Thursday 10 October 2019 Depart: Hanoi Thu 10 Oct 2019 12:00
Welcome to your holiday with us. Please take a note of my phone number and call me any time if you need assistance – Ms Thuan ++84 (0) 888 44 9969 DAY 1. 10th Oct HA NOI ARRIVAL
Upon your arrival at airport, look for our driver who will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name. The journey from the airport to your hotel will take approximately one hour and is an entertaining experience full of chaotic traffic, hectic architecture and overloaded motorbikes. Hotel: May De Ville Old Quarter hotel Room Type: Deluxe Inclusions Airport transfer Time: DAY 2. 11th Oct HANOI - HA GIANG (290km) (B/L/D)
Wake up in early morning for Hanoi street photography We will start by walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, where Hanoians enjoy doing their physical exercises, and continue our exploration in the bustling 36 old streets and guilds of the old quarter. We will then the walk along the railway tracks witnessing the Hanoian’s daily life punctuated by the passage of the famous reunification train. After morning photo shoots, We depart from Hanoi straight to the mountainous area of the far North. There will be plenty of shooting opportunities en-route as the terrain changes from low land up to the mountains. Arriving in the mountainous town in the afternoon. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at best home-stay of the village with Tay ethnic people 6 hours travelling / 2 hours photography Hotel: Ha Giang homestay Room Type: DAY 3. 12th Oct HA GIANG – QUAN BA (50km) (B/L/D)
After breakfast and coffee in town, we leave for the real mountainous trip. We will have a morning shooting along the winding road to Quan Ba through the Hmong ethnic villages. Just before Quan Ba, we will pass the “Heaven’s Gate”, with its mountains stretching to the horizon, marking the entrance to Dong Ba Karst Plateau, listed in UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. A magnificent point of view to come back home with stunning landscape photos, hopefully helped by a nice weather. Afternoon is for a nice walk around the community, shooting indoor with the Red Dzao ethnic people. Dinner and night in Red Dao eco-lodge. 2 hours travelling / 5 hours photography Hotel: Red Dao Eco Lodge Room Type: Deluxe DAY 4. 13th Oct QUAN BA – PHO CAO – DONG VAN (100km) (B/L/D)
We will start the day with a beautiful valley below Quan Ba well filled with rice fields. We will then delve into Dong Van Plateau, an extremely wild region made of limestone pitons and black granite needles: a truly breathtaking panorama. After lunch in Yen Minh, we will head to Pho Cao, a superb H’mong village with some 200 years old houses, a favorite village in the area, with Pleiades of villagers vacant to their daily occupations of another age before finally reaching Dong Van in the late afternoon. 5 hours travelling/ 4 hours photography Hotel: Hoa Cuong hotel Room Type: DAY 5. 14th Oct DONG VAN – SA PHIN- PHO BANG – DONG VAN (50km) (B/L/D)
For the bravest amongst us, we will go on a small trek to the summit overlooking Dong Van: after almost an hour ascension we will be greeted with a magnificent view over the valley. We will then head towards Sa Phin to explore the surprising Vuong Chin Duc Palace, king of the H’mongs (and opium trafficking), built on a small hilltop a palace in a similar style to Chinese yamens. At its peak, the fortress boasted up to 100 inhabitants. After lunch, we will go and visit the superb village of Pho Bang, where H’mongs keep their traditions alive. 1,5 hours travelling/ 6 hours photography Hotel: Intercontinental Phu Quoc resort Room Type: Resort classic Ocean view DAY 6. 15th Oct DONG VAN – MEO VAC (50km) (B/L/D)
We’ll have much to do on that morning, as we’ll go visit 2 dominical markets, linked together by one of the most spectacular road in Vietnam: better get your gear ready! The ethnic minorities of many different groups leave their home villages very early in the morning to reach Dong Van market, a place to trade merchandises but also a gathering site to socialize and meet with others. We will then head to Meo Vac, home to the Black H’mong Eagle’s Nest. Upon arrival we’ll discover the livestock market, a one of its kind location in the Ha Giang province, where between 400 and 1000 cattle are traded during the course of the morning, along with many horses, pigs and dogs, before visiting the main market. After lunch, we will wonder around Meo Vac and the Ma Pi Leng passage taking multiple photography stops, following a road meandering through the mountain sides and getting through the Ma Pi Leng passage, overlooking a vertiginous canyon and the No Que River gorges further down. 2 hours travelling/ 6 hours photography Hotel: Auberge de Meo Vac eco-resort Room Type:
DAY 7. 16th Oct MEO VAC – CAO BANG (200km) (B/L/D)Today is for driving to connect the
