VN - T
09: VIETNAM CLASSIC, 14 days (L)
Saigon - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang - Hoi An -
Hue – Hanoi - Hoa Binh - Hanoi - Halong
Day 1 Saigon
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): meet
on arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Free time at
leisure
Overnight in Saigon
Day 2 Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing
in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown) - the largest of Vietnamese cities, with the
hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. 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'.
Overnight 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 façade, it looks like the town hall of a French town.
(May be viewed from the outside only).
OPERA HOUSE: built around the
turn of the century and first renovated in the 1940s, the building housed the
lower division of the National Assembly. Today it is a Municipal Theater and
also known as the Saigon Concert Hall. (May be viewed from the outside only).
JADE EMPEROR PAGODA: was a key meeting
place for Chinese secret societies. It has very colorful and mysterious
ambience.
REUNIFICATION PALACE: this was the
Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by tanks
on 30 April 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved
in its original state.
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, which, with the surrounding streets, makes up one of the
city's liveliest areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn, or used by the average
resident of Saigon is available here.
GIAM LAM PAGODA: the oldest pagoda
in Saigon, built at the end of the 17th century. Because the last
reconstruction here was in 1900, the architecture, layout, and ornamentation
remain almost unaltered by the modernist renovations that have transformed so
many other religious structures in Vietnam. Ten monks live in this pagoda,
which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism.
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.
Day
3 Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels - 45 miles from the city to see Vietcong underground base used during the American war, this amazing network was never discovered. Afternoon process to Tay Ninh, this town serves as the headquarters of one of Vietnam's religions, Caodism. The Caodai Great Temple at the sect's Holy See is one of the most striking structures in all of Asia
Overnight in Saigon
CU
CHI TUNNELS: Cu Chi was an important base during the American War, because
of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels
connecting command posts, hospitals, and shelter and weapon factories. Dug out
of hard laterite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network
was never discovered.
TAY NINH: this town serves as the headquarters
of one of Vietnam's religions, Caodism. The Caodai Great Temple at the sect's
Holy See is one of the most striking structures in all of Asia and was built
between 1933 and 1955. The area's dominant geographic feature is Nui Ba Den
(Black Lady Mountain), which towers 850m above the surrounding plains.
Please note that shortly before and during
the annual TET festival (Vietnamese New Year) the daily ceremony of the priests
in Tay Ninh may be cancelled without prior notice.
Day
4 Saigon
- Phan Thiet
After breakfast at the hotel, traveling by
vehicle from Saigon to Phan Thiet via the dunes of Mui Ne. Afternoon, free at
leisure
Overnight in Phan Thiet
Day
5 Phan
Thiet - Nha Trang
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Phan Thiet to Nha Trang - Journey north along the coast and Highway 1 past
Phan Rang, Lam and Dien Khanh. Ninh Tuan Province, where Phan Rang is located,
is home to tens of thousands of descendents of the Cham people. Afternoon, free
at leisure
Overnight in Nha Trang
PO KLONG GARAI CHAM TOWERS: the four brick towers constructed at the end of the 13th century, during the reign of the Cham monarch Jaya Simhavarman III, were built as Hindu temples and stand on the top of a crumbly granite hill.
Day
6 Nha
Trang - Danang - Hoi An
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to
Nha Trang airport for flight from Nha Trang to Danang. Arrival in Danang: meet
on arrival at airport, continue sightseeing in Danang, process to China Beach
and at the Marble Mountains Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern
limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
Afternoon transfer to Hoi An - one of world heritage site in Vietnam
Overnight in Hoi An
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.
Hoi An is a picturesque
riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was
one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and
19th centuries. It is best to visit some of the following sites of Hoi An by
walking around and/or by cyclo.
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
7 Hoi
An – Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, depart Hoi An
for Hue - Journey north 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 enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea.
Arrive in Hue, the royal city of Vietnam’ last ruling dynasty. Transfer to the
hotel after refreshment, visits the old Imperial City, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai
Hoa palace, Hall Of The Mandarins, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City,
Dong Ba Market and free time for shopping.
