Sherri Pittman
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
HA NOI ARRIVAL
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, your driver and guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Check in, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight La Siesta Trendy Hotel or Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel
Day 2
HA NOI – EXPLORE HA NOI LIKE A LOCAL
This morning, you will meet your guide and driver around 7:00 AM and head towards Hoan Kiem Lake. In Vietnamese culture, people often wake up very early and start the morning with some exercise. Be part of Vietnam and join the locals in their morning routine of tai chi and aerobics! After visiting the Ngoc Son Temple, located in the middle of the Hoan Kiem Lake, visit a traditional, charming coffee house, where you will be able to try Vietnam’s local coffee: Cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee), and if you feel more adventurous, you can also try the ‘egg coffee.’ After your coffee, continue walking and try some street food — a typical meal is the delicious ‘bánh mì’ baguette sandwich. Later, venture deep into Hanoi’s Old Quarter on a walking tour and witness French architecture in Vietnamese buildings. Your first stop will be St. Joseph Cathedral, a French gothic building constructed in 1886. Next, take a short walk to the Hoa Lo Prison, where Vietnamese as well as American and French prisoners of war used to be imprisoned. To finish the morning, visit to the Huu Tiep Lake, better known as ‘B-52 lake.’
At noon, return to the Old Quarter. Vietnam is very well known for its food; stop at a ‘Bún Chả’ restaurant to try Hanoi’s specialty. After your hyper-local lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076. Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty, mandarins, and members of the elite. The last stop of the day will be the Hanoi railway tracks — unique to the city, the tracks are sometimes located meters away from entrance door of houses! Together with your guide, walk along the railway tracks and enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the city.
After a long day, finish the day as a local, with evening beers at the typical and well known Bia Hoi!
Overnight La Siesta Trendy Hotel or Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel
Day 3
HA NOI – HON GAI HARBOR – BAI TU LONG BAY – VUNG DANG – CONG DAM – TRA SAN
After an early breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel for the journey to Ha Long Bay — one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karts’ landscape. After a 3.5 hour drive towards North East of Hanoi, you will embark at Hon Gai International harbour, on board Indochina Dragon’s Legend. A refreshing welcome drink will be served and you can check into your cabin.
As you settle into your cabin, the boat will set sail to the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay. A set menu lunch will be served in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather) while cruising into the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay and admiring the fascinating limestone karsts on the way.
After lunch, cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam area – where you can choose to swim or relax on the white sandy beach. Later, go kayaking through the mystery Karst Mountains in the Vung Dang area. When the sun sets, we will return to the Dragon Legend Cruise to relax with the Mineral Seawater Pool, the Fitness Room or the Spa and Massage Services before dinner. Dinner will be served with local seafood and then you can choose to enjoy a drink from the bar or experience squid fishing, before going to bed.
Overnight Indochina Dragon Legend
Day 4
HA LONG BAY – HA NOI – LUANG PRABANG
Enjoy the morning view of the Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy breakfast in the fresh air.
Cruise to Cong Do area to explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Check out of your cabin and later, enjoy a buffet while cruising towards the harbor.
At noon, you will get back to the Hon Gai Harbor where your guide and driver will transfer you to airport for the next flight to Luang Phabang. Upon arrival, obtain your Laos visa on arrival if you haven’t already obtained this prior to travel, then clear Immigration and Customs. Proceed into the arrival area and meet your driver and transfer to your luxury hotel.
Overnight Satri House or Luang Say Residence
Day 5
LUANG PRABANG
In this morning, meet your guide at your hotel and explore this historic and charming World Heritage Town. Transfer to begin your journey at the most popular of temples – Wat Xieng Thong. This 500 year old temple is exquisite and is the best example of the classic Luang Prabang style.
From here, explore small side streets, along back alleys and through temples – a city that could have been designed with slow travel in mind, a morning walking tour allows you to soak up the ambiance and appreciate the hidden charms of Luang Prabang. Through your guide, feel free to ask the locals questions as they go about their daily lives.
Continue wandering up the peninsula, stopping at temples and other sites as you wish. Visit the National Museum, which is the former Royal Palace. Relics from Laos’ royalist past remain here. Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area.
In the afternoon, travel south of town to the Kuang Si Waterfall. Stop along the way to visit the Living Crafts Centre, a place where you can learn about textiles and meet the weavers who help keep these traditions alive. At the falls, crystal water cascades into idyllic turquoise pools. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim! Also take time to visit the nearby Sunbear Refuge to learn more about the poaching of these endangered creatures.