dots on map. The scenery is stunning still We stop at villages or spots of interest on the drive. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in 3 star hotel in Cao Bang city. 5 hours travelling/ 3 hours photography Hotel: Sunny Hotel Room Type: DAY 8. 17th Oct CAO BANG – BAN GIOC WATERFALL – CAO BANG (200km) (B/L/D)
We leave the town and take this scenic drive all the way up to the border line where the waterfall locate. Lots of hidden villages and spots of interest are awaiting on the drive. We will have a good while shooting the biggest waterfall in North Vietnam till late afternoon. Drive back to Cao Bang. Lunch at waterfall, Dinner and overnight at hotel in Cao Bang city 5 hours travelling/ 3 hours photography Hotel: Sunny Hotel Room Type: DAY 9. 18th Oct CAO BANG – THAI NGUYEN – HANOI (B/L)
Today, we just drive our way relaxingly back to Hanoi. We will stop and shoot on the way sometime. Arriving Hanoi late afternoon, we have a good rest and maybe do your last shopping before departure. Hotel: May De Ville Old Quarter hotel Room Type: Deluxe DAY 10. 19th Oct HANOI FREE DAY (B)
Free time at your leisure. Hotel: May De Ville Old Quarter hotel Room Type: Deluxe Optional tour for a day trip to Halong bay $135AUD/ per person 8.00am Our English speaking Tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel as scheduled. Use
the NEW EXPRESSWAY Hanoi-Haiphong-Halong in comfort and time saving. On the way, you could see the local beauties by rice fields, road-side lifestyle, longest sea-cross bridge…and we also skip the commercial shopping centre as usual. 11.45 – 11.15 Halong bay is famous with some floating pearl farm, the products for exporting. Visit
pearl farm is interesting activity, however in one day tour, we have not enough time to do it. So we could visit a workshop on land to see how is a process of pearl collecting and see craft-man create the jewels from pearl 11.45 The bus will arrive Tuan Chau marina, easily get on Genesis Cruise by private pier, and then
Crew, who will serve you along the trip with welcomed drink is served following Cruise manager’s briefing. While the boat heading the bay. Genesis uses Expressway to go, so early reach Halong bay and Cruising at first to be ‘’lonely on the bay’’. 12.40 Lunch on boat Enjoy a nice set-menu lunch. By local flavours in each dish, it vitally helps to recuperate after a 4-hour-car drive. In the meantime, Genesis boat goes among islets, that make Halong becomes wonderland. After lunch, you are free to relax on sundeck. While the light of afternoon decreases slightly, hundreds of islands with different shares definitely amaze you by its natural beauty. What Genesis makes your trip different is not the sights of Halong, but the line that you are on. It is the best to watch unparalleled sceneries of Halong in slow motion. 14.00 Kayaking The boat will move to Hangluon (three tunnels) area, a water cave for kayaking, rowing bamboo boat or just stay on board for relaxing and the boar will slowly moving around to sightseeing more on the bay. You will discover the area’s tranquility by kayaking – an indispensable water activity in Halong, for those who love challenging themselves or sitting on bamboo boat (Sampan), for those who love being gentle and sophisticated, to admire breathtaking scenes. This is moment you get closer to Halong’s nature. if you do not join any above activities, you could stay on sundeck for relaxing, then the boat will take you around the bay, do sightseeing other beautiful islets…such as Human head, Horse seat…Normally, this area is full of Cruises and tourists, but Genesis is one of the first cruise come here for afternoon, so it is really peaceful and less-touristic. 15.05 Discover Surprising Cave You will leave the boat and having around 01 hour to explore Sung Sot (Surprising) cave. This least known cave locates on a remote island, which is rare in cave-lake seascape. The compartment in the heart of Sung Sot cave is surrounded by extremely beautiful niches. The outside section has a high ceiling with lots of hangover. In particular, the second compartment suddenly expanded immensely with curved domes printed in streaks of very smooth and smooth hats, wholly over the head like a large, wide theatre. This is the hugest and most beautiful cave in Halong bay, locates in core area of heritage site. 16.15 Sunset Watching in the afternoon tea break This is moment will take a rest after activities and capture the sunset on the bay. You also have time to enjoy other amazing sceneries of the wonder. A tea break with cocktails, fruits, snack, egg coffee (included) will served to full fill the romantic ambience. 17.15 It is the time to say goodbye Halong bay, Disembark to get on the bus, moving to new express way to get back Hanoi. 19.30 – 20.00 – Arrive Hanoi
DAY 11 20
th October Departure day (B)
Free time at your leisure until we pick up to transfer to airport.
