16 Day Explore Vietnam 2019
✓ Return international airfares with Singapore Airlines
✓ All internal airfares and all airport transfers
✓ 13 nights in 4- and 5-star accommodation including 2 nights in the luxury 5-star Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
✓ 1-night 5-star Halong Bay cruise
✓ 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 7 dinners
✓ Professional English-speaking guides and sightseeing
✓ Small group touring (up to 16 people max)
✓ 24/7 customer service and your own Dedicated Support Agent
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Your adventure begins! On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. Enjoy your first night in Ho Chi Minh City, a beacon of modern day Vietnam and a buzz that will leave you spellbound.
Please note: Some flights may depart the night before.
This morning after breakfast, you will be picked up at around 07:45 am from hotel and head to visit the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. This building now is a museum and venue for Government official receptions. The next stops are the 2 landmarks of the city, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in between 1863 and 1880 with materials imported from France, is also referred to as Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where the Vietnam War crimes are in displayed. This is the most popular museum in Vietnam with approximately half a million visits annually. Leisure time in the afternoon until Seafood trails tour picks you up at your hotel at 18:00.
Tonight enjoy an Inspiring Taste on a progressive Seafood Trail extravaganza – a night eating adventure that starts at 18:00 where you will be picked up from the Rex Hotel. You will discover one of Ho Chi Minh City’s “snail streets”. Here we’ll try a range of “snails” … but don’t worry, they’re not really snails. Ốc is the Vietnamese word that’s shorthand for all crustaceans, so you will be able to sample a variety of seafood — the best seafood in Ho Chi Minh City, no less — including sea snails that are eaten with a safety pin, mussels, scallops and tasty prawns-on-a-stick. You’ll get the chance to buy some snacks from wandering vendors too, so you’ll get the most authentic experience. Depending on who walks past, the snacks could include sliced green mango, boiled quail eggs or rice crackers, as well as more exotic offerings. On this tour, you will be required to participate in the rowdy Vietnamese toasting ritual (even if you’re only drinking soft drink) of mot-hai-ba-YO! In most cases your tour will start in a little alley near the zoo, then adjourn to Snail Street for two more stops. The progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza usually includes hotpot and a quick dessert at a local market. During the tour, you’ll hear stories of the local area, and learn how to taste the history in simple street food. At the end of the tour you’ll also have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and history (as well as a very full stomach!). This is a fantastic tour for the adventurous. If you’re brave, you’ll have the chance to travel on xe om (motorbike taxis) to order a range of unusual dishes, however, there is a taxi optional available for you too.
Free morning time until 11:00 AM, where your tour guide will pick you up and drive you to Cu Chi. On arrival, you will have lunch there. After lunch, you will explore Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam War. Your guide will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with your guide. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war).
Upon returning to your hotel you can enjoy leisure time until you are picked up from your hotel at 16:30 for two complimentary drinks at the Rex Rooftop Bar, enjoying the fantastic city lights as well as local night life on Nguyen Hue walking street below. You will spend one hour here and then be taken back to your hotel, or you can choose to enjoy time on your own and make your own way back at a later time.
You will have a free day to explore the city on your own.
You will be picked up at your hotel, then depart for My Tho. On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, see the stilt houses, fruit plantations and the fishing villages along the river bank. You will proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh in Ben Tre, where you will visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy and observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. You will then enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadows of the water coconut trees along natural canals then enjoy seasonal fruit and honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals. The bus will then take you back to your hotel in Saigon.
Starts: approx: 8am
Duration: approx: 9 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
You will have free time until your airport transfer for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at your leisure before dining at the hotel for dinner.
You will be picked up at 8.00 am then transferred to visit the Imperial Citadel, that was the centre of power for the Nguyen Dynasty who ruled between 1802 and 1945. Here, you will visit Flag Tower, NoonGate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City. We will board a boat for a wonderful trip on Perfume River and then visit Thien Mu pagoda. You’ll get the chance to stop at a local restaurant for lunch too. The afternoon continues with a visit to the fantastic tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Your guides will give you a deep understanding of the King’s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life.
You will be picked up from hotel for a 3.5 hour drive to Hoi An, through the renowned Hai Van Pass. You’ll then check in to your hotel and get ready for an afternoon tour exploring the Hoi An ancient town on foot. Your tour guide will see you at the hotel at around 13:00 and take you to the Ancient town of Hoi An. You will visit the Temple Kwan, Phuc Kien Temple, Tan Ky Ancient House, Phung Hung house, Japanese Bridge and cultural show rooms in Hoi An. You will learn a great deal about the history and culture of this exciting town.
