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Itinerary
for Vietnam Discovery Tour - August 2012
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| Note: |
Meals
are included in the itinerary as
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner |
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17.08.12
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Sydney
passengers depart at 8.05am on SQ 212, arriving in Singapore at
2.25pm.
Brisbane passengers depart at 9.10am on SQ 256, arriving in Singapore
at 3.20pm.
Melbourne passengers depart at 10.20am on SQ 238, arriving in Singapore
at 4.10pm.
All passengers depart Singapore at 5.35pm
on SQ 186, arriving in Saigon (Ho Chi
Minh
City) at 6.40pm. Upon arrival you will be met and
transferred to your hotel, located right on the main street of downtown
Saigon, convenient for you to wander around.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel
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18.08.12
(B/L/D) |
Saigon
In the morning there is a short walking tour around downtown passing
the Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral
& The Central Post Office. After that you visit
the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), the
War Remnants Museum, China Town with a short walk around Cho Lon, the
biggest wholesale market in Vietnam. Then visit Thien Hau Temple, which
is the oldest Chinese temple dedicated to the Sea Goddess. Pho
(traditional
Vietnamese noodle soup) & spring rolls will be for lunch. The
afternoon is at
leisure. In the evening there will be a dinner cruise on the Saigon
River.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel |
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19.08.12
(B/L/D) |
Saigon
- Cu Chi Tunnels - Cao Dao Temple
A full day tour to
visit Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai
religion in Tay Ninh. Leave Saigon in the early morning
to visit
the Cu Chi
Tunnels, 65km northwest of Saigon. The Cu Chi tunnels are an
amazing complex of underground
tunnels used during the Vietnam War. Continue to Tay Ninh church, which
is the centre of the unusual Cao Dai religion, which combines
Buddhism,
Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. See this spectacular church with
worshippers attending the noon service in their colourful
tunics. Lunch is at a good restaurant in Tay Ninh. Return to
Saigon in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel |
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20.08.12
(B/L)
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Saigon
- My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Morning departure from
the hotel for a coach trip to My
Tho
which is a two hour drive from Ho Chi Minh
City. My Tho is a prosperous town of 200,000 inhabitants in the
Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense
rice fields. Enjoy a 4-5 hour boat ride on the Mekong River as well as
a horse ride on a cart (traditional transportation). Visit an orchard
on an island, a coconut candy workshop and a bee farm with
lunch included at a farmers house. Return to Saigon in the
late
afternoon.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel |
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21.08.12
(B/L/D)
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Saigon
- Dalat
Depart Saigon for
Dalat, a cool mountain resort built by
the French in
the 1920's as a hill station. It's lakes, waterfall,
evergreen
forest and gardens makes Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in
Vietnam. We have a beautiful drive through rubber, coffee & tea
plantations, which includes a stopover at La Nga floating village.
Lunch is at Lien Do
restaurant in Bao Loc. Arrive Dalat and check in at
the
hotel. Dinner is at a
local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort |
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22.08.12
(B/L/D)
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Dalat
This morning there is a short drive to the Dalat cable car station
for a 15 minute ride overlooking beautiful pine forests, flower
and vegetable gardens. Then
visit the Crazy House, followed by Bao Dai's summer villa and a famous
embroidery workshop in Vietnam. Enjoy a 20 minute train ride through
vegetable gardens to Trai Mat, then visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda, famous for
being made out of beer bottles and ceramics. Lunch is at a local
restaurant. In the afternoon there is a visit to the Valley of Love.
Afterwards visit Lat Village (12 kms from town) to see the
K'hor
people,
who are the local ethnic minority and the
original people to the area. Enjoy a 1 hour interesting dance and gong
show, before having dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort |
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23.08.12
(B/L)
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Dalat
- Nha Trang
Depart Dalat on a nice four hour drive to Nha
Trang, a very popular beach resort to
both Vietnamese
and foreign tourists. Lunch will be at a local restaurant upon arrival
in Nha Trang. After lunch there is a visit to a very interesting Champa
temple, Po Nagar, which is called the mother Goddess of Champa and was
built in the 10th Century. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Michelia Hotel |
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24.08.12
(B/L)
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Nha
Trang
Enjoy a morning boat trip to visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium and Mieu Island.
Then visit Mun Island where there is an opportunity to enjoy
swimming and snorkelling in the South China Sea.
Lunch will be at a local barbeque seafood restaurant. You will have
free
time in the afternoon for more swimming & wandering the
town.
Accommodation: Michelia Hotel |
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25.08.12
(B/L)
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Nha
Trang - Danang - Hoi An
Transfer to the airport
for your early morning flight to
Danang. Upon arrival into Danang, stop at China Beach, where the
Americans came for rest &
relaxation during the Vietnam war. Also stop in the area of
the five marble
mountains. Afterwards there is a 40 minute drive to
Hoi An and then a short walking tour to orient yourself with the
town. Lunch is at
the excellent 'Ly Cafe'. The historical town Hoi An was
a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Its
community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style
with Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese & French influences. It is a
very laid back town and a good place for shopping, especially
tailoring. Hoi An has become known as the tailor capital of
Vietnam with
hundreds of
tailor, art and souvenir shops near the hotel and in
town. The rest
of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel |
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26.08.12
(B/D)
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Hoi An
This morning is at leisure to shop and wander around
Hoi An.
In the mid afternoon there
is a one hour cruise on the Thu Bon River, before a beautiful
dinner with a cooking
demonstration at "Morning Glory" Restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel |
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27.08.12
(B/L/D)
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Hoi An
- Hue
Depart
Hoi An for Hue, the homeland of Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty
of Vietnam which ruled the country from 1802 to 1945. We
travel across the Hai Van
Pass (Pass of the Oceans Clouds), passing through many pretty red-tiled
villages with fruit orchards and enjoying spectacular views of
sky
and
sea. Arrive in Hue, with
lunch at cafe "Mandarin". In
the late afternoon there is a one hour cyclo ride around the citadel
& the city. Dinner is at a local restaurant 'Imperial Park'.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel. |
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28.08.12
(B/D)
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Hue
This morning there is a
visit to the Citadel which
was built from 1804 - 1833.
Then to Thien Mu Pagoda, which is famous in Hue and the rest
of
Vietnam. Afterwards
there is a boat trip back to the hotel on the Perfume River.
In the mid afternoon there is a visit to the tomb
of Tu Duc,
the 4th
emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty which ruled the country from 1848 to 1883
and the tomb of Khai Dinh, the 12th emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty which
ruled the country from 1916 to 1925, a beautiful mosaic building.
Tonight there is a special imperial dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Serenade Hotel |
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29.08.12
(B/L/D) |
Hue
- Hanoi
This morning you are transferred to the airport for your flight to
Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi you are transferred to the hotel. Lunch is
at a local restaurant. In the afternoon there is
a visit
to the
Museum of
Ethnology and a one hour cyclo ride around the Old & the French
Quarter of Hanoi. Dinner is at a local
restaurant.
Accommodation: Serenade Hotel |
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30.08.12
(B/L/D) |
Hanoi
Enjoy a full day city
tour of Hanoi with visits to Ho Chi
Minh's mausoleum, museum and residence. Also visit One Pillar Pagoda.
Lunch is at KOTO, whose owner employs and trains disadvantaged
Vietnamese in the hospitality industry. After lunch visit the Temple of
Literature, which was built in the 11th Century and is known as
Vietnam's first university. In the evening enjoy a water puppet show,
the unique art of the Vietnamese since the 11th Century. Dinner tonight
is at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Serenade Hotel |
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31.08.12
(B/L/D)
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Hanoi
- Halong Bay
This morning we depart
Hanoi on a four hour drive to
Halong Bay. Halong Bay is one of the seven
natural wonders of the world and listed as a World Heritage Site. It is
an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is known in Vietnamese as
'Dragon descending into the Sea'. Picturesque Halong Bay has more than
1,969 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water. Many of
them contain beautiful grottoes. Upon arrival in Halong Bay, we board
the Bai Tho Junk, with lunch on board. In the afternoon there is a
fantastic cruise on Halong Bay with a visit to Sung Sot Cave and a swim
at Titov Beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching the sunset,
depending on the weather.
Accommodation: Bai Tho Junk
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01.09.12
(B/L/D) |
Halong
Bay - Hanoi
We have a few more
hours on the junk, before heading back
to Hanoi. In
this time we will have a morning cruise to visit Man's Head Island,
Tortoise Island, visit Luon Cave by a small bamboo boat, Bai Tu Long
Bay, Toad Island, and Bai Tho Mountain. We have an early
lunch on
board before
disembarking. We then make our way back
to Hanoi, with a stop a ceramic village on the way. Dinner is at a
local restaurant. After dinner transfer to the train station to board
the Livitrans Train to Sapa at 8.35pm. This first class sleeper
carriage has 2 or 4 seats to a compartment, which convert into 2 or 4
sleeping bunks for the overnight portion of the journey. The bunks are
provided with sheets, pillow and a blanket, though some people prefer
to bring their own sleeping sheet. Please note that this train is
considered first class by Vietnam standards but is not first
class
by Australian standards. It is however one of the best trains available
on this route. For this tour there will be two persons to each cabin.
Note:
Passengers paying
the single supplement will be required to share with another person on
the train.
Accommodation: Livitrans Train or similar.
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02.09.12
(B/L/D) |
Lao Cai - Bac Ha Sunday
Market - Sapa
Arrive at Lao Cai
station at 5am and have a buffet
breakfast at a local restaurant before heading off to Bac Ha Market, a
regular market held every Sunday for ethnic minorities. You'll see the
gathering of thousands of people of H'Mong, Dao and
Tay
ethnic minorities wearing their colourful, traditional costumes. It is
a riot of colour and fun. There is time to explore the colourful market
and meet the local tribal people to appreciate their culture &
tradition. There is a visit to a palace built in the 1920's for the so
called 'King Hmong'. Afterwards we return to Lao Cai where we have
lunch. Whilst in Lao Cai there is an opportunity to take
photos at
the border gate between Vietnam & China. We then have a one
hour
drive to Sapa. Sapa is a hill station built in 1922. The whole
area is spectacular, as Sapa lies in a valley surrounded by paddy
fields in a variety of shades of green, but is overlooked by Vietnam's
highest mountain, Mount Fansipan. You will see the local minority
groups, the H'mong and the Dzao people, the largest and the most
colourful ethnic groups in the region. Dinner tonight is at a local
restaurant.
Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View)
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03.09.12
(B/L) |
Sapa
After breakfast, take a
4 kilometre drive to the rim of a
deep valley. Along the road you'll see H'Mong, Dzay and Dzao
minority people dressed in their traditional costumes. There is a
two hour walk at a gentle pace around Ta Van and Lao Chai,
home to
all three minorities. Observe their daily lives for a rare glimpse into
their culture and costumes. Lunch is at a local restaurant while
enjoying a traditional music show by ethnic minorities of the area. The
rest of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Chau Long Hotel (Mountain View) |
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04.09.12
(B/L/D) |
Sapa
- Hanoi
This morning we leave Sapa on a long and scenic drive for Hanoi. We
stop for a picnic lunch on the way. We arrive in Hanoi in the early
evening and have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Serenade Hotel |
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05.09.12
(B) |
Hanoi
- Singapore - Australia
Mid morning departure from the Hotel for Hanoi airport. Depart
Hanoi at 1.15pm on SQ 175, arriving in
Singapore at 5.40pm.
Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 8.10pm on SQ 221, arriving in
Sydney at 5.55am (06.09.12).
Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.00pm on SQ 227, arriving in
Melbourne at 6.20am (06.09.12).
Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at 9.15pm on SQ 235, arriving in
Brisbane at 6.55am (06.09.12). |
