Vietnam has such geographic and cultural diversity, such overwhelming beauty. On your Vietnam Discovery tour, you’ll sample her premier cities and her quaint historic towns, her imperial roots, her conflicted past and her dynamic future. Highlights include bustling Hanoi, quintessentially Asian and yet reminiscent of Paris in its broad tree lined boulevards. Far to the south, Ho Chi Minh City, pulsates with the energy of 6 million people in noisy pursuit of prosperity even as they maintain age-old traditions. You’ll see ruins of the ancient Hindu Champa culture at Nha Trang, vestiges of imperial Vietnam in Hué, the home of emperors, the once bustling seaport of Hoi An, a port dating back centuries, now a charming town of wood-fronted shop houses where expert tailors can whip you up outfits of fine silk. Pagodas; palaces; the surreal limestone karst islands of Ha Long Bay, the luxuriant vistas of emerald rice paddies; water buffalo, peasants in conical hats and fine food – these are the unforgettable memories you’ll take away.
Your Vietnam tour begins as you are met at the Noi Bai International Airport, and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Remainder of day is at your leisure. (D)
Your city tour starts at the Ho Chi Minh Complex on Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh declared independence in 1945 (- this famous site contains his mausoleum); then visit the Presidential Palace, an Italianate Renaissance chateau that “Uncle Ho” declined to live in and the house on stilts he chose instead. Next visit the beautiful Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), founded in 1070 as what was in effect a Confucian University. This spectacular 14 acre site houses temples, courtyards, pavilions, and dormitories. Next onto the impressive Ethnologic Museum, where you can learn of the many ethnic minorities and their way of life, including some reconstructed minority homes. This evening you will be entertained by a performance of the thousand-year-old Vietnamese art Water Puppet Show. (B/L/D)
This morning venture out of the city into Ha Yay Province to visit the Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong) a complex of temples, halls and grottoes set in a craggy (limestone) Karst landscape. The Perfume Pagoda is one of the most important religious and cultural sites in Vietnam. After lunch, time permitting, visit a handicraft village which specializes in to’ he toys, figures fashioned from rice dough. (B/L/D)
Pack your overnight bag you are on your way to a marvelous overnight adventure on board a deluxe Junk. Ha Long Bay is a seascape of craggy karst towers that rise hundreds of feet above the unique jade-green waters of the bay made famous in the film Indochine. Sit back and enjoy this beautiful spectacle of nature. Visit a fishing village and have time for a swim or a walk on one of the many islands. Dinner is served on board and you spend the evening gazing at the stars. Overnight in luxurious guestrooms on board. (B/L/D)
Awaken to the beauty of the bay. Visit Hang Sung Sot (grotto of surprises) regarded as one of the two most beautiful caves in the bay. Enjoy a buffet Brunch while cruising back through the bay. Returning to Hanoi stop at Hong Ngoc village established for handicapped persons who make wonderful items and crafts for sale. (B/L/D)
Today you fly to Hue, the old imperial capital. After lunch you will enjoy a motorized rickshaw tour of the many villages and garden homes. (B/L/D)
This morning you board a boat for a cruise on the Perfume River to give you a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the beautiful Pagoda of Thien Mu with its impressive “Heavenly Lady” seven-story tower. You then continue on to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. After lunch you visit the elaborate Royal Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous Tu Hieu Pagoda. Upon returning to the city, you take a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market passing many fantastic eating spots where visitors eagerly sample some of the local delicacies. (B/L)
An early morning check out and a drive to Hoi An via the Hai Van (Ocean Clouds Pass). You stop on the way to visit China Beach, a 500 year old Stone Carving Village which sits at the base of one of the Marble Mountains and which continues its stone carving today. Next visit the Marble Mountains, a grouping of limestone and marble outcroppings, also known as Ngu Hanh (“five elements” of water, wood, earth and fire). This is one of four mountains located south of Da Nang which stretches from the coast westward for about 3 miles. The mountains are riddled with cave entrances and tunnels. You continue on to Hoi An, nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Before the river filled with silt, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia for centuries, and a center for East-West exchange and trade. Enjoy lunch and then check in to your hotel, then the rest of the day is for you to soak up the ambience of this special place and leisurely stroll through the town enjoying some of the sites in Hoi An. (B/L/D)
Hoi An was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced through centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures (Persia, Arabia, Japan, China, Portugal, France, to name a few), and its ancient architecture is a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. In recognition of its uniqueness and historical UNESCO has placed Hoi An on its World Heritage List. During today’s city tour stroll across the Japanese Bridge, visit the different Chinese Assembly Halls and pagodas, and walk through the market. Hoi An is also a wonderful town in which to shop for silk. The afternoon is at your leisure to relax or explore more of Hoi An or do some shopping. (B/L)
This morning fly to Nha Trang, a beach town on the south central coast. Above the Cai River an 80 foot sparkling white Buddha perches above the Long Son Pagoda a sight you will visit after your arrival in Nha Trang. A visit is also planned to the Stone Church. Following lunch, you then transfer to your hotel. You then stay overnight in Nha Trang. (B/L/D)
At one end of the beach Hon Chong Promontory overlooks the sea where you will enjoy the magnificent views. Inland from the promontory is Po Nagar Cham Towers on a bluff overlooking the Cai River. The tower (built between the 7th and 15th centuries by the originally Hindu Cham people who ruled the region). Tap Ba (tower of the lady) is the most impressive of the four main towers and holds a large statue of the goddess Po Nagar. This afternoon you visit a number of offshore island and fishing villages and look for the uniquely shaped round basket boats used by fishermen and women in the area.
Today you fly to Ho Chi Minh City where you transfer to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, called "The Pearl of the Sea" by locals, still has its French charms, even as it embraces twenty first century commercialism. This frenetic metropolis is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, with bustling shopping areas and sidewalk cafes. It is a marvelous starting point for those who want to explore Vietnam’s rich 4,000 year history. If time permits, you may wish to stroll around downtown to explore the different local ways of life. (B/L/D)
You drive this morning to Tay Ninh and visit the headquarters of one of Vietnam’s most interesting indigenous religions the Cao Dai sect, founded in 1923. Attend the fantastic mid-day service where followers of this sect fill the hall wearing colorful robes, a symbol of the unusual combination of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, native Vietnamese spiritualism, Christianity and Islam. On the return to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of 125 miles of tunnels and chambers constructed over several decades by Vietnamese fighters in the period to 1975. (B/L/D)
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)
| Daily Departure | **** | |
| Twin Share | Single Room Supplement | |
| Jan-April 11 | $2895 | $1298 |
| May-Sep 11 | $2845 | $1298 |
| Oct-Dec 11 | $2998 | $1398 |
The prices of above tour are land only and based on a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.
For more details on what is included in this tour please click here