After the tour, you will be taken to the evening cooking class starting from 18:00 to 20:00 and enjoy your freshly made dinner there. The evening class is an interesting and fun way to learn about the local cuisine. You will get to prepare three dishes before sitting down for dinner to enjoy your creations! Your chef will introduce you to the local ingredients, take you through the preparation, and explain the Hoi An style of cooking. Then it is your turn to chop, grate, crush, slice, roll and cook the ingredients into a delicious meal. Your 5 course dinner also includes 2 additional Hoi An specialties* - White Rose and Fried Wanton. These secret recipes are made by only 1 family in Hoi An, and are included in the meal, but are not part of the cooking class. Each class has a maximum of 10 persons, runs for 1 hour and is then followed by dinner. Recipes for you to follow are provided at the start of the class – so don’t worry if you’re not confident in cooking. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy free time to explore Hoi An by night.
Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. You may wish to take part in the following optional activity.
My Son Sanctuary Half Day Tour with Lunch - Your guide will pick you up at around 8.00am and take you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as a burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of the same historical significance as Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on a boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River to Hoi An for lunch. After lunch, you will be dropped back to your hotel.
Starts: approx: 8am
Duration: approx: 6 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
Today you will have a free day to explore Hoi An on your own or relax by the beach.
Take to the streets and the waterways to discover the charm of one of Vietnam’s most loved towns. On this unique boat and bike tour in Hoi An, you will escape the hustle and bustle, weaving through the backstreets to reach the country lanes that lie outside the town’s borders. Start your Hoi An tour with the bike portion, and follow country laneways to reach some of the villages that are dotted throughout the region, stopping to talk to the locals and learn more about life in this part of Vietnam. Pass emerald rice paddies, snaking waterways and plenty of waving children as you discover some of the beautiful landscapes found in this region. Next up, your Hoi An boat tour! Follow your guide to the banks of the Thu Bon River to take to the waterways and discover even more of the area. Cruise the river, heading out to one of the river’s small islands where a barbecue feast awaits. Feast on local specialties and watch as the sun sets over the river, with bobbing local fishing boats adding to the atmosphere. Jump back in the boat to cruise along the river, watching the last of the sun’s rays disappear behind the rice paddies before heading back to Hoi An. Watch the twinkling lights of the city appear as you approach the dock, before heading through the bustling waterfront crowds and back into town. This unique Hoi An bike and boat tour comes to an end back in the heart of the town.
Starts: approx: 3pm
Duration: approx: 3 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
Today you will be picked up from your hotel to head to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel where you’ll enjoy dinner to usher in your first night in Hanoi.
Today head out on a city tour of Hanoi and begin with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape. This pagoda is a very beautiful and popular attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you will have the chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's House and the One-pillar pagoda – a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is centre point. After lunch, you will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain), dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The temple with its famous Huc bridge is in the center of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. You will then take a short ride around old town on a cyclo (rickshaw) before enjoying a show of traditional Water Puppets! Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. After the show, you will be dropped off at your hotel for dinner.
We leave the hotel this morning for an incredible day in Halong Bay and a fabulous overnight Halong Bay cruise. You’ll enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Halong, you will check-in to the cruise and relax before your captain lifts anchor and sails to visit the Halong Bay caves (or visiting fishing village by bamboo boat or kayaking). The detailed plan will be briefed to you by your tour guide.
You will be cruising between the many lime stones and set anchor at a beautiful spot to watch the sun set over the bay, where dinner is served on board. Here will also be a cooking class on board, where you can learn to cook some basic Vietnamese dishes before spending the night on the cruise ship. The beautiful sunrise on Halong Bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography.
You can also start your day with a Tai chi session on the boat deck! Breakfast will be served on the boat around 7.30 am then you will have more time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. Arrive back to Hanoi at around 3pm to enjoy some time at leisure.
The beautiful sunrise on Halong Bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography. You can also start your day with a Tai chi session on the boat deck! Breakfast will be served on the boat around 7.30 am then you will have more time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. We will make a sightseeing stop along the way for your lunch break before arriving in Hanoi.
