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Tailor Made Holidays with our travel experts
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Highlight of the trip:
• 4 to 5-star hotels throughout the trip
• Journey on the Victoria Express train to Lao Cai in the mountains of the north-west
• Cruise Halong Bay on the luxury Halong Ginger vessel
Private tour itinerary:
Day 01: Hanoi Arrival
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to the Hilton Opera Hanoi for 2 nights. (N)
Day 02: Hanoi City Tour
Morning tour of Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum* and residence, One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Lunch is at KOTO restaurant, an organisation that provides vocational training for underprivileged youths in Vietnam. Afternoon tour of the Museum of Ethnology, then enjoy a cyclo ride back through the Old Quarter to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son temple. (B, L)
Day 03: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Drive to the world heritage site of Halong Bay and board the Halong Ginger or similar† for an overnight cruise through limestone mountain islands and emerald blue sea. (B, L, D)
Day 04: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Lao Cai
Rise early to see the sunrise on the bay. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi railway station for the Victoria Express train to Lao Cai. Stay overnight aboard the train in a de luxe cabin. (B, L)
Day 05: To Sapa
Morning arrival in Lao Cai. Visit a colourful minorities market and take a cruise on the Tay river. Take a short trek to Trung Do village. After a picnic lunch, transfer through the mountains to the French colonial town of Sapa for a 2-night stay at the Victoria Sapa. (B, L)
Day 06: Sapa - Hilltribe villages
Full-day exploration of the Muong Hoa valley, including a walking tour to rice terraces and a Tavan village. (B, L)
Day 07: Train to Hanoi
Afternoon visit to Silver waterfall and Heaven’s Gate, then transfer to the railway station in Lao Cai to take the evening train to Hanoi. Stay overnight aboard the Victoria Express. (B)
Day 08: Train to Hué
Early morning arrival in Hanoi. Breakfast at the Mercure La Gare Hotel, then transfer to the airport for the flight to Hué, the 19th-century Nguyen empire capital. Stay 2 nights at La Residence Hué. (B)
Day 09: Hué
In the morning, take a short cyclo ride to the Imperial Citadel and visit the Purple Forbidden City, continue to Thien Mu Pagoda and have a chance to interact with the monks to learn about their lives. Enjoy lunch in a restored royal home from the Nguyen dynasty. Afternoon at leisure. (B, L)
Day 10: Hue - Hoi An
Morning visit to the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then drive over the spectacular and scenic Hai Van pass to Hoi An, with lunch and a stop at the Cham Museum en route. Stay 2 nights at the Victoria Hotel. (B, L)
Day 11: Hoi An
Morning city tour, including the old merchant’s houses with Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese influenced architecture, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 12: Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City
In the morning, drive to Danang and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Stay 2 nights at the Caravelle Saigon. Afternoon city tour, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, gothic post office, Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Dinner at the Caravelle’s restaurant. (B, D)
Day 13 & 14: Ho Chi Minh City
Morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside and visit the Cu Chi tunnels. Afternoon at leisure. (B, L)
Day 15: Saigon - Departure
Transfer to the airport for the evening flight to London, via Bangkok. (B)
Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.
* Ho Chi Minh mausoleum: Every year between October and December, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum is closed for re-embalming of the body and can only be visited from outside.
† Cruising in Halong: It is also possible to take 2-night cruises aboard the luxurious Au Co, which offers an itinerary that explores Halong Bay further, out to Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays. Please ask for more details and prices.
† Minorities markets in Sapa: There are various minorities markets that take place on different days of the week. The busiest and most colourful take place on the weekends, including Can Can (Saturdays) and Bac Ha (Sundays).