· Return airfares from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane into Hanoi and out of Saigon with Thai International, plus flights from Hanoi to Hue and Danang to Nha Trang with Vietnam Airlines.

· Good three to four star accommodation throughout.

· Most meals.

· A 15-day coach and air tour of Vietnam from north to south, visiting all the most interesting places in this fascinating and beautiful country.

· Entrance fees to many attractions.

· All transport and transfers within Vietnam.

· The services of an Australian tour leader and a Vietnamese tour guide.

We will make every effort to match up single travellers who wish to travel at twin share rates. For anyone requiring a single room, there will be an extra charge of $525.

Itinerary for Around Vietnam Tour – July 2005
Note: Breakfast is included every day plus other meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Breakfast (B) Lunch (L) Dinner (D)


01.07.05
Depart Sydney at 9.20pm and depart Melbourne at 12.15am (22.06.05) on TG994, arriving in Bangkok at 6.35am the next morning.

Depart Brisbane at 10.40pm on TG984, arriving in Bangkok at 5.00am the next morning (22.06.05).


02.07.05 (D) BANGKOK – HANOI
Depart Bangkok at 7.50am on TG682, arriving into Hanoi at 9.35am.

You will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in you will have a Cyclo tour around the French Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and the 36 old streets of Hanoi. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the GALAXY HOTEL

03.07.05 (B,L,D) HANOI
Today you visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, residence, Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. Continue on to the Temple of Literature built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university. Lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon free.

In the evening see the water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the GALAXY HOTEL


04.07.05 (B,D) HANOI – HALONG
This morning visit the Fine Art Museum and Army Museum

This afternoon drive to Halong Bay,

Dinner tonight at a local restaurant

Overnight at the SAIGON HALONG HOTEL


05.07.05 (B) HALONG - HANOI
Today enjoy a five hour cruise in beautiful Halong Bay, listed as a world heritage area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea” as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has around 2000 limestone islets rising from the emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. You will have a seafood lunch on board

Returning to Hanoi late afternoon.

Overnight at the GALAXY HOTEL


06.07.05 (B,D) HANOI – HUE
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue, the royal city of Vietnam’s last ruling dynasty.

On arrival transfer to the hotel for check-in.

An afternoon visit to the Imperial Citadel, then have a boat trip on the Perfume River, and visit the Thien Mu Pagoda.

Dinner at a local restaurant. (Binh Restaurant)

Overnight at the SAIGON MORIN HOTEL


07.07.05 (B,L,D) HUE – HOI
Morning drive to visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs before departing Hue for Danang, Lunch at the Lang Co Resort

Continue towards Hoi An including a drive through Danang, a famous R&R city for the Americans in Vietnam War.

Dinner at a local restaurant with a cooking demonstration

Overnight at the HOI AN HOTEL


08.07.05 (B) HOI AN
In the morning there will be a guided walking tour of historic Hoi An town.

Hoi An once used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Its sizeable community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. The rest of the day at your leisure.

Hoi An is known as the tailor capital of Vietnam, with hundreds of tailors, art, and souvenir shops near the hotel and in town.

Overnight at the HOI AN HOTEL


09.07.05 (B,) HOI AN – NHA TRANG
Driving back to Danang with a visit to Marble Mountain, China Beach and the Cham Museum before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Nha Trang.

On arrival in Nha Trang you will be transferred to your hotel.

Overnight at YASAKA SAIGON HOTEL


10.07.05 (B,L) NHA TRANG
Today there will be a boat trip to visit an offshore fishing village and aquarium, and to enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the South China Sea.

We visit the summer villa of Bao Dai (the last emperor) for lunch.

You will have free time for more swimming and to wander around the town.

Overnight at the YASAKA SAIGON HOTEL


11.07.05 (B,L,D) NHA TRANG – DALAT
Depart Nha Trang for Dalat, a cool mountain resort. Its lakes, waterfall, evergreen forest and gardens make Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in Vietnam. On the way visit Poklong Garai Cham Tower.

Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way.

Dinner tonight at a nice local restaurant

Overnight at the GOLF 3 HOTEL


12.07.05 (B,) DALAT
Morning visit to the Crazy House, Bao Dai’s summer house, and flower garden. In the afternoon enjoy a steam train ride to Trai Mat then visit Long Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and ceramic fragments pagoda in town. Stopover at the city flower garden on the way back to the hotel.

Overnight at the GOLF 3 HOTEL


13.07.05 (B,L) DALAT – HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
Depart Dalat for Ho Chi Minh City with a stopover at the cable car station with a beautiful view of the city and a ride overlooking fine forest, vegetable, and flower farms. Continue with a beautiful drive through coffee, tea and rubber plantations

Lunch in Bao Loc.

Overnight at the REX or GRAND HOTEL


14.07.05 (B,L) HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
A short walking tour passing the Opera House, City Hall, Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, and then a visit to the former Presidential Palace and the War Museum. Lunch will be “Pho” (Vietnamese noodles). In the afternoon drive to Cu Chi and visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

Overnight at the REX or GRAND HOTEL


15.07.05 (B,L,D) HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
A coach trip to My Tho (a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City) and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda. My Tho is a prosperous town in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a boat trip on the Mekong River stopping to visit an orchard on one of the small islands. You will also visit a coconut workshop and bee-keeping farm, stopping for lunch en route.

Then a drive back to Ho Chi Minh City which will take you through Chinatown.

Free time for a bit of shopping

Tonight there is a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the REX or GRAND HOTEL


16.07.05 (B) HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
All passengers transfer to Saigon Airport, departing on TG681 at 12.10pm, arriving in Bangkok at 1.35pm

Sydney passengers depart Bangkok at 6.15pm on TG991, arriving in Sydney at 6.15am the next morning (17.7.05).

Brisbane and Melbourne passengers will be transferred to the Manhattan Hotel for one night.

17.07.05 (B)
Brisbane and Melbourne passengers have a late check-out (6.00pm) on the then transfer to the airport.

Brisbane passengers depart on TG 983 at 11.35pm and arriving into Brisbane at 11.35am (18.7.05).


18.07.05
Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12.15am on TG981, arriving into Melbourne at 12.05pm

NOTE: For Sydney passengers who wish to have a stopover in Bangkok at the end of the tour, the rate at our hotel in central Bangkok is $35.00 per night twin share and $60.00 per night for a single room.