Day
1 - Monday 1st March 2010 - Departure
Depart London Heathrow for the flight to Hanoi via Bankok.
Day
2 - Tuesday 2nd March 2010 - Hanoi Arrival
Met on arrival in Hanoi by our agents and transferred by private coach to our hotel, where we can rest and refresh.
Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Horison Hotel (ROH) D
Day
3 - Wednesday 3rd March 2010 - Hanoi - Sightseeing
A full day to explore the architecture and history of Vietnam's capital
city. The city tour is by private coach with some walking. In the morning,
visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's former residence, the One
Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, after lunch
at local restaurant, we visit the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, the Lake
of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple and walking tour of the Old Quarter.
The tour includes a stop at an ancient Vietnamese 'long house'. In the
evening, visit a water puppet show - a remarkable Vietnamese art form
that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers and
elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Horison Hotel. BLD
Day
4 - Thursday 4th March 2010 - Hanoi - Halong Bay
Travel by private coach the 170km (approx. 100miles) drive to the UNESCO
and World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. Board a refurbished wooden sailing
junk boat for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters
of Ha Long Bay. Drop anchor for the night near a remote, deserted island.
Overnight on junk boat. BLD
Day
5 - Friday 5th March 2010 - Halong - Hanoi - Lao Cai
Spend a half-day cruising through more caves and picturesque lagoons,
where we can swim off deserted beaches. Lunch at local restaurant in Halong.
Return to Hanoi for dinner at local restaurant before transferring to
the railway station for night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train. BLD
Day 6 - Saturday 6th March 2010 - Lao Cai - Can Cau Market - Sapa
Arrive at Lao Cai Station. Breakfast at Lao Cai before travel by car to
minority market. Enjoy beautiful scenery along the way until you arrive
at the market. Ethnic minorities of Flower Hmong, Black Hmong, Tu Di,
Tay, Giay, Red Zao who come to buy and sell local products such as food
and material for agriculture and fabric. After exploring the market, we
proceed to Sapa with a stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive Sapa
late afternoon. Overnight at Victoria Sapa (Superior rooms). BLD
Day
7 - Sunday 7th March 2010 - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi
Morning: Y Linh Ho Walk -
Drive to Y Linh Ho. Start trekking down the valley, enjoying the views over beautiful terraced paddy fields in Muong Hoa Valley, the largest in the area. Trek of 3 hours along the Hoang Lien mountain range meeting Hmong minorties en route. Trek up (20min) at Lao Chai junction to the main road. Enjoy the panoramic view of Muong Hoa Valley from the main road before leaving. Return to Sapa by car.
Afternoon:
Matra - Grade Moderate - After lunch in a local restaurant, we start the
second walk through the town of Sapa and along a dirt trail through beautiful
gardens and lush pine forests. Hike through the Black Hmong ethnic minority
village of Matra, a very small village hidden away from civilisation.
Continue through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery. During the
day we will be able to visit a local school. From the school, we head
to the church of Taphin, where our car will take us back to Sapa. Transfer
to Lao Cai train station. En route stop to visit the Sino-Vietnamese border
at Lao Cai. Dinner at local restaurant in Lao Cai. Overnight train to
Hanoi. BLD
Day
8 - Monday 8th March 2010 - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An
Arrive in Hanoi early morning. Pick up and drive to a local restaurant
in Hanoi for breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Danang.
On arrival in Danang, transfer to Hoi An. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Hoi An Beach (Deluxe river view rooms). BLD
Day
9 - Tuesday 9th March 2010 - Hoi An - Sightseeing
Embark on a half-day walking tour of this quaint town visiting ancient
merchants' houses, a Hokkien temple, a 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge
and the vibrant riverside market. Afternoon trip to a lantern workshop
to learn the techniques involved and then create your own lantern. Finish
the day with a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha pottery
village. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at Hoi An Beach
(Deluxe River View). BLD
Day
10 - Wednesday 10th March 2010 - Hoi An
Day at leisure to enjoy this bustling town, you may wish to visit one
of the numerous art and craft shops or a tailor, for beautiful hand-made
clothing. The old town is an UNESCO world heritage site as a well-preserved
example of a Southeast Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries,
whose buildings display a unique blend of local and foreign influences.
Overnight at Hoi An Beach Hotel (Deluxe River View). BLD
Day
11 - Thursday 11th March 2010 - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh
After breakfast, drive to Danang to catch the flight to Saigon. On arrival
in Ho Chi Minh we are met and after checking in to our hotel, set off
for a guided walking tour of Ho Chi Minh that includes the Reunification
Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.
Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we continue the walking
tour with visits to two of the city's most famous streets - Dong Khoi
Street (formerly Rue Catinat) and Le Cong Kieu Street. Dinner in hotel.
Overnight Sofitel Plaza Hotel (Superior rooms). BLD
Day
12 - Friday 12th March 2010 - Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta
Depart Ho Chi Minh City for a scenic morning drive to Cai Be, stopping
en route at the ornate Cao Dai Temple in Ben Luc. From Cai Be, we take
a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to view
the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong
Delta. The trip includes a visit to the unique 'floating market' at Cai
Be, and to a family-run business producing rice paper - a key ingredient
in Vietnamese cuisine. Lunch is on an island mid-river, in a local house
set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees and then followed by a performance
of traditional Vietnamese music. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late
afternoon. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight Sofitel Plaza Hotel (Superior
rooms). BLD
Day
13 - Saturday 13th March 2010 - Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh
Take an early flight to Phnom Penh. Arrive in Phnom Penh and transfer
to our hotel. In the afternoon visit some of the capital's most impressive
sites, including the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda containing the
Emerald Buddha statue, the Royal Palace and Phnom Penh's oldest shrine,
Wat Phnom. Dinner in our hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh Intercontinental
Hotel (Deluxe rooms). BLD
Day
14 - Sunday 14th March 2010 - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem
Reap. Transfer to our hotel, check in and then start our exploration of
the ancient city of Angkor by entering Angkor Thom via the South Gate.
Continue with the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace,
the Elephant Terraces and the Leper King Terrace. In the afternoon visit
magnificent Angkor Wat with its extraordinary architecture and bas-reliefs.
End the day with a spectacular sunset from the top of the mountain temple
of Phnom Bakheng. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight Angkor Palace Hotel (Deluxe rooms).
BLD
Day
15 - Monday 15 March 2010 - Siem Reap
After breakfast, proceed to the graceful 11th century Temple of Shiva
- Banteay Srei - and the Banteay Samre temple. On the way back, view the
Bantey Kdei with its rarely seen sculpted female deities, the Lake of
Srah Srang and the impressive Ta Prohm Temple, which remains in the clutches
of the enveloping jungle. Visit the Ta Keo, Chau Say Tevada, and Thommanon
temples before returning to the hotel. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight
Angkor Palace Hotel (Deluxe rooms). BLD
Day
16 - Tuesday 16th March 2010 - Siem Reap - Luang Prabang
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Luang Prabang (Laos).
Transfer to the hotel for check in before setting off on a guided walking
tour that includes the former Royal Palace (now the National Museum),
Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Sen and Wat Visun. After lunch, take a half-hour
drive to Khuang Si Falls, where the waters tumble over multi-tiered limestone
formations into a series of turquoise pools. Return to town with a stop
at Ban Phanom Village, renowned for its hand weaving. End the day with
another dazzling sunset atop Mount Phou Si. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in Luang Prabang, Grand Luang Prabang Hotel. BLD
Day
17 - Wednesday 17th March 2010 - Luang Prabang - Sightseeing
Take a full-day boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to explore local
villages at Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan. Continue with the royal temple
at Wat Longkhoun, which once belonged to the royal family and nearby Sackarine
Caves and continue cruising Pak Ou cave. Explore caves and cross the Mekong
River at Ban Ou for lunch at a local restaurant. Return by road to Luang
Prabang, stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai, where the residents create
a unique rice wine called lao lao and continue to typical Lao villages
at Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek, well known for its hand-made Jute Sar
paper. Dinner in hotel. Overnight Grand Luang Prabang Hotel. BLD
Day
18 - Thursday 18th March 2010 - Luang Prabang - Departure
After breakfast, drive to airport for our return flight to UK via Bangkok, arriving next day. B
B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner |
