TPT-032 – Trails of Vietnam 14 days/13 nights

Sunday, 23 May 2010 06:54

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 September 2010 12:46

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HA NOI - HA LONG BAY - NINH BINH - VINH - PHONG NHA CAVES - HUE - BACH MA - HOI AN - CENTRAL HIGHLANDS - HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI  TUNNELS

Should  you truly wish to get off the beaten tracks and spend time in the remote areas, National parks, World Heritage sites and historical centres, you need to experience the “Vietnam Trails”. This trip still gives you the chance to explore the highlights of Ha Noi, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, with a relish in your time spent on an overnight boat, at remote waterfalls and getting to know a side of the country rarely experienced by other travellers.

DAY 1        ARRIVE HA NOI

On arrival at Ha Noi Noi Bai Airport, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. After a welcome drink and tour briefing, we enjoy a performance of Viet Nam’s unique traditional Water Puppetry.

DAY 2        HA NOI

We tour President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and humble house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature, followed by tour of the Museum of Ethnology, Hoa Lo Prison Museum. After enjoying the tranquillity of Hoan Kiem Lake, we are free to explore Ha Noi’s Old Quarter.  

DAY 3        HA NOI - HA LONG BAY

Arriving in Ha Noi in early morning and transfer to a restaurant for breakfast before driving on to Ha Long. Board our junk and enjoy a welcome drink followed by checking-in and a seafood lunch while cruising through the bay. We also explore one of the beautiful grottoes, swimming and try some night fishing.

DAY 4        HA LONG - HOA LU  

Drive to the 10th Century capital of Hoa Lu, also know has “Ha Long on Land”. We navigate the river’s limestone outcrops by rowboat, discovering the nature beauty surronded by rock formation and exploring the magnificent grotto of Tam Coc.

DAY 5        HOA LU - VINH

Travelling south, we pass through fields of farmers working their rice crops and also view some magnificent limestone karst scenery around Ninh Binh before reaching a small city of Vinh. There is a chance to visit  the nearby birth place of the former president Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 6        VINH - PHONG NHA - HUE

Leaving Vinh in the morning, we drive along the Ho Chi Minh Trail Dong Hoi, stopping en route and take a boat on the Son River to the famous Phong Nha Caves that caves house beautiful limestone formations and grottoes. We arrive  Hue in late afternoon and free at leisure.

DAY 7         HUE

We cruise by a Dragon Boat up the Perfume River to Thien Mu and explore one of Viet Nam’s oldest and most revered Pagodas. Gliding through the clear waters, we arrive at the majestic and serene tomb of King Ming Mang where we tour its beautiful garden.

DAY 8        HUE - BACH MA - HOI AN

After discovering Bach Ma National Park, we journey over the Hai Van Pass to Da Nang, we where the Museum of Cham Sculpture displays carvings from a once powerful and prosperous civilization. Arriving into the old merchant town of Hoi An, we are free to explore the town by night at our own pace.

DAY 9        HOI AN

Walking through the historic Hoi An, we admire the narrow lanes of centuries old buildings, visit the town’s market and the impressive Japanese covered bridge. Afternoon is free to explore this charming town or having a rest at the beautiful Cua Dai Beach.

DAY 10        HOI AN - PLEIKU - KON TUM

We are free to exoplore this chaming town until trasfering to the airport for departure flight to Pleiku., the major market town of the western highlands. Upon arrival, we will drive for about 50km north to Kon Tum, the northernmost region of the central highlands.  

DAY 11        KON TUM - BUON ME THUOT

Before travelling to Buon Me Thuot, we tour the region’s minority villages of the Sedang, Bahnar, Jarai, Gieh Trieng and Rengao. Most impressing are the Rong, huge communal houses where the villagers gather for special occasions and the Wooden Church that was built in 1913.

DAY 12        BUON ME THUOT - HO CHI MINH CITY

Hidden deep into the highlands, Buon Ma Thuot is far off the beaten track. Here we see one of the region’s many impressive waterfalls, the Dray Sap and walk its beautiful nature suroundings before flying to Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 13        HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS

We explore the city’s historic landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral, the former US Embassy and experience the excitement of trading activities in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. In the afternoon, we explore the phenomenal underground tunnel network at Cu Chi.

DAY 14        DEPART HO CHI MINH CITY

Fee at leisue until transfering the airport for departure flight.