Come with me and explore the Pearls Of Vietnam, promising a deep experience of past and present history, traditional cultures, stunning landscapes , quaint ancient towns and vibrant villages by the sea.

You'll embark on an unforgettable 12 night/ 13 day  journey through the destinations of Saigon, Hoi An, Hanoi, Sapa and Halong Bay uncovering the rich tapestry that makes Vietnam unforgettable.

SAIGON/HO CHI MINH CITY

Saigon has a prominent history going back hundreds of years.  We touch on a few of Saigon's historical buildings showcasing the southern regions history and classic colonial architecture built by their former French rulers. 

HOI AN

Simply charming!

The architecture of Hoi An is characterised by a harmonious blend of Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese. A well preserved town that was recognised for its architecture and being crowned a UNESCO World heritage site in 1999.

Colourful and busy make this location a photographers paradise. 

HANOI

Hanoi is the bustling capital city of Vietnam. Where ancient pagodas, historical museums and temples blend in with colonial era buildings, showcasing the French influences of the past. 

The Old Quarter, where our hotel is situated, has beautiful tree-fringed boulevards, quirky street cafes, picturesque restaurants, an explosion of sights, sounds & tastes bringing out the tourists from every corner of the world. 

Perhaps a little Qi Gong, laughing Yoga, jazzercize style moves or simply people watch as the Hanoians start their day along the river just a few minutes walk from our hotel.

SAPA

The town in the clouds, the luring small town captures the hearts of travellers by its peaceful beauty in the distant mountains.  The magical cloud-surrounded landscape of Sapa is a real treat for the eyes.   Sa Pa is a quiet mountain town and home to a great diversity of ethnic minority peoples. The total population of 36,000 consists mostly of minority groups. 

HALONG BAY

Finally its time to wind down on our cruise boat on Halong Bay Vietnam, This location will soothe the soul and bring serenity as we sail through the jade coloured waters and limestone karsts in style. 5 star food & service,  scenery that will have you grabbing your camera at every opportunity. 

A spot of Tai Chi at sunrise will have you in the zone to start your day.

Be guided by Renae Johnson from Soul Sanctuary Retreats and be ready to create many amazing memories with our Pearls of Vietnam Tour 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

* History of Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City Tour, Hotel with pool.

* Tailoring , cooking school , lantern making and more in Hoi An

* Amazing food, Cultural tour, Rickshaw ride, coconut and egg coffee tastings, puppet show and more in Hanoi

* Bac Ha Market , A beautiful hotel overlooking the valley ,walking tour through a village in Sapa.

* The serenity of La Han Bay on Halong Bay. 5 star experience, Tai Chi, Happy Hour and Spa pool on boat 

TEMPERATURE MARCH - ON AVERAGE

*SOUTH Mid 30's *CENTRAL High 20's -NORTH-Mid 20's

TWINSHARE- Per Person sharing the room in separate beds $4700

SINGLE - 1 Person $5500

Tour Price is land price only and does not include return International  airfares- 

2 x Domestic flights are included in your price

Saigon to Danang (Hoi An)  & Danang (Hoi An) to Hanoi

**20kg baggage allowance on domestic flights

This tour has an initial $500 AUD non-refundable deposit with the remainder to be paid 75 days prior to departure 30/12/2024) All payments made by Credit Card will incur a  processing fee.

If you pay via bank-transfer you will not incur a fee.

Monthly payment plan can be set up after initial payment of  non-refundable $500 deposit. 

* $500 non-refundable deposit. 

* For between 75 days and 45 days before the start of the tour, 50% of the final payment (including the non refundable deposit) will be forfeited.  

* For less than 45 days or for no shows the entire amount will be forfeited as we would have already had to pay for accommodation, transport and activities, and this money will not be returned to us.  

* Once the tour has commenced no monies will be returned to you.  

* Travel Insurance is compulsory. Guests must ensure that have appropriate Travel Insurance policies in place prior to departure. 

* You are responsible for checking all testing and proof of vaccination requirements for the airlines or vessel operator/s you travel with and all countries you travel to and transit through.  For more information refer to Smart Traveller website 

* This Tour requires a moderate level of fitness - there is walking, steep stairs, uneven roads and getting on & off boats.

* Sites are large and sometimes hot, you may need to walk several kilometres around a single site.  

* Soul Sanctuary Retreats will do their upmost to honour the itinerary but is subject to change.

We always do our best to make sure all guests enjoy their retreat or sightseeing tour, however there are some things we cannot be responsible for. 

