Dear Ms Linh Doan
Sorry for the BIG delay in answer, but since i traveled for long time, i had so many things to do , when i came back home.....
I wanted also to send you some Photos from the good time we had in beautiful Vietnam, so it took me some time, but today i finely
attached you some photos we took in Vietnam.(I have hundreds)
Let me just say that we enjoyed very much the tour in Vietnam, Ha-long Bay is amazing, Sapa and all the surrounding area are very
interesting and with magical beauty, Bac Ha was the most colorful market we have ever been. Hanoi and Ho Chi Min are very nice towns, and we found the people of Vietnam really friendly.
The guides were nice and with good knowledge.
We liked especially the guide Huang in Hanoi area, he was really nice, with lot of knowledge and helpful.
The guide Tong in the Mekong was also good, and the local guide Ta in Sapa was sweet.
We recommended this 3 guides also to Yona.
We recommended Asiatica to our friends from Eilat, Avi Kusilevitcz and one more couple. They told us that they go this days to Vietnam
and will travel with Asiatica.
Please give them the good time, as you did for us.
See attached some photos from our visit.
Thanks again
Yolanda and Michael Antal
.jpg)
DETAILED PROGRAM
Day 1. (24 September)- Saigon (Hochiminh city) – Cai Be
This day our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to our representative office in Saigon.
My colleage – Mrs. Thao will meet you and you will pay to her the balance of 2.379$.
Then you will enjoy your trip.
Pick-up: 7.30. at "Au Lac Saigon Hotel"
adress; 87-89-91 Ho Tung Mau St., District 1, District 1 - Ben Thanh Market
The morning spent for exploring Cho Lon area – Vietnam’s largest China town where you can enjoy shopping and tasting Chinese cuisine. We depart to Mekong Delta considered as the largest « rice basket» of Vietnam.
Arrive at the pier of Ben Tre, we embark on the river for a walk along the water. In addition to the beauty of the landscape, we will see scenes of daily life of local people living or working along the shore. Visit local crafts: candy factory based coconut, traditional brick oven. Then we will have the opportunity to taste locally produced honey and many tropical fruits of the region. Walk on foot or bicycle in the village through coconut groves, paddy fields, dry land crops. The afternoon will be devoted to an excursion in a small rowboat that will lead us through a maze of arroyos, the main channel of navigation of the premises, before returning to the pier.
Then go to Cai Be. Arrive at Cai Be, embark and cruise to Mekong Lodge – a charming eco resort located on the Mekong River bank. Dinner and overnight in Mekong Lodge.
Day 2. (25 September) – Cai be - Can Tho – B
Pick-up: 8h00.
Early morning boat trip to visit Cai Be floating market. Walking or cycling around Mekong Lodge and the island. Visit a fruit orchard, chatting and joining garden work with the host (watering vegetables), freely picking and tasting mango, rambutan, longan…
Boat transfer to Vinh Long harbor. Visit of one fruits garden of Vinh Long. Road to Can Tho. Visit Can Tho (Ninh Kieu) night market. Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho.
Day 3. (26 September) - Can Tho (Floating markets) – Ho Chi Minh – B
Pick-up: 6h30.
Take a boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market - the biggest and busiest floating market in Mekong Delta. At that time, the river become a labyrinth of hundreds of motor sampans filled with fruits, vegetables, plants & food jostling for sale space. It is also a good opportunity to take photos, talk with local and taste fruits.
Leave the market, we then visit Phu Chau Pagoda dated back 250 years. Back to Mekong Lodge for check out then embark for cruise to Tan Phong island to visit Ba Kiet old house built in 1924 in typical architecture of Mekong Delta region. Back to Sai Gon. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 4. (27 September) – Ho Chi Minh (city tour) Danang – Hoi An – B
(No guide)
Pick-up: 8h30.
Exploring the vibrant city situated on the banks of Saigon River famous with wide boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. Visit all must see attractions, including : Ton Duc Thang and Nguyen Hue Avenue, Reunification Palace (Ex-President Palace). Then transfer to the airport for the flight Saigon – Danang. VN 1318 16:00 17:10.
Arrive at Danang. Our driver of the central region will pick you up and transfer you to Hoi An ancient town. Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An.
Day 5. (28 September) – Hoi An, visit – Da Nang (Mandarin road) – Hue – B -L
Pick-up: 8h00.
Hoi An, 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. You can see it by your own eyes when visiting Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese street, Phung Hung old house, Hoi An market & ancient port, Phuc Thanh pagoda – the oldest pagoda of Hoi An (1454) built with Chinese bonze. (Moreover, on the 1st or 15th of every Lunar month, Hoi An ancient town will be lighted up with colorful lanterns, making it sparkling than ever).
Then drive on the Mandarin road – a scenic journey from Hoi An to Hue, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beach and lust tropical forest. Take some shots on route before visiting the Museum of Cham Sculpture - with many precious antique artifacts of the former Cham Kingdom on display. On the way, visit also marble sculpture places.
Arrive Hue and overnight at the hotel.
Lunch: Offered for customer.
Day 6. (29 September) – Visit Hue – B – L
Pick-up: 8h30.
Start our new day with the visit of Hue Imperial City - the last royal city of Vietnam.
Then, cruising to visit the iconic Thien Mu pagoda – the symbol of Hue city. Back to the boat for a scenic cruise to Thuy Bieu Village – famous for Thanh Tra fruit. Arrive Thuy Bieu, enjoy a nice walking or biking around village. - Visit the garden – house, ancient ancestral temple and communicate with local people.
Visit incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. Have lunch at local house with Hue traditional specialties. Participate to the Cooking class to know how to make good meals of this royal land.
Relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice. Enjoy excellent massage by blind people. End of this tour.
