Murray & Vicki's Vietnam Adventure

Day 1 - Monday 6th Sep 2027: Arrival into Hanoi

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Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, your airport representative will meet you at the end of the jet bridge. Another airport representative will collect your visa and passport then handle the immigration procedure on your behalf, while you will be escorted straight to luggage area to  meet your guide. Your airport representative will have your passport(s) stamped, and clear customs, before returning them to you. Your guide will transfer you to your hotel.

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Check in to Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel, where you’ll stay for three nights in a Grand Deluxe room.

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The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle in and begin discovering Hanoi at your own pace

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Meals: None

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in a Grand Deluxe Room

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Day 2 - Tuesday 7th Sep 2027: Hanoi Half-Day City Tour with Old Quarter Cyclo Ride & Private Street Food Tour

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09:00-13:00: This morning, meet your guide and begin exploring Hanoi, often referred to as the “Paris of the East”.

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Discover some of the city’s most important historic landmarks, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s House. Continue with a one-hour cyclo ride through the atmospheric Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of narrow streets and traditional “tube houses”.

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You’ll also visit Hoa Lo Prison, learning about its history during the French colonial period and the later American War.

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‍16:00 - 19:00: Late afternoon, return to the Old Quarter for a private street food experience. Accompanied by a local food blogger, wander through markets and atmospheric back streets while sampling some of Hanoi’s local specialities.

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Discover Thanh Ha Market, Dong Xuan Market and the city’s famous food alleys before finishing with coffee at one of the Old Quarter’s tiny local cafés.

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At the end of the tour, stop at one of the Old Quarter busiest (yet smallest) coffee shops for a well-earned sit down and coffee before transferring back to your hotel.

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Meals: Breakfast & Dinner (Street Food)

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in a Grand Deluxe Room

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Day 3 - Wednesday 8th Sep 2027: Exploring Northern Vietnam’s Stunning Countryside at Hoa Lu And Tam Coc

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08:00-17:00:  Depart Hanoi this morning for Ninh Binh, travelling through the spectacular countryside of northern Vietnam.

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Your first stop is Hoa Lu, the country’s ancient capital and once the centre of Vietnam’s first centralised feudal state. The historic temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties remain surrounded by rice paddies and dramatic limestone landscapes.

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Continue to Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land”, where a skilled local rower will take you on a peaceful two-hour journey along the winding ri

ver and through three natural caves. Surrounded by towering limestone karsts, rice fields and waterways, this is one of northern Vietnam’s most beautiful landscapes.

Visit Thai Vi Temple before enjoying lunch, then return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

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Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in a Grand Deluxe Room

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Day 4 - Thursday 9th Sep 2027: Hanoi – Tuan Chau – Cat Ba Island | Heritage Line Ylang

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This morning, meet your guide and transfer from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll board the Heritage Line Ylang for your two-night cruise through Lan Ha Bay.

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A short speedboat journey takes you to your luxurious floating home. Enjoy lunch in the elegant dining room as you sail deeper into the bay, with time to relax on the terrace deck or your private balcony and take in the extraordinary scenery.

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Later, head ashore to explore Viet Hai Village, tucked away in a peaceful valley surrounded by jungle-covered mountains. Discover this isolated community and its traditional way of life before returning to the ship.

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Back on board, enjoy a Vietnamese tea tasting, relax in the spa or sauna, or simply unwind on deck as the sun sets over Lan Ha Bay.

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After dinner, you can join a guided Singing Bowl Meditation or relax beneath the stars from your private balcony.

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Heritage Line Ylang in a Signature Suite

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Day 5 - Friday 10th September 2027: Cat Ba National Park

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Begin the morning with Tai Chi on the terrace deck before breakfast as the ship sails towards Cat Ba Island.

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A short scenic bus journey takes you into Cat Ba National Park, a designated biosphere reserve known for its remarkable biodiversity. Enjoy a leisurely exploration of the park before returning to the ship for lunch.

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The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Relax on a natural beach, swim in the bay, enjoy a spa treatment or make use of the ship’s steam bath and sauna.

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As evening falls, continue cruising through Lan Ha Bay before enjoying a multi-course dinner. Join another Singing Bowl Meditation or simply retreat to your suite and enjoy the serenity of the bay.

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Heritage Line Ylang in a Signature Suite

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Day 6 - Saturday 11th September 2027: Lan Ha Bay - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An

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Rise early for another Tai Chi session on deck before enjoying Vietnamese coffee, tea and breakfast pastries.

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The ship then sails towards Frog Lake, a secluded area surrounded by cliffs, rocks and tree-covered islets. Depending on conditions, enjoy a morning kayaking excursion through the emerald waters before returning to the ship for breakfast or brunch.

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Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Danang. VN177 @ 16:10 - 17:35 (economy class). Vietnam Airlines included 10kg carry on and 23kg checked luggage per person.

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On arrival, meet your guide and transfer approximately 45 minutes to Hoi An.

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Check in to Anantara Hoi An Resort, where you’ll stay for three nights in a Premium River Suite.

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Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort in a Premium River Suite

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Day 7 - Sunday 12th September 2027: Hoi An Basket Boat Tour, Ancient Town & Secret Cocktail Experience

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Enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure before meeting your guide in the afternoon.

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‍13:30-15:30: Meet your guide at the hotel’s lobby and transfer to Bay Mau coconut forest.

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Explore one of Hoi An’s well-known coconut palm areas on a traditional bamboo basket boat – a unique type of vessel distinctive to Central Vietnam. As you glide through narrow canals shaded by water coconut palms, you’ll experience a landscape closely tied to riverside life. Along the way, you can take photos and observe the lively atmosphere, with various local activities unfolding around you.

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16:00: Continue into Hoi An Ancient Town for a guided walking tour. Explore the beautifully preserved streets and historic architecture of this former trading port, including old merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Chaozhou Assembly Hall and the colourful local market.

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18:00: As evening arrives, discover a different side of Hoi An with a unique cocktail experience through the atmospheric lanes of the Old Town. Visit hidden bars, secret venues and historic spaces while learning about the cultural influences that have shaped the city.

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Finish the evening with a Vietnamese dinner at a local restaurant tucked away in a quiet alley of the Ancient Town.

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Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort in a Premium River Suite

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Day 8 - Monday 13th September 2027: Hoi An at Leisure

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Today is completely at leisure to enjoy Hoi An at your own pace.

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Take time to relax at the hotel, explore the Ancient Town independently, browse the local boutiques and galleries or simply enjoy a slower day after your touring and cruise experiences.

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Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort in a Premium River Suite

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Day 9 - Tuesday 14th September 2027: Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City

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This morning, meet your guide and transfer to Danang Airport for your flight south to Ho Chi Minh City. Flight VN129 13:30-15:05. Vietnam Airlines included 10 kg carry on and 23 kg checked luggage per person.

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On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.

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Check in to Caravelle Saigon, where you’ll stay for three nights in a Signature room.

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The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and begin exploring Saigon.

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Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Caravelle Saigon in a Signature Room

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Day 10 - Wednesday 15th September 2027: Saigon City Highlights & Vintage Vespa Street Food Experience

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08:30-12:30: Begin the morning with a private city highlights tour exploring some of Saigon’s most significant landmarks.

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Visit the exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office before continuing to the former Presidential Palace and War Remnants Museum. Along the way, experience Saigon’s famous coffee culture and gain an insight into everyday life in this energetic city.

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18:30 - 22:30: This evening, experience Saigon after dark from the back of a vintage Vespa.

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Ride through the city’s bustling streets and narrow neighbourhoods, stopping at local food spots to sample some of the city’s favourite dishes. Discover a popular Vietnamese bread stall, a hidden seafood restaurant, a lively old apartment complex filled with food stalls and a traditional dessert shop.

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Finish the evening at a tucked-away local bar before transferring back to your hotel.

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Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation: Caravelle Saigon in a Signature Room

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Day 11 - Thursday 16th September 2027: Inside the Heart of Mekong Delta River Life

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08:00 - 15:30: Escape the energy of Saigon today and head into the countryside of the Mekong Delta.

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Travel to Ben Tre, the gateway to the delta, where you’ll discover rural landscapes of rice paddies, fruit orchards and waterways.

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Visit a small local home factory producing traditional sticky rice cakes and meet the family behind this centuries-old craft. Continue to Quoi Son village, where you’ll visit a local fruit farmer and sample fresh seasonal produce.

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From here, travel by motorboat through the peaceful countryside before continuing by bicycle along quiet village lanes. The cycling route is on easy, level terrain and can be adapted to suit your ability, with a tricycle alternative available if preferred.

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Continue by local auto rickshaw before boarding a traditional sampan to cruise through the narrow canals of the Mekong.

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Finish your experience with lunch at a local farmer’s home, enjoying Mekong Delta specialities before returning to Saigon.

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Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Caravelle Saigon in a Signature Room

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Day 12- Friday 17th September 2027: Departure from Saigon

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Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide for your private transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward flight.

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Your Vietnam journey comes to an end.

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Meals: Breakfast

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