Groshan Fabiola asked:


If you are planning a holiday in Portugal and want to consider the option of booking Portugal Holiday Home also commonly known as Portugal Holiday House, go ahead and get some basic facts I order before doing it. Through this article I will try and give yo some practical tips and suggestions so that you can book your Portugal Holiday home Or Portugal Holiday house that is just right for you.

The basic things to keep in mind are to know what you want. You should undertake things like checking out as many Portugal Holiday home Or Portugal Holiday house options and comparing their prices and rentals until you are absolutely satisfied that you cannot get a better deal than this. You can check out Portugal Holiday home Or Portugal Holiday house that are directly available for hire and contact with the owners of such places or get yourself booked into one with the help of an agent who will take care of all your needs, and requirements and most importantly keep you budget in mind.

As you are in the process of comparing prices and checking out facilities of your Portugal Holiday home, make sure you have timed it perfectly too. Depending upon popular tourist season you will have to make sure that you book your Portugal Holiday home just in time,. It will save you the last moment rush and anxiety. 

A perfect Portugal holiday home will be the one with beautiful countryside view, yet off the tourist trail but within easy reach of sea, mountains and lots of places of interest. If you can book yourself into one like that you are lucky and if you can get them at discounted prices - you cannot get luckier than that. A perfect Portugal Holiday Home will combine the charms of a traditional Portuguese house with all creature comforts.

You can also book your Portugal Holiday House on sharing basis to save cost without really compromising on privacy. If you come cross a Portugal Holiday house so large and vast that it can accommodate a few families- nothing like it. Book yourself into one such accommodation and enjoy your holiday in Portugal without any disturbance.

You can also book Holiday home Or Portugal Holiday house online. All you need to do is go online, check out several options, shortlist a few of them and talk to their help desk. If they have an active and helpful online costumer service desk then they will reply to your mail immediately and you can start interacting and negotiating with them. The Portugal Holiday Home administrators are generally very cordial and helpful lot and will help and resolve your queries as soon as possible.

For a great, relaxing Portugal holiday where you can really unwind and rejuvenate the first thing indeed is to book into a good Portugal holiday home. Half your problems are taken care of if the Portugal Holiday House you have rented is a clean place with most places worth a visit at close distance. I have mostly booked into holiday homes after talking to people who stayed there already. It helps me get a better insight and view into the practical aspects of it.

So for a Memorable and unique holiday, Portugal Holiday Home is the answer.

Casper da silva asked:


ght (c) 2009 Casper da silva

Let’s commence with the watch words of the year Credit Crunch and reccession, and what it means for holiday seekers this season. I remember when I first started in the Travel Industry last century - I do laugh when I throw that one out - twenty two years ago going on holiday was a luxury to be cherished. By the late eighties quickly followed by the naughty nineties, going on holiday evolved from being a luxury shared by a small minority to becoming an absolute necessity shared by the masses and a way to keep your sanity for the rest of the year. It was also something to aspire to and look forward to and despite the saturation of the travel industry it still holds that certain magic for the great British public going away wanting to leave their humdrum lives behind and live the dream, catching the rays, looking at beautiful sunsets, tasting different foods meeting different people as well as enjoying the culture. Needless to say this year in 2009, there has been a bit of panic about whether going on holiday is going to be a possibility for most couples and families and the media’s ongoing credit crunch mantra hasn’t helped those with fears to the average traveller.

However, I am going to go on record and state with absolute confidence and clarity that this is going to be a dream year for last minute holidays and great bargains will be bountiful in this buyers market. However and there is a ‘however’ to consider you’d better know what to do and when. As any self respecting gambler will tell you, you just have to know when to gamble and when to fold. A last minute holiday booking does not necessarily mean booking your holiday a day before departure to get the best deal, a day before departure can sometimes mean you pay more than your counterpart who booked four weeks before you and sometimes six weeks. If I could count the times I have heard my clients kick themselves in the shin for playing with waiting on brilliant holiday offers they were given and decided to take a gamble and wait till a day before departure thinking they would get it even cheape than chips is in fact a silly gamble and it wont work in your favour. If you have a specific somewhere that you want to go to with a certain type of board in a particular resort, frankly you book your holiday a minimum four weeks before departure so that you can get your particular deal. If however you are the type who wants to just turn up at the airport with a suitcase not caring where you go as long as you get a bit of sun then a few days before departure for a great late holiday deal will suit you just fine.

