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- Tale of the Dragon Tour
Tale of the Dragon Tour
Duration: 18 Days/ 17 Nights
Depart From: Hanoi City
Return To: Ho Chi Minh City
Destinations: Halong Bay - Hanoi City - Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - Hue - Lao Cai - Mekong - Sapa.
From: $1368 - $2787
Day 1: Arrival - Hanoi
Our fantastic Vietnam experiences begin in Hanoi. After being met at the airport upon arrival and transferred to our hotel, we take a short walk of the Old Quarter and share a delicious dinner followed by a tour briefing, before settling in for a refreshing night’s sleep.
Day 2: Hanoi Train to Lao Cai
Hanoi is a beguiling and vibrant city steeped in history, with a wonderful fusion of French colonial and Vietnamese architecture and cuisine. We take the day to visit the city’s key sights such as Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the Museum of ethnography and the tranquil Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. There’ll also be time to explore the colorful streets of the Old Quarter, where streets are named for the products they sell and everything imaginable is being bought and sold. We’ll have an insightful meal at an NGO restaurant which trains and looks after ‘street kids’, giving them skills to pursue careers in the hospitality and tourism industries. This evening we enjoy the centuries old tradition of water puppetry, before taking an overnight train journey north, to Lao Cai.
Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa
From Lao Cai we travel up into the hills to the lofty town of Sapa. Once a resort for French colonialists escaping Hanoi’s summer heat, Sapa is now a center for highland minority people to trade their goods, and is the best place in Vietnam to see many of the different ethnic minorities.
Day 4, 5: Sapa
Based from Sapa, you have a choice of day trips to fascinating weekend markets and nearby villages to soak up the rural tranquility and lush environs. Alternatively, easy trekking through minority villages with an optional overnight homestay gives a unique insight into the ancient subsistence lifestyle still lived today. On our final evening we return by train to Hanoi.
Day 6, 7, 8: Halong Bay
Embark on our live-aboard Vietnamese ‘junk’ to explore spectacular Halong Bay. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and, cruising among the 1500 limestone islands rising sheer from the sea, it’s easy to see why. Encounter caves, hidden lagoons and uninhabited beaches, swim, sea kayak if you like, observe the local boat people, and have plenty of time to unwind. Our skipper guides us through the maze of twisting passages, and the wonderful crew serve us bountiful seafood feasts.
Day 9, 10: Hue
We take a short midday flight from Hanoi to Hue. Situated on the banks of the Perfume River and celebrated by Vietnamese poets for its romantic air and beauty, Hue was home to the Royal Dynasty until 1945. With a mystery tour of Hue and its environs, chauffeured on motos, from Emperors’ tombs to Buddhist pagodas, you’ll really get a feel for this region. Alternatively, if interested, you can take a tour of the DMZ with an informative local English-speaking guide.
Day 11: Marble Mountain, Hoi An
Travel the scenic coastal road to our favorite Vietnamese town, Hoi An. Enroute we stop for a short walk up Marble Mountain to explore caves and temples embedded in the rock. We arrive in Hoi An in time for an early dinner at one of the town’s excellent restaurants - a great way to begin sampling the rich history and culture.
Day 12, 13: Hoi An, My Son temples
Hoi An was an important trading port from the 17th-19th centuries. Wandering the streets, you really feel embraced by history. The town now has UN World Heritage status and its profusion of old houses, quiet streets and covered bridges are being preserved and restored. These days Hoi An is renowned for its diverse architectural heritage, masterful tailors, abundant silks and superb cuisine. Hoi An is also the ultimate place to have affordable clothes made to order. There’s a gorgeous beach nearby and people-watching on the riverfront, cool drink in hand, is hard to beat. We take a day trip to My Son to explore the ancient temple ruins of the Cham kingdom – the most significant Cham site in Vietnam. An optional cooking course in Vietnamese cuisine gives us a real taste for the local specialities.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
A short flight south takes us to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a city of stunning contrasts. We hail cyclos and zigzag our way to the War Remnants Museum, a sobering memorial to the Vietnam War, then lighten up with a stroll around the unusual Presidential Palace and Ben Thanh (the central market and a great place to stock up on fine roasted coffee from the highlands).
Day 15, 16: Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl, is one of the largest deltas in the world. You’ll experience its fertile abundance and beauty as we explore by bicycle and boat, visiting small farms and workshops on islands among its branching water ways and tributaries. We enjoy a simple night, close to the people and nature in a comfortable and rustic homestay. After a morning visit to floating markets we return to Saigon for the afternoon.
Day 17: Saigon, Cu Chi daytrip
The infamous Cu Chi Tunnels comprise over 250kms of tunnels, where Viet Cong forces built pseudo-cities underground, enabling them to infiltrate and control large areas around Saigon virtually undetected. You’ll be able to experience, first hand, the claustrophobic existence, and stop off at the fascinating Cao Dai temple on our return. Alternatively, you may like to enjoy a day in Saigon of great food, fascinating museums, relaxing massage, and endless shopping options.
Day 18: Farewell Vietnam
Our journey concludes in Saigon, and we are sure you will depart with a special affection for this intriguing country.
Prices are in USD, per person
Validity: From 01/01/2012 To 31/12/2012
Surcharge during Christmas and New Year times may be applied
| Hotel/Group | 2 guests | 3~4 guests | 5~6 guests | 7~8 guests | 9~12 guests |
Single surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Star | 1963 | 1741 | 1477 | 1407 | 1368 | 407 |
| 4 Star | 2338 | 2114 | 1845 | 1777 | 1736 | 698 |
| 5 Star | 2787 | 2566 | 2303 | 2234 | 2191 | 1044 |
| Hotel | 3 Star | 4 Star | 5 Star |
| Hanoi | Golden Lotus, Hoa Binh Palace, Tirant hotel | Silk Path hotel, Sunway, Flower Garden | Melia, Sheraton, Sofitel Plaza, Inter Continental Westlake |
| Halong | Bai Tho Junk, Deluxe Huong Hai Junk | Bhaya Cruise, Emeraude Cruise, Paloma Cruise | Ginger Junk, Paradise Cruise, Indochina Sails |
| Sapa | Bamboo Sapa hotel, Royer View hotel, Boutique Sapa Hotel | Chau Long hotel | Victoria resort & spa |
| Sapa | Home stay | Home stay | Home stay |
| Hue | Asia Hue hotel, New Star hotel, Orchid hotel | Mondial hotel, Green hotel, Park View hotel | Imperial, Pilgrimage Village, Celadon Palace hotel |
| Hoian | Thuy Duong hotel, Vinh Hung hotel, Pho Hoi Riverside, Ancient House | Hoi An Beach, Hoi An Riverside, Hoi An Trails resort | Victoria Hoi An, Golden Sand resort, Palm Garden Resort |
| Ho Chi Minh city | Lavender hotel, Northern hotel, Elios hotel, Liberty hotel |
Continental, Grand, Windsor Plaza, Liberty Central |
Rex hotel, Sofitel Plaza, Majestic, Renaissance Riverside |
| Mekong Delta | Home stay | Home stay | Home stay |
Included
- Private tours with English speaking guide for the entire trip except leisure time
- Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites
- Hotel as indicated
- All transfers with our A/C transport
- Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Train ticket: Hanoi Lao Cai Hanoi (A/C 4 soft berths cabin)
- Flight ticket: Hanoi Hue, Danang Saigon (Vietnam Airlines, Economy class)
- Government tax
- Service charge
- Accommodations
- Letter for visa on arrival
- International flight ticket
- Visa stamping fee at airport (25USD/ person)
- Other meals not mentioned
- Tips & personal expenses
- Laundry
- Other not stated above
- Travel insurance
