Magical Vietnam

15 days - A holiday that includes visiting a wealth of scenic beach areas & cultural sights across Vietnam...

• Hanoi (2 nights)
• Halong Bay - overnight on luxury junk
• Hue (2 nights)
• Hoian - My Son (2 nights)
• Nha Trang beach resort (4 nights)
• Saigon & Cu Chi tunnel system (3 nights)
• My Tho - Mekong Delta
• Guaranteed departure minimum 2 people

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1 Hanoi (D)

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam Arrive Hanoi, meet your guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. This evening meet your guide for tour briefing at your hotel before we enjoy our dinner at one of the city's finest restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2 Hanoi (B)

This morning we tour Hanoi's charming French colonial boulevards, visit the ancient Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, and his family home and museum to learn more about his amazing life. In the afternoon we explore some of Hanoi museums and take a tour around Hanoi by cyclo, driving through the lively Old Quarter, which is a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers trade their wares the way they have done for centuries. We visit a historic house in Ma May street that's typical of dwellings in the Old Town and then walk through Hang Be market to the famed water puppet theater for an evening show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi-Halong Bay overnight Cruise (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 4: Halong - Hanoi - Hue (Brunch)

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!

After brunch on board disembark and return to Hanoi and board an evening flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue (B, D)

This morning we take a boat ride on the serene Perfume River to see the best known pagoda in Middle Vietnam, Thien Mu. Our tour also includes visiting the impressive Tomb of former Emperor Tu Duc and the beautiful Royal gardens. In the afternoon we see the ruins of the former Royal residence, Forbidden City, and Dong Ba Market.

To complete the day we enjoy a 'Royal style' Dinner in the evening. Overnight in Hue. Overnight in Hue.

Day 6 Hue - Danang - Hoian (B, L)

After breakfast we leave Hue for Hoian. En route we'll pass the Ocean Clouds Pass and China Beach area before visiting the fascinating Cham Museum. We stop for lunch in Danang City, which is 40 km from Hoian then visit the Marble Mountains and marble carving village at its foot. Finally we arrive at the quaint merchant coastal town of Hoian. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 7 Hoian-My Son (B)

We pay a morning visit to the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoian, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. On the way back to Hoian we stop to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel, the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries. Some of the finest sculpture in Da Nang's Cham Museum originated from here.

Alternative morning activity is to join the reputed chefs at Red Bridge Restaurant in a quest for the freshest ingredients in Hoian central market. We then take a boat ride to the restaurant for a wonderful cooking class and opportunity to enjoy eating your prepared meals. Request at time of booking

In the afternoon, we visit the quaint town of Hoian. Once an international seaport, as major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries, Hoian's architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. We will explore its narrow lanes and historic architecture, calling at the colourful shop-houses for the unexpectedly good bargains of silk wares. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 8 Hoian - Nha Trang - tropical beach (B)

Today we leaving Hoian for Danang, where we take a short flight to the picturesque coastal town of Nha Trang. Nha Trang is the ideal for beach lovers with its long sandy palm-fringed tropical beach, turquoise waters and scenic island. Enjoy the rest of the day lazing on the beach. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 9 Nha Trang (B, L)

Spend a morning cruising amongst tropical islands, enjoying swimming, snorkeling and seafood. Afternoon visit Po Naga Towers, the remnants of Cham Kingdom, Long Son Pagoda, the lively Dam Market and the vibrant beach front streets. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 10 Nha Trang (B)

Free at leisure in Nha Trang to relax on the beach.

Day 11 Nha Trang (B)

Free at leisure in Nha Trang to relax on the beach.

Day 12 Nha Trang - Saigon (B)

Today we fly to Saigon late morning. In the afternoon we will have a tour of the city's architectural highlights such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, French Post Office, Reunification Palace and colonial Dong Khoi boulevard etc… Overnight in Saigon.

Day 13 Saigon - Cu Chi tunnels (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.

After we have a tasty lunch of "Pho" noodle soup in a local restaurant before returning to our hotel in Saigon.

Day 14 Saigon - My Tho - 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 in a local boat on the crisscrossing water ways to see the orchards on Phoenix Island, where local handicrafts and sweets made from coconut are produced.

Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and traditional live music and song performances whilst relaxing under the restaurant's garden canopy. Take a horse and carriage ride to a bee farm to taste some homemade honey-tea. Later we proceed by boat through the small canals and side arms of the river to observe the daily life of the inhabitants along its banks. Finally we visit a fascinating Snake farm before returning to Saigon.

Day 15 Saigon - UK (B)

Departure from Saigon Free until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Small Group Departure Dates & Price

Ref	Departures	Departure Dates	Twin share (£)	Single supplement (£)
MV	Oct 2010 - 31st March 2011	Weekly	1480	530
MV	April 1st -August 31st 2011	Weekly	1399	490
MV	Sept 2011 -31st March 2012	Weekly	1480	530

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

Price Does Not Include

• International flights.
• Visa letter of ariival fee (please contact us 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 Hanoi, departure airport Saigon.

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.