VIETNAM
Central Vietnam Modules
CENTRAL HIGHLAND RETREAT - 4 days/3 nights
| Day 1 |
: |
Arrive Pleiku
Arrive in Pleiku, situated in the
heart of a vast mountain plateau at
a height of 785m. The rich volcanic
soil and mild weather make it good
for growing coffee and tea. There
are about 45,000 inhabitants in
Pleiku with a large number of ethnic
peoples. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Pleiku.
|
| Day 2 |
: |
Pleiku - Buon Ma
Thuot
Morning visit to Pleiphun Village of
the Jarai minority, the largest
minority group on the Central
Highlands with a population of
roughly 250,000. Animist beliefs are
still strong and the Jarai world is
peopled with spirits; the most
famous of which are the kings of
water, fire and wind, represented by
shamans who are involved in rain -
making ceremonies and other rituals.
Funeral rites are particularly
complex and expensive; after the
burial, a funeral house is built
over the grave and evocative
sculptures of people, birds and
objects from everyday life are
placed inside. In the afternoon
drive to Buon Ma Thuot through
rubber and pepper plantations.
Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot. (B) |
| Day 3 |
: |
Buon Ma Thuot -
Lak Lake - Buon Ma Thuot
Drive to Lak Lake, home of the
M'nong minority. Visit the Jun
Village and their long houses then
take a memorable elephant ride to
Lak Lake to visit Mlieng Village on
the back of your elephant. Cross the
lake with a local pirogue made from
a single tree. Enjoy a traditional
Gong music ceremony and dancing show
and drink rice wine with the locals.
Drive back to Buon Me Thuot to visit
an ethnographic museum and the
lovely Akoton Village of the Ede
minority. Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
(B) |
| Day 4 |
: |
Depart Buon Ma
Thuot
The morning is at leisure until
transfer to Buon Ma Thuot Airport
for onward flight. (B) |
HOI AN AND THE LAST IMPERIAL CITADEL - 5
days/4 nights
| Day 1 |
: |
Arrive Danang -
Hoi An
Arrive in Danang and transfer to Hoi
An Ancient Town. Overnight in Hoi
An.
|
| Day 2 |
: |
Hoi An
Hoi An was a major Asian trading
port in the 17th and 18th centuries
and its architecture and relaxed
lifestyle has changed little over
the years. Take a walking tour of
the ancient town centre to visit
former merchants' houses, the 400
year - old Japanese Covered Bridge,
a Chinese communal hall and the
colorful market. In the afternoon
take a 3 - hour cruise on the Thu
Bon River with stops at Thanh Ha
pottery village, Kim Bong
carpenters' village and the
shipbuilding yard. Overnight in Hoi
An. (B) |
| Day 3 |
: |
Hoi An - Hue
Leave Hoi An after breakfast by road
for Hue via the scenic fishing
village of Lang Co and the Pass of
Ocean Clouds. Arrive in Hue, the
former imperial capital of Vietnam
at noon. In the afternoon visit the
Imperial Citadel from where the
Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802
and 1945. Board a cyclo and ride for
an hour and thirty minutes and
explore some of the least - known
parts of the Hue Imperial Citadel.
Along the way, you take a look at
the royal lake and the citadel moat
that surrounds the wall. Today, on
top of this 27 - meter large wall,
the locals have created vegetable
gardens where you may meet someone
who will reveal to you some of the
ingredients that make Hue cuisine so
famous. In the premises of the
citadel fortification, bunkers
dating back from the Vietnam War
time contrast with the peacefulness
of the local houses sheltered away
from the bustling city. (B) |
| Day 4 |
: |
Hue
The morning involves a boat trip on
the romantically named Perfume River
for visits to Hue's best - known
religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and
the mausoleum of former emperor Minh
Mang, in a tranquil setting of
gardens and lakes. In the afternoon
visit the elaborate mausoleums of
emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In
mid - afternoon leave the center of
Hue and its historic buildings for a
bicycle ride through the rice
plantations and the bucolic
Vietnamese countryside to the Thanh
Toan Village, located eight
kilometers away. The village
shelters a covered bridge dating
back more than two centuries;
offered to the villagers by the wife
of a high ranking Mandarin. Continue
along the river with its banks
dotted with temples. At the edge of
the river banks the mothers wash
their linen while their children are
biking back home from school, many
who will be astonished to see
Westerners lost in this corner of
countryside. (B) |
| Day 5 |
: |
Departure Hue
The morning is at leisure until
transfer to Hue Airport for onward
flight. (B) |
VIETNAM'S HERITAGE ROAD - 5 days/4 nights
| Day 1 |
: |
Arrive Hue
Arrive in Hue, the former imperial
capital of Vietnam, and transfer to
hotel. Overnight in Hue.
|
| Day 2 |
: |
Hue
A boat trip on the romantically
named Perfume River visits Hue's
best - known religious site, Thien
Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of
former emperor Minh Mang, in a
tranquil setting of gardens and
lakes. In the afternoon visit the
elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu
Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial
Citadel from where the Nguyen
Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
If time permits visit one of Hue's
many garden houses or explore the
lively Dong Ba Market. In the
evening enjoy a home - cooked dinner
at the home of a local family
(groups of under 15 pax only).
Overnight in Hue. (B,D) |
| Day 3 |
: |
Hue - Danang -
Hoi An
Leave Hue after breakfast by road
for Danang via the scenic fishing
village of Lang Co and the Pass of
Ocean Clouds. Stop in Danang to
visit the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach
and the Cham Museum containing the
finest collection of Cham sculpture
in the world. On the road from
Danang to Hoi An visit five sacred
hills known as the Marble Mountains
containing doZens of Buddhist
shrines. On arrival in Hoi An
transfer to hotel. Hoi An was a
major Asian trading port in the 17th
and 18th centuries and its
architecture and relaxed lifestyle
has changed little over the years.
Take a walking tour of the ancient
town centre to visit former
merchants' houses, the 400 year -
old Japanese Covered Bridge, a
Chinese communal hall and the
colourful market. Overnight in Hoi
An. (B) |
| Day 4 |
|
Hoi An - My Son
- Tra Kieu - Hoi An
A Half-day trip to visit the capital
and religious centre of the former
Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km
southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green
valley, are doZens of red brick
towers and sanctuaries dating from
between the 7th and 13th centuries.
On the way back to Hoi An stop to
visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as
Simhapura or the Lion Citadel, the
capital of Champa between the 4th
and 8th centuries. Some of the
finest sculpture in Danang's Cham
Museum originated from here. On
returning to Hoi An, the afternoon
is free to relax perhaps browsing
for souvenirs in Hoi An's art
galleries and silk shops, or maybe
cycling to the nearby Cua Dai Beach.
Overnight in Hoi An. (B) |
| Day 5 |
|
Depart Danang
The morning is at leisure until
transfer to Danang Airport for
onward flight. (B) |
|