Day 7. (30 Septembe) – Hue Hanoi – visit Hanoi – B No guide
Pick-up: 7h00.
Pick-up by the driver at your hotel by driver to transfer to the airport to the flight Hue – Hanoi VN 1540 08:40 09:50.
Arrive in Hanoi. Pick-up by driver than you begin to visit Hanoi – the politic, economic and cultural capital of Vietnam. Starting with Museum of Ethnology (closed on Monday), which offers informative and well-documented display on the country’s 54 ethnic groups, include elaborate and colorful hill-tribal costumes. The display continues on to the outside garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses from the Kinh’s to the ones of the ethnic groups in Central Highlands. After that, we come to visit the Temple of Literature- a complex of the Confucius Temple built in 1070 and the first Royal National University in Vietnam built in 1076. This temple and its beautiful garden provide an opportunity to learn more about mandarin education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago and to relax in tranquility. Then pick you to the Lake Hoan Kiem.
Do by yourself: Walk around the alleys of Hanoi Old Quater, visit Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son temple or Jade Mountain temple situated in the heart of Hanoi (without driver or car). Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8. (1 October) – Hanoi – Cuc Phuong National Park - hotel Emeralda – B
Pick-up: 8h30.
After your breakfast, our driver and guide will picks you up at your hotel, then depart for Ninh Binh city towards to the South of Hanoi, it takes about 2 hours to get there(110 km). We will transfer to Cuc Phuong for visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre - a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, breeding, research, and conservation of endangered primates, and to the protection of their habitats.
Keep going into the park central, stop to discover ancient human cave, arrival central park late afternoon, free to walk around the center, sleep in with the lovely sound and smell of nature. Then transfer to Emeralda hotel for the overnight.
Day 9. (2 October) Tam Coc – Hoa Lu – B
Pick-up: 9h00
After breakfast, we drive to Tam Coc also called « Ha Long bay on land ». On the way, stop to visit Hoa Lu- the ancient capital of Viet Nam during 10th century. Arrive at Tam Coc, get in a small rowing boat to discover an outstanding karst waterscape on Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc as its name means « three caves », adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes like gemstones. On rowing, you will see the peaceful scenery of rice paddies along the river banks. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10. (3 October) – Hoa Lu - Halong Bay – B – L- D
Pick-up: 8h30.
Welcome on board and set sail through Bai Tu Long bay while seafood lunch is served. Rest your eyes on the azure waters of this magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands raise from the waves like dragons’ teeth, passing picturesque area around Mat Quy islet, Am islet. Mid-afternoon, get to Cua Van fishing village and enjoy a pleasant bamboo boat row to through the village with a museum and a school among floating homes. Visit Tien Ong cave then back on board to enjoy sunset cocktails and canapé.
Dinner is served on board. Overnight on board Jasmine boat.
Notes: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change upon weather conditions. Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number, valid visa to Vietnam for all passengers.
Day 11. (4 October) – Halong - Hanoi – night train to Lao Cai. – B
Start the day early to enjoy a Tai Chi class on top deck with an opportunity to admit the magnificent scenery of sunrise over the sea. After that, guests can choose to go to Soisim beach for swimming or join our chef for cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine art. On the way back, take deep cruise into Bai Tu Long bay, passing Peal Farm, Phao Dai islet, Tam Cung cave, Hon Xep islet , Dau +Moi temple.
Cruise back to the harbor while an a la carte brunch is served. Disembark.
An interesting Water puppet show will wrap our day with delight.
At night, transfer to Hanoi station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight in the 4 soft berths private cabin (No guide on the train).
Day 12. (5 October) – Lao Cai – Sa Pa (Lao Chai – Ta Van – Cat Cat) – B
Pick-up: 6h00.
Arrive at Lao Cai train station around 6:00 am. We then drive to Sapa.
Visit Sapa famous for its pleasant climate, picturesque scenery and vibrant ethnic markets. Walk on a steep path to Cat Cat village inhabited by H’mong ethnic group. Descend into the Muong Hoa valley to visit Lao Chai village home to Black H’Mong and Ta van village home to Dzay people. You can capture the beautiful scenery of terraced rice fields, stream winding its way through the lush hills and mountains…
Day 13: (6 October) Sapa (Ban Ho – Thanh Phu – Ta Phin) – Bac Ha – B
Pick-up: 9h00
Met up at your hotel and then transfer to Ban Ho. We will trek through the scenic valley of “Ban Ho”. This is a village of Tay ethnic minority. The Tay preserve a traditional and fairly developed agriculture with cultivation of all kinds of plants including rice, maize and sweet potato as well as seasonable fruit and vegetables. Then we continue walking to Thanh Phu village.
Visit Ta Phin, village of H'Mong and Red Dao. Transfert to Bac Ha. Overnight at hotel in Bac Ha. (Note: In Bac Ha, There’s no “very good hotel”. There’s only 2* hotels).
Day 14: (7 October) Bac Ha – Lao Cai – Train to Hanoi – B
Pick-up: 8h30.
Morning visit to Bac Ha market – the biggest ethnic in the region. Taking place every Sunday, Bac Ha market is not only a place for people selling and buying good but also the place for exchanging culture. After going market, you will have a boat trip on Chay river to Bao Nhai. This boat trip takes you around more than 1 hour. You can visit Fairy cave and the villages along the riversides on the way. Then our bus will pick you up at Bao Nhai to Lao Cai Railway Station.
Overnight in the 4 soft berths private cabin night train to Hanoi (No guide on the train).
Day 15: (8 October) Hanoi – departure
Pick-up: 4h50.
Arrival soon at Hanoi. Pick-up by guide and driver. Check-in to Hanoi Emotion for a breakfast and a shower.
Transfer to the airport at 12h00.
***End of our services***