Vietnam Venture 18-Days

Vietnam Venture (18 Days / 17 Nights)        DAY 1    ARRIVAL – HANOI (None)              On arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains              an unique old world charm and some Asia‘s most striking colonial architecture.              Overnight in Hanoi.         DAY 2    HANOI – LAO CAI (B/-/-)              After breakfast, we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder              Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this site is the One Pillar Pagoda, which origin dates back to              the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university.              In the afternoon, we will explore the Ethnology museum for general information about hill tribe groups in Vietnam then continue to the                peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and the bustling Old Quarter, a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture -              traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices.              We will see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets before having a transfer to Hanoi Railways Station for              a night train to Lao Cai.              Overnight on train (Cabin of 04 persons with air conditioning).       DAY 3    LAO CAI – BACHA – BOAT TRIP ON CHAY RIVER – SAPA (B/-/-) – SUNDAY              * Breakfast at local restaurant by the train station.              On arrival in Lao Cai, we drive uphill to the colorful Sunday Market at Bac Ha. This market attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups              including the Variegated H’mong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their old-aged cultural traditions and are recognizably              distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this colorful congregation is unique. After the market, we drive downhill to Chay              river and join a short cruise on the river if the weather permits. In the late afternoon, we drive back to Sapa and check-in your hotel.              Overnight in Sapa. DAY 4    SAPA (B/-/-)              Sapa, at an elevation of 1,500 meters, was once a hill resort of French administrators when the summer heat became unbearable.              The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of ethnic minority people are a highlight of Sapa though conditions are basic. First day in Sapa,              we will take a soft trek to Cat Cat village about 3 kilometres away from town to visit H’Mong minority people who first lived in Vietnam              at 17 & 18 century, then we walk to Ham Rong mountain for a fabulous overview of Sapa town.              Overnight in Sapa.     DAY 5    SAPA – LAO CAI – HANOI (B/-/-)              After breakfast this morning, we continue to explore Sapa with charm, visiting Lao Chai and Ta Van villages where live the H’mong and              Dzay people. We will take a drive on a beautiful landscapes leading us to these villages and heading off main road to explore…              Late afternoon return to Lao Cai train station for overnight train to Hanoi.              Overnight on train (Cabin of 04 persons with air conditioning).     DAY 6    HANOI – HALONG (B/L/D)               * Breakfast at local restaurant in Hanoi              Arriving at Hanoi Station early this morning, we are met and start our trip to explore Hanoi morning life with Tai Chi practice, flower              market, before driving to Halong bay.              12:15 Board deluxe junk, check-in registration              12:45 Start cruise              13:00 Have lunch on board              13:30 Cruise through the Wonder of Halong bay, via Dinh Huong, Ga choi, Dog, Sail islands; visit Sung Sot cave and swim at Titov beach.              17:30 Taste Vietnamese wine and view sunset              19:30 Dinner on board              21:00 Enjoy fishing and leisure    DAY 7    HALONG – HANOI (B/-/-)               7:00 Have breakfast               07:30 A morning cruise to Man’s head, Tortoise islands and visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat.               10:00 Pack, ready for check out               11:45 Arrive at Halong wharf, transfer to Hanoi.               Overnight in Hanoi.    DAY 8    HANOI – HUE (B/-/-)              After breakfast, we have free time to explore Hanoi on our own until a transfer to Noi Bai airport for a flight to Hue - Vietnam’s last feudal              capital. This small and quiet city is widely known for its magnificent architectures, pagodas and royal tombs laid in a number of small              villages and surrounding hills.              We spend this afternoon visiting Hue with the massive citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This Royal              Residence was destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins.              Overnight in Hue.     DAY 9    HUE – DANANG – HOIAN (B/-/-)              This morning we will embark a Dragon boat to visit beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda riverside which now becomes the symbol of Hue and              the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Upon leaving Hue, we drive south to Hoian, which was originally a Charm seaport but has              been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing              over the winding Hai Van pass.              A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Cham Museum in              Danang City, the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe.              Overnight in Hoian.      