Day 1 Friday 17th April 2009 Australia – Kuala Lumpur
Depart
home State with Malaysia Airlines and overnight in Kuala Lumpur.
Should you wish to book your luggage through to HCM City Vietnam
you need to request same at time of check in, conditions do
apply. Please note that your hand luggage should not exceed
5KG and will need to include any requirements for your overnight
stay in Kuala Lumpur.
Day
2 Saturday 18th Kualu Lumpur – Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
(D)
You are met at the airport and transferred to your central
city hotel. After freshening up you are taken on a walking
orientation tour of this vibrant city. This evening there
is a group welcome dinner.
Day
3 Sunday 19th Saigon City Tour (B)
Commencing your tour of this historical city you visit many
landmarks, including the Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral,
which was built by the French in 1877, former Presidential
Palace, War Remnants Museum, Cholon District, Father Tam's
Catholic Church where President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother
hid themselves in 1963, and the Ben Thanh markets, where your
bartering skills can be honed. Saigon is a shopper’s
paradise and this evening you might like to visit the street
markets.
Day
4 Monday 20th Saigon - Mekong Delta (B L)
This morning you make an early start and take a scenic drive
south to the Mekong Delta. On arrival at Ben Tre, you board
your private motorised boat and travel the tributaries of
the Mekong Delta to one of the spectacular fruit laden Islands.
Stepping ashore you board a horse drawn cart to explore the
Island and then sit down to morning tea with seasonal fruits.
You then return to your boat onboard an oared Sampan which
takes you along the peaceful canals under the shadows of the
water coconut trees. After returning to shore you lunch at
one of the most picturesque restaurants on the Mekong Delta.
Should time and suitable weather conditions prevail, you will
also visit the Dong Tam snake breeding farm and zoo.
Day
5 Tuesday 21st Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels (B L)
After breakfast you travel northwest to this former underground
VC village. On arrival you watch a video filmed by the Vietnamese
during the American war, and then explore the widened tunnel
systems. For those slim, fit and daring enough you can crawl
along some of the original tunnels. Lunch is alongside the
picturesque river and you return to your hotel mid afternoon.
This is a fun day but expect to get some red dirt on your
clothes, and may we suggest to the ladies that they wear shorts
or slacks.
Day
6 Wednesday 22nd Saigon - Vung Tau (B L)
You depart Saigon and journey south by hydrofoil to the sea
side resort of Vung Tau. After booking into your hotel you
take a road tour and visit the White Villa, the former area
known as “Flags”, the South China sea beach, located
across the road from where the Peter Badcoe club once stood,
and the VC Memorial located where 1 ALSG once stood. Lunch
is provided and the remainder of your day is free to laze
by the hotel pool, have a steam bath or sauna, shop or continue
your sight seeing.
Day 7 Thursday 23rd Vung Tau - Baria - Dat Do - Long Hais (B
L)
After breakfast you travel northeast and visit the township
of Baria, the Dat Do Warrior graveyard, and the Long Hais.
After meeting the monks at the Cao Dai monastery, you explore
the former Minh Dam Secret Zone. In May of 2008, the Vietnamese
Government erected a memorial cross to Gillespie, RAAF A2-767,
KIA 17/04/1971 and the Vietnamese who served and lost their
lives in the Long Hais. A boxed lunch is provided and you
return to Vung Tau mid afternoon.
Day 8 Friday 24th Vung
Tau - Nui Dat – Long Phouc - Hoa Long (B L)
After
breakfast you travel north to Nui Dat passing what is left
of the Horseshoe on the way. (The Horseshoe was mined several
years ago and entry is no longer allowed) Whilst few remnants
remain of the former Task Force Base, plenty of time is allowed
to explore the area and visit the local school, which is in
need of repair and is situated at the end of what was once
the Luscombe Airstrip. After visiting the township of Hoa
Long, you lunch at the Long Phuoc Tunnels and then make your
way back to Vung Tau.
Day
9 Saturday 25th ANZAC Day
Vung Tau - Long Tan
(B)
Following
the Dawn Service at Long Tan you return to the hotel for breakfast.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day
10 Sunday 26th Vung
Tau - Binh Ba - Saigon (B)
This
morning you make your way back to Saigon via the village of
Binh Ba. A refreshment stop is made and you should be back
in the city of Saigon by lunch time. After booking into your
hotel the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day
11 Monday 27th Saigon Free Day (B)
Today is at leisure to allow you to recharge the batteries.
You may wish to continue your sight seeing or visit the shops
and markets for the many bargains on offer. Taxis are cheap
and metered, but a Cyclo is a fun way to travel, make sure
you agree to an hourly price first.
