Thursday, November 1, 2012

Vietnam Highlights Explored in 17 days




ITINERARY:
Day 01: Good morning Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam (depending on what time you arrive). Overnight in Hanoi.
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Services included: Transfer, guide, hotel.

Day 02: Hanoi city tour, night train to Lao Cai
Depart at 8:00 am from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and residential grounds learning about his great life. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first University. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup). In the afternoon, choose from one of the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women's Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple).
In the late afternoon, take a cyclo trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi's fascinating Old Quarter. This is your chance to be in the midst of typical Hanoian life and Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show - a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you to get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would rather just spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Tour finishes at about 4:30 pm. Dinner on your own.

Services included:  Transfer, guide, entrance fee, lunch, puppet show ticket, 1 local beer, train ticket.

Day 03: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa, trek to Ta Phin (~ 10km)
The train arrives at about 6:00 am. Look for the “Eastern Sun Travel” sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will pick you up there. Take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa, about 1.5 hours. When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower, breakfast, a short rest and some last preparations before our inspiring trek.
We will then take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base. Our trek through the terraced valleys, up and down hills will take about 5 to 6 hours. We will pass rice paddies, bamboo forests, and minority villages. Lunch break along the way depending on our pace. When we arrive in Taphin village, our Dao host family will welcome us to their home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.

Services included: Transfer, guide, train ticket, entrance fee, all meals, permit, homestay.

Day 04: More in Ta Phin and back to Sapa
At the first gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join your host family in some of their morning activities like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we can take a short wander around the village or spend more time enjoying the view and company at the homestay.
You will be then supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa, check into the hotel, shower, and pause for lunch on your own. At 2:30 pm we will take an easy 5 km walk to Cat Cat village, home of Black H’mong hill tribe, and to take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Dinner and the evening on your own. Overnight in the hotel in Sapa.

Services included: Breakfast, transfer, guide, entrance fee, music show ticket, hotel.

Day 05: Sapa – night train back to Hanoi
Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. Today your guide is available to you for the whole day, although you have the entire day for free time and visiting the lively markets. Some suggestions include a visit to the orchird gardens of Dragon Mountain, or a cultural day trek to hill tribe village.
In later afternoon, depart from your hotel the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8:15 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your firrst class, shared AC soft sleeper car to Hanoi.

Services included: Transfer, guide, train ticket, breakfast, entrance fee.
Day 06: Hanoi – Ha Long, welcome on the boat
Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at around 5:00 am. Please find your way on foot back to a mini hotel near the Tran Quy Cap train station gate to have shower and a basic set menu breakfast.
Departure for Halon Bay is around 8:00 am on a shared van from your hotel. The drive takes 4 hours driving passing through the Vietnam countryside and rice paddy-life. Arriving at the port around noon, the junk's crew welcome guests on board. Check-in, enjoy a welcome drink & attend the cruise briefing. Fresh, local seafood lunch while cruising on to Bai Tu Long Bay. Stop for swimming, visit mysterious Thien Canh cave, Relax at a secluded beach, and kayak to explore the bay up close. Back on the junk to enjoy a relaxing sunset. Dinner and overnight on board.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrances fees, kayak, boat / junk, breakfast, lunch, dinner, permit, fishing gear.
Day 07: Explore the tranquil scenery in Bai Tu Long bay, back to Hanoi- Night train to Hue
Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of karst landscape. From 7:30 to 8:00 am have breakfast in the fresh air, then visit Vong Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. Meet the locals, visit a floating school & fish farms. Later take one more swim in the middle of the bay. There is ample time for the 11:45 am check-out from the cabin while cruising back. Lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to port. We will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi, arriving there around 4:00 pm.
Free time on your own until 6:00 pm, when we will pick you up from our office or your hotel for the night train to Hue. Boarding is at 7:00 pm. You will be in a shared AC soft sleeper cabin.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, boat / junk, breakfast, lunch, train ticket.

Day 08: Arrival Hue, city tour of Vietnam last feudal dynasty, boat trip
Arrival in Hue at around 10:00 am. Station pick up then transfer to your hotel to take a shower and short rest. Have a late breakfast before visiting the former Imperial Citadel. Lunch is next at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will visit the splendid royal tombs - we will choose to visit only a few of the best as we have lots to do today. After that we walk / transfer to the boat dock for our cruise on the Perfume River. Viewing the city and the tranquil villages from the vantage point is fantastic. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River, and learn more about Buddhism in Vietnam. Transfer back to your hotel at around 6:30 pm. Free time to relax. Overnight at your hotel.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, local boat, hotel.

Day 09: Hue - Vietnam cyclo, visit market. Transfer to Hoi An
After breakfast at your hotel around 9:00 am we will go on a relaxing 1 hour Vietnam cyclo ride to visit Dong Ba market. After it will be time to begin our transfer to Hoi An (about 4 hours). There is fabulous sightseeing en route and we may make stops at: Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble Mountains depending on time. Hoi An in the evening. Overnight here.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, Vietnam cyclo, hotel.
Day 10: Hoi An - Walking tour in the ancient town, easy biking to Tra Que vegetable village
The center of Vietnam has many World Heritage Sites, and Hoi An is one of them. This ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River.
At 9:00 am your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Walk around the townand visit the charming, cultural town of Hoi An. We will visit the old Tan Ky House, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, and the stylish Phuc Kien Assembly Hall.After that, we take a bicycle trip to the Hoi An countryside for more enjoyment at Tra Que vegetable village. Walk around learning about the local people's gardening ways. Back to hotel in the late afternoon. Free time to relax and discover other corners of Hoi An town on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, hotel.
Day 11: Hoian - Nha Trang
Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Danang for a noon-flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival, airport pick up then transfer to your hotel. Free to chill out on the beautiful white sand beach.

