Classic Vietnam and Bangkok
DAY 01 HA NOI /ARRIVAL
On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check in & relax. Hanoi is over 1,000 year-old and is currently the capital of Vietnam, as well as the commercial, political, and cultural heart of the country. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 02 HANOI – FULL DAY CITY TOUR
AM: After breakfast start a city tour beginning with Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday, every afternoon and through October – November), the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office and a fine example of French architecture in Hanoi, and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond.
Lunch at local restaurant.
PM: After lunch, we’ll proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum .This superb museum showcases the depth of Vietnamese cultural diversity with an astounding collection of 15,000 artifacts gathered from throughout Vietnam. Maps, displays and dioramas are labelled in Vietnamese, French and English. Displays portray a typical village market, the making of comical hats and a Tay shamanic ceremony; videos show the real thing. You can also check out a traditional Black Thai house reconstructed in the museum. There’s also a centre for research and conservation where scientists from all over the world study traditional Vietnamese cultures. Next to the Literature Temple – Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 – it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Then we will take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters, and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. For the last part of the tour we’ll journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter by cyclo ride where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER
DAY 03 HANOI – HA LONG BAY
Morning pick up at your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. On the way, you will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings. Arrive in Ha Long City at around 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. Ha Long Bay meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board.
Breakfast @ Hotel.
Accommodation @ A cruise in Ha Long.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER
DAY 04 HA LONG – HANOI – FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH
Early risers can enjoy the splendid yet tranquil view of the bay at the crack of dawn. Breathe the sea’s fresh air, feel the morning breeze and hear the sounds of birds above. Have breakfast and cruise to visit Human head shaped island and Tortoise Island. Continue to cruise into Bai Tu Long Bay to discover the adjacent bay of “The Little Dragon Bowing to His Mother” as it is named. Check out and have lunch on board while heading to shore. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, welcome by our guide and transfer to hotel for check in.
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named Saigon is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam always bustled with activities of modern life. It is where businesses converge and shoppers indulge themselves into unlimited choices. However the city also carries with it a rich historical legacy in contrast with its dazzling glamor. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
BRUNCH/DINNER
DAY 05 CU CHI TUNNELS – HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR
AM: After breakfast Visit to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels – an underground network of tunnels 200km long. Cu Chi tunnels where firstly you are seeing the Document movies about Cu Chi War time, Special during the time from 1960 to 1972, the simple hoes to dig, the labor of the local people, then we will visit the main Gate to go to the tunnels, the different kind of trap from the tree to the ground. Trap was built round the main gate, the place to produce the weapon, the Rest area, meeting room, the hospital, the hole to get the fresh air for tunnels. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh.
PM: Visit the former Presidential Palace – headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war, wander up to the Notre Dame Cathedral – a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris and the Central Post Office – designed by the French architect, Gustave Eiffel. Then we visit and shopping at Ben Thanh market where is always loaded with varieties of goods, such as consumer goods, cakes & candies, food & foodstuff, and particularly high-quality fruit & vegetables. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER
DAY 06 HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA – HO CHI MINH
Breakfast at hotel and travel past miles of flat rice fields, along a bustling road to the Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta and Vietnam’s largest rice bowl.
On arrival in My Tho City, board a motorboat and navigate through intricate canals while observing the local daily life up close as well as the landscape of waterways and lush islands. Land on Thoi Son Island where you can listen to Southern traditional music performed by native artists. Lunch at local restaurant. Next, you will change to a Sampan boat to cruise through the narrow canals and visit households with traditional occupations of home-based coconut candy and rice-wine making. Continue travel by motorized boat to another island to visit a bee farm and taste tea with fresh honey from the beehives and enjoy fresh fruits. Interact with local residents to understand about the river life. Their economy is based mostly on tourism, mangoes, bananas and citrus fruit. On the return to My Tho, stop to visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, a prominent local Buddhist structure built in 1850 with a unique architectural mixture of Vietnamese, Roman, Chinese and Cambodian styles characterized by a highly ornate façade. Then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh. Free at leisure by your own. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER
DAY 07 HO CHI MINH-ARRIVAL BANGKOK
Breakfast at hotel. Then you are free to stroll around the town for your own exploration before taking the arrival flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, meet & greet by local representative and Transfer to hotel, Overnight in Bangkok
BREAKFAST
DAY 08 DREAM WORLD TOUR + SNOW TOWN
Breakfast at the Hotel, pick up for Dream world tour,
permanent fairground lies just to the north of the city. Enter through Dreamland Plaza, a village of exotic european architecture. Tour the Dream Garden via sightseeing train, cable car and bicycle boat. Replicas of famous buildings, for e.g. the Pyramids and Angkor Wat are on display. Fantasy Land introduces some of the gentler rides and games. Adventure Land is where the serious thrills are to be found. Dare you ride the hanging coaster? Or plunge deep inside the space mountain on a high-speed train? Or take a trip on the flying carpet? There are also some rides suitable for younger kids such as the bump boat, the battery car, the monorail and the bumper cars. An optional extra is Snow Town – the only place in Thailand where you can build snowmen or take a sleigh ride.
Overnight in Bangkok.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH
DAY 09 SIAM NIRAMIT SHOW
Breakfast at the Hotel, Evening pick up for Siam Niramit Show,
Thailand’s Must see Siam Niramit show
After being picked up from your hotel, you will be transferred to Ratchada Road to see the acclaimed Siam Niramit show. Dinner is buffet style featuring highlights from the Thai kitchen. The village displays local handicrafts such as carved vegetables, cloth weaving and pottery which are also for sale. The show itself differs
from the regular offerings, such as music and dance. Siam Niramit journies through Siamese history, legend, folklore and festivals using up-to-the-minute technology to deliver stunning special effects. Three acts include ‘Journey Back to History’ introducing the four distinct regions of Thailand and their special cultures. ‘Journey Beyond Imagination’ visits Buddhist earth, heaven and hell. Finally ‘Journey Through Joyous Festivals’ features highlights from merit-making celebrations throughout the year such as the uniquely Thai festival of Loy Krathong
Overnight in Bangkok
BREAKFAST/DINNER
DAY 10 BANGKOK
Breakfast at the hotel, Free for own leisure, Overnight in Bangkok
BREAKFAST
DAY 11 BANGKOK/DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the Hotel, Free for own leisure until time to check out and transfer airport for flight back to home
BREAKFAST