This unique Hoi An bike and boat tour comes to an end back in the heart of the town. DAY 10 Hoi An Hanoi Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner 4 Mon Regency, or similar Today you will be picked up from your hotel to head to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel where you ll enjoy dinner to usher in your first night in Hanoi. DAY 11 Hanoi Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner 4 Mon Regency, or similar Today head out on a city tour of Hanoi and begin with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape. This pagoda is a very beautiful and popular attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you will have the chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's House and the One-pillar pagoda a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is centre point. After lunch, you will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain), dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The temple with its famous Huc bridge is in the center of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. You will then take a short ride around old town on a cyclo (rickshaw) before enjoying a show of traditional Water Puppets! Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. After the show, you will be dropped off at your hotel for dinner. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 6

8 DAY 12 Hanoi Halong Bay Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner 5 Athena Elegance, or similar We leave the hotel this morning for an incredible day in Halong Bay and a fabulous overnight Halong Bay cruise. On the way, you will get to stop at a handicraft workshop for a short break. You ll enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Halong, you will check-in to the cruise and relax before your captain lifts anchor and sails to visit Sung Sot caves where you ll get the chance to explore the area on kayaks. You will be cruising between the many lime stones and set anchor at a beautiful spot to watch the sun set over the bay, where dinner is served on board. Relish the fresh seafood, salads, and fruits. There will also be a cooking class on board, where you can learn to cook some basic Vietnamese dishes before spending the night on the cruise ship. DAY 13 Halong Bay Hanoi Meals included Breakfast, lunch 5 Sofitel Legend Metropole, or similar The beautiful sunrise on Halong Bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography. You can also start your day with a Tai chi session on the boat deck! Breakfast will be served on the boat around 7.30 am then you will have more time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. You ll get to stop at a workshop in Hai Duong province for your lunch break before arriving in Hanoi that evening to begin your Inspiring Stay at the pure 5 star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (4 of 4): Hanoi Street Food on Foot - Your expert local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. You will eat as you go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty Frenchinspired snack from a street cart. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi s Old Quarter, we tempt our taste buds Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 7

9 with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, you will wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. Your next two snack stops are at outdoor barbeque stalls. You can sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It s then time for dessert as you adventure down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk this specialty is one not to be missed! DAY 14 Hanoi Meals included Breakfast 5 Sofitel Legend Metropole, or similar Today enjoy a free day in Hanoi to lap up the luxury at your Inspiring Stay or explore the city at your own pace. This afternoon, enjoy high tea at the Sofitel Legend Metropole where you can indulge in an afternoon tea set with fine tea, fancy finger sandwiches, warm scones and delicate pastries. DAY 15 Hanoi Home Meals included Breakfast N/A Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. We hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling journey in Vietnam. DAY 16 Home Meals included N/A Arrive home today Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 8

10 Inclusions WHAT'S INCLUDED Return international airfares with Singapore Airlines All internal airfares All airport transfers 13 nights in 4-5 star accommodation including 2 nights at luxury Sofitel Legend Metropole 1 night on-board a luxury 5 star Halong Bay cruise 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 7 dinners Enjoy 1 hour of sunset drinks at the famous Rex roof bar Go on a progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza on motorbike taxis in Ho Chi Minh City Enjoy a decadent high tea at the Sofitel Hanoi Experience an authentic cooking class in Hoi An The services of professional, English speaking guides Incredible sightseeing including all entry fees as per the the itinerary SIGHTSEEING HIGHTLIGHTS Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification palace, Notre Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office Ho Chi Minh City - Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels Hue - Imperial Citadel, Forbidden Purple City, Thien Mu Pagoda, Perfume River Hue - Hai Van Pass Hoi An - Cooking Class, Japanese Bridge, Ancient House Hanoi - Cyclo Tour, Water Puppet Show, Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum,Temple of Literature Halong Bay - Sung Sot caves, Crystal waters of Halong Bay Plus so much more! Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 9

