VIETNAM [07DAYS]
Day 1 : ARRIVAL IN ho chi minh city (by A/C car)
Arrival in Tan Son Nhat airport. Warmly welcome to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting of the tour guide in the meeting point''s Tan Son Nhat Airport.
Welcome to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City, a young city with the age of more than 300 years, a centre of culture, education, commerce and tourism of Vietnam, the biggest city of Vietnam mix with the West and the Orient, and once known as the "Pearl of Far East".
Please note that standard check in time is 14.00, check out at 12.00. Early check in or late check-out is subject to room availability. Hotel would probably guarantee early check in or late checkout as an extra surcharge on depend to the rooming’s status at that time.
Transfer to hotel for check in and take your time to free at leisure for your independent activities. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 : HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNLES & Halfday tour (by A/C car 70km)
This morning, after breakfast, depart to Cu Chi Tunnels located at the threshold of Saigon and adjacent to the revolutionary base, played an important role in the two wars on before 1975. Visitors will have a lot of questions as knowing that Cu Chi was an "underground village" with its labyrinth of interlaced tunnels having a combined length of more than 200 km of tunnels built here by the Communist guerillas are the highlight of South Vietnam tours. You will be guided to the bedrooms, meeting rooms, air-raid shelters, smokeless kitchens, and experience life underground during your short visit to this extraordinary tunnel complex. Opportunity to crawl into the tunnels for discovering and hearing all things of it. You can also try shooting with real bullets here (your own account). Back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Afternoon, it would be a good time to have a glimpse of Saigon and Vietnam, visit Neo-Roman Notre Dame Cathedral - one of the most splendid and typical of the beautiful French-built churches in Ho Chi Minh city, next Municipal Post Office - Saigon''s French-style main post office to admire and take photos of its nice architecture that is one of the Ho Chi Minh City''s symbolizing images, then drive slowly along a historical boulevard which the impressive buildings as the old US Embassy the Prime Ministerial building and many more, there are like the historical witnesses to the ups and downs, political upheavals of a Nation and its generations. Followed up, you will visit to the Reunification Palace – a symbol of Saigon old Government before 1975, (also called former President Palace) to learn the sorrowful historic of Vietnam Ideology War from 1954-1975. Later, pass by Ho Chi Minh City People Committee (also the old French City Hall before 1975), and Municipal Theatre built in 1899. Left time is saved for you to do shopping at Ben Thanh Market and at the streets of handicraft shops in the heart of Saigon with how many things are available for your choice at attractive prices.
Evening, we highly recommend a farewell dinner cruise on Saigon River in a floating restaurant and getting the admirable feel of the charming views of Saigon river and city-by-night during a short river-cruising. (see supplement)
Drive back to the hotel and free leisure at hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3 : HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG RIVERS (MY THO) (by A/C car 70km, motor-boat, rowing-boat)
After breakfast, take an interesting excursion to Mekong Rivers, overland 70 kilometers to My Tho town - the "Gateway of Mekong River and its Delta", short stopover at Cao Dai Temple in Ben Luc town, a very specific religion of countrymen in Mekong Delta which combines Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism, and native Vietnamese spiritualism. Mekong Delta - the rice granary of Vietnam and has vast areas of durian, mango, rambutan and other delicious tropical fruit trees.
Arrival My Tho and transfer to the bank of Mekong River, take a motor river-boat which to be rent exclusively for the group then crossing the Upper River and cruising along Tan Long Peninsula, let’s enjoy this golden moment to relax the verdant luxuriant sceneries of the watery region, taste very fresh coconut milk, disembark and visit a island, stop-over a handicraft village that produces house-hold items from materials of coconut trees. Walking on the quite country roads, you will reach to local lush orchards, taste delicious fresh fruits, drink hot tea with honey during the traditional melodies and folk music surround you. From here you can observe the life of the Mekong River Delta, the main source of rice and many other agricultural products of Vietnam. Enjoy also a short tilbury carriage tour on the village road. Take boat trip along the canal network with a bit of adventure mood in Ben Tre Province to visit a bee farm and then a coconut candy workshop. Till now rivers and artificial canals are an important circulation system of the Mekong Delta.
Lunch will be served to you in a garden restaurant with the specialties of the Delta (see supplement).
Drive back to the Ho Chi Minh city and free leisure at night.
You shall not miss an Outdoor dinner at Binh Quoi Village
For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Vietnam, try dinner at Binh Quoi village for the most traditional surrounds accompanied with the best of regional Vietnamese cuisine.
Evening is the time of Cultural Show-Dinner, is a fantastic dinner in a garden-riverside restaurant on buffet or set-menu, transfer to Binh Quoi tourist village, and enjoy a traditional show of wedding ceremony before having buffet dinner on the riverside restaurant with a very pleasant setting. The show will tell you the Southern Vietnamese traditional wedding with folk music and classic melodies, rites expressing Vietnamese humanity, a cup of reception herbal tea is good beginning to wake-up your mind for a night show. (See supplement & This show is available on Tue, Thu & Sat only).
Back to the hotel for good night. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4 : HO CHI MINH CITY - HUE ROYAL CITY (by A/C car, plane, boat)
This morning, check out right after breakfast, transfer directly to Tan Son Nhat airport for domestic flight via VN252 at 10.00-11.20 to Hue Royal City, warm welcome to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting of the tour guide in the meeting point''s Phu Bai Airport.
Welcome to Hue Royal City - the Complex of Monuments, the heart of central Vietnam served as Vietnam’s political capital 1802 to 1945 under the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty and was recognized as the World Cultural Heritage Site. Hue - has been the Capital of a unified Vietnam, built at about the beginning of the 19th century, combines the oriental philosophy with the traditions of Vietnam. Intimately mingled with the natural environment, the beauty and special richness of the architecture and decorative art of the building are an original image of the Vietnamese monarchy at its most prosperous period.
Transfer to hotel for check-in and rest before enjoying a half day city tour in the afternoon.
Afternoon, you spend time strolling around the mighty Imperial City, photo-stop at the Royal National high-school and its Royal Stele on the bank of Perfume River, which was the most famous National school in Vietnam, visit The Imperial City - Purple Forbidden City, is the best-preserved remnant of a vast citadel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. To put the ruins into context, it is important to consider how they were originally used., there are a network of palaces, gates, and courtyards that served as The Emperor’s home and the administrative core of the Empire, visit The Flag Tower – a huge structure of three flat-top pyramids, the nine holy cannons are housed in two buildings beside the The Nhan and Quang Duc Miradors in the Citadel of Hue, Palace of the Supreme Harmony, was the building for great court’s meetings. It faces the Noontime Gate (Ngo Mon Gate) and lies right on the central axis of the Citadel, The Mieu Temple is situated southwest of the Citadel and facing south, dedicated to ten Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, then The Royal Theatre – DUYET THI DUONG was the oldest of Vietnamese traditional stage that remained.
Then transfer to the Royal Marina and continuing boat upstream to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Pagoda of Heavenly Lady).
While the wind smoothly moves the bamboo branches.
One hears the Thiên M? bell, and the Th?-Xuong rooster’s song.
Thien Mu Pagoda located on a sloping pine hill with the front side facing the Perfume River, was firstly built in 1601 which its 21-metre-high tower of seven storeys and refined bell are always the most beautiful sceneries of the ancient pagodas in whole country, and the highest spirit of Vietnamese also. A moment enjoy the beautiful views of sunset, the sun is setting down along the Perfume river and the tinged clouds becoming dim on horizon. Let''s put in your mind the sceneries surroundings...they may be a shine star of lifetime and memorable feelings.
Return to hotel. Free evening for individual exploring in dreamlike Hue. Overnight in Hue.
Day 5 : HUE ROYAL CITY - DA NANG / HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (by A/C car 135km)
This morning, check out right after breakfast, followed-up is an exciting historical tour by a visit to the Royal Tomb of Tu Duc King, its serious sceneries, impressive architectures to remind a splendid monarchy and the circulate widely false news of the real tomb of Tu Duc remains hidden for future generations to discover. Continue to visit the Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh King, is the final resting place of the Emperor of Vietnam from 1916-1925. The tomb represents a fusion of traditional Vietnamese style and modern influence, the tomb is almost entirely made of concrete and includes many European architectural details.
Then depart to Da Nang City, an ancient land closely connected with cultural traditions, mixing the famous beautiful sites, the white sand beaches. The trip passes many spectacular scenarios along the National Highway 1, via the breathing Hai Van Pass, literal meaning is “Sea and Cloud”, is the highest and longest pass in Vietnam with the north- south national highway zigzagging through it for almost 20 km. Reaching to a height of 496 m above sea level the pass seems to be lost in the clouds almost all of the time. In the 15th century King Le Thanh Ton when stopping here to admire the dreamy and majestic scene of sky cloud and sea called it “De Nhat Hung Quan” (the First Grandiose Landscape of the country). From the highest point of the pass you get a bird’s eye view of the rich lowlands encircling the city of Da Nang with its image reflected on the waters of Han River. To the south and at the foot of the mountain lies the Nam O seashore where there is a fine beach with gentle waves and fishing boats crowding the water front. Photo-stop somewhere in the Pass, get your perfect pictures of Lang Co beach, a spectacular landscape & peaceful fishing hamlet.
Arrival Da Nang, brief visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture, began in 1915. This is the only museum dedicated to preserving the unique Champa sculptural heritage in South East Asia. There are about 300 items of sculpture exhibited here. Most of them are original works carved in sandstone, some are terracotta. Items exhibited include altars statues and decorations from Cham towers and palaces. The statues include the Gods Siva Vishnu Brahma as well as the brahmanists Buddhas dancers and musicians elephants lions the holy cow Nandin and the holy bird Garuda. These date from the 7th century to the 15th century. Then stone carving villages at Marble Mountains, where visitors will see the skilful artisans working on the products of marble / granite and visitors can choose a collection of excellent stone products for souvenir.
From Da Nang you continue to Hoi An ancient town, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River, 30 km south of Da Nang, has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.
Transfer to hotel for express check in and take your time to free at leisure for your independent activities. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 6 : HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN - MY SON HOLYLAND & Halfday tour (by A/C car 40km)
After breakfast, depart visit the Central Vietnam is well-known as the Heritage Road, a pilgrimaged voyage to My Son Holy Land, and 40km away from the ancient town of Hoi An, where are the relics of the lost Kingdom of Champa from 7th ~ 16th century, this golden time until now keeps priceless cultural vestiges with the traces of parapet and outer wall, and still moss-green towers stand strongly to the challenges of time with their true value of cultural art, recently recognized by UNESCO as the World Heritage Sites. My Son Cham Holland with more than 70 constructions made of bricks and stones between the 7th and the 13th century in accordance with different architectural styles, showing how talented Champa artists. In the past, My Son Holly Land was once the capital of Cham Pa Kingdom that the French historians called it “My Son Sanctuary” or “Valley of Kings”. Most of its architectural works had fallen into ruin either through war or over the passage of time; the vestiges of 25 structures remain to this day.
Transfer back to Hoi An ancient town and followed-up by an afternoon tour, enjoy an interesting town-tour by walking. It is the best way to discover Hoian ancient town, visit The Japanese Covered Bridge where retains a harmony of architectural styles, combining Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese cultural characteristics. Ong Pagoda is one of the typical pagodas in Hoi An’s old quarter, built in 1653 and is dedicated to Quan Thanh De Quan (Quan Van Truong). Fukienese Assembly Hall was built in 1692 by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants, is architecturally unique with its artistic ornaments and beautiful statues, Chinese architectural style combined with Vietnamese workmanship has enriched it with Hoi An’s cultural character. Tan Ky Ancient House, constructed almost two centuries ago as the house of a Vietnamese merchant. It has always been lovingly preserved and now looks almost exactly as it did in the early 19th century, Hand-made Silk workshop as a last destination.
Back to your hotel and free at leisure at night. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 7 : HOIAN ANCIENT TOWN / DA NANG - HO CHI MINH CITY & FLY BACK HOME (by A/C car, plane)
This morning, check out right after breakfast, transfer directly to the Da Nang airport for a departure domestic flight back Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city via VN323 at 08.00-09.10. After arrival in domestic terminal, you will take a short walking distance (500 meters) to the International terminal and wait there in few hours before taking the departure flight back home. Have a safe trip come home!
It’s timely, you have to say Good-Bye Vietnam. You surely have plentiful memories of Orient also my country. We (Indochina Incentive & Cruise/Toan Vinh Tours) thank you very much for your choice of our company as your ground handler in Vietnam and may be Indochina countries on further, be sure all our people are your best friends always and beyond. May we will meet and honoured welcome you have other voyages to Indochina in the days coming, continuing to discover, to experience the endless imposing landscapes, and then get the restful moments in a diversified World and a colourful Sub region of Mekong River: VIETNAM – LAOS – CAMBODIA – THAILAND - MYANMAR! GOOD-BYE & SEE YOU AGAIN!
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