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19 Day Conducted
       
Vietnam Luxury Tour

For only $4,385
per person twin share
This price includes airport taxes and levies of $390

Tour departs Australia October 25 and returns November 13, 2010
This price is incredible value for a luxury tour as it covers all of the following:
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 $1575.

If you wish to upgrade the international flights to business class, there will be an extra charge of $3970.

It is planned to restrict this tour to approximately 20 people.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

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   Itinerary for Vietnam Luxury Tour - October 2010
Note: Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner


25.10.10 Sydney passengers depart at 9.05am on SQ 220, arriving in Singapore at 2.15pm.
Depart Brisbane at 9.30am on SQ 256, arriving in Singapore at 3.15pm.
Depart Melbourne at 11.20am on SQ 238, arriving in Singapore at 3.55pm.
All passengers depart Singapore at 5.40pm on SQ 186 arriving in Saigon at 6.45pm. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Majestic Hotel.
26.10.10
(B/L)		 Saigon
In the morning there is a short walking tour around downtown passing  the Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral & The Central Post Office, then a city tour of Saigon by bus with visits to the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), the War Remnans Museum, China Town to visit Binh Tay, the biggest wholesale market in Vietnam, then to Thien Hau Temple which is the oldest Chinese temple dedicated to the Sea Goddess. Lunch is at local restaurant.
The rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Majestic Hotel.
27.10.10
(B/L)





 Saigon - My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Morning departure from 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 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, bee farm with lunch on the way.  Return to Saigon late afternoon.
Accommodation: Majestic Hotel.
28.10.10
(B/L)


 Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels
Morning tour to a fascinating tunnel network built by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Lunch is at a local restaurant where you will have Pho (traditional Vietnamese noodle soup) and spring rolls. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Majestic Hotel.
29.10.10
(B/L/D)





 Saigon - Dalat
Depart Saigon for Dalat, a cool mountain resort built by the French in the 1920's as a hill station. With  lakes, waterfall, evergreen forest and garden makes Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in Vietnam. Beautiful drive through rubber, coffee & tea plantations. A stopover at La Nga floating village, lunch is at Lien Do Restaurant in Bao Loc. Arrive Dalat and  check in at the hotel. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Sofitel Palace.
30.10.10
(B/L/D)




 Dalat
A short drive to the cable car station for a 15 minute trip with a beautiful view overlooking fine forest, vegetable gardens and the city of Dalat. A tour to visit to the Crazy House, Bao Dai's Summer Villa and an embroidery workshop.
Lunch is at a local restaurant. Leave the hotel in late afternoon for Lat village (12km from town) to visit the local ethnic minorities and enjoy a one hour interesting dance and gong show. Dinner is at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Sofitel Palace.
31.10.10
(B/L/D)




 Dalat - Nha Trang
In the morning enjoy a train ride through vegetable gardens to Trai Mat then visit Ninh Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and  fragments pagoda in town.
Depart Dalat for Nha Trang, a very popular beach resort to Vietnamese and foreign tourists, on the way stop at Poklongiarai Cham Tower before a picnic lunch. Arrive in Nha Trang mid afternoon and check in to your hotel. Dinner is at Nha Trang Sailing Club.
Accommodation: Sunrise Hotel.
01.11.10
(B/L)


 Nha Trang
Today there will be a boat trip to visit an offshore fishing village and aquarium then enjoy swimming and snorkelling in the South China Sea. Lunch is at a nice local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure for own exploration of Nha Trang.
Accommodation: Sunrise Hotel.
02.11.10
(B/L)



 Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Arrive in Danang and take a 45 minute drive to Hoi An. A short walking tour to orient to town. Lunch at excellent "Ly Cafe". Discover the historical town of Hoi An, which was a prosperous seaport city during the 16th - 18th centuries. Its community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and French influences. A good place for shopping especially tailoring, very laid back town, 4 kms to the beach and a good place to relax.
Accommodation:  Palm Garden Resort.
03.11.10
(B/D)		 Hoi An
The day is at leisure. In the late afternoon, you take a one hour cruise on Thu Bon River before a beautiful dinner with a cooking class in a nice local restaurant "Morning Glory".
Accommodation:  Palm Garden Resort.
04.11.10
(B/L)







