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Marvel in the delights of this in-depth journey spanning the entire length of Vietnam. Discovering rich history whilst exploring more remote areas, this tour combines famous landmarks and hidden gems. Experience this country of contrasts encompassing traditional floating markets, the colonial hilltop town of Dalat, beautiful beaches of Hoi An, and the ancient imperial city of Hue.
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Saigon International Airport.
Also known as Ho Chi Minh, the dynamic city of Saigon is the start point of the tour. Spend half a day visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum before enjoying a local Vietnamese welcome dinner.
After breakfast experience the fascinating network of rivers in the Mekong Delta. Journey, by motorboat, to the atmospheric Cai Be floating market to watch the locals trading. Visit a small family business and immerse yourself in the nature of Binh Hoa Phuoc Village. Fresh river food, traditional folk music and a bonsai garden await you before continuing to Vinh Long and then on to Can Tho, the largest town in the Mekong Delta.
Your morning in Can Tho will begin with a gentle trip through the picturesque canals and waterways in a small boat, taking in the sultry scenery and daily activities of the small boat vendors of the floating markets who live along these Mekong canals, as well as stopping at the spectacular Cai Rang floating market - the largest in the entire Mekong Delta. Before cruising back to land enjoy tasting tropical fruits at the Ba Cong Garden House. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant you will visit the Cao Dai temple before being transferred back to your hotel in Saigon.
This morning travel to the underground village of Cu Chi and discover the incredible 200km network of tunnels where the Viet Cong lived and fought during the war. Transfer to Saigon for a local lunch before catching your flight to Dalat.
During this full day tour you will visit the French colonial town of Dalat, located in the South Central Highlands. Explore the unique Railway Station and marvel at the Linh Phuoc Pagoda. The cultural north gives you the chance to understand the daily life of the Lach minority, the indigenous people of Dalat. A cable car ride allows you to take in the panoramic views of Dalat before heading down to the beautiful Tuyen Lam Lake, surrounded by pine forests and the serene Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Finishing in the west, visit the Bao Dai Summer Palace to learn more about Vietnam's history.
Leaving Dalat, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival transfer to Hoi An.
From your hotel, you will be taken to a port where you will embark on a boat trip to Thanh Ha pottery village to learn about the daily life of the local people that live there. See various pottery items being made before returning to the boat to visit Kim Bong carpentry village where you will learn about the history of the village and see their local handicrafts. This afternoon enjoy a tour of Hoi An. You will visit the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community. Next see the Sa Huynh Museum which contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. You will also see the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. Finally, finish the tour with a visit to a lantern making workshop and visit one of the many local tailors who can make up bespoke clothing at incredible prices.
Enjoy a free day to relax or further explore the town at your leisure.
The scenic drive from Hoi An hugs the coastline to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. With a stop at the Marble Mountain to see the five marble and limestone hills, you will then reach Hue to visit the ancient Forbidden City. You will have some free time at Dong Ba Market before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
Begin your day by boarding a traditional Dragon boat for a tranquil trip along the Perfume River. Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, then travel by coach to Royal Mausoleums of Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue over 100 years ago, before visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh. Later, fly to Hanoi.
A full day tour of this historic city begins with the Ho Chi Minh Complex where the father of modern-day Vietnam declared the nation's independence in 1945. Visit sites including the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda, then drive to the Temple of Literature. After lunch, visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology before the evening highlight - a Water Puppet Performance, a unique form of Vietnamese art derived from the wet rice civilisation of South East Asia.
Depart for Ninh Binh and take a boat trip to visit Tam Loc floating past idyllic rice field and mountain scenery. Stop off at some of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. Explore Hoa Lu in the afternoon stopping at the temples to the Dinh & Le Dynasties.
This memorable day takes you to the awe-inspiring Halong Bay where you will explore these tranquil islands on a luxury cruise boat, passing local towns and intricate limestone formations on the way. Take a tour of Thien Canh Son Cave, an ethereal wonderland of ancient carvings and suspended stalactites that hang beneath a canopy of glistening gems. Anchoring in the Cong Do area, a Vietnamese cooking demonstration will take place on the sundeck, followed by a sumptuous seafood dinner on board before you retire to your cabin for the evening.
Start your day with a calming Tai Chi session before a rowing boat takes you to Vung Vieng fishing village, a settlement completely floating on water and dating back hundreds of years. In the afternoon you will travel back to Hanoi for a farewell dinner.
After breakfast you will be free to explore Hanoi at your own pace before transferring to the airport for your flight back to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension.
For UK citizens a visa for Vietnam is only required for stays longer than 15 days or for multi entry visits. This is soon to change to 45 days from the 15th August. You can apply for an e-visa online at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa for you on your behalf. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity. This visa information is a guide line only and is subject to change; up-to date information regarding the process and fees will be advised at the time of calling the Travel Visa Company.
Cambodia: If you have booked the Temples of Cambodia extension following your tour, you will need to purchase a visa for Cambodia which can be purchased on arrival. The cost of this is approximately USD $30 per person and you will be required to bring a passport photo with you as well. Please note that you will need to have at least one completely blank page in your passport for the Cambodian visa to be issued.
Cambodia and Hanoi extensions: If you have booked the Cambodia, or Hanoi, extensions following your tour, you will need to purchase a single entry visa for Vietnam. You can apply for an e-visa online at https://evisa. xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa for you on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of €300pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
All flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines. Baggage allowance (per person): Each passenger is entitled to 23kg of hold luggage.
Hand luggage: One piece of hand baggage and one accessory not exceeding 12kg total weight for both. The total dimension of one hand baggage item must not exceed 115cm (56cm x 36cm x 23cm). The total dimension of one accessory must not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 15cm. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in.
IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 40. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a local guide in each of the cities which you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as VND. You can exchange your currency in Vietnam, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel, known as AHR. You can exchange your currency in Cambodia, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Cambodia should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour, depending on how much of a bargain-hunter you are!
| Depart UK | Arrive UK | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Dates | |||
| 21 Oct 2023 | 06 Nov 2023 | SOLD OUT | |
| 04 Nov 2023 | 20 Nov 2023 | €3135.00 | |
| 18 Nov 2023 | 04 Dec 2023 | €3135.00 | |
| 2024 Dates | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | 20 Jan 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 11 Jan 2024 | 27 Jan 2024 | €3247.00 | |
| 08 Feb 2024 | 24 Feb 2024 | €3471.00 | |
| 15 Feb 2024 | 02 Mar 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 29 Feb 2024 | 16 Mar 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 07 Mar 2024 | 23 Mar 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 04 Apr 2024 | 20 Apr 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 18 Apr 2024 | 04 May 2024 | €3023.00 | |
| 09 May 2024 | 25 May 2024 | €2687.00 | |
| 06 Jun 2024 | 22 Jun 2024 | €2799.00 | |
| 19 Sep 2024 | 05 Oct 2024 | €3023.00 | |
| 03 Oct 2024 | 19 Oct 2024 | €3135.00 | |
| 17 Oct 2024 | 02 Nov 2024 | €3023.00 | |
| 31 Oct 2024 | 16 Nov 2024 | €3023.00 | |
| 14 Nov 2024 | 30 Nov 2024 | €3023.00 | |
Unfortunately we do not have any places with no single supplements on this tour, however, if you are happy to share with another passenger of the same gender then let us know at the time of booking and we will endeavour to find you a travelling partner. Alternatively please ask about our single supplement prices in order to book your own twin room.
If the group tour departure dates and not suitable for you and you would prefer a more personal and flexible experience than you can choose to book a private guide for your tour at a reasonable supplement.
On the Halong Cruise, you will either be booked into a twin or double room. Please note: the Halong Bay cruise itinerary may change depending on the boat used.
Dong
12 hours
19 °C / 35 °C
Vietnamese
Weather can vary quite considerably throughout the year, so please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.
One of our guides Mr Chi could not pronounce his words so we could not understand much of what he said. He was though a very knowledgeable guy
Hotel in Hanoi was in a very dirty rundown area. Not good to explore the city
Tour guides superb especially Phong (Frank) Northern Vietnam. Jackie Southern Vietnam was also good. It is obvious that a lot of thought had gone into the schedule couldn't fault it superb.
Excellent hotels used! Staff were friendly and efficient and rooms were comfortable and clean.
The people and country of Vietnam were amazing and provided a great back drop for a memorable holiday.
All hotel accommodation and breakfasts excellent, including on the Victory Star cruise boat on Halong Bay.
No comments
Very good hotels and comfy bus. No western food on the flight coming home.
Hotels were all of a very high standard and staff extremely helpful. Many staff speaking English.
all good and well positioned.
This extension includes visits to some of the most iconic and atmospheric sites in Cambodia, including the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex, the largest religious monument in the world.
View Tour + Extension
