DAY 1 : ARRIVE IN A HA NOI
Meet at 14:00 at the reception of the hotel.
HANOI CITY : is the capital of Northern Vietnam and keeps this role until now. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River and far about 1760 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate with plentiful precipitation. In addition, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centers of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint
Beginning of the discovery of the city:
Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House : this humble, traditional stilt house where Ho lived intermittently from 1958 to 1969 is set in a well-tended garden adjacent a carp-filled pond and has been preserved just as Ho left it.
One pillar pagoda : a wooden pagoda on a single stone pillar, and it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond.
Temple of Literature : founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu). Inside you’ll find a pond known as the ‘Well of Heavenly Clarity’, a low-slung pagoda and statues of Confucius and his disciples. A rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture, the complex honours Vietnam’s finest scholars and men of literary accomplishment. It is the site of Vietnam’s first university, established here in 1076, when entrance was only granted to those of noble birth.
Continuation visit Ngoc Son Temple erected in the eighteenth century on an island in the center of Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword). First called Ngoc Son Pagoda, it was later designated as the temple, where one came to pay homage to Saint Van Uong, considered one of the greatest minds of his century. The temple also became a place of worship dedicated to the national hero Tran Hung Dao, after his fight against the Nguyen.
Dinner.
Night at the hotel.
DAY 2 : HANOI – DUONG LAM – HA NOI
Depart to DongLam village, located about 65 km east of Hanoi, DuongLam, province of HàTây (North), is the first Vietnamese village to be recognized national cultural relic. A distinction certainly but that will allow the locality to engage the preservation of its heritage.
DuongLam has all the specificities of an ancient Vietnamese village: Banyan, temple, communal house. A peculiarity, all the monuments at DuongLam are built in laterite brick that has been polished by the erosion of time and has taken on a soft brown color.
DuongLam lists 800 old homes dating back hundreds of years. Some of them are around 400 years old.
Back to Hanoi.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Visit the Ethnographic Museum (closed every Monday).
The afternoon free for the walk in the neighborhood of 36 corporations.
Dinner at the local restaurant.
Night at the hotel .
DAY 3 : HA NOI – HA LONG
Breakfast at the hotel
Early depart to Halong Bay. Along the way stop at handicraft workshops of handicapped people of Dai Viet. Boarding aboard a traditional junk. Start of cruise.
Seafood lunch.
Halong Bay: elevated by Unesco to the world heritage range of supreme beauty, offers an unforgettable spectacle. 3,000 karstic rocks with steep reliefs form an emerald sea on 1,500 km². Some caves, nestled in granitic islets: The grotto of pieces of wood, bristling with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave of surprise with its phallus-shaped rock.
Dinner and overnight on board
(The nature of the visits being related to the change of tides and the weather conditions, the itinerary will be defined by the boat’s captain the same day.)
DAY 4 : HA LONG – NINH BINH
You will start your morning while freshness on the deck, undoubtedly admiring a sunrise over the Bay (depending on the weather).
Breakfast on board, then you will visit Luong cave (tunnel cave). Back on your junk, the cruise will continue to discover the Bay. Landing.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Depart to Ninh Binh. Scenes of Vietnamese peasants’ country life will accompany you all the way.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5 : NINH BINH – DIEN CHAU
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit Halong Bay On Land covers a very large swampy area with various rocky landscapes, limestone mountains, the ecosystem where the flora and fauna are very varied, lakes, flooded rice land, and countless river routes offering its visitors a special impression. Halong Bay on Land has several beautiful caves to discover like: Thien Ha (Galaxy Cave), Thien Thanh (Cave of Blue Sky), Tien (Fairy Cave), Vai Gioi (Prayers to Heaven Grotto), Thuy Cung (Aquarium Grotto), Phat (Buddha Cave), Tam Coc (Three Caves), Trang An caves … and several archaeological sites of big values such as Hang Me, Hang Boi, Hang Trong, May Oc….Furthermore, this are still many historical, cultural monuments in the ancient capital of Hoa Lu dating from 938 to 1009, many other historical relics of Vietnamese dynasties such as: Dinh, Le, Ly and Tran, palace of Vu Lam, Jade pagoda, the temples of Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Dai Hanh, Thai Vi …without forgetting the magnificent bird sanctuaries in the Thung Nham valley, Thung Nang valley or Sun valley….
Boat trip of 1h30 among the rice fields that surround the sugar loaf hills where served the decor of the film ” Indochina ”.
hen, visit the temples and caves of Bich Dong.
Departu to Phat Diem, the village known for its cathedral with Sino-Vietnamese architecture and which was built between 1875 and 1899.
