E-mail: Travlgrrl@aol.com or Call Toll-Free 1-800-842-4753

WHAT OUR TRAVELERS SAY
"My trip was fantastic! Thanks, see you again very soon!"- Richard, Fort Myers, FL
OVERVIEW

Dates:
Tuesday, May 18 - Thursday, May 27, 2010 Price: $2,695 per person, double occupancy, land only. Single Supplement:
$1100 USD, Not Required. Hermes Tours can match you with another traveler should you wish at no cost. ** Book 5 months or more before departure and save $100 Deposit due at time of registration: $500 USD per person
 
 


VIBRANT VIETNAM

May 18-27, 2010

With thoughts of conflict banished to history, Vietnam is nothing less than mesmerizing. And peaceful, as you’ll discover in its countless serene temples and during our exclusive Hermes overnight stay on a traditional junk amidst an archipelago of limestone towers. We’ll travel the length of this coastal gem, from Hanoi to Hue, Hoi An to Saigon – on a journey punctuated by gracious people in colorful markets and grand palaces and tombs emerging from an emerald-green landscape. Join Hermes, and discover the rich past and promising future of an ever-evolving country.

HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Hanoi, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
  • Rickshaw ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter
  • Water Puppet show
  • Full day and overnight aboard a traditional Vietnamese junk on Ha Long Bay, with opportunities for active exploration
  • Hue, including Thien Mu Pagoda, Imperial Citadel, and the tombs of emperors Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh
  • Hoi An, including Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Old Merchant House, and the Quang Dong Assembly Hall
  • Saigon, including History Museum, Reunification Palace, War Crimes Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, French-Colonial post office, and Chinatown
  • Accommodations for 8 nights in 5-star hotels and 1 night onboard a traditional Vietnamese junk on Ha Long Bay
  • Services of a Hermes Tours escort
  • Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
  • $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!

ITINERARY
 
Date
Itinerary
Meals
18 May, 2010

Arrive Hanoi

 D
19 May, 2010

Tour of Hanoi

 B
20 May, 2010 Ha Long Bay Cruise B, L, D
21 May, 2010 Ha Long Bay - Hanoi B
22 May, 2010 Flight to Hue. Afternoon boat ride on the Perfume River B
23 May, 2010 Morning tour of Hue, transfer to Hoi An B
24 May, 2010 Tour of Hoi An B
25 May, 2010 Morning flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), afternoon tour B
26 May, 2010 Ho Chi Minh morning tour, afternoon free to explore B, D
27 May, 2010 Depart for Home  
 

HOTELS:

Hanoi:  Sofitel Metropole

Ha Long Bay: Jasmine Junk, (Premium cabin)

Hue: La Residence

Hoi An: Victoria

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon): Sofitel Plaza

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Included:
Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation in 5 star, gay friendly hotels, with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges. Airport transfers on designated arrival/departure days, tips to local drivers/guides, ,All activities as outlined in the itinerary; all meals as per itinerary; economy class air tickets between cities, the services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip; all ground transportation as per itinerary; Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary.

Not Included:
International airfare to/from Vietnam; passport & visa fees if applicable; personal travel medical & cancellation insurance; meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; services of a personal nature like alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes as well as customary tips your Hermes Tours escort.

Visas:
Canadian and American passport holders are required to have visas to enter Vietnam for tourism purposes.

US Residents: Vietnam Embassy in DC. The current fee is $65 USD.

Canadian Residents: Vietnam Embassy in Ottawa. The cuurent fee is $79 CAD


Shots and Immunizations:
There are no shots that are required for travel to Vietnam but Hermes Tours does recommend that your tetanus booster be up to date.

Currency and Money Issues:
It is very easy to withdraw money from ATMs located throughout the country as well as to use your Visa or MasterCard. The American Express card is less widely accepted. Travelers checks are also accepted however can carry a heavy commission fee. We recommend to travelers to bring only a small amount of cash and/or travelers checks and to rather use their ATM and credit cards while traveling.

LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS

Making a reservation with a deposit will be considered to be consent to the following conditions:
Hermes Tours reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 8 participants.

Hermes Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure. Travel cancellation insurance would cover these costs should the tour be cancelled.

Hermes Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.

FULL ITINERARY

Date
Itinerary
18 May, 2010
Arrive Hanoi

Hanoi celebrates its 1,000th birthday in 2010! We arrive here today and transfer to our hotel.
19 May, 2010
Tour of Hanoi

An entire millennium of history is ours to explore. After breakfast, we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the revered leader lies in rest. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, and  Museum of Ethnology.  After lunch, stroll the shores of the serene Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Then enjoy a one-hour rickshaw tour among the Old Quarter’s antique and clothing shops.

We close our day with a mesmerizing, traditional Water Puppet show. Tonight toast your upcoming discoveries at our Hermes Tours welcome dinner. 
20 May, 2010
Ha Long Bay Cruise

This morning we set sail on a traditional Vietnamese junk among Ha Long Bay’s countless limestone islands that have captured travelers’ imaginations for centuries. After lunch onboard, you might don your swimsuit to bathe in crystalline waters. Or ply the waters in a kayak, explore an island by foot, or simply relax and soak up the sun. Later, we’re welcomed into a Cua Van fishing village to learn about local life here. After a savory dinner onboard, join an elective sea kayak tour to explore the bay by moonlight.        
21 May, 2010
Ha Long Bay - Hanoi

Greet the sun with an on-deck Tai Chi class. Then we visit a nearby grotto carved into one of the monolithic islands. This afternoon we return to Hanoi and have free time to explore some of its 600 temples and pagodas.          
22 May, 2010
Flight to Hue. Afternoon boat ride on the Perfume River

After breakfast, we fly to Hue, on the banks of the Huong River. After lunch, we embark a small boat and follow the gentle Perfume River to the seven-story riverside Thien Mu Pagoda, the largest in the city and Hue’s official symbol. Later, we drive to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, one of the country’s most scholarly leaders.  En route, we visit a local merchant, who shows us how conical hats and incense sticks are made. Our evening is free to explore Hue.           
23 May, 2010
Morning tour of Hue, transfer to Hoi An

After breakfast, we marvel at Hue’s massive Imperial Citadel, which once housed a vast Forbidden City of emperors and concubines. We continue to the tombs of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then, we transfer to Hoi An over the scenic Hai Van Pass (“Pass of the Ocean Clouds”). After our arrival, we have the rest of the day at leisure.

24 May, 2010
Tour of Hoi An

After breakfast, we enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An, a powerful port in the spice trade centuries ago. This former backwater village boasts an incredibly preserved ancient town. We’ll browse some of its treasures and also see the Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Old Merchant House and the Quang Dong Assembly Hall. The rest of your day is free. Tailors in Hoi An will custom-make suits for you at a fraction of the price back home.  
25 May, 2010
Morning flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), afternoon tour

We fly to Saigon after breakfast, and bustling French-Colonial city today known as Ho Chi Minh City. Our day here will be peppered with new images and perspectives about “The American War,” as the Vietnamese know it. We visit the History Museum, Reunification Palace, and the War Crimes Museum. We’ll also marvel at two of the city’s architectural gems, Notre Dame Cathedral and the lovely French colonial post office.
26 May, 2010
Ho Chi Minh morning tour, afternoon free to explore

After breakfast we continue to explore Saigon with visits to Cho Lon, Vietnam’s largest Chinatown, a thriving district of colorful pagodas and markets. This afternoon, relax, shop or explore on your own.        
27 May, 2010
Return Home

This morning is the end of our tour. You are free to make your return flight for any time today.

http://www.GAYTRAVELPROS.com

info@gaytravelpros.com