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TRIP NOTES

Cycle Vietnam10 days | Hanoi to Saigon

Cycle Vietnam - 10 days updated on 24-02-2016

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Uncover the highlights of Vietnam

and then hop on the saddle from

Hue to Hoi An to take in the sights

on two wheels, passing by terraced

rice paddy fields, charming villages,

beautiful coastline and fish farms

en route.

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Hanoi - Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ancient

Quarter• Halong Bay - UNESCO Listed region with

thousands of beautiful limestone peaks andislets

• Hue - ancient citadel, Imperial PurpleCity, Royal Tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda andmonastery

• Hoi An - UNESCO Listed ancient town,famed for its beautifully preserved old city,tailors, handicraftsmarkets and nearby beaches

• Saigon - ‘Pearl of the Orient!. NotreDame Cathedral, Old Post Office and WarRemnants Museum

• Mekong Delta - a maze of waterways, fertilefarm land and floating villages

• Cai Be waterways, cottage industries,mansion home and Dong Hoa Hiep Island

• Can Tho - lively market town in the MekongDelta and nearby Cai Rang floating market

What's Included• 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner• 7 nights 4 star and special class hotels, 1

night deluxe junk boat and 1 overnightsleeper train (Junk boat: private cabin,Sleeper train: basic, 4 berth cabin.)

• Economy class flight Danang - Saigon• Halong Bay Junk boat cruise - opt to swim,

kayak or explore caves• Bicycle ride to Tra Que village and cooking

demonstration• Sampan boat trips in the Mekong Delta• Guided sightseeing - Hanoi, Halong Bay,

Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta and Saigon• Escorted by an English speaking

Vietnamese tour guide.• Airport arrival transfer day 1 and departure

transfer day 10• All relevant transfers and transportation in

private air-conditioned vehicles• Visa approval letter (excl. stamping fee

required upon arrival)• Maximum group size: 24 travellers• Mountain bikes for days 4, 5 and 7. See

image on day 7 of the itinerary. Locallymade road bike for leisurely riding on day 6.

• Tour guide riding with you, Support vehicleand driver/mechanic accompanying allrides

• Bicycle Helmet, though you may wish tobring your own.

• Snacks, fruits, 2 mineral waters and towelsper person on cycling days

• Spare bikes - 1-2 for use if required.

What's Not Included• Tipping Kitty: $40-50 USD• Entrance Fees: $40-50 USD• International flights and visa. Vietnam visa

letter included - stamping fee requiredupon arrival

• Tip for your tour guide. We recommendyou allow USD$3 - 6 per day, per traveller.Tipping your guide is an entirely personalgesture

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : HanoiSaturday. Welcome to Hanoi and the start ofyour holiday! Upon arrival you will be met atthe airport and transferred to your hotel forcheck-in. The rest of the day is free for youand your family to explore the city, with itspicturesque tree-lined avenues, scenic lakes,ancient pagodas and bustling old town, allwhich are easily accessible by foot. Overnight -Hanoi

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Day 2 : Junk boat cruising,Halong Bay

Hanoi – Halong Bay. Take a moment to picturein your mind some two thousand rugged karstislands dappled with lush vegetation seemingto float on top of pristine emerald colouredwaters and you have the natural wonder thatis Halong Bay. This morning a scenic drive willtake us to this beautiful UNESCO World HeritageSite where we will enjoy a traditional junk boatcruise.

Based on traditional designs, these wonderfulvessels combine oriental style with modernluxury. Soak up the panoramic views from thesundeck as the boat gently plies its course,opt for a swim in the divine waters or hopin a row boat for a visit to 'Dark & BrightLagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cookingdemonstration held on the sundeck before animpressive seafood dinner is served – deliciousfor even the pickiest of eaters! Overnight -Deluxe Junk Boat (B, L, D)

Day 3 : Hidden grottoes,Halong Bay

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue. Wake up to thepeaceful serenity of Halong Bay this morning,followed by a calming Tai Chi class on thesundeck or a traditional Vietnamese massage.After exploring a hidden grotto beneathtowering cliffs, we will sail to the port for ourjourney back to Hanoi.

