Vietnam - 7 Days Ho Chi Minh City & Hanoi

Day 1 (Arrive Ho Chi Minh City):

Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where you will meet your driver who will take you to your central city hotel. Check-in and the rest of the day is free.

Hotel: The Odys Boutique Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 2 (Ho Chi Minh City):
Full Day: City Tour (Private tour)
Depart hotel: 9:00am
Finish: 4:00pm approx.

Visit the Ben Thanh Markets before the sobering War Remnants Museum, a mixed display (sometimes confronting) that shows the Vietnam (American) War from the Vietnamese perspective. A short distance away is the Independence Palace. In 1975, when South Vietnam fell to the North, this was the Presidential Palace. It has been restored as it was in 1975 and provides an interesting snapshot of that time.

After lunch, drive-by the Rex Hotel, a meeting place for American military officials and foreign correspondents, during the Vietnam War and stop at 22 Gai Street, an apartment building that became famous as the last CIA evacuation point in the final days of the Vietnam War.

Visit the Pink Pagoda, a Chinese Buddhist pagoda which is an oasis amid the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City and of course, painted pink. Then, before returning to your hotel, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Post Office, located in the heart of the city, both built in the nineteenth century and noted for their architecture.

Nearby, is the Independence Palace. In 1975, when South Vietnam fell to the North, this was the Presidential Palace. It has been restored as it was in 1975 and provides an interesting snapshot of that time.

Evening: Street Food Tour (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 6:00pm
Finish: 8:30pm approx.

Tonight, you are in for a treat. Your guide will meet you and take you on a Street Food Tour. Walk between different food outlets noted for their own speciality, sampling a range of delicious Vietnamese food cooked in front of you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: The Odys Boutique Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 3 (Ho Chi Minh City):
Full day: Nui Dat, Long Tan and Vung Tau Tour (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 7:30am
Arrive: 5:30pm approx.

Travel out of Ho Chi Minh City to the east and what was Phuoc Tuy Province. Visit the site of the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat where the Australians were located during the Vietnam War. Your first stop will be the site of the Australian, NZ and US artillery positions which played a vital role in the Battle of Long Tan. Nearby, is the base HQ. Here, the air raid shelter and the remnants of the command centre can be seen.

A short distance away is Kanga Pad (the helicopter pad) and SAS Hill, now a quarry. Also see Luscombe Airfield, now a roadway and drive down Canberra Avenue to the site of the 6RAR’s camp and the Nui Dat Memorial. Pause at the memorial for some time of personal reflection.

Visit the Long Tan Memorial which marks the site of the Battle of Long Tan in which Australian soldiers, heavily outnumbered, engaged the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). Sadly, 18 Australians and about 245 NVA soldiers died. Here, take part in a private ceremony to remember all those who died, both military and civilian, during the Vietnam War.

 After leaving Long Tan, your next stop will be the Long Phuoc Tunnels. A tunnel complex used by the Viet Cong to move around within the Australian controlled area. Enjoy a walk through a small section of the tunnels.

Visit Dat Do before travelling to Vung Tau for a late lunch at the Grand Hotel, popular with Australian soldiers. After lunch, stop at the site of the Peter Badcoe Club (R&R Centre) and the VC Memorial, the site of the 1st Australian Logistics Support Group. Drive by the Front and Back Beaches and if time allows, visit the Worldwide Arms Museum Museum featuring a significant display of Australian military memorabilia.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Odys Boutique Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 4 (Depart Ho Chi Minh City, Arrive Hanoi):

Your day is free as you wish until your driver picks you up from your hotel to take you to the airport in time for your outbound flight To Hanoi.

Arrive at Hanoi’s Boi Nai International Airport where you will meet by your driver who will take you to your hotel located in the Old Quarter. Check-in and the rest of the day is free.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Bendecir Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 5 (Hanoi):
Full Day: City Tour (Private tour):
Depart hotel: 9:00am
Finish: 4:00pm approx.

