Hו Tu
we had the best trip ever. It was very well orgenized. Thank you very much for all you done for us.
The tour guide in Cambodia in Cambodia were excellent.
I took about 3500 photo in the trip. as soon as i will make them in order i send you too.
We think that the most impressive point was Halong Bay and Siam rip.
Next week i'm going to meet 4 of my friends that are coming in January and i'm going to tell all about the trip
and of course i have already recommended your company.
we will also write about you in our web site in Israel and will highly recommended you.
wishing you all the best and when i'll have the pictures i'll send them to you.
Thanks a lot
orit
DETAILED PROGRAM
Day 01 . Wed 26 July 2017 : Hanoi arrival (BKK HAN QR0834 BKK HAN 1425 1615) (-) | Guide and driver
Arrival in Noi Bai airport at 16:15 , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 . Thu 27 July 2017 : Hanoi city tour (B) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well-documented displays of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands.
In the afternoon, we will take a walking tour around the Old Quarter, through the backstreets where small vendors set up their stalls along the road. Take a rest whilst enjoying some excellent street food including “banh my”, and “bun cha” (fresh rice noodles with grilled pork and herbs). Walk down the Old Quarter’s corners, and enjoy a cup of famous Egg Coffee at a hard-to-find café, which is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of Hanoi. Wrap up the day with the traditional water puppet show in the late afternoon
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 03 . Fri 28 July 2017 : Hanoi- Tam Coc (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning, at 8AM, our car and guide will pick you up to travel to Hoa Lu – the former capital of Vietnam, about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. On arrival, you will visit two temples, one of them dedicated to Emperor Dinh and the other in memory of Emperor Le, followed by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. After lunch time, you will visit Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills, There, you will be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the caves. After the boat trip in Tam Coc, the rest of day we will take the ox-cart along winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples and cottages, typical of Vietnamese countryside to visit Bich Dong Pagoda situated on a hillside. Overnight in hotel in Tam Coc.
Day 04 . Sat 29 July 2017 : Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, you depart to Halong Bay, passing beautiful scenery along the way full of lush rice paddies and winding rivers, typical of the Red River Delta. You will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark a classic wooden junk. Lunch will be served as the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald waters of the bay. It is also an ideal opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and refresh your soul. An experienced chef will prepare a fresh seafood dinner. Overnight on board in your private cabin.
Day 05 . Sun 30 July 2017 : Halong – Hanoi - night train to Lao Cai (B) | Guide and driver
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay you have time for an early morning dip while the sun rises, followed by breakfast on board. We will continue to sail through the bay during the morning to explore more secluded areas. The junk will stay close at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. Around midday we will return to the main harbor and return to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi. Back to Hanoi & have refreshment at a mini hotel near the train station before catching the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train (private cabin)
Day 06 . Mon 31 July 2017 : Lao Cai arrival - Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van homestay (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
We will arrive in Lao Cai around 6:00am and continue to Sapa, situated 40km from Lao Cai, by private car. After breakfast we will explore Sapa town by starting our trek through the beautiful Muong Hoa valley in Sapa. After following the road for 2km, we reach Y Linh Ho village home to Black H'mong ethnic people. We continue our walk to Lao Chai village and enjoy beautiful views of terraced rice fields along the way. The guide will prepare a simple picnic style lunch for you. After lunch, we will visit a Catholic church and explore local traditions and customs. In the afternoon, we will reach the heart of the Sapa valley, the Ta Van village home to Dzay ethnic people. Dinner and overnight at a Dzay ethnic house (private room)
Day 07 . Tue 01 August 2017 : Ta Van- Giang Ta Chai- Night train to Hanoi (B) | Guide and driver
After having breakfast in the homestay, continue your walking through lush paddy fields and bamboo forests. You can admire a beautiful waterfall. Visit Giang Ta Chai village by Red Dao and Black H’mong. Transfer to Lao Cai, stopping on the way to Ma Tra village inhabited by Black H’mong people. Upon arrival to Lao Cai station, take the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on board (private cabin)
Day 08 . Wed 02 August 2017 : Hanoi arrival - fly to Hue - Hue visit (VN1543 HAN HUI 0845 0955 booked by Asiatica) (B) | Guide and driver
You will arrive at Hanoi train station early in the morning at 5.30am. You will be picked up from the station and brought to a 2 star hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. Then our car and guide will pick you up to the airportfor flight to Hue.
On arrival to Hue, you will be transfered to hotel for check in.
The afternoon will be spent visiting Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with various beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City or Tu Cam Thanh. We then visit the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, which was built between 1864 and 1867 by 3000 soldiers and workers. It includes 50 monuments surrounded by a 1500m long wall and covers an area of 12 hectare. Take time to soak in its tranquil and relaxing setting. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Day 09 . Thu 03 August 2017 : Hue - Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Hue (B) | Guide and driver
Around 6:00am we depart from Hue to Phong Nha (160km - 3.5 hours drive). En route, we will visit the Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, a catholic church originally built in the forest near Quang Tri close to the DMZ. Several buildings in La Vang were rebuilt and destroyed during the war between North and the South Vietnam. Lunch in Dong Hoi at your own account
In the afternoon we will take a boat trip along Son River to explore the Phong Nha Cave. Of the 300 caves and grottos in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, only 20 have been surveyed. Notably, Phong Nha, is the most beautiful cave holding several records for the highest and longest cave, the longest underground river, most beautiful beaches inside a cave and the most splendid stalagmites and stalactites. These amazing natural works of art have been given beautiful names such as the "Lion", the "Fairy Caves", the "Royal Court" and the "Buddha".
Walk back to the boat, and cruise to the wharf then return to your hotel in Hue. Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 10 . Fri 04 August 2017 : Hue- Danang- Hoian (B) | Guide and driver
Morning at 8AM, drive on the Mandarin road, a scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beaches and lush tropical forest. Take some photos en route before visiting the Museum of Cham Sculptures, with many precious antique artifacts of the former Cham Kingdom on display. We then continue our drive to Hoi An’s ancient town, once an important international trading port and now a charming riverside town. Hoi An features a fantastic combination of Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Portuguese culture. Explores each, when visiting the Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese streets, old Phung Hung houses, Hoi An’s market and ancient port. On the 1st and 15th of every lunar month, Hoi An’s ancient town is lit up by hundreds of colorful lanterns, giving it an extra portion of sparkle. Enjoy the city’s transformation and stroll through this quaint, glowing fairytale town in your free time. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 11 . Sat 05 August 2017 : Hoi An free (B) |
Breakfast at hotel and then day is yours to freely explore the peaceful riverside town or relax on the beach in your own time. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 12 . Sun 06 August 2017 : Hoi An - Danang - fly to Saigon - Dalat (VN113 DAG SGN 0845 1010 booked by Asiatica) (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, at 6:30AM, you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival, take 6-hour drive to Dalat, en route you will visit Pongour waterfall regarded as one of the most beautiful and imposing falls in the West Highland with about 40 km in height and over 100 m in width, then check in hotel & free at your own leisure for relaxation. Overnight in Dalat
Day 13 . Mon 07 August 2017 : Dalat city tour (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning, you can enjoy airy space at RoBin Hill, Dalat Cable Car Station to get the panorama view of the Dalat City and enjoy the marvelous sight of the pine forested valley stretched down to the South. After taking some photos of this, an option to take the cable car descending down 300 meters with the nice view of flower, vegetable fields dotted in the pine forested valley below to visit to Tuyen Lam Lake. Surrounding by pine forest, Tuyen Lam Lake looks like a paradise with the Truc Lam Zen Monastery, at present is the biggest Zen University in Viet Nam. Please dress decently, a very quiet scenery beside it’s beautiful flower garden, which is built on the top of Phoenix Hill. On the way back to Dalat City center, we visit the Bao Dai King’s Summer Palace, the last Emperor and unique cultural lifestyle of Vietnamese through Royal decoration, the meaningful place of your Dalat trip.
In the afternoon, we continue our trip to Da Lat Flower Garden (formed in 1966) is known as the paradise of flowers with a rich collection of local and foreign flower types: roses, impatiens walleriana, chives, azaleas, bird of
paradise, hydrangeas, orchids, cactus…. You can take pictures in the colorful flower garden, walking in bonsai park, stroll along romantic lakeside, riding horse or using the swan pedal boat. If you love art work, XQ Embroidery village (XQ Historical Village) is a worthy place to see many miraculous hand made embroidery works and find out how they make those fantastic artwork, this is the head and original hand embroidered works of XQ in Vietnam, you will be surprised and admired the charming ladies working here. Keeping on visiting a giant golden statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Continuously, The Cock Church (The Cathedral of Dalat city), known with a bronze rooster was placed on the top of the tower and the European Gothic architectural style since 1931 and it is the biggest church in Dalat city which was designed and built by Frenchman. Free to enjoy the artichoke tea, jams at Dalat’s
Specialities Showroom. Overnight in Dalat
Day 14 . Tue 08 August 2017 : Dalat - Saigon - city tour (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, you will take 6-hour drive back to Saigon. On arrival, check in hotel, then visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office. The Saigon city tour then continues along Dong Khoi Street, where the Opera House and the Peoples’ Committee building, built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene, are situated. The 800 seat Opera House served as the home of the Lower House Assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. You will then visit The Reunification Palace, formerly known as Presidential Palace, which was the residence of the president of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 15 . Wed 09 August 2017 : Cu Chi tunnel - Saigon city (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, situated 70km from Saigon. The Cu Chi Tunnel system was created around 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in their combat against French occupiers. Construction and enlargement continued during American bombings and they were turned into an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon factories and field hospitals. The Cu Chi Tunnels could house up to 10,000 people who lived underground for years, getting married and raising children. During the Vietnam - American War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated as a fire free zone yet was heavily bombarded. Since 1988, two sections of the tunnels are open for visitors.
