Monday 23 May

Auckland– Singapore

Time this morning for connecting flights to Auckland where the group assembles before an early afternoon departure for Singapore. Arrival time is early evening and overnight accommodation has been reserved at the hotel within the airport complex.

Tuesday 24 May

Singapore – Hanoi (D)

This morning we join the flight to Hanoi. On arrival, we are met by our local hosts and transferred to our hotel for a 2 night stay. This evening, let’s enjoy a “welcome” dinner at a local restaurant.

Wednesday 25 May

Hanoi (B.L.)

We begin our Vietnam adventure with a full day of sightseeing in the capital. We visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his cottage house located at the spiritual centre of Vietnam’s struggle for independence. We see the One Pilar Pagoda dating back to 1049 and situated in the middle of a pond of Lotus. Lunch at a local restaurant before we continue our sightseeing tour visiting the Museum of Ethnology where we learn about the 54 ethnic groups that make up the Vietnamese people. Later, we enjoy a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, the bustling heart of commercial Hanoi dating back to the 11^th century, before our last stop at the Lake of Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple.

Thursday 26 May

Hanoi – Lao Cai (B.D)

This morning, we continue our sightseeing visiting the Fine Arts and Historical museums showcasing Vietnam’s history with a large display of every period of its development. We see Hoa Lo Prison later known to American Prisoners of War as the “Hanoi Hilton”. There is some free time before we check out of our hotel at 6.00p.m and then enjoy a performance of the traditional and unique Vietnamese water puppet show followed by dinner at local restaurant. We then join the King Express train for the overnight journey to Lao Cai. Deluxe two berth compartments on board.

Friday 27 May

Lao Cai - Sapa (B.D)

An early morning arrival into Lao Chi Station near the Chinese border. We join our coach for the scenic drive to Sapa enjoying spectacular views of rice-terraced mountains and passing by the people of the Black H’Mong and Red Dao Hill-Tribes with their colourful dress. After check-in and breakfast at our hotel, there is time for a visit to the local market where the people gather from afar to buy and sell their wares. We also take a walking tour of Cat Cat Village which is home to the Black H’Mong hill-tribe before returning to the hotel with the remainder of the day at leisure.

Saturday 28 May

Sapa - Lao Cai – Hanoi (B.L.D)

Today is a day where we get to see more of the local hill-tribes. We return to Lao Cai and then take a walk through the terrace rice fields to the village of Ta Van where the Giay Hill-tribe. After a picnic lunch, we continue on through bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai where we meet with the Red Dao minority people. Then, it’s back to Lao Cai with time to freshen up at a local guest house before enjoying dinner and boarding the overnight train back to Hanoi. Deluxe 2 berth compartments on board.

Sunday 29 May

Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B.L.D)

Early morning arrival back in Hanoi where we are transferred to a hotel with time to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before departing by coach to Halong Bay referred to as the “Jewel in the Crown” of Vietnam with some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam. At lunchtime, we join a traditional Vietnamese junk for an overnight cruise - no itinerary would be complete without cruising Halong Bay, a World Heritage site. Accommodation on board in deluxe cabins. Enjoy the Vietnamese buffet lunch and the sumptuous seafood dinner as you cruise the bay passing fishing villages and small towns. Lots of activities available for the more active – cooking demonstrations, pristine beaches for swimming, fishing, kayaking - or just sit back and enjoy the wonderful setting as the world passes by.

Monday 30 May

Halong Bay Cruising (B.L.D)

Tuesday 31 May

Halong Bay – Hue (B.L.)

The cruise continues this morning passing many islands, inlets, caves, bizarre rock sculptures. Don’t forget to watch the magnificent sunrise from the sundeck, maybe even join the crew for Tai Chi exercises. Sadly, its time to disembark as we continue our journey by coach first to the ceramic village of Phu Lang, the last surviving village of the Old Pottery Triangle, then on to Hanoi Airport where we join our flight to the imperial city of Hue where we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2 night stay.

Wednesday 01 June

Hue (B.D.)

