Very Vietnam – 2 for 1 deal land only

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- Economy flights Danang to Saigon
- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 7 nights 4* hotel accommodation
- 1 night aboard a deluxe junk boat
- 1 overnight aboard a sleeper train
- Breakfast daily
- Selected lunches & dinner
- Halong Bay Junk boat cruise
- Sampan & row boat journeys in the Mekong Delta
- Guided sightseeing in Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Ho Ain, Mekong Delta & Saigon
- Touring by private vehicles
- Bicycle ride to Tra Que village & a cooking demonstration
- Services of a local guide
- Visa approval letter (excl. stamping fee required upon arrival)    
- Highlights include Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, Saigon, Cai Be & Ca Tho

** Excludes entrance fees of approx. USD30 - USD40 & a tipping kitty of approximately USD40 - USD50

** High season supplememt starting from an additional R1750 per person for travel between 04 MAR 2017 - 29 APR 2017

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Hanoi
Saturday. Welcome to Hanoi, perhaps the most graceful, atmospheric & exotic capital city in Asia. Airport to hotel arrival transfer. The remains of the day offer free time for you to explore the wide tree lined avenues, beautiful lakes, ancient pagoda’s & thriving, historic old city, all easily navigated on foot.
Overnight: Hanoi

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Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay
Hanoi – Halong Bay. This morning a scenic drive leads us to the stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Boarding our traditional wooden junk boat we cruise the emerald waters soaking up the panoramic vista of the thousand or so karst limestone islands that stud the bay.

Later opt for a refreshing swim in one of the many sheltered coves before taking row boats to the pristine 'Dark & Bright Lagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before an impressive seafood dinner is served.
Overnight: Deluxe Junk Boat 

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Hidden grottoes, Halong Bay
Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Start the day with a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional massage. After exploring a lofty grotto hidden beneath towering cliffs, we sail back to port.

Arriving to Hanoi mid afternoon an hour or so is spent exploring the quixotic web of streets, known as the ‘36 streets of the old quarter’. The motorbike swarming narrow lanes are each named after various guilds of the city’s artisan who established themselves here centuries ago. There is Silver Street, Silk Street, Comb Street, Paper Street & more. The maze of rambling streets are framed by narrow front tube houses & we may have a chance to sample the exotic fruits, sizzling noodle dishes & delightfully sticky snacks being offers by he pavement vendors. Our tour of the area is undertaken by a quintessentially Vietnamese experience from aboard a cyclo (rickshaw).

A little time will be given to freshen up before boarding the our train (4 berth sleeper cabin, basic standard) on he ‘Reunification Express’ railway line to Hue.
Overnight: Sleeper train 

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Imperial Hue
Upon arrival to Hue we embark on a guided sightseeing tour of the 19th-century Nguyen empire capital. We visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, home to the oldest monastery in the city, whose 21m high tower has become something of a symbol for Hue & the citadel. Within the citadel is the Imperial Purple Palace, an exact copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing, with its impressive ramparts, formal moats & imperial palaces, some of which lay in ruin.

In the countryside lies the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings, here we’ll view the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc & Khai Dinh. As the sun sets opt for a cruise in a long boat along the gentle Perfume River, beautifully illuminated at night.
Overnight: Hue

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Delightful Hoi An
Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. Today we take the scenic Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds), which offers magnificent views of beaches to one side & lush hills to the other. En route we stop for a walk along My Khe beach, a beautiful stretch of coastline which was nicknamed 'China Beach' by the Americans during the war & famously featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s movie ‘Apocalypse Now’. Perhaps enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea before continuing our journey south along the coast to Hoi An.

The charming, old-world trading port of Hoi An with it cobbled streets, traditional homes & tiny shop houses is a perfect place to lose yourself in a by gone era. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops & artisans including some of Asia’s best bespoke tailors (whose services come at a nominal price), all can be found here.

On a short walking tour of the enchanting historical town, we’ll visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house, former merchants’ homes & the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
Overnight: Hoi An

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Village Life
A bicycle ride into the countryside, leads us to Tra Que village. Here,we discover age old farming practices & learn about traditional medicine. It’s a hands on experience today where we’ll assist with tending the fields & gardens & cooking lunch.
Overnight: Hoi An

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Hoi An - at leisure
A free day for you relax or further sightsee. You may wish to take a relaxing rowboat journey along the river or spend the day lazing by the beach or hotel pool. It’s also possible to take an optional excursion to the most holiest & evocative of Vietnam’s Cham sites, My Son or to Quang Ngai, the site of the My Lai massacre memorial. The massacre was a significant turning point in the Vietnam War & the story is told through photo presentation on a walk through the village.
Overnight: Hoi An

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Cruising the Mekong
Hoi An - Saigon. Early morning flight to Saigon. Drive to the Mekong Delta. Often referred to as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits, flowers & rice, as well as it fantastic views while boating along the canals. Taking our sampan from Vinh Long we’ll cruise downstream from Cai Be through the maze of waterways watching the hubbub of daily life on the river. Passing colourful trading boats, house boats & children swimming we stop to visit some of the local cottage industries that produce popcorn, coco candies & paper along the way. Lunch is served today in a traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island.
Overnight: Can Tho

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Mekong & Saigon
Can Tho - Saigon. Early today we visit the ever lively Cai Rang floating market. Watch as melons, pineapples, fresh greens, sacks of rice & children's toys get tossed from one sampan to another at great heights & speed before driving back to Saigon. Once called the Pearl of the Orient, modern Saigon is a thriving metropolis on the move. Sleek sky scrapers, gourmet restaurants, designer malls & swanky bars & spas are scattered between ancient pagodas, colonial era landmarks & lively street markets. Our walking tour of Saigon includes visits to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office & the sombering War Remnants Museum. Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Saigon

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Saigon
Monday. Today is free for you to enjoy Saigon before your departure transfer to the airport. Opt for a relaxing foot massage, shop for souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market or visit the grand Independence Palace, with its secret bunker & military command centre beneath!

You could also extend your stay & join us on a day trip to Cu Chi. Here you can go underground to explore the vast network of tunnels & hideouts used by Viet Cong guerrilla fighters, see booby traps, trap doors or test your skill with an AK 47 at the firing range.