16 Day Explore Vietnam

Transcription

1 16 Day Explore Vietnam Including Return Airfares with Singapore Airlines Ho Chi Minh City Hue Hoi An Halong Bay

2 From $3,499 pp twin share Book Now Departure Dates August 11 September 2 October 16 October 13 November 27 November 18 December * January 19 February 12 March 26 March 16 April 30 April 21 May * $500 peak season surcharge per person Day 1 Australia Ho Chi Minh City Your adventure begins! On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. Enjoy your first night in Ho Chi Minh City, a beacon of modern day Vietnam and a buzz that will leave you spellbound. Please note: Some flights may depart the night before. Hotel: 4 Silverland Yen or similar "If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." Lao Tzu

3 Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City This morning we head out to visit the Re- Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. This building is now a museum and venue for Government official receptions. Your next stops are the two famous landmarks of the city, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in between 1863 and 1880 with materials imported from France and is also referred to as Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where the Vietnam War crimes are displayed. This is the most popular museum in Vietnam with approximately half a million visits annually. Afterwards, enjoy leisure time until you are picked up from your hotel at 16:30 for a drink at the Rex Rooftop Bar to enjoy the fantastic city lights as well as local night life on Nguyen Hue walking street below. Tonight enjoy an Inspiring Taste on a progressive Seafood Trail extravaganza a night eating adventure that starts at 18:00 where you will be picked up from the Rex Hotel. You will discover one of Ho Chi Minh City s snail streets. Here we ll try a range of snails... but don t worry, they re not really snails. Ốc is the Vietnamese word that s shorthand for all crustaceans, so you will be able to sample a variety of seafood the best seafood in Ho Chi Minh City, no less including sea snails that are eaten with a safety pin, mussels, scallops and tasty prawns-on-a-stick. You ll get the chance to buy some snacks from wandering vendors too, so you ll get the most authentic experience. Day 2 (cont.) Depending on who walks past, the snacks could include sliced green mango, boiled quail eggs or rice crackers, as well as more exotic offerings. On this tour, you will be required to participate in the rowdy Vietnamese toasting ritual (even if you re only drinking soft drink) of mot-hai-ba-yo! In most cases your tour will start in a little alley near the zoo, then adjourn to Snail Street for two more stops. The progressive tapas-style street food extravaganza usually includes hotpot and a quick dessert at a local market. During the tour, you ll hear stories of the local area, and learn how to taste the history in simple street food. At the end of the tour you ll also have a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and history (as well as a very full stomach!).

4 Day 2 (cont.) Day 3 (cont.) This is a fantastic tour for the adventurous. If you re brave, you ll have the chance to travel on xe om (motorbike taxis) to order a range of unusual dishes, however, there is a taxi optional available for you too. Hotel: 4 Silverland Yen or similar Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City After your breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked and driven to the eerie Cu Chi Tunnels a definite highlight of the trip. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120km of tunnels under ground and were built by the sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam War. You ll hear the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different types of underground halls, secret working and meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, you will enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla s food during the war). This afternoon you will return to Ho Chi Minh City for your overnight hotel stay. Hotel: 4 Silverland Yen or similar Meals: Breakfast, lunch Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City You will have a free day to explore the city on your own. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (1 of 4): Mekong Delta Full Day Tour with Lunch: You will be picked up at your hotel, then depart for My Tho. On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, see the stilt houses, fruit plantations and the fishing villages along the river bank. You will proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden.

5 Day 4 (cont.) Then a boat ride to An Khanh in Ben Tre, where you will visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy and observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. You will then enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadows of the water coconut trees along natural canals then enjoy seasonal fruit and honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals. The bus will then take you back to your hotel in Saigon. Hotel: 4 Silverland Yen or similar Meals: Breakfast The farther you go, however, the harder it is to return. The world has many edges, and it's easy to fall off. Anderson Cooper

6 Day 5 Ho Chi Minh City Hue You will have free time until your airport transfer for your flight to Hue. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at your leisure before dining at the hotel for dinner. Hotel: 4 Cherish Hotel or similar Day 6 Hue Today, visit the Imperial Citadel, that was the centre of power for the Nguyen Dynasty who ruled between 1802 and Here, you will visit Flag Tower, NoonGate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden Purple City. We will board a boat for a wonderful trip on Perfume River and then visit Thien Mu pagoda. You ll get the chance to stop at a local restaurant for lunch too. Day 6 (cont.) The afternoon continues with a visit to the fantastic tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Your guides will give you a deep understanding of the King s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life. Hotel: 4 Cherish Hotel or similar Day 7 Hue Hoi An After breakfast, drive to Hoi An, through the renowned and spectacular Hai Van Pass. You ll then check in to your hotel and get ready for an afternoon tour exploring the Hoi An ancient town on foot. Your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you through the Ancient town of Hoi An. You will visit the Temple Kwan, Phuc Kien Temple, Tan Ky Ancient House, Phung Hung house, Japanese Bridge and cultural show rooms in Hoi An. Learn a great deal about the history and culture of this exciting town.

