Superior Room
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Destination
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Trip duration
9 days, 8 nights
Panoramic view of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
This immersive nine-day tour takes us from north to south, travelling through Vietnam by bus, boat, train, cyclo, bicycle and, of course, on foot. The adventure starts in Hanoi, with a cyclo tour of the capital and a stroll through the Old Quarter. In Son Tay, we delve into local life with an overnight stay at a homestay, an early morning Tai Chi session and time spent helping farmers. We then head to iconic Halong Bay for an overnight cruise among the bay’s dramatic limestone karsts, before flying to historic Hue. Highlights include the Citadel, Imperial City and Tu Duc’s Tomb, watching locals make incense sticks and conical hats and cycling past lush rice paddies and rural villages.
Day 1
Hanoi – Arrival
We waste no time starting our exploration of the vibrant capital city’s amazing sights and sounds. Upon arrival we transfer to the city to check-in to our overnight accommodation (the official check-in time is 2 pm). After lunch, we take a cyclo-tour and a short stroll to view the blend of old and new architecture. Centuries-old buildings with South-East Asian, French and Chinese influences dot the metropolis and these contrast with the futuristic modern glass and steel skyscrapers. We then take a short walk around serene Hoan Kiem Lake, an oasis of greenery in the lively metropolis. We then head to the Old Quarter, a network of narrow streets and cobbled squares peppered with small temples, lively markets and traditional shop houses. After working up a thirst, we sample some bia hoi, a light and refreshing locally-brewed beer, ahead of dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Food
-/L/D
Accommodation
Hanoi
Day 2
Hanoi – Son Tay
Absorb rural experiences and gain an insight into authentic Vietnamese life in Son Tay town on the outskirts of Hanoi. After breakfast and the hotel check-out, we transfer to this destination 42 km outside of the metropolis. We follow a route alongside the Red River, which weaves through the sprawling suburbs until we reach a more serene environment. Upon arrival, we can participate in a range of activities, including a morning tai chi session with locals, or a bike ride through the lush countryside to view quaint villages in an environment far removed from the frenetic activity of the capital. Another fun option is to join some farmers and help them tend to their crops and livestock. Alternatively, head to the kitchen and learn how to cook traditional Vietnamese cuisine. After a long day of informative and enlightening pursuits, we relax with a ginger-based foot treatment, ahead of sinking into a soft bed at a homestay in a traditional wooden house in this sleepy town.
Food
B/L/D
Accommodation
Son Tay
Day 3
Son Tay – Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay
Absorb the stunning natural beauty of Ha Long Bay on an overnight cruise. This UNESCO listed destination is often referred to as Vietnam’s ‘eighth wonder of the world.’ It features 3,000 limestone karsts, cliffs and coves and islands that reach up to 100 metres in height, with sheer vertical cliffs on all sides. The evolution of the area has taken millions of years to be shaped by a tropical wet climate and pounding from wind and waves. Cruises across the Bay take in islands named after their unique shapes such as Turtle Island, Chicken Island and Human Head Island. After an early-morning breakfast, we drive from Son Tay to our departure dock and board a boutique boat and spend the day and night exploring this fascinating natural phenomenon. Activities include swimming and kayaking, exploring caves, fishing and learning to cook Vietnamese cuisine. Alternatively, you can kick back and relax on the sun deck, soak up the sublime surroundings and enjoy a sundowner cocktail or two. Dinner and overnight are on board.
