Muslim Vietnam Tour - 10 days / 9 nights

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival and City Tour (L, D) (G)
Morning: Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, welcome by Muslim Travel Vietnam and transfer to hotel for check-in . A Short sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City: Lam Son Mosque, The Old Post Office and The People’s Committee Hall , visit to China Town.
Lunch with Halal food. Afternoon: free time for shopping. Dinner will be served at Halal restaurant . Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B, L, D) (G)
Morning: After breakfast, start HCM tour by a one and half hour drive to Cu Chi, where human knowledge has been enriched by experiencing an web-like tunnels system of more than 200km in length which used to be the shelters of guerrillas during the war against American troops .
Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch at Halal restaurant.

Afternoon: visit the Mosque for paying, War museum, the famous lacquer ware factory and the handicraft center, shopping at Ben Thanh Retails market. A sumptuous dinner awaits you at Saigon halal restaurant . Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – My Tho – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D) (G)
Morning: After breakfast, our tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and depart for My Tho, a two hour drive to My Tho will expose the colorful outskirt life as well as picturesque rice fields along the journey. Upon arrival, get on a boat trip up Mekong River stop at Thoi Son island to visit honey bee-farm, coconut candy workshop. Then taste seasonal fruits, enjoy traditional folk songs at local people house.
Lunch at Halal restaurant .
Afternoon: Walk along the village to see the authentic life of the local and challenge your bargaining power at cottage handicraft shops. An adventurous sampan ride in palm shading creeks will be the next experience of the riverside region.
Come back to Saigon, up on arrival, check - in hotel and have dinner at halal restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (B) (G)
Breakfast at hotel, enjoy free time at leisure for shopping or relaxing until we transfer you back to the airport for your departure flight flight to Danang where your private tour guide and car are waiting for the transfer to Hoi An. Check in and free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (B, L) (G)
Hoi An is listed as one of the top Vietnam holiday destinations as well as the world's. After breakfast, we drive to visit My Son Holy land, a UNESCO World Heritage site of Vietnam and once the spiritual capital of Champa Kingdom that dominated South East Asia for nearly a thousand years and occupied most of the central parts of Vietnam from 2nd century to 16th century with very rich in history and culture. Contemplate its remarkable red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. On arrival, take a leisure walking visit to the ruins of temples under the shadow of the trees and learn about the history and unique culture of the Cham people.

Drive back to Hoi An, visit the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien pagoda. Back to your hotel and free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6: Hoi An Free Day (B, D) (G)
At leisure. Relax on the private beach, by the resort pool or optional is to rent a bicycle to ride into Hoi An to explore the picturesque central of town with its restored 18th century merchants’ houses. Hoi An also boasts some of the bterest silk shops, art galleries and handicraft shops in Vietnam as well as dozens of excellent restaurants serving the delicious local specialities. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Hanoi. Upon your arrival at the airport, Holidaytoindochina's private tour guide and driver will meet you with our welcome sign board then transfer you to the hotel (old quarter's area). Dinner then free at leisure and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi City Tour (L, D) (G)
Spotlight of many Vietnam tour packages, Hanoi can be the most graceful, atmospheric and exotic capital city in Asia. Its appeal is instant, with sweeping boulevards, tree-fringed lakes, ancient temples and pagodas.

Today, your charming Hanoi City Tour includes Ho Chi Minh Complex (the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (closed on Monday and Friday), Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and One Pillar Pagoda), Temple of Literature then lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the outlaying Museum of Ethnology (you can see the Museum of Fine Art, Museum of Women, Museum of History, Museum of Vietnam Military History, Hilton Prison instead), and then 1 hour cyclo or rickshaw will take you along narrow streets of the diverse Ancient Quarter. Stop at the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son temple and to enjoy a fantastic performance of the famous water puppet show. After the show, we will take you for a walk to to explore Hanoi old quarter, time for shopping. Dinner in a hala restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D) (G)
A "Must" for all Vietnam holidays, Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.

08:00 - Start departure from Hanoi with our private tour guide and car.
12:00 - Arrive to Bhaya Cafe at Tuan Chau Island.
12:45 - Board with welcome drinks and welcome briefing from our Cruise Manager.
13:00 - Start the buffet lunch while the boat is cruising towards south east of Halong Bay passing by Chicken Rock and Titov Island.
15:15 - Transfer to centre of Vung Vieng floating village by tender boat. Start to discover the floating village while sitting on rowing boats with local people.
16:30 -Transfer to Vung Ha Beach for Kayaking and swimming (Kayak & Spa book in advance at the reception).
17:00 - Bar opens for the Happy Hour "Buy one get one free".
17:30 - Cooking demonstration with traditional Vietnamese food on sundeck (in restaurant if weather does not allow).
19:00 - Western style dinner will be served with fixed menu.
21:00 - Free time for joining movies in the restaurant; Squid fishing at the reception or 30% discount for all kind of drinks.

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi (Brunch, D) (G)
06:15 - Start early Tai Chi demonstration on sundeck; tea and coffee available.
07:00 - Light breakfast will be served in the restaurant.
07:45 - Discover Surprise Cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong Bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmite.
09:00 - Back to main boat for check out, put baggage out to corridor and settle the bill at the reception.
09:30 - Buffet brunch will be served in restaurant while the boat is cruising back to harbour.
10:30 - Disembark in Tuan Chau Marina. Leave for Hanoi.
15:00 - Return to Hanoi. Dinner at Halal Restaurant and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi Shopping and Departure (B) (G)
Morning: breakfast at hotel then time for shopping at Hang Gai, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao shopping street in Hanoi old quarter then we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Holidaytoindochina.com would like to thank you so much for your traveling with us. We hope you had a great Vietnam tour and wish to welcome you back.

END OF SERVICE

Inclusion:
•    All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
•    Accommodation based on twin/double sharing
•    English speaking guide
•    Domestic flight HCMC - Danang - Hanoi (Economy Class)
•    Entrance fees to indicated sights and activities as indicated
•    Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•    Bottled mineral water during touring days

Exclusion:
•    Drinks
•    Other meals
•    Insurance
•    Personal expenses
•    Expenses for any optional tours or activities during free time

If you do not know how to plan your Vietnam tour and Indochina holiday, please read our FAQ's below to get some information or send us an email at info@holidaytoindochina.com and one of our experienced travel consultants will be ready and happy to answer your questions as well as organise your amazing holiday in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and combination.

How to plan my Vietnam tour/Indochina holiday with you?
1. Send us an inquiry by submiting one of our online forms (Click). Tell us as much information as possible. For example;

• Please tell us how many people will be traveling with you, date of birth, if you have children, please tell us how old is/are the kid(s).
• Please tell us your preferred hotels, level of hotel (3, 4 or 5 stars), type of hotel, type of room...
• Please tell us your type of travel, length of travel and activities that you are interested in. For example; Family with kids, Couple's vacation, Honeymoon, Friends, Shopping, Sightseeing, Leisure and Relaxing, Cuisine & Cooking, Kayaking, Caves & Grottoes, Fishing, Swimming, Hiking, Minority, Adventure & Discovery...
• Please tell us where and what you want to visit, if you do not know much about Vietnam, just give us your travel plan and ideas.
• Most of our tour guide are English speaking tour guides, but if you want another language like French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese... we can always arrange. Please tell us what you do you expect from your guides, for example; you want a guide with sense of humor? Good knowledge in history & culture? Male/Female guide? Talkative/Untalkative? Young/Old guide?
• Please advise if you want breakfast included only or also Lunch and Dinner, and please let us know if you are a Vegetarian, the food you can eat or cant not, if you want local food in local restautants or western food in tourist restantant...?
• Actually, you do not have to send us all information, but the more we know, the better we plan your Vietnam tour.

2. After we receive your enquiry, one of our professional Vietnam travel consultants reply and send you the suggested tour itinerary as soon as possible.

3. If you accept the suggested tour itinerary (you may modify it till you are satisfied with), we will calculate the tour cost and send you the tour price. If you accept it, please confirm that you would like to book it.

How to proceed to book Vietnam tour/Indochina holiday with you?

• When you decide to book your Vietnam tour/Indochina holiday with us, please send us your full name (name on passport) for hotel and domestic flight reservations, and your international flight details (in and out) for airport transfers.

How to pay the deposit and the balance?

