Vietnam In Focus

TRIP HIGHLIGHS:

Contact Person: Steven Quinn E-Mail: sales@indochinapioneer.com Call Us: +84 43715 3627 | Fax: +84 43715 3626 Customize this tour | Hotline: +84 983 145 799

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BRIEF ITINERARY:

Day 1   :   Saigon - Arrival
Day 2   :   Saigon City tour – Cu Chi tunnels
Day 3   :   Saigon – Cai Be – Can Tho
Day 4   :   Can Tho - Saigon
Day 5   :   Saigon - Dalat
Day 6   :   Dalat City tour
Day 7   :   Dalat – Nha Trang
Day 8   :   Nha Trang – Quy Nhon
Day 9   :   Qui Nhon – Hoian
Day 10    :   Hoian walking tour
Day 11 :   Hoian – My Son – Hoian
Day 12 :   Hoian - Hue
Day 13 :   Hue City tour - Fly to Hanoi
Day 14 :   Hanoi City tour
Day 15 :   Hanoi - Halong
Day 16 :   Halong - Hanoi
Day 17 :   Departure Day

DETAILED ITINERARY:

(N.B): Please note that all of our trip are privately designed. So that price includes the following hotels, activities, and transport, and visits to attractions are by private car and guide unless otherwise stated. Your guide will pick you up from lobby of your hotel in the morning. The guide will confirm the pick-up time the day before. If you prefer to start next day's trip earlier or a little later, please feel free to tell your guide.

Day 1: Arrival Saigon (D)
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport you will be met by a National Escort and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore the dynamic Saigon City, the former capital of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. It was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976. This evening we meet to enjoy our welcome dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant in Saigon.
Stay overnight in Saigon

Day 2: Saigon City tour – Cu Chi tunnels (B, L)
We start our day with a cyclo (rickshaw) tour.  We visit the War Remnant Museum, passing by the Reunification Palace, the formal US Embassy, the General Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Then we drive for 1 ½ hours to Cu Chi Tunnel. We will stop for lunch in Ben Nay Restaurant before our exploration of the formal Viet Cong stronghold. We will learn about the brutal war and how determined the Vietnamese were for the independence of their own country. The day will conclude at the hotel in Saigon in the late afternoon
Stay overnight in Saigon.  

Day 3: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can Tho (B, L, D)
Depart Saigon for a 3 hour drive to the Mekong Delta which is known as being the home to large numbers of rice fields and lush orchard gardens. The first stop today is Cai Be town. From here we take a boat trip to experience the retail floating market. We can see hundreds of boats loaded with fruits and vegetables for trade. Later we have lunch in a local orchard garden. In the afternoon we visit some local cottage industries such as coconut candy, fish source, and pop-rice. We end our cruise in Vinh Long where our bus will take us to Can Tho (App 1 ½ hour). Stay overnight in Can Tho

Day 4: Can Tho – Saigon (B, L)
This morning we take a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market. This is the most famous wholesale market of the region; it is still relatively non-commercialized. After that we will drive back to Saigon, stop en route to see Dong Tam snake centre and have lunch in a local restaurant. Stay overnight in Saigon

Day 5: Saigon – Dalat (B, L)
This morning we depart and drive ascending to Dalat, also known as the "City of Eternal Spring". On the way we stop at rubber plantation for great photos. We continue to drive until mid-day and then stop for lunch before visiting a rural village named Chicken, a K’ho minority village (known as the Montanarg in the war time) to learn about their life. Arrive in Dalat in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Dalat

Day 6: Dalat (B, L)
Today is a full day city tour to explore everything that Dalat has to offer: The Crazy House (or hang Nga guest house), and Bao Dai summer palace. We also take the cable car downhill to see the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist pagoda. After lunch we take a walk to the exciting Dalat market and then come back to the hotel for a rest. Late in the afternoon we drive to Lat village in Liang Biang mountain valley to enjoy the music show performed by the indigenous K’ho Lat people. Dinner in a restaurant in town. Stay overnight in Dalat

Day 7: Dalat -  Nha Trang  (B, L)
Today a 6 hour drive will take us along the coast descending to Nha Trang with a stop at My Nghiep weaving village in Phan Rang.  Upon arrival in Nha Trang we will be transferred to the dock. We then embark on a boat trip to cruise Nha Trang Bay with stops for snorkeling and swimming. We also visit a fishing village on Mieu Island to witness the local daily life. Late afternoon we return to the dock and drive to our hotel for check in.
Stay overnight in Nha Trang

Day 8: Nha Trang – Qui Nhon (B, L)
This morning we drive to visit the Cham Ponagar Tower and then head to Quy Nhon. Our bus trip is about 6 hours, including a quick stop en route at Dai Lanh beach for refreshments. Upon arrival in Quy Nhon City we pay a visit to Nguyen Nga charity centre – where Miss Nga raises money to help the disabled in the area. These disabled people make a living on making handicraft products for sale. From here we can enjoy a performance of singing and drawing by the kids. We then drive to our hotel and can just relax on hotel’s seaside beach for the remainder of the day. Stay overnight in Qui Nhon

Day 9: Qui Nhon – Hoian (B, L)
Our bus trip to Hoian today include a visit to My Lai, where we will pay homage to the victims of the My Lai massacre in 1968. We then take lunch in Quang Ngai town before finishing the remainder of our drive to Hoi An. The famous former merchant town of Hoian still retains the feel of the centuries past. It is the best place to get some clothing made to measure and other great shopping opportunities. Stay overnight in Hoian

