This is great value for a tour to Vietnam during the peak school holiday period and also during the spectacular 'Tet' (Vietnamese New Year) period, as this price includes all of the following:

• Return Air fares from Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne into Saigon and out of Hanoi with Singapore Airlines plus 2 flights within Vietnam.   

• An ten day coach and air tour of Vietnam, visiting most of the outstanding places in this beautiful country. 

• Service of an experienced Vietnamese tour guide and if there are 12 or more tour participants there will be an Australian tour leader. 

• Entrance fees to many attractions. 

• All transport and transfers. 

• Excellent accommodation, mainly 3 - 4 star.

• Many meals as stated in the itinerary. 

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, but this is not guaranteed. If you wish to have a single room, there will be an additional charge of $425
 
There is an optional 4 day extension to Vietnam's fascinating hill tribe area in the beautiful Sapa area. The extra cost is $490 per person twin share or $655 single room.

Tour Itinerary

Post-Tour Extension

Terms and Conditions

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	Itinerary for Vietnam Highlights Tour - January 2012
Note:	Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
16.01.12	Australia - Vietnam Depart Sydney at 9.15am on SQ 212, arriving in Singapore at 2.25pm. Depart Brisbane at 9.20am on SQ 256, arriving in Singapore at 3.15pm. Depart Melbourne at 11.00am on SQ 238, arriving in Singapore at 3.45pm. All passengers depart Singapore at 5.40pm on SQ 186, arriving in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) at 6.45pm. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel
17.01.12 (B/L/D)	Saigon In the morning there is a half day Saigon tour including a short walking tour around downtown passing the Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral & The Central Post Office. Visits to the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace),  War Remnants Museum. Pho (Traditional Vietnamese Noodle Soup) & spring rolls for lunch. In the afternoon, visit to a fascinating tunnel networks built by Viet Cong in the Vietnam war (Which is called American War in Vietnam), a nice 65km drive through rubber & tapioca plantations. Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel
18.01.12 (B/L)	Saigon- My Tho (Mekong Delta) Morning departure from 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 and visit an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, a horse carriage ride (traditional transportation of the area), bee farm with lunch at a farmer's way. Return to Saigon late afternoon, on the way driving through China town with a visit to Thien Hau Temple which is the oldest Chinese temple dedicated to the Sea Goddess. Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel
19.01.12 (B/L/D)	Saigon - Danang - Hoi An Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport late morning for your flight to Danang. After this we have a 40 minute drive to Hoi An, with lunch at excellent 'Ly' Cafe. Discover the historical town of Hoi An, which is a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Its community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese & French influences. A good place for shopping, tailor capital of Vietnam. A very laid back town, 4km from the beach. Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel
20.01.12 (B/D)	Hoi An Today is at leisure. Enjoy the atmosphere of the preparation of Vietnamese for 'Tet', traditional New Year, especially the flower market near the hotel. In the late afternoon there is a one hour cruise on Thu Bon River before a beautiful dinner with a cooking class in a nice local restaurant "Morning Glory". Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel
21.01.12 (B/L)	Hoi An - Hue Depart Hoi An for Hue, 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 red tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoy spectacular views of sky and sea. On the way stop over at the 5 marble mountains & China Beach were the Americans came for rest & relaxation during the Vietnam War. Arrive Hue in the early afternoon. Lunch at a nice cafe in town 'Mandarin'. After check in at the hotel, there is a visit to the Citadel, which was built from 1804 - 1833. Then to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous one in Hue & Vietnam. Afterwards there is a boat trip back to the hotel on the Perfume River. Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel
22.01.12 (B/L)	Hue - Hanoi In the morning there is a tour visit to the tomb of Khai Dinh, the 12th Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty which ruled the country from 1916 to 1925, a beautiful mosaic building. Lunch at a nice local restaurant 'Royal Park'. In the afternoon you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Enjoy interesting activities before New Years Eve & watch fireworks by the lake near the hotel (2 minute walk) at midnight, the atmosphere of the gathering of millions of people on the street at midnight to celebrate 'TET', the traditional new year of the Vietnamese. Accommodation: Serenade Hotel
23.01.12 (B/L/D)	Hanoi "Chuc Mung Nam Moi". This is what everyone will say to each other today for a Happy New Year. Enjoy a half day city tour of Hanoi with visits to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum complex, Temple of Literature built in the 11th century, which is known as Vietnam's first university. Lunch at a local restaurant (KOTO if they open on this day). In the evening enjoy the water puppet show, the unique art of the Vietnamese from the 11th Century. Dinner at a nice local restaurant. Accommodation: Serenade Hotel
24.01.12 (B/L/D)	Hanoi - Halong Bay Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay. 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 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 Bai Tho Junk for a 5 hour cruise on magnificent Halong Bay with its 1969 islands rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, one of the natural marvels of Vietnam. 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 on board. Accommodation:  Saigon Halong Hotel (ocean view)
25.01.12 (B)	Vietnam - Australia Transfer back to Hanoi Airport, departing at 1.15pm on SQ 175, arriving in Singapore at 5.40pm. Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 8.35pm on SQ 221, arriving in Sydney at 7.25am (26.01.12) Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.15pm on SQ 227, arriving in Melbourne at 7.40am (26.01.12) Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at 9.15pm on SQ 235, arriving in Brisbane at 7.05am (26.01.12)

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	Itinerary for Vietnam Highlights Tour - Sapa Extension
Note:	Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
25.01.12	Hanoi - Sapa You will be transferred from the airport to a hotel in Hanoi, where you will have free time until 8pm. You are then transferred to the train station to board the Livitrans Train to Sapa at 8.30pm. 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 sheet, pillow and blanket, though some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Accommodation: Overnight on the Livitrans Train
26.01.12 (B/L/D)	Lao Cai - Lung Khau Nhin Market - Sapa Arrival to Lao Cai station at 5.00am, buffet breakfast at a hotel, then head off to Lung Khau Nhin, a regular market held every Thursday for ethnic minorities. There you'll see the gathering of hundreds of people of H'Mong, 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 in Lao Cai, then a one hour drive to Sapa. 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, Dzay and the Dzao people, the largest and the most colourful ethnic groups in the region. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View)
27.01.12 (B/L)	Sapa After breakfast, 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. There is 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. Lunch is at a local restuarant while enjoying a traditional music show of ethnic minorities of the area. The rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View)
28.01.12 (B/L)	Sapa - Hanoi Leaving Sapa for Hanoi. On the way to Lao Cai you will stop at Ta Phin village, a village of Red Dzao people. In Lao Cai you have a chance to see China at the border gate on the Vietnamese side. Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel or similar
29.01.12 (B)	Hanoi - Australia This morning you will be transferred to Hanoi airport, departing at 1.15pm on SQ 175, arriving in Singapore at 5.40pm. Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 8.35pm on SQ 221, arriving in Sydney at 7.25am (30.01.12) Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.15pm on SQ 227, arriving in Melbourne at 7.40am (30.01.12) Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at 9.15pm on SQ 235, arriving in Brisbane at 7.05am (30.01.12)
Note:	The extra cost for the Sapa extension is $490 per person twin share or $655 per person single room.

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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 if the tour is paid in full on or before the due date on the final invoice. Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to charge for any increase in Air taxes and Fuel Levies if the tour is not paid in full by the due date.

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.

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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