Again word to the wise, gambling with a last minute holiday a day before a Bank Holiday or the start of any school holidays is a definite no-no, trying to find a suitable last minute holiday bargain a couple of days before you want to get away can be an extremely stressful exercise for a family with specific needs and requirements, so always start looking five to nine weeks before departure. Be prepared when booking a last minute holiday make sure your budget is accounted for on your debit or credit card, losing a holiday to something as routine as a ten minute account to account fund transfer. If you are sans debit or credit cards, then phone a friend or family member and ask them to help you out with the use of their card details which you of course repay, and make sure you have this in place before you start searching for your last minute holiday, as some offers need to be booked and paid for straight away or you may lose out on a great deal by the time you try and sort out ways to pay for your holiday. Remember no one holds options on last minute holidays anymore. You will find companies are more than willing to offer competitive prices, and it’s easy to get caught up in getting companies to compete with each other to get the best deals. But take too long and use too many companies to do your bidding war and it could end up you become the loser, as the electronic data been gathered by the operator gives them the idea that the demand on the holiday you are searching for is great and the price will go up. So snap up that fantastic lasty minute holiday, and do so with some defiance, 2009 is going to be one of the best years to find last minute holiday, so enjoy it!

kundan asked:


2009 bank holidays are all public holidays and are observed across the various countries. The 2009 bank holidays are expected to be great occasions for merriment and planning for lovely vacations to ones dream destinations. Beginning with the New Year Day on the 1st of January to the Boxing Day on the 28th of December, all the 2009 Bank holidays will be observed in the highest magnitude of celebrations throughout the world. The 2009 bank holidays differ from country to country and the most significant ones have been picked here for your perusal.

The United Kingdom and parts of the Northern Ireland has 8 holidays scheduled for the year 2009. All the 2009 bank holidays in the UK are public holidays of Britain. Although relatively few in numbers as compared to other European countries, they are nevertheless

Mentioned below are the 2009 bank holidays in UK:

· New Year’s Day - January 1st 2009

· Good Friday – April 10th 2009

· Easter Monday – April 13th 2009

· Early May Bank Holiday - May 4th 2009

· Spring Bank Holiday – May 25th 2009

· Summer Bank Holiday – August 31st 2009

· Christmas Day – December 25th 2009

· Boxing Day – December 28th 2009

The 2009 bank holidays in US, are also known as the federal holidays. Majority of the 50 states in the US celebrate them as occasions they look forward to for a whole year. These bank holidays belong to the distinct genres of are as follows:

· New Years Day – January 1st 2009

· Martin Luther King’s Birthday – January 19th 2009

· President’s Day – February 18th 2009

· Memorial Day – May 26th 2009

· Independence Day – July 4th 2009

· Labor Day – September 1st 2009

· Columbus Day – October 13th 2009

· Veteran’s Day – November 11th 2009

· Thanksgiving Day – November 27th 2009

· Christmas Day – December 26th 2009



2009 bank holidays in Canada are about 10 in number and all the days are observed as public holidays throughout the country.

· New Year – January 1st 2009

· Good Friday – April 10th 2009

· Easter Monday – April 13th 2009

· Victory Day – May 18th 2009

· Canada day – July 1st 2009

· Labor Day - September 7th 2009

· Thanksgiving Day – October 12th 2009

· Remembrance Day – November 11th 2009

· Christmas – December 25th 2009

· Boxing Day – December 26th 2009



2009 bank holidays in India are a blend of national events, religious festivals and community celebrations. From the Christian religious festivals to the Sikh festivals and also the Hindu as well as Muslim festivals, the major ones are celebrated as the Bank holidays in India. Other than the religious fervor, several festivals depicting the patriotic themes like the Republic Day and the Independence Day of the country. The 2009 Bank holidays in India have been mentioned below along with the dates for your perusal:

· Muharram

· Republic Day

· Milad un Nabi

· Independence Day

· Gandhi Jayanti

· Id ul fitr

· Dussehra

· Diwali

· Guru Nanak Jayanti

123newyear.com gives updated information on the 2009 Bank holidays.

Mandy Chagger asked:


Many types of catered holidays can help you enjoy your time off, be together with your family, and have a wonderful time. Catered skiing holidays can be great fun for you and your loved ones. However, when you are going on catered skiing holidays, there are several things that you must plan for ahead of time. These things include flights to get you to your destination, the accommodation that you choose to stay in when you are there, and transportation such as rail services and car hire services. All these things are important items to consider as you begin planning your skiing holidays.

Choosing A Destination

The first thing to remember when you are planning skiing holidays is the importance of the destination. There are many great ski slopes all over Europe, and lots of these places offer anywhere from a weekend to a week or more of skiing fun. Many resorts provide skiing holidays in mountain areas that are some of the most beautiful in the world. However, there are several questions that you need to ask before you choose the best place for your skiing holidays.

The first things you need to focus on while choosing skiing holidays are how long you are going to be there, the number of people who are going, and their ages. These are probably the most important factors in deciding where to take your skiing holidays. The length of your skiing holiday will have a lot to do with the destination that you choose. If you are only going for the weekend or a couple of days, you can find a remote and beautiful place to go to for your skiing holiday. If your trip is short, your focus will be on skiing, and it won’t matter if there are not very many amenities or family things to do. The other attractions that might be in the area won’t be as important as the family ski resort itself. You want to choose a ski resort that will allow you to do as much skiing as possible in the short time you have for your holiday.

If your skiing holiday is going to be longer than a few days, the location and amenities of the place that you choose for these skiing holidays are both very important. When you are going to take a ski holiday that lasts longer than just a few days, the other things that you can find to do become much more vital to you. For a long trip, you will need other things to do, no matter how much you love skiing. You will need to make sure that you choose skiing holidays at places that have restaurants, shopping districts, entertainment, and other activities. These will allow you to take a break from skiing, and make your skiing holidays more enjoyable overall.

The ages of the people going on your skiing holidays are also very important. If you are going on skiing holidays with your children, you need to choose places that have ski lessons for children, and fun activities for them as well. With your children along, you also want to research the safety of the ski resort even more thoroughly than you otherwise would. Remember again, that with children, you are going to want to pick your skiing holiday locations where there are lots of things for them to do besides skiing.

Getting There

Once you have chosen a place for your skiing holidays, you have to decide on the best way to get there. The travelling that is involved often costs more than the actual skiing. However, there are many deals on flights and packages to various destinations for skiing holidays, if you know where to look. If you can save money on airline flights, you will have more money to spend on your skiing holidays.

The accommodation that you choose is also an important part of planning family skiing holidays. Whether you stay on the actual site of the family resort, or somewhere near the slopes, you want to be able to get there easily each day to ski. Remember, if you are staying at the place where you are skiing, it might be more expensive. However, your ski slope fees will usually be included. If you find an accommodation that is much cheaper than the resort, but where skiing is nearby, you might find this to be less expensive, but you probably will have to pay for the ski slope fees.

There are other things to consider as you plan your skiing holidays. Things like rail services that can get you to your destination, and whether or not you want to do a car hire are all decisions that you have to make before you leave on your trip. You will find that if you take the time to plan your skiing holidays before you go, you will be able to relax and enjoy them much more.

Andrew Gibson asked:


Canada is one of the most northern countries in North America and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in the world. This vast country stretches coast to coast, from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Canada is an extremely popular holiday destination for a family holiday staying in holiday home rentals.

Luxury holiday villas with swimming pools, skiing chalets and self catering holiday apartments are readily available to rent in Canada direct from their owners. Taking a family holiday to Canada is an amazing experience as the country has such a diversity of things to offer families taking a vacation.

Many tourists take a family holiday and rent a wooden holiday home or ski chalet and use them as a base to explore this beautiful country. Many holiday makers go on winter skiing holidays to Canada and stay in skiing chalets or self catering apartments. As well as taking a skiing holiday staying in ski chalets, many tourists explore the natural countryside. When taking a holiday in the Canadian Rockies they may hike up to some of the spectacular glaciers.