You will be transferred to your hotel to freshen up before being treated to the refined grace of a private baci ceremony at a small village called Ban Khomkhuang. These gentle villagers led by their Nai Ban (village chief) offer visitors tidings of good luck and fortune for their life and travels by gently tying cotton cords symbolizing luck, friendship and good health around your wrists. The baci ceremony will be held at a private family home.
Overnight Satri House or Luang Say Residence
Day 6
LUANG PRABANG
The bells of the town’s monasteries toll at dawn when golden lines of monks emerge to receive their morning rice from the townspeople. If you rise early, you will have the opportunity to respectfully witness this sacred ritual typical of old Laos-long lines of barefoot monks weaving through the streets on their alms rounds.
In keeping with our respectful stance regarding local cultures, please observe this sacred ritual from a respectful distance. We also encourage that if you must take photographs that it does not interfere with this highly revered ritual. Afterwards, visit the Morning Market and see an array of meats, vegetables and spices the locals use in their cooking. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC), then depart through Lao’s scenic countryside to the Pak Ou Caves, a mystical pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong River 27 miles outside of Luang Prabang. On the way to Pac Ou, stop at two villages, one of which is a wonderful silk weaving village called Ban Sang Khong. The weaving techniques employed in Ban San Khong date back many centuries and are used to create some of Asia’s most highly prized textiles. Some villagers are also engaged in sa paper production. In the second village, Ban Sang Hai, locals produce Lao Lao, a rice whisky. After a brief stop, continue your tour to Ban Pac Ou, where you will board a boat to reach the Pac Ou caves.
Peering into dark corners, your eyes gradually adjust to reveal the serene faces and figures of more than 3,000 Buddha images, some inlaid with semiprecious stones. That these remain undisturbed in this remote site in one of the world’s poorest countries is a testament to the devotion of the people. Return by boat to Luang Prabang, cruising along the Mekong and enjoying the lush river life along its banks while sipping a drink and tasting Lao snacks.
Overnight Satri House or Luang Say Residence
Day 7
LUANG PRABANG – PHONSAVANH
After breakfast, meet you guide and driver, transfer to Phonsavan, after a journey of about seven hours by bus, you’ll arrive in Phonsavan. The name of this city literally means “heaven on earth”, a name that the Laotians hope was to give 70 after heavy bombing ravaged the region in years. In the near Phonsavan you can still find traces of the Vietnam War. Thirty years later, large craters, caused by the dropping of bombs by U.S. B-52 bombers, dominate the landscape. Fortunately, the Xieng Khouang province to offer more than memories of a bygone war. Green plains, tall trees and limestone formations show a splendor of natural beauty.
On arrival in Phonsavan in the afternoon, continue to visit the Lone Buffalo Foundation. This special project offers young people free English courses, and the opportunity to develop computer skills and participate in physical activities, promoting the Lone Buffalo’ Foundation’s philosophy of encouraging English study through sport. Lone Buffalo will be happy to include you in the lesson. You will get to have fun with the kids, learn about Lao culture and hear more about the Lone Buffalo project. Then, transfer to your accommodation for check in, free at leisure.
Overnight Vansana Plain Of Jars Hotel
Day 8
PHONSAVAN
Today we visit the local (Phonsavan) market and a UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) Removing Unit to learn about the important work that is being done in this area. We are also going to visit a very progressive Organic Silk Farm. Time permitting; we will visit MAG (Mines Advisory Group), a not-for-profit organization clearing landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other remnants of the war. After then, travel to the Plain of Jars, where hundreds of stone jars are littered over the plateau.
No one really knows who carved these impressive artifacts or how they got here. Also visit a village working to improve themselves in light of the war. After a local lunch, visit the Mulberries Project, which supports women by training them to create high-quality silk handicrafts.
In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. On arrival in Vientiane, meet your guide and driver, transfer to your accommodation.
Overnight Ansara Hotel or Settha Palace Hotel
Day 9
VIENTIENE
This morning, continue to explore Vientiane’s past and present. Visit Wat Sisaket, the only structure to survive the Siamese invasion of 1828 intact. Across the street, sits Ho Pha Keo, reconstructed in the 1930s on the site of the original building. It housed the Emerald Buddha, which now lives in Bangkok and is now the home to a fine collection of Lao artistry.
