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Three Week Conducted 
       
Vietnam Overland Tour

For only $3,815
per person twin share

This price includes airport taxes and levies of $420

Tour departs Sydney August 20 and returns September 10, 2009

Tour departs Brisbane August 21 and returns September 11, 2009
This must be the best value conducted tour to Vietnam as the price 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 $985.

 Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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


20.08.09 Sydney passengers depart Sydney at 10.30pm on CI 056, arriving in Taipei at 6.00am (21.08.09). 
21.08.09
(B/D)



 Sydney passenger depart Taipei at 7.30am on CI 781, arriving in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) at 9.50am. You will be met by your Vietnamese tour guide and transferred to the Huong Sen Hotel.
Brisbane passengers depart Brisbane at 7.30am on CI 54, arriving in Taipei at 5.45pm. Transfer to a hotel in the airport area.
22.08.09
(B/D)		 Brisbane passengers will be transferred back to Taipei airport. Departing at 7.30am on CI 781, arriving in Saigon at 9.50am.
Morning at leisure for Sydney passengers.
In the afternoon there is a half day Saigon tour including a short walking tour around down town to the Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral & The Central Post Office. Visits to the former Presidential Palace (reunification palace), War Remnant Museum. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel.
23.08.09
(B/L)





 Saigon - My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Morning departure from hotel fir a coach trip to My Tho which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. My Tho is a prosperous town of 170,000 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: Huong Sen Hotel.
24.08.09
(B/L)


 Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels
A half day tour to a fascinating tunnel network built by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel.
25.08.09
(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.  It's lakes, waterfall, evergreen forest and garden make Dalat one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.  Beautiful drive through rubber, coffee & tea plantations.  A stopover at La Nga floating village, lunch at Lien Do restaurant in Bao Loc.  On the way stop at Prenn waterfall for a short visit. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort 
26.08.09
(B/D)




 Dalat
This morning there will be a city orientation tour with visits to the Crazy House, Bao Dai's summer palace, the Valley of Love and an embroidery workshop.  In the afternoon enjoy a train ride through vegetable gardens to Trai Mat then visit Long Phuoc Pagoda, a famous beer bottle and ceramic fragments pagoda in town.  Dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort 
27.08.09
(B/L)





 Dalat - Nha Trang
 Depart Dalat for Nha Trang, a very popular beach resort to Vietnamese and foreign tourists.  On the way stop at Dalat cable car station  for a 15 minute ride overlooking beautiful pine forest, flower and vegetable gardens and then Poklongiarai Cham Tower before a picnic lunch (included).  Arrive in Nha Trang mid afternoon.
Accommodation: Nha Trang Lodge Hotel.
28.08.09
(B/L)


 Nha Trang
Enjoy a morning boat trip to visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium and Mieu Island then Mun island for swimming and snorkelling. Lunch will be at Bao Dai's summer palace.
Afternoon at leisure for own exploration of Nha Trang.
Accommodation: Nha Trang Lodge Hotel.
29.08.09
(B/L/D)



 Nha Trang - Qui Nhon
A long beautiful drive through prawn, crab farms, sugar cane & rice paddies. Lunch on the way.
Arrive Qui Nhon mid afternoon. Free time to wander around. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort.
30.08.09
(B/L/D)


 Qui Nhon - Hoi An
A long drive to My Lai memorial, where 504 villagers were killed by the American soldiers in 1968, six weeks after Tet offensive. Picnic lunch, then continuing on to Hoi An. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner at an excellent café in town "LY".
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel.
31.08.09
(B/D)








 Hoi An
 A short walking tour around town.  Discover the historical town of Hoi An, which was a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th  centuries.  Its community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and French influences.  
Hoi An is a good place for shopping, especially tailoring, very laid back and only 4kms to the beach, a good place to relax.
One hour cruise on Thu Bon river before a beautiful dinner with a cooking class in a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel.
01.09.09
(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".  One hour cyclo ride around this interesting city. 
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel.
02.09.09
(B/D)






 Hue
 Morning tour visiting the Citadel which was built from 1804 - 1833 then to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous pagoda in Hue and Vietnam, then a boat trip on the Perfume River back to the hotel.
Mid afternoon, there will be a tour to the tomb of Tu Duc, the 4th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty which ruled the country from 1848 to 1883 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. Dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel.
03.09.09
(B/L/D)





 Hue - Vinh
Depart Hue for Vinh, a city in the north absolutely damaged by the American bombing in the war which rebuilt by East Germany, the homeland of a very famous person in Vietnam and the world Ho Chi Minh.  Stop at Ben Hai River known as DMZ. Lunch in Dong Hoi. Arrive Vinh late afternoon. Dinner tonight is at the hotel. 
Accommodation: Saigon Kim Lien Hotel.
04.09.09
(B/L/D)



 Vinh - Halong Bay
Visit the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh (known as Bac Ho = uncle Ho) before departing Vinh for Halong Bay, on the way stop over at Tam Coc - Bich Dong known as Dry Halong Bay. An hour on a sampan ride before lunch. Arrive Halong Bay early evening, check in th hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Saigon Halong Hotel.
05.09.09
(B/L/D)		 Halong Bay
Halong Bay is listed as a world heritage area of outstanding beauty. 'Dragon descending to the sea' as it is known by the Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has around 2,000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottos.
A 7 hour boat cruise includes a visit to a beautiful cave and an opportunity for a swim . Seafood lunch is served on board.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Saigon Halong Hotel.
06.09.09
(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 at a local restaurant in Hanoi. Check in the hotel. An interesting cyclo tour around the French & the Old quarter of Hanoi before dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel.
07.09.09
(B/L/D)





 Hanoi
Hanoi half day city tour with visits to the Ethnology Museum, the Temple of Literature built in the 11th century known as Vietnam's first university. Lunch at Koto.  Afternoon at leisure.
In the evening enjoy a water puppet show, the unique traditional art of Vietnam from the 11th century. Dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel.
08.09.09
(B/D)

 Hanoi
In the morning visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Museum and residence, One Pillar Pagoda. A short walk around the old quarter of Hanoi. The afternoon is at leisure.
Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel
09.09.09
(B)		 Free day in Hanoi. Sydney passengers will be transferred to Hanoi airport. Departing at 5.25pm on CI 924 (flight operated by Vietnam airlines), arriving in Taipei at 9.05pm. They then depart Taipei at 10.55pm on CI 51, arriving in Sydney at 10.05am on (10.09.09).
10.09.09


 Brisbane passengers have a free morning in Hanoi. Transfer to Hanoi airport departing at 5.25pm on CI 924, arriving in Taipei at 9.05pm. They then depart Taipei at 10.20pm on CI 53, arriving in Brisbane at 8.55am on (11.09.09)
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Conditions for Macleay Valley Travels Vietnam Overland 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 $30.00 for processing.
Basic Tour Price and Taxes
Air taxes and fuel levies are included in the basic tour price, therefore, as air taxes and fuel surcharges change regularly the exact amount will be advised at time of final payment. Total tour cost may therefore change by a small amount.
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), travel insurance etc.   Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is a 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 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 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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