Vietnam 2009

              


   Vibrant ~ Verdant ~ Vietnam
March 28 - April 11, 2009

 
Your Executive Worldwide Travel Tour Itinerary
 
 

Saturday, March 28 – Depart Ottawa for Hanoi.

Sunday, March 29 – Hanoi arrival

Arrive at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi.

We will be met by our local guide and transferred to the luxurious Sofitel Plaza Hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

  
 





Monday, March 30 – Exploring villages around Hanoi

After breakfast, visit Van Phuc village, the oldest and most famous silk village in Vietnam, with products maintaining their popularity in national and international markets for hundreds of years.

After lunch, transfer to Bat Trang village, 15km east of Hanoi and famous for making fine ceramics.

Stroll in the small alleys of this old village to watch local people producing their fine products and visit some of the houses used as workshops and showrooms.

Transfer to Dong Ho village (famous for its traditional paintings) and thence to But Thap pagoda. Situated on the dike south of the Duong River, But Thap is one of the finest pagodas in the country's north and is known as Vietnam's first Buddhist center.

Inside the temple are more than 50 statues of different sizes including the Triad Buddha, Manjusri (Van Thu) on a blue lion and Samantabhadra (Pho Hien) on a white elephant. The most remarkable is a thousand-handed and thousand-eyed Guanyin, a sculptural masterpiece of Vietnam.

Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L)

 
 



 
 
Tuesday, March 31 – Hanoi/Ha Long

After an early breakfast, leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.

Board Indochina Sails Junk, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take us first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves.

Weather permitting, we’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape, or venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan.

All meals, usually based on fresh seafood, will be provided on board. Double accommodation in a twin cabin with an en suite toilet and shower. (B, L, D)





 
 


Wednesday, April 1 – Ha Long/Hanoi

Spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking around noon and leaving for Hanoi. Late afternoon arrival in Hanoi.

Evening at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi. (Brunch)



  Thursday, April 2 – Hanoi/Hue

Breakfast at the hotel with free time for shopping in the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi or sightseeing on your own.

Transfer to the airport for a noon flight to Hue.

Transfer to La Residence Hotel & Spa, a boutique hotel on the banks of the Perfume River and check in, then visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue and Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue. (B) 		 


 
Friday, April 3 – Hue

After breakfast at the hotel, a morning cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Built in 1601 between a river and a pine forest, the Thien Mu Pagoda ("Heavenly Lady Pagoda") in Hue is one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in the country.

Transfer by road to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. The two mausoleums span the long reign of the Nguyen King’s imperial dynasty – the contrast is stark.

From there, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and then return to your hotel to freshen-up.

In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. Overnight in Hue. (B, L, D)

     		 

 


Saturday, April 4 – Hue/Danang/Hoi An

Following breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Danang, crossing the high mountain pass of Hai Van with its excellent view of Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below as well as Danang spread out to the south.

Upon arriving in Danang, a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. After lunch, a guided visit to the Ancient Town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage area.

An ancient trading port, Hoi An was a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings. The original traditional street pattern still exists, as does the quay that once welcomed ships from all over East Asia and beyond.

Check in at Life Resort Hoi An, located on the bank of Thu Bon River.

Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L)

 

 
Sunday, April 5 – Hoi An/My Son/Hoi An

After breakfast, a guided tour of the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, with the remains of its remarkable brick towers. My Son was a center for spirituality and worship during the reign of the Champa Kingdom.

The My Son Sanctuary, which exemplifies the height of Cham architectural achievement, is a large complex of religious monuments originally comprised of more than 70 structures; the vestiges of 25 of these structures remain today. The builders of My Son were the nobility of the Champa Kingdom who derived their cultural and spiritual influences almost exclusively from India.

Return to Hoi An with the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An. (B)

 



 
Monday, April 6 – Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast at the hotel and morning at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City, previously known as Saigon, the bustling, dynamic heart and soul of Vietnam.

Transfer to hotel in the city centre. After checking in at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel, free time for a preliminary wander around District 1. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B)



 
Tuesday, April 7 – Ho Chi Minh City orientation

After breakfast, a guided tour of the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. Visit the History Museum and a special exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilization, the Museum of War Remnants which provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War,’ and the huge Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, packed with every conceivable commodity.

Stop at the Jade Emperor Temple, one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.

Finish your day with a visit to a lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)



 



 


Wednesday, April 8 – Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi

After breakfast, a morning drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See in time to watch the mid-day ceremony.

After lunch, you’ll visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a Byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)



 
Thursday, April 9 – Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho

After breakfast, travel to Vinh Long. Cruise on the Mekong River and visit Cai Be floating market, wandering through a maze of channels to fruit orchards.

Disembark to visit a traditional family-run brick kilns, and see a wide range of varied cottage industries - a workshop constructing massive coffins stuffed with kapok (a style unique to Mekong) is particularly interesting.

Overnight at the Victoria Cantho Resort & Spa beside the Mekong River in Can Tho City, ‘capital’ of the Mekong Delta. (B, L)

 



  Friday, April 10 – Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast and a boat cruise, arrive at Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong Delta. Both the journey and the market provide insights into the unique Mekong rural lifestyle. In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)

Saturday, April 11 – Ho Chi Minh Departure

Transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your return flight to Ottawa. (B)




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