Food
B/L/D
Accommodation
On board
Day 4
Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi – Hue
Early-risers can wake at dawn to enjoy the sunrise as we cruise back on our return journey through mystical Ha Long Bay. A hearty breakfast is enjoyed on the boat as we pass more of this UNESCO listed destination’s intriguing karst rock formations and dramatic limestone islets created over millions of years. Passage across the Bay takes in islands named after their unique shapes such as Turtle Island, Chicken Island and Human Head Island. Besides admiring this amazing topography, passengers can take advantage of a wealth of activities, including fishing and informative talks from the crew about the sites we pass by on our navigation. The vessel is due back at the dock by late morning and we disembark and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before driving to Hanoi to catch the afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival, we will check-in to the hotel and have dinner, with the rest of the evening free at leisure to explore this historic city. Overnight at hotel in Hue
Food
B/L/D
Accommodation
Hue
Day 5
Hue – City Tour & Cycling to Village
Take a step back in time discovering historic Hue, an old imperial capital that came to prominence in the 8th century when it was the Nguyen Dynasty’s seat of power. Thirteen Nguyen Dynasty emperors have ruled from the Citadel modelled on Beijing’s Forbidden City. Surrounded by a moat, this fortress contains several layers of inner and outer courtyards. After a hearty breakfast, we start our day of exploration of this site, as well as Tu Duc’s tomb, an expansive vault designed by the emperor and built between 1864 and 1867. We then meet local artisans and learn about the processes behind incense stick and conical hat making. After a delicious local lunch served in the garden of a private house, we jump on our bicycles and ride through a lush landscape of verdant rice paddies, picturesque villages and ornate temples, ahead of our return to our overnight accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. Dinner is to your own account Overnight at hotel in Hue
Food
B/L/-
Accommodation
Hue
Day 6
Hue – Hoi An
Soak up stunning ocean views along the iconic Hai Van Pass – a 25 km-long stretch that is Vietnam’s highest road – on the way to charming Hoi An. After breakfast, we depart and drive through quaint red-tiled villages, with spectacular vistas that sweep across the sprawling green landscape to the sea. We stop in the coastal city of Danang to visit the Cham Museum to admire the varied collection of ancient sculptures. On arrival in the UNESCO listed destination of Hoi An, we check-in to a small boutique hotel. In the afternoon, we take a walking tour of this historic location which served as a prosperous seaport from the 16th to 18th centuries. We delve into local life at the colourful local market and visit renowned landmarks such as The Old House of Tan Ky, the Fukien Assembly Hall and the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge. Lunch and dinner are to your own account. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Food
B/-/-
Accommodation
Hoi An
Day 7
Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City
Today sees us head to the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. After breakfast, we wave goodbye to Central Vietnam and take a morning flight from Danang Airport to this vibrant metropolis. Upon arrival, we check-in to our overnight accommodation and start our exploration with a panoramic tour that takes in the most iconic attractions. This includes Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the exterior of the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and City Hall. Officially called the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, this ornate religious structure was built by the French between 1863 and 1880 and it features two bell towers that reach a height of 58 metres. The Central Post Office is a stylish colonial building that dates back to 1886 and it features a blend of classic Gothic, French colonial and Renaissance architecture. Lunch is to your own account. In the evening, we enjoy a delicious dinner of Vietnamese delicacies hosted by a local family. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Food
B/-/D
Accommodation
Ho Chi Minh City
Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel
Delve into Vietnam’s war-torn history with a trip to Chu Chi Tunnels, an intricate network of underground tunnels that formed an integral part of the resistance during the Vietnam War. The tunnels are situated 75 km outside of Ho Chi Minh City and they feature a 120 km subterranean labyrinth with trapdoors, kitchens, hospitals, command centres, storage facilities and living space that served as the Viet Cong’s base during the conflict. We then visit a local house to learn about the art of making rice paper, ahead of lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and take a half-day tour of Cho Lon Quarter, which sits on the banks of the Saigon River. We will stop for some souvenir shopping at lively Binh Tay Market before heading to Thien Hau Pagoda and talking a walk through bustling Chinatown. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Food
B/L/D
Accommodation
Ho Chi Minh City
Day 9
Ho Chi Minh City – Departure
Today our jam-packed nine-day adventure comes to an end. After breakfast, you have the day at leisure to soak up more of Ho Chi Minh City’s sights and sounds. You can hit the markets for some last-minute shopping, feast on food at the many street-side stalls, get your caffeine fix with a Vietnamese coffee, or visit some more of the city’s main attractions. Options include a visit to the War Remnants Museum’s collection of photographs, documents, uniforms and other items that date back to the Vietnam War. Another choice is to pay respects to the Jade Emperor, one of Taoism’s most important gods at the Jade Emerald Pagoda. Alternatively, get your culture fix at a water puppet show before transferring to the airport for the onward flight. Please note: The hotel check-out is 12 noon and meals are to your own account.
Food
B/-/-
Hanoi
Mercure La Gare
Ky Son
Moon Garden homestay
Private room in shared house
Lan Ha Bay
Heritage Cruise
Delta Suite Cabin
Hue
Indochine Palace Hotel
Palace Deluxe Room
Hoi An
Hoi An Central Boutique Hotel
Deluxe Room
Ho Chi Minh City
Novotel Saigon Centre
Superior Room
Create the experience of your dream with our travel experts
Make your own trailIncluded
- Tours and transfers with licenced English-speaking guiding services/ assistance. Other languages are on request and are subject to availability;
- Accommodation in sharing twin/ double;
- Transportation for tour and transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, unless otherwise stated;
- All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the program;
- All applicable taxes and service charges;
- All meals as indicated in the program (food only)
- Package 2D/1N on sharing cruise; Asian Trails Guide not on board with the clients.
