Great Cities of Asia Tour III

Vacation Overview

Take a 6-night trip and experience Vietnam’s greatest cities. Start the adventure in Hanoi, where your tour includes Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, and see the Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Chinatown. Have some time to explore on your own in both cities. Starting at $2160, including air, with weekly guaranteed departures.

Itinerary

Day 1 - USA/Hanoi
Depart the USA gateway cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago on your Cathay Pacific Airways trans-Pacific flight for Hanoi. En route, cross the International Date Line.

Day 2 – Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. (Santa Barbara/Movenpick/InterContinental)

Day 3 – Hanoi

This morning your tour of Hanoi includes Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and his former home, One Pillar Pagoda, the military museum, and the Temple of Literature. Afternoon free. (B)

Day 4 – Hanoi

Enjoy the day at your leisure. (B)

Day 5 – Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel. (Aquari/Grand/Sofitel Plaza) (B)

Day 6 – Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, take a city tour. Visit the Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Cholon – HCM’s City’s Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Quan Am Pagoda. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 7 – Ho Chi Minh City

Day at leisure to explore the city on your own. (B)

Day 8 – Ho Chi Minh City/USA
Board Cathay Pacific Airways flight for return to USA, arriving the same day. (B)

The following Land & Air prices include Government Taxes and Fees.

Departure	Land & Air	Land Only*	Single Supplement
May 1-23	$2160 S $2390 FC $2570 D	$ 695 S $ 930 FC $1115 D	$ 485 S $ 670 FC $ 895 D
May 24 – Aug 15	$2595 S $2825 FC $2995 D	$ 695 S $ 930 FC $1115 D	$ 485 S $ 670 FC $ 895 D
Aug 16 – Dec 9	$2160 S $2390 FC $2570 D	$ 695 S $ 930 FC $1115 D	$485 S $670 FC $895 D
Dec 10-23	$2625 S $2850 FC $3035 D	$ 695 S $ 930 FC $1115 D	$485 S $670 FC $895 D
Dec 24 – 31	$2160 S $2390 FC $2570 D	$ 695 S $ 930 FC $1115 D	$485 S $670 FC $895 D
Jan 1-31 ’14	$2185 S $2425 FC $2620 D	$ 730 S $ 965 FC $1160 D	$495 S $695 FC $940 D

Prices quoted are valid for travel from May 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014 and are based on weekday departures (Monday through Thursday) from San Francisco or Los Angeles via Cathay Pacific Airways. For Cathay Pacific New York and Chicago gateway departures, add $35 per person (May 24 - Aug 15, add $160 per person; and Dec 10-23, add $315 per person). For weekend departures (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) add $65 per person each way. For special add-on airfares from various US cities, call Pacific Holidays for details. Airline fuel surcharge and government taxes, currently $316 per person (as of May 1, 2013) and subject to change are included. Hotels are S (standard), FC (first class), and D (deluxe), as indicated.

* Land Only includes all internal air segments.

Tour Features:

Round trip trans-Pacific airfare via Cathay Pacific Airways coach class
Internal air transportation
Round trip airport transfers
Accommodations double occupancy at hotels indicated with hotel tax and service charge included
Half-day coach city tour with English-speaking guide and admission fees in each city
Breakfast daily
Airline fuel surcharge (currently $316 per person and subject to change) and government taxes and fees

Rates do not include:

Any expenses of personal nature such as tips, laundry, table drinks, telephone calls, etc.
Optional non-refundable travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Any item not mentioned above

Remarks:

S (standard): – Santa Barbara Hotel in Hanoi, Aquari Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
FC (superior first class) – Movenpick Hotel in Hanoi, Grand Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
D (deluxe) – InterContinental Hotel in Hanoi, Sofitel Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City
If above hotels and Cathay Pacific Airways are not available at the time of reservation, alternative hotels at the same category or airlines could be used. Prices may differ.
During trade fairs season and during Christmas and New Year’s days, some hotels may require surcharges. The prices may increase.
Ticket(s) must be issued and full payment must be received within 7 days of reservation
Major credit cards accepted; credit card authorization required
Change and cancellation penalty of $300 per person once ticketed; Pacific Holidays’ general cancellation policy applies; travel insurance strongly recommended
Hotel upgrades, additional hotel nights, extensions to all Asian destinations and add-on air fares from various US cities are available

Accommodations

For more information on these hotels, please click the hotel name.

Standard Class
Santa Barbara Hotel
Aquari Hotel

Tour Per Person (min. 2)

From Saigon

VN74 Cai Be Princess Cruise $180

Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Ho Chi Minh City

Take an early morning drive to Cai Be to enjoy a day out in the lush surroundings of the Mekong Delta. Board the Cai Be Princess Boat and start your adventure through this river region. Cruise to the colorful Cai Be Floating Market and a wonderfully preserved historical house in the Mekong Delta. Stop en route to visit some thriving cottage industries and observe how rice paper and rice cakes are made. Lunch will be served at Le Longanier Restaurant, a lovely property set amidst a verdant tropical garden. Continue your cruise along the river and immerse yourself in the countryside scenery. Bikes are available on the boat for those who wish to explore further. Disembark and transfer to an awaiting car for the return to Ho Chi Minh City. [Full day]

Ben Tre Trip $125

Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City

Depart for the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, enjoy a boat cruise along the river and take a short walk to a handicraft workshop where goods are made from coconut trees. You will experience an exciting horse-drawn cart ride to visit a local house where you will enjoy tea and taste home-grown fruits. Board a sampan and drift along the narrow, tree-lined canals for further exploration of the Mekong Delta. After lunch, visit a family-run business making coconut candies before returning to the mainland at My Tho. On the return trip to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda if time permits. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by the late afternoon. [Full day with Lunch]

VN76 Saigon's Cultural Heritage $130

Ho Chi Minh City

In the afternoon, you will visit a Buddhist calligrapher and enjoy samples of his or her artwork. You can also engage in a conversation with him or her to learn more about calligraphy. Proceed to visit a family of local musicians and enjoy their performances. They will introduce you to, and allow you to play, some traditional musical instruments. [Half day afternoon trip]

Cu Chi Tunnels Trip $70

Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City

This morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. [Half day]