This newly designed trip is packed full of variety
covering the major sights in both the north and south of Vietnam in 16
days. From the capital city of Hanoi to the tranquility of trekking in
Mai Chau and cruising in Ha Long Bay, from the historical and cultural
centers of Hue and Hoi An to the modern metropolis of Saigon, this tour
has it all. There’s even time to relax on the beaches of Nha Trang and
meander through the lush Mekong Delta
Day 01: Hanoi (Dinner)
Today is the
arrival day and a transfer will be provided from the airport to the
hotel. There are no activities planned for today but this evening we
will meet with our group leader and fellow travelers to discuss the
outlines of the tour and also to answer any questions you may have.
Following the group meeting, which usually takes one hour, we will have
dinner at one of Hanoi's many fine restaurants.
Day 02: Hanoi, thousands years of culture (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
This
morning we drive to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum
of the nations’ founder Ho Chi Minh. Here, large crowds gather to pay
their respects to the man they simply call Uncle Ho as they silently
file past his glass sarcophagus.
The complex also contains the
One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the founding of the city
in the 11th century. The pagoda, supported by a single stone pillar, is
said to resemble a lotus blossom. The Presidential Palace and Uncle
Ho's house on stilts can also be seen here. Ho Chi Minh was not
comfortable with the idea of living in a Palace, and so had the more
simple stilt house built for him.
We follow this with a walking
tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point
of the city. Legend has it that in the 15th century Emperor Le Thai To
vanquished the invading Chinese with the help of a magical sword.
Whilst rowing on the lake an enormous turtle seized the sword from his
grasp. The Emperor took this to mean that peace had returned and the
sword had been given back to its guardian spirit. In honor of the event
he renamed the lake ‘Ho Hoan Kiem’ - Lake of the Restored Sword. The
Old Quarter with its bustling streets are home to hundreds of small
thriving businesses, each street denoting its trade, such as Tin Street
or Fish Street. We walk around the exciting Don Xuan covered market,
the largest in Hanoi. Here you can buy anything from ghost money
(usually fake $100 bills!) to imitation Rolex watches.
In the
afternoon we visit the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's
oldest university, dating back to the 11th century. The temple is
dedicated to one of the worlds most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside
the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger
stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).
The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who would
later go on to become mandarins in the Emperors court. From here we
visit the impressive Museum of Ethnology, the finest museum in Vietnam.
This museum is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities, several of
which we will see on our forthcoming trek.
Day 03: Mai Chau Trek - Home of an ethnic White Thai (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
After
breakfast we depart Hanoi for Hoa Binh province and the town of Mai
Chau. This scenic drive takes around three hours. Along the way we pass
fields of tapioca and sugar cane as well as rice paddies. After lunch
in a traditional stilt house of the Thai people, we drive for one hour
to Sa Linh Village to begin our trekking. The verdant and rugged
mountain scenery combined with the colorful local population makes this
an unforgettable experience. Today we walk along gravel tracks and
small paths used by the locals. Our destination for this evening is
Hang Kia village, home of the H’mong Minority people. Here we stay
overnight as the guests of an Hmong family in a traditional long house,
situated in a picturesque valley of peach orchards.
Day 04: Mai Chau Trek - Home of an ethnic White Thai (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Today,
we get well and truly off the beaten track as we trek through tropical
rain forest, using the local tracks and passing through cornfields as
we descend in to Mai Chau Valley. Along the way we encounter the local
villagers as they go about their daily business: whether it be tilling
the fields, logging or herding buffalo. The trek usually takes around 7
hours and is quite steep in places. Lunch will be provided en route,
and if weather permitting, we will have a picnic near a babbling brook
at the foot of the valley. From here we pass through several White Thai
villages, and are sure to attract attention as this part of the country
receives very few visitors. We arrive at Van village by late afternoon
and will have time to walk around this charming little village,
enabling us to understand a little more about how the people live. The
village is home to the Thai people, and tonight we will be their guests
in one of their traditional stilt houses. There, we will be toasted as
honored guests and will be able to sample some of their homemade rice
wine.
Day 05: Mai Chau - Hai Phong (Breakfast)
This
morning we trek for a couple of hours passing through several more Thai
hamlets. We walk on the valley floor and are surrounded by rice paddies
and beautiful scenery. At the small village of Khoe we meet up with our
waiting vehicle and drive back towards Mai Chau. Lunch is again
provided in Mai Chau and there is also the chance to do a little
souvenir shopping before we continue on to Vietnam's busiest port and
third largest city, Hai Phong.