• Deposit: When the booking is completely confirmed, we will send you confirmation details including confirmed itinerary, invoice, voucher. Then you are required to send the deposit which is about 30% of the total tour cost (can be less). You can pay by credit cards (via onepay gateway, pay online), wire/bank transfer, western union. The deposit is used to pay the flight tickets, hotels, train tickets in advance.
• Balance: You can pay the outstanding balance 2 weeks before your arrival, or you can pay us on your arrival in Vietnam by credit cards, cash (AUD, USD, EUROS, VND...)
• More about credit card payment via OnePay: ONEPAY - ONLINE PAYMENT GATEWAY (VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX & JCB ACCEPTED)
  Like PayPal, OnePAY is a payment gateway but specialized in Vietnam where the PayPal has not yet reached. This is a perfect and the first payment processor which gains reputation among clients about its efficiency and timely friendly support.

  OnePAY in cooperation with biggest bank in Vietnam - Vietcombank which has been implemented this service among many tour operators in Vietnam.

  OnePAY is approved by MasterCard for this payment collection on the behalf of us. OnePAY uses SSL Verisign® over internet transaction under 3D-Secure program by respective creditcard companies so you are free from worries your card information disclosed. OnePAY payment portal also meets standards of international financial system such as PCI DSS of PCI Security Standards Council, 3D-Secure of Visa, MasterCard and JCB.

Note: Before coming, please make sure you have all travel documents such as; confirmed tour, invoice, flight tickets..., especially the visa to Vietnam and Indochina is done.

What about tipping?

• The tour guides and drivers expect tips, but it is not mandatory. You can tip more or less, or nothing that depends on the serviced provided. We recommend that you trip the tour guides; US$ 10 - 15  per day anddrivers: US$ 7-10 per day. Tipping at restaurants, tuk tuk, cyclo, taxi..., our tour guides will give you the advice.

Do you offer any discounts?
Yes, we offer discounts for;

•  Family with kids and children < 12 years old
•  Disable people
•  People of old ages (> 65 years old)
•  Repeated clients who have the second trip with us
•  Travel in big group of friends, families (the more people, the cheaper the price is)
•  We offer big discounts in low season (May - September)

Is there any charge if i change my travel dates, tour itinerary, hotels...?

• We are happy to work on your requests, and will not charge you any money for all extra work. However, if it is too urgent and the date is too close, the hotels or airlines may charge you some money, in this case we will let you know.

What is the latest time that I can make my reservation?

• We suggest you make reservations at least one month before the departure date. If you decide to travel to Vietnam/Indochina from October to April which is peak season, we recommend that you make the reservations two months (at least one) before your departure date. Late reservations can not be guaranteed for the availability of domestic flights, hotel rooms, etc. However, we can accept urgent booking, just 1-2 days before arrival. Things are possible at Holiday to Indochina.

What about Cancellation policy?

• In case of cancellation, we will not impose any charges if we are not being charged and possible to get refund from our suppliers but if our suppliers apply charges for cancellation, you will have to pay those charges that apply. Cancellation policies vary, depending upon the type of service, the time of year, and the reason for cancellation. We will pass on to you all details of any cancellation policy with our transparent reply upon demand.

General cancellation charges that applied by travel services in Vietnam and Indochina.

• Domestic flights: 25% of the fares
• 3 star hotels, train tickets, no charge if you cancel 3-5 days before your arrival. (FIT)
• 4 star hotels, 7 - 10 days before your arrival (FIT)
• 5 stars hotels, 10 - 15 days before your arrival (FIT)

However, in peak season, we may have to pay the hotels one month before your arrival to secure the booking, and in this case, the cancellation policy will be based on the hotels' cancellation plolicies.

Can we get refund?

• For the unused services, Holiday to Indochina will refund you.

How do I get a visa?

• Vietnam Visa - For those who would like to avoid the perhaps lengthening visa procedures with their local Vietnam's Embassies, the service of  Vietnam Visa On Arrival is available for help. It is legitimated and supported by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. We recommend that you choose visa upon arrival, as picking up visa at the Vietnam int'l airport/border is quite simple, easy, no additional charges and no fail.

Steps to obtain Visa on arrival
a) Please provide the following information for us to apply for your visa.

• 1) Full name on passport (male/female)
• 2) Passport number
• 3) Date of birth
• 4) Nationality
• 5) Date of arrival
• 6) Date of issue
• 7) Date of expire
• 8) Please make sure that your passport is still valid for 6 months

b) How long does it take?

• It will take 2-3 days (Normal process), 01 day (Urgent process) to get the “Visa Approval Letter” which we will send you via mail. What you need is to print it out and take it along to get the stamp at airports/borders

c) Get the stamp

• Upon arrival, you will need to fill in a certain form with your personal information, get the stamp and visa will be done. For this process, you will need to prepare 02 photos (4*6) and $45 USD each in cash which is stamping fee.

Do our tour guides and drivers have meals with us?

• The guide and the driver in each destination will dine at the same restaurant as yours. But, they will not join you unless you invite them.

Where can I change our money into Vietnam currency?

• We advise you to stop in any Vietnamese bank during the tour (Our tour guides will take you to the bank), you can exchange money at your hotel, but the exchange rate is a bit lower than the bank's exchange rate.

Can I use credit cards in Vietnam?

• Major credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, Diner's Card, American Express and JCB can be used to purchase goods in large shopping malls and stores in the big and medium cities, to pay for hotel rooms and for meals in some of the fancier restaurants, and to buy plane tickets with them.

Note: If you are to travel to those small cities or even remote rural areas, only cash in Dong can be used.

Do I need to bring my medical record with me?

• Yes, we suggest you take your medical record with you in case that you need it in the event of an emergency, and please also take with you your doctor's name, address and phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.

When I finish my tour in Vietnam, if I still have some local money, what can I do?

• Upon leaving Vietnam, if you still have some local money, you can change them back to foreign currency with your passport and the exchange memos given by the banks or money exchange counters. So please keep those exchange memos well whenever you change money.

Private Guide & Transfer
Holiday to Indochina offers private tour packages across Vietnam and Indochina; During the tour, you will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel across Indochina. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.

Tour Guide:
Holiday to Indochina does understand that a good tour guide will make your Indochina holiday a beautiful time and tour guides who work with us are well-paid, experienced with a university background, eager to exchange our culture, lifestyle, knowledge...with travelers, and have a great passion for their country and understand the personal touch. At every departure, you’ll be escorted & assisted until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint. All of our tour guides in Vietnam and other Indochina area are locals. Knowing the area well, they are good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for best photos. If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience

Note: In Sapa or some mountainous areas, we may use local tour guides who come from the ethnic groups like H'Mong, or Red Dao as they know better than anyone else about their land, culture, customs and habits...

Holiday to Indochina's requirements for a good tour guide:

•  5 years of experience working as a tour guide
•  Guiding does require more than just hanging out in the sun. Guides must be friendly and good with people, organized enough to keep groups or people on schedule, quick on their feet and ready for the inevitable snafus that arises.
•  Must be an honest broker of their services and able to take criticism.
• Should be qualified at some level in health, health care or first aid.
•  Able to relate to people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
• Clear speech and good hearing.
• Must not be a alcoholic or No-alcohol during working time or anytime when on tour.
• Tour guide is a nurse to take care of visitors, a boss to keep the right itinerary, a teacher to give information, an ambassador to introduce our country, an entertainer
• Must be on time every time. Being late or delay is unacceptable.
• Check flight tickets, train tickets, meals, weather... to make sure things are in order and inform local office if any changes that might effect the tour.
• Solve problems with care when there is dissatisfy. Argument should be averted by courtesy.
• If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience.

Transportation:
Holiday to Indochina guarantees to offer the best means of transport during your holiday in Vietnam and Indochina. The safety, comfort and security of our customers come first. We use only the latest modern cars, vans, coaches and all our drivers are full time workers, government licensed in the tourism industry with at least 5 years driving experience. We are fully in control of our quality and service as we own our vehicles.

Holiday to Indochina's requirements for a driver:

• Our drivers must have good driving skills with at least 5 years of experience
• Our drivers must keep the vehicles clean,
• Our drivers are not allowed to hear cell-phone or smoke, chat, drink when driving.
• Our drivers must be friendly, helpful.
• Our drivers are not allowed to take you to shops unless you ask for.
• Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained.