VN - T
12: HIGHLIGHT OF VIETNAM SPECIAL, 11 days (L)
Saigon - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang – Danang -
Hoi An – Hue – Hanoi - Hai Phong - Halong
Day 1 Saigon
Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): meet
on arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel and free at leisure
Overnight
in Saigon
Day
2 Saigon
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown). Saigon is 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
Sightseeing 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 - Phan Thiet - Nha Trang
After breakfast at the hotel, traveling by
vehicle from Saigon to Phan Thiet
Excursion to the enormous sand dunes of Mui Ne. Free time at leisure before continue 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.
Overnight in Nha Trang
MUI NE BEACH is famous for its
enormous sand dunes and is located twenty-two kilometers east of Phan Thiet,
near a fishing village at the tip of the Mui Ne Peninsula.
Sightseeing 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
4 Nha
Trang
After breakfast at the hotel, excursion by
boat to various islands and the seawater aquarium BAMBOO ISLANDS: the largest
island in the Nha Trang area with Tru Beach at the northern end. Afternoon at
leisure
Overnight in Nha Trang
EBONY ISLAND: just south east of
Bamboo Island, it is known for snorkeling.
HON TAM: southwest of Bamboo Island, Hon Tam
is similar to the nearby Ebony Island.
MONKEY ISLAND: named for its
large contingent of resident monkeys.
SEAWATER AQUARIUM: Mieu Island has
an important fish-breeding farm where over forty species of fish, crustaceans
and other marine life are raised in three separate compartments.
Day
5 Nha
Trang - Danang - Hoi An
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer for flight from Nha Trang to Danang, sightseeing in Danang - Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
By vehicle from Danang to Hoi An - Journey south past the Marble Mountains and small villages. Sightseeing in Hoi An by cyclo, 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 sites of Hoi An by walking around and/or by cyclo.
Overnight in Hoi An
Sightseeing in Danang:
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 American War, 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.
Sightseeing in Hoi An:
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
6 Hoi
An – Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Hoi An to Hue - Journey north along Highway 1 past Danang, Lang Co and the
Hai Van Pass.
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.
Sightseeing in Hue:
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).
Day
7 Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, continue sightseeing at the Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang with boat trip
Overnight in Hue
Sightseeing 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: once the Royal
Palace of Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, this tomb consists of
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.
Visit the Dong Ba Market
DONG BA MARKET: a local market
near the Imperial City
Day 8 Hue - Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer 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
Sightseeing 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.
WATER PUPPET SHOW: a fantastic art
form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water
Puppet Theater is located on the Shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day
9 Hanoi
- Hai Phong - Halong
After breakfast at the hotel, free at
leisure. Afternoon, traveling by vehicle from Hanoi via Chua But Thap Pagoda to
Hai Phong - Journey northeast from Hanoi in Ha Bac Province.
By vehicle from Hai Phong to Halong - Journey east along the coast with good views of Halong Bay and its many islands.
Overnight in Halong
VAN PUC PAGODA: surrounded by
hills considered noteworthy for their beauty, this pagoda was founded in 1037.
BAT THAP PAGODA: also known as Ninh
Phuc Pagoda, this pagoda is famous for its four story stone stupa dedicated to
the monk Chuyet Cong. The pagoda was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries
according to a traditional layout.
Day
10 Halong
– Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, boat trip Halong Bay (4 hrs). This four-hour boat ride explores Halong Bay, passing the islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates). Stop at one of the islands and visit of one of the following caves. By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi Journey around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west along Highway 5, across Hai Hung Province.
Overnight in Hanoi
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.
BO NAU: the
"Pelican" caves.
THIEN CUNG: "Heaven
Palace."
Day
11 Hanoi
Morning breakfast at hotel, free at leisure
until time to transfer to the airport for departure
End
of Services **Note: Itinerary subject
to change due to flight schedules.