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HIGHLIGHTS
OF VIETNAM
A World Heritage Sites Tour of Vietnam |
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Vietnam
is a beautiful lush country offering a rich variety of
historical sites, sounds, cultural traditions and friendly
people for its visitors. From the French Colonial architecture
to the intriguing scent of the Perfume River, from to
the hustle and bustle of the markets in Saigon to the
war memorials, Vietnam has much to be discovered.
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Tour
Summary
|
Map |
Day
|
Place
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01
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Saigon
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02
|
Saigon |
| 03 |
Saigon |
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04
|
Saigon
/ Dalat |
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05
|
Dalat / Nha Trang |
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06
|
Nha
Trang |
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07
|
Nha
Trang / Danang / Hoi An |
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08
|
Hoi
An |
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09
|
Hoi
An / Hue |
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10
|
Hue
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11
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Hue
/ Hanoi |
| 12 |
Hanoi |
| 13 |
Hanoi |
| 14 |
Hanoi |
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|
 |
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
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: Depart Hanoi
This morning we depart Vietnam with pleasant memories of this
historic and artistically rich country. (B)
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B
= Breakfast
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L
= Lunch
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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
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| Prices |
| Season |
Tour
Price US$ / CA$ |
Single
Sup US$ / CA$ |
| 2008 |
2295 |
695 |
| 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 and Hue / Hanoi. |
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1300 |
| West
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1100 |
| 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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