Vietnam Express Southbound

Vietnam
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Intrepid Travel small group adventure trips.

Departure dates

Valid for select departures between 17-30 Jan 25

What's included

10 day Intrepid small group tour departing Hanoi - Original.
Accommodation: Hotel (7 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight sleeper train (1 night).
Meals: 8 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches & 2 Dinners.
Transport: Boat, Motorbike, Overnight sleeper train, Plane, Private Minibus, Taxi, Sampan, Tuk-tuk.
Included activities:.
Hanoi - KOTO dinner.
Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise, Cave entry, The Green Life Visit.
Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit, Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Highlights & back streets by motorbike, Thien Mu Pagoda, Motorbike Tour Lunch.
Hoi An - Old Town walking tour.
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum.
Ho Chi Minh City - City tour.
Mekong Delta - Mekong Delta Day Trip & Village Tuk-Tuk Tour.
Mekong Delta - Lunch Please Note: Airfares are additional.
International Flights, arrival and departure transfers, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature are not included.

Itinerary / more information

  • Day 1 Hanoi. Xin chao Welcome to Hanoi Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at the hotel and is followed by a group dinner at KOTO restaurant. This organisation is dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. If you arrive early, there's plenty to see and do. Consider booking the Hanoi Street Food Experience at 9 am (see urbanadventures.com/en for details). You'll get to sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine like a true local, stroll through the hidden alleyways and bustling markets and take in a spectacular view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe. Or maybe take it at your own pace and wander the Old Quarter to admire the city's French-colonial architecture.
  • Day 2 Halong Bay. Travel by private minibus to World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, which is dotted with sandy coves, grottoes and 1600 limestone islands formed over millennia by wind and water erosion. Board a private boat and cruise the bay, exploring Surprise Cave and perhaps even enjoying a swim from Ti Top Island Beach during the warmer months. Access to Surprise Cave is via staircases. Once inside the cave the pathways are a little uneven and slippery. To end the day, spend an evening aboard the boat beneath the night sky. What better way to get to know your fellow travellers than an old school sleepover in an unforgettable location?
  • Day 3 Hanoi - Overnight Train. Wake up on the waters of Ha Long Bay, and before you leave the memorable scenery behind, it's time for one last stop. The Green Life Centre is committed to turning Halong Bay's trash into treasure by collecting discarded items and skillfully turning them into beautiful handicrafts. Meet the team behind this important cause and learn how to transform rubbish into a useful and reusable bag. After your visit, return by bus to Hanoi. Arrive late this afternoon and enjoy free time until tonight's train voyage. Be sure to grab a bowl of pho while you're in town and slurp down this local specialty made from broth, noodles and meat. Maybe chill by Hoan Kiem Lake until you board an overnight train to Hue this evening.
  • Day 4 Hue. Arrive in Hue this morning and transfer to the hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country's royal past. Enjoy free time in the morning to rest or explore. If you choose the latter (and who can blame you) the bustling Dong Ba Market is a great place to sample some of the specialties that once graced the Nguyen emperors' tables like banh khoai (royal rice cake). Reunite with the group to visit the war-damaged ruins of the Imperial Citadel, a sprawling city-within-a-city which contains the remains of temples, state houses and the emperor's palace.
  • Day 5 Hue. See Hue like a local - from the back of a motorbike Straddle the saddle and whiz around town with a local guide, taking in historic and contemporary sights along the way. Stop at Thanh Toan to see the 18th-century covered bridge and villagers shopping at their local market. Visit the 17th-century active Buddhist monastery of Thien Mu Pagoda and see the car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc, the monk who self-immolated in 1963 in protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. For lunch, savour a vegetarian feast in a nunnery. Finish at the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to town.
  • Day 6 Hoi An. This morning travel by bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass. After a photo stop on the way, arrive into Hoi An. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An was a major international trading port during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of the beautifully-preserved town retain the feel of centuries past. It's also a shopping mecca, famous for its plethora of tailors. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town to visit a handful of the city's major attractions. You'll also be given a sightseeing pass so you can further explore select attractions at your leisure.
  • Day 7 Hoi An. Today is a free day to explore Hoi An. Maybe browse the cobbled streets and art galleries or hire a bike and cycle through rice paddies out to Cua Dai Beach. Maybe browse for paintings, ceramics and colourful cloth lanterns in the town's markets and preserved Chinese shophouses. If you're craving a new look, you could pay a visit to one of the hundreds of tailors and get something special made. Hoi An is also known for its delicious regional food, so be sure to enjoy a meal at a riverside restaurant or perhaps partake in a cooking class.
  • Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City. Today take a short, early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam's capital of commerce and culture. After landing, take a sightseeing tour around the city by bus. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, then stop in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the 20-year-long Vietnam/American War.
  • Day 9 Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City. This morning head out on a day trip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a private boat to Ben Tre to visit the coconut gardens and stop at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams. After, paddle in sampans (small rowing boats) past coconut trees along the Mekong Delta. Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages and learn about rural life and the industry created around coconut products like brooms and coconut fibre mats. Eat lunch at a restaurant in the heart of the Delta, sampling regional specialties such as the famous elephant ear fish. Cruise the major waterways to Ben Tre boat pier, then return by bus to Ho Chi Minh City.?This evening, perhaps head out to sample some local specialties as a final farewell with your fellow travellers and leader.
  • Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City. There are no activities included and you're free to depart your accommodation at any time as long as you comply with check out time. If you would like to spend some more time in Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent.
  • Tour on sale until 30 September 2024, unless sold out prior.
  • You must book in store and have paid a deposit, or in full where deal requires payment in full, prior to close of business on sales end date.
  • Prices are per person, and are based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise specified.
  • Prices are correct at time of publication to the web, but are subject to change without notice, and can be withdrawn or varied without notice.
  • All pricing is subject to availability.
  • Prices do not include local gratuities unless stated otherwise.
  • We reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions.
  • Stopovers and alternative routes may incur additional costs.
  • All prices are based on payment by cash or eftpos only.
  • Any bonus inclusions, additional nights or special offers are already included in the advertised price.
  • Blackout dates and seasonal surcharges may apply depending on date of travel.
  • Airfares are not included.
  • All components included in your holiday are provided by carriers, hoteliers, and other providers with their own terms & conditions.
  • Travel Insurance maybe compulsory for some tours please check with your consultant.
  • International Flights, arrival and departure transfers, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
  • are not included.
  • If guests change to another tour or date not on sale, they are responsible to pay the difference and adhere to different payment conditions.
  • Deposit due within 5 days of booking.
  • Discounts are subject to availability, not transferable and may be amended or withdrawn at any time without notice.
  • Savings are combinable with other promos and Ongoing Deals (IeGlobal Tour Rewards, Multiple Trip Discount, etc).
  • Offer not valid on special departure and interest groups, or pre and post accommodation.
  • Not combinable with Global Tour Rewards Double Member Discount.
  • Prices displayed are per person, based on double occupancy and are in NZD Dollars for select departure dates only.
  • Discount is not available on single supplement and is applicable to the land portion of a tour only (excludes air, cruises, taxes, etc).
  • Other conditions may apply.
  • All tours are subject to availability. Prices are per person based on twin share accommodation. Prices, itineraries and inclusions are subject to change without notice.
  • If guests change to another tour or date not on sale, they are responsible to pay the difference and adhere to different payment conditions.
  • Discounts are subject to availability, not transferable and may be amended or withdrawn at any time without notice..

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