A short journey up Lane Xang street allows you a glimpse into the changing face of the city. Amongst the more modern structures is Patouxai, the Lao Victory Monument. Also visit Wat That Luang with its central lotus-bud spire and 30 surrounding stupas – the most sacred structure in all of Laos. Wat Si Muang is a much more vibrant example of living Buddhism. This sacred temple is used by the Lao people for everything, from women trying to become pregnant, to new car owners having monks bless their new purchases. Also pay a visit the COPE Visitor Centre for a moving insight into the Secret War which left Laos has the most heavily bombed country in history.
In the afternoon, travel out of town to Xieng Khouan Buddha Park. Here a renegade monk formed his own sect and began to mold magnificent, eerie statues out of concrete, based on Hindu, Buddhist and Brahman iconography. Each statue tells a story or a moral fable. He began in 1958 and continued on until the Communist takeover of Laos in 1975, when he fled across the border to Nong Khai, Thailand and sculpted a new park. This is a surreal place full of interesting photographic opportunities!
Then transfer to visit the Lao Disabled Women Center before heading back to your accommodation.
Overnight Ansara Hotel or Settha Palace Hotel
Day 10
VIENTIENE – PHNOM PENH
After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh.
Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, if you have not done, so already please obtain your Cambodian visa. After clearing immigration and customs, proceed into the arrival area where you will be meet by your private guide and driver to transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight iRoHa Garden Hotel & Resort or Raffles Hotel Le Royal
Day 11
PHNOM PENH TRADITIONAL CYCLO TOUR AND CAMBODIA LIVING ARTS
Depart on a traditional bicycle tour through the heart of Phnom Penh. Cycle to the holy site of Wat Phnom where a 14th century stupa and a small pagoda stands. It is the tallest religious structure in the city. Continue along the riverside promenade, stopping at the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. This is one of the best places in all of Cambodia where objects embodying the brilliance of the Khmer civilization can still be viewed; continue to visit the National Museum with its huge collection of Khmer sculpture and artifacts recovered from Angkor.
Lunch will be at the Friends Restaurant, which provides under privileged street children with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the hospitality business.
This afternoon make a trip to visit the Tuol Sleng Prison, housed in a high school, to glimpse the devastating horrors that prevailed during Cambodia’s ultra-radical Marxist movement. This excursion may prove distressing for some; it is however an important piece of Cambodia’s recent past. After, take an excursion to Choeng Ek, also known as the “killing fields,”- located just outside the city. Afterwards return to your hotel to spend the evening free at your leisure.
This evening, your tuk-tuk driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the National Museum where you will see a show at the sensational Plae Pakka Theater brought to you by the Cambodian Living Arts Association. There are three rotating shows, each lasting about an hour. Before the Khmer Rouge era, Cambodia was home to some of the most diverse and abundant arts and culture in Southeast Asia. Music, dance, theater and cinema flowed strongly through the blood of the Cambodian people. There were singers on every corner, musicians in every village and a dancer in every child. Art flourished. The Cambodian Living Arts Association provides artistic training to over 600 students throughout Cambodia and aims to provide a viable income for professional artists.
After the show, your driver will drop you off at your hotel or location of your choice.
Overnight iRoHa Garden Hotel & Resort or Raffles Hotel Le Royal
Day 12
PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP
Spend the day free at leisure until your private driver who will pick you up at your hotel lobby for your flight departure to Siem Reap. Once you arrive to the airport, your driver will drop you off at Phnom Penh International airport.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be met your private driver and transferred to your hotel for check in. Spend the day free at leisure!
Overnight Santa Clara Hotel or Heritage Suite Hotel
Day 13
HIGHLIGHTS OF ANGKOR
The Angkor Archeological Park is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking and one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, if not the world. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, the park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. You could spend weeks exploring the ruins, but on this day tour, you will have a chance to see all the highlights.
You will start to visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom where you can take a quiet optional 1km walk along the wall and through the jungle to a hidden temple. Then visit the temples of Bayon, Baphoun and Terrace of Elephants and Leper King. Take a break with a local lunch at the Triple K Restaurant located within the park grounds.
After lunch you will visit the fabulous jungle temple of Ta Phrom and the whole late afternoon is set aside for a visit to the main temple, Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is one of mankind’s greatest achievements, and the intricate carvings at the temple of Angkor Wat demonstrate the skill of the Khmer builders. It had constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century, then – two centuries later – was mysteriously abandoned by the Khmer civilization. Now Angkor Wat is the main reason tourists come to visit Cambodia.
