Thanks for your mails. Sorry I intended to reply to you earlier but have been too busy lately with work starting and it's very busy at the beginning of the new school year (I work in an international school).
I want to reply to you with a bit more detailed feedback but I cannot do that now as I am at work. I will try to do this soon.
But I can already say we were very happy with the whole trip and your assistance! We love your country.
I will get back to you as soon ad I can.
Detailed Program
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Day 1: 24th July 2016: Hanoi arrival:
Upon arrival at National Airport at 17:55/ SQ 5254, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to hotel for check in. Today, you are free at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: 25th July 2016: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we depart to Halong Bay, passing beautiful scenery along the way full of lush rice paddies and winding rivers, typical of the Red River Delta. We 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 3: 26th July 2016: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, Brunch)
Enjoy breakfast and savor the incredible sunrise from the sundeck while the boat sails to Luon Cave and one of Halong’s floating villages then back to the harbor. Then transfer back to Hanoi. Enjoy a water puppet show to wrap up your day. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: 27th July 2016: Hanoi city- flight Hue: (B)
We will then visit the Temple of Literature, a temple built in honor of Confucius in 1070, and served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam founded in 1076. This temple and its beautiful garden provide an opportunity to learn more about the Mandarin education that has shaped Vietnam for 1000 years and to relax in this tranquil setting and Tran Quoc pagoda - the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. The afternoon is spent exploring the alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple or the Jade Mountain Temple situated in the heart of .Then you will be brought to the airport for the flight to Hue VN1543- 16:30/ 17:40 . Overnight in Hue.
Day 5: 28th July 2016: Hue – Thuy Bieu cooking class (B)
Our driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hue at 8:00am for visiting Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with three ramparts and 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. Then transfer to Toa Kham wharf then we take a boat trip to visit Dong Ba market to see local purchase for daily life. Leave market we head to Thien Mu pagoda - the symbol of Hue city. After visiting the pagoda we take a cruise to Thuy Bieu village – famous for Thanh Tra fruit.
Arrive Thuy Bieu, a nice walking or biking around village.
• Visit local garden, old ancestral temple and communicate with local people.
• Visit incense making family to discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm.
Come back to Thuy Bieu restaurant for cooking class, you will prepare lunch by yourself with our chief’s instruction.
Have lunch with Hue traditional dishes you have just cooked.
Relax by soaking your foot in herbal water – a traditional therapeutic practice.
Enjoy excellent massage by blind people. Back to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 6: 29th July 2016: Hue – Danang – Hoian (B)
We then visit the Tomb of Emperor TuDuc, 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 We will drive along 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 arriving in Hoi An in the afternoon. We will be spent exploring 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, and the old house of Tan Ky. Check into the hotel for the night.
Day 7: 30th July 2016: Hoian – Danang – Saigon (B, D):
At 7h00, transfer to Danang airport for flights to Ho Chi Minh City VN 109- 09:35- 11:05 , formerly known as Saigon or “Pearl of the Far East”. We will spend a day visiting the city situated on the banks of the Saigon River, famous for its wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings. The must-visit list includes: Ton Duc Thang and Nguyen Hue Avenue, the Reunification Palace or Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral built in 1877 and the Central Post Office. The tour concludes with a visit to and optional shopping spree at Ben Thanh Market, the busiest business centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Tonight, join us for dinner aboard the cruise to live an unforgettable night sailing along the Saigon River and admiring the beautiful Ho Chi Minh City at night. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: 31th July 2016: Saigon – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B, L):
Leaving the bustling city of Saigon behind, we will depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. We will arrive at Hung Vuong Pier in Ben Tre and embark our boat to cruise along Ben Tre River, a tributary of the great Mekong, to explore the local lifestyle and the daily hustle and bustle. We will stop at the brickfield belonging to Mr. Tu Lo to see how bricks are made by hand in Vietnam and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal to witness the process of making this local candy and other souvenirs. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow amply in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or cycle through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up the atmosphere and relax in the tranquil countryside. The afternoon begins with a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways shaded by two rows of palm trees. We then cruise back to the pier and disembark. Transfer to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 9: 1st August 2016: Can Tho –Cai Be- Saigon- fly Siem Reap (B, L):
At 7 am we take an early morning boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. This is the best time to visit the market, as it is crowded with hundreds of sampans that offer fruit, vegetables, plants, food and other goods for trade. This is the perfect opportunity to take photos, communicate with locals and taste fresh tropical fruit at Mr Ba Cong’ house. Leave the market, and return to Saigon. On the way back, we will stop at an old Binh Thuy house 5kms from Can Tho city and stop at Cai Be for lunch, visit Ba Kiet ’s ancient house which was built 150 years ago. Then you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap VN 815- 19:35 / 20:35 . Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap
Day 10: 2nd August 2016: Siem Reap – Angkor Thom – Angkor Wat – Siem Reap (B, D)
After breakfast, 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. Dinner with special Aspara dance show. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 11: 3rd August 2016: Siem Reap – Ta Prohm – Banteay Srei – Siem Reap (B)
Morning visit to the “Small Circuit” group of temples including Ta Prohm overgrown with the roots of enormous fig trees. This is one of Jayavarman VII’s first major temple projects dedicated to his mother, Thommanon built at the same time as Angkor Wat and Chau Say Tevoda Temple, Banteay Kdei surrounded by four concentric walls, Srah Srang or “The Royal Baths” which was used for bathing rituals and Ta Keo known as “The Mountain with Golden Peaks” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The afternoon we will drive to visit Banteay Srei built at the time when Khmer Empire was gaining significant power and dedicated to Hindu God Shiva. It’s a masterpiece of Khmer Art with small size, sandstone construction and ornate design. We then back to visit Banteay Samre temple in the Angkor Wat style. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 12: 4th August 2016 Siem Reap- Tonle Sap- departure (B):
In the morning you will explore Tonle Sap Lake, the largest natural lake in Indochina. You will cruise for one to two hours and visit its floating villages and discover life on the water. After disembarking you will drive back to Siem Reap through the peaceful countryside passing quaint villages with lush rice paddies and rows of palm. En route you will visit the Artisans d’Angkor established in 1992 for the purpose of training young Cambodians in reestablishing the arts of their ancestral heritage and help increase job opportunities. You will drop by some workshops to learn about the process of stone and woodcarving. The afternoon will be spent visiting Siem Reap's market for some last minute shopping and then you will be brought to the airport for your departure at 18.55 with SQ 5023. You room is available until noon only. Asiatica Travel services end at the airport.
***End of our service***