| Trip Packages for 2008 Please note: These itineraries are subject to changes before and/or during the trip as conditions sometimes dictate while traveling in the third world. Prices given are for a minimum group size of six. We limit our maximum group size to twelve. South
to
North
Dates: June 24 – July 10, 2008  Day 0: Your flight from SFO leaves at
12:30 AM on June 24, so you must be at the airport the night before on
June 23.
Day 1: Leave the US just after midnight on June 24. Day 2: Arrive in Saigon around 10:30 AM, June 25. Transfer to the Hotel Majestic (4-star). Enjoy open time to wander the city and get over your jet-lag. A welcome dinner is provided this evening at the Café Indochine. Day 3: You will have the option to take a tour to see the Cu Chi tunnels (used by the North Vietnamese during the "American" war) and major Saigon landmarks. This side trip involves a 1 hour drive out of town and is recommended for anyone who wants to see a glimpse of what the conditions were like for the combatants on both sides. Day 4: You will take an overnight van tour to the Mekong Delta and explore its vast maze of floating markets with lodging at the Victoria Can Tho Hotel (4-star) right on the Mekong River. (4-5 hours drive to Can Tho). Day 5: You will arise early and take a boat tour of the floating markets on the Mekong. After lunch, you will slowly head back toward Saigon, taking in other sights of the Delta along your way. You’ll go straight to the airport and take a 6 PM flight to Danang (1 hour). A van will transfer us to Hoi An and the Hoi An hotel (4 star), right in the heart of old town. All of our past clients have loved this charming town where you can shop for art and custom made clothing and view the eclectic architecture and history dating back to the 15th century. After a brief, guided tour to get you oriented, you'll be turned loose to explore on your own. Day 6: Open day to enjoy Hoi An. The Hoi An legendary night festival takes place on this full moon evening from 5:30 – 10:00 PM on June 29. Day 7: After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board a van for a guided tour to the Cham Ruins at My Son-considered a "mini-Angkor Wat". While not as big as the more famous Angkor Wat complexes in Cambodia, these ruins are of the same era and are not yet on the crowded tourist tracks. (We are likely to be the only people there.). After lunch, a 30 minute transfer will take us to the Furama Resort at China Beach-considered one of the best hotels in Vietnam. Relax the rest of the day away on the beach or around one of the gorgeous pools or walk along the vast expanse of China Beach. Day 8: Open day to explore the huge markets of Danang, relax on the beach, or take a short trip to the caves of the Marble Mountains. (Many want to return to Hoi An on this day.) Monday Day 9: Open time before a late check out and PM flight to Hanoi. A van will take us to Hanoi, where we will have dinner and some time for walking the city before transfer to the train station and the overnight sleeper car on the Victoria Express to Lao Cai. The train leaves at 10:00 PM and you will be in a four person sleeper compartment unless you request a twin sleeper (for an additional $60 per person). Day 10: Arrive at Lao Cai around 6 AM. Transfer to a van for the 1.5 hour drive to Sapa. and the Victoria Sapa Hotel (4 star). You'll have an open day from here to relax and get your bearings on this lovely mountain town. Day 11: Guided tour to see the surrounding areas and hill tribes of far North Vietnam. Day 12: Open day until an evening departure on the night train back to Hanoi. Day 13: Arrive Hanoi in the early AM. Transfer to a van to Halong City. About 1/2 way along the 3.5 hour trip, you will stop at a friendship village, an artisan co-op set up by former American combatants, where victims of agent orange and other disabilities are trained to produce silk embroidery and other handicrafts. In Halong City, we will transfer to a luxury junk for an overnight cruise on Halong Bay. You'll have a private twin cabin with A/C and private bath. Day 14: You’ll take a hiking and kayaking tour through the limestone caves of Halong Bay, including a visit to a floating village. Enjoy a second evening relaxing on the junk. Day 15: After a last cruise in the morning, you will go to Cat Ba Island and take a high speed ferry boat to the sea port city of Hai Phong. Drive back to Hanoi and check into the Hilton Hanoi Opera Plaza Hotel. (5 star). Enjoy open time to walk the streets and explore this fascinating city. Day 16: After breakfast, you have a half day guided tour, including a walk and a water puppet performance around Hoan Kiem Lake and a visit to one of the cooperatives of artists and workers on the outskirts of Hanoi where you can see a huge variety of products and how they are made. Open time for your final afternoon in Vietnam. Day 17: After breakfast, you will take a taxi to the airport and fly home, arriving just a few hours later on the same day because of the date-line. |
Explore our web-site: Home
Contact us Trips How our trips work--IMPORTANT! Go Self Guided! Map of Vietnam Prices & Refund Policy Why us? Testimonials Travel & Visa Information Air Travel Planning Make a Deposit! Email us If you have any questions, please email us at: taoguides@sbcglobal.net Beach Resorts of Central and South Vietnam Dates: October 12 - 22, 2008  Days 1-2: Fly to Saigon,
arriving on October 13. You will
skip over a day because of the international date line. A shuttle
will take us directly to the Caravelle Hotel--one of the finest hotels
in the
city and a nice place to recover from jet-lag. Depending on your
arrival time, we can arrange for a brief city tour.
Day 3: Fly to Danang and transfer to the Furama Resort at China Beach--the spot where US troops went for R&R. The Furama is considered to be one of the best hotels in all of Vietnam. Day 4: Day trip to the charming town of Hoi An--one of the few ancient cities in Central Vietnam that was spared destruction in the war. In addition to its rich cultural history, Hoi An is famous for its clothing shops that can custom tailor silk clothing to any design you want in just a few hours. Day 5: Open day to explore Danang or return to Hoi An on your own. Day 6: Optional diving/snorkeling trip to the reefs off Danang. Day 7: Fly to Nha Trang and transfer to the Ana Mandara Resort. Nha Trang is a small but lively city that combines great beach activities with diverse dining and night life opportunities. Day 8: Optional trip to the mud baths and spa at Mai Le. Day 9: Open day to relax on the beach or explore Nha Trang on your own. Day 10: Fly to Saigon and transfer back to the Caravelle. Farewell dinner provided. Day 11: Transfer to the airport and your US bound flight, arriving the same day because of the international date line |
Prices
include: All ground transportation and flights within Vietnam,
all breakfasts, some other meals (as listed in itineraries), all
lodging
in the very best hotels, tour guide/entrance fees. Click here to view our prices
Not included: Flights to/from Asia, lunches and dinners not listed on itinerary, drinks, airport taxes, tips. Christmas Family Tour Dates:
December 15-30, 2008
 This trip
is designed
specifically for families with small children! We will be
bringing a nanny who will be available to watch kids at the hotels
while the adults go on day excursions. Included in your trip cost
is also several evening babysitting sessions. Vietnam is one of
the most child-friendly countries in the world! Traveling
with your children will show you a whole new dimension of Vietnam.
Day 1: Fly to Vietnam, skipping over a day because of the international date line. Day 2: Arrive in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Our staff will meet you and take you by van to the Caravelle, one of the best hotels in the city and a nice place to recover from jet-lag. A five star hotel, the Caravelle combines old Vietnam charm with all the modern luxuries you could want. If you arrive in the mid-morning, you'll have the option to do a city tour and/or trip to the Cu Chi tunnel system--used by the North Vietnamese during the "American" war. This side trip involves a 1 hour drive out of town and is recommended for anyone who wants to see a glimpse of what the conditions were like for the combatants on both sides. A welcome dinner is provided this night at one of Saigon's cafes with live music. Day 3: Fly to Phu Quoc Island, a newly opened destination in the Gulf of Thailand. After the intensity of Saigon, Phu Quoc provides a low-key atmosphere with little to do but relax on the beach and enjoy the calm, crystal clear waters. (The monsoon makes other ocean destinations in Vietnam too murky for diving and snorkeling.) We will stay at the Saigon Phu Quoc Resort, a beautiful beach bungalow style hotel Day 4: Boat trip and diving/snorkeling tour to the reefs off Phu Quoc, a newly opened, world-class diving destination. The boat trip is included in the tour price, but there is an extra fee of $50 if you want to SCUBA dive. Day 5:Van tour to a remote part of the island. Dream of the ultimate beach and you'll find it here..... Day 6: Open day for more diving, exploring the island, or just relaxing on the beach.. Day 7: After breakfast, we will fly to back to Saigon and connect to a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. We will transfer to the Victoria Hotel Angkor, with some time in the afternoon to explore the city. Day 8: Tour the complexes of Angkor Wat. Day 9: Tour the outlying areas of Angkor Wat. Day 10: We will have open time to relax before an afternoon flight to Saigon and then to Danang in central Vietnam. A van will take us to the Furama Resort Danang on China Beach, considered to be one of the best hotels in all of Vietnam. Day 11: A van will take us 45 minutes to the charming town of Hoy An--one of the few ancient cities in Central Vietnam that was spared destruction in the war. In addition to its rich cultural history, Hoy An is famous for its clothing shops that can custom tailor silk clothing to any design you want in just a few hours. Day 12: Tour the Marble Mountains, a cave system with fascinating Buddhist history that was also used as a hidden hospital site by the North Vietnamese during the war. There is also the option to explore the ruins of the Cham culture, known as a "mini-Angkor Wat". Day 13: After morning Christmas celebrations of your choosing, you'll have an open day to relax on the beach, return to Hoy An, or to explore Danang on your own. A Christmas dinner is provided, palapa style, on the open air of China Beach. Day 14: Take a morning flight back to Saigon. From here you will have two options. For adventurous types who want more cultural sights, you will take an overnight van tour to the Mekong Delta and explore its vast maze of floating markets, with a 3 or 4 star hotel stay. Those wanting more time to explore Saigon will transfer back to the Caravelle and have open time for people watching in cafes, shopping, or more sight seeing. Day 15: Whichever option you choose above, we will all converge back in at the Caravelle Hotel, with open time to take in more sights of Vietnam. We will gather for a final feast provided at the Café Indochine. This evening, we will stroll the streets of Saigon for shopping, sight seeing, and we may even participate in the local spectacle of kareoke after dinner in one of the downtown clubs. Day 16: After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll take a taxi to the airport and fly home, arriving the same day because of the international date line. Most flights leave Saigon in the mid-morning and arrive in the US just a few hours later due to the international date line. This gives sufficient time to recover from jet-lag for those who must be at work on Tuesday morning, January 2nd. If you want to spend the new year holiday in Vietnam, we can easily arrange to extend your stay. Please inquire for details and additional costs. |
| Please Note: We reserve the right
to change any itinerary either before or during the trip.
Conditions
change, and we sometimes learn about new opportunities with each trip! © 2008 TAO Guide Service http://www.adventure-tours-vietnam.com |