Arriving back in the capital we will enjoya cyclo (rickshaw) ride through the famousOld Quarter, made up of an complex mazeof intertwining alleyways and backstreetslined with small houses, handicraft workshopsand street food vendors, for a quintessentialVietnamese experience. Later its back to thehotel for some time to refresh and relaxbefore heading to the trains station in theevening to board our overnight journey (4 berthsleeper cabin, basic standard) to Hue on the‘Reunification Express’ railway line.Overnight - Sleeper train (B)

Day 4 : Imperial Hue - Cycling

Breakfast boxes will be served on the train.Upon arrival to Hue we will make our way tothe hotel for check-in and a hearty breakfastin preparation for the day ahead. Gearing upwe will hop on our bikes for a cycle out to theold Imperial Citadel where we’ll discover theImperial Purple Palace, an exact copy of theForbidden City in Beijing, with its impressiveramparts, formal moats and imperial palaces,some of which lay in ruin. We will thencontinue our bike ride 12 kilometres into thecountryside to the eccentric Royal Tombs ofthe Nguyen kings. Here we’ll view the elaboratemausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh.If time permits we will also cycle to Thien MuPagoda, one of the most iconic landmarks inHue.

Cycling detailsDistance: 30 kilometresDuration: 4 hoursGrade: EasyTransportation: Cycling (Mountain Bike)Road: flat dirt and paved roads

Overnight - Hue (B, L)

Day 5 : Road of the OceanClouds - Cycling

Hue - Road of the Ocean Clouds - Hoi An. Settingout in the early morning we will take to theback roads on our bikes, cycling past rice fields,small villages, colourful markets and fish farmsen route to Thuan An Beach. Here we will cyclealong the coastal road, taking in Cemetery Cityand a village famous for its fish sauce. After threehours of cycling we will arrive at Phuoc TuongPass where transport will be waiting to takeus to Lang Co beach for lunch and some well-earned relaxation. After lunch we will continueon to Hai Van Pass by transfer, taking in amazingviews with time for a photo stop. If you’d like tocontinue cycling we can hop back on our bikesand follow a coastal road into Hoi An.

The charming, old-world trading port of HoiAn with it cobbled streets, traditional homesand tiny shop houses is a perfect place to loseyourself in a bygone era. Boutique restaurants,hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craftshops and artisans including some of Asia’sbest bespoke tailors (whose services come ata nominal price), all can be found here. Uponarrival we will enjoy a short walking tourthrough its streets and in the evening will enjoythe ambience of the town.

Cycling detailsDistance: 30 kilometres (with an optional extra40 kilometres)Duration: 4 hoursGrade: EasyTransportation: Cycling (Mountain Bike) andtransfersRoad: flat dirt and paved roads

Overnight - Hoi An (B, L)

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Day 6 : Tra Que Village -Cycling

A bicycle ride into the countryside, will take us toa local farm in Tra Que village. Here, we discoverage old farming practices and learn abouttraditional medicine. It’s a hands on experiencetoday where we’ll assist with tending the fieldsand gardens by raking, sowing and wateringgreens. Later we will cook a lunch made upof local delicacies and will enjoy our culinarymasterpiece while soaking up the clean air andcountry views. Cycling back to Hoi An in theafternoon we will make a stop at Nhat tomb andBa Le well. Spend the rest of the day at your ownleisure.

Cycling detailsDistance: 8 kilometresDuration: 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace withphoto stopsGrade: EasyTransportation: Cycling (Road Bike)Road: flat dirt and paved roads


Day 7 : My Lai, Beach & Port -Cycling

Today we will venture off the beaten trackon our bikes to discover the day-to-day life ofthe local people here. Passing through fishingvillages, shrimp farms and rice paddy fields wewill make our way to Bach Dang river pier,

where we’ll board a cruise of the stunning ThuBon River. Disembarking at Duyen Hai we willcontinue our journey by bike on back roadsthrough Binh Minh, Binh Dao and Binh Trieu toTam ky town where we will stop for lunch.

Later we will take a short bus ride to theDung Quat Oil Refinery Area, travelling over dirttracks and paved roads through the countrysidepassing through charming villages en route. Wewill continue on to Sa Ky Fishing Port My KheBeach and My Lai, where we’ll pay our respectsat a memorial dedicated to the villagers who losttheir lives here during the Vietnam War. Aftervisiting the memorial and a museum we willhead back to Hoi An by bus.