Finish the tour with an unforgettable sunset on the quiet east side of Angkor Wat.
Overnight Santa Clara Hotel or Heritage Suite Hotel
Day 14
BANTEAY SREY AND MECHREY FLOATING VILLAGE
This morning, visit Banteay Srey, which for many years was off limits due to its remote location and Khmer Rouge activity. Built in the late 10th century and dedicated to Shiva, Banteay Srey’s pink limestone walls contain the best bas reliefs of any temple at Angkor.
If you are interested, you may choose to visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum, Prevention and Rehabilitation Center. It is estimated that more than 110 million land mines are buried throughout the world. Buried within Afghanistan, Angola, Iraq, Kuwait and Cambodia are the largest concentrations of land mines. In Cambodia, efforts at clearing mines around Angkor Wat and the major tourist sites have been successful. However, millions of mines remain buried and significantly impact the lives of the Cambodian people. Learn about the center’s efforts and work on this visit. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
This afternoon enjoy an excursion to the floating Mechrey Village on the Tonle Sap Lake. En route, stop at Ampil Peam to stroll through this traditional village where locals live much as they have for centuries. You will also have an opportunity to ride a traditional ox cart though the rice fields. Continue to Mechrey, a small “floating”community on Tonle Sap Lake. Board a local-style boat and explore the area. This interesting excursion includes a foray into the nearby flooded forest. Your guide will explain the biodiversity in this area, and discuss the importance of the lake for the livelihood of thousands of locals. Tonle Sap, meaning “Great Lake” is in fact a combined lake and river system. Learn about how its flow changes direction twice a year, depending on the season. It has been declared a UNESCO biosphere, recognizing its great importance to the surrounding eco-system. Depending on the length of your visit, you can enjoy sunset on the lake with a few cold local beers and soft drinks.
Overnight Santa Clara Hotel or Heritage Suite Hotel
Day 15
BIKING, COOKING AND GIVING ALMS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE & PHARE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS
In the morning, you will be met by your local guide at your hotel with high quality mountain bikes for biking through the Siem Reap countryside. We will ride the quiet trails through rice fields and small villages.
Your tour guide will point out the color shopping at a local market, the colors and smells of the raw meat, vegetables, fish, fruits and yelling of the stallholders makes for an exciting experience. After your local market visit, we will cycle to a local family’s house. Start cooking a few of the signature dishes of a local Cambodian family which we’ll enjoy together during lunch. After a while you will take a rest and try some local drinks such as sugar cane juice, a refreshing sweet drink poured over ice; this is drunk by many Cambodians and is especially popular in the countryside. After lunch, you will prepare your Khmer meal to offer to the monks at a local pagoda. Buddhist monks live away from their families and are not allowed to have normal jobs. They depend on the faith and charity of the local people. After you have finished your Khmer cooking, the chef and his wife show you how to pack the meal and some rice into a banana leaf. A short walk takes us to the pagoda where the monks live so you can offer the alms. After your offering, the monk will give you a blessing and you can ask him everything you like to know regarding Cambodian culture and Buddhism. After a wonderful cooking class and blessing, you will be back to your hotel to spend sometimes at leisure.
Transfer from your hotel at 7.15 pm by Remok to the Phare Cambodian Circus. This evening enjoy a show at the Cambodian Circus. The show starts from 8:00 PM and takes until 9:00 PM. Phare Ponleu Selpak means “Brightness of the Arts” in Khmer language. This is a circus like none other and it’s very different to a western style circus. Phare is a Cambodian non-profit art organization founded in 1994 by eight young Cambodians returning from refugee camps at the Thai border to Battambang. The purpose is to improve the development of local communities by providing education as well as leisure and professional artistic training. The circus performers are very talented and passionate. The shows change and rotate depending on the time you visit; all of their shows are fantastic and focus on traditional and contemporary themes. This really is the rebirth of Cambodian dance and culture.
Overnight Santa Clara Hotel or Heritage Suite Hotel
Day 16
SIEM REAP – DA NANG – HOI AN
Today you will have free time until your driver and guide pick you up 2.5 hours before your departure time and transfer you to the airport for flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, your driver and guide will meet you and they will transfer you to your hotel in Hoi An. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa or Anantara Resort
Day 17
HOI AN – A PATH LESS TRAVELED
Explore another side of this Historic town, engage with locals and take part in local craft making during a walking tour of Hoi An’s Old Town.
