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- 2008 Tours
- ANZAC Day
- August 18
- Shopping
- Introduction
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Culinary
- Vacations Unlimted
Our tours are innovative and different because we show you the Real Vietnam. You’ll experience Vietnam as few other foreigners do. You will come away with an understanding of its unique people, cuisine and history. You can see what our passengers think of our tours on our comments page.
| 2008 |
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| 23 Apr |
Anzac Day Tour 15 or 9 Days |
| 12 May |
Ho Chi Minh Trail Tour - 24 Days |
| 28 Jul |
Winter Shopping Tour |
| 15 Aug |
Vietnam Veterans Day Tour - 15 or 9 Days |
| 8 Sep |
Culinary Tour - 14 Days |
| Vacations Unlimited Tour |
| 28 Sep |
Introduction To Vietnam Tour - 15 Days |
| 3 Nov |
Pres-Xmas Shopping Tour - 9 Days |
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On ANZAC Day there will be a beautiful and evocative dawn gathering at the Long Tan Memorial Cross located at the site of the famous battle.
We are especially privileged to have one at this famous site.
Be part of this special gathering.
For those wanting a shorter trip, there is a 9 day alternative available for $1890
See Hanoi, beautiful Ha Long Bay and more when you travel north after ANZAC Day. |
Comprehensive price from Sydney includes international and internal airfares, accommodation, transport and transfers, all meals, tourist visa. $4390 Single passenger travelling alone. Does not include travel insurance.
Wednesday: 23 April Sydney - Saigon Arrive 1555 Hotel Check-in Welcome drinks on roof of the Majestic Hotel overlooking the Saigon River. Dinner. O/night Saigon
Thursday 24 April Saigon - Vung Tau Breakfast. Stroll down to Saigon River for hydrofoil journey to Vung Tau. Cool drinks on arrival. Lunch City Tour. Hotel check-in. Dinner O/night Vung Tau
Friday 25 April Early morning drive to Long Tan Cross site for Anzac Day Dawn gathering. Breakfast in Baria. Tour of Nui Dat, Hoa Long. Lunch with VC veterans at Long Phuoc Tunnels. Afternoon free in Vung Tau. Dinner O/night Vung Tau
Saturday 26 April Vung Tau Long Hai Mountains. Lunch. Visit Binh Ba and 33 Regt Memorial and 33 Regt Veterans.O/night Vung Tau
Sunday 27 April Vung Tau - Saigon Breakfast Return to Saigon via Courtney Rubber and Bien Hoa. O/night Saigon
Monday, 28 April Saigon-Delta Breakfast Bus to tour to thge Mekong Delta through rice lands visiting Ap Bac site of famous 1964 Battle. Lunch on Phoenix Island. Cruise the Mekong River to Ben Tre for homestay. Home cooked meal followed by after dinner entertainment. O/night Ben Tre
Tuesday, 29 April Delta-Saigon Breakfast. Visit local village. Launch ride to visit local coconut candy factory, see coconut souvenirs and local embroidery. Horse-cart ride to model farm to sample local fruits and honey. Visit to Coconut Monk Temple. Lunch on Turtle Island in the Mekong River. Drive to Saigon. Check into hotel. O/night Sai Gon
Wednesday, 30 April Sai Gon Breakfast. Day free for shopping. Evening flight to Australia
Or for those staying on
Wednesday, 30 April Sai Gon - Da Nang Breakfast Late morning flight to Da Nang Lunch Visit Marble Mountain and Hoi An O/night Hoi An
Thursday, 1 May Hoi An Da Nang-Hue Lunch Lang Co Visit Minh Mang Tomb. River cruise into Hue. Dinner O/night Hue
Friday, 2 May Day trip to old DMZ Breakfast. Drive north. Visit La Vang, Catholic miracle and pilgrimage site, Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Ben Hai River, Truong Son Cemetery and return to Hue. Dinner O/night Hue
Saturday, 3 May Hue - Ha Noi Morning flight to Ha Noi.City Tour and afternoon rest. Water Puppets. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Sunday, 4 May Ha Noi Morning visit to HCM Mausoleum, Stilt House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch Afternoon free for shopping. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Monday, 5 May Ha Long Bay Day Trip to Ha Long Bay Dinner O/night Ha Noi Day 14 Tuesday, 6 May Hanoi Morning Free. Afternoon flight to Australia
Wednesday, 7 May Arrive Sydney. |
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For anyone interested in Vietnam.
