19 days/ 18 nights (AT/VN03)
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| Vietnam #1 |
DAY 1: Arrival HO CHI MINH CITY
Arrive Tan Son Nhat Airport - Ho Chi Minh City. Airport welcome by An Thai Travel guides with signboard and transfer to hotel. Dinner on floating restaurant on Sai Gon River. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (D)
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| Vietnam #2 |
DAY 2: HO CHI MINH CITY – CUCHI TUNNEL – HOCHIMINH CITY
A morning city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquerware factory and Thien Hau Pagoda in the city’s bustling Chinatown. In the afternoon, visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. (B/L/D).
DAY 3: HO CHI MINH CITY – CHAU DOC
Leave Ho Chi Minh City and head south west to Chau Doc, on the Cambodian border, deep in the Mekong Delta. Break
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| Vietnam #3 |
the journey at Sa Dec, a delta town famous for its cultivation of exotic fruit and flowers, to visit the orchards and gardens. Continue to Chau Doc and transfer to hotel on arrival. In the late afternoon drive up Sam Mountain to watch the sun set over the Cambodian border. Overnight in Chau Doc. (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #4 |
DAY 4: CHAU DOC - CAN THO
After breakfast take a boat to visit the unique farms where fish are bred in wooden cages suspended under floating houses on the river. Continue by boat to visit a village of stilt houses belonging to the Cham minority where colourful traditional textiles are woven on old wooden looms. Return to dry land in time to leave Chau Doc for Can Tho via Thot Not, 45km to the north of Can Tho. Visit the bamboo basket-making hamlet of Long Thanh before continuing to the Thot Not Stork Sanctuary. Watch from a viewing tower above the tree tops as thousands of egrets, herons and cormorants arrive to roost in the branches. Continue on to Can Tho and transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight in Can Tho. (B/L/D).
DAY 5: CAN THO – VINH LONG - HO CHI MINH CITY
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| Vietnam #5 |
Leave Can Tho after breakfast for Vinh Long. On arrival in Vinh Long take a boat trip to visit the cottage industries of Cho Cua village. Visit a ceramic tile factory, a tofu and fish sauce factory, a blacksmith’s, a roof thatcher’s and a rice husking business. Continue to Cai Be floating market by boat to visit various orchard for rambutan, ugligruit, rose apple, jackfruit, pomelo and longan on Binh Hoa Phuoc island and An Binh island north of Vinh Long, then onwards to Ho Chi Minh City by road. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #6 |
DAY 6 : HO CHI MINH CITY – DALAT
Leave Ho Chi Minh City for a scenic drive through rubber and tea plantations en route to the cooler climes of Dalat, 300km from Ho Chi Minh City. Established as a hill station at the beginning of the century, Dalat is reminiscent of an alpine town with its French chalets and pine forests. An afternoon of sightseeing in Dalat takes in the art deco former summer residence of Emperor Bao Dai, the old Dalat Railway Station, Xuan Huong Lake, the Central Market and Lam Ty Ni Pagoda where a Buddhist monk, Vien Thuc, produces his abstract paintings and writes poetry. Overnight in Dalat. (B/L/D)
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| Vietnam #7 |
DAY 7: DALAT – NHA TRANG
Leaving for Nha Trang, the road descends to the arid coastal city of Phan Rang. Break the journey here to visit the 13th century Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers perched high on a rocky hill surrounded by prickly pear cacti. After Phan Rang Highway One turns north and follows the coast past salt ponds and vivid green rice fields to Nha Trang. On arrival in Nha Trang transfer to hotel. An afternoon city tour includes the Po Nagar Cham Towers and Long Son Pagoda with its enormous white Buddha statue. Overnight in Nha Trang. (B/L/D)
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| Vietnam #8 |
DAY 8: NHA TRANG – QUY NHON
A morning boat trip on Nha Trang bay visits some of the nearby islands and there are opportunities to swim and snorkel in the clear warm waters. After a fresh seafood lunch return to shore to check out of the hotel for the scenic drive to Quy Nhon, 240km up Highway One. Transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight in Quy Nhon. (B,L,D)
DAY 9: QUY NHON – DA NANG – HOI AN
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| Vietnam #9 |
Leaving Quy Nhon after breakfast continue northwards up Highway One to Hoi An, breaking the journey to visit My Lai Massacre Memorial near to Quang Ngai. Arrive in Hoi An early in the afternoon. Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. Overnight in Hoi An. (B/L/D)
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| Vietnam #10 |
DAY 10: HOI AN – MY SON – HUE
The morning is free to browse for souvenirs in Hoi An or perhaps hire a bicycle to ride to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. Leave Hoi An early in the afternoon for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Danang before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue late afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue. (B/L/D)
DAY 11: HUE
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| Vietnam #11 |
A boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue's best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Overnight in Hue. (B/L/D)
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| Vietnam #12 |
DAY 12: HUE – HA NOI – NINH BINH – HAI PHONG
Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to Hanoi, the modern day capital of
Vietnam. Arrival Hanoi then drive to Tam Coc to visit “Halong Bay on land” – the limestone carsts seeming to grow from the rice paddy fields. Enjoy a boat ride through the winding stream, the rice fields and the spectacular scenery around Tam Coc Caves. Continue on to Hai Phong. Haiphong, Vietnam’s third largest city, on arrival in Hanoi. Haiphong still has many impressive examples of classic European colonial architecture in its town centre. An afternoon city tour along the wide boulevards includes a visit to Hang Kenh Tapestry Factory and the Du Hang Pagoda, founded over three centuries ago. Overnight in Haiphong. (B/L/D)
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| Vietnam #13 |
DAY 13: HAI PHONG – HALONG
Breakfast at hotel. Take speed boat from Hai Phong pier to Cat Ba island. Board a wooden boat for a Halong Bay cruise. Discover Halong Bay, which is listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,500 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Enjoy a relaxing 5-hour boat trip through Halong Bay, fresh seafood lunch is prepared and served on board. Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #14 |
DAY 14: HALONG – HANOI - SAPA
Visit Hoan Kiem Lake in the city of Hanoi both in spirit and in geographical location, Ngoc Son Temple reached by the bright red Sunbeam Bridge. Cyclo tour about 2 hours to visit Old Quarter with more colorful streets and Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi’s oldest and newest and biggest – it’s both a thousang years old and brand-new. Dinner at traditional local restaurant. In the evening enjoy Water- Puppet Show, one of the top attractions, exuberant and magical art form.
20:15p.m. our guide pick up at hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi train station. Overnight trip to Lao Cai in sharing comfortable sleeping compartments of Victoria Carriage (2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #15 |
DAY 15: LAO CAI - SAPA
Early morning approximately 05:30a.m, arrival at Lao Cai. Transfer to Lao Cai International Hotel for refreshment & breakfast. A 3-hour drive through scenic mountain areas brings you to Muong Khuong, a small settlement bordering China's Yunnan province. Every Sunday the otherwise sleepy town is transformed into a bustling place full with various ethnic minorities. Here, visitors can meet more of Lao Cai's colourful Flower H'mong people, plus Nung, Dzao Tuyen, Tu Di and the highly-photogenic Lo Lo. Drive back to Lao Cai for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue on winding roads up the mountains to Sapa. Overnight at Victoria Sapa Hotel. (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #16 |
DAY 16: SAPA
Full day trekking to discover Sapa, starting with a visit of Sapa Central Market. A short drive (4 km) to Sapa's farm, then 12 km trekking through rice fields, H'mong villages, bamboo forest. Arrival Ta Phin village. Lying in a hillside meadow, it is home to Red Dzao and Hmong people. Car pickup for a 6km drive back to Sapa. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the mystic rock formations of Ham Rong Mountain, its rare orchids and flowers. After a visit to the so-called “stone forest” here, trek back to Sapa. Overnight at Victoria Sapa Hotel. (B/L/D).
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| Vietnam #17 |
DAY 17: SAPA - HANOI
Depart Sapa for Coc Ly tribal market, where H'mong and Dzao minority people can be seen in their most colourful costumes. Boat trip on Chay river with picnic lunch. Trek to villages of Dzao and Tay minorities on the way. Drive back Lao Cai. Dinner and freshen up at Lao Cai International Hotel before transfer to the railway station for the overnight train to Hanoi at around 8:15 PM. Overnight on the train (Victoria Carriage, superior 4-berth compartment). (B/L/D).
DAY 18: HANOI
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| Vietnam #18 |
The train will arrival Hanoi at around 04:30 AM. Leave the train at 07:00 AM and transfer to your hotel. Visit heart-area of Hanoi with HoChiMinh Mausoleum, HoChiMinh’s House on Stilts, HoChiMinh Museum (or Ethnic Museum), Presidential Palace, Van Mieu - Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s oldest institution of higher education, dating from the 11th century, One Pillar Pagoda – was constructed in the 11th entury after a vision by Emperor Ly Thai Tong in a dream seeing Bohisattva Quan Am on a lotus, handing him a young boy…. Free at your leisure around town. (B/L/D).
DAY 19: HANOI – DEPARTURE
Breakfast. Free for your shopping until meet your guide and transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight departure. “Home sweet home”. (B)