Starting PointVan Mieu Hotel
54B Quoc Tu Giam Street
Hanoi
Vietnam
Phone: +84 (04) 3747 4254
Fax: +84 (04) 3747 4253
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$14 (VND230,000) 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
The Van Mieu Hotel is a brand new 2 star hotel with 28 rooms, located less than 2 minute walk to Temple of Literature. Room facilities include IDD phone, satellite TV, air-conditioning, ensuite bathroom. The hotel also has an elevator, a nice top floor restaurant serving buffet breakfast, sauna, and business centre services.
Normal check in time at the hotel is after 14:00.
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Finishing PointNam De Hotel
10-12 Nguyen Trai Street
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: 84 8 3925 2540
Fax: 84 8 3835 6940
Finishing Point Instructions
A metered taxi from the hotel to the airport should cost about US$7 (VND 120,000) and take around 30 minutes (depending on traffic). Normal check out time is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
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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.
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AccommodationHotels (11 nts), sailing junk (1 nt), overnight trains (2 nts)
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.
On our overnight trains compartments are clean, with padded berths (4 to a room), sheets, pillow, blanket and boiling water available. Most trains have a dining carriage and there are snacks available on the train along the way.
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MealsWhile travelling with us you will experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Generally, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Please check the 'meal inclusions' section below for details of meals included.
Allow USD $250 for meals not included.
Meal Inclusions
12 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Please note that breakfasts are often simple (eggs, bread, jam and coffee/tea would be most common).
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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.
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Included
Entrance to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum - Hanoi
Water puppet show - Hanoi
Breakfast at Blue Dragon Children's Charity - Hanoi
Overnight boat cruise and meals - Halong Bay
Perfume River boat cruise - Hue
Entrance to Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda - Hue
Orientation tour - Hoi An
Boat trip including basket boat and deck chair hire - Nha Trang
Cyclo tour including War Remnants museum - Ho Chi Minh City
Mekong Delta Day Trip - Ho Chi Minh City
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.
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Not IncludedInternational Flight
Optional Activities
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, Hoi An – US$2
My Son Cham Ruins, including car transport, Hoi An – US$24
Thu Bon River Boat Trip, Hoi An – US$5
Mud Baths, including taxi, Nha Trang – from US$14
Bao Dai's Villa, including taxi, Nha Trang – from US$6
Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City – US$2
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 the tour operator/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 the tour operator/agent.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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