Day
12 Tuesday 28th Saigon – Danang – Hoi An (B)
After breakfast you transfer to the airport for your flight
north to Danang. You are met at the airport and driven the
short distance south to the former trading port of Hoi An,
which retains the feel of centuries past. After booking into
your hotel you refresh and then take a walking tour along
the narrow streets and across the 400 year old Japanese covered
bridge, stopping to visit ancient houses, galleries and a
silk tailor shop along the way. Mid afternoon you can relax
by the swimming pool or continue your shopping and sightseeing.
Day
13 Wednesday 29th Hoi An – My Son – Kim Bong (B
L)
This morning you drive south west to My Son, located in Quang
Nam Province. The Champa ruins of My Son date from the 4th
to the 13th centuries and represent a series of constructions.
On your return journey you stop at Cau Lau Bridge and board
a private boat for a cruise on the Thu Bon River to the Kim
Bong wood carving village. The more adventurous can then ride
a bicycle along the paths of this scenic village to a private
home for lunch. Those unable to ride bicycles will be transported
on the back of motor scooters. After lunch you visit a wood
carving workshop, and then re board your boat for a fun and
scenic cruise back to Hoi An.
Day
14 Thursday 30th Hoi An – Danang (B L)
Mid morning you take the short drive to Danang to visit the
unique Marble Mountains . Providing the weather and your fitness
allows you can at your pace make the long climb to the top
and enter Huyen Khong cave. You will be rewarded with magnificent
views of Danang, the surrounding mountains and China beach.
Those unable to make the climb can visit the marble factory
to learn and watch how the statues are carved. Next you visit
the Cham museum with its artefacts dating from the 7th to
the 15th centuries, and the original China Beach.
Day
15 Friday 1st May Hoi An – Danang – Lang Co Beach –
Hue (BL)
Mid morning you farewell Hoi An and travel by road north across
the stunning Hai Van Pass, stopping at Lang Co Beach for lunch.
After a relaxing stop in this scenic area, you continue your
drive to Hue and on arrival book into your hotel.
Day
16 Saturday 2nd Hue (B)
After breakfast you take a cruise by Dragon boat along the
scenic Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Returning to
your hotel you freshen up and then take an orientation tour
of this historic city and visit the magnificent Royal Citadel,
surrounded by a moat, the defensive wall is 10 kilometres
long and encompassed within is the Imperial Closure and the
Forbidden Purple City.
Day
17 Sunday 3rd Hue – Dong Ha - DMZ – Dong Hoi
(B L D)
You farewell Hue and drive north to Dong Ha and the DMZ, which
saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Vietnam war. You
will travel along Route 9 from Dong Ha, and visit the former
US Marine Combat Base at Khe Sanh, Con Thien, Camp Carroll,
The Rockpile, Dakrong Bridge, and the Ben Hai River which
separated North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. A boxed
lunch is provided and dinner is at the resort in Dong Hoi.
Day
18 Monday 4th Dong Hoi (B L D)
This morning you take a short road journey west to visit the
world heritage listed Phong Nga caves. On arrival you board
a small boat and travel along the beautiful Son River, disembarking
to explore the cave complex. On your return to the resort
your day is at leisure, lunch and dinner are provided at the
resort.
Day
19 Tuesday 5th Dong Hoi - Ninh Binh (B L D)
After an early breakfast you check out of the resort and travel
north through diverse and beautiful landscapes to Ninh Binh,
arriving late afternoon. Photo and rest stops are made along
the way and lunch and dinner are provided.
Day
20 Wednesday 6th Ninh Binh - Tam Coc - Hanoi (B L)
Mid morning you visit Tam Coc, which is also known as Dry
Halong Bay. The highlight is a relaxing ride in a hand woven
bamboo rowing boat. The scenery is spectacular, you are surrounded
by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks. After
lunch you drive to Hanoi and after booking into your hotel
your time is at leisure.
Day 21 Thursday 7th Hanoi – Free Day (B)
Today is at leisure to allow you to recharge your batteries.
You may wish to do some sightseeing or visit the Old Quarter
for shopping bargains.
Day
22 Friday 8th Hanoi City Tour (B D)
Today you visit several landmarks, including, the Ho Chi Minh
Mausoleum, the former Presidential Palace, the modest stilt
house of President Ho Chi Minh, One Pillar Pagoda built in
1049, Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) the Army
Museum and former POW Prison “the Hanoi Hilton”.
This evening there is a group farewell dinner.
Day
23 Saturday 9th Hanoi – Kuala Lumpur - Australia (B)
Your time is at leisure until you transfer to the airport
for your flight to Kuala Lumpur where you board your overnight
flight to your home state.
NB:
B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
Additional accommodation, sightseeing,
private transfers, insurance, visa or any other travel options
are available.