Visit Phat Diem Stone Cathedral : is one of the most famous and beautiful churches in Vietnam with special architecture: an elegant combination between Western church architecture style and Vietnamese religious buildings. This is an Eastern architectural ensemble including Lake, Phuong Dinh, cathedral with 4 churches on the sides, 3 man-made grottos, stone churches.
Lunch at the inhabitant.
Transfer to Vinh .
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 6 : DIEN CHAU – DONG HOI
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to the south through beautiful landscapes.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Amazing visit of the huge Phong Nha en caves boat and on foot.
Phong Nha Caves : only 60km away from Dong Hoi City, this number one cavern in Vietnam has become an increasingly famous attraction in recent years. Phong Nha Cavern has many sections, with a total length of up to 20km. The mouth of the cavern has a width of 20m and a height of 10m. Phong Nha has more than 20 caves with a huge 1500m-long main hall as well as many supplement halls which are hundreds meter long. The outer caves have 10m high ceilings and the inner caves have 25-50m high ceilings. It is hard and even nearly impossible to describe in words the majestic beauty of those caves and halls painted with the glistering color of underground water reflecting on huge blocks of stalagmites and stalactites.
Installation at Dong Hoi Hotel. Having dinner.
Night at the hotel.
DAY 7 : DONG HOI – HUE
Breakfast at the hotel
Early departu to N° 1 while continuing our progression towards the south.
Visit Vinh Moc tunnels, the center of the Viet Cong resistance against the Americans and the 17th parallel bridge, a natural border between the two regions from 1954 to 1975.
Arrive Hue and have lunch.
Hue : is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Huong River, a few miles inland from Bien Dong. It is about 700 kilometers south of the Hanoi national capital and about 1100 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City. Throughout the centuries, the quintessence of country converges here to create a fantastic natural picture with romantic river and charming mountain. The architecture seems to be mixed with wonderful nature, which creates the charming picture.Today, Hue becomes the typical city of Vietnam. Every two years, people welcome Hue festival.
Visit the Imperial City built under the model of Chinese imperial palaces the citadel was built between 1805 and 1832. There are still many vestiges of this city
You will then ride a pedicab to Dong Baoù market you will find the most beautiful conical hats of Vietnam.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
DAY 8 : HUE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart to the sampan on the Perfume River to the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Thien Mu), located on the left bank of the Perfume River, it is a Buddhist sanctuary built in 1601. Its stupa deb form octagonal has 7 floors with a total height of pus of 21 meters.
Visit the charming Temple of Eunuchs.
Stop at incense workshops and conical hats.
Visit of the tomb and gardens of Emperor Tu Duc.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Demonstration of Tai Chi and Calligraphy (minimum 10 pax) in a martial arts center:
Tai chi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. The term taiji refers to a philosophy of the forces of yin and yang, related to the moves. Though originally conceived as a martial art, it is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: competitive wrestling in the format of pushing hands, demonstration competitions and achieving greater longevity. As a result, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims with differing emphasis. Some training forms are especially known for being practiced with relatively slow movements.
You will attend a puppet show on the water.
Royal dinner (minimum 16 pax) and night at the hotel.
DAY 9: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN
Breakfast at the hotel
Through the tunnel, drive to Hoi An. Stop at Danang, visit a marble workshop: this trade has been passed from generation to generation for hundreds of years.
Da Nang : is one of the cultural and educational centres of Vietnam, and it is also one of the biggest cities in Vietnam. Da Nang has an area of 1.200 km2, It is not only convenient location but also easily accessible port. It is far 108 kilometers from Hue ancient capital to the North-South. Da Nang terrain has either coastal or mountains. The high and slope mountain is in the South and North-South, from here, many mountains lasts to the sea. The mountainous terrain accounts for large area with the high of 700-1.500 meters. The nature blesses for Da Nang to locate near three world culture heritages.
Discovery on foot from Hoi An with the main centers of interest:
Shrine of Fujian: dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau, goddess protector of fishermen and sailors, this sanctuary houses statue of the goddess and her 2 assistants.
Phuc Thanh Pagoda: the oldest pagoda of Hoi An (1454) founded by a Chinese monk, it contains a statue of Buddha A Di Da and very beautiful ritual objects.
The Japanese bridge: located south of the city, this covered bridge built in 1593 connects 2 districts of the city. In the middle of this bridge stands a pagoda capped with yellow and green tiles.
An Old House: the best preserved, two centuries old, it offers a striking example of the integration of Sino-Japanese influences to the local style.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Excursion with Ecotourism:
Departure by bike through the sweet Vietnamese companion for the vegetable village of Tra Que (Located 5kms).
Renowned for its aromatic herbs, mint and basil, this village will allow you to discover the life of farmers and introduce you to their technique. The locals will guide you in the work of digging and picking vegetables.
