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15 Day Conducted 
       
Vietnam Explorer Tour

For only $2,095
per person twin share

Tour departs Sydney March 4 and returns March 18, 2009
This tour is incredible value as it covers all of the following:
There will also be a full program of optional half-day and full day tours.

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 another person. If you wish to have a single room, there will be an additional charge of $485 for the basic tour.

There is an optional 3 day and 2 night extension to Angkor Wat (Cambodia) for an additional $690 twin share or $785 single room.

Tour Itinerary

 Itinerary for Angkor Wat Extension

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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   Itinerary for Vietnam Explorer Tour  - March 2009
Note: Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner


04.03.09
(B, D)
 Sydney passengers depart Sydney at 11:15am on Vietnam Airlines flight VN 782, arriving in Saigon at 3:45pm.
Transfer to the Saigon Hotel in central Saigon for a four night stay.
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Saigon Hotel or similar
05.03.09
(B, L)
 Today, for Sydney passengers, there will be an included morning tour of Saigon. A short walking tour around Saigon Down town passing the Opera House, City Hall then the Notre Damn Cathedral and the Central Post Office, a visit to the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), the War Museum, China Town and Thien Hau Temple. Pho (Traditional Vietnamese noodle soup) and spring rolls at Pho2000 for lunch. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.
Melbourne passengers depart Melbourne at 11:25am on VN 780, arriving in Saigon at 3:35pm. Transfer to the Saigon Hotel.
Accommodation: Saigon Hotel or similar
06.03.09
(B)
 Breakfast at hotel. Optional full day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh with lunch. Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70km north west of Saigon), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war. Continue to Tay Ninh church central of the unusual Cao-Daism religion, which combines Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. See this spectacular church with worshippers attending the noon service in their colourful tunics. The included lunch is at a good restaurant in Tay Ninh. Price $58.00 (including lunch).
Accommodation: Saigon Hotel or similar
07.03.09
(B)		 Optional full day Mekong Delta tour including lunch. An unforgettable day trip into the Mekong Delta. Coach trip to My Tho. After a visit to Vinh Trang pagoda enjoy a boat trip on the Mekong River, stopping at an island to visit fruit orchards and taste some fruit. Continue on small sampans through the canals to see more local life, a coconut workshop and a bee keeping farm. Lunch en route. Return to Saigon by coach. Price $54.00.
Accommodation: Saigon Hotel or similar
08.03.09
(B)		 Today, for Melbourne passengers, there will be an included morning tour of Saigon. A short walking tour around Saigon Down town passing the Opera House, City Hall then the Notre Damn Cathedral and the Central Post Office, a visit to the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), the War Museum, China Town and Thien Hau Temple. Pho (Traditional Vietnamese noodle soup) and spring rolls at Pho2000 for lunch.
All passengers transfer to the airport for our flight to Danang on VN324 at 4:00pm. You will meet your guide at Danang Airport and transfer to Hoi An where you will have a 4 night stay at the Hoi An Hotel. Optional cooking class at a nice local restaurant in town. Price $24.00 (including dinner)
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel
09.03.09
(B)		 Optional full day sightseeing tours in Danang and Hoi An. We drive to Danang City and stop at Marble Mountains with its beautiful grottoes and temples, which can be reached by climbing steep steps (please wear appropriate shoes), China beach where the Americans came for R & R then visit Cham Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant in Hoi An "LY" Cafe.
A short boat trip across the river brings you to a boat-builder's yard and woodcarvers as well as a pottery and brick-making village. After that discover the Hoi An ancient town, known to early Western merchants. Hoi An was one of the major trading centres of South-east Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets. The original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. During leisurely discovery tour on foot you will visit some of the historic merchant and community houses, places of worship and famous bridges. Return to the hotel. Price $48.00 (including lunch)
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel.
10.03.09
(B) 		Optional tour to My Son, the imperial city of the Champa Empire from the 4th to 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious ruins comprising more than 70 architectural remains. UNESCO recognised the Cham architecture in My Son as a Cultural Heritage site in 1999. Price $36.00.
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel.
11.03.09
(B)
 Optional full day tour Hoi An to Hue. Depart Hoi An for Hue at 7.30am, the homeland of Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam which ruled the country from 1802 to 1945, driving across the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Oceans Clouds), passing through many pretty re-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea. Arrive in Hue and visit the ancient Citadel which built by Nguyen Emperors from 1804 to 1833 then lunch at a nice local restaurant. In the afternoon enjoy a nice boat trip on the Perfume River then visit to Thien Mu Pagoda 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. On the way back going through the longest tunnel digging through the mountain in South East Asia, back to Hoi An late afternoon.Price $68.00 (including lunch)
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel.
12.03.09
(B)		 Breakfast at hotel. This morning is free in Hoi An. Transfer to Danang Airport. Depart at 12.30pm on VN314, arriving in Hanoi at 1.40pm. Transfer to the Galaxy Hotel or similar for a 4 night stay.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel or similar
13.03.09
(B, L)
 Today there is an included half-day city tour of Hanoi. Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, residence, One Pillar Pagoda then Hoan Kiem Lake and the Temple of Literature which is considered Vietnam's first University. The tour finishes with a good lunch at Koto. Optional tour to see the Water Puppet show and dinner at a nice local restaurant in the evening. Price $25.00
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel or similar
14.03.09
(B)		 Optional morning XICHO LO (Pedicab) city tour around the Old & the French Quarter of Hanoi & visit to the National Fine Art Museum & the army museum. Price $27.00
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel or similar
15.03.09
(B)




