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Highlights
Hanoi - Hue - Khe Sanh - Vinh Moc - Danang - Chu Lai - Quy Nhon - Nha Trang - Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City - Iron Triangle - Cu Chi - Siem Reap – Angkor - the City of Temples
Itinerary
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Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Meet on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to the city, which retains an air of French colonial period despite wide scale rebuilding after the war. Transfer to hotel for check-in. Rest of day is at leisure.
Overnight at Zephyr Hotel 4 star in Ha Noi City "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Dinner inclusive)
Day 2: Hanoi City tour
Begin your exploration of the capital with the city center, comprised of traditional pagodas and temples, colonial villas, and lakes set along tree-lined streets which move at pace much more congenial than Saigon. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday) and One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Army Museum (closed on Monday & Friday), the nearby flag tower and finish with a taste of classical Vietnamese Culture at the Fine Art Museum (closed on Monday) and the Temple of Literature.
Overnight at Zephyr Hotel 4 star in Ha Noi City "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 3: Hanoi - Hue
At leisure until transfer to Hanoi domestic airport for flight to Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties. Visit the Imperial Citadel and recall the battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive, when the NVA held the city for 3 weeks.
Imperial City: This is in the Citadel and wad built in the early 19th century and modeled after Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum.
Ngo Mon gate: This is the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and faces the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as wad the bridge across the lotus pond.
Thai Hoa Palace: built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns.
Halls of the mandarins: these buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies, held in Can Chanh reception hall, was restored in 1977.
Nine Dynastic Urns: These were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiseled into the sides of the urns each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign.
Overnight at Imperial hotel 5 star in Hue "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 4: Hue - Khe Sanh - Vinh Moc - Hue
Drive to visit the other sites of the former firece battle fields on the DMZ including the former American bases of Rock Piles, Camp Carol and Khe Sanh. Take a short walk on the Ho Chi Minh trail (which is nowadays the second trans-Vietnam traffic line). Continue to view the war-torn ruins of the Quang Tri church and the wreckage of an American tank. Then visit the Vinh Moc tunnels, dug to accommodate an underground village safe from American air raids in the north of the DMZ. Take a short photo stop at the Hien Luong Bridge crossing Ben Hai River, the former borderline between the north and south Vietnam, and the site of the former Doc Mieu artilery base on the way to Dong Ha.Return to Hue for overnight.
Overnight at Imperial hotel 5 star in Hue "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 5: Hue – Da Nang
Leaving Hue for Danang, the fourth largest city of Vietnam. City tour, recalling the chaos of March 1975, when the Saigon government abandoned Danang and countless refugees fled the city. Also visit the beach where the US marines first came ashore, beginning major American involvement in Indochina. Arrival & check-in at hotel.
Overnight at Sandy beach resort 4 star in Da Nang
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 6: Danang - Chu Lai - Quy Nhon
Morning visit to Hoi An. During the 16th century traders stopped at this port when traveling en route to Malacca in Malaysia. Continue on the coastal plain to Chu Lai Air Base and see the work of the Skyhawks. Stop at the Son My district, scene of My Lai Incident. Travel along the rugged Animate mountains down to Route 1, sarcastically referred to as “the street with joy” by French soldiers. Evening arrive in Quy Nhon, a major port and supply depot that kept Route 1 open during the war.
Overnight at Hoang Anh Resort Quy Nhon
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 7: Quy Nhon - Nha Trang
Leave Quy Nhon for Nha Trang, once the headquarters of the US Fifth Special Forces group in the second Corps. Arrival Nha Trang, rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at VinPeart in Nha Trang "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 8: Nha Trang - Da Lat
Enjoy the turquoise water and fine sand beach. Take a boat to nearby Bamboo island for snorkeling, to the Mieu island for a visit to a fish breeding farm and to the Cham tower of Ponagar, a fine example of 2nd century Cham architecture. Depart Nha Trang for Dalat, a cool mountain resort. Its lakes, waterfalls, evergreen forest and gardens make Dalat one of the most enjoyable places in Vietnam.
Overnight at Golf 3 in Da Lat "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 9: Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City
Visit the Central market before departing Dalat for Ho Chi Minh City, stop over to visit a silk farm and mulberry plantations. Evening arrive in Saigon, the former capital of South Vietnam, which retains much flavor from the war era.
Overnight at Windsor Plaza Hotel 5 star in Ho Chi Minh City "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Among the sights of graceful women in Ao Dai and bustling streets, visit the busy riverfront, the former Presidential Palace, passing the former US Embassy, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the central market. In the afternoon, visit some of the war remnants such as the site where a Buddhist monk immolated himself in protest of the war and the church where President Diem was assassinated.
Overnight at Windsor Plaza Hotel 5 star in Ho Chi Minh City "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Iron Triangle - Cu Chi
This morning travel on National Route 13 past the town of Phu Cuong. Visit Phu Loi base, used to relocate villagers. Trough the Cau Dinh jungle, pass a staging area of the 503rd Airbone Brigade. At Ben Cat, see the site of the bases of the 173rd Airborne and the 11th Armored Cavalry. Arrive in Ben Suc, the Northern tip of the iron Triangle, and continue to Dau Tieng Reservoir. Visit the restored tunnels at Cu Chi before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight at Windsor Plaza Hotel 5 star in Ho Chi Minh City "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap
Morning: take flight to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Roluos Group, the monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.
In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as "The Royal Baths" was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset.
Overnight at Angkor Century Hotel 4 star in Siem Reap "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 13: Angkor- the City of Temples
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.
Overnight at Angkor Century Hotel 4 star in Siem Reap "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 14: Siem Reap- An early bird special
Transfer to the archaeological site for sunrise from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat.
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th century), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.
Overnight at Angkor Century Hotel 4 star in Siem Reap "Guaranteed Hotel"
(Breakfast inclusive)
Day 15: Siem Reap – Departure
Visit to “Les Artisans d’Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and time at leisure at a local market until our private car pick up & transfer to the Airport for departure.
(Breakfast inclusive)
Trip inclusive:
+ Accommodation at 4 or 5 star hotel
+ English Speaking guide
+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary
+ All tours & transfers in private Air-Con car
+ Admission fees and permits where applicable
+ Vietnam visa processing fees
+ Flight tickets: Hanoi – Hue; Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap
Trip exclusive:
. Pre/post trip arrangement
. Travel insurance
. Meals not indicated
. Other personal expenses
. Tips and gratuities
. Other flights
. Visa stamping fee (required at airport upon arrival)
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