Vietnam Explored by Yen

Vietnam Explored by Yen

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 13 Apr 19: Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi where you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Distances and journey time:
From Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (35km): 60mins

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 14 Apr 19: Hanoi – Full Day City Tour – Overnight train to Lao Cai (B/L/-)

Today’s tour begins at 08:00. Set off on a full-day guided tour of Hanoi. Begin with a visit to West Lake to admire the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda.

Next up is a short drive to visit to the famed Temple of Literature. Wander around this incredible compound which was constructed in 1076. Become fascinated with the stories of the building and get a glimpse of the past when it served as a university and temple.

Afterward, head over to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (close on Monday). Here, browse informative exhibitions displaying artefacts and infographics that portray the remarkable diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. Meanwhile, take a look at view traditional costumes on display which represent each of the ethnic groups. As an alternative to the Ethnology Museum, visit the highly-acclaimed Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

The museum is located near Hoan Kiem Lake and offers wonderful insight into the lives and heritage of Vietnamese women. Learn historic and modern-day traditions centre around births, weddings, motherhood, spirituality and more.

After lunch, visit Ho Chi Minh complex and see the famous Mausoleum from a viewing point.
(Note: it is closed Monday to Friday all afternoons from Jun 15th to Aug 15th)

Then, take a short walk to Ho Chi Minh’s former house. Built on stilts, this was where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 to 1969 as he orchestrated the movement that eventually lead to Vietnam’s independence. Walk around the serene grounds while learning about Ho Chi Minh’s life and legacy.

There is an option to take a tour of the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Built in 1049, it’s one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples.

At the end of the afternoon, embark on a walking tour through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. This area of 36 narrow streets is a lively place to walk around while seeing and learning about Vietnam’s traditional ways of life. Continue through the busy Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Snap photos and chat with the locals on the way.

Finish the day at the water puppet theatre. Watch an entertaining live performance of this unique northern Vietnamese art form, a great way to end the tour of Hanoi.

Afterward, you will be transferred to mini hotel in Hanoi for fresh up before taking overnight train to Lao Cai – the gateway to Sapa.

The train departs Hanoi at 21:40 and arrive Lao Cai at 05:30

Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper compartment.

Distances and journey time:
Route can change subject to client’s interest.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 15 Apr 19: Lao Cai – Sapa – transfer to Hmong family homestay in Sapa (B/L/D
Check into our homestay accommodation and explore the village on foot

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 16 Apr 19: Sapa –Hmong Family homestay (B/L/D)
Today rise early for a hearty Vietnamese breakfast, head off with our trekking guide into the hills for a full day trek, includes guide, water and lunch.

Late afternoon transfer back to Lao Cai for our express bus to Hanoi

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 17 Apr 19: Sapa – Hanoi

Upon arrival Sapa Express meeting point in Hanoi, meet your guide and take the private transfer to your hotel for check in.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 18 Apr 18: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

This early morning you will transfer by road from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Arrive at the pier in Halong Bay towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities for your overnight cruise. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on-board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight on Halong Bay.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 19 Apr 18: Halong Bay – Noi Bai Aiport – Danang – Hoi An (B/-/-)

Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer to Noi Bai Airport for the flight to Danang.
On arrival in Danang transfer to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Distances and journey time:
Halong Bay to Noi Bai airport (160km): 3hrs

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 20 Apr 18: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (B/-/-)

Today, spend half a day visiting the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. On the way back to Hoi An, stop to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel and the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries. Some of the finest sculptures in Danang’s Cham Museum originated from here.

This afternoon return to Hoi An, a charming destination with two faces – the old-world trading port of narrow streets and traditional houses, an d the beach with its new resorts and long stretches of clean white sand. In keeping with Hoi An’s heritage as a trading port, the town’s tiny shop houses now host a range of craft shops and artisans including some of Asia’s best tailors. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market.

Overnight in Hoi An.
Distances and journey time:
Hoi An to My Son (70km): 1.5hrs

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 21 Apr 18: Hoi An – Hue (B/-/-)

Have this morning at leisure before leaving Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Its mesmerizing tombs and mausoleums of the last emperors of Vietnam reveal fascinating insights into the lives of the imperial families and their subjects. The ancient Citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern. The Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today.

Drive through Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.

Overnight in Hue.
Distances and journey time:
Hoi An to Hue (120km): 3hrs

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 22 Apr 18: Hue (B/-/-)

0830 depart from your hotel in Hue. Start at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. It is full of lotus flowers in summer and there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study.

After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument depart for Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River Constructed in 1601, the 21-meter tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. On the pagoda grounds is the famous Austin car a resident monk drove to Saigon in 1963 to protest against the southern regime. The photo of his self-immortalization is one of the most well-known images of the war.

Continue to former emperor Minh Mang’s tomb located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds, inspired by the Chinese Confucianism, a harmonious design of balance and symmetry for the emperor’s resting place.

Journey on to Khai Dinh’s Tomb designed in traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Before heading back to your hotel take time to stroll around Dong Ba Market with your guide. The market is another of the must see sites in Hue, the stalls are teeming with colour and a great place to catch a glimpse of everyday life.

Overnight in Hue.
Distances and journey time:
Route can change subject to client’s interest.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 23 Apr 18: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City (B/-/-)

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. A full day city tour starts in Cholon, the Chinatown district, to discover the area’s markets, shops and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda – dedicated to the goddess of the Sea. Next, visit Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, which displays an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine can be seen in the galleries.

Head back to the city centre to visit Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered. Simply stroll through the market exploring the variety of goods for sale.

This afternoon visit the War Remnants or History Museum (choose which one you would most like to see) and the former Presidential Palace Stroll (your vehicle will be available at all times) to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. At the end of the afternoon head back to your hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Note: History Museum is closed on Mondays.

Distances and journey time:
Route can change subject to client’s interest.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 24 Apr 18: Ho Chi Minh City – Half Day Cu Chi tunnels (B/-/-)

Get a first-hand look at Vietnam-American war history. Take a guided half-day tour from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels to wander through jungles echoing with history. Learn how Cu Chi’s residents found ingenious ways to survive and other incredible stories of wartime resilience.

This tour begins at 08:30. Depart early this morning to avoid the crowds at Cu Chi. Drive away from Ho Chi Minh City, watching the city skyline fade into the distance as the road winds through rice paddies, villages and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.

Spend a couple of hours walking around Cu Chi’s rugged grounds with a local guide. Hear how the residents constructed an intricate, underground network of tunnels during the French and American Wars. Crawl underground and have a look at the tiny chambers, imagining what life was like for those who lived there. Hear incredible tales of perseverance- from the unusual foods the residents ate to survive to the story of a baby being born in the tunnels. Once above ground, see other ingenious items used by the residents to defend themselves such as bamboo traps and camouflaged pits.

Throughout the tour, the guide will explain the impact of war on the local community and the country as a whole. Following this insightful visit, journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Vietnam Explored by Yen: 25 Apr 18: Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L/-)

The colourful floating market, vast emerald rice fields and lush back waterways; these are the things that make Cai Be such a desired destination. This morning, leave bustling Ho Chi Minh for the 2 hour drive to the delta town of Cai Be.

On arrival board your boat for cruise in the Delta’s waterways. Start your journey by passing by Cai Be’s floating market, once a busy place to trade fruits and vegetables and nowadays a more quiet market.
Then, continue to a cottage factory where ‘pop-rice’, rice paper and coconut candies are made. Return to the boat for the cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep Island; along the way admire the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers. Lunch will be local Mekong style serving specialties of the area. Return to Ho Chi Minh City late afternoon.
Arrive back into Ho Chi Minh City to collect bags and transfer to airport for late flight out, not earlier than 8pm or stay over for an additional night at own expense

Inclusions: Meals and sightseeing as per itinerary, guides, transport and sightseeing as per itinerary. Flights Hanoi to Danang & Hue to Ho Chi Minh City are extra prices vary from USD100 to $230 for both depending on time booked.

Price is AUD$1790 per person twin share, single supplement if own single room required USD$425

To RSVP to this tour please RSVP at Sydney Explorers: https://www.meetup.com/Sydney-Explorers/events/251790868/

Itinerary is subject to change, currency fluction and final numbers minimum group size 10 accommodation is based on below: