Highlights |
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Escorted Package Includes
- Flights LAX - Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) ▲, Hanoi - LAX
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices.
- Airline fuel surcharges
- Flights Ho Chi Minh - Da Nang and Hue - Hanoi
- 10 nights First Class accommodations
- All transfers
- 12 meals: 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of an English-speaking tour manager
- Entrance fees per itinerary
Special Features:
- Imperial City, Hue
- Halong Bay Excursion
- Farewell Dinner
▲ Flights from the USA may arrive early on DAY 3. Included sightseeing commences in the afternoon on Day 3
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Itinerary |
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 DAY 1, Thursday - Depart USA
Depart the USA to Vietnam. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey
DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Ho Chi Minh
Arrive and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh
DAY 3, Saturday - Ho Chi Minh
Morning at leisure in Ho Chi Minh. This afternoon, a tour of Ho Chi Minh includes the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, the French-style Central Post Office, City Hall, the Opera House, the former Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum, which has a collection featuring weapons and photographs from two Indochina wars as well as the original French "Guillotine." From here, visit Ben Thanh Market. Continue to Dong Khoi Street, a main shopping street in the center of Ho Chi Minh and known as Rue Catinet during the French years
Optional: Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels (AM)
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Sunday - Hoi An
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Travel south from Da Nang to Hoi An. Arrive in Hoi An and enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the riverside town, which was formerly one of Southeast Asia's leading trading ports in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Visit the 17th-century Quan Cong Temple, the Phuoc Kien Pagoda, the Japanese Covered Bridge (constructed in 1593), the Sa Huynh Museum and the Phung Hung House
Overnight: Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Monday - Hoi An
Full day at leisure to explore Hoi An independently
Optional: Full Day Boat Trip on the Thu Bon River & Excursion to Da Nang with Lunch
Overnight: Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Tuesday - Hue
This morning, as you travel from Hoi An to Hue, journey over the Hai Van Pass, a mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views of the bowl-shaped Da Nang Bay, via Lang Co and Da Nang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of the Old Imperial City, located in the Citadel. Erected in the early 19th century, the Old Imperial City was modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing, and is home to a wealth of palaces and temples, as well as a library and a museum. Your tour includes visits to the Ngo Mon Gate, the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and the central passageway reserved for use by the Emperor, the Thai Hoa Palace with its spacious hall and ornamental roof, the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns, cast in 1835, and the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City
Overnight: Hue
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7, Wednesday - Hue
Full day at leisure to explore Hue independently
Optional: Full Day Boat Trip on the Perfume River with Minh Mang, Tu Duc & Khai Dinh with Lunch
Overnight: Hue
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Thursday - Halong Bay
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and travel east to Hai Phong. Arrive in Hai Phong, the industrial center of Northern Vietnam, and one of the country's most important seaports. Enjoy a visit to Dinh Hang Kenh, known for its 500 relief sculptures in wood before continuing on to Halong Bay. Arrive in Halong Bay and transfer to your hotel
Overnight: Halong Bay
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Friday - Halong Bay
Enjoy a full day boat excursion by traditional wooden Bai Tho Junk through Halong Bay. "Dragon descending to the sea," as the Bay is known in Vietnamese, features more than 1,000 limestone islets (small islands), many of which contain beautiful grottoes. Visit one of the caves at Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stakes Cave), Bo Nau or Thien Cung. The caves, which are said to have direct ties to the ancient war history of Vietnam, are known for the many colorful stalagmite and stalactite deposits adorning their inner and outer chambers. Enjoy lunch on board
Overnight: Halong Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 10, Saturday - Hanoi
This morning, travel from Halong Bay to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing. Your tour includes visits to Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and the Museum of Ethnology, which is the center for the preservation and exhibition of cultural heritage for the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. In the evening, enjoy a Water Puppet Show, accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese orchestra and Cheo (a form of opera), on Hoan Kiem Lake. The show depicts a series of ancient Vietnamese folktales which are acted out by puppets over a pool of water
Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11, Sunday - Hanoi
Full day at leisure to explore Hanoi independently. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Optional: Full Day Thay & Tay Phuong Pagoda with Lunch
Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12, Monday - Depart for USA
Transfer to the airport in Hanoi for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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Optionals |
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards.
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Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels
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Day #3 |
01 Jan 2008 - 30 Apr 2009 $24
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Discover more than 125 miles of underground tunnels built by the Vietcong, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, weapon factories, hospitals, shelters and other tunnels. The entire structure was dug out of the rock by hand tools without the use of cement.
Departs at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Full Day Boat Trip on the Thu Bon River & Excursion to Da Nang with Lunch
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Day #5 |
01 Jan 2008 - 30 Apr 2009 $51
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This morning, enjoy a boat trip along the Thu Bon River that takes you to the village of Kim Bong on Cam Kim Island. The village is home to traditional woodworking and boat-building families. Continue to the village of Thanh Ha, renowned for its simple brown pottery. After visiting Thanh Ha, drive to Da Nang, the third largest city in Vietnam and the economic hub of Central Vietnam. Visit some of the city's highlights, including the Cham Museum, founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient. This open-air collection of Cham sculpture is the finest in the world and includes some striking statues from this ancient civilization. Continue to the Marble Mountains, five marble hills rising abruptly from the surrounding countryside. Each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves which have served variously as Hindu and Buddhist shrines over the centuries (L).
Departs at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Full Day Boat Trip on the Perfume River with Minh Mang, Tu Duc & Khai Dinh with Lunch
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Day #7 |
01 Jan 2008 - 30 Apr 2009 $49
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Enjoy a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda and the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, the most impressive of Hue's pagodas and tombs. Continue to visit the royal Tu Duc Tomb, final resting place of Vietnam's longest reigning emperor, set among forested hills and lakes. Lastly, proceed to Khai Dinh, the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty (L).
Departs at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Full Day Thay & Tay Phuong Pagoda with Lunch
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Day #11 |
01 Jan 2008 - 30 Apr 2009 $43
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Enjoy a tour to two stunning pagodas. First, visit Thay Pagoda, the Master's Pagoda, located at the foot of Sai Son Mountain. Here you will also have the chance to see Thuy Dinh Stage, a water palace on Long Tri pond, where the ancient form of water puppetry is performed. From here, continue to Tay Phuong Pagoda, originally built in the 8th century. The pagoda features the Sino-Vietnamese character Tam (three) as its recurring motif. After ascending 239 stone steps, reach the gate bearing the name of the structure, translating as The Ancient Pagoda of the West. The pagoda is most well-known for its statues, which include beautiful wooden sculptures representing Buddhas (L).
Departs at 8:30 a.m and returns to Hanoi at approximately 2:00 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards.
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Rates & Hotels |
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What is Airfare Type?
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- Gate 1 Travel Airfare - These are Gate 1 Travel fares which allow you to book your trip while paying a minimal deposit at time of booking.
- Instant Purchase/Published Airfare - These are fares that airlines have published which require payment in full at time of purchase. In some cases, these fares may be displayed as Gate 1 Airfare with Instant Purchase Requirement.
To find the lowest available airfare, select [ANY] and you will get results for both kinds of airfare.
Each of these fare types has its own set of restrictions which cover changes, cancellations, fuel surcharges, etc.
Please refer to our terms and conditions for full details.
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Airfare Type
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We are unable to reserve airline seats for you until 11 months prior to your date of travel. Until then, we offer a choice of airfares from major US cities which you may select for your reservation. Your final flight details, airfare, airport taxes and fees will be advised 11 months prior to travel. Airfares are subject to change.
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Air reservations may be completed no more than 11 months prior to the date of travel. For travel more than 11 months prior, please call Gate 1 at (800) 682-3333.
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