Highlight: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi Tunnel – Mekong Delta
Duration: 15 days
Start/end: Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Group size: from 2 pax up
Traveling time: All year around
Grade: Easy, Medium budget
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BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – City tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (overnight on junk cruise)
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi – Fly to Hue
Day 6: Hue – City tour
Day 7: Hue – Hoi An via Danang
Day 8: Hoi An – Walking tour – Cooking class
Day 9: Hoi An – Free day
Day 10: Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh city
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh city – full day city tour
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi tunnel
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh city – Vinh Long (Home-stay)
Day 14: Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh city
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city – Departure
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DETAILS ITINERARY:
Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (D)
International Flight: Your arrangement
Arrive Noi Bai Airport, we are welcomed by our driver and tour guide. Transfer to our hotel for having a rest until being picked up to a fine local restaurant for welcomed dinner. After dinner, we come back to our hotel and relax.
Day 2: Hanoi – City tour (B, L)
08:00: We met up tour guide at the lobby of the hotel, then transfer to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh museum and one pillar pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam's first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Lunch will be at K.O.T.O restaurant in Hanoi.
In the afternoon, we will visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam; Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoian as well as the difference parts the city.
After that we will take one-hour cyclo (paddle rickshaw) around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 streets names' was related to the products being sold there.
Before we go back to hotel, we will have chance enjoy the unique Water Puppet show. Hear the Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show. After the show, we then have dinner at local restaurant and transfer back to our hotel. Tonight, we are free at our leisure.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (overnight on junk cruise) (B, L, D)
08.00-8.15: Take a 3-hour scenic drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay
11.45: Arrive in Halong Tourist Wharf
12.00: Transfer to Halong Emotion Boat by tender
12.15: Welcome cocktail – cruise briefing, safety instructions
12.30: Check in the cabin
13.00: Vietnamese lunch served on board, while cruising towards Bai Tu Long Bay, passing Yen Ngua Island, Luon Cave.
16.15: Explore the mystery of Sung Sot cave. one of the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
17.12: Stop at Titop Beach, enjoy one of optional activities:
·
Available activities as:
ü Swimming at Titop Beach
ü Climbing up to Titop Peak
ü Relaxing on sundeck
ü Kayaking (require before check in Emotion Cruise)
·
Requested activities as:
ü Massage
ü Diving
18.00: Back to cruise, stop at Luom Bo Area.
19.00: Have bufffet dinner
21.00: Leisure time, enjoy the comfort in your cabin.
Optional:
· Enjoy chatting at Bar.
· Enjoy night fishing.
· Relax and spend a romantic night on Emotion Cruise
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
6-6.30: Practice Tai Chi on the Sundeck
6.30-8.00: Start your day with a light breakfast
8.15- 9h30: A fantastic cruise on the bay, passing Dinh Huong Island, Fighting Cock Island, Dog Island. Arrive in Ba Hang Floating fishing village, a peaceful village. Visit local houses, fish farms, schools and chat with friendly fisher men.
9:45: Check out
10:00- 11:00. Have brunch and clear bills.
11.30. Back to the Tourist Wharf
12.00: Departure to Ha Noi
16.00: Arrival in Ha Noi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B)
Domestic Flight: VietnamTravel Art’s Arrangement
After breakfast, we are relax until our driver and tour guide pick up and transfer us to Noi Bai Airport for taking straight flight to Hue. Reach Hue, we will be welcomed by another tour guide. Check in our hotel and relax. Free at our own leisure for exploring Hue City.
Day 6: Hue – City tour (B, L)
Hue is known as an ancient Capital city of many original historical vestiges. There are more than 100 architectural works to be extremely reflected the life of Emperors and Mandarins under Nguyen’s reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern Bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings.
Our tour starts at 08:00 in the morning at the lobby of the hotel. We will be met and transferred to the Wharf where we will cruise along the Perfume River to visit
Thien Mu Pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda), from here we will have a good view of Perfume River and surroundings. And then we take our vehicle to
Tu Duc King’s tomb, which is one of the most beautiful works of Royal Architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest.
Then we transfer back to the city for our delicious lunch at a fine local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit
the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City; and Dong Ba market. Then we are relax at hotel.
Optional Tombs visited:
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Minh Mang tomb
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Khai Dinh tomb
Day 7: Hue – Hoi An via Danang (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along scenic highway 1A. Along the way we will stop to contemplate the stunning views North, to Lang Co Beach and South to Danang city. Danang city with Cham Museum – the houses of the most complete collection if Cham Artifacts anywhere in the world; Non Nuoc Beach and the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth). We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An – Walking tour – Cooking class (B, L or D)
After breakfast, we met up at Hai Scout Café at 98, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, we have a drink for a short time then we visit Hoi An colorful market to experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
On arrival, explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.
Recipes (our food contains no MSG):
1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
5. Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
6. Food Decoration – Tomato Rose & Vietnamese Cucumber Hand Fan
* Lunch includes the above meals as well as:
Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Freshly Chopped Vegetables (not included in the demonstration)
* A vegetarian lunch can be provided on request.
• Finish at approximately 1pm – transfer back to central Hoi An.
After the class, we enjoy a walking tour around Hoi An. We will have a chance to visit Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Rest of day, we spend time for shopping or relaxing.
