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

44 SOUTH EAST ASIA MEAL PLAN: 13 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 10 lunches & 14 dinners ACCOMMODATION Saigon 2 nights 4 ★ Golden Central Hotel Hoi An 2 nights 4 ★ Hoi An Central Hue 1 night 4 ★ Moonlight Hotel Hanoi 3 nights 4 ★ La Casa Hanoi Hotel Halong Bay 1 night 4 ★ Victory Cruise Luang Prabang 2 nights 4 ★ Santi Resort and Spa Siem Reap 3 nights 4 ★ Tara Angkor DAY 1: UK TO SAIGON Depart London on your overnight flight to Saigon. DAY 2: SAIGON D Today, begin your journey by exploring Vietnam’s biggest city at leisure. A fury of sights and sounds, the striking contrast of ancient pagodas and imposing skyscrapers form Saigon’s dizzying backdrop. DAY 3: SAIGON B/L/D This morning explore the extraordinary Cu Chi Tunnels, a hand-dug underground network used by Viet Cong soldiers during the ‘American War’. The afternoon city tour of Saigon includes a visit to the Reunification Palace where the Vietnam War ultimately concluded, the charming Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the fascinating War Remnants Museum that presents retired artillery pieces alongside harrowing exhibitions. DAY 4: SAIGON TO HOI AN B/L/D After breakfast, catch a flight north to the cosmopolitan coastal city of Danang. This afternoon, visit the dramatic Marble Mountains, five outcrops shrouded by jungle and decorated with towering Buddhist pagodas. Discover grottos that enshrine religious icons as you ascend the tallest mountain - Thuy Son - to marvel at spectacular views of the idyllic Non Nuoc Beach. Late afternoon, journey to the neighbouring Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful towns DAY 5: HOI AN B/L/D Today, embark on a walking tour, stroll across the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge to admire its magnificent wooden pagoda roof. Explore the Sa Huynh Museum to inspect terracotta pieces sculpted by Hoi An’s first settlers and visit the Lantern Workshop to learn how the flickering beacons which illuminate the town are crafted. DAY 6: HOI AN TO HUE B/L/D Leave Hoi An this morning for a scenic coastline drive to the northern capital of Hue, a cultural and spiritual highlight of Vietnam. Tour the imposing UNESCO-recognised Imperial Citadel complex. Later that afternoon meander through the bustling Dong Ba Market. This evening sample Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant. DAY 7: HUE TO HANOI B/L/D This morning, embark on a traditional dragon longboat for a tranquil cruise along Hue’s Perfume River. Stop at Ha Khe Hill, home to the striking tower of Thien Mu Pagoda and then continue to the imposing Tomb of Tu Duc, designed by Emperor Tu Duc before his death, and the majestic Khai Dinh Tomb. DAY 8: HANOI B/L/D Your full-day tour starts with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which displays diverse artistic pieces from the country’s northern hill tribes. Visit the intricate Ngoc Son Temple that resides on Hoan Kiem Lake. Later in the day experience a charming water puppet show; originally developed by rice farmers, wooden puppets are manipulated to the tune of traditional Vietnamese instruments. DAY 9: HANOI TO HALONG BAY B/L/D After breakfast, travel through the Red River Delta’s expansive rural landscape to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Over two thousand limestone karsts protrude through the azure waters of the Gulf of Tonkin; begin your overnight cruise by joining smaller ‘junk’ boats within this mystical seascape, disembarking at Thien Canh Son Cave to explore an ethereal wonderland of Buddhist carvings and drooping stalactites which hang beneath a canopy of sparkling gems. Wander along Hon Co Island’s idyllic sandy beach, enjoy an authentic cooking demonstration before sampling traditional dishes. After dinner retire to your cabin for the evening. DAY 10: HALONG BAY TO HANOI BR/D Enjoy the rising sun’s incandescent shimmer over Halong Bay as you unwind during your morning Tai Chi session. Following breakfast, transfer on to a rowing boat for the opportunity to witness the Journey through a trio of unique landscapes to explore the cultural treasures within Southeast Asia’s peninsula. Voyage to Vietnam’s principal cites, cruise the magnificent Mekong in Laos and discover Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang VIETNAM, LAOS & CAMBODIA 17 days from £2,169pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ City tours of Saigon, Hoi An and Hanoi ✔ Overnight cruise through Halong Bay ✔ Two-day tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia ✔ Dragon boat ride on Perfume River ✔ Explore the Cu Chi tunnel network ✔ Meander down the Mekong River ✔ Take in the sights of Luang Prabang, the cultural capital of Laos ✔ Traditional Water Puppet Show ✔ Tour the 19th century Imperial Citadel of Hue To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556 PACE: