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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
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Ninh Binh
The provincial capital of Ninh Binh, 62 mi/100 km south of Hanoi, is worth a two- or three-day visit on its own, rather than the usual day trip from Hanoi. It is a bit off the trodden tourist trail, and there the life of contemporary Vietnam is visible without the prepackaged spin that most resorts put on the traveler's experience.
The haunting landscapes of Tam Coc are 6 mi/9 km from Ninh Binh. In scenery reminiscent of classic Chinese scroll painting, tiny wooden rowboats will take you on a river journey through brilliant green rice fields farmed by men and women wearing the traditional Vietnamese conical straw hats and country dress. Rising from the fields are sheer-sided limestone karsts very similar to those found in Halong Bay, but hung with tropical vegetation and home to darting cliff swallows. Three of the karsts are so large that naturally occurring caverns pass through them, and the effect of the vibrant landscape framed by the arched openings of the tunnels is breathtaking.
This is no commercial conceptualization—it is the real, rural life of Vietnam happening alongside the narrow river. At the end of the journey, your oarsman will most probably offer you examples of the high-quality local embroidery on tablecloths, napkins or T-shirts—at amazingly low prices, though as always, a certain amount of bargaining is expected.
Cuc Phuong National Park is 28 mi/45 km from central Ninh Binh, measures 106 sq mi/275 sq km, spans three provinces and protects some of the oldest forests in Vietnam. An hour's trek takes you to the Big Tree, an ancient forest giant with roots so widespread, 16 people must join hands in order to circle it.
Up several steep flights of stairs is the vast Cave of Prehistoric Man, where an estimated group of 25 protohumans lived together at the edge of the sea. Dinh May Bach (Silver Cloud Peak) has rugged hiking trails up its 2,125 ft/648 m height.
The Endangered Primate Resource Center near the entrance is a kind of mental and physical rehabilitation center for gibbons, several kinds of languars and lorises, all of which have been rescued from cages or illegal traders. The center's breeding program has been a great success, and infant monkeys are a common site as they cling to their mother's fur. The park has basic cabins for rent within the grounds, where visitors can experience the vibrant, complex life of the jungle at length.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is often referred to as Vietnam’s jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. Located in south Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s largest city, with more than six million people and over one million motorbikes. Under the current regime the city is once more being rebuilt. Whole blocks are disappearing, being replaced by concrete, steel and glass structures. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés and elegant French architecture. The city is divided into two sections: Saigon, the municipal and historical district, and Cholon (Chinatown), where the entrepreneurial talent and private funds are concentrated. Cholon appears to be the most populated and in general the most vigorous part of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity and its pagodas, which are reputed to be the finest in the whole city.
Excursions
Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English Speaking Local Guides.
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Visit History Museum & Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Visit China Town & Cao Dai Temple en-route
- Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified.
- Travel Insurance.
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.
Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Get on a motorized sampan to experience the life of local people, visit local brickwork, local fruit farms, family workshops Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Take rowing-boat along water palm creek and cruise back to the Pier
- If time permits, have a quick visit of Sai Gon or shopping at Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Private boat cruise on Mekong River
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified.
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.
Saigon Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Ho Chi Minh City
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.
Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.
After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
· Tour duration: 08 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.
Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 04 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 05 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.
After lunch, transfer back to your ship.
Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hoi An
Hoi An is an ancient port town that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the rare places in Vietnam to discover genuine Vietnamese architecture. Walk through the Old Quarter and get a glimpse of a medieval Vietnam that no longer exists in the other areas of the country. Visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful bazaar
Excursions
Tien Sa Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Danang/Hoian
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hoi An Culinary at Market Restaurant (5-6 hours)
On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class. Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.
NOTES
- There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
- Tour duration: 05-06 hours
Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Meals as per specified
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Halong Bay (Hanoi)
Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” Halong Bay’s water is calm and undisturbed despite the jutting limestone mountains that soar out of the water and toward the sky. As if a tail of a Dragon plunged into the earth, the mountains are craggy, sharp, and barren, and are dotted with thousands of small caves of various depths and heights. At dusk, they all take on mysterious shades of gray, mauve and olive, lending credence to the local legends.
Excursions
Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi
Highlights:
- Street food tour
- Temple of Literature
- Hanoi Opera House
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ha Noi’s Old Quarter’s cyclo ride
- Ha Noi’s Old Quarter’s walking tour
Tour Duration: 12 hours
Tour can operate: Morning departure
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Ha Long Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 little of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Ha Long Bay Cruise (5 hours)
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive to Tuan Chau pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 05 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Ha Long Bay Cruise (7 hours)
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive 15 minutes to Bai Chay pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 07 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hue
Hue is at the heart of central Vietnam. The landscape – with its misty Perfume River and pagodas – has long been a source of poetry and paintings. Always an important cultural, intellectual and historical city, Hue remains one of Vietnam’s main attractions.