By agreeing to this document, you are agreeing to the following:

Terms and Conditions for Soul Sanctuary Retreats

Guests assume complete and full responsibility for, and hereby release Soul Sanctuary Retreats, Renae Johnson and anyone involved in supplying any services in the lead up to and during the length of the proposed travel for the following.

*Soul Sanctuary Retreats and Renae Johnson shall not be responsible for any injuries, losses or damages in connection with accommodations, other facilities at the accommodation, ground transportation, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, political issues, terrorism, Acts of God, delays, pandemics, changes or cancellation of travel due to weather conditions, accidents or health related problems leading up to or during a retreat or tour, unless such injuries, losses or damages are due to the negligence or wilful misconduct of Soul Sanctuary Retreats and Renae Johnson

*If travel plans are delayed or cancelled for any reason, there will be no refunds issued by Soul Sanctuary Retreats  except as stated herein.

*If participants choose to leave the group to venture out on their own, we cannot be held responsible for any issues that may arise from being on their own. 

*We specifically recommend that foreigners travelling abroad do so with a valid Passport expiring more than six months following the departure date. Individual travellers are responsible for ensuring they arrange visas to countries being visited as required. 

*Soul Sanctuary Retreats and Renae Johnson  are not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trips by a guest such as airline tickets or for costs incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellation or illness.

* Please note that Soul Sanctuary Retreats cannot be held responsible if people contract Covid 19.

Cancellation by Soul Sanctuary Retreats

Soul Sanctuary Retreats will do its utmost to never cancel a retreat or sightseeing tour, but if for some reason Soul Sanctuary Retreats were to cancel a trip, guests are welcome to move dates, or their payment would be refunded in full. If the cancellation is the result of something out of our control such as one of the issues mentioned in our “Terms and conditions” above, this is not considered to be a cancellation by Soul Sanctuary Retreats

Payment of your deposit indicates your agreement to the cancellation policy and to our terms and conditions as stated above. 

15 March 2025 

ARRIVAL- YOU WILL NEED AN E-VISA BEFORE ENTERING VIETNAM (depending on country that's issued your passport)

I can help you with e-visa  link.

Saigon- Tan Son Nhat airport....

Hotel-Orchids Saigon Hotel

Please note, there is no reason to arrive early for this trip as there are no planned activities on the first day. It has been included just for you to arrive and settle in.

27 March 2025

DEPARTURE-

Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport. 

Accommodation- The Light Hotel Hanoi- Old Quarter

Checkout is 12pm., We can arrange to have your luggage secured at hotel until time of your flight

Accommodation - Orchids Saigon Hotel

We welcome you at the airport and our driver will transfer you to our hotel.

I will meet you at the hotel to welcome you and help you check-in.

Today is a free day for you to settle in and either relax around the indoor pool or explore the streets around our hotel. 

Overnight in Saigon

Day tour

Today we depart our hotel for a full day city tour in Saigon.

First stop is a fascinating one of a kind coffee shop that use to be the secret headquarters to Viet Cong, It was used as the refuge of Vietnamese soldiers in the wars.

Next a walk through the Reunification Palace. A unique construction designed for the President of the South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. When entering, visitors can not only admire the architecture but the manicured trees & gardens .

We stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and Opera House , all beautiful photo opportunities and to learn and understand about how they came to be built in the city.   

A visit to the 18th century Ba Thien Hau Chinese Temple, Hiding in the back streets this temple provides calmness and peace. 

Feel free to make a small donation, light a huge incense coil and watch the fragrant scent float upwards.

Accommodation- Orchids Saigon Hotel

Morning flight domestic north to Danang .

Check in Hoi An Central Hotel

Afternoon free for swim in our Hotel , a spot of shopping, browse the gorgeous ancient town all within walking distance from our hotel.

Bring a favourite top or pants and get it made from a Tailor. ( I may have one for us)

This town is famous for their clothing and leather goods.

Accommodation- Hoi An Central Hotel

After breakfast we will drive to our nearby cooking class.

Pop on an Apron and chef hat and create a few local dishes that we can  enjoy for lunch.

We are very lucky that the host of the class will also have his coconut boat driver to take us on a little adventure through the coconut farm.

Nothing like you've experienced anywhere else in the world. I wont give all the details away.

Quirky YES!!! But lots of fun.

The afternoon will be spent at the nearby beach of An Bang Beach. 

We can enjoy the afternoon with a swim, massage, a few sunset drinks and dinner. 

Accommodation- Hoi An Central Hotel

An early start at 6:00 AM as we will beat the crowds and heat with our tour today of the 4th century Cham religious sanctuary of My Son, which is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Its located in a beautiful green valley surrounded by impressive mountains approximately 1 hour from Hoi An.

While a small site, the ruins at My Son are the largest and most intact remaining in

Vietnam

Transfer back to Hoi An. Stop to visit a workshop where artisans make Hoi An's famous lanterns. We will learn how the lanterns are made then have a chance to create their own lanterns, from designing the frame to gluing the cloth. 

A nice memento of our time in Hoi An.

Overnight Hoi An Central Hotel

Morning Flight to Hanoi. Approximate 1 hour flight.

 In the afternoon, we will take cyclo ride (Rickshaw) through the city & surrounds of Old Quarter. This is a fun activity through all the little side streets, definitely keep your camera out. 

In the evening enjoy a Water puppet show – a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers,

and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. 

Our hotel location is close to cafes, restaurants & day spas. Plenty of options for the evening. 

Accommodation 

The Light Hotel- Old Quarter Hanoi

After breakfast, we embark on a half-day city tour, beginning with a visit to the Women’s Museum,  Focused on the contribution of women to Vietnam's history and culture, this museum highlights their roles in Vietnam's many military conflicts as well as in commerce, including features on female street vendors, women's role in the family, and more recently, single mothers in Vietnam. 

Next, we explore the Temple of Literature,  Vietnam’s first university.  The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to worship Chinese philosopher Confucius. It then became the first university of Vietnam, also known as the Imperial Academy. Until the colonial period, it had been open for over 700 years and taught hundreds of renowned scholars and mandarins. Despite the ravages of war, the temple still retains its architectural and cultural beauty. 

Following this, we head to the famous Train Street,   We will need to get the timing just right, grab a cold drink and watch ,in safety, the famous train street. A spot where locals open up their cafes on the track for a unique experience for us travellers.  

The tour concludes with a visit to lacquerware shops where we'll learn about the fascinating techniques of this old technique. There is no pressure to buy. But something might catch your eye. 

Lunch will be close by, we can spend the afternoon walking around the lake, visiting the temple near our hotel, massage , shopping..... choice is yours.

After breakfast our private van (Limousine) will us collect us and transfer to Sapa (Around 5-6 hours).

We will stop for toilet breaks along the way and enjoy lunch on arrival to Sapa.

The afternoon is ours to explore this town. Whether for shopping, photo opportunities, or enjoy a massage back at our gorgeous hotel.

*Sapa is called the town in the clouds, Sometimes that's all you can see, clouds!!!! Its hard to predict one day from the next but I have experienced both sunny and misty/cloudy days and each will be special.

Accommodation- Aliana Hotel

An early start, Bac Ha market, is the largest market in the area. Every Sunday, the different and colourful ethnic minority  all join here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be see altogether  in any other areas.

In the afternoon, we will drive downhill towards Lao Cai . We stop on the way to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field, or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the

ground.

An interesting day ahead.

Accommodation- Aliana

 Nestled beneath the majestic Ngu Chi Son mountain, Ta Giang Phin village lies 28km from Sapa town.

A scenic hour-long drive through untamed forests leads to this charming hamlet, surrounded by terraced rice fields and tranquil streams. Inhabited mainly by the White Hmong tribe, the village retains its authentic charm, offering insights into traditional life. 

Trekking here allows for an immersive experience without the interruptions of mass tourism, letting visitors admire the stunning landscapes and interact with friendly locals at their own pace.

Lunch served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon transfer you by Limousine back to Hanoi.

Accommodation-The Light Hotel- Old Quarter Hanoi

830am departure to La Han Bay- Halong Bay.

We arrive at the marina at approximately 1130am, a cold drink awaits us before we board our tender out to our fabulous boat for the next 24 hours.

Swimming , kayaking, massage, happy hours, spa, Chi Gong, 5 star food and more awaits you. 

Each room whether you have single or twin will have balcony and bath tub.

Very Oooh la la :)

This is the spot to just breathe in all the beauty of whats on offer. 

Accommodation- Orchid Classic Cruise 

A detailed itinerary for the morning on La Han Bay will included kayak, swim , caves tour on land. 

Breakfast and brunch will be served before we head back to the marina at approximately 1130am.

Our driver and guide will be ready to drive us back to the beautiful location of Hanoi Pearl in the Old Quarter.

Sunset drinks & dinner to end our tour overlooking Hanoi. 

Accommodation- The Light Hotel- Old Quarter Hanoi

Sleep In, last minute shopping, get your nails done. Massage perhaps? 

Our hotel can arrange to look after your luggage depending on your flight home. 

Checkout is 12 pm.

Fare well.