Not Included
- Voluntary Carbon Offset Compensation: USD1.50 per person per day;
- Vietnamese visa approval letter and Visa stamping fee;
- Any domestic / international airline tickets, airport taxes, specific camera / video fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general pick-up / drop-off regions (such as airports, out-of-town resorts, ports, harbours and accommodation in surrounding towns);
- Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours/ visits, unless otherwise stated;
- Any accommodation expenses of a personal nature. This includes (compulsory festive) meals and drinks, mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program;
- International travel and medical insurance coverage for customers;
- Asian Trails reserves the right to charge a supplement to all guests if Tourism Authorities eventually decide to increase the fees applied to cruises in Lan Ha Bay (e.g. USD 21/person on the 2D/1N cruise program)
Payment and Cancellations
- Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure. We reserve the right to release all services in case of payment default.
- Intermediate bank charges and fees are the responsibility of the client.
- Cancellation policy: In case of cancellation, the following cancellation fees will apply:
• Between 30-15 days prior to departure - 25% of total price
• Between 14-7 days prior to departure - 50% of total price
• Less than 7 days prior to departure – 100% of total price
You are booking
9 Days Explore the Vietnam Hospitality
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Destination
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Trip duration
9 days, 8 nights
About your trip
RESERVATIONS
All tours and services can be booked directly with our office in China
A TRAILS CHINA / DAOCHENG
Beijing Office
Suite 810, SunFlower Tower
#37 Maizidian Street Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100022, P.R. China
Tel: (86-10) 6515 9259
Fax: (86-10) 6515 9293
Email: info@atrails.cn
CONFIRMATIONS
All reservations are confirmed by return with the up-dated booking status within 2 working days. Due to occasional delays in communication with more remote destinations, it may take a few days longer to get confirmation.
RATES AND AVAILABILITY
All rates are quoted in RMB and are subject to change without prior notice. Inclusions and exclusions in the tour packages are indicated at the end of each itinerary. Commonly our package tour rates include accommodation, transfers, certain meals, and other tour related services. Domestic or international airfares are included where mentioned. Our tour itineraries do not include visa fees and expenses of a personal nature. The validity of our rates is November 01, 2018, until October 31, 2019, unless otherwise specified.
SERVICES
Local English speaking guides are accompanying tours and transfers in each destination. German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian and Chinese speaking guides are available on request in major cities and subject to confirmation.
DELIVERY FEES
A delivery fee will be charged according to the distance traveled, if any train tickets are required to be delivered to clients’ hotel.
PAYMENT
Full pre-payment by bank transfer is required 30 days before the commencement of services.
Our bank account details are:
Bank Name: Bank of China Beijing JianGuoMen Wai Sub-Branch
开 户 行：中国银行北京建国门外支行
Account Name：ATC TRAVEL SERVICES (BEIJING) LTD.
账 户 名：北京道成国际旅行社有限公司
Account No.：3259 6908 9747
账 号：3259 6908 9747
Swiftcode : BKCH CN BJ 110
For itineraries operated outside China
Account Name：BEIJING GLORY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SERVICE CO, LTD.
账 户 名：北京千乘假期国际旅行社有限公司
Account No.：3211 6010 0100 1577 67
账号：3211 6010 0100 1577 67
Bank Name: Industrial Bank Co., Ltd Sanyuanqiao Sub-Branch
开 户 行：兴业银行三元桥支行
CHILD POLICY
For children aged between 2 and 11 years following rates will apply:
- Child in shared adults’ room with extra bed will pay 80% of the total package price
A maximum of two children per party is granted such a discount. Besides this general policy, specific conditions may apply case by case.
CANCELLATIONS
For cancellation of confirmed reservations, following general cancellation charges apply :
- Between 30 and 15 days prior to arrival : 20% of the total amount
- Between 15 and 7 days prior to arrival : 50% of the total amount
- Less than 7 days prior to arrival : 100% of the total amount.
