A vacuum cleaner hose assembly ( 3; 3', 3", 3"') has a flexible hose (5) that can be retracted by suction applied by the vacuum cleaner (1). The forward end of the hose (5) extends within a rigid cleaning wand (6 ,6’, 6’’, 6’’’ ) and is attached to it close to its forward end so that a part of the hose can be stowed within the wand. The wand has two sections (64 and 65, 64' and 65'), (64" and-65", 64"' and 65"') telescopically slidable one within the other so that the wand can have an extended length or a shorter retracted length. Both sections of the wand have an open wall structure with one or two longitudinal struts (66 and 67, 72 ) and ( 73, 66', 73', 66", 73" ) and one or two open windows ( 70, 76, 70", 76") in order to reduce the weight of the wand.