JOIN US FOR OUR EXCITING SOUTHEAST ASIA ADVENTURE

Includes 14 nights deluxe accommodations in Vietnam
Meals-15 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 3 dinners

TRIP ITINERARY:

DAY 1: Be at the San Francisco airport by 10am. Flight leaves at 12:30am on Singapore Airlines. Day spent in travel.

DAY 2: Arrive to Singapore around midnight and transfer to nearby airport hotel.

DAY 3: After an early breakfast, be ready at 8am for transfer to airport for 2 ½ hour flight to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi at 12:30pm. And transfer to the delightful 5-star Sofitel Metropole Hotel. Free time to rest. Recommend taking a short walk to the Hoan Kiem Lake. (B)

DAY 4: Hanoi-city tour that will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to see the “frozen” Uncle Ho and the grounds, as well as the Temple of Literature. We will have lunch across the street from the Temple at a restaurant that is dedicated to helping street children to become trained in the hospitality industry. The food here is excellent! Free time this afternoon. (meals- B, L)

DAY 5: Day tour to Tam Coc tour. This area, located a couple hours south of Hanoi, is known as the “Halong Bay of the rice paddies.” We will visit a weaving village and take a boat ride along a river that runs through the spectacular scenery. Return to Hanoi at approx. 4pm. Tonight I recommend visiting one of the local bars in the Old Quarter to try the various local wines, like bee wine or snake wine. (meals-B, L)

DAY 6: Leave after breakfast for the drive to the legendary Halong Bay in private bus. This area was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 by UNESCO and it is easy to see why! After a 4 hour drive, we will board our private boat. Here we will spend the day cruising the Bay and viewing the more than 3000 “islands” that jut out from the emerald green sea waters. The views from the boat of the outcroppings of limestone grottoes that have been featured in so many films, such as Indochine, are breathtaking! We will visit the beautifully lit, “Surprising Caves” located on an island in the bay. Our group will spend the night on board the boat in private double rooms. (meals-B, L, D)

DAY 7: Wake up and have a chance to take a dip in the cold waters. For those who are interested, we will also be able to kayak or snorkel in this marine reserve area. In addition, we will hike on one of the islands on Cat Ba to see a traditional village and spectacular view of the Bay. Then we will return to the port town of Hai Phong to take our bus back to Hanoi. After dinner on our own, we will walk to the nearby theater for very traditional and charming performance of water-puppets. (meals-B, L)
DAY 8: Free day in Hanoi with visit of Old Quarter by Tuk-Tuk. We will visit another restaurant that is dedicated to training poor children to become waiters and cook, Hoa Soa Restaurant. The service is impeccable and the French and Vietnamese cuisine is delightfully well-done. (B, D)
DAY 9: Take a one-hour flight at 12:30pm to Hue, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam. Vietnam was ruled from this city until 1945. The city was declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1993. Hue is famous for its imperial architecture and is located on the shores of the Perfume River. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel, the 4-star Morin Saigon.
This afternoon we will have lunch, followed by a city tour and visit the Imperial Citadel, which dates back to the 18th century. Within the Citadel is the Imperial Enclosure where all the important official functions used to take place and the Forbidden Purple City which was for the personal use of the Emperor only. We will also see the Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Halls of the Mandarin and the 9 Dynastic Urns. Overnight in Hue. (meals-B, L)



DAY 10: This morning, gain an in-depth view of Hue. We will enjoy a cruise on the Perfume River and stop to visit the revered Thien Mu Pagoda, the most famous monument and oldest place of worship in Hue. Later, see the majestic Minh Mang Tomb and the Khai Dinh Tomb which incorporates Vietnamese and European elements. A stop is also made at the colorful Dong Ba market with its wide array of local foods and products. We will have free time this afternoon to peruse some of the shops and take in some of the beautiful scenery. Overnight again at the Morin Saigon Hotel. (meals-B, L)

DAY 11: This morning we will travel through some of Vietnam's most spectacular scenery as you cross the Hai Van pass and enjoy pristine coastline views and spectacular mountain scenery en route to the city of Hoi An. Along the way we will see the Marble Mountains and the famous China Beach, where American GIs spent their days of rest during the war. Overnight in Hoi An at the 4-star Hoi An Riverside Hotel, located in a perfect quiet spot along the Do River. This hotel has a resort atmosphere and beautifully landscaped gardens. (meals-B,L)

DAY 12: Hoi is an old trading town and one of Vietnam's most delightful and enchanting towns. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. Today we will get to visit some of these unique parts of the city on our city tour. Then we will have free time in the afternoon to explore the city. Overnight again in Hoi An. (meals-B)

DAY 13: Free time in Hoi An to relax. (B)

DAY 14: Leave Hoi An after 12pm for the 30 minute drive to Danang, where we will catch our plane to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon.) Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. It offers impressive colonial-style architecture and After the 1 hr flight, check into the 4-star, elegant Majestic Hotel. This hotel was built in 1925 in French colonial style and had recently been renovated. It was the home of the press correspondents during the Vietnam War. Its location is ideal-in the heart of the city along the Saigon River. We will enjoy a great meal at the Rex Restaurant and then have free time to stroll one of the street-lined boulevards of the city. (meals-B, D)

DAY 15: Today we will journey outside the city to see one of the remnants from the Vietnam War, the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, which used to serve the Vietcong. Return to Saigon and visit the major sights of this vibrant city. See the Notre Dame Cathedral, the former US Embassy, the gorgeous post office, the buzzing Chinese quarter and the traditional Ben Thanh Market, selling an incredible array of goods. (meals-B, L)



DAY 16: Today we will head for the Mekong Delta region, renowned for its richness of cultivation and beautiful scenery. It is known as the "rice basket" of Vietnam. Our first stop is the city of My Tho where you will meet one of the mightiest rivers in the world, the Mekong River. We will stop at the Dong Tam Snake Farm about 10 km from My Tho. Initially created strictly as a research site for medicinal uses of reptile venom, Dong Nam Snake Farm today is the largest of its kind in Vietnam. The farm boasts 20 different varieties of venomous snakes and exports the venom. You can have your picture taken with a python here. On our Mekong Boat trip, we will cruise through tiny canals and quiet villages on the river to visit a floating market. We will have lunch in nice garden restaurant. Afternoon transfer back to Saigon. Free time in the evening. (meals-B, L)
DAY 17: Today we will leave our hotel after breakfast for the airport. (B).