Many hikers choose to stay in wooden cabins in the Rocky Mountains to Canada on fishing holidays. Fishing holidays staying in self catering holiday accommodation are very popular due to the excellent lakes and rivers that are abundant in Canada.

Canada was controlled by the British and French centuries ago and this has greatly influenced the diverse architecture that the country has offer. Quebec is a very popular destination for tourists on a family holiday staying in holiday home accommodation. It is in the French speaking part of Canada and the French influence in the local culture and architecture is very evident. It is a vibrant area full of great bars and restaurants and warm friendly locals. While staying in Quebec there is so much to see and do and it offers some of the best ski chalets in Canada.

Alberta is a very popular holiday destination and many families stay in some of the holiday cottages and lodges and explore the National Parks that are near by. It is an area offering beautiful lakes, hiking and skiing depending upon the season.

Toronto is probably the best known city in Canada. It is a beautiful cosmopolitan city full of diverse architecture and cultures. Tourists can stay in self catering holiday apartments or rent holiday homes when staying in Toronto. While there on holiday they make take in a baseball game or take a trip up the Sky Tower.

Canada is probably best known around the world for the stunning Niagara Falls. Only when you have been to the Niagara Falls can you truly comprehend the shear scale and volume of this magnificent sceptical. Tourists come here on a family holiday from all over the world and can stay in holiday villas or self catering holiday accommodation.

It is no wonder that Canada is such a popular holiday destination for holiday makers taking a family holiday staying in self catering holiday home accommodation.

Anna Hart asked:


Holiday gift baskets are well established in connection to certain holidays. Christmas holiday gift baskets are widely advertised and given. In the United States, Easter and Thanksgiving holiday gift baskets are also popular.

Holiday gift baskets do not have to be reserved for Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving, however. These baskets are always appropriate and appreciated. Wine holiday gift baskets are often given as business gifts. Pet holiday gift baskets are pushed by pet stores in the U.S. Baby and corporate holiday gift baskets are also given in some countries.

Holiday gift baskets are cheap or expensive, unique or run-of-the-mill. You can usually find one suited to the specific holiday, but if not, you can custom-make holiday gift baskets.

Holiday Gift Basket Occasions

It would be impossible to list here every holiday of every nation. We will look at just a few that merit holiday gift baskets.

1. New Year’s Day: This holiday is celebrated universally. Holiday gift baskets should include items celebrating beginnings. Think of the word “new” when planning contents of a New Year’s Day holiday gift basket. You might also send a sport-oriented gift basket in the U.S., since many football teams play major games that day.

2. Children’s Day: Many nations celebrate a holiday for children. Baby holiday gift baskets or gift baskets for older children may be given. Include food treats appropriate to the age, plus a toy, book, or game. You can avoid sweets by making it a spa basket with “special” shampoos and lotions.

If the gifts are for youngsters who love horses, consider equestrian theme holiday gift baskets. Include carrots, apples, and sugar cubes to share with a favorite horse. Add a book about horses.

3. Mother’s Day/Father’s Day: These holidays are also common to many nations. Holiday gift basket ideas for these should honor the mother or father. This is a time for custom-made baskets, showing your thoughtfulness in selecting treats and gifts the recipient is known to like.

4. Grandparents’ Day: Grandma and Grandpa holiday gift baskets are appropriate for holidays such as the United States’ Grandparents’ Day. Give heart healthy holiday gift baskets. A healthy basket might include dried blueberries and bananas, smoked salmon, nut snacks, and Irish oatmeal. Add tickets to an event they would enjoy together, sporting or other.

5. Independence Day: Here is another holiday gift basket occasion. Most countries have a day on which they celebrate the nation’s beginnings. For example, “Canada Day” would be a great time for Canada holiday gift baskets. “The Fourth of July” is a good time for U.S. holiday gift baskets. In Japan, “Kenkoku Kinenbi” is a time for Japan holiday gift baskets. Be sure you include national flags in your holiday gift baskets. Something bubbly that can pop a cork would also be appropriate. If legal where you live, add a few small fireworks for celebration.

6. Memorial Day: Nations often set aside a day to commemorate those who died in their country’s service. Holiday gift baskets are a thoughtful way to thank those who lost loved ones in a war.

7. Labor Day: Here is another holiday that is celebrated around the world. With its roots in Australia, Labor Day can be a time for unexpected holiday gift baskets. Theme the contents to labor, perhaps “sturdy” foods and treats.

Helpful Tip

Remember to add cards to your holiday gift baskets – and choose durable baskets so they will remain as souvenirs long after their contents are gone.

By: Anna Hart

Sristy asked:


Of course the job itself is not always glamorous, but most people do not possess the mobility of the flight attendant to see the world while they are still young enough to enjoy it. What is it about a flight attendant that makes little kids longingly stare and adults charmed and envious? Could it be the lifestyle and freedom to jet away to faraway places? The uniform? The star quality of these chosen few?

Maybe it is all these things, and more. I remember viewing a children’s program at about age 6, seeing the flight attendant standing in the doorway of a large airplane, wearing a military- looking uniform, with shiny wings on her jacket. How elegant and important she looked working on the airplane! I decided right then and there that this was what I wanted to be someday. To me, it wasn’t just a job - it was a life!

Initially, the first cabin attendants were men who helped maintain the integrity of the airplanes while swatting flies and lifting mailbags. Then in the 1930’s female attendants were hired as stewardesses or hostesses and worked on piston engine or propeller aircraft, such as the Curtiss Condor. Their duties included providing sandwiches and thermoses of water and passing out gum and cotton to provide comfort for passengers’ ears. These flight attendants originally were registered nurses, but this requirement was dropped in the 1940’s. The job was now considered glamorous and even though many young women wanted to become airline stewardesses, only a few were chosen. In those days when stewardesses got married, they were terminated.

By the 1960’s, men were on the job. United Airlines hired eight men from Hawaii to fly their Hawaiian routes. As a result of the influx of males from that point, Eastern Airlines created the job title of “flight attendant”. The job held wide appeal to men and women and it became commonplace for flight attendants to be male or female, young or older, married or single, any race, even parents. The salaries were beginning to climb - airline fever had claimed more lives!

Once you have “the fever”, it will be with you for the rest of your life; there is no cure, and anyone who has never experienced a flight attendant career will never comprehend just how powerful it is. Flight crews are very close comrades as a result of having this unique passion in common. There is a wide belief that the job is a daring and unusual dream experience; flight attendants are considered to be gutsy individuals who regard the world as their playground.

Of course, those of us who fly know that in reality the job is hard work, sometimes with long hours and grouchy customers. It is difficult to find the glamour in your job when you are down on your hands and knees in the galley, going through tray carriers looking for someone’s lower dentures they left on a tray! Or working a 14-hour day due to a mechanical delay. Or dealing with a planeload of airsick passengers during heavy turbulence. These things are all part and parcel of a flight attendant’s job. But the fun and excitement far outweighs these things, and I don’t know many flight attendants who would trade it all in for a nine-to-fiver!

The charisma has as much to do with the look of flight attendants as the places they travel. These sharply dressed men and women who serve you meals or beverages in the air seem to be the epitome of romance; what will they do when they are off duty - shop in Rome? Party in Frankfurt? Catch glass beads at a Mardi Gras parade? Tour the Pyramids or Catacombs? What celebrities do they commonly meet and what interesting stories could they tell about these people?

Each airline has a unique uniform, smartly tailored, complete with the airline logo and wings. Wings are earned, and flight attendants go to a lot of trouble to get them! Training is sometimes long and arduous. Flight attendant trainees must not only be strong and resourceful but intelligent, healthy and energetic to graduate.

Possibly the most important component of the aura of mystery surrounding the flight attendant is the fact that that which is difficult to obtain is often the most coveted. Not just anyone can become a flight attendant; thousands of flight attendant wannabes apply for these jobs every month, but few are chosen. Statistics show that on average, less than 10% of those who apply are selected for the job. What separates the people chosen from the ones left behind? That is part of the magic, and sometimes it is not something that can be even put into words. After meeting the requirements, applicants must convey a certain persona to the recruiter, and the recruiters are adept in discovering those who have what it takes.

