Vietnam Classic Tour
Hanoi - Halong - Haiphong - Danang - Hoi An - Hue - 7 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 - Hanoi

• Arrival in Hanoi
• Transfer
• Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2 - Hanoi

• Excursion to Halong Bay with boat trip
Cruise on a traditional wooden boat among the emerald waters and craggy limestone cliffs of Halong Bay, stopping at different islands to explore some of the many caves in this area. Sail past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets and pearl fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay.
• Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3 - Hanoi

• Sightseeing in Hanoi with a visit by cyclo to the Old Quarter
Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks, is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia.
• One Pillar Pagoda: built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood on a single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom.
• Temple of Literature: a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, this momument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear stelae on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.
• Hoan Kiem Lake: right in the heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped with a red star,as well as Ngoc Son Pagoda on its northern shores.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: This commanding stone monument houses the embalmed remains of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnams national hero and is a pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese. Visitors file silently past his glass tomb to pay their respects. The Mausoleum is open only in the mornings, and is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Every year, it closes in October and November for renovation and maintenance.
• Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House: Near the Mausoleum is the two room stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1948 until his final days. Visitors also pass the simple three-room bungalow where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from 1954-8, which has been preserved in the same condition and may be viewed through the windows.

• Old Quarter: Discover the old quarter of Hanoi. This fascinating area of narrow alleys and shophouses is also called "36 streets," most of which are named after the crafts or merchandise traditionally sold there.
• Opera House: a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the outside only).
• St Joseph Cathedral: a neo-Gothic cathedral finished in 1886, it is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate altar and stained-glass windows.
In the afternoon, visit one of the following museums:
• History Museum (Bao Tang Lich): once the museum of the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, is a building constructed of reinforced concrete completed in 1930. Exhibits include artefacts from Vietnam's turbulent history including some from prehistory, proto-Vietnamese civilisations, the Dong Son culture, the Oc-Eo culture and the Khmer Kingdoms.
• Museum of Ethnology: This museum brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with art and artifacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country. Inside the museum are detailed descriptions of minority groups, with examples of their traditional clothing and way of life. Outside are faithful reconstructions of traditional longhouses, cemeteries and other distinctive ethnic buildings.
• Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4 - Hanoi - Hue

• Transfer
• Flight from Hanoi to Hue
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in Hue
Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century.
• Visit the Old Imperial City: this is in the Citadel and was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum.
• Ngo Mon Gate: this is the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and faces the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as was the bridge across the lotus pond.
• Thai Hoa Palace: built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns.
• Halls of the Mandarins: these buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies, held in Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in 1977.
• Nine Dynastic Urns: these were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiselled into the sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign.
• Forbidden Purple City: this was reserved for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to the royal concubines. **today site in ruins**
• Visit the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc: Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still alive and used it for meditation, reading and theater performances. There are pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious life.
• Visit Dong Ba Market: a local market near the Imperial City
• Overnight in Hue

Day 5 - Hue - Hoi An

• Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda with a boat trip on the Huong Giang river
• Thien Mu Pagoda: just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.
• By vehicle from Hue to Hoi An with sightseeing in Danang: Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
• Cham Museum: founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham sculpture is the finest in the world. Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking.
• Marble Mountains: Five stone hillocks, once islands, made of marble. Each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. When the Champas ruled this area, these same caves were used as Hindu shrines.
• Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 - Hoi An - Danang - Saigon

• Sightseeing in Hoi An
Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Now, this beautifully preserved historic city is best seen on foot.
The walking tour will include five of the following sites:
• Quan Cong Temple: founded in 1653, this Chinese temple is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilded statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Stone plaques on the walls list contributors to the construction and repair of the temple.
• Phuoc Kien Pagoda: Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area. The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen).
• Japanese Covered Bridge: the first bridge on this site was constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. The bridge was provided with a roof so it could be used as a shelter from rain and sun.
• Tran Family Chapel: this house for worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from family members. The Tran family traces its origins to China and moved to Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building reflects the influence of Chinese and Japanese styles.