From south to north at a great time of year, you will get to shop in the city and experience the relaxed beauty of the countryside.
Be part of this traditional event at the site of the famous battle on the anniversary of the battle.
For those wanting a shorter trip, there is a 9 day alternative available for $1890 |
15 Days Sat Aug 15 - Fri Aug 29 $3290 twin share. $3790 Single passenger travelling alone.
9 Days Sat Aug 15 - Fri Aug 23 $1890 twin share. $2290 Single passenger travelling alone.
Fri Aug 15 Saigon Welcome drinks amid the riverside breezes atop the roof of the Majestic Hotel overlooking the Saigon River. Dinner. O/night SaigonSat Aug 16 Saigon - Vung Tau Breakfast. Stroll down to Saigon River for hydrofoil journey to Vung Tau. Cool drinks on arrival. Lunch. City Tour. Hotel check-in. O/night Vung TauSun Aug 17 Vung Tau Provincial tour Nui Dat, Hoa Long Lunch with VC veterans at Long Phuoc Tunnels. Continue to tour the province Dinner. O/night Vung TauMon Aug 18 Vung Tau Morning visit to Long Hai Mountains. Lunch. Gathering at Long Tan Cross 3.30pm. Dinner O/night Vung Tau
Tue Aug 19 Visit Binh Ba and 33 Regt Memorial and 33 Regt Veterans. Return to Saigon on Route 51. O/night Saigon Wed Aug 20 Saigon-Delta Breakfast Bus to tour to thge Mekong Delta through rice lands visiting Ap Bac site of famous 1964 Battle. Lunch on Phoenix Island. Cruise the Mekong River to Ben Tre for homestay. Home cooked meal followed by after dinner entertainment. O/night Ben Tre
Thu Aug 21 Delta-Saigon Breakfast. Visit local village. Launch ride to visit local co-conut candy factory, see coconut souvenirs and local embroidery. Horse-cart ride to model farm to sample local fruits and honey. Visit to Coconut Monk Temple. Lunch on Turtle Island in the Mekong River. Drive to Saigon. Check into hotel. O/night Sai GonDay 12 Sun Aug 26
Fri Aug 22 Sai Gon Breakfast. Day free for shopping. Evening flight to AustraliaDay 9 Sat Aug 23 Morning arrival in Sydney.
For those continuing with the longer tour.
Fri Aug 22 Sai Gon - Da Nang Breakfast Late morning flight to Da Nang Lunch Visit Marble Mountain and Hoi An O/night Hoi An
Sat Aug 23 Hoi An Da Nang-Hue Lunch Lang Co Visit Minh Mang Tomb. River cruise into Hue. Dinner O/night HueSun Aug 24 Day trip to old DMZ Breakfast. Drive north. Visit La Vang, Catholic miracle and pilgrimage site, Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Ben Hai River, Truong Son Cemetery and return to Hue. Dinner O/night Hue Mon Aug 25 Hue - Ha Noi Morning flight to Ha Noi.City Tour and afternoon rest. Water Puppets. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Tue Aug 26 Ha Noi Morning visit to HCM Mausoleum, Stilt House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch Afternoon free for shopping. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Wed Aug 27 Day Trip to Ha Long Bay Dinner O/night Ha Noi
Thu Aug 28 Hanoi Morning Free. Afternoon flight to Australia.
Fri Aug 29 Morning arrival in Sydney. |
Mar, Jul, Nov |
$2990 |
9 Days |
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Brisbane-based Kim-Dung Robinson takes you into her secret Saigon shopping world.
In city centre department stores or those special suburban shops we know, be delighted by high quality and low prices. Pick up a new suit, more memory or a new camera.You will have your own guide to assist you shop, to overcome the language barrier and ensure value for money.
