Glimpse Of VietNam

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places.

Today we enjoy a half day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university, and the History Museum which displays an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also visited before we depart for Halong Bay through the scenic countryside.

The wondrous Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the Bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3, 000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. 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 a seafood lunch on board we return to Ha Noi, stopping en route at Dong Trieu pottery village. We arrive in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets.

An early morning flight to Danang. On arrival we are greeted and driven a short distance to Hoian Town, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in this tranquil and delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the bustling market. We visit these sights on an exciting walking tour passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.

The next stop of our trip will be Hue, Vietnam’s imperial capital between 1802 and 1945. Along the way we explore the sensational Marble Mountains and the China Beach before continuing to the interesting Cham Museum in Danang City. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. At the top of the pass we will stop to admire a fantastic view north to Lang Co and south to Danang.

Arriving in Hue we enjoy a boat trip on the Perfume River with stopover at the bustling Dong Ba Market and the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda. After our boat trip we will visit the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins.

The sightseeing tour of Hue would not be complete without a visit to the elaborate tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. After seeing this sight we board a flight south.

Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is crowded with motorbikes and cars, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. An afternoon city tour takes us in the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some beautiful French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant before we continue to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale.

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 and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful traditional music. The next stop of our trip is Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries. After feasting on a huge lunch we return to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off along the way to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes.