Scenic Vietnam

Tour Highlights

Hoi An

Halong Bay

Mai Chau

Mekong Delta

Hoi An

Enjoy the old world ambience of this delightful city

Halong Bay

Drift on emerald waters amongst the picturesque peaks of Vietnam's most famous bay

Mai Chau

Meet ethnic minority tribes and experience traditional life

Mekong Delta

Wind over these sleepy backwaters discovering a relaxed pace of life in the Delta

2020 / 2021 Tour Dates & Prices

Private itineraries can run on any day of the week. To book this tour, please call us on 0808 274 8594

Scenic Vietnam - Tour Itinerary

DAYS 1-2 FLY TO SAIGON

Fly overnight to Saigon, Vietnam’s largest, and most vibrant, city. On arrival at the airport you will be met by a member of the Wendy Wu Tours team and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

DAY 3 DISCOVER SAIGON

This morning, you will meet your fellow travellers and head out as a group to the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network of passageways used by the Viet Cong during the war. Returning to the city, we’ll admire Vietnam’s colonial past with a visit to the Central Post Office before exploring the Reunification Palace and the chilling War Remnants Museum. This evening, we’ll ascend to a downtown rooftop and mingle with cocktails, followed by dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 MEKONG DELTA

We journey to Ben Tre to discover the Mekong Delta. This area is called the ‘Rice Basket of Vietnam’, the rich and fertile lands producing a plethora of rice, coconuts, vegetables and tropical fruit. Today, we’ll taste some of the produce of the area, enjoy traditional music, paddle through the palm-lined canals in a sampan and pass local fish farms. (B,L)

DAY 5 JOURNEY TO HOI AN

Catching a flight to Danang, we transfer to the wonderfully laidback and charming Hoi An. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

DAY 6 HOI AN

This morning, we will share a community experience in the rural village of Tra Que, admiring the gardens of vegetables and herbs, and joining a local family for lunch and a cooking demonstration. This afternoon we will wander the sights of Hoi An, stopping at Reaching Out, a social enterprise craft workshop, where we’ll meet the artisans before enjoying a well-

DAY 7 FLY TO HANOI

Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam’s elegant capital city. This afternoon, we’ll begin our explorations, with visits to the Museum of Ethnology and the gatehouse of the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Later, we’ll take a twilight walking tour of the Ho Chi Minh Quarter of the city, with a stop for a refreshing glass of beer at Ta Hien beer corner. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 EXPLORE HANOI

Return to the Ho Chi Minh Quarter this morning to see Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda and Confucian monument, the Temple of Literature. We’ll then sit down together to sample traditional Vietnamese egg coffee. The afternoon is free – you may wish to wander the Old Quarter to do some shopping. (B,L)

DAY 9 VENTURE TO MAI CHAU

Travel to Mai Chau, a rural village set in a lush valley, and the home to ethnic minority communities like the White and Black Thai people. We’ll walk amongst the rice paddies this afternoon, visiting hill tribe villages and meeting friendly members of these communities. Dinner tonight will be a barbeque at a local stilt house, where we’ll be treated to a traditional dance performance and a traditional rice wine tasting! (B,L,D)

DAY 10 BACK TO HANOI

Our morning is free to relax before travelling back to Hanoi. (B)

DAY 11 HALONG BAY

The highlight of any trip to Vietnam, today we take to the waters of the incredible Halong Bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vision of awe-inspiring beauty, we’ll sail lazily amongst the limestone karst peaks, soaking up the views from the deck of your traditional vessel and docking to visit an impressive cave. (B,L,D)

DAY 12 QUINTESSENCE OF TONKIN

Rise early to watch the sun rise over the bay, and to take part in an invigorating session of Tai Chi on deck. Cruise back to the dock and transfer back to Hanoi. This final evening together will include dinner, where we can reflect on our journey together before sitting down to the visually spectacular 'Quintessence of Tonkin' show. (B,D)

DAY 13 FLY HANOI TO UK

Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day. (B)

Useful Information

Visas

UK citizens will not need a visa to enter Vietnam for a single entry stay of up to 15 days. Entry visas for Vietnam are required for stays longer than 15 days or for multiple entries into Vietnam within a 30 day period. To allow for unforeseen circumstances if your tour includes a stay of 15 days or more in Vietnam the standard visa processing service is included in your tour cost. Currently the visa exemption rule applies until 30th June 2017. Should the visa requirements for UK citizens travelling to Vietnam change after 30th June 2017 you will be contacted by Wendy Wu Tours regarding your visa requirements.

Tipping

Tipping is an expected element in the tourism industry today and Bhutan is no exception. We have established a tipping system whereby every passenger gives a set amount to the National Escort who will distribute the amount appropriately. On multi-country tips, this amount will be paid in stages on arrival in each country. If there is no National Escort, you will need to give your money to your Local Guides and tipping amounts for each city will be shown in your final itinerary. The amount is calculated for each tour. We will indicate the tipping amounts in your final documents for guidance.

Communication

To call the UK the international access code is 0044 then the number. To call Wendy Wu Tours it is 00 44 207 403 7860. Emergency 24 hour telephone (out of office hours) is 00 44 7984 041 625. Mobile Phones Mobile phones are growing in popularity and you will find high quality coverage. We recommend that you contact your mobile supplier if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated costs before you leave the UK.Some hotels may have Wi-Fi which usually comes at an additional cost.

Food

The cost of all meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is served in the hotel and usually includes western dishes. We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or unusual in taste. Any food/diet requests MUST be specified at the time of booking and you should mention it again to the National Escort/ Local Guides when you meet them – they will do their utmost to cater for any special requests, such as vegetarian meals or food to be avoided in case of allergies.

Shopping

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure. In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs. We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the economy. We are aware that people like to take home souvenirs, so we ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity.

Sample Tour Hotels

We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.

• Muong Thanh Saigon Centre

  Muong Thanh Saigon Centre Hotel is situated in District 1. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and have a private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find bath robes, slippers and a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar, indoor swimming pool and free WiFi.

• Emm Hoi An

  This light, bright and stylish hotel, perfectly located for all of Hoi An’s attractions, perfectly combines French colonial and Vietnamese architectural elements. 92 innovatively-designed guest rooms are spacious and have views over the pool, gardens or street – little pops of colour make each room bright and airy. The ensuite bathroom has a shower, and there are little extra touches such as bathrobes to enjoy. The hotel’s facilities include a contemporary bar and restaurant, while there is a large swimming pool and lush, tropical gardens to explore.

• Muong Thanh Hanoi Centre

  In the atmospheric area around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Muong Thanh offers stylish and comfortable accommodation in a great location. Surrounded by shops, restaurants and street food, the hotel has free Wi-Fi, a spa, bar and restaurant serving local dishes. Bright and spacious rooms come with city views, an en suite bathroom with bath or shower, plus air-conditioning, safe, television, minibar and tea and coffee making facilities.

• Mai Chau Lodge

  Just outside a hill tribe village and surrounded by mountains and paddy fields, this ecolodge offers a peaceful escape in the Vietnamese highlands. The modern rooms, painted soothing earthy colours, have fantastic views of the landscapes and have a balcony, seating area, bathroom with shower, minibar and Wi-Fi. There is a pool and spa, plus a restaurant with panoramic views that allows you to taste authentic tribal food as well as Vietnamese dishes, all with locally-sourced and grown ingredients.

• Emeraude Classic Cruises

  A replica paddle steamer that oozes a nostalgic charm of bygone Indochina, the Emeraude brings a timeless elegance to the waters of Halong Bay. With classical brass fixtures and warm, characterful cabins, the ship serves up fusion cuisine in its restaurant, a range of drinks at the bar and offers relaxation on the sun deck. There is also a spa, Tai Chi and cooking classes and Wi-Fi. Whilst some cabins have a private balcony, all have air-conditioning and an en suite bathroom with shower.