Vietnam Overland - 13D/12N

photo of Hoi An, courtesy of Vietnam Tourism BoardA comprehensive visit of Vietnam to experience and enjoy the beautiful variety of landscapes in Vietnam. Vietnam conjures up images of a country at war for decades, of a fiery people filled with pride and strong will to persevere. Other images that come to mind immediately are the spectacular Halong Bay, farmers in seemingly endless rice fields, the Perfume River and bustling Saigon street life. The truth is that Vietnam is much more than these images. Emerging from decades of war and self-imposed socialism, the country is struggling to establish itself again as a strong industrial and commercial hub in Southeast Asia. From architecturally beautiful but poor Hanoi to fast-living and bustling Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) the visitor revels in the sights of splendid Halong Bay, the famous Perfume River, the scenic Hai Van Pass (pass of the clouds), the ancient Cham temple ruins, stretches of white sandy beaches, ethnic minorities at Pleiku, the extravagant church of Cao-Daism in Tay Ninh and Cholon, the China town of Saigon. Moreover, the historical and socio-political aspects of Vietnamese life make travelling in Vietnam an unforgettable experience and will more than likely leave the visitor deeply impressed.

Highlights:

Hanoi - Halong - Ninh Binh - Vinh - Hue - Hoi An - Qui Nhon - Nha Trang - Saigon

Included: Accommodation and meals as described (please note that some hotels provide only Continental Breakfast) - All transfers within the journey, including pick-up at airport - Economy class on domestic flights - All entrance fees - English, French or German speaking guides (other languages available upon request) - Accommodation and American Breakfast - Visa-approval letter for Vietnam.

Not Included: Visas and passports - Any personal expenses (like tipping, laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc) - Meals other than those specified in the itinerary - International airfare - Airport taxes.

Departures: Daily.

Accommodation: There are three levels of Hotels to choose: Standard, First Class and Deluxe.

photo of the Hanoi River, courtesy of Vietnam Tourism BoardDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival in Hanoi. Transfer. Sightseeing in Hanoi. Visit the Old Quarter. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the Rising Sun bridge. Visit the History Museum (Bao Tang Lich). Overnight in Hanoi.
  • Day 2 Hanoi / Halong - Sightseeing in Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Monday and Friday and all October to November). Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House. Visit the Museum of Ethnology. By vehicle from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Overnight in Halong.
  • Day 3 Halong / Ninh Binh - Excursion by boat through Halong Bay (4 hours). By vehicle from Halong to Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
  • Day 4 Ninh Binh - Excursion to Tam Coc (Dry Halong Bay) with boat trip. By vehicle from Ninh Binh to Vinh.
  • Day 5 Vinh / Hue - Excursion to Kim Lien and Hoang Tru. By vehicle from Vinh to Hue. Overnight in Hue.
  • Day 6 Hue - Excursion to Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang with boat trip. Visit the Old Imperial City. Overnight in Hue.
  • Day 7 Hue / Hoi An - Sightseeing in Hue. Visit the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. By vehicle from Hue to Hoi An. Sightseeing in Hoi An with a boat trip on the Thu Bon River. Overnight in Hoi An.
  • Day 8 Hoi An / Qui Nhon - By vehicle from Hoi An to Qui Nhon. Overnight in Qui Nhon.
  • Day 9 Qui Nhon / Nha Trang - By vehicle from Qui Nhon to Nha Trang. Sightseeing in Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.
  • Day 10 Nha Trang / Saigon - By vehicle from Nha Trang to Saigon with sightseeing at the Cham Towers. Overnight in Saigon.
  • Day 11 Saigon - Sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown). Overnight in Saigon.
  • Day 12 Saigon - Excursion to My Tho with a boat trip to Mekong River islands. Overnight in Saigon.
  • Day 13 Saigon - Transfer.

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Also tagged with: Escorted Journeys, Asia, Special Destinations, Vietnam, Indochina, Educational, Cultural, Art / Architecture, Classic Visit, Hosted Tours, Private Tour, Private Escorted Journey


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