A break at a sophisticated resort hidden in the jungle where you can pamper yourself with a full-body mud bath and a soak in a mineral hot springs is part of this great holiday. |
Includes international airfares, accommodation, transport and transfers, some meals, tourist visa. $2990 Twin share. $3450 Single passenger travelling alone. Does not include travel insurance but we can arrange it for you. Mon Travel Day To Saigon flying fabulous Royal Brunei Airlines. Transfer to hotel. O/Night Sai Gon
Tue City Tour & Orientation After breakfast, a good look around the town, what’s available and the best places to buy it. Off-the-beaten-tourist-track, we contrast Cholon’s traditional An Dong Market with a nearby flashy modern department store. Lunch. Afternoon siesta and at leisure before introductory dinner of Vietnamese delicacies. We discuss our shopping strategy.O/Night Sai Gon
Wednesday & Thursday Let’s go Shopping! We roster into small personally-led groups for specialised shopping trips. No one’s hanging around bored. We’re getting into it! Tailors are first priority. Silk & fabrics. Embroidery. Shoes. Gold, silver & jade. We’ll book you in for a beauty treatment. Even drop you off. On your own, browse for cameras, electronics and antiques -– but we’ll be there to help nail down the best deal. More camera memory? Pictures printed? Special requests. Bulk orders. We know where to find everything-- and at the best price. In between, go sight-seeing. Unification Palace. Saigon Cathedral. Post Office. Drop into a bar or restaurant and eat & drink at your leisure. For non-shoppers, we’ll arrange a round of tennis or golf. Or, how about a Saigon River excursion? O/night Sai Gon
Fri A Very Special Break We head out of town for an overnight stay at a hot springs resort arriving in time for lunch. A relaxing afternoon in the pools. Indulge in a mud bath – alone or with your travelling companions. Massage. Visit the crocodiles. Relaxing dinner. O/Night Binh Chau Resort
Sat We travel around fascinating Baria-Vung Tau Province, a microcosm of Vietnam’s long history with a rich mixture of agriculture and fishing. Chat with villagers. Visit the famous Long Tan Cross. Seafood lunch. Relax by the sea before returning to Sai Gon. O/Night Sai Gon
Sun Saigon It’s time to check on those fittings. Get back to that special shop you visited before the break, all ready to bargain for a final price. Buy some Vietnamese coffee and tea, or those special sweets. Check out Saigon’s incredible new department stores and its famous Ben Thanh Market. And perhaps some more sightseeing! O/Night Sai Gon
Mon Last Minute Shopping Pick up those tailored orders. A few more knick-knacks. Presents for the kids. Or just relax with some sightseeing. Farewell dinner is on us. O/Night Sai Gon
Head for home. 0700 flight to BSB and transfer for 1300 flight to Brisbane, arriving at 2145. |
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This tour is an ideal duration for first time visitors who want to find out the basics of Vietnam, its culture and history.
See those places that your friends may have mentioned, places that are significant in VIetnam, but see them through the eyes of our expert tour leader who will give you special insights and understandings. And see some places none of your friends have seen and brag about it when you get back.
We'll show you how to order top quality traditional Vietnamese food so you can get the most out of the menus in Vietnam and when you come home at your local Vietnamese spot.
