Phone 800-975-7775
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Phone 800-975-7775 |
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Hosted by Rhonda Sand January 13-25, 2009
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Kayak mystical Halong Bay Friday, January 13: We arrive in Hanoi this morningUpon arrival we transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy welcome dinner at the deluxe Vietnamese restaurant, the Seasons of Hanoi with Vietnam cuisine. Overnight at Sunway Hotel (D) Saturday, January 14
Sunday, January 15, Hanoi – Halong (kayaking) After breakfast, depart Hanoi for Halong with many photo opportunities en route of the rice paddy, buffalo, farmer in the field. We embark on the traditional wooden junk arriving in time for a truly authentic seafood aboard our boat. Later explore one of the biggest caves in the bay named Sung Sot (Surprising cave). After the cave visit, we kayak (with instruction) to Luon Cave and going through the Horse’s saddle cave and exploring the Trong Cave and Trinh Nu cave. Dinner will be served onboard. Overnight onboard. Overnight on board Huong Hai Deluxe private junk (B, L, D) Monday, January 16: Halong – Hanoi (kayaking)/ Hanoi – Hue
Tuesday, January 17: Hue - Hoi An After breakfast, enjoy a cruise on Perfume river to visit Thien Mu Pagoda then transfer to visit the Imperial Citadel. Home hosted lunch at the local Vinh Tu couple in a restored Royal home. Pay a visit to the elaborate Royal Tomb of Tu Duc before transfer 100km over the Cloudy Pass Danang. Continue another 30min drive to the ancient town Hoi An and check in your hotel. Hoi An is a darling village with fantastic shopping opportunities. It is a mini Venice of sorts. Overnight at the quaint Hoi An Riverside Resort (B, L) Wednesday, January 18: Hoi AnMorning, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center and take in the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. The walking trip will be specially led by Mr. Tran Van Nhan was born in 1954 and graduated from the Hue University in 1976. He is now working as a Chief of the Bureau of Hoi An Culture and Restoration. Mr. Nhan will offer a walking tour through Hoi An Ancient Town, including temples, old houses, pagodas and the Japanese-covered Bridge to introduce an insight of Hoi An architecture/history as well as the restoration plan being implemented by UNESCO. Balance of the afternoon is free on your own to explore this ancient city, the bazaar here is a good place to buy silk, which can be made up into fine garments, all within a day. Overnight at Hoi An Riverside resort (B) Thursday, January 19: Danang – Saigon, formerly Ho Chi Min City
After 25 km, we will take a rest by taking a ferry boat to cross the Vam Co Dong River. Continue our journey when we reach Son Qui village, where we will stop again to visit a small but charming mausoleum of emperor Tu Duc‘s grand father-in-law. Our morning bike will be finished before reaching the busy road again and we shuttle from here to My Tho, lunch is at Ngoc Gia Trang restaurant. After lunch, shuttle 20 minutes to Long Dinh village for a short bike of 25km. Our afternoon bike is through some villages with beautiful orchards along the road. We finish our bike at the 4-way intersection of Hung Long and shuttle to the hotel Overnight at Victoria Cantho Hotel (B, L) Friday, January 20: Can Tho – Saigon (biking) Check out the hotel and enjoy the boat ride to the Cai Rang floating market. After visiting the floating market, cross the Mekong river by boat and disembark the boat at Dau bridge and shuttle to Cai Von village and start our 45km biking from here toward Ba Ke village. Our biking trip in the Mekong Delta won’t be completed if this part of the Mekong is not included. Enjoy interactions with the local people from this beautiful part of the Mekong Delta, especially a visit at a pagoda where friendly nuns will be welcome us. Overnight at the Hotel Majestic. This hotel was home to the US high ranking military during the conflict.(B, L) Saturday, January 21: Cooking class & city tour
Sunday, January 22: Cu Chi Tunnels/ Saigon – Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia After breakfast, enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Cu Chi district. Upon arrival in Cu Chi, we will start to experience ourselves the underground village of Cu Chi guerrilla fighters, the remain of a real bloody battle field which is simply a network of tunnels built during the long years of wars, specially led by VC veterans, who used to live under the tunnels. There are opportunities to interact with the VCs and exchange the experiences. On the way back, stop at a local family-run rice paper making village before heading back to Saigon and transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap, home of Khmer’s Kingdom of Cambodia. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for checking in. Balance of the day is free at leisure. Enjoy the pools and spa of this lovely hotel. Overnight at La Residence (B)
Monday, January 23: Angkor Wat After breakfast, begin your exploration with a visit to the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. Afternoon, drive to explore the mysterious Royal city Angkor Thom. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphou, Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace and Royal Place area. to visit the Angkor complex include the south gate of Angkor Thom and Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace area. Where is Lara Croft the Tomb Raider when we need her? Overnight at La Residence (B) Tuesday, January 24: Siem Reap
Wednesday, January 25: Siem Reap departure After breakfast, free at leisure. 12.00P.M check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight home, arriving home the same day. Those staying on in Nhatrang will be departing Cambodia with us today.
Total price per person sharing: $3,699 (Air from Spokane and all touring and meals as outlined above) Single supplement: $690 Trip Cancellation Insurance: $287 Visas: $110 Deposit to confirm is $787, including insurance Nhatrang Beach Extension Wednesday, January 25: Saigon – Nhatrang Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for flight to Nhatrang. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to resort for checking in. Balance of the day is free leisure for beach relaxation. Find out why all of Asia and Australia consider this one of the best beach destinations on the planet! It does indeed please all six senses.
Overnight at Ana Mandara Resort (B) Day 2 - 4: Nhatrang Free day at leisure for beach relaxation Overnight at Ana Mandara Resort (B)
Day 5: Nhatrang – Saigon - Home After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon and connect to your departure flight home (B)
Total price for this extension: $760 Single supplement: $450
Rhonda Sand TMI Travel (800) 975-7775
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Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the house of one of most famous chefs in
Vietnam, cam Van who has been teaching how to cook Vietnamese
cuisine on Vietnamese TV for over 16 years for a cooking lesson of
Vietnamese typical dishes. Enjoy the wonderful demonstration, followed by a
lunch that we have cooked. This cooking class truly offers a diversity of
typical Southern cuisine. After lunch, visit the city landmarks including
the Old Saigon Post Office, the site where the US gathered the final
Vietnamese and left Vietnam, former Presidential Palace then the Chinese
district of Cholon, Binh Tay market to enjoy the bustling wholesale quarter
of Saigon. Overnight at Hotel Majestic (B, L)