DESTINATIONS
The Vietnam Explorer
12 Days / 9 Nights
Departures: Daily from Dublin, Cork & Shannon.
(Minimum 2 persons travelling together.)
Vietnam is blessed with bustling cities, tropical rain forests, mountain ranges, huge river systems, unspoilt beaches and a charming welcoming people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. This tour is aimed at the independent traveller who wants time to explore on their own but also wants some organised touring with a knowledgeable local guide and prefers to have the peace of mind of pre-booked accommodation and transportation.
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): 3 Nights
- Hoi An: 2 Nights
- Hue: 1 Night
- Halong Bay: 1 Night
- Hanoi: 2 Nights
DAY 1 - IRELAND / HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
Depart from Ireland to London to connect with Malaysia Airlines flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) via Kuala Lumpur.
DAY 2 - HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel. This evening, you will dine at one of the city’s finest Vietnamese restaurants. Overnight at your chosen hotel. (D)
DAY 3 - CU CHI TUNNELS
After breakfast, explore bustling Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Visit famous landmarks such as the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Remnants Museum, Giam Lam Pagoda and lively China Town. In the afternoon travel on to Cu Chi, an extraordinary network of tunnels used by the Vietcong during the war, a hideout and secret village. It snakes up and down through various chambers along its extensive tunnel system. After a long day, return to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). This evening, enjoy dinner at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s (Saigon’s) stylish restaurants. Overnight at your chosen hotel. (B,D)
DAY 4 - MEKONG DELTA
After breakfast, your excursion begins with a two-hour drive south of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to the city of My Tho. Enroute, you will pass through some of the most magnificent rural scenery in the country. On arrival at My Tho, you will visit the ancient Buddhist Vinh Trang Pagoda, continuing on to visit My Tho Central Market and Cao Dai Temple. Next you will board a river boat for a ride on the Mekong River. The boat will stop at a local island filled with tropical fruit orchards where you will have a chance to stroll through this beautiful area. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and afterwards you will re-board the coach to return to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Evening free. Overnight at your chosen hotel. (B,L)
DAY 5 - HO CHI MINH CITY / DA NANG / HOI AN
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang situated on the coast approximately one hours flying time from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Visit the city’s fascinating Cham Museum founded in 1915, before travelling on to the ancient port of Hoi An, a riverside town south of Da Nang. Enroute, visit the famous Marble Mountains which represent one of the 5 elements of the universe. Today, certain areas of Hoi An look exactly as they did a century and a half ago. Take a walking tour through the city, then visit a farmer’s village in the countryside, where you will have an opportunity to meet the Vietnamese people and see how they live. Afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of China beach. This evening, enjoy dinner at the Victoria Hoi An Resort restaurant. Overnight at the Victoria Hoi An Resort. (B,D)
DAY 6 - MY SON
After an early breakfast, travel south west of Hoi An to My Son, one of Vietnam’s most famous Cham sites. Tra Kieu, formally known as Simhapura, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be Champa’s counterpart to the grand cities of south east Asia’s other Indian influenced civilisations, Angkor, Bagan etc. Return to Hoi An for a city tour by cycle. Enjoy a walk over the Japanese Bridge dating back to 1593, the Phuoc Kien pagoda built around 1690, the Quan Cong Temple and visit some of the oldest houses of Hoi An. Hoi An is famous for artists and tailor-made silk robes. Overnight at the Victoria Hoi An Resort. (B,L)
DAY 7 - HOI AN / HUE
After an early breakfast, travel across the spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Cycle or drive to the emperor’s tombs, explore the impressive ruins of the Royal Citadel and take a dragon boat to Hue’s oldest pagoda, Thien Mu. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the Saigon Morin Hotel in Hue. (B,D)
DAY 8 - HUE / HANOI / HALONG
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival, you will travel on to Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay. Halong Bay is one of the north’s major visitor attractions featuring hundreds of dolomite formations rising out of the sea. The bay is dotted with hundreds of limestone islands of every size and shape imaginable. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will visit a local fisherman’s village. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Halong. (B,L)
DAY 9 - HALONG / HANOI
Today, you will spend the morning cruising among the limestone islets, which rise up out of the sea, exploring spectacular caves and grottos. The boat trip takes approximately 4 hours. According to legend the 3,000 closely packed islets are the dragon’s back. A seafood lunch is served on board. Continue by vehicle to Hanoi. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hanoi. (B,L)
DAY 10 - HANOI
After breakfast, your tour will include a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and a visit to his simple wooden home from which he ruled Vietnam. Take a walk through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers trade their wares as they have done for centuries. This evening enjoy a performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets, a tradition a thousand years old. Enjoy dinner at a famous local restaurant. Overnight at your chosen hotel in Hanoi. Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes in October and November each year for maintenance and renovation. (B,D)
DAY 11 - HANOI / LONDON
Last minute sightseeing and shopping before you transfer to the airport for your return Malaysia Airlines flight to London via Kuala Lumpur.
DAY 12 - LONDON / IRELAND
On arrival in London connect with your onward flight to Ireland.
NOTE
This itinerary is a general guide but it is subject to change without notice as local conditions may change.
B = Breakfast. L = Lunch. D = Dinner.
PRICE INCLUDES:
- International flights to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), returning from Hanoi.
- Accommodation as indicated.
- Tours and transfers with English speaking local guide where indicated.
- Domestic flights Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)/Danang & Hue/Hanoi.
- Entrance fees and boat fees as applicable.
- Ground transportation, as indicated, in private air-conditioned vehicle.
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- International and domestic airport taxes.
- Personal insurance.
- Vietnamese visa fee.
- Optional tours and meals not specified.
- Items of a personal nature and compulsory Gala dinner supplements at any of the hotels.
Prices
Price per person sharing (Superior)
01 Jan - 31 Oct €1869
01 Nov - 31 Dec €1949
Single Supplement €599
Price per person sharing (Deluxe)
01 Jan - 31 Oct €2099
01 Nov - 31 Dec €2199
Single Supplement €899
Malaysia Airlines Flights Supplements
01 Mar - 22 Mar €125
01 Jul - 15 Aug, 10 Dec - 24 Dec €399
16 Aug - 09 Dec, 25 Dec - 31 Dec €39
To request a quote for your specific dates, please call us on 01 648 0800 or click here to use our request a quote form.