THE PRIZE
To celebrate the launch of the first ever non-stop flights between the UK and Vietnam, we’ve teamed up with Vietnam Airlines and Kuoni to offer one reader and their guest the chance to win an unforgettable 14-night trip to explore this fascinating and diverse destination.
The prize includes:
• Return flights from Gatwick to Vietnam
• A 10-day Vietnamese Discovery tour
• Four-star shared accommodation for two for 14 nights (breakfast and some meals included)
• Package inclusive of all domestic flights and transfers, entrance and boat fees, and coach with a local English-
speaking guide
HOW TO ENTER
Fill in your details on the right to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize. Competition closes at 11.59pm on 31 December 2011. Terms and conditions apply.
THE TRIP
Covering all of this historic country’s main attractions and with four-star accommodation throughout, the 10-day Vietnamese Discovery tour rewards you with fascinating glimpses of this delightful land –whether viewed from the seat of a traditional cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle) or from a boat cruising across Halong Bay.
The tour begins in the capital, Hanoi, with cyclo tours of the Old Quarter, a talk by a local historian and a traditional water puppet show, as well as visits to the ancient One Pillar Pagoda, the monumental marble mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s first university, the Temple of Literature, which dates back to the 11th century.
Next is an overnight cruise around the Unesco World Heritage Site Halong Bay, a picturesque landscape of several thousand limestone islets dotted among the warm emerald waters, before heading south to the ancient imperial city of Hue. Enjoy a cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Royal Tombs of Emperors Tu Dac and Khai Dinh, before going bargain hunting at Dong Ba market and touring Hue’s historic Imperial Citadel.
Heading through the Hai Van Pass into the countryside, the route winds through pretty villages and fruit orchards, pausing in Danang before arriving at another Unesco World Heritage Site, the coastal city of Hoi An. A tour takes in the central market, Japanese Bridge, Fukien Assembly Hall and Tan Ky Old House.
Vietnam’s largest and most modern city, Ho Chi Minh, awaits on day nine. This inspiring city is renowned for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, colonial architecture and throngs of mopeds, as well as sights such as the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and Ben Thanh Market.
The following morning will be spent deep within the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam – My Tho in the Mekong Delta. Cruising along the Mekong provides a unique perspective of the country’s rural cottage industries. After returning to the city for a farewell dinner, there will be two free days left to explore before flying home.
FURTHER DETAILS
In December, Vietnam Airlines launches the first direct service linking the UK and Vietnam, cutting the journey time by up to seven hours. Twice-weekly, non-stop services from Gatwick to both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will make it possible to fly into one and out of the other, while onward connections are available to 23 destinations in Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia and Laos.
Voted the world’s leading tour operator for 11 years running, Kuoni has been creating tailor-made, luxury global holidays for more than 100 years and offers the finest hotels in more than 100 destinations. For more details and reservations, visit kuoni’s website.