Start the day with a visit to the nearby Ngoc Son Temple venturing across the magnificent The Hoc (Red) Bridge. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and Huu Tiep Lake where you will see the wreckage of a US B52 bomber, shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius. Your guide will bring to life, the history and uniqueness within the Vietnamese culture. Then for something really different, visit Train Street where the main train line to Hanoi passes through a narrow laneway with homes, shops and bars on either side. Perhaps take time to have a cool drink at one of the bars. Then return to your hotel via the Old French Quarter and view the French architecture along the way.

Evening: Street Food Tour (Private tour):
Depart: 6:00pm
Finish: 8:30pm approx.

Tonight, you are in for a treat. Your guide will pick you up and take you on a Street Food Tour in the Old Quarter. Walk around and sample a delightful mix of Asian, Chinese and French influenced cuisine of your choice, all cooked in front of you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Bendecir Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 6 (Hanoi):
Full day: Halong Bay Tour (‘Join-in’ tour with private transfer):
Depart hotel: 7:00am
Finish: 8:00pm approx.

Take the 2 hour private transport to Halong Bay where you will board your boat for your day cruise of Halong Bay. Pass by magnificent limestone outcrops rising straight out of the ocean waters including Dog Rock, Duck Rock and Thumb Rock. Enjoy a buffet lunch on board.

Stop at Bo Hon Island and visit Sung Sot Cave, the largest and most beautiful in Halong Bay. Next stop is the Luon Cave where you will have the opportunity to kayak or board a 'bamboo' boat (both, a lot of fun!!) and venture through the cave to open out into a spectacular, hidden bay surrounded by the limestone mountains. The final stop is Titov Island where you can walk to the top of the rocky outcrop (about 450 steps) where you will be rewarded by a panoramic view of Halong Bay.

Return to Hanoi and your hotel after a fantastic day at Halong Bay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Bendecir Hotel (3 Star) (or similar)

Day 7 (Depart Hanoi):

Your day is free as you wish until your driver picks you up from your hotel to take you to the airport in time for your outbound flight from Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast

• Airport transfers

• Hotel pick-ups/Drop-offs for tours

• Hotel (Ho Chi Minh City - 4 Star, Hanoi – 3 Star) accommodation

• Meals as indicated

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with driver

• All touring as per program

• Entrance fees as per program

• All travel to/from Vietnam

• Travel - Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

• Passport & eVisa expenses

• Meals and services not mentioned

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

• Tips to Guides and Drivers

If you find that you are unable to join a tour that has been booked, confirmed and paid in part or in full, the paid amount of that tour less any unrecoverable costs, may be converted to a voucher. The value of that voucher may be used towards the same tour with a later departure date or any other HWT tour.

If a refund is requested, the following cancellation fees may be deducted from the paid amount:

• Greater than 14 days prior to tour start date - 10% of total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 14 Days or less but greater than 7 Days prior to tour start date – 50% of total tour amount + any

unrecoverable costs

• 7 Days or less (including 'no show') prior to tour start date - No refund

Day 2:

• City Tour:

— War Remnants Museum – Low-Moderate

— independence Palace - Low-Moderate

— Pink Pagoda – Moderate

— Notre Dame Cathedral - Low

— Saigon Post Office - Low

• Evening Street Food Tour – Moderate

Day 3:

• Nui Dat and locations - Moderate

• Long Tan Memorial – Low

• Long Phuoc Tunnels - Moderate

• Vung Tau and locations – Low-Moderate

Day 5:

• City Tour:

— Ngoc Son Temple - Moderate

— Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Low-Moderate

— One Pillar Pagoda – Low-Moderate

— Huu Tiep Lake – Low

— Temple of Literature – Low-Moderate

— Train Street - Low-Moderate

• Evening Street Food Tour - Low-Moderate

Day 6:

• Halong Bay (Cruise):

— Bo Hon Island (Sung Sot Cave) - Moderate-High

— Luon Cave - Moderate

— Titov Island – Moderate-High