Day 1 : Arrival in Hanoi
Spend the day acclimatising or ask our guide to recommend some sights to visit. In the evening, your guide will take you out to sample some of Hanoi’s superb cuisine. (D)
Day 2 : Hanoi
In the morning we drive out to the King Island Resort Course located about one hour from Hanoi. Here we can test the 18 hole course, set in a beautiful green valley. In the afternoon we return to the capital where we will have a sightseeing tour of the Temple of Literature and the Old Quarter. We follow this with a walking tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. The Old Quarter with its bustling streets is home to hundreds of small thriving businesses, each street denoting its trade, such as Tin Street or Fish Street. (B,L)
Day 3 : Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
Today we enjoy a five hour cruise on our own private boat around the secluded and majestic Halong Bay. Situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, Halong Bay covers an area in excess of 1,500 square km. This UNESCO listed world heritage site is the perfect place to unwind amidst the towering limestone karsts. The islands contained within the bay are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Whilst on board our boat a wonderful seafood lunch will be served. There will be time for another swim after lunch, or if you prefer, you can simply laze around on deck and soak up the sunshine. In the afternoon we drive back to Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 4 : Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City
We take a morning flight to Saigon. In the afternoon there will be sightseeing tour of Vietnam’s largest city including the poignant War Remnats Museum, the Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. (B,L)
Day 5 : Ho Chi Minh City
Today we play a round of golf at the Song Be Golf Course. Song Be Golf Resort is widely regarded as one of the most challenging and stimulating in the country. The 100 hectare golf resort was built out of the natural landscape of fruit orchard and coconut palms and was opened for play in 1994. The 18 hole resort style layout features at least 10 lakes with tree-lined fairways. Water comes into play in 8 of the 18 holes. Playing off from the blue tees is a challenge as the total length measures a whopping 6,384 metres. However if you would like to take it a little easy, the white tees would be more forgiving and yet challenging. The remainder of the day is free to explore Vietnam’s most vibrant city. (B,L)
Day 6 : Ho Chi Minh City – Phan Thiet
This morning we drive out of the bustling metropolis and head towards the coastal resort of Phan Thiet. Later we play 18 holes on the exquisite Ocean Dunes Resort Golf Course. This links course was designed by Nick Faldo. It is an outstanding natural site with sand dunes, sea breezes and fantastic sea views. In a stroke of genius Faldo decided to let the dunes determine the natural routing and look of the 6,746 yard Par 72 course. The Ocean Dunes course offers exciting opportunities for more experienced players who will appreciate the challenges posed by the winds. (B,L)
Day 7 : Phan Thiet - Dalat
This morning we leave the coast and head inland into the Central Highlands to the ‘City of Eternal Spring’ – Dalat. Dalat located nearly 1,500 meters above sea level. In the afternoon there will be the chance to discover some of the city’s most interesting sites. We begin with a trip to the summer palace of Vietnam's last Emperor, Bao Dai. Arrive late in Dalat, we check in our hotel then you can enjoy your free time to have dinner and discover the night market in centre of Dalat. (B,L)
Day 8 : Dalat
We start the day by playing a round of golf at the superb Dalat Palace Golf Club which is a redesigned version of Emperor Bao Dai’s small 9 hole course built in the 1920’s. Golfers in Dalat today are presented with a beautiful, rolling 18-hole course with fine lake views. The course gently blends into the rolling hills of Dalat and overlooks the Xuan Huong Lake, named after an eighteenth century woman poet, and the fairways weave through the oversized pine trees. At 7,009 yards in length and par 72, Dalat Palace Golf Club is an enjoyable challenge for golfers of all levels. Low handicap players will be tested by a series of lakes, which meander through ten of eighteen holes, as well as strategically placed bunkers, which penalize the miscalculating risk-taker. Novice players will find relief with large accommodating greens normally left open for run-up approach shots, as well as wide, forgiving fairways.
Dalat Palace Golf Club features par threes ranging in length from 164 to 234 yards and par fives up to 556 yards. These varied lengths allow a true examination of one’s golfing skills, and require that players use each club in their bag – the hallmark of a great golf course. Four different tee areas on each hole allow players to determine their own degree of challenge on the course.
In the afternoon, we take the train to countryside where you can visit Long Son pagoda, one of the most beautiful pagodas in Dalat. (B,L)
Day 9 : Dalat - Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we take the short internal flight from Dalat back to bustling Saigon. The rest of the day is free to do some last minute shopping. In the evening your guide will take you out to enjoy some more fine Vietnamese cuisine at the Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 10 : Ho Chi Minh City
The tour officially ends after breakfast although there will be departure transfers waiting to take you back to the airport for your connecting flight out of Vietnam. (B)