 Optional full day tour to Hoa Lu and Tam Coc (Dry Halong Bay). Drive 110km south to visit Tam Coc Caves famous as the so called Dry Halong Bay. During a two hour boat ride in a sampan enjoy the serene limestone rocks towering over the rice fields. After lunch continue to see temples of the Dinh and Lee dynasties. Lunch is included. Price $62.00.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel or similar
16.03.09
(B, L, D) 		 Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay. We will take a 4 hour journey east to Hon Gai, the gateway to Halong Bay. En route pass fields of busy workers farming their rice using traditional methods of cultivation. Halong Bay has been compared with the magical landscape of limestone islets at Guilin in China and Krabi in southern Thailand. These tiny islands are dotted with innumerable beaches and grottoes created by the wind and waves. Arrive Halong Bay early afternoon then board the Junk for 5 hour cruise on magnificent Halong Bay with its 2000 islands rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, one of the natural marvels of Vietnam. This province shares a common border with China in the north and harbours some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam. Bizarre rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an enchanted timeless world. The sails of junks and sampans add further to the beauty of the scene. Halong Bay was made famous to westerners in the French film "Indochine". You will also have the opportunity to stop at one of the many grottoes before returning to port. Seafood lunch included.
Accommodation: Saigon Halong Hotel (ocean view)
17.03.09
(B)		 Morning at leisure, then you will be transferred to the airport for flight VN 783, departing Hanoi at 5:00pm and arriving in Sydney at 9:15am the next morning (18.03.09)
18.03.09

 Passengers who have flown out of Melbourne on 05.03.09 will have an included Sydney to Melbourne flight.
Note:
 Airport taxes and levies at present total an additional amount of approximately $380. We have no control over this price and it is subject to change.
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  Itinerary for Angkor Wat Extension 
Note: Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner


17.03.09





 Hanoi - Siem Reap
Transfer to Hanoi Airport with  the rest of the group.
Depart Hanoi at 4.55pm on VN845, arriving in Siem Reap at 6.50pm.  
You will be met by your English speaking guide and transferred to hotel to check in.  Free time.  Dinner at own arrangement.
Accommodation: Aspara Hoiday-Boutique Hotel or similar
18.03.09
(B, L)






 Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel.  At 8.30am, elephant ride from the south Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon.  Then visit Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Elephants and Leper King terraces, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm temples.
Lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch visit the famous Angkor Wat temple, sunset view from the top of Bakheng hill and enjoy a 1 hour foot massage.  Dinner at own arrangement.
Accommodation: Aspara Hoiday-Boutique Hotel or similar
19.03.09
(B , L)







 Siem Reap - Saigon
Breakfast at hotel.  Visit Pre Rup, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan temples.  
Lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch visit Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Thommanun and Chau Say Tevoda temples until your transfer to the airport.
Depart Siem Reap at 5.20pm on VN 822, arriving in Saigon at 6.20pm.
Depart Saigon at 9.00pm on VN 783, arriving in Sydney at 9:15am the next morning (20.03.09)
The cost of this extension is $690 per person twin share or $785 per person single room.
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Conditions for Macleay Valley Travels Vietnam Explorer 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 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 Australian passport holders to Vietnam. Visa fee for Vietnam is $72.00 and we charge $20.00 for processing.
Not  Included in the Cost
All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), etc. Also travel insurance and departure taxes. Australian airport tax must now be paid with your ticket, and comes to $380 at present for the standard tour. ****Please note that these taxes are subject to change.****
Booking through other Agents
As we keep the cost of out 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 Affiars (fair trading) department.
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.
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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