A trip my friend mum is going on. I was impressed by the coverage and movement over Vietnam.
Covers a lot of interesting sites and cities.
Day 1 (Monday 12/1/2012) Depart Perth for Saigon
Perth 7.30am - Singapore 12.45pm Singapore 5:40pm - Saigon 6.45pm Stay overnight in Saigon at www.shapphirehotel.com.vn (hotel address:
32A - 34 Bui Thi Xuan Street, District 1, HCM City; Tel:(84-8) 3925 3291 / 39253292
Day 2 (Tues 03/1/12) Saigon
Breakfast.
This morning we shall explore Vietnam's largest and busiest city by visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1886 - 1890 by the French Missionary, the Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam) Vietnam War Museum. Finally, stop at Ben Thanh Market, the central market of Saigon for some shopping. Lunch.
Stay overnight in Saigon at the Sapphire Hotel 3*www.shapphirehotel.com.vn
Day 3 (Wed 04/1/2012): Cu Chi - orphanage- Can Tho
Breakfast at hotel then we shall depart to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a communist guerrilla tunnel system. Here at Cu Chi Tunnels we will have an in depth look at the determination and ingenuity of the Vietnamese. Constructed by Viet Cong fighters during the Vietnam War. The network, which is several storeys deep in some parts includes trapdoors, living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchen. These tunnels ran directly under military bases and were used both as shelters and to stage surprise attacks.
After Cu Chi we shall visit the orphanage run by the Dominican Sisters and have lunch with the sisters and the orphan.
Transfer to Can Tho. Stay overnight in Can Tho. Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel 4* www.ninhkieuhotel.com (address: 03 Hoa Binh St., Ninh Kieu district Cantho city)
Day 4 (Thur 05/1/2012): Can Tho- Saigon
After breakfast at hotel, take a boat cruise to visit Cai Rang floating market. The market is filled with small boats darting through the water as vendors buy and sell their wares. Cruise through small canals and stop at a fruit orchard to taste some of the succulent fruits of the Mekong Delta. Transfer back to Saigon. Stay overnight in Saigon. Sapphire Hotel 3* www.shapphirehotel.com.vn
Day 5 (Fri 06/1/12): Saigon - Vietnamese cooking class. Breakfast at hotel and then we shall head to the Vietnam cookery Center for Vietnamese cooking class. After the class, we will "enjoy???" lunch with the food we cooked.
River cruise with dinner on Saigon River. 19:00 board the cruise for dinner. www.indochinajunk.com.vn Stay overnight in Saigon. Sapphire Hotel 3* www.shapphirehotel.com.vn
Cooking class at Vietnam Cookery Centre (address: Ml Cu Xa Tan Cang, 362/8 Ung Van Khiem St., Binh Thanh, HCMC) CFM 36pax
- Time: 09:30 - 12 : 30 Menu:
1. Vietnamese spring rolls
2. Caramel pork in clay pot
3. Sour clam soup with dills
4. Steamed rice in coconut juice
5. Banana with coconut milk Person in charge: Ms. Linh 0909 226 204
Day 6 (Sat 07/1/2012): Saigon, Thu Due, Bien Hoa Ho Nai, - Vung Taii/Long Tan, Nui Dat
After breakfast we shall head to Thu Due where Fr Tai will celebrate his Thanksgiving Mass. We shall have lunch with Fr Tai's family. After lunch we shall head toward Vung Tau via Nui Dat and Long Tan Battlefield, the former Australian army base. Here, at Long Tan Cross, we will have time to pay our respect to the Australian Soldiers who laid down their lives to provide peace for the Vietnamese people. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Stay overnight in Vung Tau. Sammy Hotel 3* www.sammyhotelvt.com (address: 157 Thuy van St - Thang Tam Ward - Vungtau City)
- Arranged 1 local guide in Ba Ria to help the group to visit Long Tan & Nui Dat
Day 7 (Sun 08/1/2012): Vung Tail - Phan Thiet
After breakfast at hotel, visit Statue of Jesus. Drive to Phan Thiet for beach relax. Stay overnight in Phan Thiet.
Doi Duong Hotel 3* www.doiduonghotel.com (add: 209 Le Loi str, Phan Thiet city)
Day 8 (Mon 09/1/2012): Phan Thiet city
Free in Phan Thiet for beach relax. Stay overnight in Phan Thiet. Doi Duong Hotel 3* www.doiduonghotel.com (add: 209 Le Loi str, Phan Thiet city)
Day 9 (Tiies 10/1/2012): Phan Thiet - Nha Trang
After breakfast, we shall head to the long sandy beach of Nha Trang. Free at your own leisure along the sandy beach of Nha Trang, go for a swim or a mud bath.