 Hoi An - Hue
Depart Hoi An for Hue, the homeland of Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty of Vietnam which ruled the country from1802 to 1945, 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. Stop over at the 5 marble mountains and China Beach where the Americans came for R & R during the Vietnam War.  Lunch is at a nice cafe in Hue "Mandarin". In the afternoon you visit the Citadel which was built from 1804-1833 then to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous one in Hue & Vietnam and you take a boat trip back to the hotel on the Perfume River.
Accommodation:  Palm Garden Resort.
05.11.10
(B/L/D)		 Hue - Hanoi - Lao Cai
In the morning you visit 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 1916-1925, a beautiful mosaic building. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and take a cyclo tour around the Old & French quarter before dinner at a nice local restaurant then you transfer to the train station to board the TSC Train to Sapa at 8.30pm or 9.15pm. 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:  TSC Train.
06.11.10
(B/L/D)




 Lao Cai - Sapa
Arrive to Lao Cai station at 5.30am and 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 and the Dzao people, the largest and the most colourful ethnic groups in the region. Breakfast is at the hotel, you then take a short walk to orient the town.
Then take a 4km drive by jeep 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.
A two 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.
The rest of the day is at leisure. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation:  Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View)
07.11.10
(B/L/D)		 Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi
Today a market day so we leave Sapa for Bac Ha in the morning, 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 and an opportunity to explore the colourful market and meet the lcoal tribal people to appreciate their culture and their own tradition. Lunch is at a local restaurant in Bac Ha, after lunch visit to the house of the former Kim H'Mong and a village of H'Mong people then drive to Lao Cai. In Lao Cai you have a chance to see and take pictures of the border gate between Vietnam and China. Dinner is at a local restaurant before boarding the TSC Train to Hanoi.
Accommodation:  TSC Train.
08.11.10
(B/L/D)		 Hanoi - Halong Bay
Arrive into Hanoi early morning then take a 3 hour drive to Halong Bay.
Arrive in Halong Bay then have breakfast at the hotel before boarding the junk for a fantastic cruise around the bay.
Halong Bay is listed as world heritage, the area of outstanding beauty.
"Dragon descending on the sea", as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has around 1,969 limestones islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. A 6 hour cruise including a visit to a beautiful cave and an opportunity for a swim. Seafood lunch on board. Dinner is at the hotel.
Accommodation:  Saigon Halong Hotel (Ocean View Room).
09.11.10
(B/L/D)		 Halong Bay - Hanoi
Depart Halong Bay for Hanoi the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, stopping at a pottery village on the way. Lunch is at a nice local restaurant in Hanoi. Check in to the hotel. Afternoon is at leisure. In the evening enjoy a water puppet show, the unique art of Vietnamese from the 11th century before dinner at "Little Hanoi Restaurant".
Accommodation:  Intercontinental Hotel.
10.11.10
(B/L)		 Hanoi
In the morning you take a city tour of Hanoi with visits to the excellent Ethnology Museum, the Temple of Literature built in the 11th century, which is known as Vietnam's first university. Lunch is at KOTO. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation:  Intercontinental Hotel.
11.11.10
(B/L/D)

 Hanoi
Half day tour with visits to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (from the outside) and Residence, One Pillar Pagoda and a short walking tour around the old quarter before lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon is at leisure. Farewell dinner is at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation:  Intercontinental Hotel.
12.11.10
(B)		 Hanoi
Morning free in Hanoi. Transfer to Hanoi Airport. Departing at 1.30pm  on SQ 175, arriving in Singapore at 5.55pm.
Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 8.35pm on SQ 221, arriving in Sydney at 7.05am (13.11.10)
Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.00pm on SQ 227, arriving in Melbourne at 7.20am (13.11.10)
Brisbane passengers  depart Singapore at 9.10pm on SQ 235, arriving in Brisbane at 6.45am (13.11.10)
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                                                                                                Conditions for Macleay Valley Travel's Vietnam Luxury 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 $390 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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