NORTH & SOUTH VIETNAM TOUR. HA NOI - HA LONG - HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA. 07 DAYS - 06 NIGHTS.

DAY 01: HA NOI ARRIVAL (Dinner)

Arrive at Noi Bai international airport. Transfer to Ha Noi city center for check in at hotel. The first stop of sightseeing tour will be Temple of Literature that is often cited as one of Ha Noi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. The next destination is Hoan Kiem Lake - Ngoc Son Temple (The Temple of the Jade Mountain). Whenever referring to Hoan Kiem Lake, people often remember other outstanding structures such as Pen Tower, The Huc Bridge, Turtle Tower, Tran Ba Temple, etc. which are closely related to Ngoc Son Temple. With regard to history, Ngoc Son Temple was built in 19th century. Initially, the Temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda. Later on, the Temple was renamed as Ngoc Son Temple because the place was only used to worship a scholar Van Xuong and Tran Hung Dao, a hero of Vietnam in 13th century, who defeated Nguyen invaders (China). You will keep on visiting Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest of its kind in Ha Noi, dating back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty (544-548). The Buddhist shrine has undergone several changes throughout the years, particularly its renaming from An Quoc to Tran Quoc (protecting the country) by Emperor Le Huy Tong in the 17th century. The final destination in your sightseeing tour is The Old Quarter located in the middle of Ha Noi, a rapidly developing city where changes take place every hour, the Old Quarter with its old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses seems to nostalgically resist the flow of time while still actively trying to adapt to the dynamic atmosphere of the modern city. You will have a chance to enjoy Water Puppet Show. Water puppetry “ Making puppets dance on water " is a tradition dating back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam.  Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel.

DAY 02: HA NOI - HA LONG  (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Ha Long Bay. En route stop off  at Dong Trieu Pottery and Ceramic Workshop. Arrive at Ha Long tourist wharf, board a private junk and begin a magnificent 4-hour cruise through the spectacular limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay. The junk take you along hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Fighting Cock islet, Dog islet..) to discover unspoilt pockets of Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave was allegedly first discovered by the French in 1901, who took it upon themselves to name it “Grotte des Surprises”, or Surprising Cave, because of its ‘surprising’ beauty (although the name didn’t catch on until a good 40 years later). The cave welcomed its first visitors in 1993, a mere one year before Halong Bay would receive its first bestowment of World Heritage site status from UNESCO. From 520-470 million BC, Halong Bay was subject to intense tectonic plate movements, along with severe rainfall and flooding which caused the formation of underwater mountains,Titov Beach located  in the heart of Ha Long Bay, which is only 08 kilometers from the Southeast of Bai Chay Harbor, Titov Island is regarded as one of the most attractive site for both international and domestic tourists to Ha Long. The name Titov is named by the most respectful hero of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh, after the Russian astronaut Gherman Titov on the occasion of his first visit to Ha Long Bay in 1962. Dinner will be served aboard the junk, after which you can relax on the top deck, try your hand at squid fishing or chat before turning in for the night. Stay overnight on the junk.

DAY 03: HA LONG - HA NOI  (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Start your day with a light breakfast, cruising to explore other parts of Ha Long Bay, admire the beauty of one of the seven new wonders in the world. Check out and take all luggage outside of your cabin, cruise back to Ha Long tourist wharf. Enjoy brunch on the junk and then return to the tourist wharf. Drive back to Ha Noi and check in at hotel. Discover Ha Noi city by night. Stay overnight at hotel. 

DAY 04: HA NOI - HO CHI MINH CITY (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel and transfer to Noi Bai airport. Board a flight to Ho Chi Minh City via ______. Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport and check in at hotel. The sightseeeing tour will take you to The War Remnants Museum which has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled 'Requiem' which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts. The next destination is Reunification Palace that was the base of  Vietnamese General Ngo Dinh Diem until his death in 1963. It made its name in global history in 1975. A tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through its main gate, ending the Vietnam War. Today, it's a must-visit for tourists in Ho Chi Minh City.  The palace is like a time capsule frozen in 1975. You can see two of the original tanks used in the capture of the palace parked in the grounds. Before going back to your hotel, you will stop off at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral which was built in 1877 and completed in 1880 by French colonists, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City, thanks to its special architecture, rich spirituality and oozing history. The impressive red bricks of the cathedral make it outstanding in the modern city that has been rapidly growing up. Just across the cathedral is The Central Post Office built between 1886 and 1891. This is another fine example of French architecture and is the largest post office in Vietnam. Dinner will be served at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel.  

DAY 05: CU CHI TUNNELS (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Cu Chi District and explore Cu Chi Tunnels which are part of a massive war museum in Ho Chi Minh. They offer visitors a sneak-peek at the underground life of Vietnamese soldiers back in 1948. The site has over 120 km of underground tunnels, with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, armoury, hospitals, and command centres. After the war against the French, Vietnamese soldiers expanded the tunnels and included effective air filtration systems, which helped them survive the Cu Chi carpet-bombings. The tunnels served not only as living quarters, but as supply routes and hospitals for thousands of guerilla fighters. Many died there from malaria and other diseases, and a few were also born or married. Today, they are viewed by some as a testimony to the Vietnamese people’s resiliency. Return to Sai Gon. Lunch at local restaurant and then keep on visiting Binh Tay Market is the major attraction in Chinatown where you can find a wide variety of  Vietnamese goods and especially items with a Chinese flavour. Next, you will visit Thien Hau Temple located on Nguyen Trai Street feature interesting Chinese-Buddhist style architecture and interiors with pagodas, courtyards, altars and paintings. The final destination will be Ben Thanh Market which was built in 1870 by the French, the market was initially called Les Halles Centrales before being renamed Ben Thanh in 1912. The  market has experienced many ups and downs throughout it’s history, and is now the oldest surviving market of  Ho Chi Minh city. Dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel.

DAY 06:HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cai Be town, Tien Giang province to visit Cai Be Floating Market, where you can see how people buy and sell local products on the water and then visit local workshop to see how people make rice paper, coconut pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea, then the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. After lunch, you will head over to Tan Phong Island for walking on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses and maybe the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta. Return to Ho Chi Minh city. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel.

DAY 07: HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE (Breakfast)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel and transfer to Tan Son Nhat international airport for your departure flight. END OF TOUR.

QUOTATION. ALL PRICES ARE BASED ON US DOLLAR.

TRIP DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Airport transfers on the first and the last day of your guided holiday.
• Luxury air-conditioned minivan.
• 06-night accommodation based on twin-sharing with daily breakfast at 3-star hotels.
• 17 meals (06 breakfasts, 05 lunches, 06 dinners)
• Drinking water (02 bottles/pax/day)
• Experienced English speaking tour guide.
• Sightseeing tours and entrance fees.
• Boat excursion on Ha Long Bay.
• Travel Insurance.

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

• International air tickets.
• Vietnam visa fee (Around US$ 25/pax)
• Meals unspecified in the itinerary.
• Tipping for tour guides and drivers.
• All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• Personal expenses (Porter, laundry, telephone fee, optional tours…)

CHILDREN POLICY

• Children from 0 - 05 years old: Free of charge (*).
• Children from 06 - 10 years old:
• Sharing bed with two adults: 50% of adult price.
• Sharing room with two adults, using extra bed: 80% of adult price.
• Twin-sharing room with one adult: 100% of adult price.
• Children from 11 years old: 100% of adult price.
• (*) One child traveling with two adults will be free of charge; the 2nd child will pay 50% of adult price

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation made within:

• 07 days prior to departure date: 100% of reservation cost.
• 08-14 days prior to departure date: 50% of reservation cost.
• 15-29 days prior to departure date: 25% of reservation cost.
• 30 or more days prior to departure date: 10% of  reservation cost.

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CONTACT:  Mr. Sơn Ca, Sales Officer. Cell Phone: 0932 768 576

                       Ms. Họa My, Sales Officer. Cell Phone: 0934 794 002

                       Travel Department. Tel:  028.38 360 344 - 028.38 388 007

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TRANG THANH TRAVEL IS PLEASED TO SERVE YOU.