Tour Plan
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DAY 1 - Hanoi Arrival: Welcome to all things Vietnam (-/-/D)
Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, is full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel.
Ignite your holiday with what could probably be the two most iconic activities in Vietnam: riding pillion on the back of a scooter and eating! Sit comfortably and let your experience driver take you across the diverse atmospheres of the city and in front of some of its major landmarks. We will have a few stops to takes picture, eat some delicious food and enjoy some local evening life.
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DAY 2 - Hang Kia (B/-/D)
Enjoy a morning off to sleep a little longer and relax after an exciting evening of exploration in Hanoi. The hotel is in the nice and quaint old colonial district, just a walk away from the Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. If you feel like it, you could even go for sunrise to the lake, join locals in their morning exercise routine and enjoy a traditional glass of iced coffee (or why not an egg coffee?) on a sidewalk of the Old Quarter.
Check-out your room at noon the latest, grab a lunch on your own and we will gather the group for a departure at 13.00. We exit the city and head West towards Laos border. This is a 4-hour drive, including a leg-stretching break en-route, to the mountainous plateau of Hang Kia. Hang Kia is on H’mong ethnic lands, a remote village known for its plum trees and the beauty of their flowers.
We are welcomed by a local family, who is part of a larger, regional, community-based tourism project. After having taken some time to refresh, we roll up our sleaves and join our hosts for a one-of-a-kind cookery session. We will learn how the people in the mountains traditionally cook rice in bamboo and also prepare some simple yet delicious Hmong dishes. The fruits of our labour will compose part of our first dinner in this fantastic place. For this meal and the other in the mountainous area, we will dine in the local way: several dishes of meats and vegetables are served at once with rice and broth on the side. Everyone is served a bowl of rice and then pick here and there with chopsticks some meats and vegetables to eat along.
Note: The homestay is a traditional wooden guesthouse on stilts. Accommodation is arranged in dorm (the house is chartered for our group) with curtains to provide a minimum of intimacy. Comfortable mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets are provided. The house is equipped with electric fans. Shared bathrooms are on the ground floor with western-standards sitting toilets and hot running water.
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DAY 3 - Hang Kia – Mai Chau (B/L/-)
In the morning, we will take part in a traditional Batik workshop with the locals. Learn ancestral dyeing techniques and unveil the secrets of the H’mong fabric. We will then have an early lunch and get ready for our afternoon hike.
Early afternoon, we start a nice hike across the mountains, about 11 kilometers downhill taking us to Mai Hich valley. Mai Hich is a sub-valley of Mai Chau, a large mountainous circus filled with rice fields and hamlets of wooden houses on stilts. Welcome to the lands of the White Thai, a people reputed across the country for its extraordinary hospitality. Our bus awaits where we meet the road again for a short transfer to a nearby ecolodge.
Check-in your bungalow and enjoy some time to refresh at the swimming pool before dinner
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DAY 4 - Mai Chau – Hanoi (B/L/-)
After breakfast, we hop on simple bicycles and venture on the back roads of the valley. About 2 hours of leisure cycling passing by rice fields, vegetables garden and little hamlets. Meet the people of the community on their daily life commutes and enjoy lots of beautiful picture opportunities. We will reach the heart of this regional community-based tourism project in the village of Mai Hich, where we have lunch.
In the afternoon, we drive back to Hanoi. Arrival is to be expected in the late afternoon. Take time to refresh and wrap up the day following the guide to a local bia hoi. This is the local pub, on a sidewalk most of the time, simple plastic chairs and tables where people gather in the late afternoon to enjoy a fresh rice beer directly from the keg to the glass.
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DAY 5 - Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
We gather in the lobby at 9.00am for our departure to the majestic Halong Bay. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We then embark on a beautifully crafted junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Halong Bay. Once on board, we are served a delicious lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area where we will devote ourselves to pure relaxation. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather, but there will be an opportunity to visit a cave as well as explore a floating village or do a little bit of kayaking over the course of these 2 days. We end the day on the sundeck as the sun sets on this magical seascape. This evening, you can enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with an en-suite bathroom.
Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.
The tour leader will not be accompanying guests on the shuttle bus or boat. There will be an on-board cruise manager who will be available for guests should they have any questions or concerns.
