THE TOUR PRICE IS LAND ONLY
This tour begins in Hanoi, the cultural and political heart of Vietnam. This is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and it’s full of friendly people. We travel through the farms of the Red River Delta, sail the spectacular Halong Bay and explore central and southern Vietnam and its beautiful coastal and mountain scenery. We also tour farms and villages of the Mekong Delta, visit the amazing Cu Chi tunnels and some relaxing time in Saigon rounds out a wonderful journey through this intriguing country.
You have the option of linking this Vietnam tour with Japan (before) and/or Cambodia (after Vietnam).
Cambodia 27 Apr - 2 May 2024Depart various Australian or Japanese airports for Hanoi.
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi), you will be welcomed and transferred to our magnificent hotel in downtown Hanoi.
*If you are adding this tour onto the Japan trip, your flight will leave today from Hokkaido in Japan and arrive into Hanoi at 10pm, so it will be a late check-in.
There are no formal arrangements this evening.
Due to the late arrival the previous evening, it will be a leisurely start with a short city tour of Hanoi, the cultural and political heart of Vietnam. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples.
The food is divine, the people are friendly and the shopping is as good as it gets.
We’ll visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and get back to the very heart of Hanoi for a walk around the Lake of the Restored Sword then explore, by rickshaw, the famous Old Quarter of 36 guild streets.
We will also visit the famous Water Puppet theatre this afternoon.

Dinner tonight at one of Hanoi's best restaurants.
We board our deluxe coach this morning to travel through the rice fields of the Red River Delta with a visit to one of Vietnam's main agricultural research centres.
We then continue eastwards to beautiful Halong Bay, an area of romantic, rugged islands, caves and beaches. We cruise the bay and stay on board our luxury Vietnamese junk for overnight.
For the more energetic among us, there will be opportunities for sea kayaking, exploring the limestone Sung Sot caves or visiting fishing villages. Or, you can stay on board and relax taking in the stunning view.
We wake-up to a glorious day (hopefully), breakfast and morning coffee. We then explore Titov Island for an hour or so, which allows time (if interested) to climb to the peak for a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Bay. There is also an expansive viewing deck half way up to the peak.
There's time to relax on the beach and a swim.
We then enjoy a seafood lunch on-board before transferring back to Hanoi and our 1hr 30m flight to Da Nang.
Da Nang was the site where the first US Marines landed in the Vietnam War (known here as the American War). It became a major US military base during the war, and is now a major tourism centre.
On landing, we board our private charter coach and travel around 30 km south – calling into Marble Mountain and China Beach along the way – before arriving at our Hoi An hotel.
Flight: VN 181 HAN-DAD 1610-1740
Hoi An is famous for its tailors and although our time is short, they can produce some great shirts and suits in (not surprisingly) the time you do have available. We'll tour the Old Town which was a major Asian trading port with influences from Europe, Japan and China going back hundreds of years.
We will visit a typical farming village in the area before returning to Hoi An, and a wonderful dinner back in the Old Town.
Unfortunately, there are no longer any direct flights to Dalat, so we will have to go via Saigon. So we will have time to explore Hoi An in the morning and maybe pick up your new clothes before we head back to Danang to fly to Saigon. Lunch at the airport before connecting to the short flight to Da Lat. This is a beautiful hill city and one of the stunning jewels of Vietnam.
On arrival at this amazing location, we transfer to our 'palace' for the evening.
Flights:
VN123 DAD-SGN 1240-1425
VN1386 SGN-DLI 1620-1720
Today we will visit a large irrigation development and some fruit, vegetable and flower farms closer to Da Lat, where they take advantage of the cooler climate and fertile red soils to produce crops which can't be found elsewhere in the country.
It's then a free afternoon and evening to take in the refreshing mountain air and magnificent scenery at your leisure. Or you might like a round of golf at our hotel's very own golf course – one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world.
This morning we transfer back to Da Lat airport for our short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On arrival, we transfer to the nearby town of Cu Chi and visit a rubber plantation and factory before lunch at a local riverside restaurant.
In the afternoon we visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels – one of the most extensive tunnel systems during the war which allowed the Viet Cong to operate almost under the noses of the Americans, and very close to Saigon. Later we travel back to Saigon and check in to our hotel.
Flight: VN1381 DLI-SGN 0840-0945
Plenty of time today to explore the city. We will take a tour which will include the Central Post Office, the former Presidential Palace, the Saigon waterfront and the excitement of the Cho Lon District (Saigon’s China-town). We’ll also have ample opportunity to experience the Binh Tay Central Market. A visit to the War Remnants Museum is also interesting.
Free evening.
Today we will take a full day tour to the Mekong Delta. We transfer by road to Bến Tre. Upon arrival take a 'Xe Loi' (motorised rickshaw) ride through the local village of Huu Dinh to enjoy the green fields and gardens.
We then continue with a short walk to Huu Phuoc Bridge, where we commence our boat trip through the small canals and beautiful tropical scenery.
We will visit river villages, local workshops producing Mekong products and rich fruit farms.
No trip to the Mekong is complete without a bicycle ride to My Long to visit Mr Sau Tuong, a former Viet Cong soldier. After a chat with Mr Tuong we enjoy the crispy rice paper delicacies made by his wife, and learn how it's made.
We return to Ben Tre Pier and continue on to Can Tho for overnight.
This morning we take a boat ride to the extraordinary river market of Cai Rang.
Famous as one of the largest on the complex of waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta, this market provides exotic fruits and vegetables for both the domestic and international markets.
There is time to do your own exploration of Cai Rang before an exhilarating fast speed boat ride back to Ho Chi Min City and The Majestic Hotel.
Dinner is included tonight.
THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUING TO CAMBODIA WILL TRANSFER TO CHAU DOC ON THE MEKONG RIVER FOR DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT THE VICTORIA HOTEL
SEE THE SEPARATE CAMBODIA ITINERARY FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City airport for your flight home. Late check-outs will be requested where necessary.