TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Deon Van Der Merwe

Day 1 – 15 Oct: Ho Chi Minh (Arrival)

Please be ready around 2.5 to 3 hours at the airport before your departure time to check – in your flight. Take flight to Singapore (depart at 09:20 AM – SQ 256) then take connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh (depart at 17:15 PM – SQ 186).

Arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport at 18:25 PM, our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is your leisure time for walking around the city for shopping and relax.

• Overnight at Prague Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh.
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Day 2 – 16 Oct: Ho Chi Minh (City & Cu Chi Tunnels)

Breakfast will be served at your hotel.

At 07:30 – 07:45 AM, ‭Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served. 

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Have lunch at restaurant in HCM city. 

In the afternoon, visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known Landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral (Or Tan Dinh Church), the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars. 

Back to the hotel. End trip.

• Overnight at Prague Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh.
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Day 3 – 17 Oct: Ho Chi Minh city → Mekong Delta

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Mekong tour as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

Around 07:30- 07:45 AM Pick up guests at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho Port. Boat cruise on the Tien River to view the four islets: Long, Lan, Quy, Phung. The boat passes by floating fish farms along the Tien River, offering a view of Rach Mieu Bridge. 

Arrive at Thoi Son islet: Stroll through village paths, visit fruit orchards, enjoy seasonal fruits, and listen to traditional Southern Vietnamese music. 

Rowing boat through small canals: Enjoy the peaceful riverine scenery, visit a honey bee farm, and taste honey tea and banana wine. 

Continue down the Tien River to Tan Thach Canal (Ben Tre): Visit a coconut candy workshop, and explore traditional handicrafts. 

Motorboat excursion on Tan Thach canal: Discover the daily life of local people, have lunch at a local restaurant. The eco-restaurant features crocodile, porcupine farms, frog, and snake farming models, hammocks for relaxing, and bicycles for exploring fruit orchards, coconut groves, and rice fields. 

Horse-drawn carriage tour through village paths: Learn about the everyday life of local residents. 

Return to My Tho Port to continue to Can Tho.

• Overnight at KP Can Tho Hotel in Can Tho.
• B,L

Day 4 – 18 Oct: Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at the hotel.

Relaxing boat ride to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Hau River, followed by a visit to the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market. 

Visit a local noodle-making factory. Explore Munir Ansay Pagoda, a renowned Khmer pagoda with unique architecture. 

Then, proceed to Son Islet, visit fish farms, fruit orchards, and enjoy seasonal fruits. Lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City, ending the tour.

• Overnight at Prague Hotel Saigon in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 5 – 19 Oct: Ho Chi Minh → Hoi An

Breakfast at your hotel.

Your leisure time to explore the city until 11:30AM, our driver transfer you to airport for flight to Da Nang.(depart at 13:35PM – VJ650)

Upon Da Nang airport at 14:50PM, our driver picks up and transfers you to hotel in Hoi An for your stay.

• Overnight at Kim An Hoi An Hotel in Hoi An.
• B

Day 6 – 20 Oct: Hoi An (My Son Sanctuary)

Breakfast at hotel.

Around 07:30 – 08:00 AM, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, your free time to explore Hoi An ancient town.

• Overnight at Kim An Hoi An Hotel in Hoi An.
• B,L

Day 7 – 21 Oct: Hoi An (Leisure)

Enjoy breakfast at hotel.

Spend your leisure time for explore ancient town. You can also visit some famous places on your own and try local cuisine.

• Overnight at Kim An Hoi An Hotel in Hoi An.
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Day 8 – 22 Oct: Hoi An → Hue

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel.

It’s your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hoi An.

At 12:00 PM, we transfer you to Hue. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore Hue city.

• Overnight at Serene Palace Hotel Hue in Hue.
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Day 9 – 23 Oct: Hue (City tour) → Hanoi

Breakfast at your hotel.

Around 8:00 – 8:30 AM: Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in the Hue city center to begin your full-day Hue city tour. We aim to make your trip enjoyable, packed with fun and unique experiences.

First, you’ll take a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hue. The 30-minute boat ride in the fresh morning air will be a pleasant way to begin the journey.

Next, visit the Imperial Citadel, the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty. After that, our car will take you to Dong Ba Market, the largest market in Hue, where you can explore and shop while observing local life.

Enjoy a lunch of traditional Hue dishes. Take a rest before continuing the trip to visit the tombs.

