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TRAVEL TOOL

Itinerary in brief
Day 1:  Hanoi  - Arrival
Day 2 : Hanoi 
Day 3 : Hanoi - Hai Phong - Halong
Day 4:  Halong - Hanoi
Day 5 : Hanoi - Hua Lu - Tam Coc
Day 6 : Hanoi - Hoa Binh 
Day 7: Hanoi - Danang - Hue 
Day 8: Hue
Day 9: Hue - Saigon
Day 10 : Saigon - My Tho - Can Tho
Day 11 : Can Tho - Saigon
Day 12 : Saigon - Departure

Detail Itinerary

Day 1:  Hanoi  - Arrival
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport our guide will accompany you to your hotel and assist you with your checking-in. Whilst there are no activities planned for today, your guide will be on hand to offer any advice and assistance regarding your free time. This evening, your guide will take you out to dinner at one of Hanoi's superb restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 : Hanoi [B]
Sightseeing Hanoi (full day)
Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks, is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia.
ONE PILLAR PAGODA: built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood on a single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom.
TEMPLE OF LITERATURE: founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who dedicated it to Confucius in order to honor scholars and men of literary accomplishment.
HOAN KIEM LAKE: right in the heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped with a red star.
HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM: in the tradition of Lenin and Stalin before him and Mao after him, the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a site of pilgrimage. (Closed Mondays and Fridays).
OPERA HOUSE: a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the outside only).
ST JOSEPH CATHEDRAL: a neo-Gothic cathedral finished in 1886, it is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate altar and stained-glass windows.
BAO TANG LICH: once the museum of the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, is a building constructed of reinforced concrete completed in 1930. Exhibits include artefacts from Vietnam's turbulent history including some from prehistory, proto-Vietnamese civilisations, the Dong Son culture, the Oc-Eo culture and the Khmer Kingdoms. (Closed on Monday's).Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3 : Hanoi - Hai Phong - Halong [B]
By vehicle from Hanoi via Chua But Thap Pagoda to Hai Phong
Journey northeast from Hanoi in Ha Bac Province.
VAN PUC PAGODA: surrounded by hills considered noteworthy for their beauty, this pagoda was founded in 1037.
BUT THAP PAGODA: also known as Ninh Phuc Pagoda, this pagoda is famous for its four story stone stupa dedicated to the monk Chuyet Cong. The pagoda was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries according to a traditional layout.
Sightseeing Hai Phong
Hai Phong is Vietnam's third most populous city. It is the north's main industrial center and one of the country's most important seaports. Time permitting, visit one or two of the most famous attractions in town.
DINH HANG KENH: a communal house on Pho Hang Kenh known for its 500 relief sculptures in wood. The surrounding area was once part of the village of Kenh.
DU HANG PAGODA: founded 3 centuries ago and rebuilt several times, this is a good example of traditional Vietnamese architecture.
By vehicle from Hai Phong to Halong
Journey east along the coast with good views of Halong Bay and its many islands.Overnight in Halong.

Day 4:  Halong - Hanoi [B]
Boat trip Halong Bay (4 hours)
This four-hour boat ride explores Halong Bay, passing the islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates). Stop at one of the islands and visit of one of the following caves.
HANG DAU GO: a huge, three-chambered cave, which is reached via 90 steps. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used by Trang Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes used against the Mongol invaders.
BO NAU: the "Pelican" caves.
THIEN CUNG: "Heaven Palace."
By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi
Journey around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west along Highway 5, across Hai Hung Province.Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5 : Hanoi [B]
Excursion to "Dry Halong Bay" and Hoa Lu with boat trip
Journey southwest towards Ninh Binh on Highway 1 to visit some interesting sites in Ninh Binh Province.
DRY HALONG BAY: actually called Tam Coc (meaning "three caves"), it boasts breathtaking scenery, with huge rock formations jutting out of rice paddies. Hang Ca, the first cave, is 127m long; Hang Giua, the second cave, is 70m long; and Hang Cuoi is only 40m long.
HOA LU: the capital of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty (980-1009). The site was suitable for a capital due to its proximity to China and the natural protection afforded by the region's bizarre landscape. Most of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu was destroyed.Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6 : Hanoi [B]
Excursion to Hoa Binh
Journey southwest from Hanoi in Hoa Binh Province. The area is home to many hill tribe people, including H'mong and Tai. It is possible to taste the rice wine produced here and visit the Muong villages of Ban Dam and Giang.Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi - Danang - Hue [B]
Flight from Hanoi to Danang
Sightseeing Danang, China Beach and at the Marble Mountains
Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
CHAM MUSEUM: founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham sculpture is the finest in the world. Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking.
CHINA BEACH: made famous in the American TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers north and south of the Marble Mountains. During the war, American soldiers were airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'.
MARBLE MOUNTAINS: five stone hillocks, once islands, made of marble. 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. When the Champas ruled this area, these same caves were used as Hindu shrines.
By vehicle from Danang to Hue
Journey north along Highway 1 over the Hai Van Pass and past Phu Loc and Phu Bai.
HAI VAN PASS: the pass crosses over a spur of the Truong Son Mountain Range that juts into the South China Sea. It is an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views.Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue [B]
Excursion on Huong Giang River to the Thien Mu Pagoda with boat trip
THIEN MU PAGODA: just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.
Sightseeing old Imperial City
IMPERIAL CITY: located in the Citadel, it was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum.
NGO MON GATE: the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure, facing the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as was the bridge across the lotus pond.
THAI HOA PALACE: built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns.
HALLS OF THE MANDARINS: these buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies held in the Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in 1977.
NINE DYNASTIC URNS: these were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiseled into the sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign.
FORBIDDEN PURPLE CITY: this was reserved for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to the royal concubines. (Today the site is in ruins).
Visit Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
TU DUC TOMB: Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still alive and used it for meditation, reading and theater performances. There are pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious life.Overnight in Hue.

