· Return airfares from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane into Hanoi and out of Saigon with Thai International.

· A 19-day coach tour of Vietnam from north to south, visiting all the interesting places in this fascinating and beautiful country. It goes into several areas not often visited by tourists.

· Quality accommodation, mainly three-and-a-half to four star.

· Most meals.

· Entrance fees to many attractions.

· All transport and transfers.

· 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 $675.

You may wish to do a post-tour extension to Cambodia and Angkor Wat. Contact us for details.

Itinerary for Vietnam Overland Tour – May/June 2005
Note: Breakfast is included daily plus all other meals indicated in the itinerary
(B = Breakfast, L= Lunch, D=Dinner)

23.5.05
Depart Sydney at 9.20pm and Melbourne at 12.15am (17.5.05) on TG994, arriving in Bangkok at 6.35am.
Depart Brisbane at 10.40pm on TG984, arriving in Bangkok at 5.00am (17.5.05).

24.5.05 (B-D) Bangkok - Hanoi

Depart Bangkok at 8.25am on TG682, arriving in Hanoi International Airport at 10.15am. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. A welcome drink (included) for tour briefing before a cyclo drive around the French Quarter and the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Dinner tonight is included.

Overnight at the Galaxy Hotel

25.5.05 (B-L-D) Hanoi – Halong Bay
Free morning for shopping and wandering around Hanoi. Afternoon drive to Halong Bay,

Dinner tonight is included at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the Saigon Halong Hotel.


20.08.04 (B-L) Halong Bay - Hanoi
A relaxed day on a boat cruise on Halong Bay.

Halong Bay is listed as a world heritage area of outstanding beauty. “Dragon descending on the sea”, as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has around 2,000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Visit to a beautiful cave and an opportunity for a swim. Seafood lunch on board (included). Travel back to Hanoi, stopping at a pottery village on the way. Overnight at the Galaxy Hotel.


27.5.05 (B-L-D) Hanoi
This morning we visit the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century and known as Vietnam’s first university, and the Fine Art Museum. Lunch at Koto In the afternoon. We also visit the Hanoi Hilton, where the American pilots were imprisoned, and take a short walking tour around the old quarter of Hanoi.

Water puppet show in the evening. Dinner at a nice local restaurant (included).

Overnight at the Galaxy Hotel.


28.5.05 (B) Hanoi
Day at leisure in Hanoi.

Overnight at the Galaxy Hotel.


29.5.05 (B-L-D) Hanoi - Vinh
Morning departure to Vinh, a city in the north damaged by the American bombing, which was rebuilt by East Germany. Vinh is the homeland of Ho Chi Minh.

En route stop at Tam Coc – Bich Dong, known as Dry Halong Bay. Enjoy a one hour boat ride in a sampan on a small stream winding between rice fields and limestone cliffs rising almost vertically out of the paddy fields. A spectacular sight!

Lunch and dinner today are included.

Overnight is at the Phuong Dong Hotel.


30.5.05 (B-L-D) Vinh - Hue
Depart Vinh for Hue, the homeland of the Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam, which ruled the country from 1802 to 1945. A short drive to visit Ho Chi Minh’s birthplace and the village where he grew up.

On the way a stop-over at Ben Hai River, known as DMZ, and Vinh Moc tunnels, which were built in the war for hiding and storing ammunition to supply Con Co Island.

Lunch today is included. Arrive in Hue and check into the hotel.

Dinner in a local restaurant (included).

Overnight at the Saigon Morin Hotel.


31.5.05 (B) Hue
Morning tour visit to the Citadel, which was built from 1804-1833, and then to Thien Mu Pagoda, followed by a boat trip to the hotel on the Perfume River.

Mid-afternoon tour visit to the Tomb of Tu Duc, the 4th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty which ruled the country from 1848–1883 and the tomb of Khai Dinh, the 12th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty which ruled the country from 1916 to 1925 - a beautiful mosaic building.

Overnight at the Saigon Morin Hotel.


01.6.05 (B-L-D) Hue to Hoi An
Depart Hue for the ancient town of Hoi An, the major trading port of Vietnam from the 16th to late 18th century. Cross the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds), passing through many pretty red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea. Stop over at the five marble mountains and China Beach where the Americans came for R&R during the Vietnam war.

Tonight we have a cooking class in a nice local restaurant (included).

Overnight at the Hoi An Hotel


02.6.05 (B) Hoi An
Morning walking tour to discover the historic town of Hoi An. Its community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and French influences.

The rest of the day at leisure. A good place for shopping especially tailoring, a very laid-back town, only 4kms to the beach, a good place to relax.

Overnight at the Hoi An Hotel.


03.6.05 (B-L-D) Hoi An – Qui Nhon
This morning we head off to Quang Ngai, then a short drive to the My Lai memorial where 504 villagers were killed by the American soldiers in 1968, six weeks after the Tet offensive. Overnight at the Cosevco Hotel.