No one can say for sure just what the charm of a flight attendant is. But I remember the look on a young man’s face on one of my flights. He was taking his first airplane ride and gazed up at me with wonder, and asked, “is this what you do for your job - meet people and fly to different places all the time? Kewl.”

PanViet Travel Vietnam asked:


http://www.panviettravel.com.vn/index.php?option=com_entravelpackages&task=show&catid=283&id=207

Email to us: panviettravel@gmail.com

Code: PV - SH 21 -07

Routes: Hanoi – Sapa – Halong – Ninh Binh - Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Nha Trang – Saigon – Cu Chi – Mekong

Duration:   21 days

Itinerary in Brief

Day 1: Good morning Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi, city tour of the 1000 year old capital

Day 3: Hanoi - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Sapa, night train

Day 4: Sapa - Ta Phin, trekking and homestay (4 hours)

Day 5: More trekking and back to Sapa

Day 6: Sapa - Tam Duong by Jeep

Day 7: Tam Duong - Sapa - Hanoi, via night train

Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Day 9: Halong Bay – HanoiDay

10: Your free day in HanoiDay

11: Hue, city tour Day

12: Hue, boat trip - HoianDay

13: Hoian, walking tour in the ancient town

Day 14: Hoian - Nha Trang

Day 15: Nha Trang, island boat trip

Day 16: Nha Trang - Saigon, city tour

Day 17: Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi tunnels

Day 18: Saigon to the fertile Mekong Delta (Cai Be - Can Tho)

Day 19: Can Tho - Saigon

Day 20: Free day in Saigon

Day 21: Departure Saigon, Goodbye Vietnam

Itinerary in Detail



Day 1: Good morning Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet and take you to your hotel, check in your hotel then today is free at your leisure, to rest or explore around at your own pace. Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel

Day 2: Hanoi, city tour of the 1000 year old capital

Depart at 8:00 am, after checking out, from your hotel by car. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho, learning about his great life at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his residential place. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature.

The site of Vietnam\’s first University, built in twelfth century, to teach the royals the Confucius theory. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho. In the afternoon, choose one from the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women\’s Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). A late afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi\’s fascinating Old Quarter for some great fun, shopping, and street side traditional food. This is your chance to be part of typical Hanoian style and its traditional Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam.We can help you get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would just rather spend the early evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Dinner on your own.

Included: Retire to your hotel for the night. All meals, Car / bus, Entrance fee(s)

Day 3: Hanoi - Tam Coc - Hoa Lu - Sapa, night train

Pick-up from your hotel is at 8:00 am, we have a 2 hour drive (110km South) to the city of Ninh Binh, also known as the Inland Halong and the Ancient Capital. It will be an exciting day highlighted, by a 2 hour boat ride in a hand- woven bamboo row boat down the Tam Coc streams enjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks. After lunch served at a local riverside restaurant we make a short transfer (4 km) down a peaceful country road to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital eleven centuries ago. Here, there are two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century. Return to Hanoi around 5:00 pm.8:30 pm: Transfer from an prearranged meeting spot to the station for your night train to Sapa.

Included: All meals Car / bus Entrance fee(s), Tour Guide, Hotel, AC train tickets

Day.4: Sapa – Ta Phin, trekking and homestay (4 hours)

The train arrives in Lao Cai at about 6:30 am where your PanViet guide will welcome you. Look for the “PanViet Travel” sign when you exit the train station. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / bus to Sapa (about 1.5 hours).

When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast. Then we will take a short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek through terraced rice fields and Hmong villages. Chances to meet and talk with locals working in the fields are plentiful. We will break for a picnic lunch en route then continue trekking to Ta Phin village of the Dao people (4 hours). Your Dao host family will warmly welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, All meals, Entrance fee(s), Home-stay

Day 5: More trekking and back to Sapa

At the first of gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join them in some of their activities, like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we will complete our trek on valley route to the main road (4 hours) linking Lao Cai and Sapa. Alternatively, for this long trek, you can choose a short morning wander around the village for about 1 hour, resulting in more time spent with the host family and other villagers. For both options, you will be supported by our car / bus back to Sapa (30 minutes).

When we arrive back in Sapa we will check in to the hotel, shower, and have lunch. At 2:30 pm we will visit the gardens of beautiful Ham Rong mountain & take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Then return at your own leisure with free time to discover the secrets of this colorful town. Overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, All meals

 

Day 6: Sapa - Tam Duong by Jeep

Morning preparations, breakfast, check-out, then it is time to take a wonderful journey by jeep. We will go up and over Tram Ton pass and then descend, zig-zagging to the valley below. The views on this trip are absolutely incredible! Our destination is Tam Duong, but before we get there we will visit Binh Lu and see hilltribe people carrying with them their hand crafted products or leading animals on the way to market. You will be free to wonder around but please be respectful of the people here as they are reluctant to have their picture taken without permission. This area has not seen many tourists. We will have lunch here, then continue through the untouched villages with frequent stops to visit and talk to the locals. Overnight in Tam Duong.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, All meals.

Day 7: Tam Duong - Sapa - Hanoi, via night train

Breakfast then back in the jeep for the uphill climb back to Sapa. Time for capture yesterday\’s missed photographs of this fabulous areas. If this day falls on Sunday then 2 beautiful markets can be visited on our way.

You will return to Sapa in late afternoon and finally depart for the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8:50 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your first class, shared AC soft berth to Hanoi by 4:30 am.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, all meals

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay

When you arrive in Hanoi a very short walk will get you to a prearranged hotel for you to shower and a take a short rest before we start our next day. At 8:00 am we will pick you up, by private car/ bus, at the hotel and begin our journey to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. Board your private boat, an authentic Chinese Junk, and start your amazing cruise through this World Heritage Site. Lunch is served onboard, a selection of the freshest seafood. We visit \”the amazing cave\”, followed by a swim in the tranquility of Halong Bay and its emerald water. We will cruise further into a quiet area where we will anchor and stay overnight. Dinner and relax as the sun sets. Then you are free to swim in the phosphorous water, retire to your cabin, or fall asleep under the stars amidst the magic of Halong on the top deck.Hotel for shower

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Private cabin on junk, All meals, Entrance fee(s)

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Wake up early in the morning for a great sunrise and a breath of fresh ocean air. Breakfast served on boat then we do a leisurely cruise through thousands of seemingly never ending islands. These are great opportunities to capture some amazing photographs.

We stop to visit a floating fishing village and listen to some legendary stories of the fishermen\’s daily life. Take one last swim somewhere in the middle of the bay to refresh before cruising back to the Halong city pier. By noon we be ashore and break for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we hit the road back to Hanoi. We arrive and finish our tour at your hotel by 5:00 pm.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, alll meals

Day 10: Your free day in Hanoi

Today is your free day in the Hanoi capital and all of its fascinating historical charm. Spend your day relaxing or shopping. Some suggestions include waking up early (about 6:00 am) and joining in the some exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake; or taking a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter for a different point of view; or visiting the numerous markets, shopping, and trying all of the street side traditional foods.

Board your 11:00 pm night train, AC soft sleeper to Hue.

Included: AC soft tickets, Breafast

Day 11: Hue, city tour

Arrival in Hue at 10:00 am then transfer to your Hotel. After morning preparations we will go on a relaxing cyclo or bicycle tour. We will also visit the Forbidden Purple City and Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Hue, boat trip - Hoian

Getting started at 9:30 am from your hotel, we walk and transfer to the boat dock for cruising on the Perfume River viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. Walk up to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond. Take some time here to learn about the influences of Buddhism in Vietnam.

Leave Hue in the evening by a car/ bus for Hoian. From here it will take us about 4 hours to get to Hoian. There is fabulous sightseeing en route and we may make stops at: Lang Co beach, Hai Van pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble mountains. Then onto Hoian, overnight here.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Boat cruise, Entrance fee(s), All meals

Day 13: Hoian, walking tour in the ancient town

The center of Vietnam is home to many of World Heritage Sites and Hoian is one of them. Here in this ancient town of Hoian, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River.

