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VIETNAM ON A SHOESTRINGHo Chi Minh City HanoiFR$1,14912 DAYSHighlights• Bask on the beaches at Nha Trang• Buy tailor-made clothes in Hoi An• Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels• Float along Halong Bay’s green waters• Discover Hue’s citadels and pagodas• Wander Ho Chi Minh’s hectic streets• Dine on delicious local cuisine• Bike around Hue’s lush countrysideDepartures 2015Jan-DecInclusionsDailyTrip Style: YOLO Service Level: BasicPhysical Grading: 2 Age Group: Exclusivelyfor 18-39’s Accommodation: Simple hotels(8 nts), sleeper trains (3 nts) Transport:Train, local bus, air con bus, boat Meals: 6breakfasts, 1 lunch Budget: Allow USD $225-300 for meals not included Group Leader:Chief Experience Officer (CEO), local guidesGroup Size: Max 18, Avg 12 Tour Code:GAAVRVMy Own Room Available: Fr $509HanoiLAOSTHAILANDYou might likeHalong BayHueCAMBODIA VIETNAMNha TrangHo Chi Minh City(Saigon)Hoi AnExtend your tripVietnam, Laos and Thailand on a Shoestring(22 days, Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok)(GAAVVL) see page 28 Fr $2,499Cambodia and Vietnam on a Shoestring(10 days, Bangkok to Hanoi)(GAATCV) see page 82 Fr $2,019Calling all budget travellers! Experience everything Vietnam has to offer in this 12-daysteal of a tour. No one day will be the same; uncover Vietnam’s rich history in stunningtemples and ruins, whizz around the countryside on bikes or cruise through the waters ofHalong Bay on a traditional junk boats, all with an amazing group of travel mates. Add tothat bustling markets overflowing with potential treasures and mouth-watering local cuisinejust waiting to be devoured and you’ve got yourself a jam-packed holiday that makes everysecond count!DAY01-0203-0405-0607-080910-1112ITINERARYHo Chi Minh CityThe first day is free for you to ease yourself into the frenetic pace of Ho Chi Minh City. Make sureto return to the hotel at 6pm for a group meeting to meet your fellow travellers. On Day 2, explorethe amazing sights the city has on offer. Head to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnelsthat locals lived in during the war, the fascinating War Remnants museum or the Reunification Palace,the residence of South Vietnam’s presidents before 1974. Stop off at the Ben Thanh market for adelicious bite to eat from one of the stalls or take a cyclo tour of the city’s former colonial quarter.In the evening, catch an overnight train to Nha Trang. (B)Nha TrangEnjoy the next couple of days of rest and relaxation in Nha Trang, whether it’s taking a boat toexplore nearby islands, snorkelling through warm waters or soaking in traditional mud baths. Foranother fun way to see the city, opt for a motorbike tour, explore the markets and historical sites. OnDay 4, take an overnight train to Hoi An.Hoi AnThe picturesque port town of Hoi An is your next destination. Walk through this living museumvisiting cultural sights such as the Museum of History and Culture, the Tan Ky House, a preserved19th Century merchant’s house, and the My Son ruins, an intellectual and religious centre built by theCham civilisation. Enjoy a street food crawl with your group. Bring your appetite as your CEO will takeyou to the best spots and teach you about the local street food. Opt to attend a cooking class, enjoya river boat tour, or take advantage of this shopping Mecca. One particular speciality of Hoi An is therows of tailor’s shops, perfect if you’ve ever wanted to get yourself a custom-made suit at a fractionof the normal price you’d pay back home.HueHead north to Hue via the Hai Van Pass for spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. InHue, options include a trip to the Royal Citadel, modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, or a boattrip down Perfume River. Fit in a visit to the city’s oldest religious building, the seven-tiered Tien MuPagoda, and the Imperial Tombs to explore the resting places of Vietnam’s former rulers, all of whichare like self-contained mini palaces. For nature lovers, grab a bike and cycle around the beautifulcountryside for a breathtaking experience before getting another sleeper train to Hanoi. (2B)Hanoi / Halong Bay / Bai Chai HarbourArriving into Hanoi in the early morning, catch a bus to the beautiful and famous Halong Bay. Take inthe dramatic sight of thousands of islands rising from the waters of the Bay aboard a traditional junkboat. Tuck into deliciously fresh seafood and explore the islands and caves. (L)HanoiAfter breakfast, head to Hanoi for an orientation walk of the city’s Old Quarter. Opt to visit theBuddhist temple of Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum andMuseum, dedicated to the man who was leader of North Vietnam when the Vietnam War began.Follow this up with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and keep your eyes peeled for one of the famous100 year-old turtles that live in its waters. In the evening, opt to attend a performance at thefamous Water Puppets theatre and make sure to leave time to sample Hanoi’s amazing eateries. (2B)HanoiSay your goodbyes and feel free to leave at any time. (B)SOUTH EAST ASIA87