Excursions
Hoi An’s Countryside & Ancient Town – 8 hours - Hue
Highlights:
- Visit Cam Thanh Village by Bicycle
- Experiencing the Rural Life with rice fields and local villages
- Hoi An Ancient Town walking tour
- Shopping in Hoi An
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Chan May Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Service of English-speaking local guide
- Bicycle and safety helmet
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) : Lunch
- One 0.5 little of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Full Day Hue Classic Tour / Chan May Port
On arrival to the port (Chan May port) disembark and meet your guide. Then drive 1.5 hours to Hue along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Upon arrival Hue, enjoy a short cyclo ride from your hotel to the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored.
Lunch is on your own.
After lunch, drive to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Built in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda, perched on top of on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable icons.
Continue to visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture and atmosphere showcase elements of eastern art and western designs. Make a stop for a drink at Vonh Canh hill which offers an amazing view of breath-taking scenery and ancient relics. The hill itself is now covered with pine trees and daisy.
Later, transfer by road back to the port to embark the ship.
NOTES
- There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
- Tour duration: 08 hours
Meal: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hanoi
Hanoi is a city with a history that dates back to the 7th century. In 1954 Hanoi was declared the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, and in 1976, following the Vietnam War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This political history has made Hanoi one of the country's most fascinating cities to explore. The most renowned of all the monuments is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is dedicated to Vietnam's most well-respected President, who in 1945, led his country to independence. Other highlights include the Museum of History, containing ancient artifacts from Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and China, the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda and legendary Sword Lake.
Excursions
Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Hon Gai/Hai Phong - Hanoi only
Duration: Within 08 hours (From 08:00 – 18:00)
Meals: None
Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 hours)
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan /Hongai/ Halong port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then take 4 hours’ drive to Hanoi for an informative city tour.
With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Start the tour at the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that offers a broad insight into Vietnam’s people including its 54 ethnic groups through a lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions from street vendors to marriage to family life to traditional fashion.
Lunch is on your own.
End the trip with a cyclo tour from the museum to the Old Quarter. Ride through its narrow streets to indulge yourself in the bustle and hustle of the local daily life. Later, drive back to Halong to embark the ship.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 10 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Bangkok
Bangkok is chief port capital of Thailand and one of the most important cities in Southeast Asia. It is the epitome of the country's kaleidoscopic blend of old and new. It is an expression of Thai respect for tradition coupled with their vibrant involvement with modern progress. Rama I built the walled Grand Palace, which contains Temple of the Emerald Buddha. During the 19th century, Bangkok was known as the Venice of the East because of its many canals, which served as streets and commercial thoroughfares. Houses perched along the banks of the remaining canals are still common sight. Some of Bangkok’s most distinctive features are the approximately 400 Buddhist temples, known as wats. Bangkok is Thailand's economic center. Other sights to see include Temples, monuments, museums, Vimarnmekh Mansion, and Jim Thompson’s House.
Siem Reap
The small provincial capital of Siem Reap stretches along the Siem Reap river – surrounded by rice paddies and serving as the gateway to centuries-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Angkor Archaeological Park contains numerous temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and legendary Angkor Wat. Those visiting the site stay in Siem Reap. Experience some local flavor, attend a dance performance, or shop in some local craft shops. Angkor Wat’s artistic and archaeological significance rivals the Pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Taj Mahal in India. Unspoiled by over-development, many areas of the area are possible to explore away from crowds. Its three-tiered massive pyramid is crowned by five beehive-like towers on the ground. It is the centerpiece of any visit to temples in Angkor. This amazing structure is thought to be dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu.
The provincial capital of Ninh Binh, 62 mi/100 km south of Hanoi, is worth a two- or three-day visit on its own, rather than the usual day trip from Hanoi. It is a bit off the trodden tourist trail, and there the life of contemporary Vietnam is visible without the prepackaged spin that most resorts put on the traveler's experience.
