Group of Daria and Michele

“Dear Mr Lam,

We have just returned to Italy. Trip to Vietnam was wonderful. Amo Travel organized very well our trip. Thanks Ms Lien and our guides, especially Mr Vinh in Hoi An and Hue.

We have decided to organize the other trip in Vietnam with Amo Vietnam.

Thank you so much

Daria and Michele”

Group of: Mrs. Maria and Mr. Michele

Travel Date: 8/12/2012 – 17/12/2012

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival  (-/-/-)

Upon arrival, meet with your guide at airport for a private transfer to your hotel. Briefing about your trip by your guide. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B/L/-)

At 08:30AM, our waiting 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 center 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 local restaurant.

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 cyclo (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.

We finish day by attending a thousand year old Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi  – Ha Long Bay  (B/L/D)

08:00 departure for Ha Long Bay; enjoy a 3-4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Da Nang – Hoi An (B/L/-)

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Transfer to airport to catch your flight from Hanoi to Da Nang. Upon your arrival, your driver would meet you at airport in Da Nang and take you to the hotel in Hoi An for check-in.

Day 5: Hoi An – My Son – Hoian  visit (B/L/-)

Early morning we will drive to My Son, the Holly land of Champa kingdom date back from 4th to 13th century. Arrive to My Son before it getting crowded by the other tourists, you will have great chance to discover and feel the great ancient atmosphere of the complex of nearly 70 difference towers there, where  you can find the best brick sculpture in the world. My Son also had been recognized to be culture world Heritage in 2000. Afternoon free for shopping and further discovery of Hoian on your own.

Go back to Hoi An and lunch would be at your own arrangement.

Day 6: Hoi An – Danang – Hue visit(B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Da Nang. Visit Cham Museum at Danang: this houses probably the best collection of Cham art to be found anywhere in the world. There are more than 300 artifacts in the museum, many dating to the 4th century. There are beautiful sculptures reflecting the 1000 year Cham period. You may stop by Lang Co beach to have short break before crossing Hai Van Pass.

Arrive in Hue and have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you may continue to visit a tomb monument of King Tu Duc which is located in a very special area and Tu Hieu Pagoda. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 7: Hue visit –  Saigon (B/L/-)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Your guide and driver pick you up and transfer you to the wharf for your boat ride on the Perfume River. During the boat trip, you will stop to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of Hue – the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship. Then you go to visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City – once the Emperor’s private residence. You will be having lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to Phu Bai airport fo your flight from Hue to Saigon. Upon your arrival, your driver would meet you at airport in Saigon and take you to the hotel  for check-in. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Saigon / Mekong Delta – Cai Be, Vinh Long / Can Tho (B/L/-)

Morning

Your guide and driver would be waiting for you at the hotel lounge, ready to transfer you to Vinh Long in the Mekong River. Depending on your choice, you can have a coffee break at Mekong Rest stop along the way. On arrival in Cai Be town, there would be a motorized boat to take you to visit local corn/rice pop making family. More than just seeing, you have chance to witness the life on and around the water of “Nine Dragon River” by boarding on traditional wooden sampan boat around Cai Be floating market. There would be boats with exotic produce and interactions by locals so as to discover more about their stocks besides the natural folk views of fish traps and fruit gardens along the canals. Your lunch time would be served in a bonsai garden with elephant ear fish and more Mekong specialities and also some samples of local wine.

Afternoon

You will be re-boarded to cruise towards Vinh Long downtown. The drive to the largest city in the Mekong delta – Can Tho will be set up right after your arrival. It is like a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets. You would be resting in a hotel there for 1 night stay. For the rest of the day, it is on your own for some walking around Ninh Kieu and pedestrian bridge of this city.

Day 9: Can Tho – Cai Rang Market – Saigon (B/L/-)

Checking out of your hotel in the late morning, you start boarding out to visit Cai Rang floating market by an motorized boat. This is definitely the time for you to capture every single moments of life with the views of colorful boats laden with fruits and vegetables. There will be an stopover at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a rice husking mill. There, you can even try passing one of many fragile monkey bridges along the canals. You will leave Can Tho and start moving back to Saigon (around 3.5 hour driving). You will check in the hotel for one night stay.

Day 10: Saigon departure  (B/-/-)

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time until transfer to airport for your departure flight.