Journey through Vietnam
PRIVATE TOUR see page 7
13nt privately escorted tour from £ 3199pp
One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi
Indochina- Vietnam tour
Ho Chi Minh City Hoi An
Journey through Vietnam
13nt privately escorted tour by air-conditioned car
get a real insight into local life • lots of sightseeing & experiences • tour with a private guide
Hanoi
Mai Chau Ninh Binh
Halong Bay
DAY 1 Fly to Hanoi
DAY 2 Hanoi On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
DAY 3 Hanoi
Begin with a walk along Hanoi’ s back roads to glimpse local life, followed by a short train trip over the Red river. This afternoon, visit Ho Chi Minh’ s former residence, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the Lake of Restored Sword. Later, enjoy a fun one-hour cyclo tour of the Old Quarter with a stop at an ancient Vietnamese“ long house.” This evening, watch a water puppet show.
DAY 4 Hanoi / Mai Chau
Morning departure for Mai Chau( approx 3½ hours drive), home to tribal villages of ethnic minority groups. After arriving this afternoon, step out for a walk around.
DAY 5 Mai Chau / Ninh Binh
Drive to the Cham Mountain stream for a short walk, then continue to Pu Luong for lunch. Later walk along the rice terrace to Bang Village( approx 2-3 hours) then drive on to Ninh Binh( approx 3 hours drive).
DAY 6 Ninh Binh
Enjoy a scenic bicycle ride around paddy fields, pagodas and markets, then spend time with locals in one of the villages. You’ ll prepare lunch with them and work alongside farmers in the field before a cruise on the Van Long Reservoir to take in the mesmerising cliff views.
DAY 7 Ninh Binh / Halong Bay
Depart by road for Halong Bay( approx 3 hours drive) to board your boat for a cruise around this stunning bay.
DAY 8 Halong Bay / Hoi An
After a morning cruising the bay, disembark and drive to Hanoi airport for an evening flight to Danang and onward drive to Hoi An.
DAY 9 Hoi An
Morning coach trip to a fishing village near the mouth of Thu Bon River to learn about the daily lives of fishermen and their families. Later, board the Hoi An Eco-Tour boat and cruise on the Cua Dai River to see fishing activities and try catching one yourself. The fun really begins as you board a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat, grab a paddle and join in a race. Continue to explore
the Bay Mau tranquil waterways before you row back to the Hoi An Eco-Tour boat for lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
DAY 10 Hoi An
Morning cooking class at Red Bridge Restaurant before an afternoon walking tour of this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the vibrant riverside market.
DAY 11 Hoi An / Can Tho
Transfer by road to Danang airport and fly to Can Tho. The afternoon is yours to relax or step out to explore.
DAY 12 Can Tho / Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a morning boat cruise to the Cai Rang floating market which teems with small boats and vessels. Disembark at Can Tho, and drive to Cai Thia for a cruise to Cai Be. Here, you’ ll take a sampan ride and walk through the small village roads to witness daily local life. Disembark this afternoon and drive to Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 13 Ho Chi Minh City
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by Vietnamese guerrillas as hideouts during the Vietnam War. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a city tour which includes the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Post Office, Chinatown, the Ben Thanh Market and either the Thien Hau Temple or the Quan Am Pagoda.
DAY 14 Ho Chi Minh City
At leisure to explore under your own steam. If you wish, there is an option to take a tour of the Vietnam Barista School( at extra expense) which also visits the 70-year old Vot Cafe, where locals mingle and enjoy their coffee.
DAY 15 Ho Chi Minh City Return to the airport for your onward journey.
Alternatively, after day 10, consider time by the beach in Hoi An or Quy Nhon? See pages 144-145 & 149. Or, before flying home, add on a beach resort In Ho Tram( see page 146) or Mui Ne( see page 148).
LAOS
THAILAND
Mekong River
CAMBODIA
Can Tho
Hanoi 2nts | Mai Chau 1nt | Ninh Binh 2nts Halong Bay Cruise 1nt | Hoi An 3nts | Can Tho 1nt Ho Chi Minh City 3nts
What you need to know:
Daily departures
Hoi An
VIETNAM
Ho Chi Minh City
3H hotels. Alternatively, 4 or 5H hotels and cruises are available at a supplement.
Breakfast. Lunch is also included on days 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 & 14. Dinner is also included on day 5.
The price shown includes international flights, onward domestic flights where indicated, private transfers between your hotels, accommodation, all sightseeing as outlined, private services of an English speaking guide and entrance fees.
Note: Notre Dame cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City is undergoing renovation and maintenance until 2027.
visit your local travel agent or call 08444 937 444 • www. premierholidays. co. uk Indochina 139