Occupied by early western traders in the 16th century, Hoian has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets. The original structure of some of these streets still remain almost fully intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with colorful lacquered details and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Always a favorite place!

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Entrance fee(s), All meals

Day 14: Hoian - Nha Trang

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Da Nang for noon-flight to Nha Trang. A taxi takes you to your hotel, it is free to chill out on the beautiful white sand beach.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Car / bus, flight, Entrance fee(s)

Day 15: Nha Trang, island boat trip

Morning pick up from hotel and transfer to the boat station (45 minutes). Hop on the boat and begin a day on the water. The first stop will be at Mum Island. This is one of the best places for snorkeling in Nha Trang. Hold your breath for as long as you can and dive deep into this colorful world of fish and coral. Next stop, Tam Island, for sun bathing and relaxing on the off shore beach. Lunch will be served at a nearby fishing village with a selection of fresh seafood. After the lunch we will visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium then take the boat back to Nha Trang city. Free time in the evening and overnight at your hotel.

Note: We may need to fly to Saigon this afternoon (4:45 pm) if our next morning flight is not available.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Boat, Entrance fee(s), Breafast, lunch

Day 16: Nha Trang - Saigon, city tour

We take an early flight this morning at 7:45 am, arriving to Saigon at 8:40 am, transfer down town and check-in at our hotel before our city tour of this bustling Saigon started. Visit the Binh Tay Market in Cho Lon; stopover at Thien Hau, a 150 year old Chinese Temple; then to a Lacquer wares workshop and the Jade Emperor pagoda. In the afternoon visit the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office, we’ll drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Flight, Entrance fee(s), All meals

Day 17: Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi tunnels

Departing Saigon at 8:30 am from your hotel for a morning excursion to Tay Ninh to the Great Cao Dai Temple (a place to worship a mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity). We see the noon mass at the temple (1 hour). Lunch in Tay Ninh.

In the afternoon we visit the Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fight strategies during the war and crawl through 50 - 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system. On the way back to Saigon, local rice paper workshops, and views of Vietnam country side and paddy fields are pleasant sights. We’ll drop you off at your hotel.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Entrance fee(s), All meals

Day 18: Saigon to the fertile Mekong Delta (Cai Be - Can Tho)

Depart Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel. Head south to Cai Be. Upon arrival at 10:30 am, board a boat for a journey through the Mekong\’s floating market. See how river life goes on here, watch the trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Alive and exciting. Cruise through the secluded canals and cross the Mighty Mekong to an island where we will stop to enjoy fresh seasonal fruit before boating to Vinh Long. Back on the bus for our trip to Can Tho to overnight.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Entrance fee(s), Boat, All meals

Day 19: Can Tho – Saigon

An early start for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, then we have some distance to cover. First a cruise, then a walk on a quiet country road taking in the magnificent scenery and getting a little bit closer to the locals as they go about their daily routine. We take a trip by \”xe loi\” which is a local colonial-era cab pulled by motorbike and tour the country side. In the afternoon we head back to Saigon. At your same Saigon hotel by 6:00 pm.

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide, Hotel, Entrance fee(s), Boat, All meals

Day 20: Free day in Saigon

Breakfast at the hotel then a day at your leisure in Saigon. Today is a great day for you to relax, shop, take a cyclo tour, and finish any last preparations before you take your flight home the next day.BreakfastHotelDay 21: Departure Saigon, Goodbye Vietnam

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have sometime for some more shopping. Then we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye and hope to see you again soon!

Included: Transfer, Tour Guide

Prices ($US)

Your price when;

Standard

Superior

Deluxe

you are 2 persons:

1773 / person

2023 / person

2374 / person

you are 4 persons:

1478 / person

1737 / person

2088 / person

Included: All as mentioned above.

Budget for 1 star hotel, Standard is 2-3 stars, Superior is from 3-4 stars, Deluxe is at 4-5 stars hotels.

Excluded: Travel insurance, drinks, items of a personal nature, tips and gratitude, others not mentioned in the inclusion box.

What to Bring: Passport with a valid visa, sun hat, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent, good shoes for some hiking, camera with lots of films.

Andrew Gibson asked:


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