Cycling detailsDistance: 30-60 kilometres (can be customised)Duration: 4 hoursGrade: ModerateTransportation: Cycling (Mountain Bike) andtransfersRoad: flat dirt and paved roads


Day 8 : Cruising the Mekong

Hoi An - Saigon. An early morning flight will takeus to Saigon today, where we will then continueon to the Mekong Delta by road. Known asthe ‘Rice bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong Deltais brimming with rice paddy fields, colourfulfruit orchards, enchanting villages and bustlingfloating markets. Travelling by sampan fromVinh Long, we will cruise downstream througha maze of waterways, witnessing the activity ofeveryday life along the way. Passing colourfultrading boats, house boats and children playingin the water, we will stop to visit some of thelocal cottage industries that produce popcorn,coco candies and paper along the way. Later wewill enjoy lunch in a traditional wooden home

on Dong Hoa Hiep Island. Overnight - Can Tho(B, L)

Day 9 : Mekong & Saigon

Can Tho - Saigon. This morning we will paya visit to the colourful floating market of CaiRang. Here vendors have their boats piled highwith goods, from melons, pineapples and freshgreens, to sacks of rice and children’s toys.Browse, barter and admire the hundreds ofbrightly coloured boats lining the banks herebefore continuing back to Saigon by road.

Once called the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, old andnew collide in this modern city as gleaming skyscrapers, glamorous restaurants and designershops stand side-by-side with colonial eralandmarks and post-war remnants. Here we willenjoy a walking tour of the city taking in some ofSaigon’s most famous landmarks, including theimpressive red-brick Neo-Romanesque NotreDame Cathedral, the central Post Office and thesobering War Remnants Museum. Spend theremainder of the evening at your own leisure –Saigon has plenty of fun to offer all ages!Overnight - Saigon (B)

Day 10 : Saigon

Monday. This morning is free for you to dosome last minute shopping or sightseeingbefore your departure transfer to the airportin the afternoon. Why not opt for a relaxing

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foot massage, bargain for goods at Ben ThanhMarket or visit the grand Independence Palace.

Alternatively, those with a bit more time to sparecan extend their stay and opt to join us on aday trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where therewill be the chance to explore a vast network ofunderground tunnels and hideouts that wereused by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.Learn about booby traps, climb through trapdoors, or even test your skills with an AK 47 atthe firing range!(B)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Vietnam Country Guide

Entrance fees - collected in USDEntrance fees to most sites are not included,although reasonably priced. In Vietnam, wecollect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour(the amount is noted under exclusions). Abreakdown of the entrance fee total is providedupon arrival. All funds collected in Vietnam forentrance fees are payable in USD.

Tipping Kitty - collected in USDAt the start of your tour, we take a smalltipping kitty (the amount is noted underexclusions) from all tour participants to covertips throughout your holiday. This saves you thehassle of knowing when and how much to tipbellhops, luggage handlers, bus drivers, trainconductors and other support staff throughoutthe tour.

This amount does not include a tip for yourtour guides. For a job well done, we wouldsuggest USD $3 - 6 per person per day. Tippingyour guide is an entirely personal gesture andultimately the amount is up to you.

Health RequirementsYou should seek medical advice beforetravelling to Vietnam from your local healthpractitioner and ensure that you receive allof the appropriate vaccinations. As a guideDiphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus arestrongly recommended.

Malaria in Vietnam

Areas with malaria: Rural only, except none inthe Red River Delta and the coast north of NhaTrang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. Nonein Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon.Estimated relative risk of malaria for travellers:Low

WaterThe tap water in Vietnam is generally consideredsafe to drink, but as a precaution againststomach upsets you may want to drink bottledmineral water, which is readily available fromshops, hotels and restaurants.

VisasFrom 1 July 2015 onwards UK passport holderswill not need a visa to visit Vietnam for up to15 days. At customs you will need show yourreturn airline ticket/E ticket as proof of your dateof departure. If you're exiting Vietnam via a landborder then your tour itinerary will be acceptedas proof so please have this available to show toborder police if requested. A visa is required forstays of 16 days or longer and if you are planningto return to Vietnam within 30 days of your lastdeparture you will also need to purchase a visa.

