Itinerary in brief
DAY 1: ARRIVAL - HO CHI MINH
DAY 2: HO CHI MINH
DAY 3: HO CHI MINH - TAY NINH - CU CHI - HO CHI
MINH
DAY 4: HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI M
DAY 5:HO CHI MINH - DANANG - HOIAN
DAY 6: HOIAN - MY SON - HUE
DAY 7: HUE
DAY 8: HUE - HANOI
DAY 9: HANOI - HALONG
DAY 10: HALONG - HANOI
DAY 11: HANOI - HOA LU - TAM COC - HANOI
DAY 12: HANOI - DEPARTURE
Detail Itinerary
DAY 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)
DAY 12: HANOI - DEPARTURE
There is a free time to relax or further explore
Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi
Bai Airport for departure. (B) |