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Comprehensive price from Sydney includes international and internal airfares, accommodation, transport and transfers, all meals, tourist visa. $4150 Twin share. $4930 Single passenger travelling alone. Does not include Travel insurance.Sun Travel Day Depart Sydney on Vietnam Airlines for Ha Noi. O/night Ha Noi
Mon Ha Noi Breakfast. Tour of History Museum Lunch of Hanoi’s famous “cha ca” specialty. Siesta. Relaxing late afternoon stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and 36 Streets. Water Puppets Show. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Tue Day-Tour to Vietnam’s Origins Early breakfast. Travel to Phu Tho province west of Ha Noi to the junction of the Red, Black & Clear Rivers and where the Vietnamese nation began over 4000 years ago. Legend of the 100 Eggs. Temple of the Bronze Age Hung Kings. Country-style lunch featuring ‘banh chung’ dating from this era. Continue east to Co Loa northeast of Hanoi, capital of Vietnam when it fell to 1000-years of Chinese Occupation in 111 BC. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Wed Ha Noi Breakfast & hotel check-out. Early stops at temple honouring Vietnam’s most revered fighters against the Chinese Occupation, the Trung Sisters, and then where Buddhism first came to Vietnam in the 3rd Century. Travel to Bach Dang River, site of the famous battle defeating the Chinese and ending the Occupation in 938, then later where Tran Hung Dao the Vietnamese defeated the Mongols in 1288. Continue to port city of Hai Phong. City tour. Dinner. O/night Hai Phong
Thu Hai Phong – Phat Diem - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Ha Noi Breakfast. Drive to Phat Diem Cathedral, famous from Graham Greene’s novel of the French Indochina War, The Quiet American. Personal tour of complex. River cruise at Tam Coc, the in-land Ha Long. Lunch of local specialities. Visit Hoa Lu, site of 10th Century Capital. Return to Hanoi. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi Fri Ha Noi. Detailed tour of Ha Noi, starting with the rich architectural legacy of Ly Thai To who moved the capital from Hoa Lu in 1010, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple, Hanoi Citadel & Flag Tower. Lunch in Old Quarter. More exploration of Vietnam’s history in afternoon. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi Sat Ha Noi – Hue Breakfast & check-out. Mid-day flight to former royal capital of Hue. Lunch. Hotel Check-in. Rest. Mid-afternoon visit to the Citadel with stops at Royal Fine Arts Museum, Military Museum and then Imperial City. Sunset stroll along Perfume River. Dinner of Hue specialities and traditional music. O/night Hue
Sun Hue – DMZ Breakfast. Travel up Route One. Visit La Vang Cathedral, scene of miracle in 1798. Visit Truong Son Cemetery. Lunch. Visit to the old demarcation line between North & South Vietnam, 1954 to 1975, on the Ben Hai River. Return via Dong Ha to Hue. Dinner on Huong River. O/night Hue
Mon. Hue Breakfast. Bus to Minh Mang Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda. Return to hotel for lunch check-out. Travel down Route One to Da Nang. Dinner. O/night Da Nang
Tue Da Nang Breakfast Visit Da Nang headland and French Cemetery Lunch en route. Afternoon visit to Cham Museum. O/night Da Nang Wed Da Nang - Sai Gon Flight to Sai Gon. Hotel check-in. Lunch Afternoon visit to Dinh Thong Nhat. Dinner O/night Sai Gon
Thu Sai Gon-Bien Hoa Day tour to Bien Hoa, site of the first human presence in southern Vietnam and where the Vietnamese set up a major citadel in the 16th Century in their push to take-over the Mekong Delta. O/night Sai Gon
Fri Sai Gon Day free for shopping and oding your own thing… with our advice. Farewell Dinner O/night Sai Gon
Sat Sai Gon – Sydney Day at leisure. Lunch and late check out. Transfer to airport. Overnight flight to Australia. |
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The old Ho Chi Minh Trail was a war-time route by which men and material were brought from North Vietnam to communist forces in the South. The Trail ran through Laos and Cambodia with a number of routes back into Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail in today’s Vietnam is a modern highway down the spine of the country creating a major transport route. It passes through some of Vietnam’s most beautiful scenery and some of its most historic sites.
This tour takes you from one end of Vietnam to the other traversing the history of Vietnam in the process. You'll see country few tourists travel to and you will learn a huge amount about the country, its history and its culture.
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Comprehensive price from Sydney includes international and internal airfares, accommodation, transport and transfers, all meals, tourist visa. $5390 Twin share. $6380 Single passenger travelling alone. Does not include travel insurance. Land only price for passengers wishing to travel on their own carrier $4190
Monday Sydney to Ha Noi. Mid-morning Vietnam Airlines flight from Sydney International Airport. Immigration & Customs in Saigon (HCM City) and transfer to Ha Noi. Hotel check-in. O’night Ha Noi
Tuesday Ha Noi. Tour begins with morning briefing, orientation bus tour around City and visit to History Museum. Lunch cruise on West Lake. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Return to hotel for rest. Late afternoon visit to Old Quarter, or 36 Streets, including ancient East Gate. Water Puppets Show. Welcome Dinner. O’night Ha Noi
Wednesday Ha Noi. Breakfast. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Ba Dinh Square; One-Pillar Pagoda; B-52 Museum. Lunch. Afternoon visit to ancient capital of Co Loa outside Ha Noi. Option to walk back into city over famous Long Bien (Doumer) Bridge over the Red River. Dinner. O’night Ha Noi
Thursday Ha Noi – Dien Bien Phu. Early breakfast. Fly to Dien Bien Phu, site of the deciding battle of the French Indochina War in 1954. Lunch and hotel check-in. Afternoon visit to museum and tour of battlefield sites. Dinner. Welcome from Black Thai community. O’night DBP
Friday Dien Bien Phu. Breakfast. Morning visit to Muong Phang village, site of Viet Minh headquarters for Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Country-style lunch. Afternoon at leisure for more touring or shopping. Dinner. O’night Dien Bien Phu
Saturday Dien Bien Phu – Hai Phong. Breakfast. Fly to Hanoi. Two-hour bus trip to port of Hai Phong where much of Vietnam’s war materiel arrived during the Vietnam War. Lunch. Cruise along Cam River to see port facilities. Stroll around well-preserved French Quarter including Museum. Hotel Check-in. Dinner. O’night Hai Phong
Sunday Hai Phong – Ninh Binh. Breakfast. Check-out. Travel across Red River Delta with stop at Nam Dinh, heavily-bombed road and rail junction and textile centre. Visit to Tran Hung Dao Temple. Stop at wood-carving village of La Xuyen. Arrive at Ninh Binh for lunch and then hotel check-in and rest. Late afternoon visit to historic Phat Diem Cathedral, Roman Catholic diocese dating from early 1600’s, observe or participate in evening Mass. Dinner. O’night Ninh Binh
Monday Ninh Binh – Thanh Hoa – Vinh. Breakfast. Early visit to 10th Century capital of Vietnam at Hoa Lu. Then, travelling southwards along Route 1, stop at Thanh Hoa to see Ham Rong (Dragon’s Jaw) Bridge where many US fighters were downed leading to invention of the first laser bomb. Lunch. Continue into northern Central Vietnam, the beginning of the Panhandle, to Vinh on the 19th parallel with brief stop at lovely Cua Lo Beach for afternoon tea. Vinh was the southern limit of US bombing over the North and the start of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The city was totally destroyed during the war. Now it is rebuilt into a modern city. Poverty-ridden Nghe An province is the traditional homeland of Vietnamese revolutionaries, including Ho Chi Minh. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O’night Vinh
Tuesday Vinh – Huong Khe. Breakfast. Visit to Kim Lien Village, HCM’s birthplace, a place of pilgrimage for modern Vietnamese. Then return to city to see remnants of the early 19th Century Vinh Citadel. Guided tour of the Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum commemorating a 1930 communist-style rebellion, brutally suppressed by the French. The first use of air-power against civilians.Lunch and Check-out. We travel south on Route 1 and turn off at Hong Linh onto start of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Museum at Dong Loc honours those killed on the Trail, including 10 young women road workers in a single US airstrike, plus photos of area during the war. Damage still visible. Continue to district town of Huong Khe. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O’night Huong Khe
Wednesday Huong Khe – Mu Gia Pass – Dong Hoi. Breakfast. We are now travelling on the modern and sealed Ho Chi Minh Highway in the northern section of the old HCM Trail and close to the Laos border formed by the rugged Truong Son Range, or Annamite Cordillera. Scenery is spectacular limestone karst similar to Ha Long Bay. We turn off to strategic Mu Gia (Heaven's Gate) Pass where the trail led into Laos. As a “choke point”, it was a constant US bombing target. Picnic lunch. Back on the Highway, we stop at Headquarters of Army Corps 559 which built and maintained the Trail, and then a YAK airstrip. We continue to Route 1 and Dong Hoi, southernmost city of the old North. Check into a beachside resort. Dinner. O’night Dong Hoi
