Spring Break 2009 in Vietnam

HANOI – HA LONG– HUE – DANANG – HOI AN
- MY SON – SAI GON – CU CHI
(12 Days /  11 Nights)
Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival   (-,-,-)
Meet at Noi Bai international airport of Hanoi. Transfer to down town. Hanoi is the Capital of Vietnam, established in 1010 during the Ly Dynasty. It’s the political, economic, cultural, and commercial and tourist centre of the country. Hanoi means "the hinterland between the rivers" (Ha: river, Noi: interior). Have Welcome dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi        (B,L,D)
After breakfast, morning city tour Hanoi, visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, House on stilts, President Palace, One-pillar Pagoda and Ba Dinh Square. Continue to visit Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam. Van Mieu - Temple of Literature was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers, and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education. Quoc Tu Giam, or Vietnam's first university, was built in 1076. It was the first educational school for royal family members, and it was later opened to talented students. Afternoon, visit to Hanoi Cathedral (1887),  Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and Opera House. Visit to Old Street Quarter by Cyclo. Evening, enjoy Water Puppet Show - the most unique artistic stage performance of Vietnam invented during the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225). Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3:Hanoi - Halong                     (B,L,D)
After breakfast, transfer to Halong Bay. It is the most beautiful place in Vietnam. It’s also the most famous World Natural Heritage in Vietnam. Halong Bay comprises 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names with extraordinary shapes. Get on boat to visit Halong Bay. Have lunch with fresh sea food on the boat. Enjoy charming islands with extraordinary shapes of animals, visit some famous islands with Grottos such as Dau Go (Wooden), Thien Cung (Celestial Palace), Sung Sot, Trinh Nu… Then you will have chance to have sun and sea bath on some natural romantic beaches on the bay… Admiring Sun Set on the Halong Bay. Have dinner on boat. Go fishing together in the evening. Overnight on boat.
Day 4: Halong – Hanoi (B,L,D)
After breakfast, Free in the morning at leisure, enjoying the fresh atmosphere, cruising aroung the Bay, having sun and sea bath. Have lunch on boat. Then back to the land, transfer to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Hue (B, L, D)
After breakfast, take a flight to Hue. It is ancient capital of Vietnam in the 18th and 19th century  during the Tay Son and Nguyen Dynasty. For approximately 400 years, Hue was the political and cultural centre of the Feudal State of Vietnam. This explains why there are hundreds of historical and cultural remains located in the area. As such, hue was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1993. Once again, in 2003 Hue Royal Music was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. Take a boat cruising along Perfume River – the most romantic river of Hue and Vietnam, visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue to visit the Tomb of King Minh Mang, who well-known with the very famous Minh Mang wine. Have dinner with Royal Dinner Ceremony. Evening, get on boat to enjoy Hue Traditional Folk Songs, which are well-known for a World Intangible Cultural Heritage in Vietnam and drop paper lantern on the Perfume River. Over night in Hue.
Day 6: Hue – Danang (B,L,D)
After breakfast at hotel. Morning, visit Hue Imperial City, built from 1805 to 1832, comprising three sections: Royal Citadel, Imperial Enclosure and the Forbidden Purple City. This complex is the most attractive sighseeing spot in Hue City and also is a World Cultural Heritage in Central of Vietnam. Continue to visit Tomb of King Khai Dinh, the King was strongly under the influence of French culture. Afternoon, leave Hue for Danang. On the way, visit Lang Co resort – the most beautiful beach resort in the Central of Vietnam. Run across Haivan Pass the highest and longest pass with 21km long. It’s also named the most beautiful Pass in Vietnam. From the peak of the Pass, you will have chance to admire the whole view of Danang City bellow. Over night in Danang.
Day 7: Danang – Hoi An (B,L,D)
After breakfast, have city tour in Danang, visit Champa Sculpture Art Museum built in 1915. Afternoon, go to Hoi An Ancient Town about 30km south of Danang, known as Faifo to early Western merchants. It was a major trading centre in Southeast Asian between the 16th and 17th century. Hoi An was also an important port for Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.... It’s one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam. On the way to Hoi An, drop at Non Nuoc Marble Carving Village founded from the 18th century to admire a world of artworks made by marble. Free in evening to enjoy night life of Hoi An Ancient town. Over night in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An – My Son – Danang (B,L,D)
After breakfast, city tour Hoi An. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town with Japanese Covered Bridge built in the 16th century, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall is also called Kim Son Pagoda, was built in 1697 by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants, Tan Ky Ancient House, Hoi An Museum… Afternoon, go to visit My Son – Holy Land, another World Cultural Heritage in Central of Vietnam. It’s a group of Temples of Cham people from the 7th to 14th century. Turn back and overnight in Danang.
Day 9: Danang – Nha Trang (B,L,D)
After breakfast, fly to Nha Trang, a romantic beach city in south-central of Vietnam. Afternoon, visit Ponagar Tower of Cham people on a marble mountain, Institute of Oceanography with more than 80,000 sea and freshwater specimens. Over night in Nha Trang.
Day 10: Nha Trang -Sai Gon (B,L,D)
Option 1( By Road):After breakfast take a coach to Sai Gon– the Far East Pearl in Asia. It’s also the biggest City in Vietnam. Visit City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Municipal Theatre, Thong Nhat Conference Hall built from 1873, the War Remnant Museum. Overnight in Sai Gon
Option 2( By Flight): After breakfast, take a boat to visit Tri Nguyen Fish Pond on Bong Nguyen Island. Admire hundreds of nice and precious marine sea creatures bred in the lake. Also visit Sea World Area on the Island.
Afternoon take a flight to Sai Gon– the Far East Pearl in Asia. It’s also the biggest City in Vietnam. Visit City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Municipal Theatre, Thong Nhat Conference Hall built from 1873, the War Remnant Museum. Overnight in Sai Gon
Day 11: Sai Gon  – Cu Chi (B,L,D)
After breakfast, transfer to Cu Chi underground tunnel about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City, played an important role during the two wars of Viet Nam. It was an underground village with a network of tunnels totaling more than 200km, 3 to 4m underground. The tunnels are able to sustain the weight of 50-ton tanks, heavy artillery and bombs of up to 100kg, the network is equipped with various accommodations from meeting rooms to a medical clinic. Go back to the City. Get on boat for Farewell Dinner, cruising along Sai Gon River to admire the beauty of Sai Gon by night.. Over night in Sai Gon.
Day 12: Sai Gon - Departure(B,-,-)
After breakfast, free at leisure until time for departure.
End of the tour

Services included:

• Transpacific Flight originating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver
• Accommodation in share double or twin room at hotels selected with breakfast included.
• Transfer by private air-conditioned (car, van or bus)
• Boat on Halong Bay, Perfume River in Hue.
• Guide speaks requested language (except during time at leisure).
• Meals as mentioned in the program: (B) for breakfast, (L) for lunch, (D) for dinner.
• Entrance fees for sightseeing spots as mentioned in the program.
• Souvenir gift and mineral water.

Services not included:

• Visa fee (28 U$ per person upon arrival + passport size pictures)
• International airport tax (14 U$ per person for Noi Bai and 13$ for Tan Son Nhat).
• Drink, tip, personal expenses and all services not clearly mentioned.
• Domestic flight & airport tax.
• All kinds of insurance.

Note: Program is subject to change without notice due to airlines unexpected change of schedule or flight unexpected cancellations.

Price:

$2490