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DAY 6 - Halong Bay – Hanoi – overnight train to Hue (B/Brunch/-)
For those early birds, start the day with a tai chi class or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape. We then continue our exploration of the bay. Upon returning to the boat, check-out of your cabin and enjoy a brunch while cruising back to the pier. We disembark and transfer to Hanoi, where you will have a day use in a hotel and a few hours at leisure and for dinner before the guides meet you in the lobby for a transfer to the train station. For those who want, the guide will remain available to take you to a visit of the temple of literature in the afternoon.
You get on board of the Reunification train. Spend the night in a 4-berth cabin with air conditioned. The train is slow and a bit shaky but a very nice and memorable travel experience.
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DAY 7 - Hue, visit the imperial past (B/L/-)
The train should reach Hue at about 8.30. Meet your tour guide and enjoy breakfast with a local noodle soup called bun bo Hue.
Today we are going to travel back in time and visit some of Hue’s imperial past. The city was Vietnam’s last imperial capital established by the Nguyen dynasty that ruled the country independently and then under the French protectorate from 1802 to 1945. This dive into Vietnam’s feudality includes the visit of Emperor Khai Dinh’s tomb. He ruled under the French protectorate and is the person who decided to abandon Chinese characters-based writing system to replace by Romanized Vietnamese. It also includes the visit of the Forbidden City, located inside the walls of the Citadel and the best place to learn more about the daily life of the Kings and their courts during this period.
For lunch we go to the nearby Kim Long ancient village and will be hosted by a charming family who continue the long tradition of cooking the banh of Hue. These are diverse kinds of rice cakes and dumplings, absolutely not to be missed when you travel to Hue.
We then proceed to our hotel for check-in and spend enjoy some time to relax.
You may take a walk around the small town or inside the citadel; we also propose an optional activity (at extra charge, $25/person) to discover a new form of art created in Hue and called Truc Chi. You will take part in a workshop and create your own piece of art learning how to carve bamboo paper (Optional tour: Truc Chi art workshop).
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DAY 8 - Barge and bike, the Dam Chuon lagoon adventure (B/-/-)
Today, exceptionally, you will wake up early to meet the guide at 4.15m in the lobby of the hotel. Let’s embark on a fun and memorable adventure to the Dam Chuon lagoon. On a local boat we venture on the largest lagoons system of the country, called Tam Giang and home to a lot of fishermen communities. Watching the sun rise from the lagoon is beautiful. We will reach the other side where fishermen are discharging the fruit of their night of labour. This is a kind of wholesale fish market taking place daily on the shores of Dam Chuon. From there we hop on bicycles for a short ride to a local market. We will buy some fresh seafood there and ask the local chef of the market to cook delicious traditional Vietnamese pancakes with it. Along a cup of tea, this will make our breakfast today. We continue cycling on narrow lanes stretching along a system of canals to the Japanese bridge of Tanh Toan. Sit, relax and enjoy a sugar cane juice. If we are lucky, the juice lady will agree to perform acapella folk songs.
We are then back to the hotel to rest a bit and take time to check-out before transferring to the secluded Phu Thuan beach and relax by the sea for the rest of the day.
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DAY 9 - Hue – Bach Ma – Hoi An (B/L/-)
After breakfast, we start driving South to the majestic Bach Ma national park. At the entrance of the park we switch vehicles and hop on the park rangers’ van for a 19-km scenic drive up to the departure point of our trek. As we go deeper into the jungle, following the 5-lake trekking route, the pathway turns into an adventure jungle trail, with rocks to climb up and down holding on ropes and using ladders. During hot season, we will have opportunities to swim in some of the “lakes”, which actually are large ponds created by the cascading stream running along. We pass by the top of the Rhododendron Waterfalls (hitting the ground some 350 meters below!!) and will then find a nice spot for a simple picnic lunch.
In the early afternoon, we drive down the mountain and continue our journey passing by Lang Co Bay and the very scenic Hai Van Pass. We reach Cam Thanh mangrove, where a local wooden boat awaits. Embark and start cruising the Thu Bon River while the sun sets. It is dark when we finally reach the ancient town with a thousand lanterns illuminating the yellow walls of the town’s ancient houses.
Disembark and walk to the hotel. Make yourself comfortable at the hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Note: Tour to Bach Ma is subject to last minute cancellation in case of bad weather which leads the trek to become dangerous. Mostly during the rainy season (November – December).
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DAY 10 - Immerse yourself in the unique flavours of Hoi An cuisine (B/L/-)
At about 10.00, the guide takes you on a walking orientation tour around the charming ancient port town. The occasion to learn more about the History of Hoi An and its diverse influences as well as to sample to exquisite local food. The tour will end at about 13.00 and the rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore the town further or go to the nearby beach of An Bang located 4 kilometres North of the city.
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DAY 11 - SUP/Kayak adventure in Hoi An and fly to Siem Reap (B/-/-)
At 8am this morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the mangrove area, where you will hop on kayaks or SUPs and set off directly towards Cam Kim Island and Duy Vinh Commune. As you paddle across the coco-palm forest, you will notice that the area is a large mangrove ecosystem unique to Hoi An, and the scenery is just spectacular.
Reaching Duy Vinh, we pay a visit to a local family who is still practicing the craft of weaving sedge mattresses using traditional techniques. A small-scale CBT project was created on the island. After a refreshment, we are taken back to the hotel by boat, in time to check out. Lunch is on your own.
After some free time in the afternoon you will be taken to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Clear the immigration customs and be welcomed by your local guide and driver. Enjoy a short transfer to Siem Reap, a lovely little town that you’ll have time to explore on your own.
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Day 12 - Angkor temples and beyond by bicycle (B/-/-)
The Angkor temples are undoubtedly the main highlight of any holiday in Cambodia. While some people could spend entire days walking around these beautiful carved stone structures listening to the story of their origins and signification; others are definitely interested in the temples but also have an insatiable appetite for great outdoor fun. This tour is made for the latter. After a short car transfer to the buffer zone of the temple complex, hop onto a mountain bike and venture out on an extraordinary ride. Adaptable in length (from 15 to over 40-kilometres), this tour will take you on the back roads of the temples complex to visit the three major sites: Bayon, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat temples; as well as a ride along the top of the Angkor Thom city’s walls. Enjoy photo breaks along the way and let the guide tell you more about these massive pieces of history. As you ride along the single trails through the thick forest of the complex you will also have the chance to spot some lesser known temples lost among the trees. This tour is for everyone who can cycle, there is no specific level of fitness required and a support car remains nearby in case you want to take a rest from cycling
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Day 13 - Cooking experience in Reap and a nice finish (B/L/-)
Today, we are going to learn more about traditional Khmer cuisine. For this nothing is better than doing it the local way. We hop on remorks, also called tuk-tuks, and transfer to a rural location outside of Siem Reap. Our culinary session will take place in an outdoor covered pavilion, surrounded by trees and nature. Take a short walk in the village, witness some simple daily life and visit a local family. They will show us their herbs garden and tell us about food superstition and beliefs in the Khmer culture. The class is very hands on and interactive and each person has an individual cooking station. Led by a chef, you will learn step by step how to make several classic dishes of the Cambodian gastronomy. The session ends with a lunch made of all that we have cooked. Sit comfortably in the garden of the pavilion and enjoy the meal. We return to Siem Reap in the afternoon, where you can enjoy the end of the day at leisure.
In the early evening, we will transfer to the temple complex for a last and very special sunset from high up in the sky aboard a flying balloon.
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Day 14 - Siem Reap Departure (B/-/-)
Today is free at your own leisure until your transfer (without guide) to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant flight!
1) Booking Your Holiday
- Your contract in respect of your holiday is made with CANAM Tour Operator (‘the Company‘), registered in Toronto, Canada and all bookings are subject to these terms and conditions.
- All communications by the Company in relation to your holiday will be sent to the address stated on the booking form.
- All bookings must be made through an authorised representative of the Company. At the time of booking the Company booking form must be completed and submitted together with a deposit of 50% of the total cost of the booking.
- Receipt of the deposit and booking form by the Company does neither guarantee nor imply confirmation of the booking. No booking shall be confirmed until the Company issues a written notice. The Company reserves the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason and shall in that event return any deposit received.
- Your holiday must be paid in full at least 30 days before the departure date. If payment is not received by the due date, the Company reserves the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit. The person who signs the booking form guarantees payment of the total amount shown on the booking form in accordance with these conditions. It is the responsibility of the signatory to ensure the Company receives payment in full by the due date. No reminders will be sent.
