Experience the dynamic energy of two of Asia's most fascinating countries - China, a former imperial power growing from strength to strength, and Vietnam, a medley of high-octane cities and idyllic country settings recovering from a war-torn past. Enjoy bustling Hanoi and Saigon, cruise the turquoise waters of Halong Bay, soak in China's immense Forbidden City and Great Wall of China and sail the mighty Mekong as you travel between the natural and manmade attractions of these countries.
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Hanoi.
Dinner
On arrival in Hanoi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure before tonight's entertaining water puppet performance gives you the chance to witness this traditional Vietnamese art form.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Experience the energy of Hanoi, a city that weaves the remnants of its French colonial past into the tapestry of age-old Vietnamese traditions. Today's city tour moves from the regal Presidential Palace to Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and the Buddhist temple of One Pillar Pagoda. Travelling away from central Hanoi, browse through the cultural artefacts of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups at the Museum of Ethnology before exploring the lively Old Quarter of Hanoi by cyclo. This bustling centre has been a commercial hub since the 11th century and many of the streets still carry the names of the items originally produced and sold there.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, depart for UNESCO Listed Halong Bay. Stop at Bo Nau Cave and Surprise Cave before visiting Titov Island where you can swim or relax on the beach. Later, cruise amongst Ha Long Bay and enjoy a cooking demonstration, before returning to the ship.
Brunch & Dinner
Rise early and witness the pink-streaked sky as the sun rises over the bay or take part in a calming Tai Chi session on board the vessel. Followed by a visit to the beautiful Luon Cave by traditional woven bamboo boat. This afternoon you will disembark and travel back to Hanoi.
Breakfast & Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure before your airport transfer and flight out of Vietnam and into Beijing, China. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, with time to relax and unwind before your first dinner in China's spectacular capital city.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
China's dynamic capital is built on an impressive scale, with its imposing monuments serving as reminders of its imperial past. Today's comprehensive full-day tour takes you around the highlights of the city, including visits to the UNESCO Registered Temple of Heaven and its surrounding grounds dotted with over 4,000 ancient cypress trees, and the 9,999 rooms of the world's largest ancient palace - the Forbidden City. Enjoy one of China's top delicacies as you savour a crisp, fragrant Peking duck dinner later tonight.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following a stroll around the impressive UNESCO World heritage site Summer Palace, China's largest and best-preserved royal park and lake, today's tour will continue to the iconic Great Wall. Winding across deserts, grasslands and mountains and stretching over 5,500 miles, it was constructed over 2,000 years ago to guard the Chinese empire against the Mongol invaders from the North. You will visit the Juyongguan part of the Great Wall which is one of the three most famous passes along the UNESCO listed Great Wall of China and it was the most impregnable of the passes. In the evening, take in the agility of the performers at an entertaining Chinese acrobatics show.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Depart Beijing this morning and board one of China's high-speed bullet trains as you travel to Xi'an, taking in the rural scenery that passes you by. On arrival in Xi'an, you will be met and transferred to your hotel before setting out for the Muslim Quarter, home to historic mosques and a labyrinth of market stalls selling everything from souvenirs to edible delicacies. Later this evening, travel back in time as you watch a colourful Tang Dynasty dancing show.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Taking nearly four decades to complete and over 700,000 workers, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors were built to protect China's first emperor in his afterlife. Explore this impressive underground mausoleum, and the 8,000 extraordinarily sculpted warriors, bronze chariots and preserved weapons on display. Later, enjoy a second train ride as you journey through the picturesque Chinese countryside on an overnight sleeper train bound for Shanghai.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Arguably China's most cosmopolitan city, Shanghai offers a fascinating blend of Chinese culture and Western influences. After arrival and check-in, take a leisurely stroll along the Bund, the city's famed riverfront boardwalk that winds along the Huangpu River and once lay at the heart of the city's politics, economy and culture. Wander past monuments and statues, enjoying fantastic views of the towering skyscrapers on the opposite bank, including the second tallest building in the world - the Shanghai Tower. Next, walk along Nanjing Road, Shanghai's premier shopping destination, lined with stores selling designer goods, locally crafted wares and the country's renowned silk and jade souvenirs. Return to your hotel in time for dinner after this exploration of the city's best-loved walkways.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy the colonial-era and traditional Chinese elements of Shanghai on today's tour. Explore the tranquil pavilions, rockeries and ponds of Yu Garden and the tree-lined avenues and chic eateries of the French Concession. Cruise down the Huangpu River that runs through the centre of Shanghai, giving an excellent vantage point of the city, then wander the alleyways of Tianzifang, an enclave of trendy art studios, design boutiques, galleries and eateries.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vietnam, touching down in the city of Saigon (also known as Ho Chi Minh) for the last leg of your tour.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take in the fusion of old-world, post-war and colonial-era Vietnam on today's tour of this exciting and eclectic city. Visit the district of Cu Chi, famous for its extensive 75-mile tunnel system which served as the base of operations for the Viet Cong and once housed supply routes, hospitals, weapon factories and living quarters. In the afternoon, visit the historic Reunification Palace and elegant Notre Dame Cathedral. Admire the classic French colonial structure of the nearby Saigon Post Office then browse through the multitude of stalls at the lively Ben Thanh Market.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, travel to the city of My Tho where you'll board a motorboat for a ride down the mighty Mekong River. Catch a glimpse of floating houses as you make your way to Thoi Son islet where you'll enjoy a traditional music performance and tropical fruit tasting. Visit a workshop to learn how coconut candy is produced and sample these sugary snacks. Travel by horse-drawn cart to a local bee-keeping farm and enjoy a hot cup of honey tea before boarding a small rowing boat and slowly cruising down a scenic creek. Disembark and travel back to Saigon for dinner and your last night in Vietnam.
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
Use discount code TOUR200 at the checkout to save £200 per person on selected tours departing in April 2026 and May 2026
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There were so many highlights to this tour, would like to say that all the guides were of a great standard and all of them exuded their love for their countries and cities. Best of all was Alan who was our guide for the whole of the China part of our tour. He went above and beyond to make sure all 16 in our party were kept advised of our itinerary and as my wife and I are vegetarians he would be at each meal to make sure our dietary needs were met.
Philip Dugmore
23 Dec 24The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Please note lighters and aerosol cans are not allowed at sights of special interest.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Vietnam visa requirements
A visa is not required for stays up to 45 days for British Passport holders. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and a minimum of 2 blank pages. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
China visa requirements
You will require a visa to visit mainland China. We recommend you organise this 2 months before travel. If you’re 14 to 70 years old, you must apply for a visa in person at a visa application centre. If you’re aged 13 and under or aged 71 and over, you can only apply online.
You must provide biometric data (scanned fingerprints) for your application. There are visa application centres in London, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh. The details of their opening hours are on their websites. The Chinese Embassy has further information on visa categories and how to apply. The application process takes approximately 4 – 10 working days and the cost depends on the visa and class you choose.
You will require extra documentation for your application that you can request from us from 2 months before departure. They may ask for the Agency License Number which is China International Travel Service Ltd: 911100001013930695. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all the information they will require to apply for the visa.
We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
You will need to fill in an arrival card online before travel. This can be done on the NIA’s official website https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. To complete the form you will need to have your passport number and visa number. Once the form is complete you will either need to print out the QR code or have the QR code available on your phone.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Highlights of China and Vietnam is rated as Intermediate A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as VND. You can exchange your currency in Vietnam, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency. Money can be exchanged at the airport or branches of government banks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants.
China: The currency in China is the Renminbi, known as RMB or CNY. It is often referred to as the Yuan. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you depart. US Dollars are widely accepted in China should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Most major credit cards are accepted in hotels and shopping malls in China. Small shops and restaurants may not accept credit cards as well as street vendors, so it's strongly advised to have sufficient Chinese currency with you. ATM’s are readily available in big cities and most small towns.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £500-£600 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping in Vietnam is not compulsory and is at your discretion. However, Should you wish to tip in Vietnam we recommend you tip your guide approx. USD $4 per person per day and your driver approx. USD $2 per person per day. Tips for the bells boys and porters at your hotels and the crew during the Ha Long Bay cruise will be at your discretion. Tips are accepted in the local currency, US dollars and British pounds.
In China, it is customary to tip your national guide, local guide and driver. We recommend approximately CNY40.00 per person per day. Your national guide will collect this for your convenience on the first day of your tour, approximately CNY360 per person for the total duration. Tips are collected in Chinese Yuan.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 34. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide in Vietnam, who will remain with you for the duration of your trip until you leave for China. When you arrive in China you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you until you depart back to Vietnam. You will also be joined by local guides in some of the cities which you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Trains
During your tour you will have some day trains and overnight trains. Please note, that these are local trains and should not be compared to European standards and quality. Overnight trains have upper and lower berths and will be in a shared carriage of either four or two with other travellers. Beds usually come with a pillow, bed sheet and blanket. Toilets will be located at the end of the carriage. Please bring toilet roll and hand sanitiser. All trains are air conditioned. When travelling during the day on trains you will be booked into a comfortable air-conditioned carriage. Please note the Bullet Train has restricted carry-ons: Aerosol spray cans containing hairspray, hair gel, styling mousse, insecticide and air freshener must be under 100 ml (3.5 fl oz) Please note: Lighters are prohibited on planes, trains, and at key sights like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Warriors. Spray cans are not allowed on planes or trains..
Please note: Lighters are prohibited on planes, trains, and at key sights like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Warriors. Spray cans are not allowed on planes or trains.
Power banks without a 3C certification mark, spray cans of any form and lighters are not allowed on trains or planes.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Vietnam and China. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. If you have booked a triple share please note that your room will be a twin room with a rollaway bed or sofa bed added. This may limit the floor space in the room.
Boats
During this tour you will be boarding various vessels. Cabins come with en suite facilities and air conditioning. However room size can be restrictive, If you would like to take a smaller overnight bag on to the ships this can be arranged by leaving your larger luggage on your tour bus overnight at your own risk.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. Unlike the western world, Chinese people do not normally pre-heat their plates and food can be presented at a variety of temperatures, which is a typical Chinese way of doing things.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, one bottle of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
If you are travelling within the below Chinese Public Holidays, please note that celebrations last for several days and during these times some businesses will be closed and coach, air and train travel may be affected. Tourist attractions will be open but may be crowded. Chinese New Year usually falls sometime between January 21 and February 20. Golden Week public holidays fall annually between 1st – 3rd of May and 1st – 7th of October.
If you are travelling within the below Vietnamese Public Holidays please note that celebrations can last a couple of days and during these times some businesses will be closed and coach, air and train travel may be affected. Tourist attractions will be open but may be crowded. Tet Holiday is between January and February, International Labour Day is on 1st May every year, Reunification Day is on 30th April every year and National Independence Day is on 2nd September every year.
Vietnam:
On your arrival in Hanoi you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Lac Viet (LV) Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury holidays/Vietnam Travel Service representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
China:
On your arrival in Shanghai you will be met by a representative from our local agent will be in the terminal, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. Please exit from international arrivals gate 4. After exiting the arrivals gate turn left and walk to the passenger service centre. The Mercury Holidays representative will show you to your transfer vehicle.
Please find below the emergency contact details for LV Travel head office, Hanoi.
Contact Telephone number: Anna Hanh Office: 0084 865 016 939, Mr Len Office: 0084 989 200 116, Emergency cases: 0084 888713289
24 hour e-mail: operation@lvtravel.vn or len@lvtravel.vn
China:
Please find below the emergency contact details for China Travel Service:
During Office Hours: 0086 10 85228340 / 0086 10 85228722
After Office Hours: Ms. Linda Liu (Mobile): 0086 13911043036
Ms. Starling Wang (Mobile): 0086 13810153047
Ms. Faith Guo (Mobile): 0086 13716796859
