Ngu Hanh Son
Visitor: Silja Honkakangas From:
Duration: 10 Days/ 9 Night
Price : USD 820.00 per person
Route: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR – DANANG – HOI AN – MY SON – DANANG – HALONG BAY – HANOI.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (24 OCT 2011 MONDAY): HO CHI MINH CITY – ARRIVAL (-/-/-)
Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City airport by your flight FD3720 landing at 09:15 hrs, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to hotel.
Hotel check-in time: 14:00 hrs – early check-in at surcharge and subject to availability.
Accommodation at Star hotel 3*, ROH room
Meals included: None
Day 2 (25 OCT 2011 TUESDAY): HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels. For a more “thrilling” experience, you can even test your shooting skills on original AK47s and other guns from past war times (subject to a surcharge).
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Explore Saigon during the afternoon city tour which will take you to Thien Hau pagoda, Cho Lon market, the former Presidential Palace, and Old Post Office as well as Notre Dame Cathedral.
Accommodation at Star hotel 3*, ROH room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel- Lunch at local restaurant
Day 3 (26 OCT 2011 WEDNESDAY): HO CHI MINH CITY – DANANG – HOI AN WALKING TOUR (B/-/-)
Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City airport for flight to Danang by VN1316 (11:50 – 13:00 hrs).
Arrive at Danang airport, pick up and transfer to Hoi An town.
Hoi An is one of the best places in Asia to shop for silks, handicrafts, antiques and art. Also, the local tailors are famous for their high standards of work and can create anything to order in just 24 hours.
A short distance from the town centre is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors for its sandy beach, warm sea and seafood stalls. Hoi An is famed throughout Vietnam for its fine cuisine and there are any number of sensational restaurants and cafes to choose from.
Once known as Faifo, the UNESCO designated World Heritage town of Hoi An was one of the Orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite the passing of years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it did in its heyday. The town is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit to Vietnam with the laid-back atmosphere and the fine colonial architecture lining cobbled streets offering a glimpse of times gone-by. Explore the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market.
Accommodation at Ancient House resort, Superior room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 4 (27 OCT 2011 THURSDAY): HOI AN – MY SON – HOI AN (B/-/-)
In the morning, drive to My Son. Located 69 km southwest of Danang, My Son was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. On the way back, stop for a short visit to the Sa Huynh Champa Museum in Tra Kieu.
Drive back to Hoi An at noon.
Free afternoon at your leisure.
Accommodation at Ancient House resort, Superior room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 5 (28 OCT 2011 FRIDAY): HOI AN – DANANG – HUE (B/L/-)
Depart for Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. Your scenic route passes through Danang, taking the time to stop at the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and the Cham Museum, home to the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world.
Further along, you can also stop at the sacred hills, known as the Marble Mountains, containing dozens of Buddhist shrines before climbing over Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass) and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.
Arrive in Hue. Check-in hotel.
Hue remained Vietnam’s capital until 1945, when Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen emperors, abdicated. Many of Hue’s attractions are found along the banks of the
Perfume River that flows through the centre of town.
Accommodation at Ngoc Huong hotel, Deluxe room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel- Lunch at local restaurant
Day 6 (29 OCT 2011 SATURDAY): HUE FULL DAY CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Take a morning boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River, passing the 10-metre thick protective walls of the Citadel on board a Vietnamese ‘dragon boat’. A short distance up river is perhaps Hue’s best-known religious site, the Thien Mu Pagoda with its distinctive seven-storey octagonal tower.
Having explored the pagoda and its beautiful grounds, return to Hue via Dong Ba market.
After lunch, visit the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, both extravagant complexes of pavilions, temples, courtyards and lakes. You can also walk through the heavily bombed remains of the Imperial Citadel, built along the lines of Beijing’s Forbidden City and from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
Accommodation at Ngoc Huong hotel, Deluxe room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel- Lunch at local restaurant
Day 7 (30 OCT 2011 SUNDAY): HUE – FLIGHT TO HANOI – CITY TOUR – WATER PUPPET SHOW (B/-/-)
Take the afternoon flight to Hanoi by VN1540 (08:10 – 09:20 hrs).
Pick up and transfer to the city. Hotel check-in time is 14:00 hrs and early check-in is at surcharge.
Lunch at your own expenses.
In the afternoon (13:30 hrs), visit Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago. Afterwards, continue to Hoan Kiem Lake and visit the Ngoc Son Temple.
Round up the day with a one-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Evening enjoy the unique traditional water puppet show.
Accommodation at Boutique 1 Hanoi hotel, Superior room
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 8 (31 OCT 2011 MONDAY): HANOI – HALONG BAY – OVERNIGHT ONBOARD (B/L/D)
08:00 – 08:30 Pick up in Hanoi, transfer to Halong (without guide)
12:00 – 12:30 Embark on boat at Bai Chay tourist pier and check in your cabin.
13:00 – 14:30 Have lunch (set menu) with fresh seafood onboard while the boat is playing on the emerald water of the bay passing by the islets of Dinh Huong (Incense Urn), Chó Đá (the Dog), Halong fishing village and the fighting roosters.
15:00 – 16:00 Visit Sung Sot (Cave of Surprise) – one of the most beautiful caves in the bay.
16:30 – 18:00 You can climb up Titop mountain for a panoramic view of Halong Bay or have some swimming at Titop beach or kayaking with surcharge
19:00 – 20:30 Have dinner with fresh seafood
20:30 – 23:30 Movie time or catching squid (at request)
Accommodation onboard Traditional cruise (formerly Bai Tho junk), Deluxe cabin
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel.
Day 9 (01 NOV 2011 TUESDAY): HALONG BAY – HANOI (B/L/-)
06:30 – 07:00Tai Chi session (to be requested in advance)
07:00 – 08:00 Breakfast onboard
08:00 – 09:00 Visit Luon Cave by small boat. Cruise back to the pier passing by the Man’s Head Islet and the Turtle Islet.
09:30 Check out and settle the bill.
10:00 – 10:30 Fruit carving demonstration.
11:00 Have lunch at Cua Vang Restaurant
12:00 Pick up and transfer to Hanoi (without guide)
Arrive in Hanoi. Check-in hotel.
Accommodation at Boutique 1 Hanoi hotel, Superior room
Meals included: Breakfast onboard- Lunch at Cua Vang restaurant
Day 10 (02 NOV 2011 WEDNESDAY): HANOI CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
In the morning, start the city tour with the visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside and his former residence, One-Pillar Pagoda.
Note: you can visit Ho Chi Minh City mausoleum from outside only, as the mausoleum is annually closed for maintenance from early September until mid November.
Continue to visit museum of Ethnology.
Free in the afternoon to discover the city by yourselves.
Accommodation at Boutique 1 Hanoi hotel, Superior room (extra cost – separately quoted)
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Day 10 (03 NOV 2011 THURSDAY): HANOI (B/-/-)
In the morning, 06:30 hrs pick up at hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi airport for your departure flight by FD3701 that departing at 09:10 hrs.
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
THE TOUR PRICE IS INCLUSIVE OF
Accommodation in shared twin/ double room
Meals as stated [B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner]
Domestic airfare (Saigon – Danang & Hue – Hanoi)
Transfers by private 16 seat van
Local English speaking tour guides
Entrance fees & boat fees at places
NOT INCLUDED ARE
Personal travel insurance
Personal expenses
Other services not mentioned in the programme
Drinks with meals