Dear Hue,
We want to thank the amazing trip you planned for us in Vietnam. Everything was great, especially we would like to thank our guide, Mr.Tran Due Thao who accompanied us in the first week.Thanks to him we learned a lot about your wonderful country.
Best regardes,
Liora
DETAILED PROGRAMME
Day 01. 31 Mar 2015 : Hanoi arrival- city tour
Arrival in Noi Bai airport at 08.30 am (Aeroflot Flight 290), you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. You will start to visit Hanoi capital with Museum of Ethnography. Then we come to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda - the oldest pagoda in Hanoi. In the afternoon, we discover 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 madarin education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago and to relax in tranquility. After that, 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. Free time for your own discovery. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 02. 01 April 2015 : Hanoi- Halong- 6 hour-excursion. Overnight at hotel (B,L) (200km, 4h driving)
Arriving at Bai Chay Pier. Check in on board of a private excursion boat. Enjoy local sea food lunch while the junk sails pass by numerous beautiful islets : Fighting Cock (Hòn Gà Chọi), Insence (Hòn Lư Hương), Dog (Hòn Chó Đá), Dug (Hòn Con Vịt)… Explore Surprise (Sửng Sốt) cave - The most famous grotto of Halong Bay. Visit Titop island- Climbing up to the top of the island, getting the whole views of the Bay or swimming at the lovely Titop’ Beach. Cruising back to the port. Arriving at pier. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Day 03. 02 April 2015 : Halong- Ninh Binh- Bai Dinh- Trang An (B) (200km, 4h driving)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart for Ninh Binh, heading to Bai Dinh pagoda and Trang an eco-tourism attraction area around noon. Arrive in Buddha Sanctuary place of Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest one in Vietnam with 500 Arhan statues. You can see a biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight. Tour guide also gives you an introduction of beliefs and religions in Vietnam. Then, leave for Trang An where you will be amazed by a beautiful boat trip in 2.5h through nearly ten cave : Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Sinh Cave… experiencing mysterious views of the so-called “Ha Long Bay in land”. Transfer to the hotel in Ninh Binh for overnight.
Day 04. 03 April 2015 : Ninh Binh- Hanoi- Night train to Lao cai (B)
In the morning, transfer to Tam Coc where you will take a boat trip in 1.5h from the pier to visit Thien Ha cave : dry one and damp one. The cruise continues until Buddha cave, Hang Ghe cave and finish at Hang Chua cave.
Note : Always in Tam Coc area, but this cruising itinerary is recommended to avoid mass tourisme.
In the afternoon, you will have a cycling tour from Tam Coc to Hoa Lu through typical limestone moutains and villages, where visit two temples dedicated to King Dinh and Le in Hoa Lu- the ancient capital of Vietnam in 10th century. Take the road to Hanoi. Evening transfer to the station where you will take the night train to Lao cai. Overnight on board of four-berth airconditioned sharing cabin.
Day 05. 04 April 2015 : Lao Cai arrival- Sapa- Y Linh Ho- Lao Chai- Ta Van- Sapa (B,L)
We arrive at about 5.30 am at Lao Cai train station. Pick-up by our local guide and driver. Transfer in our car towards Sapa. After having breakfast at a local restaurant, we will leave our luggages at hotel then begin to visit the surrounding villages of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai inhabited by Black Hmong and Ta Van village, home to the Dzay (Giay) ethnic people, located at the heart of the Muong Hoa valley. You can admire fabulous views of the valley, terraced fields and winding streams. Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
Note: ~3-4h walk
Day 06. 05 April 2015- Sunday : Sapa- Cat Cat- Ham Rong- Lao Cai- Night train to Hanoi (B,L)
In the morning, we will continue to trek downhill to Black H’mong village of Cat Cat. Stop en route at the foot of a magnificent waterfall and at an old hydroelectric plant built by the French during the colonial era in Vietnam. Then, go up to Heaven Gate in Ham Rong mountain. Pick up you then transfer
to Lao Cai station to take the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on board of four-berth airconditioned sharing cabin.
Day 07. 06 April 2015 : Hanoi arrival- Flight to Hue (B,L,D)
Upon arrival in Hanoi around 5am, you will be taken to an early check-in hotel near the station for a rest and shower.
Pick-up at your hotel at 11h30 and transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight towards Hué VN 1543 13h35/14h45 (reserved by yourselves). Transfer to hotel in Hue. You will have free time for your own discovery. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Day 08. 07 April 2015 : Hue city (B,L)
Pick-up by our driver and guide. Then drive to visit Tu Duc royal tomb - one of the most beautiful architectural constructions of Nguyen dynasty. Then, we will take a boat trip on poetic Perfume River. Stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady Pagoda) built in 1601 - the symbol of Hue city. Cruise toward Thuy Bieu eco-village, an old laid back village situated on the bank of Perfume River known for its green tea fruit orchards. Lunch in the village. The afternoon spent for walking or biking through the peacful village, visiting several communal houses, ancient temples and especially the garden- house - a typical and unique feature of Hue. After a day of walking, your foot will be refreshed by soaking in the medicinal herb water with excellent blind massage. Back to the hotel for overnight.
Day 09. 08 April 2015 : Hué- Danang- Hoian (B)
Start the day by a cyclo-tour around the streets, then continuewith the visit of Imperial City - the architectural complex inlcuding : Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace & Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh). Afternoon, drive along the Mandarin Road, a scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beachs and lust tropical forest. Visit in Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture - with many precious antique artifacts of the former Cham Kingdom on display. Transfer to Hoi An ancient town, once an important international trading port and now a charming riverside town, reflecting the combination of Chinese, Dutch, Japanese and Portuguese culture. Free time for your own visit. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 10. 09 April 2015 : Hoian city tour (B)
Walking inside the old trade center town, you will follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese street, Phung Hung old house, Hoi An market, the ancient port and Chuc Thanh pagoda – the oldest pagoda of Hoi An (1454), built with Chinese bonze. Then, our guide will accompany you to a craftsman house where you get a brief introduction to the history, form and color of lanterns, and many stages of their manufacture. You can make your own lantern and keep it as a souvenir. Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
Day 11. 10 April 2015 : Hoian- Danang- Flight to Saigon- ½ day city tour (B)
Pick-up at 07h30 then morning transfer to the aiport for the flight to Saigon VN107 09h35/10h55 (reserved by yourselves). You will be picked up by our driver and guide then transferred to the city.
Start in the afternoon the city tour by visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office, then continue 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 at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12. 11 April 2015 : Saigon- Ben Tre- Can Tho (B,L)
Leave the bustling city behind we depart to the Mekong Delta, the largest rice basket of Vietnam. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier (Ben Tre town), embark and cruise along the Ben Tre river– a tributary of Mekong River to discover the local culture and their daily activities. Stop at a brick-field belonged to Mr Tu Lo to see how Vietnamese make bricks by hand and a coconut candy workshop located along the canal to witness the process of making coconut candies. Continue rowing through the canals to visit Nhon Thanh village. Stroll around the village to enjoy the tranquility and taste fresh tropical fruit.
You will cyclo or take “xe loi” (a kind of local tuk tuk) on the small road passing green rice fileds, vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. Have lunch at a local house on the river bank.
Road to Can Tho where you will arrive in the late afternoon. Overnight in the hotel in Can Tho.
Day 13. 12 April 2015 : Can Tho- Saigon (B)
Early morning, take a boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market- the biggest and busiest floating market in Mekong Delta. This is the best time to visit the market as it is crowded with hundreds of sampans that offer fruits, vegetables, plants, food and other goods for trade. You will earn a great oppotunity to take photos, communicate with locals and taste fruits. Leave the market then drive back to Saigon. On the way back, we will stop at an old Binh Thuy house 5kms from Can Tho city and Long Dinh mat weaving village where you witness the making of a mat, a very popular item closely associated with Vietnamese culture. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 14. 13 April 2015 : Saigon departure (B)
Pick up at 08 am then transfert to take your departure flight from Saigon at 11.00 am (Aeroflot flight 293) from Saigon.
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