Platinum II Hotel is situated in the heart of downtown Hanoi and just 35 minutes from Noi Bai Airport. The hotel is perfectly positioned for both the city and for enjoying Hanoi’s major attractions: Hoan Kiem Lake and West Lake.

The hotel has 44 rooms, contemporary designed with luxurious beech wood, soft leather upholstery and woollen carpets. All rooms are spacious and feature panoramic views over the Lake or city. Finished in 2006, all rooms feature modern facilities: AC, IDD Tel, LCD TV, Mini bar, Tea and coffee making facilities, In room safety box, Bathrooms with spa facilities and WIFI Broadband internet.

Sunday Day 2 HANOI

A full day tour of Hanoi. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. This city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (from outside –closed Mondays and Fridays plus Oct-Nov) and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue with a visit to the Ethnology Museum to give you an overview of the ethnic diversity of Vietnam. End the day right in the heart of Hanoi with a visit to the ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’ and exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’, on foot, a great way to see this very typical area of Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. (B/L)

Monday Day 3 HANOI, HALONG BAY

0800 depart for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive from Hanoi late morning and welcome at the pier. Check-in procedures and transfer to your boat for the overnight journey into the Bay. Lunch is served on board as you cruise into Halong Bay. Cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night as the sun sets followed by dinner. Overnight on Halong Bay. (B/L/D)

Stay: Bai Tho Junk, Halong Bay – 1 night

This traditional junk, small enough to be intimate but large enough to be comfortable, is the perfect way to explore the bay. With just six air-conditioned, en-suite cabins and a glorious picture-window salon with sofas and easy chairs, this vessel elegantly explores the islands and bays. You will have an unforgettable experience on a splendid, luxurious cruise as well as enjoy the superb sceneries in Ha Long bay – a famous World Heritage Site – with more than 3000 islands and islets rising from deep emerald sea water, dipping yourselves in natural beautiful landscapes, feeling the clean and fresh air, watching the dawn and sunset and particularly the moonlight over the bay.

Tuesday Day 4 HALONG BAY, HANOI, DANONG, HOI AN

On your return to Halong City enjoy brunch as your boat weaves its way back to the dock. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi. Drive to Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi for the 1-hr flight to Danang. On arrival your private vehicle will be waiting for you for the 40-minute transfer to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An. (B)

Stay: Hoi An Trails Resort & Spa, Hoi An – 1 night

276 Cua Dai Road, Hoi An, Vietnam, Tel: (84) 510 3923999, Fax: (84) 510 3923888.

Hoi An Trails Resort is located beside Thu Hoan River, a very peaceful place. The Resort is surrounded by a charming and beautiful garden. All guest rooms (Superior & Deluxe) are housed within 2 and 3 storey villas with traditional Vietnamese or Japanese style. The buildings are designed to maximise views of the coconut grove, swimming pool, rice field, river and the green gardens, which surround the hotel.

Wednesday Day 5 HOI AN, HUE

Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market. Leave Hoi An after lunch for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. In Danang stop for a visit of the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world before climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’ and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue late in the afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue. (B/L)

Stay: Park View Hotel, Hue – 2 nights

9 Ngo Quyen St, Hue City, Vietnam, Tel: (84) 54 3837382, Fax: (84) 54 3837381.

Experience all that Hue has to offer in our brand new stylish 4-star International hotel. An ideal base to explore Hue and the magnificent Citadel & Forbidden City, Khai Dinh Emperor’s Tomb, Tu Duc Emperor’s Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda. The Park View Hotel Hue is the best place to luxuriously explore and experience the way of life in the most beautiful Hue. Featuring 92 elegantly designed rooms and suites with either Park or swimming pool views; all rooms are complimented with modern facilities and amenities to enhance the comfort and convenience of your stay.