Day 06: Hai Phong - Cat Ba Island, homeland of many Vietnamese 'boat people’ (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
This
morning we stroll around Hai Phong, well known for its beautiful French
colonial architecture. On the way we visit the City Museum, Du Hang
Pagoda and the Hang Kenh Tapestry Factory.
Then at 1 p.m. we
board the local ferry to Cat Ba island, arriving at around 4:30 p.m.
This gives us the perfect opportunity to meet some locals and even try
out our Vietnamese! The rest of the day and evening are free. You may
like to explore the nearby beaches or perhaps stretch your vocal chords
in one of Cat Ba's many Karaoke bars in the evening.
Day 07: Ha Long Bay, Descending Dragon (Breakfast/Lunch)
Today
we board our own private boat for a five-hour cruise around the
secluded and majestic Halong Bay. Situated in the Gulf of Tonkin,
Halong Bay covers an area in excess of 1,500 square km. Legend has it
that a huge dragon fell to the earth, creating the natural wonder that
is Halong Bay. Indeed Halong means 'descending dragon'.
This
UNESCO listed world heritage site is the perfect place to unwind amidst
the towering limestone karsts. The islands contained within the Bay are
littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. One such cave was
believed to have stored the wooden stakes that General Tran Hung Dao
used to scupper the invading Mongol fleet in the 13th century. We have
the chance to swim in the bay's emerald waters and also visit one of
its many splendid caves.
Whilst on board our boat a wonderful
seafood lunch will be served. There will be time for another swim after
lunch, or if you prefer, you can simply laze around on deck and soak up
the sunshine. In the afternoon we drive back to Hanoi. On the journey
back to Hanoi we will stop at the Sao Do charity centre. This is a
non-governmental organization run for disabled people. In the evening
we board the famous Reunification Express for our southbound train to
Hue.
Day 08: Hue (Vietnam’s Royal Past) (Breakfast/Dinner)
We
arrive in Hue, Vietnam's former capital until 1945, in the afternoon
and transfer to our hotel. There are many things to see in this city,
regarded by many as the cultural centre of Vietnam. The Royal Tombs of
the Nguyen Emperors on the outskirts of the city are easily accessible
by bicycle. The Nguyen dynasty ruled Vietnam from 1802 until 1945 and
several of its most prominent Emperors are buried in the surrounding
countryside. One of the most impressive tombs, that of Emperor Ming
Manh, is set within a beautiful landscaped garden. It is said that it
took 13 years to find an appropriate burial site for the Emperor, and
upon arrival it's not hard to see why they eventually chose this
location. Set on the banks of the Perfume River and surrounded by
beautiful rolling hills it is a tranquil and idyllic place.
Also
not to be missed is the Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the
Forbidden Purple City, the Emperor's private residence. Both were
almost totally destroyed during the Tet Offensive of 1968, when the
Communists took the city from the South and held it for 3 weeks. The
battlements of the Citadel bear witness to the terrible fighting that
went on within its walls and are riddled with shrapnel and bullet
holes. Now thanks to UNESCO funding, much of the City is being
faithfully restored to its former glory. The Imperial City, created in
the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, has many
palaces and temples inside. You enter through the impressive Ngo Mon
Gate and continue on past the Emperor's throne room. One of the most
interesting parts of the City is the ancestral Temple dedicated to the
memory of the former Emperors. As with Vietnamese society in general,
people believe that when you die you merely go to another world and
therefore you must still be honored and looked after.
Another
important site in Hue is the Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady pagoda.
Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an
active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. One of
the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk,
Thich Quang Duc, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to
protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of
Buddhists.
Day 09: Hue - Hoi An, the charming Ancient Town (Breakfast).
Today
we continue south by road to Hoi An. The scenery en route is beautiful
as we hug the coastline of the South China Sea before winding our way
up the spectacular Hai Van pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning
views north, to Lang Co beach and south to Danang City. Once in Danang
we will stop to visit the Cham Museum. It houses the most complete
collection of Cham artifacts anywhere in the world. We continue on to
China Beach, where the American GI's used to have their R&R (Rest
and Relaxation!) and the Marble Mountains, whose five peaks represent
the five elements of the universe (water, wood, fire, metal and earth).
The largest peak, Thuy Son contains a number of caves that have become
Buddhist sanctuaries. The journey takes about 5 hours. In the afternoon
we will have our first glimpse of Hoi An with a walking tour of the old
quarter.