11 INSPIRING FEATURES Inspiring Stays Stay 2 nights at the colonial and neo-classical 110 year old, luxury 5 star Sofitel Legend Metropole Inspiring Sights The choice between 2 of 4 bonus sightseeing experiences to enhance your journey. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package (details listed under 'Optional Tours'). Inspiring Taste Enjoy 1 hour of sunset drinks at the famous Rex roof bar Go on a progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza on motorbike taxis in Ho Chi Minh City Enjoy a decadent high tea at the Sofitel Hanoi CRUISE DETAILS For further information on your Halong Bay cruise, click HERE. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 10

12 SINGAPORE STOPOVER PACKAGE Singapore Stopover Package - $499 per person 3 nights at the 4 star Furama Riverfront or similar Breakfast daily Return airport transfers If you wish to book the Singapore stopover package either before and/or after your Vietnam tour please request 'Singapore stopover package' in the 'Special Requests' field prior to making your purchase. Please note, the Singapore stopover package must be paid in full after paying your tour deposit. You will be invoiced to collect this payment. Not available if purchasing the 22 Day Explore Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos tour. The $150pp extension supplement does not apply if selecting this option. Pricing is in addition to the 16 Day twin share price. Fine Print DEPOSIT & PAYMENT Secure your package with a deposit of $500 per person. Pay a 2nd instalment of $1774 per person within 28 days. You will then be invoiced for final payment 90 days prior to departure. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 11

13 BOOKING PROCESS Follow the Book Now prompts. Select your travel dates, departure city, number of travellers, room preference and any extra services. Click Checkout to login or create an account. You ll need an account to review your details and download documentation. Click Pay Now to proceed to payment. Note - all payments are processed by our trusted gateway Paypal where you are given two options: Pay using your Paypal account OR Pay using your credit card by proceeding as a guest a Paypal account is not required. Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a booking form so that we can fulfil your booking. Your booking is confirmed once your booking form is submitted and you can begin the countdown to your Inspiring Vacation! HOW TO EXTEND YOUR STAY Some customers like to enhance their holiday by arriving early and/or staying behind. If you wish to do so, please follow the following steps: 1. Follow the book now prompts. 2. After selecting your departure date and completing your bedding configuration details, please select if you wish to 'arrive early' and/or 'stay behind' in the 'extra services' field. 3. In the 'special requests', field please specify your extension requirements. 4. Complete the remaining booking requirements and click pay now. 5. After finalising your purchase a member of our reservations team will be in contact with you to discuss your extension request. A $150 per person supplement plus any fare difference applies if you wish to confirm your extension. You will be contact after purchase for collection of this payment. All additional accommodation and sightseeing is at your own arrangement. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 12

14 AIRFARE INFORMATION You will travel with the full-service Singapore Airlines. Flights will require a minimum of 1 transit (maximum 2). All tickets will include 20kgs checked baggage (due to limits on internal Vietnam flights). Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable. Any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees. Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required. Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control. PREMIUM ECONOMY OR BUSINESS CLASS UPGRADE Premium Economy upgrade - Not available. Business Class upgrade available for an additional $2,500 per person in addition to the standard package price (subject to availability). Please request Business Class in the Special Requests field prior to making your purchase and you will be contacted to arrange payment. LAND-ONLY DISCOUNT A $700 per person reduction from the twin share price applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. Should you wish to purchase land only, please select this option in the booking process, under 'Departure City'. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 13

15 OPTIONAL TOURS You have the choice of 2 of 4 Inspiring Experiences to enhance your journey included in your tour. If you wish to join the remaining 2 optional tours, these may be purchased seperately: Mekong Delta - $55pp My Son Tour - $65pp Hoi An Bike & Boat - $75pp Hanoi Street Food Tour - $55pp Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance. Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding. EXCLUSIONS Visas Travel insurance (recommended) Tipping Anything not mentioned in the itinerary Optional activities not included as part of your chosen 'Inspiring Sights' Personal expenses Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 14

16 TIPPING A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision. For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$10-20 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$5 per person, per day. As this particular tour does not collect a kitty, it is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Single supplement is $1,049 per person in addition to the twin share price. TRIPLE SHARE Available. 3 x twin share packages must be purchased. If you wish to purchase triple share please phone GROUP SIZE 2-16 people CHILDREN Children must be 2 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults. OTHER INFORMATION Final documentation, including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel. The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land. Call support@inspiringvacations.com Page 15

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