Thursday Day 8 HUE

A full day visit of the former imperial capital of Vietnam starts with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River to Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. From here we continue to the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Cycle ride through the Quarter just outside the Citadel. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the mausoleum of former Emperor Tu Duc with its tranquil setting of gardens and lakes followed by the elaborate European influenced mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh. Overnight in Hue. (B/L)

Friday Day 9 HUE, SAIGON

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the 1-hr flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. A full day city tour takes in the city’s bustling Chinatown and begins with a visit to the Thien Hau Temple. Continue to lively Binh Tay Market. See the incredible display of fresh produce that is offered and simply stroll through the market seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale. After lunch visit the War Remnants Museum and the former Presidential Palace. From there stroll by some of the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral (from outside), Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), the Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall (your vehicle will be available at all times). Overnight in Saigon. (B/L)

Stay: Asian Ruby Hotel, Saigon – 2 nights

26 Thi Sach St, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tel: (84) 83 8272839, Fax: (84) 83 8272836.

Placed in a heart of Saigon, Asian Ruby Hotel offers affordable accommodation to all travellers visiting this bustling city. This French-style colonial hotel is close enough to walk to nearby attractions like Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Reunification Palace. The hotel has a total of 80 newly built rooms including five suites. The rooms are fitted with wooden furniture; light yellow coloured walls combined with warm red coloured bed to give the rooms a cosy, residential feeling. All the rooms are equipped with LCD TV and broadband wireless Internet connection.

Saturday Day 10 MEKONG DELTA

The colourful floating market, vast emerald rice fields and lush back waterways; these are the things that make Cai Be such a desired destination. After driving 2.5-hours from Ho Chi Minh cruise the many tributaries of the Mekong to visit Cai Be floating market, wonder through vibrant tropical fruit gardens as well as visiting home cottage industries making ‘pop’ rice. Overnight in Saigon. (B/L)

Sunday Day 11 SAIGON

Free at leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight. (B)

COST PER PERSON – Land Only

Daily Departure	Oct 2009-Apr 2010	May 2010-Oct 2010
First-Class Hotels
Twin Share	$1150 [wp_cart:HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM-twin 1st Class:price:1150:var1[Departure\|03-Oct-2009\|17-Oct-2009\|07-Nov-2009\|21-Nov-2009\|05-Dec-2009\|19-Dec-2009\|02-Jan-2010\|16-Jan-2010\|06-Feb-2010\|20-Feb-2010\|06-Mar-2010\|20-Mar-2010\|03-Apr-2010\|17-Apr-2010]:end]	$N/A
Single Traveller	$1580 [wp_cart:HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM-single 1st Class:price:1580:var1[Departure\|03-Oct-2009\|17-Oct-2009\|07-Nov-2009\|21-Nov-2009\|05-Dec-2009\|19-Dec-2009\|02-Jan-2010\|16-Jan-2010\|06-Feb-2010\|20-Feb-2010\|06-Mar-2010\|20-Mar-2010\|03-Apr-2010\|17-Apr-2010]:end]	$N/A

The prices of above tour are quoted on the basis of a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.

HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM Tour includes:

• Accommodation in double/twin share with daily breakfast at first class hotels

• All domestic flights used in the itinerary (Hanoi-Danang///Hue-Saigon)

• Tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary

• Services of a driver and a private air-conditioned vehicles

• Maximum of 15 participants

• Services of a local English speaking guide (one place-one guide)

• Entrance fees for all sights visited

• Lunch or dinner if mentioned in itinerary with (L/D)

• Domestic airport taxes for any domestic flights

Tour historic Hanoi in Vietnam, then drive to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise in a traditional (luxury) Vietnamese Junk. Upon disembarkation, fly to Danang where we do a walking tour of the ancient town centre. Visit the Cham Museum, before climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’. Tour Hoi An then leave for Hue. Take a full day to tour Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Fly to Saigon and do a full day tour of Saigon. Finally tour to the Mekong Delta and floating markets.

For further details, please contact us: