|
AN
EXPLORATION OF VIETNAM & BURMA
A World Heritage Sites Tour of Vietnam and Burma |
 |
Vietnam
and Myanmar have certainly played an important role in modern
day history, especially now with the opening of the isolated
country of Burma (Myanmar). Our 25-day in depth and relaxed
style journey combines these two august countries in the
Pacific in an attempt to provide an experience of the history,
culture, people and traditions that have evolved over the
years in these two magnificent countries.
|
Tour
Summary
|
Map |
Day
|
Place
|
|
01
|
Arrive
Saigon |
|
02
|
Saigon |
| 03 |
Saigon |
|
04
|
Saigon
/ Dalat |
|
05
|
Dalat / Nha Trang |
|
06
|
Nha
Trang |
|
07
|
Nha
Trang / Danang / Hoi An |
|
08
|
Hoi
An |
|
09
|
Hoi
An / Hue |
|
10
|
Hue
|
|
11
|
Hue
/ Hanoi |
| 12 |
Hanoi |
| 13 |
Hanoi |
| 14 |
Hanoi |
| 15 |
Hanoi
/ Yangon |
| 16 |
Yangon |
| 17 |
Yangon
/ Bagan |
| 18 |
Bagan |
| 19 |
Bagan
/ Mandalay |
| 20 |
Mandalay |
| 21 |
Mandalay |
| 22 |
Mandaly
/ Kalaw |
| 23 |
Kalaw
/ Inle Lake |
| 24 |
Inle
Lake / Heho / Yangon |
| 25 |
Yangon |
|
|
 |
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites Visited
This tour has been tailored to include the following World
Heritage Sites |
|
World Heritage Sites in Vietnam covered on this tour |
|
Complex of Hue Monuments (1993) |
Established
as the capital of unified Vietnam in 1802, Hue was not
only the political but also the cultural and religious
centre under the Nguyen Dynasty until 1945. The Perfume
River winds its way through the Capital City, the Imperial
City, the Forbidden Purple City and Inner City, adding
natural beauty to this unique feudal capital. |
| Ha
Long Bay (1994, 2000) |
Ha
Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some
1600 islands and islets forming a spectacular seascape
of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature,
most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by
man. The exceptional esthetic values of this site are
complimented by its great biological interest. |
|
Hoi An Ancient Town (1999) |
Hoi
An constitutes an exceptionally well preserved example
of a South-East Asian trading port from the period of
the 15th to 19th centuries. Its buildings and its street
pattern reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign,
that combined to produce this unique heritage site. |
| Detailed
Itinerary |
Day
1 Saturday: Arrive Saigon (VIETNAM)
Chào ban! (Welcome in Vietnamese) Upon arrival to one
of Vietnam’s largest cities we are met and transferred
to our hotel.
Overnight: Majestic Hotel, Saigon (3 nights)
Day 2 Sunday: Saigon
We have a whole day to explore some of the most interesting
sites, including the beautiful neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral,
the Central Post Office, the Opera House also known as “Saigon
Concert Hall’, the Jade Emperor Pagoda with its colorful
and mysterious ambiance, the Reunification Palace and Ben Thanh
Market. We also visit the Giam Lam Pagoda built at the end
of the 17th century and the oldest pagoda in Saigon, Binh Tay
Market, and finally the Thien Hau Pagoda, one of the most active
in Cholon. (B)
Day 3 Monday: Saigon
Today we take an interesting excursion to My Tho, the capital
of Tien Giang Province. The economy of My Tho is based on fishing
and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangos, longans
and citrus fruits. We have the opportunity to visit the centuries-old
My Tho Church and experience the Central Market, filled with
stalls selling everything from fresh food and bulk tobacco
to boat propellers. Cao Dai Temple in the Long An Province,
is a smaller temple than the one at Tay Ninh, but is well worth
a visit. The Vinh Trang Pagoda is a beautiful and well-maintained
sanctuary where charitable monks provide a home to needy children.
Finally, we visit Dragon Island with its many longan orchards
and lush, palm-fringed shores lined with traditional wooden
fishing boats. (B)
* The above tour/excursion may be substituted for Cu Chi & Tay
Ninh.
Day 4 Tuesday: Saigon/Dalat (Drive 298 kms/185 miles)
This morning we journey northeast for Dalat. En Route we have
the opportunity to stop at Dambri Falls, the highest falls
in Vietnam, where the views are breathtaking. This area is
inhabited chiefly by Montagnards. We also stop at Pongour Falls
that, during the rainy season, form a full semicircle. Next
on our journey is Langa Lake, a reservoir that is crossed by
a bridge and is residence to many floating houses. Finally
we explore Dinh Quan, where we will find 3 inactive volcanic
craters dating from the late Jurassic period.
Overnight: Novotel Hotel, Dalat (1 night) (B)
Day 5 Wednesday: Dalat/Nha Trang (Drive 213 kms/132 miles)
Today is our day to tour Dalat beginning with the Hang Nga
Art Gallery, a café and art gallery run by the gallery's
eccentric owner. The French District is a delightful area for
walking around, and is reminiscent of a French provincial town.
Next we are off to Cam Ly Falls, the grassy areas around the
15m/16 yard-high cascades are the habitat of horses and Dalat
cowboys. The Valley Of Love was named the Valley of Peace by
the Emperor, however in 1972 its name was changed by romantically-minded
students. Dalat Cathedral was built between 1931 and 1942 for
use by French residents and holidaymakers and features stained-glass
windows that put us in medieval Europe. Domaine De Marie Convent
is a pink tile-roofed structure and was once home to 300 nuns.
Thien Vuong Pagoda, also known as the Chinese pagoda is set
on a hilltop amid pine trees. Later this afternoon we depart
for Nha Trang, the home of tens of thousands of descendents
of the Cham people.
Overnight: Lodge Hotel, Nha Trang (2 nights) (B)
Day 6 Thursday: Nha Trang
This day is full of interesting sites! The Po Nagar Cham Towers,
built between the 7th and 12th centuries, were used for Hindu
worship as early as the 2nd century AD. The Oceanographic Institute
has an aquarium and specimen room open to the public. Next
we are off to the Lang Son Pagoda, with an exquisite entrance
and roofs decorated with mosaic dragons. At the top of the
hill, behind the pagoda, is the huge white Buddha seated on
a lotus blossom. Nha Trang Cathedral, built in the French Gothic
style, stands on a small hill overlooking the train station.
The Bao Dai Villas, formerly the retreat of Bao Dai Vietnam's
last emperor, were used by high-ranking officials of the South
Vietnamese government. (B)
Day 7 Friday: Nha Trang/Danang/Hoi An (Flight/Drive 30 kms/18
miles)
We are transferred to the airport for a short flight to Danang
where we start our tour with the Cham Museum. Founded in 1915
by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, it has the finest
open-air collection of Cham sculptures in the world. China
Beach, made famous in the American TV series of the same name,
stretches north and south of the Marble Mountains. The Marble
Mountains consist of 5 stone hillocks made of marble and 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. We continue to Hoi An, 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 from
the 17th to 19th centuries.
Overnight: Hoi An Beach Resort, Hoi An (2 nights) (B)
Day 8 Saturday: Hoi An
A full day visiting the many interesting sites of Hoi An, including
Quan Cong Temple, founded in 1653. The Phuoc Kien Pagoda is
a typical example of the Chinese 'clans' that were established
in the Hoi An area, was built around 1690. The Japanese Covered
Bridge, constructed in 1593 was built by the Japanese community
of Hoi An, to link them with the Chinese quarters across the
river. The Sa Huynh Museum contains exhibitions from the earliest
period of Hoi An's history. Finally we visit the Phung Hung
House, a structure that combines Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese
architectural styles and has been the home to one family for
eight generations. (B)
Day 9 Sunday: Hoi An/Hue (Drive 132 kms/82 miles)
A scenic drive to Hue begins this day. Upon arrival, our afternoon
tour includes the 19th Century Imperial City that was for a
long time the cultural and intellectual center of Vietnam.
Our tour includes the Citadel that was built in the early 19th
century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. Ngo
Mon Gate is the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure
and faces the Flag Tower. The Forbidden Purple City was reserved
for the personal use of the emperor and the only servants allowed
into the compound were eunuchs. Evening is free to mix and
mingle with the local Hue people.
Overnight: Saigon Morin Hotel, Hue (2 nights) (B)
Day 10 Monday: Hue
A jaunt to Tu Duc Tomb, once the Royal Palace of Tu Duc, begins
our day’s tour. Constructed between 1864 and 1867, its
pavilions are framed in a tranquil setting of forested hills
and lakes. The Khai Dinh Tomb, the last monument of the Nguyen
dynasty, sits magnificently on the slopes of Chau E Mountain
in Chau Chau Village and houses a long staircase flanked by
dragons and decorated with stunning ceiling murals and ceramic
frescoes. Located just outside of Hue on the bank of the Perfume
River, Thien Mu Pagoda was a hotbed of anti-government protests
during the early 1960s. The Emperor Minh Mang Tomb complex
built in 1840, is known for its magnificent architecture, military
statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most
beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs, a fitting end to a spectacular
day. (B)
Day 11 Tuesday: Hue/Hanoi (Flight)
Morning free at leisure till we are transferred for our short
flight to Hanoi, a city of lakes. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam,
is a charming city of peaceful shaded boulevards, French style
buildings and public parks. Balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Sunway Hotel, Hanoi (3 nights) (B)
Day 12 Wednesday: Hanoi
The first of our two full day of Hanoi sightseeing includes
the One Pillar Pagoda built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong. Built
of wood on a single stone pillar, this structure was designed
to resemble a lotus blossom. Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the
heart of Hanoi and is home to a small Tortoise Pagoda topped
with a red star perched on an islet in the middle of the lake.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho
Chi Minh, Vietnam’s great leader of independence. Our
journey today concludes with a visit to St Joseph Cathedral,
a striking neo-Gothic cathedral noteworthy for its square towers,
elaborate altar and colourful stained-glass windows. (B)
Day 13 Thursday: Hanoi
Our excursion to Ha Long bay includes a boat ride to Hang Dau
Go, a huge cave consisting of three chambers that are reached
climbing 90 steps. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from
the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used
by Tran Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes
that were used against Mongol invaders. Bo Nau is the 'Pelican'
cave of interest. Thien Cung is "Heaven Palace".
(B)
Day 14 Friday: Hanoi
Day free at leisure to relax or to revisit the sites on your
own. (B)
Day 15 Saturday: Hanoi/ Yangon (BURMA) (Flight)
Mingalaba! (Welcome) Yangon lies in the fertile delta of the
Yangon River and gives the impression of being full of trees,
shade and shimmering stupas floating above the treetops. Our
afternoon tour includes the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda which
dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred
hairs of the Buddha. Its bell-shaped superstructure is covered
in about 60 tons of gold leaf. The National Museum holds several
interesting exhibits, including the mammoth Sihasana Lion Throne
as well as many treasures of Burmese royalty. The Sule Pagoda
has a 48 meter/52 yard high golden dome used, when it was rebuilt
in the 1880s, by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern
for the city.
Overnight: Summit Parkview Hotel, Yangon (2 nights) (B)
Day 16 Sunday: Yangon
An interesting experience today includes mingling in the Bogyoke
Aung San Market, also known as Scott Market, and its 2000 little
shops. The Kyaukhtatkyi Pagoda contains a gaudy, modern, 70m/76
yard-long reclining Buddha built in 1966 and housed in a formidable
iron pavilion. The temple doubles as a monastery, as well as
a center for the study of Buddhist manuscripts. Mailamu Pagoda
has a series of interesting images of the Buddha in his previous
incarnations as well as a lovely reclining Buddha image. (B)
Day 17 Monday: Yangon/Bagan (Flight)
A short flight gets us to Bagan with its spectacular plain
dotted with thousands of ancient temple ruins. Although human
habitation in Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the
Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the
conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD. Our tour includes Ananda Pahto,
one of the finest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan
temples thought to have been built around 1105, and the Shwegugyi
temple, built in 1311. We also visit Thatbyinnyu Pahto, Nathlaung
Kyaung, Bagan's only Hindu Vaishnavite temple, and the Pahtothamya.
Gawdawpalin Pahto, one of the largest and most imposing of
the Bagan temples. Bupaya is a cylindrical Pyu-style stupa
said to be the oldest in Bagan; local residents claim it dates
to the 3rd century.
Overnight: Bagan Hotel, Bagan (2 nights) (B)
Day 18 Tuesday: Bagan
Our excursion to Mount Popa, gives us an interesting picture
of life in the countryside. We also visit Salay famous as the
historic home of Salay U Ponya, a Bagan Era writer/poet. We
go to many interesting sites including Payathonzu, an interconnected
complex of three brick shrines; Thadanayaunggyi Kyaung, an
ancient monastery in continuous use for several centuries,
and Mogok Vipassan Yeiktha, a meditation center. We will also
have the opportunity to see Nan Paya, home to a large lacquer
Buddha dating back to the 13th century, and an old brick and
stucco Buddhist scripture library. We finish the day with a
visit to Youqson Kyaung, the oldest surviving wooden monastery
hall in the Bagan area. (B)
Day 19 Wednesday: Bagan/Mandalay (Drive 200 kms/124 miles)
This morning we depart by road to Mandalay, the last capital
of Myanmar before the British took over. Mandalay is of great
cultural and historical importance and is the most “Burmese” of
Myanmar’s large cities. Mandalay's Buddhist monasteries
are the most important in the country - about 60% of all the
monks in Myanmar reside in the Mandalay area.
Overnight: Novotel Hotel, Mandalay (3 nights) (B)
Day 20 Thursday: Mandalay
Constructed in 1857, Mandalay Fort (Fort Dufferin) is an imposing
walled palace compound encircled by an impressive moat. We
get a glimpse of history at the Mandalay Museum and Library,
known for their large collection of Mandalay regalia, royally
commissioned art and palm-leaf manuscripts that were formerly
housed in the palace. Next we visit the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda,
home to a huge seated marble-image of the Buddha; the Sandamani
Paya, a cluster of slender whitewashed stupas and the Shwenandaw
Kyaung, fine example of a traditional Burmese wooden monastery.
(B)
Day 21 Friday: Mandalay
Today we visit the one time capital of Inwa followed by Sagaing
and Amarapura where we visit Nanmyin, Maha Aungmye Bonzan,
and Bagaya Kyaung, a monastery built of teakwood and supported
by 267 teak posts. Sagaing is widely regarded as the religious
center of Myanmar and is popularly known as 'Little Pagan'
as the Sagaing ridge is littered with around 600 pagodas and
living monasteries. We also visit Thabyedan Fort, Kaunghmudaw
Paya, Sagaing's most important temple, Tupayon Paya with its
unique architecture and Hsinmyashin Paya, known as the Pagoda
of Many Elephants. Amarapura means City of Immortality, however
its period as capital was brief. We visit Pahtodawgyi, and
Bagaya Kyaung - a museum and library known for its collection
of palm-leaf manuscripts. (B)
Day 22 Saturday: Mandalay/Kalaw (Drive 200 kms/124 miles)
Our destination today is Kalaw, a popular hill station in the
British days. Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan
Plateau and is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere
reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a
mix of Shan, Indian Muslims, Bamar and Nepalis making for an
interesting cultural experience. Our afternoon tour includes
Aung Chang Tha Zedi, a glittering stupa covered in gold-colored
mosaics, Dhamma Yon, a two-story temple provides a fair view
of the town, Dhamma Yanthi Paya and the ruins of the Hsu Taung
Pye Paya. Nee Paya, and Christ The King Church, wrap up our
days sightseeing.
Overnight: Pine Hill Resort, Kalaw (1 night) (B)
Day 23 Sunday: Kalaw/Inle Lake (Drive 100 kms/62 miles)
We drive to Inle Lake, located in Shan State. The lake is beautiful,
with its serene waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation
and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on both sides creating
a cozy and tranquil setting. The lakeshore and lake islands
bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the unique
Intha people.
Overnight: Lake View Resort, Inle Lake (1 night) (B)
Day 24 Monday: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon (Drive/Flight)
This morning, we enjoy a boat trip on the serene Inle Lake
followed by a scenic and countryside drive to Heho where we
catch our flight back to Yangon.
Overnight: Summit Parkview Hotel, Yangon (1 night)
(B)
Day 25 Tuesday: Depart Yangon
Today we bid farewell after what will have been an awe-inspiring
journey. We are transferred to the airport for our departure
flight with unforgettable memories of extraordinary cultures.
|
|
B
= Breakfast
|
L
= Lunch
|
D
= Dinner
|
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|
Departure Dates |
|
2008
Jan 12,
Feb 02 & 23,
Mar 08 & 22,
Apr 05 & 19,
May 10 & 24,
Jun 07 & 21,
Jul 05 & 19,
Aug 09 & 23,
Sep 13 & 27,
Oct 11 & 25,
Nov 08 & 22,
Dec 06 & 20
|
| Prices |
| Season |
Tour
Price US$ / CA$ |
Single
Sup US$ / CA$ |
| 2008 |
4595 |
995 |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include: |
• Hotel accommodation as mentioned or similar
• Meal plan as mentioned (B = Breakfast)
• All sightseeing and transfers
• Entrance Fees to Museums and Sites
• Services of local English speaking guides
|
•
International Airfare / Departure Taxes
• Insurances
• Visa Fees
• Drinks / Beverages with meals
• Tips / Gratuities to Drivers & Guides |
| Domestic
/ Regional Airfare INCLUDED in Tour Price |
| Nha
Trang / Danang, Hue / Hanoi, Hanoi / Yangon, Yangon
/ Bagan and Heho / Yangon. |
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1400 |
| West
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1200 |
| Please
note:
This tour operates with a minimum of 02
and a maximum of 15
participants. |
| Other
Dates / Customized Itinerary / Languages |
In addition to our set programs we are also pleased
to offer customized tours.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your
individual needs.
Customized tours can be conducted in English, French,
German, Spanish or Italian. Each departure is conducted
in the designated language only. |
| Contact
Information |
|
|
Fax:
+1-604-264-7774
|
| 206–8678
Greenall Ave |
Phone:
+1-604-264-7378 |
| Burnaby
B.C., Canada |
Toll
Free (US & Canada): 1-800-663-0844 |
| V5J
3M6 |
Email:
bestway@bestway.com |
|
30
years in small group journeys
|
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Site
updated April 04, 2008
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