04.6.05 (B-L) Qui Nhon – Nha Trang
A beautiful drive through prawn and crab farms, sugar cane and rice paddies. Lunch today is included. Arrive early afternoon

Overnight at the Saigon Yasaka Hotel.


05.6.05 (B-L) Nha Trang
In the morning, enjoy a boat trip to visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium and Mieu Island for swimming and snorkelling. Lunch will be at Bao Dai’s summer palace (included). Afternoon at leisure for your own exploration of Nha Trang.

Overnight at the Saigon Yasaka Hotel.


06.6.05 (B-L-D) Nha Trang - Dalat
Depart Nha Trang for Dalat, the cool mountain holiday resort established by the French. Its lakes, waterfalls, forest and gardens make Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in Vietnam. On the way visit the Po Kong Garai Cham Towers, with a stop for a picnic lunch (included).

Dinner at an excellent restaurant in town (included).

Overnight at the Golf 3 Hotel,


07.6.05 (B) Dalat
Morning Dalat city orientation with visits to the Crazy House, Bao Dai’s summer palace, the valley of love and flower garden. In the afternoon enjoy a train ride through vegetable gardens to Trai Mat then visit Long Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and ceramic fragments pagoda in town.

Overnight at the Golf 3 Hotel.


08.6.05 (B-L) Dalat – Saigon
Depart Dalat for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a beautiful drive through rubber, coffee, and tea plantations, with a stopover at the Prenn Waterfall. Lunch at the Lien Do restaurant (included). On the way you pass La Nga floating village.

Arrive in Saigon and check-in to your hotel

Overnight Grand Hotel for a four-night stay.


09.6.05 (B-L) Saigon
Morning walking tour around Saigon downtown (known as District 1) passing the opera house, city hall, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and post office. Then a visit by bus to the former Presidential Palace (reunification palace), war remnants museum, Chinatown with a tour driving around Cho Lon and a visit to Thien Hau temple, which is dedicated to a sea goddess. Pho traditional Vietnamese noodle soup for lunch (included). Free afternoon for you to explore this great city.

Overnight at the Grand Hotel


10.6.05 (B-L) Saigon – My Tho
Morning depart hotel for coach trip to My Tho which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

My Tho is a prosperous town of 170,000 inhabitants in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a 3-4 hour boat ride on the Mekong River and visit an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, bee farm with lunch (included) en route, then drive back to Saigon.

Overnight at the Grand Hotel.


11.6.05 (B-D) Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels
Half day tour to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnel network. Free time this afternoon.

Tonight there will be an included farewell dinner.

Overnight at the Grand Hotel


12.6.05 (B)
Sydney passengers are transferred to Saigon International airport, and depart at 12.30pm on TG681, arriving in Bangkok at 1.55pm.

Sydney passengers depart Bangkok at 6.15pm on TG991, arriving in Sydney at 6.15am the next morning (13.6.05).

Brisbane and Melbourne passengers depart Saigon at 9.05pm on TG687, arriving in Bangkok at 10.30pm.

Brisbane passengers depart Bangkok at 10.55pm on TG983, arriving in Brisbane at 10.55am the next morning. (13.6.05)


13.6.05
Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12.15am on TG 981, arriving in Melbourne at 12.05pm.

Note: If you wish, you can have a stop-over in Bangkok. Our hotel in central Bangkok costs $35 per person per night twin share and $55 for a single room, including full buffet breakfast.



Itinerary for Angkor Wat Post –Tour Extension
Note: All meals are included while in Cambodia


12.6.05
Depart Saigon at 11.30am on VN 827 (Vietnam Airlines) arriving in Siem Reap at 12.35pm.

Transfer to your hotel.

Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, “Elephant Terrace”, and the “Terrace of the Leper King”. After lunch continue with a visit to Angkor Watt and enjoy the sunset from Phnom Bakheng Hill.


13.6.05
Visit Prasat Kravan, Pre Rup, Mebon Oriental, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan. After lunch continue with a visit to Sra Srang, Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda and Ta Prohm.


14.6.05
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas and take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake. Then visit ‘Les Artisans D’Angkor’.

After an early lunch, transfer to Siem Reap Airport.

Depart Siem Reap at 12.30pm on PG935 (Bangkok Airways), arriving in Bangkok at 1.30pm.

Sydney passengers depart Bangkok at 6.15pm on TG 991, arriving in Sydney at 06.15am the next day (15.6.05).

Brisbane passengers depart Bangkok at 10.55pm on TG 983, arriving in Brisbane at 10.55am the next day (15.6.05).


15.6.05
Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12.15am on TG 981, arriving in Melbourne at 12.05pm.

The additional cost of the above tour is $890 per person twin share and $1045 single room.