14 Day 5 Star Memoirs Of Vietnam & Sapa Extension Premium Small Group Tour

• Return international airfares included
• Authentic grassroots exploration of Vietnam with incredible sightseeing, including an overnight cruise on Halong Bay and guided tours of Sapa, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
• Small group tour, maximum of 16 travellers
• 10 nights in 5-star hotels, 1 night on a traditional junk boat to cruise the calm waters of Halong Bay and 1 night at a welcoming home stay experience in Sapa
• Flights from Hanoi to Hue and Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
• Cruise the serene waters of the Perfume River during a guided tour of Hue
• Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 3 dinners
• Follow a local guide on an exploration of the charming hamlets and hill stations of the mountainous region of Sapa
• Explore Hanoi, escorted by your expert local guide
• Follow your expert local guide on a walking tour through the narrow, cobblestone streets of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Take part in a cooking demonstration and learn to make Hanoi's specialty dish, white rose dumplings
• The services of a professional, English-speaking guide in each city
• Tipping for your guide/s
• In depth sightseeing including all entry fees 
• Dedicated, air-conditioned transportation

• Sapa - Explore the charming hamlets and hill stations of this mountainous region, learning more about the lifestyle and culture of the local Hmong people
• Hanoi - Enjoy a guided walk through Hanoi's historic Old Quarter, an intricate network of narrow alleys & shop houses
• Hanoi - Visit the Temple of Literature, dedicated to the cult of Confucius, dating back to 1070
• Hanoi - See the final resting place of communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• Hanoi - Indulge in a popular Hanoi pastime, by savouring one of the country's most famous exports, coffee.
• Halong Bay - Explore Lan Ha Bay's floating villages
• Halong Bay - Swim at the breathtaking cove of Ong Cam Bay - the perfect morning chill-out spot
• Hue - Enjoy a guided tour of Hue's citadel and local market - once the economic & cultural capital of Vietnam
• Hue - Cruise the serene waters of the Perfume River to Dinh market
• Hue - Visit the Thin Mu Pagoda
• Hoi An - Stroll through the narrow, cobblestone streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Hoi An - Marvel at the Japanese Covered Bridge, a local icon that dates back to the 1590s
• Ho Chi Minh City - Visit Dong Khoi Street, the heart of the city's commercial life before visiting the Post Office
• Mekong Delta - Witness & learn about the ins & outs of living along the shores of the mighty Mekong

• Participate in a cooking demonstration and learn to make one of Hoi An's favourite dishes: white rose dumpling. Finish off the experience with a delicious included meal.

• To enhance your journey, we're offering guests 1 bonus sightseeing experience out of a choice of 2 options (options listed under 'Optional Tours').

1. Hanoi Puppet Show & Street Food
2. Hoi An Memories Show

• Spend two nights at the gorgeous Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa

We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.

Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.

Pay In Full Option:

• Full payment due at the time of the booking.
• Please select this option at the payment page prior to finalizing your booking

Installment Payment Plan Option:

• Book now and secure your package with only a $99.00 deposit per person.
• Pay a 1st installment of $2,235.00 per person within 28 days.
  
• Pay a 2nd installment of $0.00 per person within 0 days.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

Booking Process

• Select the purple 'Reserve Your Seat' tab to begin your booking (you must 'Sign Up' first by entering your email and creating a password)
• Then select the purple 'Book now' tab of the tour you have selected
• Select your Departure Date, Departure City, Number of Passengers, Room Configuration, any Upgrade Options, and enter any Special Requests
• Click the purple ‘Proceed to Secure Checkout' tab
• Enter your credit card or PayPal details to secure your deposit/payment. You may also pay via BPAY (not available within 70 days of departure)
• Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a Booking Form so that we can fulfill your booking
• Your booking is confirmed once your Booking Form is submitted and you can begin the countdown to your Inspiring Vacation!

Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase. 

Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?

This depends on the package you are booking. 

Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.

We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):

• At check-out, please ensure you add the numbers of extra nights you would like pre- and/or post-tour (where available as an add-on). This can only be done at time of booking and cannot be added after purchase.
• Some packages may only offer the opportunity to book one (1) extra night pre and/or post. If you want more nights’ than what is available to book you must choose Land Only (refer below).
• If there is no option to add additional nights’ accommodation to your booking, then extending your stay with Inspiring Vacations is not an option and you can instead choose to change your booking to Land Only so you can arrange both your airfares and additional accommodation independently. 

When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance. 

Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare. 

The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked. 

Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:

• You would like to stopover
• You would like to upgrade your cabin class
• You would like a specific airline booked 
• You would like to extend longer than what is available within the package 
• You intend to book additional accommodation independently
• You would like to arrive and/or depart from another city or airport or; 
• Your preferred domestic departure city point (ie Perth, Australia) is not an option 

If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.

How to book my flights through the flight portal:

As the travel industry moves towards providing customers with more self-service options, we are excited that our customers will have the opportunity to book their flights through our flight portal. If this option is available to you, you will be notified once flights are available to book for your selected departure date. Flights may be booked by Inspiring Vacations at any time.

Please visit our FAQ for more information.

Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:

• Flight Offer valid from select departure cities within the purchase path only
• Flights will be booked with the best available airline/s with luggage included. Low-cost carriers may be booked in conjunction with a full-service airline. Depending on the carrier, entertainment and meals may not be included but payable at an extra cost on-board. We cannot specify or guarantee the airline booked. If you would like a specific airline, please select land only. 
• Flights may not be direct and may include multiple connections
• Due to disrupted airline schedules globally with the pandemic, stopovers/transit times may be longer than usual (up to 12 hours in duration in some circumstances).
• Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees. 
• Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required at the time of submitting your traveller booking form. Any error in the names submitted will be subject to fees to amend with the airline or the ticket may be non-refundable with the purchase of a new ticket required. 
• Depending on departure date and time of booking, the required booking class for airfare offer may be too far in advance to book with the appropriate airline.
• If the required booking class is unavailable at time of booking, surcharges may apply. Total cost is final only at time of ticketing. Once issued, air tickets are subject to amendment and cancellation fees or may be non-refundable
• Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control and it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure they are familiar with the most up to date airline schedule prior to departure
• After booking, the price payable may be subject to change as a result of factors beyond the control of Inspiring Vacations. Inspiring Vacations reserves the right to increase the price payable and this will be reflected on the customer's invoice. Increases may be in relation to, but not limited to, currency fluctuations, airline taxes, airfare increases and fuel surcharges.
• Internal airfares (where applicable and included in the itinerary) will be using a local carrier and may include low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage will still be included for each passenger. Any additional baggage required is payable at time of check-in. 
• If you are travelling with another party on a separate booking, we cannot guarantee that the same flights will be booked for all parties, as this strictly depends on availability. 
• All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation.
• You will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included. If travelling over the recommended amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable directly.

Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points

Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

This trip includes an incredible day hike, featuring varying terrain covering a distance of 6 to 10 kilometers. To experience the breathtaking views, you should expect some uneven surfaces and inclines, and appropriate footwear for stability is recommended. To anticipate changing weather conditions, bring along a raincoat or waterproof jacket. This hike promises a mix of natural beauty and physical activity, so equip yourself with suitable gear for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. 

Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

Tipping
Tipping is included in your package. It is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.

Single Supplement
Single supplement is $1,150.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.

Triple Share
Not available.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return from your journey.

Australian passport holders require a visa to enter Vietnam.

You will need to arrange your Visas for travel to Vietnam closer to departure. Please note, we don't recommend applying for the e-visa until around 30-45 days prior to your departure.

Visa's are easiest to complete online and take approximately 72 hours to confirm.

You will be able to obtain your e-visa when you have your flight documents indicating your date of entry into Vietnam. Remaining tour documentation, including hotel details, will be sent 4 weeks prior to departure.

Please note the e-visa is limited to 30 days validity from the date of arrival and is only valid for 3 months from date of issue.

You must make sure that the same travel document that was used for applying online is used for entering into Vietnam.

Visit https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ to apply for an e-visa.

Information required:

• Personal and passport details
• Arrival date and departure date (no specific flight details are required)
• Purpose of entry (tourist)
• Passport information
• Passport scanned copy
• Passport size photo scanned copy
• The name and address of your first hotel in Vietnam
• Pay USD $25per person by credit card
• Wait for it to be approved and you will be notified via email within approximately 72 hours.

Once approved, please ensure that you travel with the following documentation as they are required to present to customs upon arrival into the country:

• Passport with 6 months validity
• E-visa printout
• Travel itinerary (provided 30 days before departure)
• Hotel list (provided 30 days before departure)

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Group Size
Maximum of  16 people

Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels: 

• Local Guides - During this tour you will be escorted by a professional local guide in each city whilst you will be unaccompanied when traveling from city to city (by plane, train or bus)

Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.

To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):

• Hanoi Puppet Show & Street Food (Day 5) - $81 per person
• Hoi An Memories Show (Day 10) - $119 per person

Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre and post-tour accommodation

• 1 Night Pre - accommodation - $200 per room, per night for double/twin/single
• Post tour 1 night accommodation - $200 per room, per night for double/twin/single

Arrival and departure airport transfers

• Private Airport to Hotel Transfer - $60 per car, maximum of 2 travellers
• Private Hotel to Airport Transfer - $60 per car, maximum of 2 travellers

Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.

Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

• Visas
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

Click HERE for more information on weather in Vietnam.

While homestays offer an authentic local experience, in Vietnam, where development levels vary, standards of living may not meet those anticipated by some visitors. Some Homestays may feel more akin to a guesthouse run by locals, where the local family also live. We believe this will allow a glimpse into the daily village life of this breathtaking region. Traditional homes of the ethnic communities in Sapa typically consist of two floors, the owners live on the second floor, and shared bathroom and toilet facilities located on the first floor.

We have chosen homestay options that combine the essence of a local experience with modern comfort. Our selected homestays are situated in the Ta Van village, allowing you to immerse yourself in the daily life of local people while still enjoying the convenience of a private bathroom and toilet within your room.

Being in an authentic rural area of Vietnam means you might have unexpected encounters with insects, dogs, cats, chickens, and sometimes even rats in the neighbourhood.

The tranquillity of the environment may be disrupted by nearby roads, construction, or karaoke bars, while unpredictable mountain weather can hinder outdoor activities, particularly during prolonged periods of rain or fog.