16 DAYS, SAIGON TO HANOI IN STYLE

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 01:  ARRIVAL SAIGON
Upon arrival to Saigon airport, you will be greeted by the guide of Discovery Indochina and transferred to our hotel in center of Saigon. Free time at leisure to relax before taking the first sightseeing to dynamic Saigon. Overnight at the hotel

DAY 02: SAIGON – CITY TOUR( B )
Today we will do the city tour of Saigon. Saigon with a population of approximately 6 million, Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. The huge number of people rushing about their daily business gives Saigon a vital and dynamic atmosphere.  Saigon is characterised by a vast variety of sights and sounds, from ancient pagodas, mosques and cathedrals to the former Presidential Palace and the War Museum, from historic Dong Khoi Street (the Rue Catinat from Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American) to the bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown).  Much of the city life takes place on the streets which are lined with stores, shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath selling everything from soup to sophisticated electronics.  The French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes  and coffee. Overnight at hotel in HCM city.

DAY 03:  SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA ( B, L )
This morning we set off for a drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Cai Be, well-known for it's floating market. Here we will board our private boat for a cruise along the maze of waterways and canals to Vinh Long. We will stop at the home of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous Delta lunch, including the popular dish of 'Elephant ear fish', before continuing our exploration of the tributaries and canals of the delta. Towards the end of the day we arrive in Cantho where we stay at lovely Victoria Catho hotel, right by the Mekong river.

DAY 04,: MEKONG DELTA – SAIGON( B, L )
Rising to the sounds of the Delta coming to life forto another day, we breakfast and start our trip with a boat cruise on sparking streams along the endless waterway of Mighty Mekong River to Cairang and Phongdien floating markets. There will be hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish jostling for trade. Sellers advertisers their wares by crying out across the waters. We visit the lush orchards and are treated to a delicious tropical fruits. Afternoon drive to Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 05: SAIGON – TAYNINH/ CUCHI( B, L )
We then drive to visit the Cuchi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam War,  the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon  all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometres of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s,  let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area.  It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens,  storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers.  In places, it was several  stories deep  and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible.  But even so, the planning and construction was incredible.  People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets  and dumping the dirt into bomb craters.  They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke.  There were also hidden  trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back.  And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Continue our way  to Tayninh where we witness the noon time messes at Cao Dai Holy temple. Drive back to HCM city. Overnight at Saigon.

DAY 06: SAIGON – LEISURE DAY( B )
At leisure to enjoy shopping in Saigon.
Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

DAY 07:  SAIGON – DANANG/HOIAN( B )
Morning flight VN322  0925  1035  or VN 324  1130   1240 to Danang. Visit Cham museum in Danang where display fine artifacts of Cham people. Visit China beach and crafting village. Explore the charming little township of Hoian with old houses, temples.
Overnight at hotel in Hoian

DAY 08: HOIAN -  SANCTUARY MYSON ( B, L )
We drive  to visit holly land My Son. This is a former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled central Vietnam between the second and thirteenth centuries. Hinduism from India heavily influenced their religion. Located 60 km. from Danang, My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations. All of the Cham towers were built on a quadrate foundations and each comprises three parts: a solid tower base, representing the world of human beings, the mysterious and sacred tower body, representing the world of spirits, and the tower top built in the shape of a man offering flowers and fruits or of trees, birds, animals, etc., representing things that are close to the spirits and human beings. After the My Son ancient tower complex was discovered, many of its artifacts, especially statues of female dancers and genies worshipped by the Cham people, worship animals and artifacts of the daily communal activities, were collected and displayed at the Cham Architecture Museum in Danang city. It is one of four World Heritage listed sites in Vietnam. Balance of the day will be at your leisure to do your endless shopping in Hoian. Overnight in Hoian

DAY 09: HOIAN- FREE LEISURE TIME ( B )
Today there is plenty of time to discover what Hoi An has to offer. You can spend your time walking around exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for fifteen generations. The town is also famous for its shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! You might like to take a boat ride with one of the local women across the Thu Bon River. Perhaps you would like to hire a bicycle and head off on a scenic ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km away. There's even the chance to improve your culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing is for sure - there is no shortage of things to do in this town! 
Over night at Hoi an hotel.

