Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh City
Meet & Greet at Tan
Son Nhat international airport and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh
City. In the evening we have a Welcome dinner in Ho Chi Minh city,
Vietnam. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh City
We depart from the hotel in the morning and
drive southwards to the Vinh Long Province, which is situated between
two branches of the downstream Mekong River. The lusciously green and
beautiful Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It was
formed by sediments deposited by the Mekong River, one of the great
rivers of the world and known to the Vietnamese as Song Cuu Long, river
of the Nine Dragons. The Mekong originates high in the Tibetan plateau,
flowing 4500 km through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia
before it reaches Vietnam as its final gate to the South Chinese Sea. A
system of tangled river streams and canals has made the Delta a real
water world.
On arrival, we enjoy a boat trip along the
river�s narrow waterways, overhung with dense vegetation to see around
Cai Be floating market with local people selling, buying, exchanging
goods from their boats.
We will have the opportunity to walk around
to see orchards, rice paper making, and rice crisp cake producing
process, etc... For lunch, the local people will serve you the local
delicacy - an Elephant�s-Ear fish. Continue taking a boat trip through a
village to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous
natural setting of Mekong Delta region.
Stop at Vinh Long market for 30 minutes to
enjoy local business before we drive back to Ho Vi Minh City. Overnight
in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City tour - Da Nang
Built on the site of an ancient Khmer
settlement and an outpost for early pioneers in the 14th century, Ho Chi
Minh City did not begin to come into its own until the early 17th
century. The derivation of the name, Saigon, is somewhat vague and
centers on its water location. Some say that Saigon comes from the
Annamese word Thay Ngon, meaning a highly populated area near a dammed
river. Others claim that Sai Gon is a transcription of the Khymer word
Prei Kor or The Kapok Tree Forest. In any case, the city is fast
regaining its reputation as one of Asia�s most vibrant cities. The
tree-lined boulevards and French colonial architecture hearken to the
city�s recent past, while the bustling markets, changing infrastructure
and dynamism of the people look to the future.
In the
morning, we discover the city and come to visit to the Reunification
Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today
this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Inside you
can visit the private rooms of the president, the �War Room� from where
the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and, most poignantly, the
room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in 1975.
Nearby are the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between
1877 and 1883 and one of the city�s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in
form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern
Vietnam. Continue to the War Remains Museum, where you can learn a lot
about the Vietnam War
Afternoon, you are free for a walking tour
around Dong Khoi St (formerly Rue Catinat) and Le Cong Kieu St., two of
Saigon�s most famous street or just shopping in Ben Thanh market until
time transfer to airport for flight to the central coastal city of Da
Nang. Upon arrival, transfer to the ancient port town of Hoi An. Check
in and free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 4: Hoi An tours
Morning we will visit Hoian ancient town
with it�s the Japanese Covered Bridge, the different Chinese Assembly
Halls and old pagodas and especially old houses.
Before the river silted up, Hoian was one
of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for
East-West exchange and trade. From the 2nd until the 10th century, Hoian
was one of the principal Cham cities. Over the years, Indian, Dutch,
Portuguese, French, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, American, Japanese,
Filipino and Chinese ships docked in Hoi An. In the 19th century, as the
result of warfare and environmental changes, Hoian was replaced by Da
Nang as a major port. Reflecting the diversity of the traders and
missionaries that settled in the port (including the Jesuit priest Fr.
Alexander de Rhodes), the ancient architecture is a fascinating mix of
Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese. The rooftops of Hoian retain a magical
old world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese
artists. In the early 1980s, Hoian�s ancient quarter and historical
monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO
and the Polish government.
Hoian is also a wonderful town to shop for
silk and cotton cloth, especially fast tailor-made clothing. The
afternoon is free to browse for souvenirs in Hoian or perhaps hire a
bicycle to ride to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in Hoian.
Day 5: Hoi An - Da Nang - Ha Noi
In the morning we will have a short drive
to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Hanoi, the charming capital of
Vietnam. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and enjoy a lunch before
spending the half day to discover the city.
Hanoi, located at the confluence of the Red
and Duong Rivers, has come a long way from the stilt houses of the stone
and bronze age dwellers of four and five thousand years ago. Myths link
Hanoi�s origins to the center of the earth, with visions of soaring
dragons, and fears of invasions or fierce winds from the north.
Between
Chinese power struggles, peasant rebellions, invasions from warring
Mongols, the French occupation and American bombing attacks, the city
has undergone and continues to undergo tremendous growth and change.
Today�s Hanoi, �the city inside a bend of the Red River,� is a blend of
thousand-year-old temples, tube houses, neo-Parisian buildings, and new,
modern hotels and office buildings.
One of the most interesting shrines in
Hanoi is the Temple of Literature, called �Le Pagoda des Corbeaux� by
the French, because of the huge flocks of crows gathering in the mango
trees near the entrance. Built in 1070, the complex consists of five
courtyards dedicated to Confucius and the pursuit of Confucian thought
and behavior. It is here that Vietnam�s first university was founded.
You will begin the afternoon with a visit to this very popular place.
From here, you will enjoy a cyclo ride to
the Hanoi Old Quarter. Here many tiny streets join to sell a huge
diversity of products. In the old days, each street bore the name of the
product sold � �Shoe Street,� �Noodle Street,� and the like. Today, the
streets sometimes sell a variety of items, but often the names are
accurate. The Old Quarter also houses some of the most interesting art
galleries and fashion houses.
Leaving the cyclo tour, you will walk
around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city and visit Ngoc Son
pagoda. Continuing attend a performance of the Hanoi Water Puppets.It
may be a bit touristy, but it is fun and gives you a good sense of
Vietnamese mythology. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 6: Ha Noi - Halong - Ha Noi
After breakfast we cross the Red River
towards Halong city. The three-hours-drive stops en route at Hong Ngoc,
where we will have time for a drink and see local people manufacturing
different kinds of handicrafts.
On arrival Halong city we get in boat for a
fantastic cruise through Ha Long Bay (approx. 4 hours). Declared as a
World Heritage site by UNESCO, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam�s most
spectacular natural attractions. Located about 200 km from Hanoi, the
bay covers an area of more than 1500 square meters and is dotted with
thousands of limestone islands, which rises from the clear green waters
like sculptures crafted by the gods.
We will enjoy lunch with fresh sea food
while having a cool drink before leave the boat to see the Heavenly
Palace Grotto and Driftwood cave, one of the highlights around the bay.
Come back boat and return Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ha
Noi.
Day 7: Ha Noi - Departure
Free at leisure in Ha Noi until time
transfer to airport for departure or extension.
Days: | >= 5 days |
Price: | N/A |
Start from: | Ho Chi Minh City |
Name: Huong Giang tourist |
Ho Chi Minh City | Vinh Long | Da Nang | ||
Hoi An | Hanoi | Ha Long Bay |