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3 Week Conducted 
       
Vietnam Discovery Tour

For only $3,675
per person twin share

This price includes airport taxes & levies of $280

Tour departs Sydney 24 November & returns 15 December 2011
This is great value for a tour of Vietnam as all of the following are included:
 If you don't have a travel partner but wish to travel at twin share rates, we will do our best to match you up with someone else in the same position. If you require a single room, there will be an additional charge of $745.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

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   Itinerary for Vietnam Discovery Tour - November 2011
Note: Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner


24.11.11
 
 All passengers depart Sydney at 10.00pm on China Airlines flight CI 52, arriving in Taipei at 4.15am. 
25.11.11
(D)



 Depart Taipei at 8.25am on China Airlines flight CI 791, arriving in Hanoi at 10.35am. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. There will be a tour briefing for the group before a one hour interesting cyclo ride around the Old & the French quarter of Hanoi. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Royal Gate Hotel
26.11.11
(B/L/D)










 Hanoi
Morning city tour with visits to the museum of Ethnology, a visit to the Temple of Literature which was built in the 11th century and is known as Vietnam's first university. Lunch at KOTO.
In the evening enjoy the water puppet show, the unique art of the Vietnamese from the 11th century. Dinner will be at a local restaurant before you are transferred to the train station to board the Livitrans Train to Sapa at 8.35pm.
This first class sleeper carriage train has 4 seats to a compartment which convert into 4 sleeping bunks (2 upper/2 lower) for the overnight portion of the journey. The bunks are provided with sheets, pillow and a blanket, though some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet.
Accommodation: Livitrans Train
27.11.11
(B/L/D)		 Lao Cai - Bac Ha Sunday Market - Sapa
Arrive to Lao Cai station at 5.00am, breakfast at a local hotel, then head off the Bac Ha, a regular market held every Sunday for ethnic minorities. At the Bac Ha market, you'll see the gathering of thousands of people of H'Mong, Phu La, Dao, and Tay ethnic minorities wearing their colourful traditional costumes. It is a riot of colour and fun, an opportunity to explore the colourful market and meet the local tribal people to appreciate their culture and their own tradition. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch there is a visit to the house of former King H'Mong, then heading off to Sapa, on the way, stop at Lao Cai town for an opportunity to take photos at the border gate between Vietnam & China.
Sapa is a hill station built in 1922. The whole area is spectacular, as Sapa lies in a valley surrounded by paddy fields in a variety of shades of green, but is overlooked by Vietnam's highest mountain, Mount Fansipan.You will see the local minority groups, the H'mong and the Dzao people, the largest and the most colourful ethnic groups in the region. Arrive Sapa mid afternoon. Enjoy spectacular views of the area from your room balcony or wander around the market just around the corner from the hotel. Dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel
28.11.11
(B/L)






 Sapa
In the morning take a 4km drive to the rim of a deep valley. Along the road you'll see H'Mong, Dzay and Dzao minority people dressed in their traditional costumes and spectacular view of rice terracing & pine forest.
A 2 hour walk around Ta Van and Lao Chai, home to all three minorities. Observe their daily lives for a rare glimpse into their culture and costumes. Enjoy a traditional music show of local ethnic minorities while having lunch in Lao Chai.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel
29.11.11
(B/L/D)


 Sapa - Hanoi
A nice driving journey back to Hanoi. Lunch and dinner on the way. Arrive Hanoi late afternoon.
Accommodation: Royal Gate Hotel
30.11.11
(B/L)



 Hanoi
Enjoy a half day city tour of Hanoi with visits to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and residence, museum & One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch at a nice local restaurant. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Royal Gate Hotel
01.12.11
(B/L/D)








 Hanoi - Halong Bay
Depart Hanoi for Halong Bay, listed as a world heritage area of outstanding natural beauty. "Dragon descending on the sea", as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has around 3,000 limestones islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Upon arrival into Halong Bay you board Bai Tho Junk and check-in for registration. Lunch is on board. A fantastic cruise in Halong Bay with visits to Ding Huaong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island Sail Island and Sung Sot Cave. There is also an opportunity for a swim at Titov Beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching the sunset. (It depends on the weather condition)
Accommodation: Bai Tho Junk
02.12.11
(B/L)






 Halong Bay - Hanoi
We have a few more hours on the junk, before heading back to Hanoi. In this time we will have a morning cruise to visit Man's Head Island, Tortoise Island, visit Luon cave by a small bamboo boat, Bai Tu Long Bay, Toad Island and Bai Tho Mountain.  Lunch is on board before disembarking. We then make our way back to Hanoi Arrive Hanoi mid afternoon, with free time to shop & wander through this interesting city.
Accommodation: Royal Gate Hotel
03.12.11
(B/D)




