VIET NAM & MYAMAR 16DAYS/15NIGHTS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL HO CHI MINH CITY( Welcome dinner)
Your arrival at the Tan Son Nhat Internaioanl Airport marks the start of your tour. Our guide is waiting to welcome you and take you to your hotel. (early check-in is subject to the hotel’s availability). Being the heart and soul of South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is a bustling, dynamic and industrious city. It is not only the largest city but also the economic capital and trendsetter of Vietnam. Yet within the teeming metropolis are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture. You can enjoy a myriad of street markets, shops, pavements, cafes, stands-on-wheels and vendors all with their wares spread out on the sidewalks as well as history, culture and beautiful architecture.
Your city tour will start with a visit to the Reunification Palace, a tribute to the war when the gates came crashing down in Saigon to the North Vietnamese. In the same area is the Notre Dame Cathedral with the twin bell towers that form the most famous landmark in Ho Chi Minh that is visible for miles.
Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 2: HCM CITY – VINH LONG – HCM CITY (b,l)
After breakfast, we leave the City for a beautiful scenic drive through the Mekong River Delta, home to the richest agricultural lands in Vietnam. Enjoy a boat trip to an island that houses orchard gardens and the beautiful Cai Be floating market, a famous place in the Mekong Delta. The Cai Be floating market is a magnificent site to see as hundreds of small merchant boats anchor alongside the banks of the river trading their commodities with locals and tourists alike. We continue with our cruise through the maze of canals that crisscross around An Binh Island.
Lunch is at Mr. Muoi Huong old house. Back onboard, enjoy the delicious fresh tropical fruits of the Delta as the cruise continues through islands to Vinh Long (2km). On our way back to Ho Chi Minh City, we visit the bonsai garden. Savor dinner with the delicious food and elegant music.
Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 3: HCM CITY – DA NANG – HOI AN (B, D )
We start the day with a half-day tour starting with the Thien Hau Temple. Thien Hau is a 16th century Chinese temple in Cholon, which is dedicated to Thien Hau, goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. A trip to the War Remnants Museum is a tribute to the Vietnam/American war and offers interesting insights into that period of Vietnamese history. Don’t miss the photograph display on the 2nd floor, examples and stories of the dedication of war photographers from many countries who risked their lives (and often died) to get the story to the world.
In the early afternoon, you transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport to catch the flight to Da Nang City in the Central region of Vietnam. Upon your arrival, you will be picked up and taken to the charming old town of Hoi An. You have the rest of the evening to explore the town.
Hotel in Hoi An
DAY 4: HOI AN (b, L )
Enjoy a walking tour through the narrow and ancient streets of this charming town. Perhaps more than any other place in Vietnam, Hoi An retains the feel of centuries past. Once known as Faifo, Hoi An was an influential port along the Silk Road. For over 500 years, merchants from China, Japan, France and Portugal settled in the prosperous town resulting in a distinctive blend of culture, cuisine, religions and architecture. The town has the status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, listed for having the ‘most unique’ architecture in Southeast Asia.It has been restored and protected by both the UNESCO funding and proud locals ever since. The tour takes in the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and old family houses.
Hoi An is a very comfortable place to be for tourists who are well catered for with the many restaurants, Café’s and bars and shops that not only sell clothes and shoes, they will also make something to order within a 24 hour period. And everything is within easy walking distance.
The evenings are charming when the many lanterns light the riverside and the bridge.
Lunch at the Cargo Restaurant.
You can then take the afternoon to relax and be lazy on the beach or be more adventurous by setting out to explore the surroundings of Hoi An by cycle… the choice is yours. Another option is to go by boat to visit the handicraft villages that specialize in ceramics and boat building.
Hotel in Hoi An
DAY 5: HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE (B,L,D)
We leave Hoi An and travel north to Hue through the emerald-green paddy fields. Hue was the political, economic and cultural capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945) and used to be the home of past emperors. You have the opportunity to stop en route to take pictures at the summit of Hai Van Pass of the Lang Co Beach. We also visit the Cham Museum located in Da Nang City. The museum offers the most extensive collection of Cham art sculptures throughout the world. The sculptures date from the 7th to the 15thcentury.
Our tour of Hue starts at the beautiful Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1993. The Citadel includes the Imperial City and Forbidden City. Enjoy the various palaces, ornate halls, libraries, residences, colleges, Flag Tower and Noon Gate. We then visit the traditional Dong Ba Market, a typical market that has existed in this way for centuries where vendors sprawl their goods out for you to walk around and select the items you want. Dinner at ‘Y’ Thao Garden Restaurant.
Hotel in Hue
DAY 6: HUE (B,L)
We spend the entire day exploring ancient Hue starting by taking a boat trip down the romantic Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in Hue. We then go to the Minh Mang Tomb. Ming Mang was emperor of Vietnam from 1820 to 1841. Enjoy a vegetarian lunch and take the chance to chat with the nuns, learn more about Buddhism and gain insights into their daily lives and their calligraphy art.
In the afternoon, we start our journey by heading to the outskirts of Hue to explore the peaceful setting of the Tu Duc Tomb. On the way back to Hue, we stop at a traditional village where they make conical hats and incense and relax to traditional folk music on the mystic dragon boats while cruising down the beautiful Perfume River.
Hotel in Hue
DAY 7: HUE – HA NOI (b,D)
After breakfast, you transfer to the airport to catch the flight Ha Noi. Ha Noi is over 1000 years old and is the current capital of Vietnam as well as being the commercial, political, and cultural heart of the country. After checking into the hotel, we start the city tour.
