Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Arrive this morning in Hanoi , Vietnam 's capital for nearly 1000 years. Historical emphasis on the arts and learning stipulates that buildings in Hanoi remain small, simple and in harmony with nature. You are met at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Afternoon is at leisure. Evening enjoy a welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi .
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the preserved body of "Uncle Ho" may be viewed, his nearby house, the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and a couple of museums. Following lunch at Indochine restaurant, enjoy a one-hour cyclo ride around the Old Quarter. Evening enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.enjoy the famous Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi .
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
7: 30 - 8: 30 Shuttle bus pick you up at your hotel, for the 3.5 hr (165km) drive to Halong City. 12: 00 Board Halong Phoenix Cruiser. Lunch is served with a welcome drink while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape. You will see Dog Rock, Incense Burner Rock, as well as Fighting Cock Rock before heading to Sung Sot Cave ( Cave of Surprises ). Later we stop at a floating house owned by fishermen before kayaking to Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay. After returning to the boat a fresh fruit platter will be served, and we will anchor in a safe and scenic location for swimming and our overnight stay. Dinner is served onboard and then you have free time to listen to music, join in Karaoke singing or relax under the stars.
Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B, L)
7: 30 Breakfast will be served on the boat, before cruising to another part of Halong Bay where you will view more of the bays spectacular limestone scenery, such as Drum Cave, Man's Head Islet, Turtle Islet and Fairman's Cave. The junk then heads to Van Gia fishing village- one of the oldest and largest floating villages in Halong Bay. You will have the opportunity to understand more about the fishermen's daily life, before cruising to a beautiful, secluded spot to swim.
11: 30 The boat returns to the dock for lunch in an A/C restaurant before returning to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi - Ancient Capital Hue (B, L)
Transfer to airport for flight to Hue . Upon arrival in Hue in the morning you are warmly welcome and transfer directly to hotel. This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City , the Imperial Museum and the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue .
Day 6: Hue – Ancient town Hoian (B, L)
Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising romantic Perfume River . This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Setting in the converge of rivers, and gives you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda which is considered the unofficial symbol of Hue , and Buddhism Centre in Centre Vietnam . From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. We will enjoy lunch on boat before getting out the Dragon boat. Leave the world Heritage Hue to Hoian, We will travel over the Hai Van pass.
Once in Hoi An we visit one school in Hoi An before check in our hotel and have some free time to explore. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 7: Hoian Ancient town (B, L)
We enjoy a half day orientation tour of Hoian including the Chinese Assembly Halls, the Japanese Covered Bridge , Phuc Kien Pagoda and Tan Ky House. Following the tour there will be free time to shopping or relaxing. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoian – Danang – Ho Chi Minh city (B, L)
Leave Hoian we make the 60 minute drive from Hoi An to Danang Airport . From Danang we take the one-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City , where we transfer directly to our centrally located hotel. We embark on a city tour of Saigon including The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, Remnant War Museum , Giac Lam Pagoda, China town with ancient pagodas and temples, and bustling Binh Tay Market. Overnight in Hochiminh city.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh city - Cu Chi tunnels (B, L)
In the morning visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like.
Afternoon city touring Hochiminh city, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum . Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street , the city's upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Try the south's strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi (baguette sandwich). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh city - Mekong Delta Excursion (B, L)
We leave Saigon to lush My Tho where we take a private boat to through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch in bonsai garden in the heart of Mekong , complete with tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden before heading back to Hochiminh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Riep (B, L)
Free. At leisure. In the afternoon transfer to airport for flight to Siem Riep in Northern Cambodia, your base for visiting the fabulous ancient sites of Angkor, one of the wonders of world. The grandeur of this bygone civilization is truly astounding. Enjoy your two nights stay at hotel. See Angkor Thom, or " Great City ," which is in some ways even more spectacular than colossal Angkor Wat, as it had nearly disappeared into the jungle.
Warmly welcome at Siem Reap International airport, you are met and transfer to your comfortable hotel for check in. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 12: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (B, L)
The tour start with the visiting to the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. After that, visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sun set view form Bakheng hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 13: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (B, L)
Exploration of this mysterious region begins with the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat and surrounding sites, one of the world's most impressive ruins. We embark on elephant ride from South Gate of Angkor Thom into jungle of archeological area to the famous Bayon temple – a unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, Baphoun, the Terrace of Temple, Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon we continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers, Pre Rup, East Mebon, Krovan, Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei and Ta Keo. Dinner and enjoy watching Khmer Folk of charming Apsara dance show at local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 14: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (B, L)
Visit Banteay Srei temple nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carvings, visit Banteay Samre. We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake . Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals, visit the school of the "Les Artisans d'Angkor". Free in the afternoon. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 15: Siem Reap - Departure (B)
Free until transfer to Siem Reap International airport departure flight.
End of services. Our staff will give you the warmest goodbye and hope to see you again. |
