VIETNAM
Set Departure Tour
VIETNAM'S HIGHLIGHTS - 10 days/9 nights
| Day 1 |
: |
Arrive Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi, welcome by your
guide and transfer to hotel. The
rest of the day is at leisure.
Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in
Hanoi. (D)
|
| Day 2 |
: |
Hanoi
A Full-day city tour of Vietnam's
capital. Hanoi is a unique city with
tree - lined boulevards, French
colonial architecture, peaceful
lakes and oriental temples. The city
tour includes such sights as Ho Chi
Minh's Mausoleum and his house on
stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the
Temple of Literature, the Quanh
Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc
Pagoda on the edge of West Lake.
After lunch in town continue to the
Museum of Ethnology and end the
afternoon with a visit to the Lake
of the Restored Sword and a cyclo
tour of the Old Quarter. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3 |
: |
Hanoi-Hoa Lu -
Hanoi
A 70km drive through rural northern
Vietnam to the site of Vietnam's
first capital, Hoa Lu. After
visiting the two remaining
sanctuaries of the ancient citadel,
take a sampan on a river through the
rice paddies to the grottoes of the
sacred Tam Coc Caves. Enormous
limestone karsts jut out from the
green rice fields giving rise to
this place's other name, 'Halong on
Land'. Climb up to the Bich Dong
Pagoda, which offers a scenic view
of the surrounding countryside. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4 |
: |
Hanoi-Halong
Bay-Emeraude Cruise
Leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay.
Enjoy the journey through the rich
farmlands of the Red River Delta and
the scenery of rice fields, water
buffalo and everyday Vietnamese
village life. Arrive in Halong and
board the Emeraude, a wonderful
replica of one of the classic
steamships of the colonial era of
French Indochina. A welcome drink
will be served on the sundeck. With
37 luxurious air - conditioned
cabins, a restaurant, two bars and a
sundeck this is the ultimate Halong
Bay experience. Lunch is served on
board at 13:00. Whilst cruising on
the emerald green waters of the bay
try a traditional Vietnamese or foot
massage as an optional extra.
Another optional extra is high tea
served on the sundeck in the late
afternoon. A sunset cocktail is
served on the sundeck at 18:30
followed by a buffet dinner between
20:00 and 23:00. Overnight on board
the Emeraude. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5 |
: |
Emeraude Cruise
- Halong Bay-Hanoi Danang-Hoi An
Wake up to fresh coffee and a
wholesome breakfast before cruising
back to Halong City. Early morning
Tai Chi is an optional extra on the
sundeck from 06:00 to 07:00 before
breakfast. Arrive back at Emeraude's
private pier at 09:30 for
disembarkation. Drive back to Hanoi.
Lunch in Hanoi then free time till
transfer to Airport. Flight to
Danang and transfer to Hoi An.
Dinner in town and overnight in Hoi
An. (B,L,D) |
| Day 6 |
: |
Hoi An - Hue
Hoi An was a major Asian trading
port in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries and its
architecture and relaxed lifestyle
have changed little over the years.
Take a walking tour of the ancient
town centre to visit the former
merchants' homes, the 400 year - old
Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese
communal hall and the colourful
market. Leave Hoi An after lunch for
Hue, the former imperial capital of
Vietnam. The scenic route passes
through Danang before climbing over
the Pass of Ocean Clouds and
dropping down to the wonderfully
photogenic fishing village of Lang
Co. Arrive in Hue late in the
afternoon and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Hue. (B,L,D) |
| Day 7 |
: |
Hue
Visit the former imperial capital of
Vietnam. 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. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8 |
: |
Hue Ho Chi Minh
City (Saigon)
Transfer to Hue Airport after
breakfast for the short flight to
dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still
called Saigon by many locals.
A Full-day city tour takes in the
city's bustling Chinatown and begins
with a visit to the Thien Hau
Temple, from where you will take a
cyclo ride; the most appropriate and
unusual way to explore Cholon,
literally meaning 'big market'. The
ride will take you to the lively
Binh Tay Market. Then visit a
lacquerware factory to witness
workers continuing a Vietnamese
ancestral tradition. After lunch
visit the War Museum and the former
Presidential Palace, from there on
you will go on foot (the car will be
available at all times) to visit the
major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh
City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old
Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street
(formerly Rue Catinat), Continental
Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.
After this historical visit, enjoy
some wonderful ice cream at Fanny's,
a quaint little parlor with a French
atmosphere, before exploring the
trendy boutiques on Ton That Thiep
Street. (B,L,D) |
| Day 9 |
: |
Ho Chi Minh City
- Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City
Depart to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong
Delta. Board the Cai Be Princess
junk boat and start the tour with
the visit of the colourful Cai Be
floating market. Follow with a visit
of some locale home factories that
produce rice paste, rice pop corn
and coconut candies. Cruise then to
evergreen islands among the Mekong
River through large networks of
meandering rivers, crisscrossed with
countless arroyos. Lunch at a fruit
orchard then cruise to Vinh Long and
discover beautiful landscapes along
the river and observe the typical
Mekong Delta rural life. (B, L, D) |
| Day
10 |
: |
Depart Ho Chi
Minh City
Departure day. At leisure for
shopping until transfer to Tan Son
Nhat Airport for onward flight. (B) |
|
|
Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
