VIETNAM from SOUTH to NORTH

(10 days / 9 nights)

Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi - Mekong Delta - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi

 Day 1: Arrival - Ho Chi Minh City
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis is a stark contrast with its northern counterpart, Hanoi. It is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, exciting shopping areas and sidewalk cafes.  (If time permits we stroll around the downtown to explore the different local ways of life).

Overnight in hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2 : Ho Chi Minh City- Tay Ninh - Cu Chi Tunnel (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. The headquarters of the Cao Dai sect is located in Tay Ninh. This religious group was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members.  It is a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and superstition. After breakfast we travel by road to Tay Ninh to see the ornate Cao Dai temple and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing coloured robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the marks of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which are an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation, schools and other useful construction. They were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American War.

Overnight in hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3 : Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Heading out of town, we travel by road to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy  wonderful traditional music. The next stop of our trip is Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries.  After lunch we return to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping off along the way to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and Cholon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes.

Overnight in hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Hoi An (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for our flight to Danang. Today we spend a half day seeing some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. The next stop of our trip is Danang via a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City.  On arrival you are met and driven to Hoi An, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures.

Overnight in hotel, Hoi An.

Day 5:  Hoi An - Hue (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional styles with Chinese and Japanese influences.  There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which sights are the famous Japanese covered bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200-year old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, and the vibrant market. We visit these on our morning walking tour past many low-tiled houses scattered along the small streets where assembly halls

reflecting the town's multi-cultural past are located.  Upon leaving Hoi An, we drive north to Hue, the former imperial capital.  Along the way we make stopovers at the sensational Marble Mountains, the China Beach and Danang City for a visit to the Cham Museum ? world-class showcase of ancient Cham artefacts.  We then follow the road crossing over the scenic Hai Van Pass before arriving in Hue, Vietnam's last imperial city.

Overnight in hotel, Hue.

Day 6:  Hue (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Then we embark on a boat cruise on the Perfume River to go upstream taking us through the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu.  Upon leaving this symbol of Hue we continue navigating to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. The next stop of our trip is the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous pagoda of Tu Hieu. On returning to the city, we walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local food.

Overnight in hotel, Hue.

Day 7:  Hue - Hanoi- Halong (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. The massive citadel of Hue, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City, is not to be missed. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive; however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. We visit this masterpiece and have free time to explore the town before boarding a short flight north to the capital of the country. On arrival in Hanoi, we embark on a three-and-a-half hour drive to Halong, truly one of Vietnam’s most scenic and impressive sights. Along the way we will have chance to make stop as you please, to stretch your legs and take pictures.

Overnight in hotel, Halong.

Day 8:  Halong- Hanoi (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel. The wondrous Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most scenic sights. Heading out of the town  we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting five-hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque landscape blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves.  Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs.  After a seafood lunch on board we return to Hanoi, stopping en route at Dong Trieu pottery village.

Overnight in hotel, Hanoi.

Day 9:  Hanoi (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder, Ho Chi Minh; the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda whose origin date back to the founding of the city.  We follow this visit with  the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam founded in 1076 and the impressive Ethnological Museum dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artefacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlights of our trip . We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem.  In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance.

Overnight in hotel, Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi - Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free until time to transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight.

INCLUDED :
+ Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
+ Accommodation: twin sharing room at the mentioned hotels
+ Meals as indicated
+ Flight Ho Chi Minh ? Danang, Hue - Hanoi
+ Boat trips in Mekong Delta, Hue, Halong
+ English speaking guide (other languages possible)
+ Entrance fee to indicated sights
+ Water puppet show
+ Cyclo trip

(This programme can be done in the reversed order at the same package price.)

NOT INCLUDED : Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance, international flights, visa fee.

HOTEL LIST FOR VIETNAM PACKAGES

HOI AN
TOUR	CATEGORY	HOTEL
Standard
Copyright 2006 Academy Travel, Inc.