THE CHARM OF VIETNAM

THE CHARM OF VIETNAM

 (12 days/11nights)

DAY 1:           HO CHI MINH CITY (D)

Meet on arrival at Tan Son Nhat international airport, picked up by our coach and guide then transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

After dinner, this is time to freshen up yourself or discover the city at night. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 2:           HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNEL (B/L)

After breakfast, sightseeing around the city including visits to Reunification Hall (Former Presidential Palace), History Museum, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Ben Thanh market. Photo stops at famous tourist sites such as City Hall, Grand Theatre, Notre Dame Cathedral and Center Post Office. After that, you will come to Koto Saigon Training for lunch.

Afternoon, you will leave Ho Chi Minh for Cu Chi tunnels visit. Here you will have the opportunity to witness how rice paper is made and to explore the amazing labyrinth of tunnels used by the guerrillas during the war. Head back to Hotel in HCM for overnight stay.

 DAY 3:           HO CHI MINH CITY – DA NANG – HOI AN (B/L)

After breakfast in hotel, you are going to take a flight to DaNang City. On arrival pick up and transfer to Hoi An.On the way, you will stop in Danang for a visit to the Cham

Museum and Stone Carve Villages on foot of Marble Mountain before arriving in Hoi An. Have lunch at local restaurant.

Pm: Hotel check in then free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 4:           HOI AN – COOKING CLASS (B/L/D)

This day is to discover the beauty of Hoi An. The city is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. After breakfast, you enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting and the Ancient Houses. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, after a short rest you will join Red Bridge Cooking Class, enjoying a boat trip and an exciting time in the market choosing the fresh ingredients, then you will learn how to make some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s most famous dishes.

After the lesson, there’s plenty of time enjoy what you have cooked for dinner before transferring back to the hotel for the evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 5:           HOI AN – MY SON (B/L)

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at around 8 to 8.30 am then drive to My Son holyland. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a Must-See for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations and is now one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam. Back to Hoi An for lunch. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 6:           HOI AN – DA NANG – HANOI (B/L)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Hanoi. Pick up from the airport by our coach and guide.

After lunch at local restaurant, we start to discover Hanoi by visits to Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son temple, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, Vietnam Ethnology Museum.

Pm: Enjoy water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 7:           HANOI – HA LONG 2D1N CRUISE (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ha Long and embark on a cruise – Paloma Junk or similar

***Itinerary and activities are subject to change

12.30   Arrive at the pier. Transferred by tender to the Junk – Enjoy welcome drink. Receive cruise briefing, check in cabin and begin your cruise.

13.30   Having lunch – delicious Vietnamese set menu (Massage service is available after lunch and throughout the tour).

15:00   Head to Bai Tu Long Bay, pass the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Monster Head and Teapot Islets and VungVieng fishing village. Visit the VungVieng floating fishing village by bamboo sampan for an hour or kayak in to the village. Short visit to Pearl Farm to learn how natural pearls are created. Then return to Paloma Cruise for your leisure or join one of the following optional     activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc.

18:00   Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by islets near Hang Trong. Happy Hour (sunset party).

18:30   Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.

19.15   Sumptuous set-dinner onboard.

21.0   Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.

DAY 8:           HALONG – HANOI – LAO CAI (B/L/D)

06.15     Starting your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served.

07.00     Have breakfast

08.00     Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot Cave ).

08:15    Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.

10.00     Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabin (staff will transfer directly to the pier).

10:30    Enjoy Set Menu for lunch in the dining room.Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room, enjoying the rest of Halong bay before getting back to harbor.

11.45      Arrive at Hon GaiHarbour. Transfer by tender to the pier. Transfer back to Hanoi.

After dinner, transfer to the station to board the overnight train to Lao Cai.

DAY 9:           LAO CAI – SAPA (B/L)

Arriving early into Lao Cai station, there is time for breakfast before driving to Sapa. En-route, visit the beautiful village of the Ta Phin people, where there’s a chance for exploration and interaction with the locals. After lunch, take an easy trek down to Cat Cat village, home of the Black H’mong people, where you will learn about their life and culture.

The village is also home to a waterfall and the hydropower plant left over from the French Colonial period. Trekking back to Sapa for the evening.Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 10:         LAO CAI – SAPA (B/L)

After breakfast we begin our trek down to the beautiful Muong Hoa valley to Lao Chai village where we will stop for a picnic lunch in a picturesque setting. We continue by foot to the Village of Ta Van inhabited by the Giay People, where we have the opportunity to visit a local home before continuing on to the Giang Ta Chai Water fall. We return to Sapa by bus.Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 11:         SAPA – LAO CAI – HANOI (B)

Breakfast at hotel, this day is free at leisure to enjoy the great atmosphere of Sa Pa City and its

In the afternoon, transfer to the station to board an overnight train to Hanoi .

DAY 12:         HANOI – DEPARTURE (B)

This morning arriving into Hanoi at around 05.30 am, enjoy a local breakfast.

Then transfer to airport for home flight.