Special conditions apply for cruises, beach resorts as well as for some of the boutique and landmark hotels. Expeditions and specific products may have different conditions.
Domestic and international air tickets are non-refundable once issued. You are obliged to pay full airfare (inclusive of any tax and fuel surcharge) of any cancelled tickets based on the contract rate.
PROGRAM CHANGES
We reserve the right to re-arrange the order of any tour program, to cancel or substitute elements of any tour itinerary without notice, when local conditions require such changes. All itineraries depending on domestic flight confirmations are subject to changes.
Any increase in taxes or fuel surcharges imposed by the authorities will be advised as soon as we are informed of them, and they will be added to the invoice.
Flight and train details mentioned in our itineraries are for indicative purposes only.
CONFIDENTIALITY
This agreement, its contents and all related documentation sent over to the customer/tour operator are strictly confidential and must not be disclosed to any third parties.
COMPLAINTS AND IRREGULARITIES
We consider complaints as valuable feedback to improve service delivery levels. We request that service delivery failures or customer concerns, be reported during the customer’s stay, to one of our representatives. It is the aim of the company to solve any irregularity on the spot. The company reserves the right to refuse to take action on perceived irregularities submitted to the company 14 days after the customer returns back home.
FORCE MAJEURE
During the term of this agreement, neither party shall be in default of its obligations to the extent that its performance is delayed or prevented by causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to, acts of God, natural disasters, bankruptcy of a vendor, strikes and other labor disturbances, acts of war, or civil disturbances, or other equivalent or comparable events.
INDEMNITY
The client agrees to indemnify and to save A Trails – Daocheng from harm and against all damage or injury (including death) to property or person(s) resulting from intentional or negligent acts or omissions from their respective officers, employees, agents, contractor or subcontractor in connection with the performance of this agreement.
LEGAL NOTE
This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China (and/or applicable in relation to the country it is legally represented) for the time being in force and the parties agree to submit any dispute arising between the parties under this agreement to arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the respectable Arbitration Institute, Office of the Judiciary applicable at the time of submission of the dispute to arbitration and the conduct of the arbitration thereof shall be under the auspices of the specific Arbitration Institute accordingly.
IMAGES
Images displayed on the website have a promotional intent only and are not necessarily reflecting the actual destinations and service conditions. These may belong to ATrails staff, customers, photographers we are collaborating with or retrieved from websites such as Pexel, Pixabay, Unsplash or Originoo. While trying to be the most accurate as possible, is agreed that those images do not necessarily depict the actual services promoted.
LIABILITY
We act as an intermediary between the concerned airlines, hotels, all transport operators and local tourist offices providing the services. The Company is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage sustained by the tourists, including those occurring outside the touring programs. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accidents, natural and disaster, political actions and unrest must be borne by the tourists. Programs and prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of printing and are therefore subject to change without advance notice before or during the tour. Acknowledgment and confirmation of the above-mentioned conditions is active, once clients participate in one of the provided services via us. The itinerary of the excursion, package and/or tour cannot be altered or changed without prior permission from us. We cannot be held liable if you amend the excursion and its content in your brochures or give wrong descriptions to clients that are travelling.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING AUTONOMOUS REGIONS IN CHINA
The Company is not responsible for any last-minute closure of specific regions or tourism sites caused by decisions taken by local or national authorities to restrict access hereto. We will provide alternative itineraries where necessary and reduce cancellation fees to a minimum, however, such imposed closures are beyond our control and constitute a case of force majeure.
The areas concerned include but are not restricted to : The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, minority regions in Qinghai and Gansu provinces.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Travel breaks down borders and brings people together: The nearly 900 million people who travel every year make the sector one of the biggest in the world, a major employer and a key element in the global economy. But this has its downside, too: increasing pollutant emissions from the tourist traffic, loss of coastlines and other landscapes through excessive building development and sexual exploitation of children are just some of the negative consequences of the growth in global tourist travel. In order to minimize the negative impacts and enhance the positive ones, our Corporate Responsibility Strategy focuses on four prime issues:
- We increase efforts to ensure that children and adolescents in tourist areas are protected against sexual exploitation, one of the worst forms of abuse of young people today.
- We promote fair working conditions and sensibly service provider partners to social and environmental concerns.
- The supply and saving of clean water is a further key issue.
- We develop our own projects to meet the growing threat posed by climate change. Indeed, helping counter the adverse effects of global warming is one of the biggest challenges faced by the world tourist.