DAY 10: HOIAN – HUE ( B )
We embark on Northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang as we are climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the picturesque fishing villages of Lang Co. A visit to beautiful Cham museum in Danang where display Cham’s finest sculpture and artefacts  in the world.  The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the South China Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Haivan pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views. The journey takes about 5 hours. Hue at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hue

DAY 11: HUE – CITY TOUR ( B , L )
Today we will visit  Citadel and  Imperial purple city. Bpoat cruise on Perfume river to  visit the picturesque Thiem Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Also worth visiting are the tombs of the former Emperors Minh Mang, in particular that of Emperor TuDuc. In the afternoon, we take a visit to the famous Dong Ba market. Overnight at our hotel in Hue.

DAY 12: HUE – HANOI( B )
We take flight VN240,  0900  1010 to Hanoi. Arrival Hanoi you will be transferred to our hotel  in Hanoi.  City tour to  visit the  the impressive Museum of Ethnology, the finest museum in Vietnam. This museum is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities. Lunch at Chaca la vong restaurant (fish cake). After lunch  visit to Temple of literature – the Vietnam first’s National Universtiy. We follow this with a  walking tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. The Old Quarter with its bustling streets are home to hundreds of small thriving businesses, each street denoting its trade, such as Tin Street or Fish Stree. Tonight we enjoy the unique water puppet show.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 13: HANOI – PERFUME PAGODA  ( B , L )
Arrival Hanoi in early morning, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel for freshen–up and  breakfast. Then transfer to Huong Pagoda. The Perfume Pagoda is one of the highlights of the Hanoi area and one of the most important religious sites in Buddhist Vietnam. Every spring, after the Vietnamese New Year, thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims come here to pray for all the health and prosperity they need to get them through the year.  The pagoda itself is built into limestone cliffs and can only be reached by boat or on foot as there are no roads into this area. You will have the chance to glide along scenic waterways and walk up steep mountain paths visiting the pagodas and temples that were built in this area over the centuries. Departing Hanoi at 07.30 we have a two hour drive through the picturesque countryside and back roads to the village of Duc for some refreshments before boarding our boats for more than 1.5 hour ride along the scenic Yen river. After this we will walk to the Thien Tru Pagoda (Heavens Kitchen) and the Perfume Cave and Pagoda - an hours walk in total. Lunch will be at one of the little food stalls near Thien Tru Pagoda.  After lunch the boat will take us back to our bus for the drive back to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 14: HANOI – HALONG BAY ( B , L,D )
We depart Hanoi at 08.30 for a drive through the beautiful countryside of the Red River Delta en route to Halong City. Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, covers an area of 1,500 square km. With more than a thousand limestone peaks rising up from the crystalline emerald waters this area is one of the natural wonders of Vietnam and now one of four World Heritage-listed sites in Vietnam. Visitors have constantly marveled at Ha Long Bay's natural beauty. The tiny islands are dotted with innumerable beaches and grottoes created by the wind and the waves, providing an excellent backdrop for swimming or just lazing about on the boat deck. Upon arriving in Ha Long City we transfer to our private boat for an amazing cruise of Halong Bay, and weather permitting, have the opportunity for a swim in the crystalline emerald waters. The trip would not be complete without a sumptuous seafood lunch on board as we cruise. Dinner and   overnight on board

DAY 15: HALONG BAY  – HANOI ( B )
Rising early to the sound of ocean coming to life for another lovely day. We  breakfast over sunset before having more exploration of Halong bay by junk and then row boat to the lagoons. Visit  Luon caves, floating villages. We sail to explore the bay before approaching Halong wharf. Return to Hanoi the late after-noon.  Hanoi around 17.00. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 16: HANOI – DEPARTURE( B )
Transfer to airport for your departure flight home.