NEW ZEALAND – HO CHI MINH – HANOI – HALONG BAY – HOIAN – DA NANG – MEKONG DELTA – HCM – NEW ZEALAND
Travel Period : May 2017 – Mar 2018
DAY 01: NEW ZEALAND DEPARTURE – HCM – HANOI ARRIVAL (Inflight meals)
Upon arrival on flight NZ269 / Auckland – HCM / 13:25-19:45 then connecting domestic flight VN268/ HCM – HAN XX – XX ( or other available flight) , you will be warmly welcome by your guide at the airport and transferred to hotel for check in & relax at own leisure.
Introduction: With a population of approximately four million, Hanoi – the capital city – is a charming and richly historic city of lakes, shaded boulevards and leafy open parks. The center is an architectural museum piece housing groups of ochre coloured buildings holding the air of provincial French towns of the 1930s, a “Paris of the Orient” as people have called it.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 02 : HANOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
AM: Take sightseeing tour featuring both cultural and historical highlights, starting with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – an important historical attraction of Hanoi, known for honoring the national hero: President Ho Chi Minh. The building is where visitors can express their admiration and gratitude towards the common father/uncle of Vietnamese who has led the country to independence and reunification. Inside the complex, also located his House on Stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. This is followed by The Temple of Literature – being constructed in 1070 under Ly Thanh Tong’s dynasty, first to honor Confucius and nowadays to celebrate the doctorates and high rank scholars of Vietnam. In 1076, King Ly Nhan Tong continued the work and built Quoc Tu Giam as the first university of Vietnam.
Lunch at local restaurant
In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Ethnology Museum which offers an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam in an effort to preserve cultural heritage and promote socio-cultural diversity within the country. The museum is packed full of information detailing traditional Vietnamese ways of life, from religious events to the symbolic rituals of all the Vietnamese ethnic groups, providing a rich tapestry of the culture melting pot existing in Vietnam. The exhibition hall features everyday objects representing each group, a research centre, library and auditorium. The outdoor display area exhibits a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas, with great attention paid to the varying architectural styles set within the authentic and tranquil gardens. The tour then will be wrapped up with the visit to Ngoc Son Temple uniquely set on a tiny island on Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 03: HANOI – HALONG BAY (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast, depart for the 3½ hour drive to Halong Bay. Journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work in the rice fields, take pigs to market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes.
Today, you will be cruising from the awesome limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay toward the center of the World Natural Heritage site, discovering the exotic formations of a limestone cave, and exploring the daily life of local people living on the bay…
12: 00 Arrive to Bhaya Cafe at Tuan Chau Island.
12: 45 Get on Board: Welcome drinks and a quick briefing of the itinerary and safety information by our Cruise Manager
13: 00 Let the vacation begin with delicious lunch as the boat cruises towards to Cua Van floating village
15: 00 Visit Cua Van floating village by rowing boat or kayaking
16: 00 Back to boat, enjoy Spa, drink at bar counter or relax on sundeck.
17: 00 Bar opens for the Happy Hour “Buy one get one free”
17: 30 Cooking demonstration with traditional Vietnamese food on the sundeck (or in the restaurant if weather does not allow)
19: 00 Set menu dinner will be served in the restaurant
21: 00 Free time for squid fishing at reception, or relaxing at the bar
Overnight onboard Bhaya Classic Cruise
DAY 04: HA LONG – HANOI/ PUPPET SHOW (Brunch)
06: 15 Early start for a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck; tea and coffee are available
07: 00 Light breakfast will be served in the restaurant
07: 45 Visit Surprise cave –the most beautiful cave in the Bay
09: 00 Back to main boat for check out: please put your baggage out to the corridor and settle your bill at reception
09: 30 Brunch will be served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to harbor.
10: 30 Disembark to Tuan Chau Marina where you will be picked up for your journey back to Hanoi.
In late afternoon, enjoy the Vietnamese water puppets show – a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today’s Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 05: HANOI– DANANG – HOIAN (Breakfast)
Breakfast at hotel
Free at own leisure then you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang via Vietnam Airlines // VN 175 HAN-DAD 14:20 15:40 (tentatively)
Upon arrival in Da Nang, you will be met by your guide who will arrange the private transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Along the way, take a short visit to the Marble Mountain – a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble. This is a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains exist in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting and sculpture about 9km south of Danang.
