7 DAYS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Private tour (HANNASVN07): Daily departure from Hanoi with local English or French-speaking guides (other language speaking guides at surcharge)

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

Meet on arrival at Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day at leisure or join our interesting daily excursions in and around Hanoi.

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: None

DAY 2: HANOI – CITY TOUR (B/L/-)

HANOI CITY TOUR

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and during the entire months of September & October) and his former residence (closed on Monday and Friday), One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago.

Continue the city tour to one of the following museums (Note that museums are closed on Mondays.):

• Fine Arts Museum

• History Museum

• Revolutionary Museum

• War Museum

• Museum of Ethnology

After a delicious lunch at Au Lac restaurant enjoy a leisurely one-hour cyclo tour through Hanoi. Visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.  Hoan Kiem Lake was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi when Ngoc Son Temple was built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. Saint Van Suong, considered to be one of the brightest stars in Vietnam's literary and intellectual circles, was worshipped there along with other National heroes.

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Lunch at Au Lac restaurant

DAY 3: HANOI – NINH BINH – HALONG BAY  (B/L/-)

NINH BINH “DRY HALONG BAY” AND HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL

Drive to Ninh Binh, situated 92 km south of Hanoi. Your journey takes you to Tam Coc, often called “Dry Halong Bay”. Limestone karsts rise from rice fields and winding streams. Enjoy the spectacular scenery during a leisurely boat ride in traditional local sampans paddling through “Three Caves” (Tam Coc in Vietnamese).

After lunch at local restaurant, visit Bich Dong Pagoda and proceed to Hoa Lu - the ancient capital - to visit some temples of the Dinh and Le Dynasties.

Continue your journey to Halong City.

Accommodation at hotel in Halong

Meals included: Breakfast

Lunch at Anh Dzung restaurant.

DAY 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI  (B/L/-)

Enjoy a day in beautiful Halong Bay: Before lunch, transfer to the pier to board your boat to start a relaxing and wonderful cruise through World Nature Heritage Halong Bay, passing bizarre rock formations, such as the Dinh Huong (the Incense Urn), Cho Da (the Stone Dog), islands with sandy beaches and Ga Choi (the Fighting Roosters) islets. You will discover Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage of outstanding natural beauty, known in Vietnamese as “Dragon descending to the sea“.

The picturesque Halong Bay has more than 3,000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. You will visit Thien Cung and Dau Go grottoes situated on the south-west side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Ha Long City. The way to Thien Cung grotto is covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the grotto’s 130-meter-long girth opens up. Getting in you will be more astonished in front of the very animated and splendid beauty which is made from the stalactites. On the east wall of the grotto, there is a grandiose and imposing picture with characters of tales. Going out of the Thien Cung grotto, you will have a sensation of just watching a unique, meticulous, interesting fine-art museum which is made by nature. This grotto is one of the most beautiful ones in Halong Bay. Legend has it, that beautiful young lady named May (cloud), caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed, and their wedding lasted seven days and seven nights in the very centre of the grotto.

During the boat trip fresh seafood fingertips will be served for your delights (please let us know if you do not eat seafood). Optional kayaking (2 persons per kayak) is available at surcharge. Bring along swimwear & towels as you may want to go for a refreshing swim in the bay (if weather permits).

Return to the pier and then drive onwards to Hanoi

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast

Seafood lunch on board

DAY 5: HANOI – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/-/D)

Transfer to Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

HALF DAY SAIGON CITY TOUR

Formerly known as Saigon, today’s Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who travelled along the Saigon River.

Your sightseeing tour includes visiting bustling Cho lon (Chinatown), Thien Hau pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas of the Chinese in the area and colourful Ben Than Market. Notre Dame Cathedral inaugurated in 1880 became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient as was the Post office designed by Gustav Eiffel and resembling a grand railway station.

Photo stop at the former Presidential Palace, renowned for its symbolic role in the fall of Saigon in 1975 and continue to visit the War Remnants Museum.

DINNER CRUISE ON SAIGON RIVER

Escape the hustle & bustle of the city and cruise the waters of the Saigon River. Savour a sumptuous dinner, accompanied by live entertainment, while floating past Ho Chi Minh’s enchanting night-time cityscape.

Pick up at your hotel and drive to the Bach Dang Pier for embarkation. Complimentary cocktails, canapés, and a friendly crew welcome you aboard the biggest dragon boat in Vietnam, the double-decker Bonsai. A multi-member band sets the mood with a musical fusion of the East and West as you cruise out into the Saigon River. Settle in as the executive chef and Vietnamese show cooks prepare, in concert, an impressive Eurasian buffet. The Bonsai also offers cocktail lounges and airy verandas for an after-dinner stroll. Relax with a complimentary head and neck massage and enjoy the live entertainment that continues throughout the evening, concluding with a fire-dance performance.

Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast

Dinner on Bonsai Cruise

DAY 6: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNELS / TAY NINH – HO CHI MINH CITY  (B/L/-)

CU CHI TUNNELS AND TAY NINH CAO DAI TEMPLE

Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during Vietnam War. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels.

Proceed to Tay Ninh, centre of the Cao-Dai religion founded in 1926, a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. You will have the opportunity to watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass.

Return to Ho Chi Minh.

Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast

Lunch at local restaurant

DAY 7: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Leisure time until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.

Meals included: Breakfast

“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”

OUR PRICE IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING HOTELS

Deluxe: Hilton Hotel – Deluxe room (Hanoi), Renaissance Hotel – Deluxe City View Room (Ho Chi Minh City)

First: Moevenpick – Superior Deluxe Room (Hanoi). Moevenpick – Deluxe Superior Room (Ho Chi Minh City)

Superior: La Dolce Vita – Superior Room (Hanoi), Vien Dong Hotel – ROH room (Ho Chi Minh City)

Please contact us for rates based on different hotels.

TOUR PRICE

(*)  Child policy:

Discounted rates are applicable for 1 child (from 2 – 11 years of age) accompanied by 2 full-paying passengers (in other words, for every 2 full-paying participants 1 child is entitled to the special child rate).

OUR TOUR PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF

Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom

Meals as stated in the programme [B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner]

Transfers and tours with local English or French-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles

All entrance fees, boat fees and cyclo fees as mentioned in the programme

Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles

NOT INCLUDED ARE

Domestic airfare (quoted separately)

Optional tours

Surcharges for other language guides

Personal travel insurance

Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.

Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme

Drinks with meals

Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking

Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)

Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme

CANCELLATIONS

• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):

• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  According to the costs incurred will be charged

• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price

• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price

• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price

• 1 day prior to departure or no show:   100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY

• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  no charge

• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price

• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.

PLEASE NOTE

• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.

• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.

• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.

• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.

• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL

HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:

Address:  5th floor,  130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da,  Hanoi, Vietnam

Telephone during office hours:  +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898

Fax:  +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)

Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.

 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.

 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.

 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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