Services included: Transfer, guide, hotel, domestic flight ticket.
Day 12: Nha Trang, island boat trip
Morning pick up from hotel and transfer to the boat station (45 minutes).Hop on the shared boat and begin a day on the water. The first stop will be Tri Nguyen Aquarium. Then we will cruise to Mot Island. This is one of the best places for snorkeling in Nha Trang. Hold your breath for as long as you can and dive deep into this colourful world of fish and coral. Next stop, Coral Island for sun bathing and relaxing on the off shore beach. Lunch will be served with a selection of fresh seafood. After lunch, cruise to Tranh Island for more swimming and relaxing then boat back to Nha Trang city for around 5:00 pm. Free time in the evening and overnight at your hotel.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, local boat, hotel.

Day 13: Nha Trang - Saigon, city tour
We take an early flight this morning at 7:50 am, arriving to Saigon at 8:45 am. Transfer downtown and check-in at our hotel before our city tour of bustling Saigon starts. Visit the Binh Tay Market in Cho Lon; stopover at Thien Hau, a 150-year-old Chinese Temple; then visit a Lacquer-wares workshop as well as the Jade Emperor Pagoda. In the afternoon visit the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. We will drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, domestic flight ticket, hotel.

Day 14 Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi tunnels
Departing Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel for a morning excursion to Tay Ninh and the Great Cao Dai Temple (a place to worship a mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity). Take part in the noon mass at the temple (1 hour). Lunch in Tay Ninh.
In the afternoon we visit the Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fighting strategies during the war. Crawl through 50 to 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system if you dare. On the way back to Saigon visit a local rice paper workshops and take in views of the Vietnam countryside. We’ll drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm. Overnight at your hotel.

Services included: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel.
Day 15: Saigon to the fertile Mekong Delta (Cai Be - Can Tho)
Depart Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel. Head south to Cai Be. Upon arrival at around 10:30 am, board a boat for a journey through the Mekong's floating markets. See how river life goes on here, watch the trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Alive and exciting! Cruise through the secluded canals and cross the Mighty Mekong to an island where we will stop to enjoy fresh seasonal fruit before boating to Vinh Long. Back on the bus for our trip to Can Tho to overnight.

Services included: Transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast.
Day 16: Can Tho - Saigon
An early start for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, then we have some distance to cover. First a cruise, then a walk on a quiet country road taking in the magnificent scenery and getting a little bit closer to the locals as they go about their daily routine. In the afternoon, we head back to Saigon. We will drop you at the same hotel by 6:00 pm.

Services included:  Transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, local boat.

Day 17: Departure Saigon, Goodbye Vietnam
Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have some more time for shopping. Then we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye, and hope to see you again soon!

Services included: Transfer, breakfast.
Tour Cost In USD/ Person - Based on the category below (Applied up to 31 Dec 2012)
CATALOGUE 2-3 Pax 4-5 Pax 6-7 Pax 8-10 Pax
Superior hotels 1,789 1,478 1,175

HOTEL LIST
CITIES Standar Hotels Superior Hotels Deluxe Hotels Luxury Hotels
Sai Gon Duc Vuong Hotel Hoang Hai Long Hotel Continetal Hotel Majestic Hotel
Can Tho Xuan Mai hotel Kim Tho hotel Victoria hotel Victoria hotel - Deluxe
Nha Trang Seaview Hotel Stalet Hotel Novotel Hotel Vin Pearland Resort
Hoian Vinh Hung 3 Hotel Vinh Hung Resort Hoian Beach resort Golden Sand resort
Hue Ideal Hotel Romance Hotel Saigon Morin Hotel La Resident resort
Hanoi Sunshine Hotel Hoa Binh Hotel Silk Path Hotel Intercontinental Westlake
Halong Superior Junk Deluxe Junk Deluxe Junk Luxury Junk
Sapa FansipanView Bamboo Hotel Chau Long Hotel Victoria Sapa Hotel
Included:
+ Transportation with A/C
+ English speaking guide on tour
+ Meals mentioned above,
+ Entrance fee for sites visited
+ Boat trip in: Mekong Delta, Nha Trang, Hue and Halong Bay
+ Train tickets: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Ha Noi (Shared 4 soft sleepers with A/C) - Private cabin is request!
+ Flight ticket from Da Nang - Nha Trang ; Nha Trang  - Sai Gon
+ Hotels - shared Twin/ Double room
+ Puppet music show, Cyclo trip
+ Government tax, services charge.
Excluded:
+ Personal expenses, drinks, telephone, laundry, tips
+ Airfare, Vietnam visa, airport taxes - paying at airport check in desks.
+ Payment services charge by credit card or bank transfer
+ Other services not mentioned in the itinerary.
+ Surcharge for peak season or Gala Dinners
Note:
+ Trip can be start from Saigon or Hanoi (It is based on your arrival city and airport)
+ You can adjust the itinerary based on your interested
+ As there are some domestic flight tickets, we need you full names to check and keep the flight available in advance once you final the itinerary.
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