You will then enjoy a session of foot massage (20mns) with the aromatic herbs of the village.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 : HOI AN
Morning: visit My Son Sanctuary : about 70km southwest of Danang City and 40km from Hoi An City. Of the 225 Cham vestiges that are founded in Viet Nam, My Son possesses 71 monuments and 32 epitaphs, the content of which is still being studied. According to many researchers, My Son sanctuary architecture was affected by Arabian, Malaysian, Indonesian, especially Indian culture, and it is the convergence of different styles such as ancient style. All of the towers were built from red bricks and sandstone. Today, the brick making and construction remain a secret among many archeologists.Though there are not many remnants left, My Son holly land still boasts the rich culture and arts of ancient Champa kingdom in glorious time.
You will attend a performance of Chams dances.
Lunch.
Afternoon free.
Possibility of a stroll on the night market.
Dinner at the local restaurant. Night at the hotel.
DAY 11 : HOI AN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH VILLE – CAN THO
Transfer to Danang airport and flight to Saigon
Depart to visit of the Mekong Delta.
Mekong delta : is located in Southwestern Vietnam. The water that moves to the rhythms of the mighty Mekong, where boats, houses and markets float upon the innumerable rivers, canals and streams that criss-cross the landscape like arteries. The bustling commerce of its towns contrasts sharply with the languid, almost-soporific pace of life in the countryside. Here buffalo wallow in rice paddies, coconut- and fruit-laden boats float slowly along the mud-brown waters, and two-wheeled exploration of the narrow lanes is amply rewarded with a true taste of rural hospitality.
Stop on the road to visit the temple of religionCaodaiste.
Arrive at MyTho: boarding a local motor boat and then sailing to Phoenix Island. During your walk, you will taste the coconut juice of the region.
Lunch specialty of the region at the local restaurant on the island. (Giant gourami).
Boarding then continue to the island of Ben Tre: where you will visit a family candy factory at the base of coconut milk. Depart by horse-drawn carriage and walk to the bee farm, where you will enjoy a honey tea and seasonal fruits.
Boarding a rowing boat in the arroyos.
Depart to Can Tho, installation at the hotel.
Dinner at the local restaurant.
Night at the hotel .
DAY 12 : CAN THO – HO CHI MINH CITY
Can Tho is the capital of Can Tho province and its location makes it the hub of the Mekong Delta.
Boarding on the local boat. Navigation through the Cai Rang Floating Market.
Stop in a traditional factory of rice cakes and in another Nuoc Mam.
Disembarkation then return to Saigon.
Lunch at the local restaurant On the way.
Ho Chi Minh city : also known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam with the population nearly 9 millions. The city is called ‘Diamond of the Far-East’, the same luxury level overriding Hong Kong or Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important city in Vietnam. The nice location at central of the South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important center of transportation lead to surrounding provinces , bring opportunities to develop the economy and tourism of Eastern and Western area of the South.
Visit the colonial district of the city: Dong Khoi Street: Formerly known as Rue Catinat during the French colonial days and Tu Do in the 1960s, this street was reborn during Doi Moi as the centre of Saigon’s commercial and shopping district. Local boutiques compete with international brands, and restaurants litter the street set in beautifully restored French colonial buildings.
Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral : built in the late 1880s by French colonists, is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam. Sitting between two streams of traffic, Notre Dam Cathedral is in the middle of Saigon’s chaotic District 1. A brick, neo-Romanesque church with 40m-high square towers tipped with iron spires. Interior walls are inlaid with devotional tablets and some stained glass survives. In front of the cathedral stands a Virgin Mary statue, which is said to have shed tears in 2005, causing thousands of people to stop around the Basilica.
The Saigon Opera House is owning an elegant architecture.The building still many lively evidences for the influence of French architecture in Vietnam. This magnificent building designed by French architect Ferret Eugene, was built as a classical opera house with 800 seats. The style of this majestic building is influenced by flamboyant style of the French Third Republic. Since 1975, he has returned to his original function.
On the same square, the Continental hotel founded in 1880 is the oldest establishment in Saigon. It was an institution, with many personalities who attended as André Malraux, Graham Greene, Lucien Bodart and Jean Lartéguy … and where some scenes of the film “Indochina” were shot!
The People’s Committee Building of Ho Chi Minh City : was built and put into use in 1909 as a hotel whose original name was Hôtel de Ville. It was designed by Gardes, a famous French architecture. This building is thus one of the oldest, biggest and most beautiful French style buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, functioning both as a city institution and as the city’s most prominent landmark today.
Visit of a factory of lacquered objects.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
DAY 13 : HO CHI MINH CITY – RETURN
Breakfast at the hotel
Free day.
Lunch on your own expense.