Lunch - somewhere along the road. Dinner and then overnight in Nha Trang. Camelia Hotel 3* www.camelianhatrang.com.vn (address: 11 Le Loi St - Nha Trang City)
Day 10 (Wed 11/1/2012): Nha Trang - Vinpearl
After breakfast we will take the cable car to Vinpearland.
http ://www. vinpearlland.com/vi-Vl\T/NhaIranff/coiigviengiatri/games/2008/l 1/13 .aspx
Afternoon, the bus will pick up the group at the cable station to hotel. Stay overnight in Nha Trang. Camelia Hotel 3* www.camelianhatrang.com.vn
Day 11 (Thur 12/1/2012): Nha Trang - Hoi An - by plane
Free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for flight to Danang. Our driver welcomes you at the airport and transfer to hotel in Hoian. Free time in Hoian. Southern hotel & Villa Hoian 3* (Add: 224 Ly Thai To str, Hoian)
Flights NHA-DAP issued 36pax VN942 12JAN N HAD AD 16h20-17hl0 Day 12 (Fri 13/1/2012): Hoi An
Let's spend our full day visiting the town of Hoi An today. We'll walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, visit ancient houses and Trading Houses, pagodas and stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where we may find out the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoi An, a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Late afternoon, optional tour by boat to a small ceramic village in Thu Bon River, or relax at Cua Dai (the "Big Beach"). Overnight in Hoian. Southern hotel & Villa Hoian 3* (Add: 224 Ly Thai To str, Hoian)
Day 13 (Sat 14/1/2012): Hoi An - Hue
On the way from Hoi An to Hue via the magnificent "Ocean Cloudy" Pass today, we can stop to visit the China Beach and Marble Mt., and contemplate wonderful seascapes from the mountaintop halfway through the Pass. Arrive at our hotel in Hue at midday. After lunch, let's go to discover the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City and Hue Royal Museum - where traces of the last Vietnam feudal dynasty are well-preserved, and intermingle with Hue people at their Dong Ba bustling market. Royal dinner, while having dinner you may wish to dress up as a king, queen etc. Stay overnight in Hue. Hue Queen Hotel 3* www.huequeenhotel.com (29 Tran Quang Khai St. Hue City) Confirmed(CFM) 19rooms (T0DBL+2single+7twin) Royal dinner, while having dinner you may wish to dress up as a king, queen etc with traditional music at local restaurant. »> CFM 36pax Restaurant address: Menu:
1. Nem Cong cha Phung
2. Sup hoa xuan
3. BanhHu§
4. Nem lui Kim Long
5. Tom ngu thuyen hoa
6. Ca chien s6t thorn ca
7. Bo nirong Cung Binh
8. Rau xao Hoang hau
9. Cam chien An Dinh Vien
10. Trang mieng : Trai cay.
Boan co nghe ca Hue va mac trang phuc Cung Binh.Thcri gian an se do khach va hirdng din thu xep,thuong cac doan tdiach se an vao khoang tir 5g chieu den 8g toi.
Day 14 (Sun 15/1/2012): Hue
With a boat ride along the poetic Perfume River, you can reach Thien Mu Pagoda, the centre of Buddhism of the city, whose 90% are Buddhists, and the extensive Tomb of King Minh Mang, which is reachable from a river pier. After lunch we shall visit the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang. Who appeared to the Vietnamese People over two hundred years ago. Overnight in Hue. Hue Queen Hotel 3* www.huequeenhotel.com
Day 15 (Mou 16/1/2012): Hue - Hanoi city tour
Transfer to Hue airport for flight to Hanoi. You will be welcomed at Hanoi Airport and transferred to the city centre (45minutes driving).
We will have city tour in Hanoi - Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital.
Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, stylish cafes. Shopping for impressive modern art in many galleries in the city. Also visit Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Late afternoon we will enjoy a unique fascinating show of Water Puppetry, a traditional stage art of Northern Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi at the Viet Hotel 3*
www.viethotel.vn (61 Hang Than Str, Ba Dinh Dist)
We will buy Water puppet show ticket for 36pax.
Flights HUI-HAN Issued 36pax VN540 16JAN HUJHAN 08hl0-0920
Day 16 (Tues 17/1/2012): Hanoi - Lang Son - Hanoi - Lao Cai
Transfer to Lang Son. Your adventure trip to Sapa begins with an overnight train from Vietnam's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai. Overnight on the train. Wooden cabin, soft berth, 4pax/cabin. Booked 36 train tickets, Livitrans 4pax/cabin. Day 17 (Wed 18/1/2012): Lao Cai - Sapa
The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 05:00. The driver welcomes us and drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, leave your bags at hotel. We can freshen up and have breakfast. Free morning to explore around town. At 10:00 from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the Hmong hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa. Holiday Sapa Hotel 3* www.holidavsapa.com (No 016 Muong Hoa Street, Sapa)
Day 18 (Thur 19/1/2012): Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi by overnight train
Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to Hmong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. We transfer back to Lao Cai for train journey back to Hanoi. The train departs at about 21:00. Overnight on train.
Booked 36 train tickets, Livitrans 4pax/cabin. Day 19 (Fri 20/1/2012): Hanoi - Halong
Arrive in Hanoi around 05:00, our guide picks us up at station, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 08:30 for Halong Bay. Arriving at the jetty around 12:30, our crew welcomes you on board. Enjoy a welcome drink, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 13:00. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hour cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay. Enjoy another seafood dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. Overnight on the Junk in double deluxe cabin. Bai Tho Junk 3* www.halongsails.com
Day 20 (Sat 21/1/2012): Halong - Hanoi
Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the Emerald waters of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave (08:00 to 09:00), swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 09:30, our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 to 11:30. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Checkout is at 11:45. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi at the Viet Hotel 3* www.viethotel.vn
Day 21 (Sun 22/1/2012): Hanoi - Transfer to Noi Bai airport
Hanoi 01.15pm- Singapore 5.40pm Singapore 7.45pm - Perth 12.50am Day 22 (Monday 23/1/2012): Arrive at Perth airport