Introduction: Hoian Ancient Town – an UNESCO World Heritage site – is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a small-scale trading port active the 15th to 19th centuries which traded widely, both with the countries of Southeast and East Asia and with the rest of the world. Its decline in the later 19th century ensured that it has retained its traditional urban tissue to a remarkable degree. The town reflects a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures (principally Chinese and Japanese with later European influences) that combined to produce this unique survival.
Overnight in Hoian
DAY 06: HOIAN/ WALKING TOUR + COOKING CLASS (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Breakfast at hotel
In the morning, take a 2-hour walking tour around the ancient town to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market. The town has successfully remains complete as a homogenous complex of traditional wooden buildings, with the original organically developed street plan, within the town’s original river/seacoast setting, which partly giving it such a unique skyline. Here you will have chance to admire the gorgeous and peaceful beauty of the town and feel like travelling back in time. Grab this chance to take yourself some nice photos and souvenirs.
Lunch at local restaurant
After lunch, enjoy short free time until joining Red Bridge Half Day Cooking Class (2:30 PM to 7:00 PM)
- We start the class with a drink at Hai Scout Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Tel: 3863210) – our meeting point.
- Visit Hoian’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
- We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
- On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson finished, we enjoy dishes that we have cooked.
The cooking class will cover those dishes (containing no MSG):
- Fresh Rice paper
- Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
- Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
- Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
- Mi Quang Chicken Noodles
- Food Decoration – Tomato Rose & Vietnamese Cucumber Hand Fan
* Lunch includes the above meals as well as:
Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Freshly Chopped Vegetables (not included in the demonstration)
* A vegetarian lunch can be provided on request.
- Finish at approximately 1pm – transfer back to the center of Hoi An and enjoy free time at own leisure for the rest of the day
Overnight in Hoian
DAY 07: HOIAN/ MY SON SANCTUARY VISIT (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
In the morning, leave Hoian for My Son Sanctuary (also referred as My Son Holy Land) and cross Cua Dai Bridge en route with its spectacular views of Hoi An river system, mountains and Cham islands
My Son Sanctuary dates from the 4th to the 13th centuries and comprises of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. This Champa unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. The monuments of this Unesco world heritage site are the most important constructions of the My Son civilization because they presents a vivid picture of spiritual and political life in an important phase of the history of South-East Asia.
The tower temples have a variety of architectural designs symbolizing the greatness and purity of Mount Meru, the mythical sacred mountain home of Hindu gods at the center of the universe, now symbolically reproduced on Earth in the mountainous homeland of the Cham people. They are constructed in fired brick with stone pillars and decorated with sandstone bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Their technological sophistication is evidence of Cham engineering skills while the elaborate iconography and symbolism of the tower-temples give insight into the content and evolution of Cham religious and political thought.
Lunch at local restaurant
Drive back to Hoian after lunch, enjoy free time wandering around and further exploring the town on your own.
Overnight in Hoian
DAY 08: HOIAN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY/ HALF DAY CITY TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
Free at own leisure and you then will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh via Vietnam Airlines // VN 117 DAD-SGN 10:10 11:35 (tentatively)
Introduction: Ho Chi Minh City, also referred as Saigon by many locals, is Vietnam’s largest city. It is a fast- paced metropolis full of contrasts, with street vendors selling fruit and vegetables next to glitzy western – style bars and boutiques. Amazingly, the city still remains its connections to the past by somehow, particularly in Cho Lon, Saigon’s China town, where dozens of elegant temples and pagodas can be seen. This tour unravels Saigon’s turbulent past and also provides a glimpse into the fascinating variety the city has to offer through its outstanding tourist spots.
Upon arrival, you will meet up with your guide and transferred for lunch at local restaurant
In the afternoon, take a half day sightseeing tour starting with the War RemnantsMuseum telling the story of the Vietnam war from Vietnamese perspective. Exhibits include photographs, machinery, and weapons that depict the harsh realities of war). Continue on to Reunification Palace which was the residence of the President Ngo Dinh Diem of the former South Vietnam until 1975 (1960s – Apr 1975s). You will see many interesting things like formal meeting rooms, private bedrooms, war situation rooms 10 meter beneath earth’s level. This address today still holds many important functions in HCMC. From there, stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City including the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame then walking along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) to reach for the Opera House and the City Hall.
