Good Morning Jenny
We are back !!!
We had a truly wonderful experience in Vietnam.
The guides in Hanoi / Sapa/ Saigon had good command of the English Language and were informative and interesting.
The homestay was a wonderful experience - A very nice family that made us feel very welcome, cooked a delicious meal and with the guide translating between us ensured a great evening was had by all.
Halong Bay and the Junk cruise was a super experience - the crew, food and our cabin were very good and the scenery was breathtaking.
Jenny, thank you for your patience, listening to our requests and organizing a trip to Vietnam that suited us perfectly.
I will be passing your details to our friends who are going to be visiting Vietnam.
Warm regards
Dafna
PROGRAM DETAIL
Day 01 . Wed 09 May 2018 : Hanoi arrival (-) | Guide and driver
Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.
Flight details:
- Ms Miranda Blumenthal: KA297 @ 9:35
- Ms Dafna Budden: @17:05 from Hongkong
Accommodation: M Gallery Hotel De L'Opera***** - Grand Deluxe
Day 02 . Thu 10 May 2018 : Ha noi free (B) |
Freetime for your own activities.
1 pax: Topaz Budden (Cebu Pacific @00:30 on May 11th)
Accommodation: M Gallery Hotel De L'Opera***** - Grand Deluxe
Day 03 . Fri 11 May 2018 : Hanoi city half day - night train to Lao Cai (B) | Guide and driver
You are free in the morning, then in the afternoon, let’s start our city tour from Temple of Literature, the 1st university in Vietnam. Stop over at a residential street in Hanoi, Vietnam that a speeding train passes straight through twice a day. It is an interesting way to learn more about Vietnamese life & take impressive photos
Then continue to Ba Dinh Square - the biggest square in Hanoi where all biggest cultural, political events of the cities for taking photos of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside). Later have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake). Relax at a mini hotel until being transfered to the railway station for night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train (private 4-berth cabin)
Tour guide contact: Mr Trung - (+84) 982 610 567
Accommodation: Chapa Express Train - Hanoi - Lao Cai Deluxe
Cosiana Hotel*** - Day - Use Room
Day 04 . Sat 12 May 2018 : Lao Cai arrival - Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
Arrive to Lao Cai at 5:30AM, have breakfast then take the stunning drive to Sapa. The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass well tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a home in the village. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you will check in your homestay in Giang Ta Chai, where you have dinner & overnight there
Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
Accommodation: Ban Ta Van
Day 05 . Sun 13 May 2018 : Giang Ta Chai - Bac Ha ethnic market - night train to Hanoi (B, L) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, drive to Bac Ha by car to visit Bac Ha market. This is the biggest local ethnic market of the region and takes place every Sunday. Tribal people from surrounding villages flock here to exchange their products. Most still use horses to carry their loads, which means an early departure to get to the market in time.
If you visit Sapa during a spring weekend, you will frequently meet locals in their colorful costumes heading to the markets as this is the best time for youngsters to find a partner to marry. Spring in Sapa, especially around Tet Holiday (late January to early February), is therefore a very joyful time despite the cool temperatures. This is the season of courting, dating and weddings. Nature also contributes to the atmosphere vibrant red and white flowers blooming everywhere. It all makes for a rather unique setting.
After lunch, you will leave the colorful market behind, to follow a zigzag road along the mountain to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by Flower H'mong people. Return to Lao Cai in the late afternoon for overnight train back to Hanoi (private 4 berth cabin)
Accommodation: Chapa Express Train - Lao Cai - Hanoi Deluxe
Day 06 . Mon 14 May 2018 : Ha Noi arrival - Ha Long Bay (B, L, D) | 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. 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.
12:30: You will be taken on our tender from the wharf and make your way out onto the bay to board our luxurious craft, Signature Cruise. You will be welcome aboard and greeted with a complimentary drink. Our Crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedures session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.
13:15: As we begin to cruise through the bay a special lunch of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites will be served. Dining on a luxury junk with fine food and drinks doesn’t come much better than this.
15:00: After lunch we set sail for Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, extraordinary limestone karst landscapes. Explore Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boats to discover the interesting daily lives of its inhabitants.
16:30: Back onboard Signature Cruise Halong Bay’s main craft we will drop anchor for our overnight stay surrounded by incredible landscape.
17:30 – 18:30: Happy hour with special drink menu (Buy one get another one for free).
17:30: Our Vietnamese cooking demonstration is a great way to learn how to prepare delicious appetizers and we will guide you through the process.
19:15: Relish special Signature Dinner in restaurant.
20:45 – 12:00: Your free time to relax with an exotic cocktail or whatever takes your fancy. Our bar has a wide range or wines, beers and liquors and is always a welcome sight for guests after a day on Halong Bay. Order a specialized massage in room. Choosing with other activities boat cruise such as watch documentary movies, squid fishing or simply relax on our roof top deck under the cover of a star filled sky.
Accommodation: Cosiana Hotel*** - Day - Use Room
Signature Ha Long Cruise - Family Suite
Day 07 . Tue 15 May 2018 : Halong – Hanoi - fly to Danang - Hoi An (VN185 HAN DAD 1830 1950 by Asiatica) (B) | Guide and driver
06:30: The nicest time of the day on Halong Bay is the morning. Head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions. Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.
07:00: Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee).
7:30 – 8:30: Enjoy the last stage of your trip in Thien Canh Son cave and islets , which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Back to our main board afterwards.
09:30: check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. After a final early brunch and a last goodbye from our crew at 11:15, you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to the airport for flight to Danang.
Accommodation: Sunrise Premium Resort Hoi An***** - Ocean Deluxe
Day 08 . Wed 16 May 2018 : Hoi An walking tour & surrounding villages (B, L) | Guide and driver
08:00 Guide pick guests up at hotel, take bicycles along De Vong River to Cam An wharf.
Embark on the boat to Cua Dai sand dune, enjoy casting net show and learn how to cast net by local fisher man. Continue to Cam Thanh Water coconut village, have a brief introduction to the history there.
Take on the basket boat along the water coconut river. Fisherman will teach you how to catch the crabs (02 paxs/ boat). Divide group into 2 teams for basket boat racing and catching crabs. There will be a lovely present for winner.
Embark on the boat, enjoy the folk songs show by local people and learn how to make funny tools by water coconut leaf. Then get on board to Cam An wharf, continue to take a bicycle to Tra Que village. Have lunch and join in the daily activities with local farmer there. Back to your hotel by bicycle.
Return to Hoi An town. In the afternoon, you will be taken on a half-day walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of Hoi An’s ancient town, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese assembly halls, the 200- year old Tan Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 09 . Thu 17 May 2018 : Hoi An free (B) |
Breakfast at hotel and then day is yours to freely relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 10 . Fri 18 May 2018 : Hoi An free (B) |
Breakfast at hotel and then day is yours to freely explore the peaceful riverside town in your own time. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Day 11 . Sat 19 May 2018 : Hoi An - Danang - Saigon - Cu Chi - food tour on Vespa (Private tour) (VN117 DAD SGN 1015 1145) (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, at 8AM, you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Upon arrival, check into hotel. In the afternoon, 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 to crawl through and better understand the war.
In the evening, our experienced driver on a vintage Vespa will pick you up from your hotel, then we will bring you to our Venue, to have a welcome drink at a local bar for you have a free drink and to enjoy the panorama of Saigon. Then we bring around the City, to enjoy the landmarks of Saigon, to small alley where you see the real life of Saigonese. Our first stop for dinner is a local restaurant where we would life to introduce to you our local specialties like: Vietnamese Pancake, spring rolls...
After that, we continue our Discovery of SaiGon to local Seafood restaurant, another experience for you to taste the seafood with great ambience of the local. The trip is not done yet, the fun things is still waiting for you after. We would likle to bring to the local acoustic music Cafe to have some desert of drink, to enjoy some music perfromed by Vietnamese singers.
Our last stop before get back to the hotel will be Bar, where you can enjoy Rock music or Jazz, now you can say you experience the Saigon Night Life.
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tour guide contact: Mr Thong (+84) 988443211
Accommodation: Nikko Sai Gon***** - Deluxe
Day 12 . Sun 20 May 2018 : Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon (B, L) | Guide and driver
Leaving the bustling city of Saigon behind, you depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre and embark your boat to cruise along Ben Tre River, a tributary of the great Mekong, to explore the local lifestyle and the daily hustle and bustle. 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 walk or cycle through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of palm tree. Cruise back to the pier and disembark. Return to Saigon for the night.
Day 13 . Mon 21 May 2018 : Saigon free (B) |
Free time for your own activities.
Day 14 . Tue 22 May 2018 : Saigon departure (B) | Driver
After breakfast, free time for relaxation until being transferred to take your departure flight from Saigon (no guide). The hotel is available until noon only.
Flight details:
- For Miranda Blumenthal CX766@ 11:15 (pick up at 8AM)
- For Dafna Budden: TG551 @ 10:05 (pick up at 7AM)
- For Topaz Budden: TG551 @10:05