FLIGHT: Hanoi to Singapore (MI653) Sunday 20 October 2019
Depart: 18:45 Hanoi Terminal 2 Arrive: 23:00 Singapore Terminal 2
Airline: Silkair Status: Confirmed Nonstop: Yes Flight Time: 3hrs 15mins Class: Economy Equipment: Airbus Industrie A320 Meals: Hanoi - Meal
FLIGHT: Singapore to Perth (SQ225) Monday 21 October 2019
Please note if you would like to pay by CHEQUE you will need to allow 8 working days for the CHEQUE to clear before we can finalize your booking. If paying by Visa or Master Card please add 1.5% If paying by American Express 3%
Direct Debit into our italktravel North Perth Westpac account BSB 036004 Account 228226 * Important - Please put your name as reference & email us to advise when you have made payment.
A Non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your booking
Balance payment is due on or before 09 July, 2019
Names as per passport required at time of booking – copy of passport is preferred
Visa is required to enter Vietnam… Electronic visa is something Julie can do for you and the cost is the AUD equivalent of $25USD
Any special dietary requirements need to be advised at time of final payment or earlier please.
Being part of a group, everyone must depart on the same flights. If you wish to change your return flights, they are subject to the cost of the flights on the day you make the change plus a deviation fee of $225.00 per person per change.
If you wish to do the optional Halong Bay tour, this must be advised at time of booking please
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Please note that it is important to consider Travel Insurance at the time of paying for your travel arrangements. Travel Insurance provides cover from the date the policy is issued, especially If you are faced with cancellation due to illness or injury prior to travel. I have quoted in various age ranges for Travel Insurance with our providers Suresave & QBE.. ****************************************************************************************** CONDITIONS & RESTRICTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: * Requests are never guaranteed however we do all possible to advise our supplier of your needs. * Taxes & Government charges are continually changing. DEPOSITS: Once we receive the deposit for your booking it becomes NON refundable. We are required to forward the deposit on your behalf to the travel service provider. CANCELLATION FEES APPLY ONCE BOOKING IS PAID IN FULL * After departure the airline ticket is NON refundable. IT IS NOW AN IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENT FOR US TO HAVE YOUR PASSPORT DETAILS ON YOUR BOOKING. Your passport must have at least 6 months (180 days) validity from the date you return to Australia. You will be denied boarding if your passport is due to expire within 6 months. Please bring or send us a copy of your passport as soon as possible in order for us to sight and ensure the details are correct. IF THE NAME ON THE PASSPORT DOES NOT MATCH THE NAME ON YOUR TRAVEL BOOKING YOU WILL BE CHARGED FEES TO RE-ISSUE DOCUMENTS. ****************************************************************************************** VISA REQUIREMENTS: There are countries that require you to obtain a visa before departing Australia. Please DO NOT ASSUME you are entitled to travel. It is the responsibility of the passenger to ask if a visa is required for the destination. Rules and regulations change all the time and may be different from the last time you travelled. If you are travelling on a foreign passport you will need to make sure your re-entry visa to Australia is valid.
