Starting PointVictory Hotel
15 Nguyen Nhu Do Street
Hanoi
Vietnam
Phone: +84 4 37474725
Fax: +84 4 3747053
Joining Point Instructions
Metered taxi ranks are available outside the airport entrance. Go out of the customs hall and walk outside the airport where there is a table with a sign saying "metered taxis". There are two companies, Noi Bai taxi and Viet Thanh taxi. Both of them cost the same, US$12 (VND180,000) set price for a drive to your hotels in city center. The hotel that we use are easy to find and well known to most taxi drivers.
Our Joining Point Hotel
Is The Victory Hotel and is situated in the heart of Hanoi near the historic Temple of Literature, Hanoi Train station and within walking distance to the "Old Quarter". Our hotel is also surrounded by many local cafes, restaurants, markets and street stalls. Rooms are comfortable and have wireless internet, air-conditioning, IDD phones, mini-bars, satellite tv & private bathrooms.
Normal check in time at the hotel is after 12:00.
Continuing Point Hotel
Hong Vy 3 Hotel
20 Bui Thi Xuan St.
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
Phone: +84 8 3925 6650 / 3925 6651
Fax: +84 8 3925 6649
An arrival transfer from the airport is available if arranged at the time of booking. Transfers cannot be arranged on arrival. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure. If you plan to arrive earlier, this arrival transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid.
Metered taxis are readily available as you leave the customs hall in Ho Chi Minh City, they cost around US$7 (VND120000) set price for the drive to the joining hotels in city center. The hotels we use are easy to find and well known to most drivers. Please AVOID taxi touts who tell you that they have a metered taxi parked outside the airport.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer you will be met on arrival, and your driver will be waiting for you as you get out of the customs hall and will be holding an Intrepid sign bearing your name.
Please note that neither the driver nor any representative should ask you for additional payment.
If you cannot find your pre-booked transfer, or you have any concerns about your transfer, please call our hotline at +84 903 117 770.
Normal check in time at the hotel is after 13:00.
Back to the top
Finishing PointGrande Ville Hotel
903 Mahachai Road
Chinatown
Bangkok
Thailand
Phone: +66 (0) 2 225 0050
Fax: +66 (0) 2 225 7593
Finishing Point Instructions
A taxi from the hotel to the airport will cost about THB400-700 depending on time of day and toll ways. Check out time from the hotel is at 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
Back to the top
Physical Rating - EasyYou are required to carry your pack on and off trains and buses, up hotel steps, etc. Your itinerary may include easy paced walks or bike rides, but these are on mainly flat ground.
Back to the top
AccommodationHotels (15 nts), sailing junk (1 nt), overnight train (1 nt)
The style of accommodation described in the day to day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi share basis. Please note there may be times when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we are arriving prior to normal check in time. However this is not always possible which means we will not be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
If you have purchased pre or post trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
We use 4-berth soft-sleeper compartments for the overnight train journey which are simple but comfortable.
Back to the top
Meals11 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Please note that breakfasts are often simple (eggs, bread, jam and coffee/tea would be most common).
Back to the top
Single SupplementA single supplement fee is not available on this trip.
Single travellers will be paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Back to the top
IncludedDomestic Flight
KOTO breakfast - Hanoi
Boat trip including lunch and dinner - Halong Bay
Imperial Citadel and Royal Tomb - Hue
Perfume River boat trip - Hue
Orientation tour - Hoi An
Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
Cyclo tour and War Remnants Museum - Ho Chi Minh City
Day trip to the Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City
Tour of Tuol Sleng and Museum - Phnom Penh
Choeung Ek Killing Fields - Phnom Penh
Angkor temples pass (2 days) - Siem Reap
Guided sightseeing of Angkor temples - Siem Reap
Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake - Siem Reap
This is a list of included activities on this trip. All other activities are optional and at your own expense. For a list of optional activities and sightseeing available on this trip, see the optional activities section below. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.
Back to the top
Not IncludedInternational Flights
Optional Activities
We list the following optional activities for your information. This is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only.
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by you tour operator or agent nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with you tour operator/agent.
Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi – US$1
Women's Museum, Hanoi – US$1
Army Museum, Hanoi – US$1
Temple of Literature, Hanoi – US$1
Hoa Lo “Hanoi Hilton” Prison, Hanoi – US$1
Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi – US$1
Taxi to each museum, Hanoi – US$3
1 day Bicycle hire, Hue – US$2
1 day Bicycle hire per day, Hoi An – US$2
My Son Cham Ruins including car transport, Hoi An – US$24
Thu Bon River Boat Trip, Hoi An – US$5
Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City - US$2
Saigon Water Park, Ho Chi Minh City - US$4
National Museum, Phnom Penh - US$3
Cyclo tour, Phnom Penh – US$3
The Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh - US$7
Royal Palace, Phnom Penh - US$7
Landmine Museum, Siem Reap - US$1
Half day village tour, Siem Reap – US$10 (transport additional)
Countryside tour, Battambang – US$7
Cooking class, Battambang - US$8
The Grand Palace, Bangkok – US$8
Wat Po, Bangkok - US$2
Khlongs (canal) tour (per boat), Bangkok - US$24
Back to the top
TransportPlane, overnight train, private bus, public bus, boat, local bus, cyclo, walking
There are some long travel days and some of the transport can be quite cramped.
Back to the top
What to TakeWe recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find easiest to carry). A good size daypack is also essential.
Back to the top
Health & SafetyFor vaccinations please visit the
MDtravelhealth website.
Sun:
It is very important that you wear sun block, even on a cloudy day when it feels cool as we are near the equator and the sun is very strong. A sunburn can turn a pleasant trip into a painful trip.
Hydration
Even when days are cool please be sure to drink a minimum of two litres of water and refrain from drinking to many diuretics, as while when travelling outdoors the breeze can dehydrate you quickly as well as the heat.
Diarrhoea:
It is normal for people travelling overseas to get an upset stomach due to a change of climate and food. Please make sure that you wash your hands and stay away from street food.You will be required to complete a participation form on day 1 of the trip.
Participation Form
You will be required to complete a participation form on day 1 of the trip.
Back to the top
Important InfoPlease Note | While we operate successful trips in Vietnam throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables. During the rainy months (approximately October to January), transportation mode can be changed at short notice due to weather conditions.
TET is Vietnam's New Year festival, held annually generally in late January or early February; please see Country Information - Vietnam for the exact dates. You should expect shop closures and extremely busy transport. Some tourist sites are also closed. Although we make bookings far in advance, transport and accommodation providers tend to overbook their services at this time so a flexible approach from travellers is needed. Our itinerary, transport and visited sites may change in response to TET festivities.
Please note that this trip is a combination of two tours. The composition of your group and your Group Leader may change on Day 10.
The border between Cambodia and Thailand may close at short notice and an additional flight for this sector may be necessary.
Disclaimer | The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and tour operator/agent. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. This tour is run by Intrepid Travel.
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader,
Back to the top