| Day |
Schedules and Accommodations |
1-3
[top] |
Depart Home / Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Your exotic cultural journey begins with an overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh City (via Hong Kong), the lively commercial center of Vietnam. You’ll be met upon arrival on Day 2 in the evening, and transferred to your Superior First-Class hotel.
On the morning of Day 3, you’ll tour the French-influenced city center still known as Saigon, including the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the former Presidential Palace. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll visit the Cu Chi Tunnel, a segment of the vast underground complex built by the Viet Cong. This evening enjoy cocktails at the former home of Henry Cabot Lodge, a former U.S. ambassador.
Renaissance Riverside  (1B,1L) |
4-5
[top] |
Ho Chi Minh City / Hoi An
Embark on a short flight to Danang and transfer to your resort hotel in the picturesque port town of Hoi An, located near famous China Beach. Then, visit a lantern workshop, where
you’ll learn how lanterns are made, and try your hand at creating your
own. Tonight, enjoy a relaxed Welcome Dinner at the hotel.
On Day 5, depart for a walking tour of Hoi An, an ancient trading port and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your tour will
be led by a Hoi An Restoration Center staff member who will talk about
preservation of this heritage town. Your tour showcases the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge; the Assembly Hall of the
Cantonese Chinese Congregation founded in 1786; Tan Ky House built 200 years ago;
and the Central Market. The Old Town here is known for its arts and
crafts. Afterwards, you’ll be a guest for lunch in a
vegetable-growing village. Your evening is at leisure or join an optional “Cooking Class Tour” to learn about selecting ingredients and
preparing fresh Vietnamese dishes, followed by dinner at a local
restaurant.
Life Heritage Resort (2B,1L,1D) |
6-7
[top] |
Hoi An / Hue
Depart for a visit to the Cham Museum in Danang, which houses
masterpieces of Champa sculpture. Then, take a scenic drive along the
coast, arriving at Hue in the afternoon. This ancient Imperial City of
the Nguyen Emperors has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later,
you’ll embark on a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to visit
the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Central Dong Ba Market. This evening’s
special dinner is at the home of Dr. Phan Thuan An, who will introduce
you to his family.
The morning of Day 7, you’ll visit the Imperial Citadel &
Palace, the oldest Imperial palace in Vietnam. Your afternoon features
a tour to the Mausoleums of Tu Duc, the last emperor of Vietnam.
Afterwards you’ll visit the workshop of a local family to learn how
Vietnam’s conical hats and colorful incense are made. Enjoy a
Western-style dinner at your hotel.
Saigon Morin (2B,2D) |
8
[top] |
Hue / Halong Bay
Begin your day with a short flight to Hanoi, where you’ll transfer to
Halong and embark an authentic Chinese “junk,” and set sail on
enchanting Halong Bay. Activities this afternoon include a beach
walking tour, and a fishing village boat tour. You’ll also spend the night aboard this newly built boat. Lunch and dinner are included on board.
Halong Jasmine Junk (B,L,D) |
9-10
[top] |
Halong / Hanoi
Continue cruising Halong Bay this morning, where you can witness daily
life on the boats, and enjoy a Tai Chi Class on board. You’ll also
visit a cave before disembarking. Next, transfer to Hanoi, visiting a
ceramic village en route, and try your hand at making pottery. In
Hanoi, you’ll visit the home of a local painter to learn about
Vietnamese art, then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
On Day 10, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar
Pagoda, and Tran Duoc Pagoda, constructed entirely of wood. After a
traditional Vietnamese lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, where
you’ll enjoy an exclusive lecture on the temple’s history. This
afternoon, you’re off on a cyclo (traditional tricycle-powered
rickshaw) tour through the fascinating maze of Hanoi’s Old Quarter,
capped by a performance of water puppetry, a unique Vietnamese art form
dating back 1,000 years.
Melia Hanoi  (2B,1L,1D) |
11-12
[top] |
Hanoi / Siem Reap, Cambodia
This morning, you’ll visit Hanoi’s fascinating Ethnology Museum. After
an included lunch we fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the
breathtaking Angkor complex. Check into your new, centrally located
resort-style hotel.
On Day 12, you’ll explore the Angkor Wat complex — a UNESCO World
Heritage Site — where Buddhist temples, towers, terraces and carvings
rise from the jungle. You’ll also visit Prasat Kravan. Enjoy lunch at a
nearby restaurant then delve further into the Angkor Wat complex.
You’ll then visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom and Bayon, Baphoun, and
Elephant Terraces, topped off with a visit to Phnom Bakheng, where
you’ll climb via a gentle winding path to its summit for spectacular
sunset views! You’ll also enjoy a dinner and dance show at Angkor
Village tonight.
Prince D'Angkor Hotel & Spa (2B,2L,1D) |
13-14
[top] |
Siem Reap / Phnom Penh
On Day 13, depart for a boat ride on Tonle Sap Lake. Then, observe
Cambodian youth learning traditional arts and crafts as you visit their
school. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Then, drive to Phnom
Penh, and check in to the French Colonial-style Deluxe Raffles Hotel Le
Royal.
Your morning city tour on Day 14 includes Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. Later, you’ll tour Wat Phnom, the local park, then visit a
local dance school, where children are taught traditional Cambodian
dances. Tonight, recap highlights of your trip during a Farewell Dinner
at your hotel!
Raffles Hotel LeRoyal  (2B,1L,1D) |
15
[top] |
Phnom Penh / Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
The morning is at leisure. Then, transfer to the airport for your short flight to Saigon.
Omni Saigon Hotel (B) |
16
[top] |
Return Home
Very early morning transfer to the airport for return flight home, with a box breakfast to eat on your way.
Note: If you choose the Laos optional extension, you will fly on Day 15
to Laos and after your last night in Laos you will return for your
included night in Ho Chi Minh City (from your Base Program).
(B) |
|
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The above
day-by-day itineraries are preliminary and therefore subject to change.
If any major changes occur in advance of your departure, you will be
notified in writing by Vantage Deluxe World Travel. If changes occur
while on tour, you will be notified by your Vantage Program Manager. |
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