7 Day 7 (cont.) After the tour, enjoy an Inspiring Taste evening cooking class. The evening class is an interesting and fun way to learn about the local cuisine. You will get to prepare three dishes before sitting down for dinner to enjoy your creations! Your chef will introduce you to the local ingredients, take you through the preparation, and explain the Hoi An style of cooking. Then it is your turn to chop, grate, crush, slice, roll and cook the ingredients into a delicious meal. Your 5 course dinner also includes 2 additional Hoi An specialties* - White Rose and Fried Wanton. These secret recipes are made by only 1 family in Hoi An, and are included in the meal, but are not part of the cooking class. Afterwards, you ll enjoy free time to explore Hoi An by night. Hotel: 4 Hoi An Waterway Resort or similar Day 8 Hoi An Today you will have a free day to explore Hoi An on your own. Pick up some souvenirs, meet some locals or take in the wonderful sights of the city. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (2 of 4): My Son Sanctuary Half Day Tour with lunch - Your guide will pick you up at around 8.00am and take you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as a burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century.

8 Day 8 (cont.) My Son is considered to be of the same historical significance as Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on a boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River to Hoi An for lunch. After lunch, you will be dropped back to your hotel. Hotel: 4 Hoi An Waterway Resort or similar Meals: Breakfast, lunch Day 9 Hoi An Today you will have a free day to explore Hoi An on your own or relax by the beach. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (3 of 4): Hoi An Boat and BBQ Sunset Tour - Take to the streets and the waterways to discover the charm of one of Vietnam s most loved towns. On this unique boat and bike tour in Hoi An, you will escape the hustle and bustle, weaving through the backstreets to reach the country lanes that lie outside the town s borders. Start your Hoi An tour with the bike portion, and follow country laneways to reach some of the villages that are dotted throughout the region, stopping to talk to the locals and learn more about life in this part of Vietnam. Pass emerald rice paddies, snaking waterways and plenty of waving children as you discover some of the beautiful landscapes found in this region. Next up, your Hoi An boat tour!

9 Follow your guide to the banks of the Thu Bon River to take to the waterways and discover even more of the area. Cruise the river, heading out to one of the river s small islands where a barbecue feast awaits. Feast on local specialties and watch as the sun sets over the river, with bobbing local fishing boats adding to the atmosphere. Jump back in the boat to cruise along the river, watching the last of the sun s rays disappear behind the rice paddies before heading back to Hoi An. Watch the twinkling lights of the city appear as you approach the dock, before heading through the bustling waterfront crowds and back into town. This unique Hoi An bike and boat tour comes to an end back in the heart of the town. Hotel: 4 Hoi An Waterway Resort or similar Meals: Breakfast, lunch Day 10 Hoi An Today you will be picked up from your hotel to head to the airport for your flight to. On arrival in, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel where you ll enjoy dinner to usher in your first night in. Hotel: 4 Mon Regency or similar Ships are my arrows, the sea my bow, the world my target. Robert Thier Day 11 Today head out on a city tour of and begin with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape. This pagoda is a very beautiful and popular attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you will have the chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's House and the One-pillar pagoda a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is centre point. After lunch, you will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain), dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao.

10 Day 11 (cont.) The temple with its famous Huc bridge is in the center of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. You will then take a short ride around old town on a cyclo (rickshaw) before enjoying a show of traditional Water Puppets! Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. After the show, you will be dropped off at your hotel for dinner. Hotel: 4 Mon Regency or similar Day 12 Halong Bay We leave the hotel this morning for an incredible day in Halong Bay and a fabulous overnight Halong Bay cruise. On the way, you will get to stop at a handicraft workshop for a short break. You ll enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Halong, you will check-in to the cruise and relax before your captain lifts anchor and sails to visit Sung Sot caves where you ll get the chance to explore the area on kayaks. You will be cruising between the many lime stones and set anchor at a beautiful spot to watch the sun set over the bay, where dinner is served on board. Relish the fresh seafood, salads, and fruits. There will also be a cooking class on board, where you can learn to cook some basic Vietnamese dishes before spending the night on the cruise ship. Hotel: 5 Athena Elegance or similar A journey, after all, neither begins in the instant we set out, nor ends when we have reached our door step once again. It starts much earlier and is really never over. Ryszard Kapuściński

11 Day 13 Halong Bay The beautiful sunrise on Halong Bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography. You can also start your day with a Tai chi session on the boat deck! Breakfast will be served on the boat around 7.30 am then you will have more time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transferred back to for your onward flight to Hue. You ll get to stop at a workshop in Hai Duong province for your lunch break before arriving in that evening to begin your Inspiring Stay at the pure 5 star Sofitel Legend Metropole. You may choose to include two (2) optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (4 of 4): Street Food on Foot - Your expert local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. You will eat as you go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty Frenchinspired snack from a street cart. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up s Old Quarter, we tempt our taste buds with the famed dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, you will wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since was founded over 1000 years ago. Your next two snack stops are at outdoor barbeque stalls. You can sit down with the locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It s then time for dessert as you adventure down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk this specialty is one not to be missed!

12 Day 13 (cont.) Your local guide will then take you to one of s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste top ten street foods in is Banh My, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel. Hotel: 5 Sofitel Legend Metropole Meals: Breakfast, lunch Day 14 Today enjoy a free day in to lap up the luxury at your Inspiring Stay or explore the city at your own pace. This afternoon, enjoy high tea at the Sofitel Legend Metropole where you can indulge in an afternoon tea set with fine tea, fancy finger sandwiches, warm scones and delicate pastries. Hotel: 5 Sofitel Legend Metropole Meals: Breakfast Day 15 Australia Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it. Eudora Welty Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. We hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling journey in Vietnam. Day 16 Australia Arrive home today Book Now Visit Contact Us support@inspiringvacations.com.au