Pick you up on arrival Noi Bai International airport and transfer to the hotel, check in and free time at leisure on your own of exploration the city. Overnight Hanoi

At 8.30 AM, pick you up the hotel, our city tour including visit Hochiminh President Complex(Hochiminh Mausoleum, the house on stilts, presidential palace, the One Pillar Pagoda).Visiting this site, you will understand more about the life of President Ho, a great leader, Hero of national liberation and a great man of world culture. Our next stop is the Temple of literature, which is built in 1070 and it is the first university of Vietnam. Before having lunch, we visit the fine art museum where different kinds of paintings of famous artists are on display. Your lunch will be served at one of the best local restaurants with special of Hanoi cuisine. After lunch, continue our visit to Museum of Ethnology, which exhibits the traditional culture of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam. You will take one hour of Cycling trip for sightseeing Hanoi old quarters. Taking this mean of transportation is the best way to have a close look at the 36 streets in Hanoi. At late afternoon, we will transfer back to your hotel at 4.30 Pm.Overnight Hanoi (B/L)

At 8.30 in the morning, leave Hanoi, Heading west to Hoa Binh town where famous with the biggest hydropower plan. On arrival, check in a house on stilt of a White Thai family, lunch will be served with some traditional Thai foods. After lunch, we will start our trekking to neighbouring villages. Tonight after dinner, we join with music and dancing show of the village band. You will also be entertained with their home cooked rice wine. Stay overnight in Poong Coong village (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will start our trekking day to visit Xo and other Thai ethnic villages in Mai Chau valley, lunch will be served at local family and return back Poong coong village late afternoon, Overnight on the stilts house (B/L/D)

Depart from Mai Chau Mountains and driving south to Hoa Lu, site of the tenth-century capital of Vietnam, the independent Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet. we will visit 2temples dedicated to king Dinh Tien Hoang who seized power in 968AD and King Le Dai Hanh in 980AD. From here we continue our guided tour to Cuc Phuong National Park. Once we have settled into our rooms we will visit the Endangered Primate Rescue centre and learn a little of the work that is being done to preserve the endangered native primates. Spend the night at the Cuc Phuong national park guesthouse. Dinner will be served later.(B/L/D)

Rising this morning with the sounds of the forest all around us, we take a drive to the center of the park, where we commence our today’s guided trek of 5km through the lush rain forest, past centuries old trees and to caves onc inhabited by prehistoric humans. At early this afternoon we will leave Cuc Phuong heading for Halong bay, some 170km away. on arrival, check in your hotel and free time for dinner, Overnight Halong (B/L)

Have breakfast in the hotel before transfer to the Halong boat dock and embark on our wooden boat for an exploration of the Bay. This exciting 4-hour cruise will provide you a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 1,969 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and very beautiful caves. We will visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave, Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and Thien Cung Cave. Along the way, we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After seafood lunch on board, boat drop off on Cat Ba island and car transfer to the hotel, some 40 km away. Free time at leisure for your own of exploration the town. Overnight on the Cat Ba Island (B/L)

Free time for your own of visiting the local market on island or will go for swimming on Cat Co beach, some 2km away from the hotel, lunch will be served at hotel before taking a hydrofoil for cruising to Haiphong city this afternoon, the cruise takes some two and half hours. Meet back our coaches and transfer to visit the city centre, flower market before continue driving for some 100km back to Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi (B)

Have breakfast in the hotel and next will be free for your own of sightseeing Hanoi Old quarter and this afternoon, we will take a night train heading for Hue ancient city, Hue is some 750km away from Hanoi. Overnight on train (B)

Hue was once the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty of Emperors from 1802-1945. There are many mausoleums to visit as well as the fascinating Dong Ba market, famous for selling the best conical hats in Vietnam. On arrival Hue Train station this morning, meet our local coach and guides to transfer to your hotel for fresh up and have breakfast, next we will start our sightseeing tour in hue including the boat trip cruise down the perfume river to the heavenly lady pagoda before visiting the Imperial Citadel and the King tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Dinner in town. Overnight in hotel in Hue (B/L)

Drive from Hue for two and half hours to Danang, we will pass the fishing village of Lang co before ascending the scenic Hai van pass (cloudy pass) where a spectacular panorama of the center coastline can be viewed at the summit, upon arrival in Da Nang visit Cham museum, one of the 5 oldest museums in The ASIA, containing the finest collection of Cham sculptures and visit marble mountains before continuing to hoi an ancient town. Check in the hotel on arrival and free time for shopping, free time for dinner. Overnight in Hoi An. (B/L)

Have breakfast in the hotel,next will be started our walking tour to visit Hoi an ancient town, From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. Some places that not to be missed in town are the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market. Have lunch and free time this afternoon. Overnight Hoian (B/L)

Transfer to Danang airport for flying to Saigon, on arrival Saigon this morning, meet our guide and coaches to transfer to the hotel for fresh up, next will heading for Cu Chi tunnels. By 1965, 250 km of tunnels criss-crossed Cu Chi and surrounding areas -just across the Saigon River was the notorious guerrilla power base known as the IRON TRIANGLE. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the American 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, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life in the American War must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!) For those interested there’s even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Allegedly the old wooden targets resembled US Marines! Return back to Saigon, if there time permits, we will the Reunification Palace, war Museum, Overnight Saigon (B/L)

Heading out of the town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up. The most interesting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the most beautiful Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to visit some fascinating local industries, stroll around an orchard and taste many seasonal fruits. And then we continue our trip to see fascinating local industries in Ben Tre Province. After feasting on a huge lunch we return to Saigon with stop over at the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda. On arrival, dinner will be served at local restaurant, transfer to your hotel.(B/L/D)

Free at leisure until transfer back the airport for flight onwards, Your package trip will be ended at airport. Tam Biet Vietnam! (B)

Vietnam package Trips for Students:

More pictures of students ( Bob and his students) on this Vietnam Package Trip in May 2011 to adventure the Former Dien Bien Phu battle field

 

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