Thursday Dong Hoi. Breakfast. Morning visit to Phong Nha Cave and Ke Bang National Park, the least-known of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Stop enroute at Vu Quanh with its re-creation of HCM Trail. Drive a Zin 130 truck. From Phong Nha town, tour upriver to cave and nearby Tien Son Grotto. Lunch. Return to Dong Hoi for afternoon at leisure. Dinner. O’night Dong Hoi
Friday 2006. Dong Hoi – DMZ – Dong Ha. Breakfast & Check-out. We enter the DMZ separating North and South Vietnam from 1954-1975 and spend remainder of day visiting its eastern end - Vinh Moc Tunnels - Lunch at Cua Tung Beach - Memorial at Ben Hai River - Gio Linh. Travel to Quang Tri Citadel, captured by NVA in ’72 offensive. Visit La Vang Cathedral where the faithful say the Virgin Mary was seen in 1798. Return to Dong Ha. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O/night Dong Ha
Saturday Dong Ha – DMZ – Khe Sanh - Lao Bao. Breakfast. Check-out. Visit remnants of old US base. Travel back up Route 1 and west along Ben Hai River to Truong Son National War Cemetery then back to Route 9 via Con Thien and Cam Lo. Travel past Rockpile. Country lunch at Khe Sanh and tour of old base. Visit Lang Vei site of Special Forces Base. Hotel check-in at Lao Bao on the Laos border. Dinner. O’night Lao Bao
Sunday Lao Bao – A Shau Valley – A Luoi – Kham Duc. Breakfast. Travel back down Route 9 past Lang Vei & Khe Sanh to Da Krong Bridge and rejoin HCM H’way through spectacular mountainous countryside into A Shau Valley. Hamburger Hill. Lunch at A Luoi. Travel along new section of the HCM Highway around western end of Bach Ma Range, spectacular mountains covered in triple-canopy jungle. Continue on to Kham Duc, one-time US Special Forces Camp attacked and abandoned in June 1968. Visit old airstrip. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O’night Kham Duc
Monday Kham Duc – Kon Tum. Breakfast. Hotel check-out. We begin our long slow rise up into Vietnam’s famous Central Highlands. Coffee break at one-time US Special Forces camp at Dak Pek (now Dak Glei) and then lunch at Plei Kan, road junction to tri-border region between Laos-Cambodian-Vietnam. Continue with stops at Dak To and Tan Canh airstrip. Arrive Kon Tum. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O’night Kon Tum
Tuesday Kon Tum. Breakfast. Day-trip west through Sa Thay and past Mt Mom Ray towards HCM Trail and Cambodian border. Picnic lunch. Return. Dinner. O’night Kon Tum.
Wednesday Kon Tum – Pleiku. Breakfast. Travel southwards to Pleiku. Camp Holloway. Lunch. Afternoon visit to Ia Drang Valley sw near Cambodian border. Return. O’night Pleiku
Thursday Pleiku – Buon Ma Thuot. Breakfast. Stop at Plei Me. Continue into Dac Lac Province and arrive at Buon Ma Thuot, first South Vietnamese provincial capital overrun in final offensive against Saigon in 1975. Lunch. Hotel check-in. Afternoon visit to elephant-training village at Buon Don and Yok Don National Park. Dinner. O’night Buon Ma Thuot
Friday Buon Ma Thuot – Gia Nghia. Breakfast. Stop at Dray Sap Falls, 30 kms south of BMT. Dak Song. Lunch. Visit remnants of original HCM Trail around Dak Mil and Dak Kim. Dinner. O’night Gia Nghia Saturday Gia Nghia – Phuoc Long – Loc Ninh – An Loc. Breakfast. We now come down off the Central Highlands and the flatlands leading to Sai Gon. Turn off to Phuoc Long, now Thac Mo, provincial capital overrun in January 1975 in precursor to final offensive against Saigon. Lunch. Travel along Cambodian border where the HCM Trail entered southern part of Vietnam. Loc Ninh and COSVN Hq’s. Continue along Route 13 to An Loc. Dinner. O’night An Loc
Sunday An Loc – Cu Chi - Sai Gon. Breakfast. Continue down Route 13 to Ben Cat. Cross Sai Gon River into Cu Chi Tunnels. Lunch. Tour. Continue via Thu Dau Mot and Song Be Province into Sai Gon. Hotel check-in. O’night Sai Gon Monday Sai Gon. Breakfast. Orientation tour of Saigon, including old presidential palace and War Remnants Museum. Lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell Dinner. O/night Sai Gon Tuesday Sai Gon. Breakfast. Day at leisure for touring or shopping until early evening Vietnam Airlines flight back to Australia |
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Kim-Dung Robinson brought authentic Vietnamese cooking to Australia when she and Carl opened the renowned Old Saigon Restaurant in Sydney. Never willing to compromise, she served up an unrivaled Vietnamese menu.