Overnight in Hue
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.
LANG CO: a pretty,
island-like stretch of palm-shaded sand with a crystal-clear lagoon on one side
and many kilometers of beachfront facing the South China Sea.
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).
DONG BA MARKET: a local market
near the Imperial City
Day
8 Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, boat trip on
the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda
Afternoon, visit Tomb Of Emperor Minh
Mang - the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs, known for its
magnificent architecture, military statuaries, and elaborate decorations.
Sightseeing at the Imperial Tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh
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.
TOMB OF EMPEROR MINH MANG: a complex built
in 1840 by King Minh Mang, known for its magnificent architecture, military
statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's
pagodas and tombs.
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
9 Hue
– Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to
Hue airport for flight from Hue to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi, meet on arrival at
the airport and transfer for 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.
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.
Day
10 Hanoi
- Hoa Binh
After breakfast at the hotel, excursion to Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong Pagoda) - Journey first by road and then by boat along a scenic waterway.
Afternoon by vehicle from Hanoi to Hoa
Binh: visit the Sugarcane Pagoda in the village of Dong Sang (Son Tay
Province). This is a beautiful pagoda, it is also called: Mia pagoda. The
Pagoda is situated on a latrine hill, covering a large area, and is divided
into 3 separated parts.
Overnight in Hoa Binh
PERFUME PAGODA: a complex of
pagodas and Buddhist shrines built into the limestone cliffs of Huong Tich
Mountain. Among the better-known sites here are Thien Chu (Pagoda Leading to
Heaven) and Giai Oan Chu (Purgatorial Pagoda). Pilgrims and other visitors
spend their time here boating, hiking, and exploring the caves.
SUGARCRANE PAGODA in the village of
Dong Sang (Son Tay Province). This is a beautiful pagoda, it is also called:
Mia pagoda. The Pagoda is situated on a latrine hill, covering a large area,
and is divided into 3 separated parts. Following the main area of the pagoda,
it consists of kowtow house, Ha pagoda, and Trong pagoda, Thuong Dien, Va
Temple (Son Tay Province) - It belongs to the Trung Hung village where the
local people pray the cult of Tan Vien - Son Tinh. Va temple also has another
name Dong Cung (Eastern palace). That was built in 17 century in Le Trung Hung
dynasty. In front of temple has a column notice "To get down from a
horse".
Day
11 Hoa
Binh
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing in Hoa Binh with an excursion to Mai Chau: the area is home to many hill tribe people, including H'mong and Tai. It is possible to taste the rice wine produced here and visit the Muong villages of Ban Dam and Giang
Overnight in Hoa Binh
MAI CHAU: the nearest 'real' Montagnard
village to Hanoi, Mai Chau is very rural. Most of the people here are ethnic
White Tai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos, and China.
Day 12 Hoa
Binh - Hanoi - Halong
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer by vehicle from Hoa Binh to Hanoi. Journey east along Highway 6 across Ha Tay and Hoa Binh Province and continue driving to Halong Bay.
Afternoon free time at leisure
Overnight in Halong
Day
13 Halong
After breakfast, explores Halong Bay by boat (8 hrs). This eight hours boat trip, going past the islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates) with visits to one of the following caves.
Overnight in Halong
BA TRAI DAO: "The three
peaches" islands.
BO NAU: 'Pelican' caves.
HANG DAU GO: a huge
three-chambered cave, which is reached via 90 steps. The cave derives its
Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used
by Trang Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes used against
the Mongol invaders.
THIEN CUNG: "Heaven
Palace."
HANH (DRY) CAVE: in the dry season
it is possible to take a small boat to explore the Hanh (Dry) cave.
SUNG SOT:
"Surprise" Cave. One of the biggest caves in Halong Bay
Day
14 Halong
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer by
vehicle from Halong to Hanoi, journey around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west
along Highway 5, across Hai Hung Province to Hanoi airport for departure.
End
of Services **Note: Itinerary subject
to change due to flight schedules.