The Best of Vietnam for Mrs.Bower and Mrs.Williams

THE BEST OF VIETNAM SOUTH TO NORTH

With: Ms. Joanne Bowyer & Mr.Brendan Berry
            Ms. Janice Ann Williams and Mr.Peter David Williams

DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 1: 08 Oct 16: Arrive Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Upon arrival at the airport, process visa procedure then meet with your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage (Early check-in is NOT included and subject to hotel’s availability).

Mrs.Janice Ann Williams and Mr.Peter David William arrive in Saigon with flight SQ186K (Perth to Saigon), arrival Time: 18:35PM. Pick-up and transfer to hotel Rex.  

He will be back at the airport for Ms. Joanne Bowyer and Brendan Berry (Australia) Arrive Flight QF4220 arriving at 21:00 than all drive to hotel.

Meals:                   N/A
Hotel:                    Rex Hotel, 02DBL DLX

Day 2: 09 Oct 16: Morning Free Time and Visit Cu Chi Tunnels underground Network Breakfast at hotel. The whole morning free at lesuire to walk around the city.
12:00PM, depart Saigon for Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon arrival visit the underground. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command center and kitchens. Today the remaining bloody tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war. Drive back to Saigon in the late afternoon.

Note: the best time to travel from 10:30AM or at 11:00AM to avoid trafic jam in Saigon in the afternoon form 17:30 to 19:00PM

Welcome Dinner onboard with the Cruise along Saigon River.

Meals:                   Dinner
Hotel:                    Rex Hotel, 02DBL DLX

Day 3: 10 Oct 16: Saigon – City Tour in the Morning – Afternoon Free Time (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel and enjoy city tour to visit Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 and the stone used to create it was exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam’s largest post office. Continue to visit the Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Endour city tour today with a stroll around the bustling Ben Thanh Market – a fantastic place for shopping.

Meals:                   Lunch at Indochina Restaurant
Hotel:                    Rex Hotel, 02DBL DLX

Day 4: 11 Oct 16: Saigon – Flight to Danang – Hoi An
Breakfast at hotel and transfer directly to take flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, welcome by our tour-guide and tranfer to Hoi An.

In a country ravaged by war, Hoi An managed to remain untouched, and as you wander the completely traffic-free streets of this ancient seaport it is not hard to imagine yourself amidst the sailors and merchants of the 18th Century, when Hoi An was one of the busiest trading ports in Asia. And don’t forget that this is the town famed for its great tailors; so if you brought anything with you to be replicated—or want to have some traditional Vietnamese dresses made—this is the spot.

Meals:                   Lunch
Hotel:                    Vinh Hung Resort, 02DBL DLX

Day 5: 12 Oct 16: Hoi An Cooking Class in the Morning – Visit in the afternoon
Your guide will offer to lead you around Hoi An’s historic Old Town; the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An, a major international trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, has an enchanting Old Quarter full of mansions built by prosperous Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants. Enjoy a vivid sense of history as you walk the narrow streets, visiting houses, artisan workshops and the bustling fish market along the quay before meeting our special Chef at Green Mango Restaurant who gave the Cooking Lesson to Bill Clinton President and his wife.

Afternoon, enjoy Hoi An city tour with Phung Hung Ancient House, Japanese bridge, Hoi An Museum, Phuoc Kien Temple. Please keep in your mind that YALY COUTURE is also the hightlight of Hoi An where you can try to make your tailor-made suite.

Meals:                   Lunch with Cooking Class
Hotel:                    Vinh Hung Resort, 02DBL DLX

Day 6: 13 Oct 16: Hoi An free time
Breakfast at hotel and time is free and easy. You can choose to do more shopping in Hoi An or just take a bike ride or shuttle bus to the Beach (5km) from hotel.

Meals:                   N/A
Hotel:                    Vinh Hung Resort, 02DBL DLX

Day 7: 14 Oct 16: Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Hanoi
Breakfast at hotel and free time in the morning.
13:30PM, transfer to Da Nang Airport to take flight to Hanoi in the afternoon. Upon arrival, pick-up and transfer to city center.

Flight VN 7164: Da Nang – Hanoi: 15:45 – 17:05

Meals:                  N/A
Hotel:                    Silk Path Hotel, 02DBL DLX

Day 8: 15 Oct 16: Hanoi – Ha Long
Breakfast at hotel, pick-up then transfer to Ha Long Bay. You will a join-in basis cruise in Ha Long Bay with tour-guide from Dragon Legend Cruise

07:40 – 08:00: Pick up at your tour-guide and driver
12:00 – 12:30: Embark at Hon Gai International harbor.
12:30 – 13:00: Check-in. Cruise begins with welcome drink and safety briefing.
13:30 – 14:30: Set menu lunch served in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather) while    cruising into magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating limestone karsts on the way.
15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam area: Swim or relax on a white sandy beach; Go kayaking through the mystery Karst Mountains in Vung Dang area.
18:00 – 20:30: Return to Dragon Legend Cruise to refresh yourself in Mineral Seawater Pool, Fitness Room or the Spa and Massage Services before dinner.
20:30: Spend the rest of your evening relaxing, talking with the on board team, watching movies, listening to music… Overnight in Tra San area

Note: Pls bring your passport and small luggage for 01 night on the cruise

Meals:                   Lunch, Dinner
Train:                    Dragon Legend, 02 DBL Cabin

Day 9: 16 Oct 16:  Tra san – Thien Canh Son Cave – Hon Gai Harbor – Hanoi – Night Train to Sapa (B/L/-)
06:30 – 07:00: Start a new day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sun-deck.
07:00 – 07:30: Take in the morning view of the Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy breakfast in the fresh air.
7:30 – 09:45: Cruise to Cong Do area to explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.
10:00: Check out your cabin.
10:45 – 11:30: Enjoy a Buffet while cruising towards the harbor.
11:30 – 12:00: Disembark and drive back to Hanoi
17:00: Arrive in Hanoi and free time.