In the afternoon, visit Khai Dinh King’s Tomb – which is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture. Tu Duc King’s Tomb – considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. Renowned for its architecture, which harmoniously blends into its natural surroundings.

On the way back, stop by the Conical Hat and Incense Stick villages to experience how these traditional items are made at local house.

At 4:00 – 5:00 PM: Return to your hotel.

At 19:00PM, our driver transfers you to airport for flight to Hanoi.(depart at 21:35PM – VN1548)

Once arrived in Noi Bai airport at 22:55PM, you’ll be taken to hotel for your stay. Enjoy your night in Hanoi Old Quarter.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 10 – 24 Oct: Hanoi → Halong bay

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Halong bay trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

At 07:50 – 08:00 AM, our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus.

• 12.00 – Meeting at TuanChau harbour. Check in Royal Palace Cruise and you are warmly welcomed by a professional and friendly crew.
• 13:00 – Check-in cabin and enjoy specially prepared lunch while cruising through most beautiful parts of the magical bay with thousands of amazing limestone islands emerging from emerald water. Sailing with Royal Palace Cruise in very tranquil route, exploring the exotic beauty of the legendary Bay, a feeling in paradise will come to you.
• 14:30 – Keep cruising to the most beautiful parts of Halong Bay. This is the best time to relax after lunch and enjoy your privacy, capturing stunning photos of the legendary bay.
• 15:30 – Small tender brings you to visit Titop island, hiking to the top of the island from where tourists can capture a panoramic view of Halong Bay.
• 16:30 – Kayaking & swimming 18:00 – Join the sunset party on the sundeck in a warm and romantic atmosphere, making friends with other members in the group, enjoy fresh local fruit, listening soft, light music, wearing traditional costumes for kings, queens, and mandarins.
• 19:00 – Enjoy the special dinner cooked by our professional chef.
• 20:30 – The moment you choose your own way to relax after dinner, listening to music, singing karaoke, relaxing on the sundeck, squid fishing available for entertainment during the night time.

• Stay overnight on Royal Palace Cruise in Halong.
• B,L,D

Day 11 – 25 Oct: Halong bay → Hanoi

• 06:15 Enjoy the sunrise on the Bay. Morning Tai Chi session on sundeck
• 06:30 Light breakfast. Coffee, tea, and pastries served in the restaurant
• 07:20 Sung Sot cave excursion: Explore Sung Sot Cave – the biggest and most stunning cave in Halong Bay
• 09:15 Check-out of cabins & bill settlement. Start cruising back to the port
• 09:30 Buffet brunch served at the restaurant
• 10:45 – 11:00 Back to the port. Farewell and disembark
• 11:15 – 11:30 Get on the bus back to Hanoi.
• 14:30-14:45 Drop off your hotel.

Rest of day is your leisure time in Hanoi.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 12 – 26 Oct: Hanoi (City tour) → Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) as you will be back to hotel to take the luggage before go to airport.

Around 08:00 – 08:30 AM, Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City.

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15th June -15th August) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.

Special Note: we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

14.00 – 14.15: Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century.

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”

After the tour, drop you off at hotel.

At 17:00 PM our driver transfers you to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh (depart at 19:50 PM – VJ 161). Arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport at 22:00 PM, you’ll be taken to hotel for your stay.

Rest of the day is leisure time

• Overnight at New Space Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 13 – 27 Oct: Ho Chi Minh → Phuket

Breakfast at your hotel.

At 08:15 AM our driver transfer you to airport for flight to Phuket (Depart at 11:15 AM – VJ 809).

Arrival at the airport in Phuket at 13:10 PM, our driver picks up and transfers you to hotel for check-in.

• Overnight at Best Western Patong Hotel in Phuket.
• B

Day 14 – 28 Oct: Phuket (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure and relaxation at beach in Phuket.

• Overnight at Best Western Patong Hotel in Phuket.
• B

Day 15 – 29 Oct: Phuket (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure and relaxation at beach in Phuket.

• Overnight at Best Western Patong Hotel in Phuket.
• B

Day 16 – 04 Nov: Phuket → Departure

At 16:00 PM – our driver transfers you to airport for flight to Singapore (depart at 22:20 PM – SQ 8571) then take connecting flight to Brisbane (depart at 00:55 AM – SQ 255).

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End of service!