Day 10: Explore Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Breakfast)
Hoi
An, formerly know as Faifo to early Western merchants is a charming,
small town which can be easily explored on foot. Between the 17th and
19th centuries Hoi An was a thriving international trading port with a
large Chinese and Japanese population. Then in the second half of the
19th century the harbor began to silt up and most of the town 's
commercial interests moved to nearby Danang. More than any other place
in Vietnam, Hoi An retains the feeling of centuries past and is a
favorite with all travelers. You can spend your time walking around the
historic town soaking up the atmosphere, exploring the many Chinese
assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been
occupied by the same family for fifteen generations.
One of the
most spectacular Assembly Halls is the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, built
in 1690. The pagoda inside contains intricate statues and artwork, in
part dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and
protector of fishermen. The unofficial emblem of the town is the
Japanese Covered Bridge, which is over 400 years old. It is thought
that it was constructed in order to link the two communities. The town
is also famous for it's shops, in particular it's large number of
tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for
you here! The riverside market is always a hive of activity, especially
in the early morning when the day's catch arrives.
You might
like to take a boat ride with one of the local women across the Thu Bon
River. Perhaps you would like to hire a bicycle and head off on a
scenic ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km away, stopping along the way
at some of the neighboring villages. There's even the chance to improve
your culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing is for
sure - there is no shortage of things to do in this town!
Day 11: Nha Trang: Paradise Beach (Breakfast)
We
arrive in Nha Trang in the early morning. Our time in Nha Trang is free
for relaxing and soaking up the sun on the beautiful white sandy
beaches and swimming in the crystal clear warm waters. We have the
option to try some snorkeling or scuba diving or taking a boat trip to
the nearby islands.
Day 12: Nha Trang - Saigon (Breakfast)
Free day in Nha Trang before boarding the overnight train to Saigon.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Upon
our arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, we transfer
to our hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest and busiest city in
Vietnam with a population of 6 million people. Much of the daily life
takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and
vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath.
Don't miss
the bustling Ben Thanh Market - a fantastic place for bargains of every
kind! There are several interesting sights in Saigon. The War Remnants
Museum has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a
gallery entitled 'Requiem 'which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign
journalists and photographers who perished during the French and
American conflicts.
The Reunification Palace was the former
residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30th 1975 when
the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates,
bringing the American War to a dramatic end. Close to the Palace some
of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in
the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.
Notre
Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 and the stone used to
create it was exported in its entirety from France. Next to the
cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is
another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest
post office. For all its French colonial history though, Ho Chi Minh
City is by far and away Vietnam's most modern city. It has numerous
shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars.
In
the afternoon we have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This
network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary
during the 1960's. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the
American war in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large
rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel
system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network,
parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap
doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons
factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Today the
remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the
visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life in the
American War must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our
benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them.) For those
interested there's even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47
or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Allegedly the old wooden targets
resembled US Marines.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Cruising along the Mekong River (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
This
morning we travel by road to the small town of Cai Be in the heart of
the Mekong Delta. From here we will board our boat and take a cruise
around the tributaries of the mighty Mekong River.
On the way we
visit some local cottage industries, including the puffed-rice and rice
paper makers, bonsai nurseries and fish farms as well as exploring a
floating market. Each boat usually sells one particular item, whether
it be pumpkins, pineapples, sugar cane etc, and in order that the
customer knows where to shop, they hang that item from the highest part
of the boat. From here we head out into the Mekong River itself, a huge
expanse of water. The Mekong River begins its life in Tibet and travels
4,500 km through six countries before eventually flowing into the South
China Sea. Our lunch will be on the banks of one of the many canals
that interlace the area, and will include the very tasty 'Elephant ear
fish'. After lunch we continue to weave our way through the intricate
network of canals. The canals carry everything from human cargo to huge
rice barges and are the lifeblood of the Delta. Traveling by boat gives
you a unique perspective of life here and later we can even navigate
some of the narrower canals by small rowing boats. Tonight we will be
the guests of a local family in the heart of Vinh Long in a home stay.
Day 15: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (Lunch/Dinner)
After
a leisurely breakfast we bid farewell to our charming hosts and take
the boat to visit the cultural village near the town of Vinh Long. Here
we can see brick kilns, tofu and ceramic tile manufacture and even a
coffin-maker! From Vinh Long we transfer by road back to Ho Chi Minh
City in the afternoon. We have a couple of free hours in HCM City
before joining our tour leader for a farewell dinner tonight. Perhaps
you could take a cyclo and explore Cholon, Saigon's china town. If so,
be sure to check out the Binh Tay market; the largest market in Vietnam.
Day 16: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast)
The
tour finishes after breakfast. There will be a transfer waiting to take
you to the airport for your departure flight. End of the tour.