In the afternoon, you will visit the War Remnants Museum formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. This is a poignant display of the futility of war. Next on the sightseeing list is Thien Hau Pagoda located in Cho Lon, the city’s Chinatown. This pagoda is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. The most impressive features of the structure are the intricate friezes and the carved tableaus towards the front of the pagoda. The impressive incense coils inside the pagoda also make for some great photos. Another site that cannot be missed is Binh Tay Market or ‘Cho Lon’, which can be roughly translated to ‘big market’. Although the whole district lives up to its name a visit to this market really says it all. Selling everything from fake Ray Bans to dried squid, you are bound to enjoy a walk through the maze of stalls in this bustling market. your tour of Saigon will end with a visit to a lacquer ware workshop. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Note: Binh Tay market, an 88 year old structure is going under a comprehensive 365-day-restoration project starting from Nov 2016. During this renovation time, the visit will be arranged at temporary market, located on Thap Muoi Street, just opposite the existing market, with space for up to 1,077 stalls.
Day 16 . Thu 10 August 2017 : Saigon - Ben Tre - fly to Siem Reap (VN 815 SGNREP 1930 2035 booked by Asiatica) (B, L) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at your hotel at 8:30am and driven to Ben Tre. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong pier you will embark a boat to cruise on Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong River. Enjoy the lively activities on the river like fishing and water transferring. You will stop at a brick-factory, to see how bricks are made by hand in a traditional way. Your next stop is one of numerous coconut processing workshops located along the canal.
Take a bicycle-cart along a village path and stop at a farmer’s house for lunch. You then talk a walk to a mat-weaving village before embarking small rowing-boats to travel along palm tree lined waterways back to Hung Vuong pier. You return to the airport for flight to Siem Reap, stopping along the way to visit the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda. On arrival, be picked up for hotel check in. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 17 . Fri 11 August 2017 : Siemreap - Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat - Siemreap (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, at 8AM, we will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom also referred to as "Great City", the famous Bayon Temple built in the late 12th century and the Baphoun Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and Phimean Akas known as "Heavenly Palace". In the afternoon, we will tour the World Heritage site "Angkor Wat", the world's largest religious building. We continue our day with a visit to Bakheng Hill Temple and watch the sunset from the top of the hill. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 18 . Sat 12 August 2017 : Siem Reap - Kbal Spean - Banteay Srei - Siem Reap (B) | Guide and driver
We will start our day trip by visiting Kbal Spean referred to as “The river of a Thousand Lingas” which is situated 30km north of Angkor Wat, roughly a one hour drive. It closes at 3pm. We will take a forest walk and then return for lunch. We will continue from there straight to Banteay Srei, "The Citadel of Women" built at a time when the Khmer Empire was gaining significant power. Like numerous others, it is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is a masterpiece of Khmer art with its intricate, pink sandstone construction and ornate design. On the way back to Siem Reap, we will visit Srah Srang, "The Royal Bath" and Banteay Kdei, a richly decorated Buddhist temple. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 19 . Sun 13 August 2017 : Siem Reap - drive to Phnom Penh (6 hour drive) (B) | Guide and driver
Drive to Kompong Thom then transfer direct to Sambor Prei Kuk, which once served as the capital of Chenla built in the early 7th century. This is a group of temples scattered throughout the forest. Continue the drive to Phnom Penh. Arrive in Phnom Penh in the early afternoon. Check in hotel & free for your own relaxation. Overnight at hotel.
Day 20 . Mon 14 August 2017 : Phnom Penh visit (B) | Guide and driver
Breakfast at hotel. Today you will visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures - throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Then drive to visit TuolSleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison). This prison was a high school, and used as a prison by Pol Pot's security forces and became the largest center for detention and torture during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. Then visit to Killing Fields " Choeung Ek"15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in Toul Sleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (from 1975–1979). The last site is Russian Markets where you can shop for souvenirs, clothes, jewelry, silver products. Transfer back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Phnom Penh.
Day 21 . Tue 15 August 2017 : Phnom Penh departure (B) | Guide and driver
Free time for your own shopping and exploration before we bring you to the airport for your return flight. The hotel room is available until noon only. Asiatica Travel’s services end at the airport.