- If you book within 30 days of your departure date payment must be made in full at the time of booking.
- All special requests, such as dietary requirements, should be noted on the booking form.
- The Company will provide the service as set out and confirmed in writing.
2) Price Policy
- The Company is under no obligation to furnish a breakdown of the costs involved in a holiday.
- The Company reserves the right to notify you of any increase in price before accepting your booking.
- After a Confirmation Invoice has been issued, unless you choose to pay for your holiday in full at the time of booking, the price of your holiday is subject to the possibilities of surcharges in certain limited circumstances. However, a surcharge will only be levied to allow for variations in transportation cost, including cost of fuel, increase in normal published airfares, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes at airports, the exchange rate applied to the particular package or if the government or regulatory body introduce an increase of taxes. Even then, the Company will absorb an amount equal to 2%of your holiday price(excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges) before passing on any surcharge to you. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged. Surcharges will be notified by a revised Confirmation Invoice sent to you.
- If a surcharge would increase the total holiday price shown on your original Confirmation Invoice by 10% or more, you may cancel your booking within 14 days of the date of issue of the revised Invoice and obtain a full refund of all payments made to the Company and any amendment charges previously incurred.
- Optionally, you may choose to pay for your holiday in full at the time of booking, in which case your holiday price will be fixed at the cost quoted by the Company at the time. To qualify for this benefit you should return the Confirmation Invoice to the Company with full payment to reach the Company within 7 days of the date printed on the Confirmation Invoice.
- The financial commitments offered above by the Company mean that the Company is not able to reduce the holiday prices should the value of the exchange rate of Canadian Dollar changes.
3) Cancellation and Changes by the Company
- Occasionally it may be deemed necessary to make changes to your holiday and the Company reserves the right to do so at any time, and you will be notified of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. If a major change to your tour is necessary, providing it does not arise from circumstances beyond the Company’s control, you may choose
- (i) to accept the change of arrangements
- (ii) to purchase another holiday from us or
- (iii) to cancel your holiday. Compensation may be payable in cases of major change as detailed below.
- No compensation will be payable for minor changes. Minor changes include minimal changes to departure and arrival times, changes to the type of aircraft used and restaurant and accommodation changes to a comparable or superior standard.
- Major changes include cancellation, changes to your airport, delays in departure or return by more than 12 hours and accommodation changes to an inferior standard of accommodation.
- Compensation will not be paid for changes or cancellations caused by Acts of God (Force Majeure), war, threat of war, riot, civil strike, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or man-made disaster, fire, technical problems to transport, closure or congestion of airports, strikes or other industrial action, adverse weather conditions or any other event beyond the Company’s control. It is essential that you take out adequate travel insurance.
- The Company reserve the right to cancel your holiday at any time before the date of departure, even after a confirmation notice has been sent. If your holiday is cancelled the Company will refund in full the money you have already paid. No compensation will be payable.
- Transportation is subject to the conditions of carriage of the carrier, some of which may limit or exclude liability. These conditions are often the subject of international agreement between countries and copies of the conditions, which apply to your holiday journey, will normally be found on the carrier’s tickets.
- If you fail to pay the balance of the holiday price at least 30 days before departure, the Company will treat the booking as cancelled and levy the cancellation charges set out below
- The company also has the right to refuse any person as a member of the tour, if in their opinion that person could endanger the health, safety and enjoyment of others on the tour. In any of the events mentioned above, the company’s sole liability and the client’s sole remedy will be limited to a refund of any monies paid, less the amount for services already utilised plus administrative fees.
4) Cancellation and Changes by You
- You may cancel your holiday at any time providing you notify the Company in writing. The following charges will be levied on any cancellation:
- 30 days or more 50% of Deposit
- 15 – 30 days 100% of Deposit
- 8 – 15 days 80% of Tour Cost
- 1 – 7 days 100% of Tour Cost
- After the itinerary is confirmed, the client is permitted free of administration charges one set of amendments, though will be liable for any added cost this may add to the tour, including airline charges, hotels etc. Any further modifications, which are instigated by the client, will incur a charge which will be due to communication and administration expenses that may have incurred.