After being picked up from your hotel, we start the day with breakfast at a local restaurant while sitting by the river looking back across to the Old Town. With a cool breeze and a delicious bowl of Cao lầu, it’s a perfect way to start the day and have a taste of what’s to come. We start the walking tour from here and after exploring a residential area where families run their metal work, construction and paint businesses, we cross the river and head towards Hoi An Central Market. Although an all-day market, getting there early means we see the best produce, avoid the crowds and see the interactions of locals preparing for the day.
As we explore the seemingly endless myriad of alleyways, you will visit a number of local workshops, cultural important sites in Hoi An see how the locals live. Be prepared to smile a lot and say hello as the locals love to engage and are proud of their little communities that have grown up in these narrow alleyways. We then take a drinks break on a veranda overlooking the river. Watch fishing and tour boats glide through the waters while enjoying a refreshing drink. From here we continue through the Old Town, our guide telling stories about the town, explaining local customs and fun facts about life here. We pass through the famous Japanese covered bridge and our final stop of the morning is with a local family who will show us the skills required to make your own hand-made lantern. A lovely setting by the river, this is a peaceful end to a very busy morning!
Overnight Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa or Anantara Resort
Day 18
HOI AN – BIKING IN MY SON
Meet at 7:15 AM at the Grasshopper Adventures shop. Your guide will fit your bike, give a safety briefing, and provide an overview of the tour. Cycle along small and quiet alleyways we reach the riverfront of the historic district, long before crowds descend on the city. It’s a great time for photos.
Cross the river, and leave the city behind on the way to My Son, venturing off on to rural pathways accessible only to bikes and motorbikes. Pedal through small villages, past family farms and rice fields, greeting workers along the way. Depending on the season, pass rice, corn and even sunflower fields as you explore a very different landscape to that of the city. You’ll see hardly any four-wheeled vehicles as you weave through a network of shortcuts and connections that only locals know. The ruins of My Son lie ahead. Enjoy a snack break and marvel at the My Son Sanctuary.
After replenishing your energy with a healthy snack of fresh fruit with local coffee or tea, it is a short transfer to the entrance to this UNESCO World Heritage site. The temples and towers of My Son were built by the Cham people, initially Hindu and later of Muslim faiths. The Cham Kingdom once dominated the region and was eventually conquered by the Vietnamese and Khmer. Descendants of the original tribes are now scattered throughout the region, mostly along inland waterways. Transfer to Hoi An and relax at your leisure
Overnight Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa or Anantara Resort
Day 19
HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE
After breakfast, check out from your hotel and meet your guide and driver to depart to Hue. Upon arrival to Da Nang, we will visit the Marble Mountains, where very skillful artisans work on their products made of marble / granite and visitors can choose a collection of excellent stone products to buy as souvenirs. We will later continue driving towards Hue.
The trip passes through many spectacular scenarios along the National Highway 1 such as the breathtaking Hai Van Pass. The pass, which once formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Đại Việt and Champa, also forms a boundary between the climates of northern and southern Vietnam.
The Hai Van Pass is the highest and longest pass in Vietnam, with the North-South National Highway zigzagging through it for almost 20 km. Photo-stop somewhere in the Pass, and get your perfect pictures of Lang Co beach, a spectacular landscape or the peaceful fishing vicinity.
Overnight Pilgrimage Village or La Residence Hotel & Spa
Day 20
HUE – FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING
After an early breakfast, you will meet your guide and you will visit the Forbidden Purple City, constructed under the Emperor Gia Long, in the early 19th century. It is located in the Citadel of Hue, which was badly damaged during the Tet offensive of 1968. Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hue was not only the political but also the cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. Hue was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. At noon, we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
Later, you will board a dragon boat for a pleasant boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the characteristic Thien Mu Pagoda. Then, you will visit the tombs of the emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Tu Duc was Vietnam’s fourth emperor and lived from 1829 until 1883. During his reign, Vietnam lost its independence to France. Tu Duc is said to have had 104 concubines. Khai Dinh King was Vietnam’s Emperor from 1916 to 1925. His tomb represents a fusion of traditional Vietnamese style and modern influence, as it is almost entirely made of concrete and includes many European architectural details.
Overnight Pilgrimage Village or La Residence Hotel & Spa
Day 21
HUE – HO CHI MINH – MOTORBIKE STREET FOOD TOUR
On this day, you will have free time until your driver and guide pick you up 2.5 hours before your departure time and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival Ho Chi Minh, your driver and guide will meet you and they will transfer you to your hotel. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure until afternoon tour.
Enjoy an evening motorbike street food tour. The tour will start when your tour guide meets you at a place specified by you at 5:30pm. You will then receive safety instructions on how to ride on the back of a bike properly in order to ensure the safest experience. Then, you will soon whisk away on the back of the bikes in the rush hour with no problem at all to find out and taste the most special dishes offered in small alleys while learning about the history and culture significance of each dish. You will probably be getting full at this point. Therefore, let’s walk together to digest easily and enjoy the nightlife of Saigon where the sights that most foreign tourists never even hear about or see and we’ll see what it is like to be a local. Next, the guides will introduce the most popular Vietnamese food traditions: “The Street Barbeque”. You have a chance to fill up your stomach with the irresistible authentic local dishes which make you wish for another belly and let’s drink local beer.
Before it ends, do not forget to sit down and relax with the sweet desserts totally in Vietnamese style. At around 10:00 pm, we will drive you back to your hotel and wish you a good trip in Vietnam!
Overnight Fusion Suite Saigon Hotel or Park Hyatt Hotel
Day 22
HO CHI MINH – SAIGON UNSEEN
Today’s tour starts with an early morning walk through Tao Dan Park. As a relaxed, shaded location, it is a lovely way to start the day. The sounds of song birds, a local coffee to get you moving and locals starting their daily routine with yoga, tai chi, dancing and much more. It’s a short walk to The Burning Monk Monument, a dedication to the subject of ‘that’ iconic photograph from the Vietnam War. You stop for a bowl of breakfast soup before heading to Cho Lon, known as the Chinatown of Saigon. Cho Lon is a feast for the eyes. Our guide will lead you through the winding backstreets, describing the daily life of residents and the history of such an iconic area including two unseen buildings that were directly involved in the reunification movement.
From Cho Lon we head for lunch in a local restaurant where you are treated to some amazing food in a setting unlike anything else in Saigon. Lunch is followed by a walk through central Saigon to work off the excess. Between the modern buildings and high-end shopping malls, remnants of old Saigon are still evident.
We come across The Café Apartment, an old 9-story apartment building that residents have converted into funky, stylish coffee shops and boutiques. It’s fun to simply wander through the building and marvel at the creativity and ingenuity of the owners. Just when we need a bit of a rest we find the perfect place to relax for a traditional Vietnamese tea-tasting experience. You might not be a tea connoisseur, but you’ll find it fascinating all the same and probably learn more about the types, the history and methods of brewing than you would in a month of studying! After a long day of exploring, this tea-tasting experience is the perfect way to end the tour. Stay and relax with more tea on the beautiful balcony, take another stroll through the building, head back to your hotel or spend more time in the bustling modernity of central Saigon.
Overnight Fusion Suite Saigon Hotel or Park Hyatt Hotel
Day 23
HO CHI MINH – CAI BE – VINH LONG – CAN THO
Early in the morning your driver and guide will pick you up and transfer you to Cai Be. Arrive at 10:00am and board your cruise. Your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while the Cai Be Princess sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases. Observe from the comfort of your sampan life as it plays out on the riverbanks – the people, the stunning landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit.
At Tan Phong Islet board a little rowing boat to explore the canal’s hidden mangroves. Return to your sampan to visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. We’ll make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries: coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people.
Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times. After lunch, at around 2:30 pm, take a boat back to the pier where your driver will transfer you to hotel in Can Tho.
Overnight Victoria Can Tho Hotel
Day 24
CAN THO – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – HO CHI MINH
In the morning, embark on a journey with the Mekong Princess; early risers can enjoy a beautiful buffet breakfast while cruising past stilted homes, women doing laundry and children playing football on the banks of the Hau River. Visit the Cai Rang floating market and cruise along canals that are the living arteries of the region, making a few stops to get a glimpse of daily life around the river. After the tour, you will be transferred back Ho Chi Minh.
Overnight at Fusion Suite Saigon Hotel or Park Hyatt Hotel
Day 25
HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE
Today you will have free time until your driver and guide pick you up three hours before your departure time and transfer you to the airport for your flight to next destination.