Most other nationalities including Australian,Canadian, New Zealand, South African andUSA passport holders require a tourist visato visit Vietnam. Travellers can choose toindependently apply (or we can arrange thisfor you, see notes below) for a 30 daytourist visa (single or multiple entry) fromthe nearest Vietnamese Embassy or via themore convenient method of applying online.The cost is approx USD$20. After submittingan application you will receive a confirmationnumber, then upon arriving to Vietnam youwould receive the actual visa and additionallypay a stamping fee of USD$45. The stamping feefor a multiple entry visa, for entries within onemonth is USD$65.

Applying in advance and then collecting yourtourist visa upon arrival is available to alltravellers entering the country via Hanoi - NoiBai International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City -Tan Son Nhat International Airport and DanangInternational Airport.

ON THE GO ARRANGING YOUR VIETNAMVISAUpon confirming a holiday to Vietnam with us, ifyou require a visa please download a copy of our'Vietnam Visa Data List' available on our websitewithin the SE Asia, under the title of 'Visa Info'.Should you complete the form and return it asa Microsoft Word document via e-mail to us 6weeks prior to your departure we will arrangethe visa for you (effectively saving you USD$20).

Then approximately 2 - 3 weeks prior toyour departure we will forward to you a'Visa Confirmation Letter' which carries aconfirmation number'.

You will need to present the 'Visa ConfirmationLetter' and a 'Vietnam Visa Entry & Exit Form' (wehave a link to this form on our website or you canpick up one upon arrival) to immigration officialsupon arrival into Vietnam along with 2 passportphotos and a stamping fee of USD$45 or USD$65 for a multiple entry visa. A Visa will thenbe stuck into your passport and you can enterVietnam.

Please note: This service is not available forSouth African passport holders who must obtaina tourist visa from the nearest VietnameseEmbassy in advance and pay the stamping feedirectly to the embassy prior to travel.

'The Visa Confirmation Letter' (irrespective ofwhether you apply for your visa independentlyor through On The Go Tours) will containpersonal information such as your passportnumber, nationality and date of birth of yourselfand other travellers on one inclusive list.

PLEASE NOTE: Your passport must be valid for atleast 6 months after your departure date, if it isnot you may be refused entry into the country.

ClimateVietnam has a varied climate due to itsgeography. The south is hot year round andhas two seasons: The wet season lasts fromMay to October, with brief, daily showers. Thedry season from November to April is generallysunny and humid. In the north, the summermonths (May to October) are hot and there isthe occasional burst of heavy rain. In the winter(December to February) temperatures drop in

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the north and it can be damp. The coastalregion of central Vietnam is blessed with longmonths of sunshine, although there is rainfallin November and December. At this time therecan also be some typhoon activity in the centralcoastal region.

Guides and GroupsOur longest group tour in Southeast Asia is ourBangkok to Angkor Wat - 25 day tour. All othergroup tours we offer (with the exception of ourVietnam with Teens and Flavours of Vietnamtours) are sectors of this larger tour. As such onyour holiday you may have travellers join youpart way through your tour (in Luang Prabang,Hanoi or Saigon) or end their tour when youcontinue on.

Guiding: A Vietnamese guide will escort allarrangements throughout Vietnam.

Time & VoltageThe voltage in Vietnam is 220v. In Vietnam 3types of plugs are commonly accepted: 2 flatprong plugs (type A), the 2 round pin plug (typeC) and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels usethe British standard 3-pin plug (type G). To coverall bases, it is best to pack an international traveladaptor!

Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does notobserve daylight saving.

MoneyThe official currency in Vietnam is theVietnamese Dong.

Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other majorcurrencies can be exchanged locally at theairport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollarnotes are widely accepted and shopkeepers useboth currencies interchangeably. You can oftenpay for items in USD and receive your change inUSD notes and coins in VND. Make sure that yourUSD bills are crisp and clean and you will have noproblem using or exchanging these throughoutyour stay. ATM machines can be found in allmajor cities though it is not common to paywith credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops forpurchases. It's advisable to request bank notesin smaller denominations, as it can sometimesbe hard to get change from large notes and

smaller notes are handy for smaller purchasesand gratuities.

Traveller's Cheques are not recommended asthey're often difficult to exchange and incurhigh fees.

Essential Packing• Sleep sheet if taking an overnight sleeper

train. These also can be easily purchased inHanoi at a cost of USD$5. Ask you guide forinfo on where to buy these.

• A day pack to carry all your essentials whenout sightseeing each day.

• An overnight bag, if you are staying aboardthe Junk boat in Halong Bay. As we will bereturning to Hanoi it is not essential that youtake your big bag/ suitcase with you.

• Lightweight cotton garments.• Comfortable walking shoes in addition to flip

flops/ thongs• DEET based mosquito repellant &

antihistamine cream• Bring a 2 flat prong (type A) and a 2 round

pin (type C) electrical adaptors. A universaladaptor will cover all bases

• Lightweight, fold up raincoat/ poncho.• Two spare passport photos & a photocopy of

your passport• Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, swim costume

and torch

Arrival TransfersIf your tour or short stay includes an airportarrival transfer (as indicated in the 'What youGet' section of this Go Guide) our arrivalprocedure is as follows:

Arrive to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport,Saigon - Tan Son Nhat International Airport.Proceed to the immigration counter andpresent your invitation letter. Complete animmigration form and submit your photographsand stamping fee of USD$25 (this can take sometime). After collecting your luggage proceed tothe arrival hall.

As you enter the arrivals hall, look for our OnThe Go Tours representative. He/she will beholding a prominent On The Go Tours logosignboard. After meeting you will be escorted toour awaiting transportation and transferred toour tour start hotel

If, for any reason you have trouble locating ourrepresentative (after waiting 20 minutes in thearrival hall) or your flight is delayed please callthe emergency contact number as stated onyour tour voucher.

If arriving on day 1 of a holiday, that includesan airport arrival transfer (as indicated in the'What you Get' section of this Go Guide) wewill be at the airport, ready to transfer youto your hotel. Further if you are booking pre-tour accommodation with us an airport arrivaltransfer will also be provided. If arriving prior to9am on day 1 (essentially on a flight that arrivesvery, very early in the morning) you will need topurchase a night of pre-tour accommodation tosave you waiting until standard hotel check intime, which is generally 2pm.

Airline Luggage AllowanceIf your tour includes international or domesticflights within the region please be mindfulthat the free baggage allowance for Economyclass travel is strictly 20kg and 1 piece of handluggage up to 6kg. Any additional weight ischarged at a per kilo rate. You may wish to keepthis in mind whilst shopping.

Trains in VietnamIt's not the Orient Express, but Vietnam'sReunification Express. On a number of our grouptours we include an overnight train journey onthe Reunification Express Railway Line betweenHanoi and Hue. The particular SE series trainthat we use on this journey is the highestclass of train available in Vietnam. It's titledas being the nation's fastest train; though byinternational standards it's quite the opposite.Never the less, our journey between Hanoi andHue takes approximately 14 hours and travellersare accommodated in 4 berth 'Soft Sleeper'cabins.

Aboard each wagon are 9 compartments thatcomprise of 4 bunks per compartment. 4persons of mixed sex share one compartment.You may be sharing with people from yourtour group, other tourists or Vietnamese people.Who you will share your cabin with is ultimatelydependent upon how the Vietnamese RailwaysCorporation configures the bookings.

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Cabins onboard are comfortable though notcomparable to European standards. A westernstyle toilet (with a varying degree of cleanliness)is located at either end of the wagon. Air-conditioning (not always operational in thesummer) and lighting are controlled from insidethe cabin, which is also lockable. Luggage canbe stored in a compartment under the bottombunk. Linen and a pillow are provided thoughwe strongly recommend that you bring yourown sleep sheet (easily purchased in Hanoi ata cost of USD$5). The cleanliness of the trainvaries according to wagons assigned to thejourney for that particular day. Some wagonsare spotlessly clean whilst others can be uncleanand should have been decommissioned longago. Irrespective of the particular train youtake, they all have large clear glass windowsthat allow for uninterrupted views of stunninglandscapes and never ending rice paddy fields.

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