Essential Vietnam Beach and cultural tour

14 days - Combining the must see sites across Vietnam...with a relaxing stay on a beautiful tropical beach resort.

• Saigon and Cu Chi tunnel system
• Mekong delta
• Hoian - tropical beach resort
• Hue
• Halong bay - stay on deluxe junk
• Hanoi
• Guaranteed departure minimum 2 people

Itinerary & Prices below

Day 1 Saigon

Arrive at Saigon Airport where you will meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. This evening we will have a tour briefing at your hotel with your guide before we enjoy our dinner at one of the city's finest restaurant. Overnight in Saigon (B)

Day 2 Saigon - Cu Chi tunnels - China towns

We start the day with a drive out of the city to Cu Chi amazing tunnel system built by Communist guerillas during the Vietnam War. We then head for Tay Ninh to witness the noon services of adherents to Caodai Sect, in a beautiful edifice called Holy See Temple. After we have a tasty lunch of "Pho" noodle soup in restaurant "Pho 24" Overnight in Saigon. (B, L)

Day 3 Saigon - Mekong Delta

Today we enjoy a day trip to My Tho to sample life on the Mekong River. My Tho is a prosperous town of 170,000 inhabitants, famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. We'll ride a local boat on the criss-crossing waters of the area to the orchards on Phoenix Island, where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are being produced. Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and traditional live music and songs performance and relax under the restaurant's garden canopy. Take a horse cart rise to a farm to taste some homemade honey-tea and proceed by boat through the small canals and side arms of the river to observe the daily life along the river banks. Visit a Snake farm then return to Saigon for overnight. (B, L)

Day 4 Saigon -Danang - Hoian

Today we fly in the morning to Danang, the city with the famed China Beach and tour the Cham Museum, the biggest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. We also view the caves and shrines of the Marble Mountains - a former base for communist guerrillas during the war. We proceed several more miles to Hoian for a seaside resort and enjoy rest of the day at leisure. (B, L)

Day 5 Hoian

This morning we join the reputed chefs at Red Bridge Restaurant in a quest for the freshest ingredients in Hoian central market, then a boat ride to the restaurant for a wonderful cooking class. We then have lunch with exactly what we prepared for lunch. In the afternoon we further explore Hoian, a charming and wonderfully preserved merchant town which retains Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences from its unique and ancient history. We will explore its narrow lanes and historic architecture, calling at the colourful shop-houses for the unexpectedly good bargains of silk wares. A visit to the riverside display of the most typical crafts of Vietnam to conclude the day's touring. Overnight in Hoian (B)

Day 6 Hoian

Free at leisure to explore and relax at this beautiful tropical beach resort. (B)

Day 7 Hoian - Hue

Today we travel over the Hai Van Pass, north of Danang Bay and arrive in Hue City. We will then take a two-hour walking tour to Minh Mang's Tomb with a stop for lunch at a garden restaurant. Later we explore the ruins of The Citadel - the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue and now declared a world heritage site. Return to Hoian for overnight stay. (B, L)

Day 8 Hoian - Cham Islands Tropical beaches

Todays excursion is by boat leaving around 8:00am heading for Cu Lao Cham, a cluster of small but highly charming islands with magnificent beaches. We can then relax amongst the crystal waters, sugar-white sand and pristine beaches of the Cham Islands.

There is also a chance to do some fishing or try Snorkel to see the hundreds of coral species under the crystal water. We have lunch on the island then go to Lang Beach to see Au Thuyen, a shelter for boats in bad weather, Tay Tang pagoda and Whale temple. The excursion ends around 3:00 PM and we return ashore. (B, L)

Day 9 Hoian Tropical beach resort

Free at Leisure to relax and explore this beautiful beach area (B)

Day 10 Hoian

Free at Leisure to relax and explore this beautiful beach resort (B)

Day 11 Hoian - Danang - Hanoi

This morning we board a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital and cultural centre. We then start to reveal the charms of Hanoi by rickshaw, touring the ancient Temple of Literature and lively Old Quarter. The rickshaw tour ends at Hanoi's famed Water Puppet theatre. Overnight in Hanoi.(B)

Day 12 Hanoi - Halong bay

Today we journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay. We shall spend the afternoon cruising the bay's 3,000 magnificent limestone islets. We will spend overnight on board the deluxe junk in Halong Bay and if the weather is favourable we can enjoy a swim in the opal water. (B, L, D).

Day 13 Halong Bay - Hanoi

We continue exploring Halong Bay before our transfer back to Hanoi with a stop at the 500 year old Bat Trang Pottery Village along the way to the airport. Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Hanoi - departure

Departure from Hanoi. Free until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)

Small Group Departure Dates & Price

Ref	Weekly Departure Dates	Twin share (£)	Single supplement (£)
EVB	Oct 09 - August 2010	1220	415
EVB	Sept - December 2010	1265	460

Prices are based upon a small group tour excluding international flights from UK. As an agent for airline consolidators, we can obtain your international flights at a competitive rate to suit your preferred departure date. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Hotel upgrade to 5-Star is available and private tailor-made tours can also be arranged.

Price Includes (The prices shown are 'per person')

• All flights within Vietnam including airport tax.
• All airport/hotel transfers where specified (private transfer).
• Selections of superior/deluxe (generally 4 star)
• Sightseeing tours including entrance fee by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Air conditioned transportation and bottle water on coach.

Price Does Not Include

• International flights.
• Visa fee (please go to Visa Service for details).
• Travel Insurance.
• Tip for driver and Guide.

Flights: International return flight are not included in the package, however as an agent for many airline consolidators, we can help you to obtain flights at competitive rate and in various class, such as BA, Singapore Airline, Vietnam Airline, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. Please ask for more details at the time of your booking.

Accommodation for this tour: Carefully selected 4 star hotels. For details of our hotel collection, please visit 'Accommodation' page .

Meals: As stated in itinerary, B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D= Dinner

Other operation fact:

Arrival airport Saigon, departure airport Hanoi.

Magical Indochina is a specialist operator who arrange small group tours (maximum group size 15) made up of friends, families, and like-minded people of different ages and background. We aim to create a special holiday for you to integrate important values of local culture, nature and people. Also unlike many companies we do not cancel tours and Guaranteed Departure based upon minimum 2 people.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of the flight available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.