The haunting landscapes of Tam Coc are 6 mi/9 km from Ninh Binh. In scenery reminiscent of classic Chinese scroll painting, tiny wooden rowboats will take you on a river journey through brilliant green rice fields farmed by men and women wearing the traditional Vietnamese conical straw hats and country dress. Rising from the fields are sheer-sided limestone karsts very similar to those found in Halong Bay, but hung with tropical vegetation and home to darting cliff swallows. Three of the karsts are so large that naturally occurring caverns pass through them, and the effect of the vibrant landscape framed by the arched openings of the tunnels is breathtaking.
This is no commercial conceptualization—it is the real, rural life of Vietnam happening alongside the narrow river. At the end of the journey, your oarsman will most probably offer you examples of the high-quality local embroidery on tablecloths, napkins or T-shirts—at amazingly low prices, though as always, a certain amount of bargaining is expected.
Cuc Phuong National Park is 28 mi/45 km from central Ninh Binh, measures 106 sq mi/275 sq km, spans three provinces and protects some of the oldest forests in Vietnam. An hour's trek takes you to the Big Tree, an ancient forest giant with roots so widespread, 16 people must join hands in order to circle it.
Up several steep flights of stairs is the vast Cave of Prehistoric Man, where an estimated group of 25 protohumans lived together at the edge of the sea. Dinh May Bach (Silver Cloud Peak) has rugged hiking trails up its 2,125 ft/648 m height.
The Endangered Primate Resource Center near the entrance is a kind of mental and physical rehabilitation center for gibbons, several kinds of languars and lorises, all of which have been rescued from cages or illegal traders. The center's breeding program has been a great success, and infant monkeys are a common site as they cling to their mother's fur. The park has basic cabins for rent within the grounds, where visitors can experience the vibrant, complex life of the jungle at length.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is often referred to as Vietnam’s jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. Located in south Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s largest city, with more than six million people and over one million motorbikes. Under the current regime the city is once more being rebuilt. Whole blocks are disappearing, being replaced by concrete, steel and glass structures. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés and elegant French architecture. The city is divided into two sections: Saigon, the municipal and historical district, and Cholon (Chinatown), where the entrepreneurial talent and private funds are concentrated. Cholon appears to be the most populated and in general the most vigorous part of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity and its pagodas, which are reputed to be the finest in the whole city.
Excursions
Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Visit Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English Speaking Local Guides.
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Visit History Museum & Jade Emperor Pagoda
- Visit China Town & Cao Dai Temple en-route
- Shopping at the Central Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified.
- Travel Insurance.
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.
Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
- Get on a motorized sampan to experience the life of local people, visit local brickwork, local fruit farms, family workshops Photo stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office
- Take rowing-boat along water palm creek and cruise back to the Pier
- If time permits, have a quick visit of Sai Gon or shopping at Ben Thanh Market
Tour Duration: 10 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Phu My Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles.
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Private boat cruise on Mekong River
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 litre of bottled water and cold towel in the vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified.
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants, etc.
Saigon Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Ho Chi Minh City
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.
Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.
After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
· Tour duration: 08 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.
Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 04 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 05 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.
After lunch, transfer back to your ship.
Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hoi An is an ancient port town that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the rare places in Vietnam to discover genuine Vietnamese architecture. Walk through the Old Quarter and get a glimpse of a medieval Vietnam that no longer exists in the other areas of the country. Visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful bazaar
Excursions
Tien Sa Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Danang/Hoian
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide
· Cold towels and water on car
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation with daily breakfast
· Entrance fees
· All meals
· All flights
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hoi An Culinary at Market Restaurant (5-6 hours)
On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class. Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.
NOTES
- There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
- Tour duration: 05-06 hours
Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Meals as per specified
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” Halong Bay’s water is calm and undisturbed despite the jutting limestone mountains that soar out of the water and toward the sky. As if a tail of a Dragon plunged into the earth, the mountains are craggy, sharp, and barren, and are dotted with thousands of small caves of various depths and heights. At dusk, they all take on mysterious shades of gray, mauve and olive, lending credence to the local legends.
Excursions
Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi
Highlights:
- Street food tour
- Temple of Literature
- Hanoi Opera House
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Ha Noi’s Old Quarter’s cyclo ride
- Ha Noi’s Old Quarter’s walking tour
Tour Duration: 12 hours
Tour can operate: Morning departure
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Ha Long Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Service of English-speaking local guides
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) as stated in the above itinerary
- One 0.5 little of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Ha Long Bay Cruise (5 hours)
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive to Tuan Chau pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 05 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Ha Long Bay Cruise (7 hours)
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive 15 minutes to Bai Chay pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 07 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Lunch
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hue is at the heart of central Vietnam. The landscape – with its misty Perfume River and pagodas – has long been a source of poetry and paintings. Always an important cultural, intellectual and historical city, Hue remains one of Vietnam’s main attractions.
Excursions
Hoi An’s Countryside & Ancient Town – 8 hours - Hue
Highlights:
- Visit Cam Thanh Village by Bicycle
- Experiencing the Rural Life with rice fields and local villages
- Hoi An Ancient Town walking tour
- Shopping in Hoi An
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Pick up/ Drop off at Chan May Port
- Tours and transfers as specified including entry fees, on a private basis in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Service of English-speaking local guide
- Bicycle and safety helmet
- Ports permit arranged
- Meals (food only) : Lunch
- One 0.5 little of bottled water and cold towel in vehicle during sightseeing
- Vietnam Government tax and services charge
Not Included:
- All international and domestic air tickets
- Accommodation
- Vietnamese visa on arrival
- Other meals than those specified
- Travel insurance
- Tips for tour guides, drivers, waiters at included meals, local assistants
Full Day Hue Classic Tour / Chan May Port
On arrival to the port (Chan May port) disembark and meet your guide. Then drive 1.5 hours to Hue along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Upon arrival Hue, enjoy a short cyclo ride from your hotel to the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored.
Lunch is on your own.
After lunch, drive to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Built in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda, perched on top of on a hill overlooking the Perfume River, is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable icons.
Continue to visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture and atmosphere showcase elements of eastern art and western designs. Make a stop for a drink at Vonh Canh hill which offers an amazing view of breath-taking scenery and ancient relics. The hill itself is now covered with pine trees and daisy.
Later, transfer by road back to the port to embark the ship.
NOTES
- There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
- Tour duration: 08 hours
Meal: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· All meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hanoi is a city with a history that dates back to the 7th century. In 1954 Hanoi was declared the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, and in 1976, following the Vietnam War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This political history has made Hanoi one of the country's most fascinating cities to explore. The most renowned of all the monuments is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is dedicated to Vietnam's most well-respected President, who in 1945, led his country to independence. Other highlights include the Museum of History, containing ancient artifacts from Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and China, the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda and legendary Sword Lake.
Excursions
Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Hon Gai/Hai Phong - Hanoi only
Duration: Within 08 hours (From 08:00 – 18:00)
Meals: None
Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 hours)
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan /Hongai/ Halong port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then take 4 hours’ drive to Hanoi for an informative city tour.
With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Start the tour at the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that offers a broad insight into Vietnam’s people including its 54 ethnic groups through a lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions from street vendors to marriage to family life to traditional fashion.
Lunch is on your own.
End the trip with a cyclo tour from the museum to the Old Quarter. Ride through its narrow streets to indulge yourself in the bustle and hustle of the local daily life. Later, drive back to Halong to embark the ship.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 10 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
| Inclusive of: |
Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour
· Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
· Entrance fees and boat rides if any
· Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
· Welcome pack
· Dock permit
· Tips & gratuities
|
· Vietnam visa
· Accommodation on board
· Other meals where not mentioned in the program
· Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
· All flights & airport taxes
· Hotel early check in/ Late check out
· Overweight luggage
· Personal expenses
· Travel insurance
· Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Bangkok is chief port capital of Thailand and one of the most important cities in Southeast Asia. It is the epitome of the country's kaleidoscopic blend of old and new. It is an expression of Thai respect for tradition coupled with their vibrant involvement with modern progress. Rama I built the walled Grand Palace, which contains Temple of the Emerald Buddha. During the 19th century, Bangkok was known as the Venice of the East because of its many canals, which served as streets and commercial thoroughfares. Houses perched along the banks of the remaining canals are still common sight. Some of Bangkok’s most distinctive features are the approximately 400 Buddhist temples, known as wats. Bangkok is Thailand's economic center. Other sights to see include Temples, monuments, museums, Vimarnmekh Mansion, and Jim Thompson’s House.
The small provincial capital of Siem Reap stretches along the Siem Reap river – surrounded by rice paddies and serving as the gateway to centuries-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Angkor Archaeological Park contains numerous temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and legendary Angkor Wat. Those visiting the site stay in Siem Reap. Experience some local flavor, attend a dance performance, or shop in some local craft shops. Angkor Wat’s artistic and archaeological significance rivals the Pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Taj Mahal in India. Unspoiled by over-development, many areas of the area are possible to explore away from crowds. Its three-tiered massive pyramid is crowned by five beehive-like towers on the ground. It is the centerpiece of any visit to temples in Angkor. This amazing structure is thought to be dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu.