Day 9: Hoi An – Free day (B)
Today we are free at our leisure.
Day 10: Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh city (B)
Domestic flight: Vietnam Travel Art’s arrangement.
This morning, after breakfast, we will be ready to head to Da Nang airport for taking flight to Ho Chi Minh City – so called Saigon. Arrive Saigon, our tour guide and driver will transfer us to our hotel. We check in and relax.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh city – full day city tour (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, at 8:30 with the local tour guide & driver pick -up, we depart our hotel for firstly visit to the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. We also stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam.
Our delicious lunch will be served at a nice restaurant in the central city.
After lunch time; we continue our city tour with visits to Cho Lon market & then to Ben Thanh market- here we can experience our Vietnamese Southern daily life. After the tour is finished; we are dropped at the hotel at around 18:00.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi tunnel (B)
In the morning; start at 8:00AM with our tour guide & driver pick you up right at the hotel; we will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the "Iron Triangle" or "Iron Land". On our way there we will drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon at around 13:30 and drop back at the hotel.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh city – Vinh Long (Home-stay) (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will transfer to Cai Be to star tour tour. The program will start with a visit of Cai Be colourfull floating market cruiseing among local barges full of fruits and vegretables by the luxury boat of Mekong Travel
Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how rices paste, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn are made.
It is so interesting to visit the handicraft village where you can see how they make some special products: making rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage proof...
The best lunch will be served at local house (ancient house, orchard or bonsai garden…)
The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an apportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta..
One more thing to do in this trip is biking ! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, « monkey » bridge, real life...
Then, we visit nursery garden for you to contact the real famous farmers – Mr Tiger & his son who are very sucessful in Vietnam agriculture. We will enjoy some kinds of fruits from his garden & homemade rice wine when listening to the traditional music
The boat will take us to enthusiastic homestay. Check in, make friend with the members of the family. Walk around the village or garden, and do cooking for your diner. We enjoy diner and have cup of tea or rice wine when talking together. You can ask about the culture, people, history of this Island. They do not mind to answer some personal questions. Overnight on a stretchers (special bed) at local house
Day 14: Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh city (B)
Have a breakfast and walk along the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning
Boat trip to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beatiful potteries from clay.
We can visit Vinhlong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegretable...
The cruise will end at around 10:30 in Vinh Long town. We continue transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. Check in our hotel and relax.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city – Departure (B)
International Flight: Your arrangement
This morning, we are free at our leisure until our tour guide pick up and transfer us to Ho Chi Minh airport for our flight to home.
End of Service ./.
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ACCOMMODATION: 3 – 4 STARS
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SPECIAL OFFERED PRICE OF TOUR PACKAGE
Price is quoted in American USD dollar at the newest exchange rate
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Group size |
Price/person |
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Valid from 1 Jan - 30 Apr 2013 |
Valid from 1 May - 30 Sep 2013 |
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3 stars |
4 stars |
3 stars |
4 stars |
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2 pax |
$1,150 |
$1,475 |
$1,132 |
$1,414 |
|
3 - 5 pax |
$995 |
$1,321 |
$978 |
$1,260 |
|
6 - 8 pax |
$790 |
$1,115 |
$772 |
$1,055 |
|
9 - 12 pax |
$756 |
$1,082 |
$739 |
$1,021 |
|
Single Supplement |
$408 |
$726 |
$391 |
$726 |
Supplement for domestic flight ticket: Subject to change
Hanoi – Hue: $110/ticket/way
Danang – Ho Chi Minh city: $110/ticket/way
Airport tax included
Price note: THIS IS NET PRICE & NON COMMISSIONABLE
This is a cash price. Credit cards incur a 2.5% fee
CHILDREN POLICY
Under 2 years old: FOC for tour
From 2 to 5 years old: 50% charge for tour
From 5 to 12 years old: 75% charge for tour
Above 12 years old: 100% charge as adult
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TRIP PRICE INCLUDES:
ü English speaking guide. As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available.
ü All accommodation on twin share basis with daily breakfasts.
ü Additional meals as indicated in the itinerary with authentic Vietnamese food
ü All transfers and transports
ü Entrance fees and permits during guided time.
ü Water puppet show: 1 hour
ü Cyclo tour around the Old Quarter: 1 hour
ü Mekong Delta Cruise
ü Boat trip in Hue
ü On Halong cruise: Welcome cocktail; Entrance and sightseeing fees; English/French speaking guide onboard; Luxury cabin with Air-conditioner, private bathroom, hot water, shower, standing cabin ; All meals mentioned above (01 Lunch, 01 buffet dinner, 01 light breakfast and brunch ); Insurance onboard; Kayaking; Tax and service charges
ü For Mekong Delta tour: Boat of Mekong Travel; Fruits (on boat, at orchard); Rowing boat; Bikes; Traditional Music; Meals as indicated in the itinerary Pop-rice; Coco-candy; Tea; Sight-seeing fees
TRIP PRICE EXCLUDES:
ü Other Airfares and taxes
ü Foods and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
ü Visas and visa fees.
ü Entrance fees and permits during free time
ü Personal travel insurance (Compulsory).
ü Personal expenses such as Bar, Telephone and Laundry bills.
ü Tips and gratuities
