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| MAIN TOUR |
| 29 Sept - 6 Oct 2012 |
| p/person twin share |
| $3495 p/p |
| + single supliment |
| $995 |
| PRE TOUR |
HA LONG BAY CRUISE
26 - 29 Sept 2012 |
| nett Double room (2 Pax) |
| $995 nett |
| single room (1 pax) |
| $895 nett |
| POST TOUR |
SAPA
6 - 10 Oct 2012 |
| p/person twin share |
| $995 p/p |
+ single supliment
(excl Train solo surcharge + $195) |
| $149 |
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THREE TOURS
26 Sept - 10 Oct 2012
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| Take an additional $100 off p/couple or $75 p/sngl |
| VIEW PRICE PDF |
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| Our hotel is one of Hanoi’s newest, and definitely the city’s most flash! Situated just across the street from the famed Metropole, and boasting excellent views of Hanoi’s venerable opera house, M Gallery l’Opera is a 5-star standout. We have guaranteed accommodation on all tour nights, plus reserved additional rooms for those arriving early, or wishing to prolong their return home. |
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| Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi |
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| Join Robert & Morrison in Hanoi as we explore the hidden food treasures of northern Vietnam. |
| 29 September - 6 October 2012 |
| We'll be re-united with guide Vu Minh Tho, plus celebrity chef Didier Corlou, and our new friend Jimmy Pham of KOTO. Options include sailing picturesque Ha Long Bay, and a package to the hilltribe regions bordering northern Vietnam and China. You will love its regional markets and exquisitely-terraced rice paddies nestled against the hills. |
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| Our pre-tour Ha Long Bay |
| 26-29 September 2012 |
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Cruise the magnificent waterways over two nights, and on one of the finest lines. Includes pre-night in Hanoi, plus return transfers from the capital to Ha Long Bay. You are sure to receive royal treatment throughout. (3 nights total) |
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| Sapa post tour |
| 6 - 10 October 2012 |
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Escorted tour package includes deluxe sleeper overnight trains to the highland markets of Bac Ha and Sapa on the Chinese border. View some of the world’s most beautiful terraced rice fields, and colourful hilltribe villagers. Personally hosted by Robert & Morrison. (4 nights total) |
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Saturday, Day 1
29 Sept 2012 |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| arrive Hanoi |
| Hanoi x 3 nights |
| You will be personally met at the airport then transported to our brand-new 5-star hotel, conveniently located near the lake and facing the picturesque Opera House. Nearby trade streets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter reflect a medieval character of specialization, from paper street, silk street, tin street, and the like. Our strong advice is to see Hanoi NOW, rather than later. Each year brings more modernization, and higher buildings. |
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| OPTIONAL DINNER TONIGHT: If your flight arrives early, join Robert and Morrison tonight for a no-host buffet dinner. The venue is large and rambling, yet intimate, offering wide and varied introduction to Vietnamese dishes, and attracts a well-heeled local clientele. |
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Sunday, Day 2
30 Sept 2012 |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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Today, we've planned a very special foodie introduction to Hanoi! This morning learn about Jimmy Pham and his KOTO training program for impoverished youth – giving them a future career in cooking and hospitality. Jimmy has planned a unique day especially for our group, including hands-on cooking class and lunch. We’ll also have a chance to sit for morning market coffee and typical breakfast fare at the market. The remaining afternoon at leisure, or take in the Opera House and Hoan Kiem lake, both a short distance from our hotel. www.koto.com.au |
| We know many of you will still be tired from your long journey, so we’ve scheduled an optional light dinner within walking distance to our hotel. Bia hoi is Vietnam's famous 'fresh beer' made without preservatives and must be drunk within a day, lest it sour. Typical fare includes grilled skewered meats, sweetened peanuts, fried corn and tofu, cured pork. It's all great fun, and very authentic, but rustic. If you opt out tonight, you’ll have an opportunity to taste Vietnamese “pub fare” again, in Haiphong. |
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Monday, Day 3
1 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| Save room at breakfast today, for we ride off to a progression of pho restaurants-- the ubiquitous noodle soup and arguably Hanoi’s and Vietnam's most celebrated dish. Chef Didier Corlou calls it “the best soup in the world.” We contend you can't learn the difference between a good, fair and poor pho until you taste them back to back -- which is what we do! And surprisingly, you’ll discover today that Pho means more than just noodles in a broth. |
| We begin with Hanoi’s top beef pho, here ordered with a combination of both raw and cooked brisket. Later we will try a very special chicken pho ga ta, which is an expensive variant, using small chicken instead of standard fowl. |
| This morning also includes Hanoi's Old Quarter, and a stroll through local markets. We end up drinking a cup of Vietnam’s famous ca-phe fin, espresso-strength coffee that slowly drips through individual filters. Remaining afternoon to explore on your own the city's 36 trade streets, each specializing in an individual craft. Evening, optional dinner |
| Ask us about finishing near Thang Long water puppet theatre, with shows conveniently starting at 15:30. (The water puppet theatre is included in our post tour trip to Sapa, but not today; if you are not joining our Sapa tour, advise us and we can arrange your ticket to today. All tickets must be reserved and purchased in advance.) |
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| Optional Dinner: |
| Didier Corlou runs Madame Hien’s at 32 rue Tres Jolie arguably the city's most authentic for traditional Hanoi fare. It ought to be, for Didier, former executive chef at The Metropole, collected recipes from his Vietnamese mother-in-law! We have a long and close relationship with Didier, and tonight he’s prepared a unique prix fixe menu especially for our group. |
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Tuesday, Day 4
2 Oct 2012 |
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O/Nigh Ninh Binht |
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| Hanoi to Ninh Binh, via Kenh Ga, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc |
| o/n Ninh Binh x 1 |
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we check out and head south to Tam Coc and Hoa Lu, the area nicknamed "Halong Bay without the water." Here, limestone crags rise steeply from the valley floor onto beautiful scenic gorges. We board small coracles (similar to sampans) to sail along the waterways. As Hoa Lu was the former 10th century capital of Vietnam, we’ll stop at the two temples of Dinh Tien Hoang temple, restored in the 17th century, and Le Dai Hanh, and time permitting Bai Dinh pagoda. It’s a 15 minute hike up steep steps to the temples, for commanding vistas of the countryside. Lunch is a traditional peasant style meal of grilled seafood, meats and rice, then Cruise Trang An Grottoes, and its network of waterways and caves. We’re excited to offer this final destination today, as it’s only just been developed for tourism, and note its write up this year in Travel & Leisure’s SE Asia edition. Continue to Ninh Binh for overnight lodgings. |
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Wednesday, Day 5
3 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Haiphong |
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| Kenh Ga, Hoa Lu, Nam Dinh, Haiphong |
| After breakfast, onto Tam Coc for a cruise through the rice fields amongst more towering craggy peaks. Compared to Trang An, it’s similar, yet totally different, and a rare treat to see both locations back to back. |
| Then drive to Nam Dinh for lunch, followed its famous Pho Ming Pagoda, dating before the 13th century. Then to another regional speciality, Cay Cake from nearby Nguyen Xa village, and Keo Pagoda for its finely carved wooden bell tower dating to the 12th century, and considered a masterpiece of Vietnamese architecture. |
Onward to Haiphong, Vietnam's principal seaport and third largest city. Better yet, it has the laid-back feel of Hanoi two decades ago, yet scantly visited by overseas tourists. Dinner is at a popular bia hoi eatery, adjoining the brewery. Bia hoi is Vietnam's famous 'fresh beer' made without preservatives and must be drunk within a day, lest it sour. Typical "pub fare" here include boiled sweetened peanuts, fried corn and tofu, cured pork, boiled chicken and local prawns. It's all great fun, and very authentic. Better yet -- we'll host you side-by-side tastings of bia hoi and bia tuoi, or standard draft beer. (Beer included tonight.) |
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Thursday, Day 6
4 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| A morning of Haiphong adventure, then returning to Hanoi via the Red River Delta and the heart of Vietnamese culture. |
| This morning walk through Haiphong's colonial streets and markets. Although hotel breakfast is included today, save room this morning for our movable feast. First stop: Banh da Cua crab and noodle soup. Embellished with thick rice noodles, fish cakes and pork dumpling, this local specialty is a hearty meal in itself, especially when accompanied by strong ca-phe phin. From here, walk through Haiphong's central market, and finally Cua Dat Street, and its array of pastries and fancy cakes. We'll stop for tea and pastry, including the best moon cake we've ever tasted! You'll be surprised by its delicious combination of candied fruit and sweetened pork mince. Shop windows to pastry kitchens allow you unhindered viewing of extravagant cake decorating. Drive by the city's grandiose opera house and finally the traditional architecture of Hang Kenh communal house. |
On the way back to Hanoi a tea break to sample Hai Duong village's specialty green bean cake stop of local craft villages, such as Dong Ho woodblock and paper making village, famed for its hand-painted prints. Of unique interest, a luminescent gouache is applied to hand made paper, made from oyster shells and ground sticky rice. Time permitting, Bat Trang, specializing in ceramics, and made the same way for hundreds of years. Return to Hanoi and check in. B/L |
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Friday, Day 7
5 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| We’ve left your final day in Hanoi free, for you to lounge and travel at leisure. Visit some of the city’s museums – we especially like its Museum of Ethnology -- plus there’s so many historic sites to visit. So get out your guide book, and plan away. |
We can also supply you with a private guide today, to help you plan your shopping and stops, using taxis and public transport.
(surcharge applicable.) |
| As this is our final evening together, we’ve planned a gala dinner at Didier Corlou’s prestigious Le Verticale restaurant. The chef will meet us pre-dinner to introduce us to his spice cuisine (you will love the restaurant’s shop at entrance), then he prepares a chef’s choice menu especially for our group. |
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Saturday, Day 8
6 Oct 2012 |
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tour ends |
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| After hotel breakfast, we will arrange your airport transfers. Your room is guaranteed until 12 noon. |
| For those joining our optional post-tour to Sapa, we’ve reserved your hotel room until 4 p.m. today. Feel free to leave any excess baggage with the concierge, and pack lightly for travels to the highland frontier of Vietnam bordering China. |
For those interested in staying longer in Hanoi, ask us about our special add-on hotel rates and/or private guide services. If visiting other areas of Vietnam, ask us to arrange your trip south -- including flights, accommodation and guides to Hue, Hoi An, Danang, Nha Trang and Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, or other highlights, such as Dalat, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc island. Just ask! |
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Optional pre tour - Hanoi to Ha Long
3-nights package; incl 2-nights cruise
September 26-29, 2012
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1 night Hanoi incl breakfast |
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2 nights on board and 6 meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunch, 2 dinner) |
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shore entry fees |
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round trip transit Hanoi-Ha Long-Hanoi. |
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| No trip to Northern Vietnam is complete without sailing the wonders of Ha Long Bay. Ply the scenic waters for two nights on a luxury cruise, plus an initial arrival night in Hanoi. You return to Hanoi late afternoon Saturday, to join our main group. Although this pre-tour is not personally hosted by Robert & Morrison (subject to change, depending on final numbers), it allows us to offer an even better deluxe cruise option, including all meals, entrance and sightseeing fees, and most activities. |
| Ha Long cruise departures pick you up at your hotel early morning. Consequently, you will require Hanoi accommodation the night prior. We include this additional night in your package rate, plus your private airport transfer included on arrival, plus breakfast. |
| Additional pre-tour hotel nights also available on request. Ask us! |
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Pre tour Day 1
Wednesday 26 September |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| You will be personally met at the airport, with transfers to your inner-city 5-star hotel. (Hotel check in time officially 2 p.m., and earlier check in by request). Additional days available in upgraded deluxe rooms, including breakfast. Ask us to reserve now>>> |
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Pre tour Day 2
Thursday 27 September |
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O/Night Ha Long Bay |
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| Hotel buffet breakfast included, then be check out for your drive to Ha Long Bay. As you will be returning to our host hotel, feel free to leave any excess baggage with the porter, to retrieve later. You will arrive in Ha Long at noon, then ushered onto your deluxe ship for lunch. Private room and private bathroom/toilet ensuite, and all meals included. (Beverages extra.) |
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Pre tour Day 3
Friday 28 September |
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O/Night Ha Long Bay |
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| Sailing the waters of Ha Long, and shore excursions, including stops at Titop island, Bat Cave, and/or Cua Van fishing village, Luon Bo, Lan Ha Bay, Sung Sot cave. (Precise stops to vary over the three days.) Row bamboo boats through water tunnels, and coral reefs. Evening squid fishing from boat, and miscellaneous boat activities. Optional massage service available throughout cruise. |
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Pre tour Day 4
Saturday 29 September |
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O/Night Hanoi |
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| After breakfast on board, return to shore about midday, then drive back to Hanoi. Return to l’Opera hotel 15:00-16:00. |
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Optional post tour - Hanoi to Sapa
4-nights package; incl 2-nights train
October 6-10, 2012
October 10 return Hanoi |
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Bac Ha, Sapa, Chinese Frontier & Hill Tribes |
| Join Robert & Morrison on the northern frontier near China, including Bac Ha weekend market, the best in the region. We've planned an exclusive series of outings to the high country, including passage on one of the world’s truly great railway lines. |
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Post tour Day 1
Saturday 6 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Train |
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| Today at leisure, with guaranteed late afternoon check out. |
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| Alternatively, discover Hanoi today with our private guide service, allowing you to visit museums, sightsee, shop, wander, and eat at your whim – without the constraints of being on a group tour. Your private guide will help you navigate Hanoi’s public transport system, and taxis, and see much more than wandering on your own. Ask us how… |
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| Then onto our overnight passage to the Vietnam/Chinese border, travelling an historical narrow-gauge train route built by the French from Haiphong to Kunming in Yunnan, China. It’s construction, from 1904 to 1911 over some of the world’s most inhospitable mountainous terrain, cost some 12,000 lives, and at the time was considered the equivalent of building the Panama Canal. This has never been equaled in the history of world railway engineering. China has since stopped onward domestic passage on its narrow gauge line from Hekou, but in Vietnam you still have the chance to ride history first hand. We’ve booked private compartments per couple, with plenty of room for baggage – and privacy. Plus a hamper to make your travels doubly fun. Get ready for our exclusive series of outings to the high country. |
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Post tour Day 2
Sunday 7 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Bac Ha |
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| Train arrival is at day break, so we’ve arranged short-stay (1 hr) private accommodation on arrival in a nearby hotel (2-star, but clean and private bathroom). Time for a quick shower and change, then re-group for a warm noodle breakfast in Lao Cai’s most popular eatery. |
| Stop briefly for a strong drip ca-phe phin coffee with views across the border. It’s hard to imagine that in 1979 this was an actual war zone, with Chinese occupation of Lao Cai and the region Drive directly to the famous Bac Ha morning market, probably the most authentic in the region, with its colorful array of ethnic minority people such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung who gather to buy and sell. |
| Goat meat is reserved for special meal celebrations, such as weddings, and today’s lunch is at Bac Ha’s most popular such eatery, plus tastes of fried free range chicken, mountain corn and steamed vegetables. Afterwards, a visit to the town’s caste – built in the early 20th century by a Hmong warlord, and co-designed by French and Japanese architects. Remaining day at leisure. |
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Post tour Day 3
Monday 8 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Sapa |
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| After breakfast, drive to Sapa. |
After breakfast, we’ve planned a 1 ½ hour walk to Ban Pho village, home to the Nung and Flower Hmpong. The walk is picturesque, and while not strenuous, good all-weather hiking shoes recommended. (If you prefer, say in town and meet us at 11:30 at check out.) The hills are alive with fruiting trees, and villagers here renowned for their corn moonshine. (We may be lucky enough to try a farmer’s local nip!) Return to the hotel for a quick check out, lunch in Bac Ha, then drive to Sapa via the scenic hill tribe regions, viewing brightly-dressed Flower Hmong villagers by the roadside. Remaining afternoon and evening at leisure. B/L |
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Post tour Day 4
Tuesday 9 Oct 2012 |
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O/Night Sapa |
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| This morning, roam through Sapa’s daily market, including shops to discuss the local mushrooms and traditional medicines. Then those eager, climb up through the orchid gardens to the radio tower to the town’s best viewing. Or if you prefer, stay and wander through the market on your own. We’ve scheduled a special lunch in town today. Afterwards, an easy downhill walking trek downhill to Sin Chai or Cat Cat (Black Hmong) hilltribe village, through the region’s most picturesque countryside of terraced rice fields. |
| Visit a local family and enrich your tribal knowledge. The walk is about 1½ hours, or alternatively, continue on the coach down to the village and meet us there. We then drive back to Lao Cai for a group dinner in town, then return by overnight train to Hanoi. Time permitting, have a closer look at the Chinese frontier crossing, and also visit the town’s bustling border market. Dinner included before boarding train. |
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Post tour Day 5
Wednesday 10 Oct |
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tour ends |
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| 04:30/05:30 train arrives |
| transfers back to airport direct from train station. Or for those staying extra nights in Hanoi, to our host hotel. |
For those with later onward flights, ask us about special day room rates in a local Old Quarter hotel, including afternoon airport transfer. Alternatively, return to host hotel, but full fare rates apply. (Unfortunately, this is beyond our control.) |
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