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 & (3 nights)
• Cu Chi tunnel system
• Mekong Delta - Binh Hoa Phuoc Island
• Hoian -beach resort (6 nights)
• Hue (1 night)
• Halong bay - Luxury junk (1 night)
• Hanoi (2 nights)
• Guaranteed departure minimum 2 people

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1: Welcome to Saigon, Vietnam. (D)

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

Day 2 Saigon - Cu Chi tunnels - Tay Ninh (B, L)

Our tour today includes visiting the legendary network of underground combat tunnels in Cu Chi, where our guide will explain how the Vietcong survived and fought during the Vietnam war.

Later we travel to the opulent Holy See Temple in Tay Ninh to see the noon service of Cao dai Sect adherents. Cao dai is a fascinating Vietnamese religion combining aspects of Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Taoism and Confucius into a single religion. We have a tasty lunch of "Pho" noodle soup in a local restaurant 'Pho 24' upon our return to Saigon and later stroll around Saigon's historic boulevards, visiting the Saigon colonial Post Office, Reunification Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral - the best of Saigon's architectural landmarks. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 3: Saigon - Mekong Delta (B, L)

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 to a farm to taste some homemade honey-tea and proceed by Sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to observe the daily life along the river banks. Visit a snake farm before returning to Saigon.

Day 4: Saigon -Danang - Hoian (B, L)

Today we fly 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 on the Marble Mountains a former base for communist guerrillas during the war.

We then proceed to the quaint coastal seaside town of Hoian. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 5: Hoian (B, L)

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

Day 6: Hoian (B)

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

Day 7: Hoian - Cham Islands Tropical beaches (B, L)

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.

Day 8: Hoian Tropical beach resort (B)

Free at Leisure to relax and explore this beautiful beach area.

Day 9: Hoian Tropical beach resort (B)

Free at Leisure to relax and explore this beautiful beach area.

Day 10: Hoian - Hue (B, L)

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 boat along the Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda, the best known religious site in Central Vietnam. Next, we explore the ruins of The Citadel - the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty in Hue and now declared a world heritage site. Overnight in Hue.

Day 11: Hue - Hanoi (B, L)

This morning we board the flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital and cultural centre. Enjoy tasty lunch of "Pho" noodle soup in restaurant "Pho 24". We then start to reveal the charms of Hanoi by rickshaw, touring the ancient Temple of Literature, the fascinating museum of Ethnology, which includes full size replicas of amazing ethnic minority tribal buildings found across Vietnam. We then travel to the lively Colonial Old Quarter. The rickshaw tour ends at Hanoi's famed Water Puppet theatre for an evening show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12: Hanoi-Halong (B, L, D)

After breakfast we journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay. We board our beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Kayaks are also available if specified at time of booking. Overnight on luxurious boat.

Day 13: Halong - Hanoi (B, L, D)

Wake up to fresh coffee and take a small boat to a nearby sandy cove beach for an opportunity to relax and have a morning swim. For a great photo opportunity it is well worth walking up to the hill top pagoda which overlooks the entire Halong bay. Afterwards we return for a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to mystical dragons!

Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi with a stop at the 500 year old Bat Trang Pottery Village along the way. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi - Departure home. (B)

Free until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Small Group Departure Dates & Price

Ref	Weekly Departures - 4 Star hotels	Departure Dates	Twin share (£)
EVB	Sept 2011 -31st March 2012	Weekly	1320
EVB	May 1st - 30th Sept 2012	Weekly	1325
EVB	Oct 2012 -30th April 2013	Weekly	1380

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 hotels (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 letter of ariival fee (please contact us for details).
• Visa stamping fees at Airports
• Travel Insurance.
• Tip for driver and Guide.

Flights: We can obtain international flights in various seat class's with many reputable airlines. We can also provide flights from many UK regional airports. Depending upon availability and route we will try to arrange direct flights when possible, however allocation can be limited. If you wish to be booked on a particular airline, please specify at the time of booking (supplement may apply). Alternatively, for the cheapest deal we recommend you book your international flights at time of booking, as this can save you £££s off your final holiday price.

Accommodation: We take a great deal of time and effort to source our hotel selection in each city for our travellers enjoyment. We can arrange hotels in all standards depending upon your requirements, however the standard hotels are superior 4 star. We also monitor our established hotel selection continually based upon each of our customers feedback received over the years. Please visit our Hotel page for full accommodation details.

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

Other operation fact: Our tour is arranged on a small group basis average 8 people per group, as we feel this gives our travellers more flexibility and enjoyment. By reducing the group size our experienced local guides are able to get to know you all individually and show you the true beauty of Indochina. 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.