Meals:                  Lunch
Hotel:                    Silk Path Hotel, 02DBL DLX

Day 10: 17 Oct 16: Hanoi – Sapa
Morning take easy visit of Hanoi to visit the Lake B52 and have some coffee in the West Lake with the visit to Tran Quoc pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple.

Drive back to hotel to relax until the late check-out at 18:00PM. You will have free dinner and at 20:30, the guide and driver will pick-up you at hotel than transfer to station for check-in at Victoria train.

The guide in Hanoi will say farewell and wish you good trip to Sapa

Meals:                   Lunch
Train:                    Victoria Sapa Hotel, 02 SUP DBL Rooms

Day 11: 18 Oct 16: Lao Cai – Coc Ly Market ONLY ON TUESDAY – Sapa
Train arrive early in the morning. Upon arrival you are pick-up by local tour-guide and transfer to local restaurant for early breakfast. Drive to Coc Ly Market (110 km / 2h 45m from Sapa). Coc Ly Market is a small/medium sized market held every Wednesday. Set among beautiful rolling mountains this is a colourful market full of local products and handicrafts. Here you will find Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Phu La, Black Dao and Chinese traders engaged in business.

Enjoy spending time walking around the market taking in the sights and sounds (not to mention tastes) and perhaps engage in some business with the local people.

Boarding cruise downstream of Chay River (subject to the water level due to the hydraulic dam) with stop at Trung Do village. You could walk around to enjoy the local life before heading to Bao Nhai by boat. Simple lunch at local restaurant.

Transfer to Sapa in the after noon. Upon arrival, check-in and free time at easy.

Meals:                  Lunch at local restaurant
Hotel:                    Victoria Sapa Hotel, 02 SUP DBL Rooms

Day 12: 19 Oct 16: Sapa – Cable Car to Fanxipan Moutain
Breakfast at hotel, than transfer to Sinh Chai Village where you will take the cable car to conquer the Top of Indochina. You would have a chance to climb up 600 steps to the Top. The peak Fanxipan is at 3143m high above the sea level. (No tour-guide for grp under 5 persons as they will charge 30$US extra for the tour-guide)

Drive back to Sapa for lunch and time at easy. Guide and car are at your disposal if you want to travel to Ma Tra and Ta Phin Village in the afternoon.

Meals:                   Lunch
Hotel:                    Victoria Sapa Hotel, 02 SUP DBL Rooms

Day 13: 20 Oct 16: Sapa – Trekking to Hill tribe villages – Lao Chai – Ta Van  (B/L/-)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a full day’s trek to explore Sapa’s cultural diversity and haunting natural beauty.  You will take a guided hike through yawning valleys decorated with terraced rice fields and pass through remote hill tribe villages.

We have three trekking options to choose from: Soft trek (~ 3 km), medium trek (~ 6km) and long trek (~12km). Trekking is an excellent way to explore the daily life and familiarize yourself with the cultures of the H’mong, Dzao and Dzay people who populate the region.

Drive back to Sapa for lunch before taking the Big Bus back to Hanoi. This is the renovated bus run by Victoria Hotel, they reduce the number of seats from 45 to only 24 to enlarge the seat space. It is equivalance to the Business Class of the airway. Bus travelling time from 14:30Pm to 20:00Pm. Upon arrival, pick-up and transfer to hotel.

Note: You could prepare snack for stop on the way as the bus will stop 2 times on public stop

Meals:                   N/A
Hotel:                    Silk Path Hotel, 02 DLX DBL

Day 14: 21 Oct 16: Hanoi City Tour
At 09:00AM, our guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel and transfer us to Temple of Literature. Following is a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then followed by Van Mieu literally translated “Temple of Literature” which is well-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide.

Lunch break in a Koto restaurant to support poor children to study. In the afternoon, we visit Vietnam History museum or others upon your choice. We then leisurely walk to nearby Hanoi Opera House for photos of the most beautiful French architectural buildings left in Hanoi.

Next is Old Quarter Walking tour. Stop over at a local coffee shop to observe how the local people enjoy life while sipping every drop of Vietnam bitter sweet coffee at Café Giang- the oldest brand in Hanoi, since 1946 (optional). Followed by, we travel by rickshaw (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture.

Meals:                   Lunch at KOTO restaurant to support children
Hotel:                    Silk Path Hotel, 02 DLX DBL

Day 15: 22 Oct 16: Hanoi Departure.
Free time at easy.

09:30AM, Pick-up and transfer to the airport Mrs.Janice Ann Williams and Mr.Peter David William to take flight home Hanoi to Perth SQ175k leaving Hanoi 12:35PM.
Ms. Joanne Bowyer & Ms.Brendan Berry will stay 01 more night in Hanoi.

Hotel:                    Silk Path Hotel, 021DLX DBL

Day 16: 23 Oct 16: Hanoi – Departure
06:30AM, you are pick-up by our guide and transfer to airport for flight home VN233 HAN-SGN: 08:30 – 10:40.

The late flight is very late for the connecting flight Flight VN655 SGN-SIN: 14:57 – 17:47

Meals:                   N/A
Hotel:                    N/A

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