Now you can learn the secrets of quality Vietnamese cooking on a wondrous holiday that takes you from north to south.
Because you will learn the secrets of auhtentic Vietnamese cooking, you will return to Australia bringing that authenticity to your own table.
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Comprehensive price from Sydney includes international and internal airfares, accommodation, transport and transfers, all meals, tourist visa. Twin share. Sydney – Sai Gon - Ha Noi. VN Airlines with mid-afternoon arrival in Sai Gon. Immigration and customs clearance and transfer to Ha Noi flight. Transfer to city and hotel. O/nightight Ha Noi
Ha Noi. Early morning visit to neighbourhood market. Breakfast. Sightseeing tour with visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, One-Pillar Pagoda. Temple of Literature. Lunch of Ha Noi specialities. Siesta. Late afternoon stroll through Old Quarter, or 36 Streets. Drinks. Buffet Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Ha Noi. Breakfast. Mid-morning, cooking lesson & lunch at Koto Restaurant. Afternoon cruise on Red River. Evening water puppets show. Dinner. O/night Ha Noi
Ha Noi – Hue. Breakfast. Leisurely morning and check-out. Travel to Ha Noi Airport for mid-day flight to old royal capital of Hue. Transfer into city with snack stop of Bun Bo Hue soup. Hotel check-in. Late afternoon, bus to Thien Mu Pagoda followed by sunset cruise back down Perfume River. Dinner. O/night Hue
Hue. Breakfast. Early morning visit to Citadel and Fine Arts Museum. Then to Tu Duc Royal Tomb. Lunch at Ong Tao Restaurant. At leisure. Late afternoon cooking lesson of Hue cuisine, followed by royal banquet. O/night Hue
Hue - Da Nang. Breakfast & check-out. Travel over Hai Van Pass to historic 17th Century port city of Hoi An. Lunch of local specialities. Afternoon travel back to Da Nang via Marble Mountain and China Beach. Hotel check-in. Dinner. O/night Da Nang
Da Nang – Sai Gon. Breakfast. Tour around Da Nang. Early lunch of My Quang soup before mid-day flight to Sai Gon. Transfer to hotel & check-in. O/night Sai Gon.
Sai Gon. Breakfast. Morning tour. Lunch at An Ngon. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner highlighting southern specialities. O/night Sai Gon
Sai Gon – Go Cong. Breakfast. Breakfast. Travel to Kim’s hometown of Go Cong, 60 kms due south of Sai Gon, in the northern Mekong Delta. Cooking lesson at her old house followed by leisurely banquet. Hotel check-in. Late afternoon drive to fishing village of Vam Lang. Dinner. O/night Go Cong
Go Cong – My Tho – Ben Tre. Visit to local market and then breakfast. Drive west to My Tho on the northern branch of the Mekong River. Visit fishing fleet. Leisurely boat trip across the river to Turtle Island for lunch of “Elephant Ear” fish. Rest before continuing on to coconut candy factory, a horse cart ride to honey farm and canal sampan tour. Travel upriver to our “home stay.” Freshen up before cooking lesson & then dinner. Evening of country music. O/night Ben Tre Home Stay
Ben Tre – Sai Gon. Relaxed start with breakfast and stroll around village, including local market. Boat over to My Tho. Lunch of local soup speciality, Huu Tieu My Tho, at a riverside restaurant. Travel back to Sai Gon. Hotel check-in. O/night Sai Gon
Sai Gon. Breakfast. Day at leisure for touring and shopping. Lunch at own expense. Farewell banquet at a top restaurant. O/night Sai Gon
Sai Gon. Breakfast. Day at leisure until evening flight back to Australia
Arrive in Sydney at 0820. |
Sept 5 to 21 |
$5750 |
16 Days |
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This remarkable tour brings you close to the people in all the places of significance, plus many out-of-the-way spots — North to South
Led by Kim and Carl Robinson, Vietnamese speaking experts in the land, its history, culture and cuisine, you will discover Vietnam in a way few people do.
