Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

38 SOUTH EAST ASIA MEAL PLAN: All meals included ACCOMMODATION Saigon 2 nights 4 ★ Golden Central Hotel Can Tho 1 night 4 ★ Ninh Kieu 2 Hanoi 3 nights 4 ★ Sunway Hotel Halong Bay 1 night Paloma Cruise or Dynasty Cruise DAY 1: UK TO SAIGON Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Saigon. DAY 2: SAIGON D On arrival into Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Relax in the afternoon before enjoying a welcome dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. DAY 3: SAIGON B/L/D After breakfast, travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an impressive hand-dug network of underground passageways, spanning 75 miles in length; this labyrinth formerly housed hospitals, weapon factories and living quarters when it was used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. En route, your tour will pass through a traditional rice paper making village before lunch at a local restaurant. Start your afternoon city tour at the historically symbolic Reunification Palace, the former home and workplace of the wartime president of South Vietnam and the place where the Vietnam war ultimately concluded in spectacular fashion, when an army tank crashed through its gates. Continue to the enchanting Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, an architectural wonder due to its distinctive red-brick exterior; built between 1877-1883 this iconic Basilica is the major seat of the Catholic religion in Vietnam and continues to entice a steady influx of intrigued visitors. Later, travel past the grand, French-style Saigon Post Office. DAY 4: SAIGON TO CAN THO B/L/D In the morning drive to My Tho and board your boat to cruise along the picturesque waterways of the Mekong River, passing rustic landscapes, floating markets, local villages and the four islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Turtle, docking in Unicorn Island. A visual feast awaits as you wander around a vibrant showcase of exotic fruits being sold in copious farms, and also relish in the chance to sample local delights at the coconut sweet workshop for an authentic taste of Vietnamese indulgences. Later, arriving at a bee farm, taste the traditional honey tea, a locally produced refreshment, and meander along the Vam Chua Canal - a narrow channel, shaded by enveloping palm trees, listening to the serene sound of rippling water touching the sides of your rowing boat. Continue to Can Tho where you will spend the night. DAY 5: CAN THO TO HANOI B/L/D Your morning in Can Tho will begin with a gentle trip through the scenic canals and waterways in a small boat, taking in the sultry scenery and daily activities of the vendors of the floating markets who live along these Mekong canals. Stop to witness the Mekong Delta’s largest floating market of Cai Rang, a sight to behold where a bustling cluster of merchants compete with each other to sell fresh produce to local traders and tourists. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to the airport in Can Tho for your flight to Hanoi, where you will have an evening at leisure to settle in. DAY 6: HANOI B/L/D A full-day tour of Hanoi begins by weaving through the charming courtyards and gardens of the ancient Temple of Literature, followed by a visit to the ornate Presidential Palace, a distinctive edifice, strikingly recognisable by its mustard façade. Next, observe the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, designed to resemble a lotus flower which is a Buddhist symbol of enlightenment, before taking a short drive out of the city centre to take part in a local authentic cooking demonstration; sampling traditional flavours and spices often associated with Vietnamese cuisine, enjoy your tantalising creation for lunch. The afternoon continues with an enlightening visit to the National History Museum to discover an assortment of ancient artefacts from imperial Vietnam, before briefly stopping at the Hanoi Opera House to capture the grandeur which exudes this imposing colonial structure. Conclude today’s walking tour as you navigate the swarming market stalls of Steeped in its own rich traditions, history and culture, yet irrevocably shaped by the major events of the 20th century, all taking place against the backdrop of stunning landscapes and architecture, Vietnam is a traveller’s dream. Traditional Vietnamese woman IMPRESSIONS OF VIETNAM 10 days from £1,299pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Explore the vast underground network of the Cu Chi Tunnels ✔ City tours of Saigon and Hanoi, including a walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter ✔ Overnight cruise through the limestone karsts of Halong Bay ✔ Daytime Mekong River cruise and boat ride through the canals of Can Tho ✔ Cai Rang floating market and a Vietnamese cooking demonstration ✔ Visit fruit and bee farms on Unicorn Island PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556