Day 10: Hoian (B)
Today we will do a morning tour to visit the old town, including the traditional Hoian market, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the Quan Cong Chinese Temple and the Japanese Covered Bridge. We will enjoy lunch with such tasty local specialties as White Rose, Cao Lau, etc. The remainder of the day is free. We can revisit the tailors or visit the local markets at your leisure.
Stay overnight in Hoian

Day 11: Hoian – My Son half –day trip (B)
This morning we drive 45 mins – 1 hour to the entrance of the UNESCO site; the My Son Sanctuary. From here you will drive a further 10mins by jeep to the Cham ruins. Sightseeing here involves 2 hrs walking on uneven mud paths through the bush. Return to Hoian, then your afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, we attend a cooking class at Red Bridge - a well-known cooking school - to learn about Vietnamese art of cooking.
Stay overnight in Hoian

Day 12: Hoian – Hue (B, L)
This morning we depart by bus to Hue (3 1/2 hour drive), the former Kingdom of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 until 1945. On the way we stop at Marble Mountain to climb atop for a panoramic view of the area. Then we visit China Beach, where the first-arrival American GIs enjoyed their R&R in 1965. After that we continue to drive, climbing over the spectacular Hai Van Pass – Pass of the Ocean Clouds. It is one of the most scenic passes along the National Highway 1. We drop down to the very photographic Lang Co fishing village located on a jutting sand dune line.  Arrive in Hue by lunch time.

In the afternoon we visit the Imperial City of Hue, which consists of the Capital Citadel (the bastion and the Royal Citadel), the sanctum and the forbidden Purple City, which was off limits to everyone but the Emperor’s family. We end up the day by enjoying ½ hour boat trip on the Perfume River back to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this charming city or do some shopping at Dong Ba market. In the evening we get ourselves into the Imperial spirit by participating in a private Royal Banquet dinner (optional).
Stay overnight in Hue

Day 13: Hue City tour – Fly to Hanoi (B, L, D)
We begin our day by driving to Thien Mu Pagoda, the religious monument of Hue. From here we take another short drive to Tu Duc Royal Tomb, stop en route at the traditional handicraft shop to learn about the makings of incense sticks and conical hats. Then we have a great opportunity to enjoy a fully vegetarian lunch buffet in a Buddhist Nunnery. After that we depart by bus (½ hr drive) to the airport for an afternoon flight to Hanoi (flight duration 1hr). Transfer (1hr drive) to the hotel and check-in. This evening we enjoy a performance of the traditional Water Puppet show, a specialty of the north which dates back to nearly 1,000 years ago. Stay overnight in Hanoi

Day 14: Hanoi City tour (B, L)
Hanoi is the Capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the so-called “Paris of the Orient”. Hanoi is a charming and richly historic city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks.

This morning we visit the Ho Chi Minh complex (closed from Sep-Dec for annual maintenance) with his Mausoleum, his former residential area, the One Pillar Pagoda and the intriguing Ho Chi Minh Museum. After that we drive to the West Lake, visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda. In the afternoon we continue on to visit the Temple of Literature – the very first National University of Vietnam and built in 1070. We also visit the Museum of Ethnology to learn about various Vietnamese ethnic groups, their unique cultures, traditions and practices. End up the day at Hoa Lu Prison – originally built by the French and now a museum and better known to many as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ where several prominent American pilots were detained during the war. Return to our hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi

Day 15: Hanoi – Halong (B, L, D)
This morning we drive about 3 to 4 hours through the horizontal countryside of the Red River Delta to the area which is regarded as the “Jewel of the Crown” of Vietnam – Halong Bay. We arrive at the Dock and board our private boat to cruise through the spectacular limestone islands which is dotted with many beaches and caves. We will be served a delicious seafood lunch with a welcome glass of wine. In the afternoon we continue our fantastic cruise by visiting floating fishing village, Sung Sot cave. We also stop at Titov Beach for a fun swim.  We then anchor our boat for the night. Tonight we have a delicious seafood dinner on board served by the friendly and attentive crew men.
Stay overnight on boat

Day 16: Halong – Hanoi (B, L, D)
After breakfast we continue cruising to visit the Man’s head island, Luon cave, Bai Tu Long bay, Toad Island and Bai Tho Mountain. We have an early lunch on board before returning to the Dock. From here we catch our coach back to Hanoi. This evening we will take an interesting Cyclo ride through the vibrant maze of streets of the Old quarter. This will give us a closer look at Hanoi by night. We end up in a local restaurant where we will enjoy the final dinner . Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 17: Hanoi – Departure day (B)
Free till transfer to Saigon airport for your flight home.

                                     Wishing you an unforgetable holiday with Indochina Pioneer!

This tour is private and can be well tailor-made to suite your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and per person basis. The final price will be privately quoted upon your own number of participants, time of travel, grade of hotel rooms and other detailed services. Please click on BOOK button and fill in the requested information then our travel consultant will customize the best value holiday for you. Thank you!
 

♦ REMARKS:
1. We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated upon twin-shared basis. To Indochina Pioneer standard, here is basically how we define our service:

+ Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60USD/room/night
+ Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 110 USD/room/night
+ Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180USD/room/nigh

2. Price base in twin share basis accomodation.
3. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
4. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.
 

The hotels listed below are just suggestive for the best valued of this Vietnam Adventure 17 day trip, yet Indochina Pioneer also offers more options of our own hand-picked hotels with different levels or to customize your hotel requests to match your own taste and budget. Please kindly Contact us for more favourable deals.