5) Our Responsibilities
- The Company does not own or manage the aircraft, accommodation, restaurants and other facilities used in conjunction with the tours arranged. While the Company has exercised care in selecting providers of travel, accommodation, restaurants and other facilities, the Company have not had the opportunity to inspect and do not represent that such aircraft, accommodation, restaurants, and other facilities and services have been inspected.
- The Company is not responsible if you or any member of your party suffer death, illness or injury as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of any part of our contract with you where such failure is attributable to
- (i) the acts and/or omissions of any member of the party, or
- (ii) those of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday, or
- (iii) an event which neither the Company or the service provider could have foreseen or prevented even with due care.
- Should any member of your party suffer illness, injury or death through misadventure arising out of an activity, which does not form part of the holiday the Company has arranged for you the Company cannot accept liability. The Company will offer general assistance where appropriate.
- The Company regret that no refund will be made on unused tickets where travel, sporting event or other types of ticket, unless a refund can be obtained from the carrier or provider.
6) Your Responsibilities
- You are responsible for arranging your own travel insurance, though an appropriate policy can be incorporated into your tour package. Details of all insurance policies held by each member of your party must be provided on the booking form. No booking forms can be accepted without sufficient proof that personal policies have been arranged. Please ensure that your insurance cover applies to the specific activities you are booking and which are confirmed on the Confirmation Invoice.
- Each member of the party must have a valid passport, visas and all necessary documentation for the countries they are touring. The Company accept no responsibility for any delay or expense should your documents not be in order.
- You are responsible for checking-in for flights at the correct time and for presenting yourself to take up all pre-booked components of your holiday. The Company cannot accept responsibility for clients missing flights as a result of late check-ins and no credit or refunds will be given if you fail to take up any component of your holiday. No credit of refunds will be given for lost, mislaid or destroyed travel documents.
- By booking a holiday with the Company you undertake to behave in an orderly manner and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others on holiday with you nor to do anything to bring the reputation of the Company into disrepute. If you breach this clause your holiday will be terminated with immediate effect and the Company will have no further contractual obligation to you. The Company will be entitled to recover from the offending party and/or the person who signed the booking form compensation for any damage caused.
- It is the responsibility of the person who signs the Booking Form to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions that members of their party may have.
- All equipment and personal effects shall be all times and in all circumstances at the owner’s risk. The Company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage or delay to your luggage or effects unless directly caused by the negligence of one of our representatives.
7) Smoking
The Company forbids smoking in any vehicle operated by the Company. Frequent stops can be arranged for those who desire to smoke. All accommodation will be reserved with non-smoking rooms, unless the client specifically requires a smoking room. Confirmation is depending on hotel availability.
8) Waiver
The Company will undertake to ensure the safety of the client throughout the tour, however aspects of each particular tour may not be without an element of danger. Clients should be prepared to sign a ‘Waiver of Responsibility’ form before they begin their tour. This form is an understanding that all clients need to exercise judgement and care at all times to ensure their own safety and that of their fellow tourists.
9) Disclaimer
The Company has made all reasonable efforts to check the accuracy of the information contained in our website. The Company cannot however accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions that may appear in this site.
10) Complaints
- If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant airline, hotel, local agent of other suppliers immediately so that they can endeavour to put things right. If you cannot resolve the problems, you must contact the Company office so that they are given an opportunity to help. The Company will not hold themselves responsible for the non-performance of an itinerary through causes beyond their control or when they are not notified of a problem at the point where remedial action can be taken. In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved at the time, your should write to the Company within 28 days of returning home, giving your original booking reference number and all other relevant information. If you fail to take any of these steps you will hinder the Company’s ability to put any problem right and/or investigate it fully and any right you have to receive compensation will be reduced or completely invalidated.
- Any dispute that may arise will be governed by Canadian law and both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of the Canadian Courts.
- All information given by the Company whether in writing or orally is to the best of the Company’s knowledge and believed correct at the time given and is given in good faith. The booking conditions shall take precedence over any other warranty or condition that may have been given.
11) Data Protection Act
It may be necessary for the Company to ask you for certain personal information. Examples of this would be dietary requirements, disability/medical or religious information etc. This information will be kept confidential by the Company and is available to you to inspect during the Company’s normal working hours. It will be passed to the suppliers, if it is necessary for them to know this information in order to fulfill the Company’s contract to you.