Then transfer for free time shopping at Ben Thanh market or many other shopping malls nearby or you can spend this time to explore the city
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 09: MEKONG DELTA – VINH LONG – CAN THO (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
At around 8 AM, head to Mekong Delta with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn… The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish…
Lunch will be served at Ut Trinh home
After lunch, we can walk around and then enjoy some kinds of fruits when listening to the traditional music
One more thing to do in this trip is biking! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta.. The cruise then will end at Vinh Long city. You will be picked up and transferred to Can Tho.
Upon arrival, check in hotel and enjoy free time exploring Tay Do night market, Ninh Kieu Quay and taste delicious local dishes.
Overnight in Can Tho
DAY 10: CAN THO – HO CHI MINH CITY (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
Get up early to pay a visit to Cai Rang floating market – one of the largest and the most famous floating markets of the Southwest area, specializing in wholesale fruits and agricultural products. It usually opens from 4:30AM – 5:00 AM before dawn and lasts until around 10:00AM when the sun rises. You should get up early to experience the whole atmosphere of the market and get an idea how water commerce operates in the Mekong Delta. Among hundreds of boat gathering in the market, you can easily recognize what goods each boat sells basing on a special and interesting notice sign.
Along the way, stop and pay a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda – the greatest pagoda of Tien Giang Province, in an area of 2,000m2 with many beautiful trees. It was built in 1849 in My Phong village, My Tho City, in the shape of “Nation” letter of Chinese characters. The beautiful structure features a mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese and Angkor (Cambodian) architectural styles and creates a splendid beauty, solemnity, but purity.
Lunch at local restaurant
Upon arrival in HCMC, enjoy free time at own leisure
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 11: CU CHI TUNNELS (Breakfast, Lunch)
Breakfast at hotel
Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 08:00 in the morning for the drive to Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.
Arrive and start the visit of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. The tunnels were created since 1948 to assist Viet Nam to combat the French. Construction of the tunnels continued over the next 25 years until they became an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers for the war against American. Starting the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel and here you will have an opportunity to get the unique experience of guerillas living and fighting underground during the war (a crawl through 50 -100 meters out 200 km of the tunnel system is unforgettable). For those interested, there is also an opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.
Lunch at local restaurant
Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy free time at own leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY/ DEPARTURE (Breakfast, Inflight meals)
Breakfast at hotel
Free at own leisure until hotel check-out (around 12PM at the latest) and transfer to the airport for your departure flight back home via NZ268 / HCM – AKL / 21:25- 12:40
Overnight on flight
NOTES: The above itinerary is only sample as it may change with your flight schedule
*** End of services ***
QUOTATION:
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Services/ Accommodation : 3/4* (As sited or similar depending on availability) |
PRICE IN NZD PER PERSON (Twin/ Double share) |
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May – Sept 17 |
Oct 17 – Mar 18 |
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2 pax |
4 pax |
2 pax |
4 pax |
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11 Days Vietnam Package HANOI – MAISON D’HANOI BOUTIQUE (Premium) 03 nights HALONG – BHAYA CRUISES (DLX) 01 night HOIAN – VINH HUNG RESORT (SUP Garden View) 03 nights HCMC – LE DUY GRAND (Grand DLX) 03 nights CAN THO – INTERNATIONAL HOTEL (SUP) 01 night |
2,698 |
2,152 |
2,761 |
2,215 |
INCLUSIVE services:
- Domestic flight tickets and taxes x 03 ( HCM-HAN / HAN –DAD / DAD – HCM )
- Vietnam Visa fees & Stamp for New Zealand passport holders
- Regional English speaking guides in different parts of Vietnam.
- All accommodation in twin/double share basis with daily breakfast
- Private vehicle as tour program
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary (11BF ,08L ,2D)
- Entrance fees as sites listed and private boat trip in Mekong Delta
- 01 drinking water bottle/pax/day
EXCLUSIVE services:
- Meals not included in the itinerary and beverage during meals
- Personal expenses such as: bar, telephone and laundry bill
- Personal travel insurance
- Additional charges: Tipping – US$ 60 per person ( Subject to change ) payable on arrival .
- Single Supplement : NZD 591 (May – Sept 18) & NZD 647 (Oct 17 – March18)