DAY 10    HOIAN (Meals: B)               The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence.               There are plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, Pottery Museum, 200 years               old Tan Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda and vibrant market. Today we include these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered               along the small streets and assembly halls, which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.              Overnight in Hoian.    DAY 11   HOIAN – NHA TRANG (B/-/-)               An early morning transfer to Danang airport for a short flight to Nha Trang. The fabulous sunny weather, turquoise water surrounding               a string offshore islands and white sandy beach stretching the whole length of the city make Nha Trang an ideal place for anyone seeking               an enjoyable escape.               Overnight in Nha Trang.    DAY 12    NHA TRANG (B/L/-)               We board a boat for a day trip around the coastal islands, dropping at a local fishing village to observe the island life, Mun Island for               corals view by snorkeling. Today we also have lots of time on the blue clear water swimming and snorkeling or lazing on the beach.               A seafood lunch is some enjoyment of the trip.               We arrive back in town in the mid-afternoon and visit the Long Son Pagoda and the impressive Ponagar Cham Towers, which are               overlooking the colorful fishing port.               Overnight in Nha Trang.    DAY 13    NHA TRANG – DALAT (B/-/-)                Upon leaving Nha Trang we head towards Dalat, sometimes known as a "City of Eternal Spring". The journey via famous Cam Ranh bay,                visiting Po Klong Jarai Towers represented the history culture and tradition of Charm people. At an elevation of over 1,000 meters,                the hill station of Dalat was founded in the early year of the last century for the colonials to escape the heat and chaos in Saigon.                Arriving in Dalat with a great atmosphere year-round, our tour leads us through plenty of French colonial architectures to the summer                residence of  Vietnam’s last Emperor Bao Dai who was forced to abdicate in 1945 shortly after the end of the World War II. The following                sights are the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda and Hang Nga Guesthouse known as the Crazy House with a bizarre architecture.                Overnight in Dalat.    DAY 14    DALAT – HO CHI MINH (B/-/-)                After an enjoyable visit to the busy Hoa Binh Market, we make our way downhill to Ho Chi Minh city, still called Saigon by many locals,                traveling through the many tea and coffee plantations. The drive is long, but views are fantastic. Along the way we can make stops as                we please, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. Ho Chi Minh city, contrary to its northern counterpart                which is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, is exciting with numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. The rest of the day is at                leisure.                Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.     DAY 15    HO CHI MINH – CU CHI TUNNELS – HO CHI MINH (B/-/-)                Morning time visit most attractive sightseeing’s in Ho Chi Minh City, beginning with Reunification Palace, which was the former residence                of the Southern Vietnam President until the 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 also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the best Taoist temples in                Vietnam. This afternoon we drive to Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of approximately 200km constructed by                Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were                used as a military base for the Viet Cong in the American War.               Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.   DAY 16    HO CHI MINH – CAN THO (B/-/-)                This morning we depart to explore the Mekong Delta region with a stop by Cai Be for a local traditional boat trip to visit daily life and                activities of local people who live along the river. Visit the various fascinating local cottage industries including rice paper makers,                bonsai nurseries before docking at Vinh Long and continuing to Can Tho, the largest town in the Mekong Delta, for overnight.     DAY 17    CAN THO - VINH LONG - HO CHI MINH (B/L/-)                Can Tho is famous for Cai Rang floating market where hundreds of local boats drifting on the Mekong river and sell local agriculture                products. An early wake up is required to start our boat trip before returning to hotel for breakfast. Group will head back to Ho Chi Minh                before noon time in order to meet our lunch about half way to the city.                Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.    DAY 18    HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B/-/-)                There is some free time to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh on our own before having a transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for our                departure flight.               Package price : <see price>            Hotels : <see Hotel>           Enquiry : This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it        Booking : online Booking

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 November 2009 )