Your expert local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. You will eat as you go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty Frenchinspired snack from a street cart. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our taste buds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, you will wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. Your next two snack stops are at outdoor barbeque stalls. You can sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It’s then time for dessert as you adventure down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this specialty is one not to be missed!
Starts: approx: 6pm
Duration: approx. 3 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
Today enjoy a free day in Hanoi to lap up the luxury at your hotel or explore the city at your own pace, enjoying the last moments of your time in Hanoi.
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. We hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling journey in Vietnam.
Arrive home today
Inspiring Stays
Inspiring Sights
Inspiring Taste
Deposit & Payment
Booking Process
Airfare Information
Premium Economy or Business Class upgrades
Please request ‘Business Class’ in the ‘Special Requests’ field prior to making your purchase and you will be contacted to arrange payment.
How to Extend Your Stay
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:
Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary, airport transfers are also no longer included. If you would like us to arrange this service for you, an additional cost will apply:
Please note, a supplement of $150 per person (plus any applicable fare and tax differences) applies to deviate from the standard itinerary. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.
Singapore Stopover Package
Singapore Stopover Package - $499 per person
If you wish to book the Singapore stopover package either before and/or after your Vietnam tour please request 'Singapore stopover package' in the 'Special Requests' field prior to making your purchase. Please note, the Singapore stopover package must be paid in full after paying your tour deposit. You will be invoiced to collect this payment.
The $150pp extension supplement does not apply if selecting this option.
Pricing is in addition to the 16 Day twin share price.
Land-Only Discount
A $700 per person reduction from the twin share price applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. Should you wish to purchase land only, please select this option in the booking process, under 'Departure City'.
Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary, airport transfers are also no longer included. If you would like us to arrange this service for you, an additional cost will apply:
You have the choice of 2 of 4 ‘Inspiring Experiences’ to enhance your journey included in your tour. If you wish to join the remaining 2 optional tours, these may be purchased seperately:
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 or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 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.
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. This particular tour is categorised as a “3”:
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Cruise Details
For further information on your Halong Bay cruise, click HERE.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$10-20 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$5 per person, per day.
As this particular tour does not collect a ‘kitty’, 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 $1,049 per person in addition to the twin share price.
Paired Solo Travellers
This package allows you to avoid paying a single supplement by booking as a Paired Solo Traveller.
This option must be selected at time of booking during the purchase path under "Select Your Room" and then choose "Paired Twin Room".
Regardless of whether an accompanying solo traveller is found, you are guaranteed to travel at no additional cost.
Solo travellers are matched only on the basis of gender and not on other factors such as age, nationality, religion or sexuality. We kindly ask that you disclose any requirements, medical or otherwise, that might disturb your matched traveller’s sleep (e.g. sleep apnoea or a CPAP machine). Unfortunately, with this in mind and in the interest of other travellers, we request that you proceed with your own private room with the resulting single supplement. Should a second solo traveller not be available, you are nonetheless guaranteed to travel at no extra cost and you will be placed into a single, twin share or double room by yourself. Your tour group may include multiple solo travellers who may or may not be paired. No changes will be permitted to any pairing arrangements.
Note that for some portions of some itineraries, the group sizes will vary. Some packages may operate on groups as small as 2 people and therefore, there may be time spent travelling only with your paired traveller. Should a package require a minimum number of 2 travellers and you are not paired, your booking may be cancelled.
You will be introduced to your matched solo traveller at the beginning of your itinerary and your personal details will not be shared as per our Privacy Policy. Should there be any dissatisfaction with your matched traveller, unfortunately we are unable to make any changes to your room arrangements or offer any refund. Inspiring Vacations takes no responsibility for and will not be held liable for any dissatisfaction with the matched traveller or for their actions.
All departures remain strictly subject to availability and may sell out prior to your tentative booking being confirmed, in which case the fee will be refunded in full. All other booking terms apply.
Triple share
Available. 3 x twin share packages must be purchased. If you wish to purchase triple share please phone 1300 88 66 88.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book comprehensive or budget cover simply by clicking HERE to arrange your policy.
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 to Australia.
Australian passport holders will 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:
Once approved, please ensure that you travel with the following documentation as they are required to present to customs upon arrival into the country:
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. Visas should not be applied for until you receive your final documentation.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
2-16 people
Children
Children must be 2 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).
Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:
For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable.
All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Transferrable second installment up until 90 days before scheduled departure:
Following the second installment payment and up until 90 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued.
Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details
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