The former capital of the emperors of Vietnam is known for its beautiful imperial architecture although much of it was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968. After breakfast, we take a dragon boat ride upstream on the Perfume River which forms the border between the city itself and the former “Forbidden Purple City”. We visit Thien Mu Pagoda and continue our drive to the mighty Citadel, this city within a city, with its pagodas and lakes covered in lotus flowers although once again, much of it was destroyed during the war. This afternoon, we visit the impressive tombs of the emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and enjoy a cycle tour of the city with a stop at Dong Ba Central Market. Dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

Thursday 2 June

Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B.D)

After breakfast, we depart Hue for Hoi An via. Danang over the Hai Van, “Ocean Clouds Pass”, where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed from the summit. We stop at Danang to visit the Cham Museum with magnificent examples of the art of the Cham civilisation, China Beach and the Marble Mountains before arriving at the charming old town of Hoi An for a 3 night stay. Dinner at our resort hotel this evening.

Friday 3 June

Hoi An (B.L.)

A chance to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this heritage town, one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam. Late this morning, join in a cooking class with Hoi An’s renowned chef ‘Ms Vy’ at “Morning Glory Cooking School”, followed by a lunch. Enjoy a walking tour through narrow streets of the ancient quarter. Afterwards take a short boat ride to a nearby island to visit a handicraft village and the boat building yards. The remainder of the day is free at leisure – a great place for shopping, especially tailor-made clothes.

Saturday 4 June

Hoi An – My Son (B.D)

After breakfast depart on an excursion to My Son, 69km from Danang and 10km from historic town of Tra Kiev. The My Son Temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes in South East Asia often compared with Angkor Wat in Cambodia. This World Heritage site was constructed between the 4^th and 14^th centuries by the Champa kings in a valley roughly 2km wide and surrounded by mountains. We return to Hoi with the remainder of the day at leisure.

Sunday 5 June

Hoi An – Nha Trang (B.D)

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport at Danang for the short flight to Nha Trang. On arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2night stay. Nha Trang has developed into one of Vietnam’s main resort towns with a combination of mountains, beautiful white sand beaches and some of the clearest waters in the country. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the hotel facilities, maybe take a stroll along the beach. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

Monday 6 June

Nha Trang (B.L.)

Today, we enjoy a boat cruise through the turquoise waters, visiting off shore islands and fishing villages with a seafood lunch on one of the Islands. On our return to shore, visit Po Nagar Cham Towers built between 7^th and 12^th century at the entrance to the Cai River where it meets the ocean. Then to Chong Promotory, a small crescent-shaped bay before returning to the hotel.

Tuesday 7 June

Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon (B.D)

After breakfast we can relax for the morning before we are transferred to the airport for our short flight to Saigon. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2 night stay. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

Wednesday 8 June

Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnel & City Tour (B.L)

Depart Saigon for the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. This network of underground tunnels which stretched for over 200kms, played a vital part in the US/Vietnam War, allowing the Vietcong to control a large rural area of Saigon. The network on several levels deep has specifically constructed living areas, field hospitals, command centre and kitchens and the tour offers a unique insight into the underground life during the war. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by the city tour – we visit Notre Dame Cathedral built in 1877 entirely of stone imported from France. See the Central Post Office, another fine example of colonial architecture and visit the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the president of Sth Vietnam. We finish the tour with a visit to the amazing Ben Thanh Market, a fantastic place for shopping.

Thursday 9 June

Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho – Mekong Delta (B.L.D)

Depart hotel for the two hour drive to Mytho/Mekong Delta. We take a boat ride across the Mekong River to the island to visit orchards and a beehive farm. Enjoy a horse-cart ride on a village road and join a sampan for a ride through a narrow canal under a green canopy of water coconut trees where we can watch the local people go about their daily activities. Afterwards, it’s back across the river. Lunch is at Ngoc Gia Trang Restaurant highlighting the Mekong delta specialties then it’s on by coach to Can Tho for our overnight stay.

Friday 10 June

Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B.L)

After early morning coffee, we transfer to the pier to join a motorized sampan to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest in the Mekong Delta, where we see myriads of boats trading every conceivable type of goods with bartering practiced by the traders. Back to the hotel for breakfast and then we depart for Saigon with a stop enroute for lunch. We enjoy a further 2 night stay in Saigon.

Saturday 11 June

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B.D)

Today is completely free for you to shop, relax, or explore the city some more. This evening, we get together for a farewell dinner on the eve of our departure for home.

Sunday 12 June

Ho Chi Minh City – Singapore - Auckland (B)

A leisurely day until our early afternoon transfer to the airport where we join the flight to Singapore connecting with the overnight flight to Auckland.

Monday 13 June

Auckland

Arrive home in Auckland mid morning.