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Discover
Vietnam
12 days / 11 nights
With an abundance of cultural
treasures, great natural beauty and some of the kindest
people in the world, Vietnam offers the traveller with an
unsurpassed richness and diversity. This exciting trip that
takes us right from south to northern Vietnam in a quick
pace of 12 days , encapsulates the major highlights of this
wonderful country. What a great way to discover the heart of
Vietnam!
Itinerary
DDAY 1: ARRIVAL - HO CHI MINH
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport our guide will
accompany you to your hotel and assist you with your
checking-in. Whilst there are no activities planned for
today, your guide will be on hand to offer any advice and
assistance regarding your free time.
DAY 2: HO CHI MINH
After breakfast, we embark on a tour of the city including
Cholon, the War Remnants museum and the Reunification
Palace.
CHOLON is home to Saigon's substantial Chinese population
and also is the site for the largest market in Vietnam, the
Binh Tay market.
THE WAR REMENANTS MUSEUM has a wealth of images from the
wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled Requiem which
is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and
photographers that perished during the French and American
conflicts.
THE REUNIFICATION PLACE was the former residence of the
President of South Vietnam until April 30th 1975 when the
North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front
gates, bringing the American War to a dramatic end. Close to
the Palace some of the best examples of French colonial
architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame
Cathedral and the Central Post Office. The ornate Notre Dame
Cathedral dominates the business centre of town. Built by
the French between 1877 and 1883, the stone used to create
it was exported in its entirety from France. Next to the
cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891.
For all its French colonial history, Ho Chi Minh City is by
far and away Vietnam's most modern city. It has numerous
shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering
number of bars and this evening we will have the opportunity
to see just what the city has to offer at nighttime!. (B)
DAY 3 : HO CHI MINH - TAY NINH - CU CHI - HO CHI MINH
In the morning we have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi
tunnels. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over
200km, became legendary during the 1960's. The Cu Chi
tunnels played a vital part in the American war in that they
allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30
to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system
stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network,
parts of which were several levels deep, included
innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas,
storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals,
command centres and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels
have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a
unique experience and feel of what underground life in the
American War must have been like. The tunnels have been
widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to
enter them!) For those interested there's even the
opportunity to fire off a few rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at
the nearby rifle range.
From Cu Chi we drive to Tay Ninh, the headquarters of the
Cao Dai Sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc,
Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill. The religion is an
eclectic mix of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. The
temple's exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of
all shapes and sizes. Above the main entrance is the
all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The
interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ,
Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side. This
evening we dine Saigon style for the "Last Supper." (B)
DAY 4 : HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH
Heading out of the town we travel by roads to the Mekong
Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we
embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small
canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe
the local lifestyle close-up. The exciting excursion is
passing through the lush green vegetation before arriving on
an island. Here we have opportunities to visit some
fascinating local industries, stroll through an orchard and
taste many seasonal fruits. After feasting on a huge lunch
we return to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off along the way to see
the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Cho Lon, Saigon’s
Chinatown, which is crammed with fascinating temples and
mysterious, narrow lanes. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)
DAY 5:HO CHI MINH - DANANG - HOIAN
An early morning transfer to airport for a flight to Da Nang.
On arrival we are greeted and driven a short distance 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 visit
these sights on 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 6: HOIAN - MY SON - HUE
Upon leaving Hoian we set off on a short drive to My Son,
the holy land of the Cham people, which has recently been
recorgnized as the world heritage site. After exploring this
wondrous sight we continue our journey to Hue with stopover
at the sensational Marble Mountains and the China Beach. The
winding roads begin as we make our way up the spectacular
Hai Van Pass. At the top of the pass we stop to admire a
fantastic view north to Lang Co and south to Danang.
Arriving in Hue we see the massive citadel, containing the
Imperial City and 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. O/N in Hue.(B)
DAY 7: HUE
The beautiful riverside pagoda of Thien Mu which now becomes
the symbol of Hue, and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor
Tu Duc are not to be missed. We include these in a half day
cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of
the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the
mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of
gardens and lakes. After an impressive boat trip we enjoy 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 8: HUE - HANOI
After breakfast we explore Hue on our own until transferring
to the airport for a short flight north. Ha Noi, Vietnam's
capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an
unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking
colonial architecture. The relaxing atmosphere is also a
highlight of Hanoi. After checking into hotel, we have time
visiting the beautiful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred
temple, the picturesque West Lake and the Dong Xuan Market.
A perfect way to finish the day is to enjoy a short cyclo
excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named
after the specific goods once offered for sale at these
places. O/N in Ha Noi.(B)
DAY 9: HANOI - HALONG
This morning we enjoy a half day city tour starting with the
Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum
of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace
, the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to the complex is
the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the
foundation of Hanoi. Upon leaving this area we continue to
the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first
university and the History Museum which displays an
excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the
Vietnamese history. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its
sacred temple and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also
visited before we travel by roads to Halong Bay,, passing
through the secnic countryside. O/N in Ha Long. (B)
DAY 10: HALONG - HANOI
Today we embark on a boat for an exploration of Halong Bay.
This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a spectacular
view of the bay, which is dotted with some 3,000 limestone
islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water.
The 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. After a seafood lunch on board we return to Ha Noi,
stopping en route at Dong Trieu pottery village. We arrive
in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous
water puppets. O/N in Ha Noi. (B,L)
DAY 11: HANOI - HOA LU - TAM COC - HANOI
The capital of Vietnam from 968 AD to 1010 AD during the
Dinh and early Le Dynasties is Hoa Lu, which however has
left its legacy in the form of two small temples, each one
nearly a thousand years old. After two and half hour drive
from Hanoi we visit these remaining structures, dedicated to
the Dinh and Le Rulers, then climb 200 steps to the top of
Ma Yen mount for a fantastic view over the surrounding
areas. The next stop of our trip is Tam Coc which is
surnamed “ Inland Halong Bay”. We take a boat trip on a
river through the quiet and peaceful landscape of rice
fields surrounded by limestone formations to the grottoes of
Tam Coc. O/N in Ha Noi. (B)
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