Day 9: Hue - Saigon [B]
Flight from Hue to Saigon
Sightseeing Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown)
Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, with the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. There are street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new bars. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is District 5, the huge Chinese neighborhood called Cholon, which means 'Big Market'.
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL: built between 1877 and 1883, it is set in the heart of Saigon's government quarter. It has a neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped with iron spires. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary.
CENTRAL POST OFFICE: a French-style building with a glass canopy and iron frame, situated next to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The structure was built between 1886 and 1891 and is by far the largest post office in Vietnam.
CITY HALL: completed in 1908, also known as “Hotel de Ville”, and located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard. With its ornate gingerbread façade, it looks like the town hall of a French town. (May be viewed from the outside only).
OPERA HOUSE: built around the turn of the century and first renovated in the 1940s, the building housed the lower division of the National Assembly. Today it is a Municipal Theater and also known as the Saigon Concert Hall. (May be viewed from the outside only).
JADE EMPEROR PAGODA: was a key meeting place for Chinese secret societies. It has very colorful and mysterious ambience.
REUNIFICATION PALACE: this was the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by tanks on 30 April 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state.
WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM: collections of weapons and photographs from two Indochina wars are exhibited along with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century.
BEN THANH MARKET: the central market of Saigon, which, with the surrounding streets, makes up one of the city's liveliest areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average resident of Saigon is available here.
GIAM LAM PAGODA: the oldest pagoda in Saigon, built at the end of the 17th century. Because the last reconstruction here was in 1900, the architecture, layout and ornamentation remain almost unaltered by the modernist renovations that have transformed so many other religious structures in Vietnam. Ten monks live in this pagoda, which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism.
BINH TAY MARKET: Cholon's main marketplace, much of the business conducted here is wholesale.
THIEN HAU PAGODA: built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases.Overnight in Saigon.

Day 10 : Saigon - My Tho - Can Tho [B]
By vehicle from Saigon to My Tho
Journey to the Mekong Delta past Ben Luc, Tan An and Chau Thanh.
Excursion to Mekong Islands with boat trip
MEKONG DELTA: this is the southernmost region of Vietnam and it was formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River. Silt deposits extend the delta shoreline at the mouth of the river by as mush as 79m per year. The area is known as Vietnam's 'bread basket' and produces rice to feed the entire country.
UNICORN ISLAND: the island also known as Thoi Son Island has many longan orchards which can be visited and the lush, palmfringed shores of the island are lined with wooden fishing boats. There is a honey bee and coconut candy production also to be visited.
PHOENIX ISLAND: until his imprisonment and the consequent dispersion of his flock, the Coconut Monk (Ong Dao Dua) led a small community on this island.
By vehicle from My Tho to Can Tho
Journey southwest past Vinh Long and then across the Hau Giang River by ferry.
VINH LONG: capital of the province, this is a medium-sized town along the banks of the Mekong River about midway between My Tho and Can Tho. From Vinh Long, one can access all the islands in the river, which are totally given over to agriculture.Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 11 : Can Tho - Saigon [B]
Excursion to Cai Rang Floating Market with boat trip
By vehicle in the direction of Soc Trang to the Cau Dau Sau landing and then by boat about 15 minutes to reach the floating market
By vehicle from Can Tho to Saigon
Journey first across the Hau Giang River by ferry between Can Tho and Vinh Long and then past Vinh Long and My Tho.
VINH LONG: capital of the province, this is a medium-sized town along the banks of the Mekong River about midway between My Tho and Can Tho. From Vinh Long, one can access all the islands in the river, all of which which are totally given over to agriculture.
MY THO: capital of Tien Giang Province and one of the poorest cities in the delta. The economy is based on fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, longans and citrus fruit.Overnight in Saigon.

Day 12 : Saigon - Departure [ B]
today we have free time until transfer to airport for your flight to your home