ITINERARY:
HANOI - ARRIVAL (-/-/-)
DAY 1 Meet on arrival at Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
HANOI - THAY & TAY PHUONG PAGODAS (B/L/-)
DAY 2 Hanoi city tour: Drive to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mon, Fri and the whole month of Oct and Nov), his former residence, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Quan Thanh Temple.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Drive to Thay Pagoda (30 km to the Southeast), home of the art of water puppetry. Proceed to Tay Phuong Pagoda to visit the wonderful collection of Buddha statues dating back to the 17th century. Drive back to Hanoi. Evening: Water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. Overnight in Hanoi.
HANOI - HAI DUONG - HALONG BAY (B/L/-)
DAY 3 Transfer to Long Bien Railways Station for train trip to Hai Duong. Upon arrival, pick up by car to proceed to Halong pier. Enjoy a 4-hour boat trip to discover Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea” as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Fresh seafood lunch is prepared and served on board. Get off the boat and check in hotel in Halong. Overnight in Halong Bay.
HALONG BAY - BAT TRANG - HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN TO HUE (B/L/-)
DAY 4 At leisure for own activities. Drive back to Hanoi with lunch en route. Stop over to visit Bat Trang Pottery village, this famous village is surrounded by fertile farmland. Watch the artisans forming, painting and glazing their products, which are then baked for several days in huge kilns. Arrival Hanoi and transfer to Railways Station for night train to Hue (ETD: 20:30hrs). Overnight on board in shared air-conditioned 4 soft-berth compartment.
HUE (B/L/-)
DAY 5 Arrive in Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties and transfer to hotel for refreshment (check in time 13:00hrs). Lunch at local restaurant, then drive to visit the Imperial Citadel. Boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Hue.
HUE - DANANG - HOI AN (B/L/-)
DAY 6 Drive to visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Tombs. Lunch at local restaurant. Depart to Danang. The scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. Visit Cham Museum on the way, then continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
HOI AN - MY SON - HOI AN (B/L/-)
DAY 7 Drive to My Son, the imperial city of the Champa empire of the 4th to the 12th centuries. My Son is well known for its large complex of religious ruins comprising more than 70 architectural remains. Drive back to Hoi An for lunch at local restaurant. Discover Hoi An, known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets, the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. During a leisurely dicovery tour on foot, you will visit some of the historical merchant and community houses, places of worship and famous bridges. Overnight in Hoi An.
HOI AN - DANANG - NHA TRANG (B/L/-)
DAY 8 Visit the marble-carving village at the foot of the mountains. Proceed to the railway station for day train trip to Nha Trang (ETD: 11:30hrs) in shared air-conditioned 4-soft- berth compartment. A lunch box will be provided on the train. Arrive Nha Trang in the late evening and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Nha Trang.
NHA TRANG (B/-/-)
DAY 9 Full day at leisure. Enjoy one of the most beautifull beaches of Vietnam. Overnight in Nha Trang
NHA TRANG - HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/-)
DAY 10 Transfer to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for check in (early check-in not included). Lunch at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS - HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/-)
DAY 11 In the morning, drive to Cu Chi. Visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels at Cu Chi. There are more than 200 km of underground tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and then take a photo stop at the former Presidential Palace. Visit War Museum, Cholon (China town), Thien Hau Pagoda and Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
DAY 12 Time at leisure until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.
VTR
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ALL RATES ARE NET IN US$ (01/11/08 - 31/10/09)
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Tour by private car/coach with private guide per person in a party of
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HOTEL CATEGORY
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1
|
2
|
3-5
|
6-9
|
10-14
|
15 +1
|
20 +1
|
Sgl-Sur
|
Tourist
|
1735
|
1017
|
888
|
755
|
657
|
648
|
617
|
233
|
Superior
|
2050
|
1175
|
1046
|
913
|
808
|
807
|
767
|
389
|
First
|
1683
|
998
|
870
|
736
|
638
|
RQ
|
RQ
|
199
|
Deluxe
|
1933
|
1123
|
994
|
861
|
758
|
RQ
|
RQ
|
324
|
Surcharge for Ger SG
|
37
|
19
|
12
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
-
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But note that due to Nha Trang has some day at leisure so German guide in Nha Trang to be offered, upon request.
If German Guide in Nha Trang not available then English speaking guide for transfer to/ex Nha Trang to be provided,
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Tour leader of group minimum of 15 full paying pax is free of charge in half twin
Tour leader of group minimum of 20 full paying pax is free of charge in single room
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Our tour prices are inclusive of transfers and tours with English or French speaking guide, accommodation in shared twin rooms with air-condition and private bath room, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), entrance fees, boat fees, train tickets (shared compartment with 4 berths for overnight train), domestic air-ticket Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City.
Not included are surcharges for German speaking guide, compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges, which will be advised at time of booking.
NOTES: The train trip is a local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for). Communal rest rooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience. Train schedule is subject to change without prior notice.
Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.