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Itinerary
for Vietnam Overland Tour - March 2011 |
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| Note: |
Meals are included in the itinerary as
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner |
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| 28.03.11 |
Sydney passengers
depart at 9.05am on SQ 212, arriving in
Singapore at 2.30pm.
Depart Brisbane at 9.20am on SQ 256, arriving in Singapore at 3.25pm.
Depart Melbourne at 11.10am 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.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel. |
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29.03.11
(B/L) |
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 to visit Binh Tay, the
biggest wholesale market in Vietnam, then to Thien Hau Temple
which
is the oldest Chinese temple dedicated to the Sea Goddess.
Lunch is at Pho 2000 Restaurant where you will have Pho a traditional
Vietnamese Noodles Soup & spring rolls. The rest of the day at
leisure.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel. |
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30.03.11
(B/L)
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Saigon
- My Tho (Mekong Delta)
Morning departure from hotel for 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 and
visit an orchard on an island, coconut candy workshop, bee farm with
lunch on the way. Return to Saigon late afternoon.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel. |
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31.03.11
(B/L)
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Saigon
- Cu Chi Tunnels
A half day tour to a fascinating tunnel network built by
the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Lunch is at Alfresco restaurant. The
rest
of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Huong Sen Hotel. |
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01.04.11
(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. With lakes, waterfall,
evergreen
forest and garden makes Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in
Vietnam. Beautiful drive through rubber, coffee & tea
plantations.
A stopover at La Nga floating village, lunch on the way 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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02.04.11
(B/D)
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Dalat
Morning Dalat city orientation driving to the Crazy House, Bao
Dai's Summer Palace & a beautiful embroidery workshop. In the
afternoon enjoy a visit to the Lat village to see the K'hor people
& enjoy one hour music dance show of this Ethnic minority. Dinner
is at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort |
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03.04.11
(B/L)
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Dalat
- Nha Trang
Depart Dalat for
Nha Trang, a very popular beach resort to Vietnamese
and foreign tourists. On the way stop at Dalat Cable car station
for a 15 minute ride overlooking beautiful pine forest, flower
and vegetable gardens and then Poklongiarai Cham Tower before a picnic
lunch. Arrive in Nha Trang mid afternoon and check in to your
hotel.
Accommodation: Nha Trang Lodge Hotel. |
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04.04.11
(B/L)
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Nha
Trang
This morning enjoy a morning boat trip to visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium and
Mieu Island
then Mun island for swimming and snorkeling. Lunch is at a nice local
restaurant.
Afternoon at leisure for own exploration of Nha Trang.
Accommodation: Nha Trang Lodge Hotel. |
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05.04.11
(B/L/D)
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Nha
Trang - Qui Nhon
A beautiful drive through prawn, crab farms, sugar
cane & rice paddies. Lunch is on the way. Arrive at Qui Nhon mid
afternoon. Free time to wander around.
Dinner is at
the hotel.
Accommodation: Hoang Anh Resort. |
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06.04.11
(B/L/D)
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Qui
Nhon - Hoi An
A long drive to My Lai Memorial, where 504 villagers were
killed by the American soldiers in 1968, six weeks after Tet Offensive.
Picnic lunch then continue on to Hoi An. Check-in at the
hotel.
Dinner is at an excellent café in town "LY".
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel. |
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07.04.11
(B/D)
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Hoi An
A short walking tour around the town. Discover the
historical town of
Hoi An, which 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 and French
influences.
Hoi An is a good place for
shopping, especially tailoring, very laid back and only 4kms to the
beach, a good place to relax.
One hour cruise on Thu Bon river before a beautiful dinner with a
cooking class in a nice local restaurant "Morning Glory".
