CVN11-02:
VIETNAM RIVER & OCEAN
12 days - 11 nights
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Hoi An – My Son - Hue - Hoa Lu - Halong - Ha
Noi Click here for Tour Route
Map
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh city - Arrival (D)
You are welcomed by our guide at Tan Son Nhat airport and then be
transferred to your hotel in the center of city. Half day city tour visit
Reunification Palace, War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral with the
passing
Ben Thanh market. Dinner & overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Hochiminh – Cai Be – Sa Dec – Can Tho (B/L/D) Early
start at 07:30am from your hotel in Hochiminh, we arrive in Phu An hamlet
located next to Cai Be town, approximately 2 hours drive south.
Welcomed by crew team upon embarkation, the excursion will begin with the
visit of some local home factories where you will be able to observe how
rice paste, coconut candies and other specialties are traditionally made. We
will then proceed to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local
barges full of fruits and vegetables.
Your sampan will take direction of Vinh Long and Sa Dec town which will
appear like a little ’Venice’ with numerous narrow canals , cruising by
evergreen Dong Phu and An Binh islets famous for their fruit orchards.
Disembark at the local market place for a guided visit of this charming
town, walking along its narrow streets where beautiful French old houses and
Chinese temples dating from the last century are numerous. Your lunch await
you at an ancient house dating from 1890, home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the
“Lover” of Marguerite Duras famous writer. (see her novel and adapted movie
“The Lover”)
Before sunset, we will have our last stop on the banks arranged at a
splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century. After
being greeted by the owners, we will cater a candlelight dinner for you, an
unforgettable experience in a unique atmosphere.
After dinner, we will proceed to the cruise for approximately one hour until
Can Tho. We will moor for the night in a quiet place. Your bed will be ready
for your night on the Mekong river.
Day 3: Cai Rang - Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh city (B/L)
At around 06am, your sampan will slowly start cruising. Your breakfast will
be served on board at 07am while approaching Cai Rang floating market
actually still the largest in the whole Mekong delta.
We will pass by countless sampan boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and
vegetables, fish, flowers… showing an intense activity on the river.
Your cruise journey will end at around 10.am at Ninh Kieu pier after a visit
at Can Tho local market. Lunch at local restaurant on the way back to
Hochiminh city.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh city – Da Nang – Hoi An (B/L)
You will take flight around noon to Da Nang Airport, then transfer to Hoi An
about 35km away. In the afternoon walking visit Hoi An ancient town,
the town with mixed the culture of Vietnam/Chinese/Japanese with Chinese
tiled houses, Chinese temples, Japanese covered bridge. Over night in Hoi
an.
Day 5: Hoi An – My Son (B/L)
Take a private car from Hoi An ancient town to Cham ruins at My Son. On
the way back, you will be dropped off at Cao Lau Ferry Boat to get on a boat
back to Hoi an - en-route visit Thanh Ha Pottery village & Kim Bong Carpentry
village. Return to Hoi an in the afternoon. Over night in Hoi An.
Day 6: Hoi An – Hue (B/L)
We will transfer to Hue in the morning with a visit to Cham museum on the
way. Continue to Hue through Hai Van pass, arrive in Hue City by noon, have
lunch at local restaurant before checking. Take a short rest before visiting to
the
Imperial Citadel of Hue. Over night in Hue.
Day 7: Hue (B/L)
Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of the past
emperors, and with Orient style – those tombs almost located near the bank
of Hue’s river – Perfume river. Take a drive to visit King Minh Mang tomb
and King Tu Duc’s tomb. YIn the later afternoon, you will embark on a
Dragon boat along Perfume River for admiring sunset. Overnight in Hue.
Day 8: Hue- Hanoi (B/L)
Leaving the Imperial city, you will visit our current, but also thousand years
Capital. You will have a half day Hanoi city tour to visit the most attractions
of Hanoi: Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple & Hoan Kiem lake
(the lake of the Restored Sword) and the Old quarter streets. The day
ends with a traditional cultural show of Water Puppets. Overnight in
Hanoi.
Day 9: Hanoi - Hoa Lu –
Trang An Eco - Hanoi (B/L)
Depart at 8:00am from your hotel in Hanoi. After 2hrs drive we arrive in Ninh
Binh Province. Our first visit is the former capital Hoa Lu where remaining
Dinh and Le Kings’ temples. Lunch at local restaurant. Getting on small rowing boats to travel along the
canals amid local villages, green fields and natural beauty with limestone
peaks, we are enjoying the “Ha Long On Land”. After 02 hours through 03
caves, we row back to the boat quay.
Take a short bike to Bich Dong cave, which was conferred by a King the
title “Vietnam’s second most beautiful grotto” and which is some 2 km from
Tam Coc. Climb up the Ngu Hanh Son Mountain (Buddha’s palm), charmed
by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers and pagodas. Return to
Ha Noi and arrive at around 17:30pm. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 10: Hanoi - Halong (B/L)
Start at 08:30am from your hotel, after 03 hours and a half drive we arrive in
Halong bay, a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Upon arrival,
transfer to a junk for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with a delicious local
seafood lunch served on board. Passing many rocks and islets in shape of Dog,
Incense, Fighting-cock, Finger, Hoa Cuong etc and visit Surprise cave and short
swim at Titov beach, kayak (kayak cost is not include in this package), if
weather permitted. Have dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing
and later over night on board.
Day 11: Halong - Hanoi (B/L) In the morning, cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay,
fishing village then head toward Bai Chay. Arrive at Ha Long wharf about 12:00
noon.
Car pick up and transfer to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will
drive toward Hanoi and stop on the way for a 2-hour visit in Bac Ninh, a
special place and the cradle of Vietnamese folklore music in the Red River
Delta.
We will ride a horse-drawn cart through country lanes to visit the
Dinh Bang Communal House and the Do Temple that was the place of
worship for 8 (eight) of the kings of the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225). Following
that, you will be invited to enjoy Quan Ho folk songs (duets of love
songs) performed by local artists and singers. Drive back to Hanoi for
overnight.
Day 12: Hanoi - Departure (B)
Leisure time before leaving time for departure home.
Type of
tour:
Private tour. (This is the sample tour, you may go with all details above
or we can modify to fix your way of travel) Easy tour
Departure:
Any day
Feature of
tour:
Vietnam - the country of river and ocean. Vietnam is crisscrossed by
thousands of streams and rivers. There is a river discharging every 20
kilometers along Vietnam's coastline. The waterways are a very convenient
means of transport with major rivers like the Red River in the north and the
Mekong River in the south.
Air Fare
cost per person:
165 US$ for domestic flight (Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang and Hue -
Hanoi)
Hotel
accommodation as specific or similar, base on twin sharing Private
car/mini van Private
junk/boat in Mekong Delta and join junk in Ha Long All
entrance fees English/
French speaking guide. Other languages can be arranged upon request All meals
as per program
Exclusive:
Domestic & International flight and all airport taxes
Drinks, except otherwise mentioned Insurance Personal
expenses & Tips Vietnam
Visa (this can be done with our Visa service)