Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi 15 Days

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Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Discover Mystical Vietnam and All its Delights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

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Overview
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 15 Days
Comfort: 33.3333333333333%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 128796
Start Location: thong-tay-hoi-vietnam
End Location: xom-pho-vietnam

Guaranteed:
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Primary Activities: Sightseeing
Other Activities: Museums & Expositions, Historical Sites, Powered Boating, Local Markets, Local Culture, Local Food, Walking Tour, Local Culture & Cuisine
Activity Level: Basic

Trace the eastern coastline of mystical Vietnam, traversing the country from south to north and taking in the many attractions that lie along the way. From the modern chaos of Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to old-world Hanoi, you'll discover tumultuous history, colonial charm, vibrant colors, delicious food and inspiring scenery on this fun-filled adventure.

Trip Information:

Start: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Finish: Hanoi, Vietnam

Group size: Min 1 , Max 16

Ages: Min 12

Included activities:

Bike tour, Boat cruise, Boat cruise and homestay, Hoi An - Ancient town, Hoi An - Bicycle hire, Walking tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Perhaps arrive early to visit Ho Chi Minh tourist spots including the Reunification Palace: Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is characterized by a vast array of sights and sounds; a fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. The huge number of people rushing about their daily lives in Vietnam's largest city gives it a dynamic atmosphere and the French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee on offer. Much of the city's life takes place on the busy streets lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath, selling everything from soup to sophisticated electronics.

If you arrive early, this city has a vast array of sights and sounds to explore: ancient pagodas and cathedrals sit squarely up against the former Presidential Palace, historic Dong Khoi Street (the Rue Catinat from Graham Greene's novel, The Quiet American) and the bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown).

Optional Activities
War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City - VND15000.00
Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City - VND30000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)
Days 2-3: Cruise the mighty Mekong River before spending the night with local friends on a homestay: Head down to the Mekong Delta and visit unexplored Ben Tre where coconut is everything and anything. The fertile delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits and flowers as well as boating along the canals. On arrival, we board our private boat and cruise along the maze of waterways to visit some local cottage industries. Then head to our overnight homestay along the water. We'll be sleeping on simple camp beds in dorm-style rooms. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.

Rising early to the sounds of the delta coming alive, we enjoy a simple breakfast before boarding our boat back to Ho Chi Minh City. Board an overnight train to Nha Trang. Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a true Intrepid experience and the best way to travel long distances with the locals. Sleeper trains typically have four berth compartments (occasionally six berth depending on seasonal variations), which have bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. On occasion, passengers of different genders will be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers take the opportunity to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit prior to departure.

Included Activities
Boat cruise and homestay

Accommodation
Homestay (1 nt), Overnight sleeper train (1 nt)
Days 4-5: Take a boat trip to nearby islands or head out to the nearby mud baths in Nha Trang: Once referred to as the 'Cannes of the Orient', Nha Trang's sandy palm-lined beach and island-dotted bay still make an idyllic picture, and a cosmopolitan feel prevails in the town itself. Spend your days here soaking up the sun on a lovely beach, exploring the local markets or checking out the ancient Cham Towers nearby. Make sure you try some of the excellent seafood restaurants. Board an overnight train bound for Danang.

Optional Activities
Nha Trang boat trip, Nha Trang - VND1245000.00
Mud baths (including taxi), Nha Trang - VND280000.00
Boa Dai Villa (including taxi), Nha Trang - VND120000.00
Scuba diving, Nha Trang - USD60.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt), Overnight sleeper train (1 nt)
Days 6-8: Hoi An: Arrive in Danang and travel by minibus to Hoi An (approx 1 hr). Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South-East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did more than a century ago and it retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it.

It's also a shopping mecca - with much to browse and buy. Choose from original paintings, handcraft woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and more. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring - with a great variety of fabrics and tailors to choose from. Bring your favorite piece of clothing or even just a picture, and you'll be able to have it copied.

There's no better way to explore the peaceful countryside of Hoi An than by bike. Your leader will take you to places few tourists get the chance to see, past green rice paddies and small creeks, this is a true insight into country living in Vietnam.

Included Activities
Hoi An - Ancient town
Bike tour
Hoi An - Bicycle hire

Optional Activities
Hoi An - My Son Cham day trip, Hoi An - VND800000.00
Hoi An - Thu Bon river boat trip, Hoi An - VND100000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (3 nts)
Days 9-11: Hue: Departing Hoi An, we can stop at China Beach before crossing the dramatic Hai Van Pass to the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. After a quick stop, continue on to Hue (approx 5 hrs including stops). The pace of life is slow and tranquility prevails in Hue - the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Founded as a royal city in 1687, it's the gateway to the treasures of Vietnam's royal past.

You have a free day to explore. The Dong Ba market, which sells everything imaginable, is a great place to spend some time. Visit the Imperial Citadel, including the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost totally destroyed during the American War's Tet Offensive, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric and the gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the war.

Enjoy a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River. The trip includes a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, considered by many to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. It's an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. One of the most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk who, in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. We also visit one of the royal tombs, that of Emperor Tu Duc, with its central lake set amid a grove of frangipani and pine trees, and we may visit what many believe to be the most majestic of all the royal tombs, Minh Mang. Board an overnight train bound for Hanoi.

Optional Activities
Imperial Citadel, Hue - VND80000.00
Perfume River cruise and Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue - VND198000.00
Royal tomb, Hue - VND80000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nts), Overnight sleeper train (1 nt)
Day 12: Hanoi: The capital of Vietnam is a charming city with a population of around four million. Hanoi is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and its thriving old town center, which is an architectural museum piece with blocks of ocher buildings retaining the air of a 1930s provincial French town. As Vietnam develops to compete with other South-East Asian countries, the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake reflects the contrasts of modern office buildings, old Buddhist temples and the tangle of ancient streets in its still surface.

Take a walking tour of the Old Quarter. You'll visit the Dong Xuan market, the biggest wholesale market in northern Vietnam, stroll through the ancient '36 streets' where you can discover an amazing selection of shops selling everything from souvenirs to exquisite silk clothing, beautifully embroidered tablecloths. Your leader will point out some of the unique architecture around Hoan Kiem Lake and the myths and legends of the lake.

Included Activities
Walking tour

Optional Activities
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Museum, Hanoi - VND50000.00
Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi - VND20000.00
Army Museum, Hanoi - VND20000.00
Women's Museum, Hanoi - VND30000.00
Temple of Literature, Hanoi - VND20000.00
Hoa Lo 'Hanoi Hilton' Prison, Hanoi - VND15000.00
Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi - VND25000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 13: Halong Bay: Drive through the Red River Delta to Halong Bay (approx 4 hrs), stopping en route for refreshments at a handicraft village run by disabled people. Halong Bay is a breathtaking secluded harbour with 2,000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo Gulf. One of Vietnam's most scenic regions, this area of about 1,500 sq km is dotted with innumerable beaches and grottos, created over thousands of years by waves and wind.

Board our boat and cruise the breathtaking bay with its limestone karsts rising from the clear emerald waters. We enjoy a sumptuous seafood lunch on board, explore some of the limestone caves in the area and go swimming during the warmer months. Stay on the beautiful and relaxing Cat Ba Island. The lovely foreshore is a great place to sip an evening beer and watch the sunset.

Included Activities
Boat cruise

Optional Activities
Cat Ba National Park (entrance & transport), Cat Ba - VND120000.00

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)
Days 14-15: Hanoi: Travel by ferry to Haiphong. Drive back to Hanoi (approx 3 hrs). There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart our accommodation at any time. Please check the 'Finishing Point Hotel' section for checkout times and luggage storage possibilities.

Accommodation
Hotel (1 nt)

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Trip Excludes

Trip ID#: 128796

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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