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Vietnam and Indian Ocean Islands, 18 Days · Private tour including beach holiday
Vietnam from South to North with Sapa and Maldives
From
£2,990
Departure on 22/05/2024 from Birmingham
If you're looking for a unique destination, with wonderful landscapes, history and delicious cuisine, we recommend you to fly with us to Vietnam.
This tour begins in Ho Chi Minh City, where we'll visit the Cu Chi Tunnels and sail on the Mekong Delta. Then it's on to Hue, the ancient citadel of imperial Vietnam, and from there we'll fly to Da Nang, which connects us directly to the coast and the village of the lanterns, Hoi An. Obviously, we'll discover the fascinating city of Hanoi, its madness, its markets, its people and, in short, its everyday hustle and bustle. Continuing to the north of the country, we get a fascinating insight into the culture of the ethnic minorities of the north and the wonderful rice paddy landscapes that will stay with you forever. What better way to end the trip than by sailing on a dream boat to Lang Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island. You really can't miss it. Round off this amazing trip with a few days unwinding on the best beaches in the world, in the Maldives. Are you up for it?
Departure date
Departures from May 2024 till April 2025
From
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow...
Travel details
City of origin - Ho Chi Minh City
Departure with destination Ho Chi Minh City. Night on board.
Ho Chi Minh City
Arrival at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast. We'll set off for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels constructed during the war by the communists, and the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. The tunnels were used as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes. They played a crucial role for military success. Return journey to Ho Chi Minh City and lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll take a walking tour around the city's major landmarks including the Opera House, the Town Hall, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Post Office. We'll finish with a stroll around the Ben Thanh Market. Accommodation.
Ho Chi Minh City - Hue
Breakfast. Morning departure to Ben Tre. Once there, we'll take a boat trip along the canals formed by the Mekong Delta. The cruise will let us see how life unfolds on the river banks. We'll stop off at family-run businesses involved in the production of bricks, salt and confectionery, and we'll also get to see Cai Son and Nhon Thanh. There'll be an option of a bike ride here, too. If we're not so keen on pedal power, we can cover the same route on a motor-powered xich lo (rickshaw) through paddy fields and plantations. Lunch at a local restaurant. Before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for a flight to Hue, we take a final boat trip along the Cái Côi canals. Hotel transfer and overnight stay.
Hue
Breakfast. Departure on a sightseeing tour of the city. We'll start off by visiting the Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh King, which was built between 1920 and 1931, fusing both ancient and modern European and Asian architectural trends. Then we'll visit the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, founder of the Nguyen Dynasty. Next stop will be the Citadel, a huge nineteenth-century fortress designed by combining concepts of Chinese geomancy and military principles. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest in the city and dating back to 1601, followed by a boat trip to the city along the Perfume River. Accommodation.
Hue - Hoi An
Breakfast. Departure by road to Hoi An, passing by the beach of Lang Co, where we can stop for a nuoc mine (sugarcane juice) or an iced coffee. We'll soon get to the Hai Van Pass, which commands some of the best views of central Vietnam. On our way through Danang, we'll visit the Linh Ung Pagoda, which looks like a turtle staring out to sea. Before arriving in Hoi An, we can visit the Marble Mountains. Upon arrival at our destination, we'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before taking a short walking tour of the city, visiting the historic quarter, the Kwan Temple, the Phuc Kien Temple, ancient houses and the Japanese Bridge, followed by some time at leisure for a spot of shopping. Accommodation.
Hoi An
Breakfast. Free day. Accommodation.
Hoi An - Hanoi
Breakfast. Transfer to Da Nang Airport to take a domestic flight to Hanoi, the capital. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure in the company of our guide, who will take us to the sights we want to see. Return journey to the hotel and overnight stay.
Hanoi - Sapa
Breakfast. Morning at your leisure. In the afternoon, self transfer to the bus station, where you will take a bus to Sapa. Note: We recommend that you bring a carry-on bag with you in which to keep your essentials for a two-night stay in Sapa. Night on board.
Sapa
On arrival in Lao Cai you'll be taken to the SaoViet office, where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. We'll have some time to wash, rest, and have breakfast. We start the day with a hike of about 6 km to the southwest, through the Muong Hoa valley and the village of Y Linh Ho, which is inhabited by the black H'mong people. We'll then arrive in Lao Chai and the settlement of Ta Van. These lands are principally inhabited by the Dzay and the H'mong, who will accompany us along the way. The landscape here is of endless terraces of rice fields, very different from the cities. Lunch in Ta Van. Return journey to the hotel and overnight stay.
Sapa - Hanoi
Breakfast. We start with a two-hour trek up to the Den Thang mountain range from where we'll be able to see the Fansipan and Muong Hoa valley. We'll reach the village of Hang Da, home of the Hmong people, located about 1,800 metres above sea level. Here we'll have a picnic-style lunch. We return to the hotel in Sapa to wash up and rest until it's time to return by road to Hanoi. Arrival at the hotel and overnight stay.
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Langha Bay
Breakfast and road transfer to Ha Long Bay. The landscape will get greener and greener throughout the journey. On arrival at the port of Tuan Chau, we'll embark on a junk boat and receive a briefing about the route and the activities available both onboard and off the boat. Lunch. The boat sails past limestone mountains such as Kissing Rocks, Fingernail Island, and Frog Islet, until it reaches Trinh Cave in the Tra Bau area of Lan Ha Bay. Here you can kayak or bathe in the emerald green water of the bay. Back on the junk, we'll continue on our cruise with time at our leisure until a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. Dinner will be served at 7.30 pm. Accommodation.
Cat Ba Island - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Early risers will have the chance to attend a tai chi class on the deck. Breakfast will be served after the session. We then go to the island of Cat Ba where we take a bus to visit the Trung Trang Cave, located in the Cat Ba National Park in the Kim Giao Forest. After the visit, we'll head back to the boat to check out and have brunch on board. You'll be at the port and back in Hanoi by around 11:30 a.m. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Hanoi - Bangkok
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Flight from Hanoi to Bangkok. Arrival and transfer from the airport to the selected hotel in Bangkok. Free time. Overnight stay.
Bangkok - Maldives
At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport. Flight from Bangkok to Maldives. Arrival and transfer from the airport to the selected hotel in Maldives. Free time. Overnight stay.
Maldives
Free day. Overnight stay.
Maldives
Free day. Overnight stay.
Maldives - City of origin
At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport. Flight with destination the city of origin. Arrival. End of the trip and our services.
Your trip includes
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Return flight.
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Internal flights.
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Overnight stay in the listed hotels, or similar.
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Transfers as per itinerary.
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Transport in vehicles appropriate to the size of the group.
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Private visits that are detailed and not considered as optional.
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Cruise around Ha Long Bay.
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English-speaking local guides.
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Diet: 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 1 dinner.
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Flight from Hanoi to Bangkok.
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Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Bangkok.
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Stay in selected hotel in Bangkok.
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Selected meal plan in Bangkok.
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Transfer from the hotel in Bangkok to the airport.
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Flight from Bangkok to Maldives.
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Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Maldives.
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Stay in selected hotel in Maldives.
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Selected meal plan in Maldives.
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Transfer from the hotel in Maldives to the airport.
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Insolvency protection.
Your trip doesn't include
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Visa to enter in Maldives.
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Departure taxes in Maldives.
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Any other service not previously mentioned as included.
Destinations Visited
Expected Hotels (or similar)
In this section you will find a selection of hotels according to the category specified in the itinerary.
Flight
Overnight stay on board.
Important remarks
- Triple rooms in Vietnam are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Vietnam.
- Depending on the return flight, the trip may be one day longer.
- To reconfirm services at the destination, please send us your passport details within 24 hours of booking.
- Please check which documents are required to enter the country.
- It is possible to do the Sapa and Halong Bay stages with a carry-on bag and the necessary equipment for those nights, leaving the rest of the luggage at the hotel in Hanoi.
- It's not possible to accommodate three adults in a cabin on the Ha Long Bay cruises. So, in this section of the trip, it will be necessary to use a double cabin and an individual cabin. Check supplement.
- The cruise itinerary around Halong Bay will depend on the ship confirmed in each case.
- Triple rooms in Thailand are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- The baggage allowance on domestic flights of most airlines in India is usually 15 kg per person, so lower than on international flights. Please take account of this when packing your bags.
- Please check with your international vaccination centre about the recommended healthcare measures in Thailand.
- The law in Thailand only allows entry into the country with one carton of tobacco per person.
- Many hotels in Thailand offer special touches for travellers on their honeymoon. If this is your case and you've decided to put the most important journey of your life in our hands, then you're in luck. Let us know that it's your honeymoon when you book and don't forget to take documentation proving your recent marriage (certificate or original invitation) along with your travel documents. This is because the hotels offering these special touches will ask to see it.
- The order of the itinerary may be altered for logistical reasons, without prior notice, but no scheduled trips will be cancelled (except in the case that adverse weather conditions prevent its realisation).
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Prices are calculated based on admission fees to the sights as of the date of publication. If there is an increase in these prices, you will be promptly informed.
- If you are a person with reduced mobility, please contact us to confirm the suitability of the trip.