• Sa Huynh Museum: located near the Japanese Covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history.
• Phung Hung House: the same family has been living here for eight generations. The house is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles.
• Quang Dong Pagoda: this pagoda was open to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau  its a small Chinese style temple with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary.
• By vehicle from Hoi An to Danang
• Flight from Danang to Saigon
• Transfer
• Overnight in Saigon

Day 7 - Saigon

• Sightseeing in Cholon (Chinatown): this is the huge Chinese neighbourhood to the west of the city in District 5. Cholon means 'Big Market', a good indication of the importance the Chinese have traditionally played in Vietnam's economy.
• Binh Tay Market is Cholon's main marketplace with much of the business here being wholesale.
• Thien Hau Pagoda: built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases.
• Nghia An Hoi Pagoda: built by the Chaozhou Chinese congregation, is noteworthy for its gilded woodwork. There is a carved wooden boat over the entrance and inside is an enormous representation of Quan Cong's red horse with its groom.
• Tam Son Hoi Quan Pagoda: built by the Fujian Congregation in the 19th century and retains most of the unmodified, original rich ornamentation. The pagoda is dedicated to Me Sanh, the Goddess of Fertility.
• Transfer

Prices

USD p.p 1 Pax 2 Pax 3-6 Pax SGL S/C Booking Class A 1,200 710 620 140 Class B 1,320 770 680 200 Class C 1,930 1,080 990 510 All prices are per person in USD, based on twin-sharing in double rooms in the default hotel for the listed category. Above prices are subject to US$14/Person airport tax for all international flights out of Vietnam which will be calculated as a seperate service on top of the international airfares in all quotations and invoices. * Meal plan: ABF. ** Reduction for 3rd pax in triple room A:$35; Var. B:$19; Var. C:$124. *** Child reduction (sharing bed of parents): under 2 years FOC; under 12 years -30%. NOTE: The itinerary can slightly change according to the season, local conditions, climate, flight schedules and room availability. Hotel Class A Class B Class C Hanoi Phuc Loi Hotel Standard Ha Long Hotel Hanoi ROH Prince Hanoi Hotel ROH Huy Hoang 1 2nd Class Ocean Hotel ROH Green Park Hotel ROH Melia Hotel Deluxe Nikko Hotel Hanoi ROH-Leisure Sofitel Plaza Hanoi Deluxe Hue Imperial Garden Hotel Deluxe Ngoc Huong Hotel ROH Hue Heritage ROH Huong Giang Hotel Superior Gardenview Saigon Morin Hotel Superior Imperial Hotel Deluxe City View La Residence Hotel And Spa Superior Hoi An Phu Thinh 2 Hotel 2nd Class Vinh Hung 2 1st Class Lotus Hotel Standard Ancient House Resort Superior Glory Hotel Executive Superior Life Heritage Resort Hoi An Superior Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa Superior Gardenview Hoi An Riverside Resort VN Standard Saigon Saigon Star Hotel ROH Saigon Royal Hotel ROH Bong Sen Annex Economy Chancery Hotel Standard Room Vien Dong Hotel ROH Windsor Plaza Hotel Executive Moevenpick Hotel Saigon Superior Equatorial Hotel Deluxe We will confirm one of the hotels mentioned above according to the selected category. Please note that compulsory gala dinners and peak season surcharges may apply during peak periods surrounding the public holidays of Christmas and New Year - these surcharges will be confirmed at the time of booking. Included in the price(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner): Accommodation and meals as described, food only (please note that some hotels provide only CBF). All transfers within the journey, including pick-up at airport. Domestic airfares as states in the itinerary in economy class. All entrance fees. English, French or German speaking guides (other languages available upon request). Not included in the price: Visa fees. Airport taxes. Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, souvenirs.

Customizing your tour

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