Accommodation: Hoi An Hotel. |
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08.04.11
(B/L) |
Hoi An
- Hue
Depart
Hoi An for Hue, the homeland of Nguyen dynasty, the last dynasty
of Vietnam which ruled the country from1802 to 1945, across the Hai Van
Pass (Pass of the Oceans Clouds), passing through many pretty re-tiled
villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and
sea. Stop over at the 5 marble mountains and China Beach where
the Americans came for R & R during the Vietnam War. Lunch is
at a nice cafe in Hue "Mandarin". One hour cyclo ride
around this
interesting city.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel. |
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09.04.11
(B/D)
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Hue
Morning tour visiting the Citadel which was built from
1804 - 1833 then
to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous pagoda in Hue and Vietnam. Take a boat
trip on the Perfume River and then back to the hotel.
Mid afternoon there will be a tour 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.
Dinner is at a nice local restaurant.
Accommodation: Saigon Morin Hotel. |
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10.04.11
(B/L/D)
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Hue -
Dong Hoi
Depart
Hue for Dong Hoi, Stopover at Ben Hai River known as
DMZ, the demarcation line between the North & the South in
the Vietnam
War. Arrive Dong Hoi early afternoon. Dinner
is at the hotel. Rest of the day free to enjoy this new beach resort
area of North Vietnam.
Accommodation: Sun Spa Resort |
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11.04.11
(B/L/D) |
Dong Hoi - Ninh Binh
Leave Dong Hoi for Ninh Binh, known as Dry Halong Bay. On the way
stopover at Vinh for lunch, a city in the north absolutely damaged by
the American bombing in the Vietnam War which was rebuilt by East
Germany, the homeland where Ho Chi Minh (called by the
people Bac Ho, Uncle Ho) was born and grew up. Arrive Ninh Binh
late afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Yen Nhi Hotel
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12.04.11
(B/L/D)
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Ninh Ninh - Hanoi
This morning enjoy a one hour boat ride in a sampan on a small
stream winding between rice fields and limestone cliffs rising almost
vertically out of the paddy fields. A spectacular sight!
Leaving Ninh Binh for Hanoi the Capital of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam. Lunch at "Little Hanoi Resturant"
In the afternoon enjoy a one hour cyclo ride around the Old and the
French Quarter of Hanoi.. Tonight enjoy the water puppet show a unique
traditional art form of
Vietman from the 11th century before dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel |
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13.04.11
(B/L) |
Hanoi
Start your day with a visit to the Ho Chi
Minh's Mausoleum, Museum and Residence, One Pillar Pagoda and a
short
walking tour around the old quarter before lunch at the "Koto"
restaurant.
In the afternoon visit to the Temple of Literature built in the 11th
century known as Vietnam's first university. Evening at leisure
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel. |
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14.04.11
(B/L)
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Hanoi
This morning visit to the Army & Ethnology Museum. Lunch at a local
restaurant.
Rest of the day free.
Accommodation: Galaxy Hotel
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15.04.11
(B/L/D) |
Hanoi
- Halong Bay
Leaving Hanoi for Halong Bay on the way stopover at the
most famous traditional handicraft village of Vietnam making ceramics
Lunch on the way.
Arrive Halong Bay mid afternoon, you might like enjoy a swim in the
pool or watching the world go by from your balcony at your hotel.
Dinner tonight.
Accommodation: Saigon Halong Bay
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16.04.11
(B/L/D)
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Halong Bay
A 6 hour cruise on Halong Bay with seafood lunch on board.
Halong Bay is
listed as world heritage, the area of outstanding beauty.
"Dragon descending on the sea", as it is known in Vietnamese,
picturesque Halong Bay has around 1,969 limestones islets rising from
the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. A
visit to a beautiful cave and an opportunity for a swim during the
cruise.
Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Saigon Halong
Bay |
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17.04.11
(B) |
Halong Bay - Hanoi
Transfer back to the Hanoi Airport
Departing at
1.30pm on SQ 175, arriving in
Singapore at 5.50pm.
Sydney passengers depart Singapore at 8.35pm on SQ 221, arriving in
Sydney at 5.55am (18.04.11)
Melbourne passengers depart Singapore at 9.00pm on SQ 227, arriving in
Melbourne at 6.20am (18.04.11)
Brisbane passengers depart Singapore at 9.10pm on SQ 235,
arriving
in Brisbane at 6.45am (18.04.11) |