Travelling alone or with a friend, our Vietnam join-in holiday offers the best value for money on a classic, introductory journey of the country’s main sites.  Departures every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from Hanoi, including flights from South Africa. Minimum 2 persons with English-speaking guide

Hanoi - Halong Bay - Da Nang - Hoi An - Hue - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
From the mighty mountains and fertile rice paddies adjoining the Chinese border in the far north to the lush south where the Mekong River finally meets the sea, Vietnam is emotively beautiful. 

There is magnificent scenery in abundance here, whether it is the towering limestone islands of Halong Bay, the jungle-clad peaks of the remote northwest or the sweeping deserted beaches along the central coast. Historical interest is all around too, in the old imperial city of Hue, the battlefields and tunnels of the former Demilitarised Zone, the South China Sea port of Hoi An, frantic Saigon and in the capital Hanoi, a proud city of wide boulevards and ancient temples. Though communism has all but disappeared, much of the French colonial influence remains in the fine architecture, baguettes for sale at roadside stalls and some gallic variations on Vietnam’s own delicious cuisine.

It is easy to see why Vietnam continues to enthrall. For many visitors it is the Vietnamese themselves, as rich and diverse as the land they live in, who transform the travel experience; charming, quietly resolute and amazingly open.

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 (Friday): Johannesburg - Hanoi
Depart from Johannesburg with Cathay Pacific enroute to Hanoi via Hong Kong.

Day 2 (Saturday): Hanoi (-)
Arrive in Hanoi, welcome by your guide and transfer to hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3 (Sunday): Hanoi (B, L)
A full day tour of Hanoi. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. This city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (from outside - closed Mondays and Fridays plus Oct-Nov) and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue with a visit to the Ethnology Museum to give you an overview of the ethnic diversity of Vietnam.

End the day right in the heart of Hanoi with a visit to the ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’ and exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’, on foot, a great way to see this very typical area of Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4 (Monday): Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
0800 depart for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive from Hanoi late morning and welcome at the pier. Check-in procedures and transfer to your boat for the overnight journey into the Bay.

Lunch is served on board as you cruise into Halong Bay. Cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night as the sun sets followed by dinner.
Overnight on Halong Bay.

Day 5 (Tuesday): Halong Bay – Hanoi – Danang – Hoi An (B)
On your return to Halong City enjoy brunch as your boat weaves its way back to the dock. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi.
If time allows return to Hanoi otherwise straight to the airport.
Drive to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi for the 1-hr flight to Danang. On arrival your private vehicle will be waiting for you for the 40-minute transfer to Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 (Wednesday): Hoi An - Hue (B, L)
Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market.
Leave Hoi An after lunch for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.
In Danang stop for a visit of the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world before climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’ and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue late in the afternoon and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Hue

Day 7 (Thursday): Hue (B, L)
A full day visit of the former imperial capital of Vietnam starts with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River to Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. From here we continue to the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Cyclo ride through the Quarter just outside the Citadel. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the mausoleum of former Emperor Tu Duc with its tranquil setting of gardens and lakes followed by the elaborate European influenced mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh.
Overnight in Hue

Day 8 (Friday): Hue – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the 1-hr flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. A full day city tour takes in the city’s bustling Chinatown and begins with a visit to the Thien Hau Temple. Continue to lively Binh Tay Market. See the incredible display of fresh produce that is offered and simply stroll through the market seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale.

After lunch visit the War Remnants Museum and the former Presidential Palace. From there stroll by some of the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral (from outside), Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), the Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall (your vehicle will be available at all times).
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9 (Saturday): Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
The colorful floating market, vast emerald rice fields and lush back waterways; these are the things that make Cai Be such a desired destination. After driving 2.5-hours from Ho Chi Minh cruise the many tributaries of the Mekong to visit Cai Be floating market, wonder through vibrant tropical fruit gardens as well as visiting home cottage industries making ‘pop’ rice.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10 (Sunday): Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
Free at leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (Stopover possible at additional cost) to Johannesburg.

Day 11 (Monday): Arrival Johannesburg
Arrive in Johannesburg this morning with Cathay Pacific.

*****END OF SERVICES*****

SELECTED ACCOMMODATION / FIRST CLASS HOTELS

FOR BEACH OR ANGKOR WAT CAMBODIA EXTENSIONS CONTACT US.

Holiday price per person: (valid for travel between 16 Jan & 30 Apr'10) for prices outside these dates please ask us for details.

Ex Johannesburg | R16,970 twin share | R19,455 Single
Ex Durban | R18,390 twin share | R20,870 Single
Ex Cape Town | R18,505 twin share | R21,000 Single

Your Holiday includes:

• International flights from Johannesburg with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong including currrent airport taxes & fuel surcharges. (high season fares will apply between 1 Dec'09 and 15 Jan '10)
• Accommodation in double/twin share with daily breakfast at selected hotels.
• All domestic flights used in the itinerary (Hanoi - Danang/ Hue - HCMC).
• Tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Services of a driver and a private air-conditioned vehicles
• Services of a local English speaking guide (one place- one guide)
• Entrance fees for all sights visited.
• Lunch or dinner if mentioned in itinerary with (L,D)
• Domestic airport taxes for any domestic flights

Your Holiday does not include:

• Vietnam visa arrangement (Vietnam visa is COMPULSORY for most nationalities)
• Meals other than those mentioned above and drinks at all meals
• All other services which are not mentioned above.
• Personal expenses are such as laundry, telephone, drinks etc...
• Tips for guide
• Travel insurance

A. IMPORTANT NOTES:
We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam and Cambodia.

B. CONFIRMATIONS:
All reservation in special time (Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese New Year (Tet), Special events, etc. any change of itinerary or number of participants ... is subject to price change with some compulsory services.
Please note that all the above services & package tours have not been booked yet, they are proposed for your information only. We will not launch any reservation before we receive your confirmation.
If one or some proposed service(s) is (are) not available at the moment of booking, we will try to find out other possibility/options or other similar service(s) in order to avoid as many important changes as possible.