Vietnam is developing fast. New hotels and great restaurants give you quality safe travel at value for money prices.Vacations Unlimited
4243 Piedras Drive East Suite 200
San Antonio, Texas 78228
210-308-8500
866-291-1464 - toll free
email:
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Includes international airfares, twin-share accommodation, all meals, transfers, internal travel. $6625 single travelling alone
Depart San Antonio, Tx, Fly the Pacific, cross the International Dateline, arrive in Hong Kong two days later.
Hotel. check-in. Day at leisure. O/night Hong Kong.
Hong Kong – Hanoi. Morning flight to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. Hotel check-in. Afternoon orientation tour of city and exploring Old Quarter Welcome Dinner. O/night Hanoi.
Hanoi. Morning visit to Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One-Pillar Pagoda. Lunch at Koto. Visit to Temple of Literature. Evening Water Puppet Show. O/night Hanoi.
Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Island. We bus to renowned Ha Long Bay, cruise among its hundreds of dramatically-shaped limestone islands. Lunch on board. Disembark Cat Ba Island and transfer to seaside resort. O/night Cat Ba Island. Cat Bat Island – Haiphong. Morning visit inland tovisit caves, including gigantic wartime bunker. Hydrofoil trip to port city of Haiphong, rarely visited by tourists. Strolling tour of old French quarter and its well-preserved colonial architecture. O/night Haiphong.
Haiphong – Ninh Binh. We cross the Red River Delta. Stop at wood-making village and visit Phat Diem Cathedral, famous from Graham Greene’s novel The Quiet American. Visit Hoa Lu, the first Vietnamese capital after a 1000 years of Chinese occupation. O/night Ninh Binh.
Ninh Binh – Vinh. In a regionrarely seen by other tourists, we travel south past Thanh Hoa’s famous Dragon’s Tooth Bridge to Vinh, the most heavily bombed city in Vietnam, now totally rebuilt. Visit the home village of Ho Chi Minh. O/night Vinh
Vinh – Dong Hoi. We now travel the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, the infiltration route from North to South. We stop at the road junction at Dong Loc. Then we continue inland to Phong Nha to upriver cruise to its beautiful World heritage river cave complex. O/night Dong Hoi
Dong Hoi – Hue. Back on Route 1, we travel to Vinh Moc Tunnels on northern side of the old DMZ that onceseparated North and South where a village was housed during the war. Seaside lunch. Cross over Ben Hai River and to Vietnam’s Arlington Cemetery. Then past Dong Ha and La Vang where the Virgin Mary appeared to the faithful in 1789. Late afternoon arrival in former royal capital of Hue. O/night Hue
Hue. Early morning visit to the Citadel and Forbidden City, Museum of Fine Arts and Military Museum. Lunch. Afternoon visit to Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang and cruise down the Perfume River back to our hotel. O/night Hue
Hue - Saigon. Morning at leisure until mid-day flight to Saigon, the former South Vietnam capital and today’s bustling Ho Chi Minh City. Orientation tour on way into the city. Hotel check-in. O/night Saigon
Saigon – Chau Doc. Travel down into Mekong Delta with various stops enroute to Chau Doc on the Cambodian border. Visit shrines on nearby Sam Mountain. Accommodation at luxury riverside hotel. O/night Chau Doc.
Chau Doc - Saigon. Travel back to Saigon via an alternative route, again with a lunch stop with Kim’s family in Cao Lanh for home-cooked meal. Other scenic stops alongthe way. O/night Saigon.
Saigon. Morning visit to old Presidential Palace,War Remnants Museum and other sites. Lunch. Afternoon free for shopping and relaxation. Farewell Dinner. O/night Saigon.
Tour Ends. Day at leisure until flight back to US arriving same day. |
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