The tour starts with a visit to the Temple of Literature. Built in October 1073 to worship Confucius, it is the first known university in Vietnam. We then take the short drive to Hoan Kiem Lake where you will see Ngoc Son Temple, which worships Van Xuong saint, and Tran Hung Dao, a former general commander.
You can then walk down the elegant tree lined boulevards where we can see many French influences such as Hanoi Opera House, the State Bank, the former Governor’s palace, and the Hanoi Cathedral (Saint Joseph’s built in the late 19th century). Finally, relax and enjoy a 1-hour cyclo ride around the 36 streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
After that, you are free to explore this splendid and exciting city on your own or you can relax in your hotel room.
Hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 8: HA NOI – HOA LU – HA NOI (B,L, D)
Leaving Ha Noi, we travel 80 km south to the Ninh Binh Province. This is an area of outstanding beauty, unrivaled historical and religious sites. Often known as the ‘Ha Long Bay on Land’, the area has large rock structures jutting out of the water and the land that are reminiscent of the Bay.
We begin our tour with a relaxing sampan (boat) ride through the gentle and elegant landscape of plains and mountains leading to the beautiful and mysterious Tam Coc Grottoes. We then have a gentle cycle ride (4km) to the Bich Dong Cave. This journey takes you through breath taking scenery of rice fields and imposing mountains. From Bich Dong Cave, we then head off to Hoa Lu, the former capital of the Dinh and early Le dynasties between the 10th and 11th centuries.
We will then head back to Ha Noi, where later in the evening we will enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants before going to see the unique and intriguing Water Puppet Show, a traditional folk performance held on the Red River Delta.
Hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 9: HA NOI – HA LONG (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, one of the most beautiful and mystical places in Southeast Asia. The day starts with a leisurely boat ride through the breathtaking Ha Long Bay where you will see unique mountainous rock formations (karsts) reaching majestically out of the water. We can enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh seafood cooked in a characteristically Vietnamese style while cruising to Bai Tu Long Bay, Teapot Islet, Blockhouse Islet, and Goat Head Islet. Enjoy cooking demonstration on cruise.
DAY 10: HA LONG – HA NOI – YANGON (BURMA) ( BREAKFAST & LUNCH BRUNCH)
The cruise continues to explore karsts, some of which display fantastic shapes, many of which have ancient stories connected to them. We also pass Hoa Cuong and Ga Choi Islands on the way to visit the Luon Cave. Back onboard, we have an early lunch before saying goodbye to the boat and to the crew. On the way back to Ha Noi, we have a short stop at the Bat Trang ceramics and pottery village where they make and sell all kinds of ceramics, embroidery and marble statues.
We go directly to Noi Ba Airport in Ha Noi to catch the flight to Yango Airport in Myanmar. Once settled into your hotel, your time is free to explore or relax.
Hotel in Yangon
DAY 11: YANGON (B,l )
After breakfast, we start our sightseeing tour in Yangon. Sightseeing features include the beautiful Kandawgyi Lake, Botataung Pagoda, the structure of which is hollow allowing you to walk through it to view many ancient relics and artifacts. We finish our tour today with a visit to the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, which towers over all of Yangon. It is perhaps the most beautiful pagoda complex in all of Asia and is one sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss.
Hotel in Yangon
DAY 12: YANGON – BAGAN (b,l, d)
After breakfast, we set out for a tour of one of Asia’s most popular archaeological and cultural destinations starting at the busy Nyaung Oo Market. We also see Bagan’s most distinctive pagodas including Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas and Wetkyi-in- Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century cave temple with interesting fine frescoes.
In the afternoon, we explore the Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best persevered pagodas in Old Bagan. Ananda Ok Kyaung is one of the few surviving brick monastery buildings from the early Bagan period. The Htilominlo Temple is known to be the last Myanmar Style temple built in Bagan. As the sun goes down, we will be at the ideal viewing site for a panoramic sunset view over the temples.
Hotel in Bagan
DAY 13: BAGAN – SALAY – MT. POGA – BAGAN ( b,l)
After breakfast, we drive 90 minutes to Salay which is famous for spectacular woodcarving monastery “Yoke-Sone-Kyaung”, which was built in 1882. We also see the museum of Myanmar (closed every Monday, Tuesday and gazette holidays) and the lacquer ware “Man” pagoda built in 1300 made famous by the famous writer, U Pone Nya.
En route back to Bagan, we visit Mt. Popa, said to have risen from the ground in a massive earthquake in 442 BC. Mt. Popa is famous as the abode of the Nats (Spirit Gods) and for its panoramic view of the local tropical region. On the volcanic plug at the top of the hill is a temple, which we can choose to visit. Along the way you will see a local toddy palm farmer and see how he produces toddy palm juice and sugar
Hotel in Bagan
DAY 14: BAGAN – HEHO – INLE LAKE (b,l,d)
We leave Bagan for Heho Airport and then drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, you can see the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images.
Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to head out into the Lake. This is one of Myanmar’s most spectacular natural sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the ‘leg-rowing’ fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.
We visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images. Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.
You can explore the local crafts of Inle Lake at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.
Hotel on Inle Lake
DAY 15: INDAINN SIGHTSEEING (B,l )
From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of Indainn. At the dock, we take a short walk to Inainn area where we visit a local school, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. At Alaung Sitthou, you can climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill, which is covered with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.
Hotel on Inle Lake
DAY 16: HEHO – YANGON – DEPARTURE
On the day of your departure, you are free to shop, relax and do whatever you would like at your leisure until you are transferred to the Yangon Airport for your departure flight.
TOUR COST: USD/PAX
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