Day 1: Arrival - Ho Chi Minh
On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The bustling Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafes. ( If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life. O/N in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 3 : Ho Chi Minh - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh
The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Upon leaving Cu Chi we drive a short distance to Tay Ninh, the headquarters of Cao Dai Sect . This religion was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members. We arrive in time to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes. These costumes are a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho
Today we spend a half day exploring the captivating Ho Chi Minh City. The most places of interest are located near the town center. We pass by the now-demolished wartime American Embassy on our way to the Reunification Palace. This famous edifice was a former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War RemnantMuseum with a wealth of images from the notorious conflicts. The sightseeing ends up with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. Heading out of town we travel by roads through the scenic countryside to Can Tho, the largest town in the Mekong Delta. There are several stops en route to visit the farm land and local houses. O/N in Can Tho.(B)
Day 4: Can Tho - Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh
The lively floating market is a major part of sightseeing tour in Mekong Delta. Upon leaving Can Tho we set off on a short drive to Vinh Long and board a boat for an exciting excursion around the tributaries of the mighty Mekong River. Along the way we explore various local industry cottages including rice paper makers and bonsai nurseries. The next stop is Cai Be floating market, whose trading way is unique since each boat usually sells one particular item such as pumpkins, pineapples, sugar canes,.. In order that the customer knows where to shop, they hang that item from the highest part of the boat. On arrival in Cai Be Town we meet up with our waiting vehicle and drive back to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off en route to see the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda and the Saigon’sChinatown, locally named Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed with fascinating temples and mysterious, narrow lanes.. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh - Da Lat
The journey northwards begins as we depart Ho Chi Minh and pass through the many tea and coffee plantations to the hill station of Da Lat, sometimes known as the "City of Eternal Spring". The drive is long but views are fantastic all along the way. Once arriving in Da Lat we can soak up the cool climate as much as we want by spending our time to wander around and catch our first glimpse of this town. The influence of the French is evident in local culture and architecture since Da Lat was founded as a hill retreat for the colonials to escape the oppressive heat in the coastal plains and the chaos of Saigon. This charming town is set around a lake and surrounded by forests, waterfalls and rolling countryside. O/N in Da Lat. (B)
Day 5: Da Lat - Nha Trang
Today we enjoy a drive through the charming pine hill to the summer residence of Vietnam's last Emperor Bao Dai. He was forced to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of the World War II. This mansion displays a lovely collection ofVietnam treasures. We follow it with a trip to the sacred Lam Ty Ni Pagoda and the Hang Nga Guesthouse. This construction is well known as the Crazy House because of its bizarre architecture. The lively central market and the old rail station are also visited before we travel by roads passing through the undulating terrains to the picturesque coastal town of Nha Trang. En route we make stopover at the scenic Ngoan Muc Pass and the Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers. These amazing structures represent an interesting culture and a colorful history of the Cham people in central coast areas. O/N in Nha Trang. (B)
Day 6: Nha Trang
The turquoise water surrounding a string of islands and the white sandy beach stretching the whole length of Nha Trang City make it one of Vietnam's premier beach resorts. We board a boat to explore the coastal islands. The aquarium lake is our first stop before we head out to Hon Mun Island. Today we have plenty of time to enjoy swimming and snorkeling on the blue and clear water or simply lazing on a beach. The thrilling boat trip continues towards Hon Tam Island, giving us a choice of various water sports and good restaurant for lunch. By mid afternoon we cruise back to Nha Trang Pier and complete our day with a short city tour. The impressive Ponagar Cham Towers overlooking the colourful fishing port, and the famous Long Son Pagoda with its huge Buddha image are a major part of our sightseeing. O/N in Nha Trang. (B,L)
Day 8: Nha Trang - Danang
The following destination of our trip is Danang via a short flight from Nha Trang. On arrival we are greeted by our guide and driven to Danang Center for an interesting visit to the famous Cham Museum, formerly the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient. This museum contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa which has been the central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation south. We continue driving to Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in this tranquil and delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. We include these sites in an enchanting walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. O/N in Hoi An. (B)
Day 9: Hoi An - Hue
Heading out of town we drive towards Hue, which was once the feudal capital ofVietnam from 1802 to 1945. Along the way we visit the China Beach and the sensational Marble Mountains, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. On arrival in Lang Co, we make a break by the beach for a leisurely swim. The impressive drive will deliver us to Hue by early afternoon. We start our sightseeing tour with the massive citadel, containing the Imperial Cityand the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. Close to this masterpiece is Hue Imperial Museum which displays an interesting collections of bronzes, Chinaware, court robes and various emperors’ personal belongings. O/N in Hue.(B)
Day 10: Hue
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous Tu Hieu Pagoda. The sightseeing tour of Hue also includes with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass many fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B)
Day 11: Hue - Ha Noi - Tho Ha - Halong Bay
Upon leaving Hue we set off on a short drive to airport for flight to Hanoi. On arrival you meet with our local guide and travel by roads along the Cau Rivertowards Tho Ha village. This former craft center has remained detached from the world by a boat ride for hundreds of years. We stroll around this charming village to see various ancient style houses and home works such as rice paper making and rice wine distilling. This exciting walk gives us a chance to understand a little more about Dong Trieu pottery village to admire northern farmers' culture and lifestyle. We continue travelling to Halong with stopover at Dong Trieu pottery village to stretch our legs and admire the craftsmen at work. The remainder of day will be free a well earned rest on a beach. O/N in Halong Bay. (B)
Day 12: Halong - Hanoi
The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. We board a traditional boat for a five hour trip around Halong Bay. This exciting cruise provides us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. We round off our excursion with a seafood lunch served on board and make our way back to Ha Noi. After checking into hotel we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi. (B,L)
Day 13: Ha Noi
Today we commence our exploration of Hanoi with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow it with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the firstuniversity of Vietnam and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. The outlaying Ethnologic Museum is also a major part of our sightseeing. This gleaming mansion is dedicated toVietnam's 54 ethnic groups. Afterwards we drive to the Tran Quoc Pagoda andQuan Thanh Temple. They are some major highlights set by the beautiful WestLake. We also visit the old quarters and the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple. In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance. O/N in Ha Noi. (B)
Day 14: Ha Noi - Perfume Pagoda - Ha Noi
The famous pilgrimage site in Vietnam is Perfume Pagoda. This complex is not just one pagoda but more Buddhist shrines and sanctuaries built into mountainsides. Heading out of town we make our way through the rich farming land of the Red River Delta to the Perfume Pagoda. The relaxing pace begins as we board a boat for an excursion along the Yen River past the spectacular landscape of flooded rice fields and undulating mountains. On arrival at Thien Tru pier we embark on a walk uphill to explore some of the many pagodas and the sacred grotto of Huong Tich. By mid afternoon we drive back to Hanoi, stopping en route at Ha Dong Silk village. Here is a chance for shoppers to tray their hand at bargaining. O/N in Ha Noi. (B)
Day 15: Ha Noi - Departure
There is a free time to relax or further explore Ha Noi. The tour ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure. (B)
INCLUSIONS: +Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver + Accommodation: twin sharing room at mentioned hotels or similar one + English or French speaking guide + Entrance fee to indicated sights + Meals as indicated : B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner + Water puppet show + Cyclo trip + Domestic flight Nha Trang - Danang, Hue - Hanoi + Boat trip in Mekong Delta, Nha Trang , Hue, Halong Bay and Perfume Pagoda EXCLUSIONS: Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room supplement, personal expenses, travel insurance, visa, flight in / out of Vietnam, any optional additional tours or activities during free time, surcharge for peak season, local holiday days and gala dinner
TRIP NOTES
-VIETNAM IS A DEVELOPPING COUNTRY WHOSE INFRASTRUCTURE MAY DIFFER FROM WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR HOME LAND. THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE POOR IN CERTAIN AREAS.
-THE ITINERARY IS CORRECTED AT THE TIME OF VIEWING. OCCASIONALLY, THE PROGRAMME CHANGES AS WE MAKE IMPROVEMENT STEMING FROM OUR PAST TRAVELLERS' COMMENTS AND OUR OWN RESEARCH OR DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THIS INCLUDES FESTIVAL, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, WEATHER AND FLIGHT DELAY,.. THAT MAY EFFECT THE ITINERARY.
-THE TRIP INCLUDES SOME MEALS AS MENTIONED AT THE ITINERARY HOWEVER OUR GUIDE WILL BE ON HAND TO ADVISE YOU AS FAR THE AVAILABLE RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY LOCAL FOOD AT YOUR OWN BUDGET. THE MEAL COST IS ALL DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE OF EATING PLACE. THE PACKAGE TOUR WITH FULL BOARD MEAL IS ARRANGED UPON REQUEST .
-THE DRESS STANDARDS ARE CONSERVATIVE THROUGHOUT ASIA. LOOSE , LIGHTWEIGHT, LONG CLOTHING ARE ALL RESPECTFUL AND COOL IN ASIAN HOT CLIMATE. IN ADDITION TO YOUR ITEMS OF PERSONAL CLOTHING, WE SUGGEST YOU TO BRING TRAINER OR SNEAKER SHOES, JACKET FOR COLD WEATHER, TORCH/FLASH LIGHT, HAT, RAIN COAT FOR WET SEASON, SUN CREAM, SUNGLASSES, DAYPACK, TOILETRIES AND SMALL TOWER, INSECT REPELLENT.
