VN - T 08: EXPLORE VIETNAM, 12 days (L)
Saigon – Hue – Danang - Hoi An – Hanoi -
Halong
Day
1 Saigon
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): meet on arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 2 Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown) - the largest of Vietnamese cities: visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, City Hall, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Pagoda.
Overnight in Saigon
SAIGON is the largest of Vietnamese
cities, with the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. There
are street markets, sidewalk cafes, and sleek new bars. The city churns and
bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless
traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is
District 5, the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cholon, which means 'Big
Market'.
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL: built between
1877 and 1883, it is set in the heart of Saigon's government quarter. It has a
neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped with iron spires. In
front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary.
CENTRAL POST OFFICE: a French-style
building with a glass canopy and iron frame, situated next to the Notre Dame
Cathedral. The structure was built between 1886 and 1891 and is by far the
largest post office in Vietnam.
CITY HALL: completed in 1908, also known as
“Hotel de Ville”, and located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard. With
its ornate gingerbread facade it looks like the town hall of a French town.
(May be viewed from the outside only).
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM: collections of
weapons and photographs from two Indochina wars are exhibited along with the
original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century.
BEN THANH MARKET: the central
market of Saigon, its surrounding streets make up one of the city's liveliest
areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average resident of
Saigon is available here.
BINH TAY MARKET: Cholon's main
marketplace, much of the business conducted here is wholesale.
THIEN HAU PAGODA: built by the
Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of the most
active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel
over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases.
Day
3 Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, excursion to
My Tho with boat trip on the Mekong - MY THO: capital of Tien Giang Province. The
economy is based on fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas,
mangoes, longans, and citrus fruit. Enjoy the boat ride on the Mekong River and
visit to an orchard on an Island with a stop at the Vinh Trang Pagoda
Overnight in Saigon
MEKONG DELTA: this is the
southern region of Vietnam, formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River.
Silt deposits extend the delta shoreline at the mouth of the river by as much
as 79m per year. The area is known as Vietnam's 'bread basket' and produces the
rice, which feeds the entire country. Visit one or two of the islands with
traditional handcrafts, bee farms, and coconut candy production.
DRAGON ISLAND: the island has
many longan orchards which can be visited and the lush, palm fringed shores of
the island are lined with wooden fishing boats.
PHOENIX ISLAND: until his
imprisonment and the consequent dispersion of his flock, the coconut Monk (Ong
Dao Dua) led a small community on this island.
VINH TRANG PAGODA: a beautiful and
well-maintained sanctuary, this is the oldest pagoda in the delta. The
charitable monks here provide a home to orphans, disabled and other needy
children.
Day
4 Saigon
– Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to
the airport for flight to Hue. Arrive in Hue, the royal city of Vietnam’ last
ruling dynasty. Transfer to the hotel after refreshment, visits the old Imperial
City, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Hall Of The Mandarins, Nine Dynastic Urns and
Forbidden Purple City.
Overnight in Hue
IMPERIAL CITY: located in the Citadel,
it was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in
Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as
towers, a library and a museum.
NGO MON GATE: the principal
entrance to the Imperial Enclosure, facing the Flag Tower. The central
passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as was
the bridge across the lotus pond.
THAI HOA PALACE: built in 1803 and
moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an
ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns.
HALL OF THE MANDARINS: these buildings,
in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies held in the Can Chanh
Reception Hall, were restored in 1977.
NINE DYNASTICN URNS: these were cast
in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiseled into the sides of the
urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign.
FORBIDDEN PURPLE CITY: this was reserved
for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed into the
compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to the royal concubines. (Today
the site is in ruins).
DONG BA MARKET: a local market
near the Imperial City
Day
5 Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, boat trip on
the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Sightseeing at the Imperial Tomb
of Emperor Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. 
Tomb of Emperor
Minh Mang:
a complex built in 1840 by King Minh Mang, known for its magnificent
architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the
most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs.
Overnight in Hue
THIEN MU PAGODA: just outside of
Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government
protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the
Austin motorcar, which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his
1963 self-immolation.
TU DUC TOMB: Emperor Tu Duc,
who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still alive
and used it for meditation, reading, and theater performances. There are
pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was
constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning
Emperor, lived a luxurious life.
KHAI DINH: this was the last monument of the
Nguyen dynasty and was constructed between 1920 and 1931. It sits magnificently
on the slopes of Chau E Mountain in Chau Village. It has a long staircase
flanked by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes.
Day
6 Hue
– Danang
After breakfast at the hotel, departure from Hue to Danang - Journey north along Highway 1 past Danang, Lang Co and the Hai Van Pass (pass of the Ocean Clouds), passing through many fruit orchards, small villages of red-tiled, you can enjoy spectacular views of sky and sea. Sightseeing in Danang, visit Cham Museum, China Beach and the Marble Mountains Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
Overnight in Danang
HAI VAN PASS: the pass crosses
over a spur of the Truong Son Mountain Range that juts into the South China
Sea. It is an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views.
LANG CO: a pretty, island-like stretch of palm-shaded
sand with a crystal-clear lagoon on one side and many km of beachfront facing
the South China Sea.
Sightseeing in Danang, China Beach and
at the Marble Mountains Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits
of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
CHAM MUSEUM: founded in 1915
by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham
sculpture is the finest in the world. Many of the sandstone carvings are
breathtaking.
CHINA BEACH: made famous in
the American TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers north
and south of the Marble Mountains. During the war, American soldiers were
airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'.
MARBLE MOUNTAINS: five stone
hillocks, once islands, made of marble. Each is said to represent one of the
five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a
number of natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the
centuries. When the Champas ruled this area, these same caves were used as
Hindu shrines.
Day
7 Danang
After breakfast at the hotel, excursion to My
Son - Journey south west of Danang to Vietnam's most important Cham site,
one of the most stunning sights in the Hoi An area.
Overnight in Danang
MY SON: considered to be Champa's
counterpart to Angkor or Bagan, the great cities of South East Asia's other
Indian-influenced civilizations. The monuments are set in a verdant valley
surrounded by hills and overlooked by the massive Cat's Tooth Mountain.
TRA KIEU: formerly known as Simhapura, it
was the first capital city of Champa, serving in that capacity from the 4th
through to the 8th century. A large number of artifacts, including some of the
finest carvings in the Cham Museum in Danang, were found here.
Day
8 Danang
- Hoi An
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Danang to Hoi An - Journey south past the Marble Mountains and small
villages. Sightseeing in Hoi An by cyclo, Hoi An is a picturesque riverside
town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of
South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th
centuries. It is best to visit some of the following sites of Hoi An by walking
around and/or by cyclo.
Overnight in Hoi An
QUAN CONG TEMPLE: founded in 1653,
the main altar is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilded statue is in
the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Stone plaques on the walls list
contributors to the contraction and repair of the temple. The temple was open
to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau – it’s a small
Chinese style temple with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals
depicted in statuary.
PHUOC KIEN PAGODA: Chinese pagoda
built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the
Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area. The temple is
dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors
and Fishermen).
JAANEASE COVERED BRIDGE: the first bridge
on this site was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of
Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. The bridge was
provided with a roof so it could be used as a shelter from rain and sun.
TRAN FAMILY CHAPEL: this house for
worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from the
family members. The Tran family traces its origins to China and moved to
Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building reflects the influence of
Chinese and Japanese styles.
SA HUYNH MUSEUM: located near the
Japanese covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of
Hoi An's history.
PHUNG HUNG HOUSE: one family has
been living here for already 8 generations. The house is a combination of
Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese style.
Day
9 Hoi
An - Danang – Hanoi
After breakfast at
the hotel, transfer from Hoi An to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Arrival
Hanoi, transfer to hotel for check in and refreshment before start sightseeing
in Hanoi (half day). Hanoi - a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public
parks, is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with French
style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia.
Overnight in Hanoi
ONE PILLAR PAGODA: built by the
Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood on a
single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom.
TEMPLE OF LITERATURE: founded in 1070
by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who dedicated it to Confucius in order to honor
scholars and men of literary accomplishment.
HOAN KIEM LAKE: right in the
heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda,
topped with a red star.
HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM: in the tradition
of Lenin and Stalin before him and Mao after him, the final resting place of Ho
Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice
that has become a site of pilgrimage. (Closed Mondays and Fridays).
OPERA HOUSE: a magnificent
900-seat opera house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the outside only).
WATER PUPPET SHOW: a fantastic art
form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water
Puppet Theater is located on the Shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 10 Hanoi
– Halong
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Hanoi via Hai Phong to Halong - Journey west along Highway 5, across Hai
Hung Province and then across two ferries from Hai Phong to Halong.
Overnight in Halong
Day
11
Halong
– Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, boat trip in
Halong Bay (4 hrs). This four-hour boat ride explores Halong Bay, passing the
islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates). Stop at one of
the islands and visit of one of the following caves.
Overnight in Hanoi
HANG DAU GO: a huge,
three-chambered cave, which is reached via 90 steps. The cave derives its
Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used
by Trang Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes used against
the Mongol invaders.
BO NAU: the
"Pelican" caves.
THIEN CUNG: "Heaven
Palace."
By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi Journey
around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west along Highway 5, across Hai Hung
Province.
Day
12 Hanoi
After breakfast at
the hotel, free time at leisure before transfer to the airport
End
of Services **Note: Itinerary
subject to change due to flight schedules.