VN - T 13: THE COLONIAL ERA, 14 days (L)
Saigon - Dalat – Nha Trang – Hoi An -
Danang - Hue - Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu
Day
1 Saigon
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): meet
on arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel and free at leisure
Overnight in Saigon
Day 2 Saigon
After breakfast, sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown)
Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, with the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, City Hall, Opera House, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Pagoda by cyclo and Giam Lam Pagoda.
Overnight in Saigon
Sightseeing in Saigon:
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.
Sightseeing in Cholon (Chinatown) by cyclo
CHOLON: this is the huge Chinese
neighborhood to the west of the city in District 5. Cholon means 'Big Market',
a good indication of the importance the Chinese have traditionally played in
Vietnam's economy.
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. 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'.
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
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.
MEKONG DELTA: this is the
southernmost 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
– Dalat
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Saigon to Dalat. Arrival in Dalat, continue sightseeing in Dalat. 
Dalat is in a
temperate region dotted with lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forests and gardens. It
is by far Vietnam's most popular honeymoon spot.
Overnight in Dalat
Sightseeing in Dalat:
XUAN HUONG LAKE: this manmade lake
is located in the center of Dalat and circumnavigated by a pedestrian path. The
majestic hilltop Palace Hotel overlooks the lake from the south.
HANG NGA ART GALLERY: nicknamed the
'Crazy House' by locals, this guesthouse, café and art gallery is run by the
gallery's designer, Mrs. Dang Viet Nga, who lived in Moscow for 14 years. The
architecture of the place is undeniably unique, with whimsical touches such as
caves, giant spider webs, and a concrete giraffe.
FRENCH DISTRICT: a small delightful
area for strolling, reminiscent of a provincial town in France.
CAM LY FALLS: the grassy areas
around the 15m-high cascades are the habitat of horses and Dalat cowboys.
DALAT CATHEDRAL: built between 1931
and 1942 for use by the French residents and holidaymakers. Inside, the
stained-glass windows bring a hint of medieval Europe to Dalat.
FLOWER GARDEN: established in
1966 by the South Vietnamese Agricultural Service and renovated in 1985.
Flowers represented include hydrangeas, fuchsias and orchids. Overnight in
Dalat. Journey northeast along Highway 20 past Bien Hoa, Bao Loc and Duc Trong.
Day
5 Dalat
After breakfast at the hotel, continue sightseeing in Dalat. Visit Cremaillere Railway, Bao Dai’s Summer Palaces, Valley Of Love and Lat Village
Overnight in Dalat
CREMAILLERE RAILWAY: a cog railway linking Dalat and Tham Cham from 1928 to 1964, until it was closed due to war. The line has now been repaired and now operates as a tourist attraction, running 8km to Trai Mat Village and back.
BAO DAI'S SUMMER PALACE: a
twenty-five-room villa constructed in 1933 and filled with artifacts from
decades and governments past. Of interest are the engraved glass map of Vietnam
given to the Emperor in 1942 by Vietnamese students in France and the
life-sized bust of Bao Dai.
VALLEY OF LOVE: named the Valley
of Peace by the Emperor, its name was changed in 1972 by romantically minded
students from Dalat University. Paddleboats, canoes and motorboats are
available for rent. Local delicacies (jams, candied fruits) are on sale here as
well. Excursion to Lat Village
LAT VILLAGE: the nine hamlets
of Lat Village (population 6000) are at the base of Lang Bian Mountain. The
ethnic groups to be found here are the Lat, Chill, Ma and Koho. The people eke
out a living growing rice, coffee, black beans and sweet potatoes. Overnight in
Dalat.
Day 6 Dalat - Nha Trang
After breakfast at the hotel, traveling by
vehicle from Dalat to Nha Trang, along the way visit Chicken Village, Phan
Rang and Cham Towers. Arrival Nha Trang, sightseeing in Nha Trang
the most beautiful municipal beaches in Vietnam and at the Seawater Aquarium
by boat
Overnight in Nha Trang
CHICKEN VILLAGE: the village
inhabitants belong to the Koho minority. The place takes its name from a huge
concrete statue of a chicken, which sits squarely in the center of the village.
PHAN RANG: a city famous for its production
of table grapes in a semi-arid region. Many of the houses on the outskirts of
town are decorated with Greek-style grape trellises.
CHAM TOWERS: the area's
best-known sight is the group of Cham towers known as Po Klong Garai. One can
see Cham towers dotted about the countryside 20km north of Phan Rang.
PO NAGAR CHAM TOWERS: built between the
7th and 12th centuries, the site was used for Hindu worship as early as the 2nd
century AD. The towers serve as the Holy See honoring Goddess Yang Ino Po
Nagar, the Goddess of the Dua clan, which ruled over the southern part of the
Cham Kingdom covering Kauthara and Pan Duranga.
OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE: founded in 1923,
it has an aquarium and specimen room open to the public. The 23 ground floor
tanks are home to a variety of colorful live marine specimens, including
seahorses.
SEAWATER AQUARIUM: Mieu Island with
an important fish-breeding farm where over 40 species of fish, crustaceans and
other marine creatures are raised in 3 separate compartments.
LANG SON PAGODA: founded in the
late 19th century, this pagoda still has resident monks today. The entrance and
roof are decorated with mosaic dragons constructed of glass and ceramic tile.
At the top of the hill behind the pagoda is the huge white Buddha seated on a
lotus blossom.
NHA TRANG CATHEDRAL: built in the
French Gothic style and complete with medieval-style stained glass windows, it
stands on a small hill overlooking the train station.
Day
7 Nha
Trang - Danang - Hoi An
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to
the airport for flight from Nha Trang to Danang. Greeting at Danang airport and
transfer to Hoi An - one of the world Heritage city in Vietnam.
Sightseeing in Hoi An to discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Known as Faifo to early western traders. Its sizable community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.
Overnight in Hoi An
It is best to visit some of the following
sites of Hoi An by walking around and/or by cyclo.
Sightseeing 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 construction 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).
JAPANESE 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
8 Hoi
An - Danang - Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, depart Hoi An
to Danang, journey south along Highway 1 past Dien Ban and Hoa Vang.
Sightseeing in Danang, China Beach and at the Marble Mountains. Afternoon,
traveling from Danang to Hue – Journey 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.
Arrive in Hue, the royal city of Vietnam’ last ruling dynasty. Transfer to
hotel
Overnight
in Hue
Sightseeing in Danang:
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
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.
Day
9 Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, take boat
trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda
Afternoon, visit Tomb Of Emperor Minh Mang, sightseeing at the Imperial Tombs of Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Hall of the Mandarins, Nine Dynastic Urns and Forbidden Purple City
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. Sightseeing in the old Imperial City
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.
HALLS 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 DYNASTIC 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). Sightseeing at the Imperial Tombs of Tu Duc and Khai
Dinh
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 Chau Village. It has a long staircase
flanked by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes.
Day
10 Hue
– Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to
Hue airport for flight from Hue to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi meet on arrival at
airport transfer for discover the old quarter by cyclo (2-3 hrs) It is also
called "36 streets," most of which are named after the crafts or
merchandise traditionally sold there.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day
11 Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, full day sightseeing in 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. Visit One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Opera House, ST Joseph Cathedral, and enjoy Water Puppet Show before transfer back to hotel for good night sleep
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).
ST JOSEPH CATHEDRAL: a neo-Gothic
cathedral finished in 1886, it is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate
altar and stained-glass windows. Visit a water puppet show
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
12 Hanoi
- Dien Bien Phu
After breakfast, transfer to the airport
for flight from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu. Arrival Dien Bien Phu meet on
arrival at airport by our local guide, transfer to hotel, free at leisure
(Relaxing walk to explore neighboring streets is recommend)
Overnight in Dien
Bien Phu
Day
13 Dien
Bien Phu
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing
at Dien Bien Phu, the site of the battle, which defeated the French and ended
their colonial control of Indochina. It is one of the most remote parts of
Vietnam in the Muong Thanh Valley and is surrounded by steep heavily forested
hills. Visit several high light places.
Overnight in Dien Bien Phu
DBP MUSEUM: The site of the
battle is now marked by this museum.
BUNKER OF DE CASTRIES: the headquarters
of this French commander have been re-created, with old French tanks and
artillery pieces nearby.
MINORITIES: the whole area is
inhabited by Montagnard people, which include the white and black Thai, Hmong,
Zao and Muong.
Day
14 Dien
Bien Phu
After breakfast at the hotel, free time at
leisure before transfer to the airport for flight from Dien Bien Phu to Hanoi
End
of Services **Note: Itinerary subject
to change due to flight schedules.