This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Small group tour, up to 16 guests only
✓ Incredible sightseeing including, strolling around the bustling capital of Hanoi, embarking on a walking tour to explore Vietnam's lively street food scene, reveling in an unforgettable overnight cruise on the stunning Halong Bay, and discovering the most notable highlights of Ho Chi Minh City
✓ 5 nights in central 4-star accommodation
✓ 1 night on board your deluxe Halong Bay cruise boat
✓ Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
✓ Flights from Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh
✓ Escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guides in each location
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
🛏️ Shared room available for solo passengers. This tour offers solo passengers the option to share a room with a fellow passenger of the same gender and avoid the Single Traveller supplement.
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.
Chao mung! Or welcome to Vietnam.
Please make your own way to your 4-star boutique hotel located in the heart of Hanoi where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. At 6pm you will meet your tour leader and the rest of your group in the hotel lobby to hear more about your time in Vietnam.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, before your tour of Hanoi begins. Start your visit at the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam. It was built in 1070. Move on to the Ethnographic Museum of Vietnam where you can see numerous exhibitions relevant to national folklore. Continue to Tran Quoc Pagoda - one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam.
This afternoon enjoy a walk through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, also called 36 streets. This vibrant area houses thousands of boutiques and small shops and is a great way to cap off an interesting day.
At approximately 6pm this evening, you will embark on your Hanoi Street Food tour which will include delicacies from Northern Vietnam such as; stuffed pancakes, banh mi, stuffed sticky rice balls, unique egg coffee and many more (this food tour will be considered as your included dinner).
Today, you will travel by coach through the rich farmland of the Red River Delta to arrive at Halong Bay.
Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong Bay’s spectacular scatter of islands, dotted with wind-and wave-eroded grottoes, is a vision of ethereal beauty.
Upon arrival you will board your ship to visit the thousands of limestone islands filled with caves of all shapes and sizes. The sails of junks and sampans gliding along the clear and emerald waters of the bay form a magnificent scene that blends into the sky. You will also have the opportunity to visit some of the hidden grottoes beneath the towering cliffs.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands, a sight not to be missed! Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Halong Bay.
Enjoy a light lunch before heading back to shore. Your driver will then meet you at the Halong jetty for your drive back to Hanoi airport.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport you will be transferred to your 4-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City located beside the famous Ben Thanh Market.
After breakfast, embark on a tour of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon). Visit highlights such as the historic Post Office, War Remnant Museum, photograph the Notre Dame Cathedral and soak up the atmosphere at Ben Thanh market, one of Ho Chi Minh’s liveliest areas.
The rest of the afternoon is your own leisure time to explore or join in an optional tour.
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 Vietnam war. We 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.
Today is a free day for individual activities, optional tours or shopping. The central streets are full of shops and boutiques. Traditional objects, war memorabilia, Vietnamese drinks, unconventional food, handicrafts, fruits and vegetables can be found in Ben Thanh Market.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and embark on a captivating tour of the Mekong Delta, where you'll get a glimpse of life beyond the urban center of the South. A mere 2.5 hours away lies My Tho, a former naval base that has evolved into a thriving port city in the heart of the Mekong Delta. This area marks the final destination of the mighty Mekong River, which traverses through Tibet, China, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and finally into Vietnam. Known for its incredibly fertile land, the Mekong Delta is a powerhouse of food production, responsible for generating almost half of Vietnam's agricultural output. For the locals residing in this region, their lives revolve around the intricate network of rivers and canals that constitute the delta. In fact, water transport is more commonplace than road transport.
Once we arrive in My Tho, we'll embark on a private boat and cruise along the Mekong River. Our first stop will be a fish farm, where we'll gain insight into one of the cottage industries that drives the region. We'll then visit an island that's home to lush tropical gardens, where we'll get to savor some delicious tropical fruits. Our Mekong tour continues onto another island, where we'll learn more about coconut candy, another cottage industry prevalent in the region. Our local guide will take us to a factory, where we'll discover the process of making this sweet treat. As we journey down the Mekong, we'll have the opportunity to visit local villages and gain a deeper understanding of the traditional lifestyles, culture, and customs of the people who call this Delta their home.
Our Mekong discovery continues as we travel via Xe Loi (motorized cart) to a bee farm. Here, we'll transfer to a smaller rowing boat, which will allow us to explore the smaller canals of the Delta. We'll then head to Mien Tay riverside restaurant, where we'll indulge in a set-menu lunch. Your local guide will provide you with valuable insights into the finer points of local cuisine and assist with ordering some of the most delectable delicacies. After lunch, we'll stop at Vinh Trang pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City, where we'll drop you off at your hotel.
There are no activities planned for today and you will be free at leisure until your flight time. Organize a taxi to the airport (approx $A20-$30, paid in local currency Vietnamese Dong).
We hope you have been Inspired in Vietnam.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Inspiring Tastes
Inspiring Sights
To enhance your journey, we're offering guests a bonus sightseeing experience out of a choice of 2 options (options listed under 'Optional Tours').
Inspiring Stay
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
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. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
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”
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.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
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, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with three options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $395.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments and have individual access to our Traveller Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
3- Shared Room with a fellow traveller
In this trip you can opt to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same gender – as specified in your passport - and avoid paying a single supplement.
If you believe you may prevent your travelling companion from enjoying a peaceful night’s rest, please refrain from selecting this option.
You will meet your rooming companion at the beginning of your trip.
Changes to room configuration during the trip must be organised by travellers directly with the hotel, subject to availability and additional charges.
This option is not available on additional accommodation booked before or after the tour.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour 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.
Group Size
2-16 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:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are 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 Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Click HERE for more information on weather in Vietnam.
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