 Hanoi - Hue
Morning at leisure. Afternoon 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. A one hour cyclo tour around the citadel & the city of Hue. Dinner at a nice local restaurant 'Royal Park'.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel
04.12.11
(B/L)








 Hue
Morning tour visiting the Citadel, a city inside a big wall which built by Nguyen Emperors from 1804 - 1833. Then to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous pagoda in Hue and Vietnam. Take a boat trip on the Perfume River and then back to the hotel. Lunch at a nice local cafe 'Mandarin'.
In the mid afternoon there will be a tour to the tomb of Khai Dinh, the second last Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty which ruled the country from 1916 - 1925, then the tomb of Tu Duc, the fourth Emperor of the same Dynasty which ruled the country from 1848 to 1883.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel.
05.12.11
(B/L)







 Hue - Hoian
Depart Hue for Hoian, a beautiful drive along the road passing through many pretty red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoy spectacular views of sky & sea, crossing the interesting Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds).
A drive through Danang, a famous R & R city for the Americans in the Vietnam War. Stop over at famous Non Nuoc area (which was called China Beach by the Americans in the Vietnam War) & the area of the five marble mountains. Lunch at a nice local restaurant in Hoian'Ly Cafee'
Accommodation: Hoian Hotel
06.12.11
(B/D)


 Hoian
Today is at leisure. There is a one hour cruise on the Hoian River before a cooking demonstration at a nice restaurant in town 'Morning Glory'.
Accommodation: Hoian Hotel
07.12.11
(B/L)



 Hoian - Nha Trang
Driving back to Danang to the airport for a morning flight to Nha Trang. On arrival in Nha Trang you will be transferred to your hotel. Lunch at a local seafood barbecue restaurant. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Michelia Hotel
08.12.11
(B/L)




 Nha Trang
Today there will be a boat trip to visit an offshore fishing village and aquarium, then enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the South China Sea. Lunch is at a nice local restaurant. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommdoation: Michelia Hotel
09.12.11
(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. Arrive Dalat early in the afternoon, lunch is at a nice local restaurant. A visit to Long Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and ceramic fragments pagoda in town & enjoy a train ride from Trai Mat to the town. Dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort
10.12.11
(B/D)






 Dalat
A short drive to the cable car station for a 15 minute trip with a beautiful view overlooking the fine forest, vegetable gardens, the city of Dalat. A tour visit to the crazy house then to a nice art centre with beautiful hand silk embroidery & flower garden. Free time to wander the market area. Leave the hotel in the late afternoon for Lat Village (12Km from town) to visit the local ethnic minorities & enjoy a 1 hour interesting dance and gong show.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort
11.12.11
(B/L)




 Dalat - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Depart Dalat for Ho Chi Minh, a beautiful drive through coffee, tea & rubber plantations. Lunch on the way. Upon arrival in Saigon there is a short walking tour around downtown, passing the City Hall, Opera House, Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel
12.12.11
(B/L)






 Saigon - Mekong Delta
Morning departure from the hotel for a coach trip to My Tho, which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. My Tho is a prosperous town of 200,000 inhabitants in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a 4-5 hour boat ride on the Mekong River, horse ride on a cart (traditional transportation) and visit an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, bee farm with lunch at a farmer's house. A very pleasant day.  
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel.
13.12.11
(B/L)		 Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels
In the morning there is a visit to Cu Chi, a fascinating tunnel network built by the Vietcong during the Vietnam War (which is called the American War in Vietnam). Lunch will be Pho (a traditional Chinese Noodle Soup) & spring rolls at Pho2000 where Bill Clinton & his family went for lunch in their visit to Vietnam in 2000. After lunch there is a visit to the war museum & Reunification Palace (Former Presidential Palace).
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel.
14.12.11
(B/L)


 Saigon
Morning free in Saigon. Depart the hotel at 1pm for a farewell lunch at a nice local restaurant. Afterwards you are transferred to Saigon International Airport for China Airlines flight CI 784, arriving in Taipei at 9.45pm.
Depart Taipei at 11.55pm on CI 51, arriving in Sydney at 12.15pm (15.12.11)
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Conditions for Macleay Valley Travel's Vietnam Discovery Tour

Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 8 weeks prior to departure.

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.  Visas are required for all passport holders to Vietnam. Visa fee for an Australian passport holder is $72.00 and we charge $30.00 for processing.  Please note: Visa fees are subject to any increases imposed by the Vietnamese  Consulate.

Basic Tour Price and Taxes - Air taxes and fuel levies are included in the basic tour price, and as air taxes and fuel levies change regularly  the exact amount will be advised at time of invoicing. At present air taxes and fuel levies come to $280 for the standard tour. Total tour cost may therefore change.

Not  Included in the Cost -  Travel insurance, visas and all items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals (except those specified in the itinerary), etc. are not included in the cost.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Breakaway Fee
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set itinerary will incur a breakaway fee.

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of our tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.

Health and Fitness -Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.               
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