THE WORLD HERATIGE ROAD OF VIETNAM
Duration: 9 days (The order of tour date could be swopped or extended by your request).
Highlight: Ha Noi, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha, DMZ, Hue, Mỹ Sơn. Hoi An.
DAY 1 HA NOI – NINH BINH (B/ /)
Arrive in Noi Bai airport. Guide and private car will pick up at the airport and transfer to centre of Ha Noi for refreshment, coffee and breakfast.
Then drive to Ninh Binh. Check in hotel, after that visiting Hoa Lư-the first capital of Viet Nam, sightseeing the countryside of Viet Nam. After that you also visit famous Tam Coc Caves by rowing a sampan on the river along limestone mountains lying on the rice paddies forming a so beautiful landscape which called ‘’Ha Long Bay on land’’ by Vietnamese. Finish the day tour by sightseeing Bich Dong pagoda, a famous one covered by fairy scenery. Lunch and Dinner own your account. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
DAY 2 NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)
Pick up and transfer on the high way to Tuan Chau Island. Embark on the cruise and start to explore the famous natural UNESCO site in the world, Ha Long Bay, a vast bay with nearly 2000 limestone islands rising up from ocean. Enjoy your day on the bay by taking the pictures, swimming, kayaking, visiting cave on islands, relaxing and especially tasting seafood cuisine on board. Overnight in Ha Long Bay.
DAY 3 HA LONG BAY – HA NOI (B/ /)
of the elite. Also visiting Ngoc Son temple and The Huc Bridge on the sword lake .Your day would be started with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck, breathing fresh air of cheery morning, visiting cavern. Showering, having a buffet breakfast and settling your bills before disembark at the port. Then transfer back to Ha Noi. In the afternoon, visiting Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum (outside), an also pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese, where he lived and his body is being preserved. Here you could understand more about Hồ Chí Minh life and his careen, the greatest leader of the country. Then visiting Thang long citadel, the set for many feudal dynasties in Vietnam, One-pillar pagoda, one of the oldest and famous one in the country. Continue to visit Temple of literature founded in 1076, the first university of Vietnam, where educated Vietnam’ royalty, mandarins and members Then transfer to the airport to flight to Dong Hoi, Quang Binh province. Hotel Check in. Overnight in Dong Hoi.
DAY 4 DONG HOI – PARADISE & PHONG NHA WATER CAVE (B/L/)
Phong Nha cave and Paradise cave in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park is honored as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is a special masterpiece offered to the people in Quang Binh province, the poorest part of the country, by the mother of Nature .
In the morning, driving (1,5 hour) to Paradise Cave car park, then catch a golf cart for 1,6 km to the cave entry, keep walking up 570 meter long slope or 524 steps to the cave entrance(about 200 metre above sea level) and start to explore the longest Dry Cave in Asia.. It is 31.4 kilometers long, the longest one than other cavern in same area of the World Natural Heritage National Park Phong Nha Ke Bang formed about 350 to 400 million years ago. Now only 1 kilometer in length is opened officially to the tourists but the beauty of shimmer stalagmites and stalactites makes the travelers makes incredible impression on travelers. So it’ worth to be honored as one of the most spectacular caves all over the world by British Royal Cave Research Association.
Driving to Phong Nha town for lunch.
After lunch taking a 30 minute boat trip on the Son River to reach to the Phong Nha cave, the longest underground river cave in the world (about 7,7 kilometer long) .The fresh air at the place offer you a very pleasant feeling. Rowing about 600 meter long inside the cave is fantastic experience, the colorful limestone stalactites and sparkling stalagmites thrill you, feeling that you are walking inside a giant monster. Transfer back hotel for a rest. Overnight in Dong Hoi.
DAY 5 DONG HOI – DMZ (QUANG TRI) – HUE (B/L/)
In the morning drive 1,5 hours from Dong Hoi city to Quang Tri province where cut Viet Nam off into two different parts in during Vietnam War. Arriving there, visiting Vinh Moc village tunnel, a legendary tunnel system dug by the locals for their survival on the firing homeland. Continue to visit DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) area including Ben Hai River, Hien Luong Bridge, Doc Mieu old US military base and military martyr cemetery. Photo stop at war relics and Quang Tri Citadel, a decisive battle field for Peace Agreement in 1973.Then transfer to Hue for hotel check-in. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 6 HUE –IMPERIAL CITY TOUR (B/L/)
You will have a great day by visiting the Imperia City of Hue, where all the most important political ceremonies happening in Viet Nam, the seat for the Nguyen dynasty during 143 years. Walking around the royal walls to artistic buildings such as King’ palace, Queen mother Palace, royal theatre and royal garden, etc. After that taking a Vietnamese CYCLO (known as Xích Lô) around the Citadel to discover the local life inside this defensive fence. Then a short drive by car to visiting the Thien Mu Pagoda, Heavenly Lady pagoda, oldest Buddhism pagoda in the south of Vietnam, where the Austin car which was used by a monk in Dai Gon before his self –immolation is being displayed. A morning tour will be finished by a Dragon boat trip on the romantic Perfume River to cool you down before tasting Hue style lunch at a garden restaurant with typical Hue architecture.
After charging energy you keep visiting two most typical King Mausoleums built by Tu Duc and Khai Dinh King, one with oriental architecture and the other with the combination between oriental and western modern style. Ending up the day tour by a short stop at Hue incense stick making village to experience how Hue locals make colourful incense sticks in traditional way by skilful hands. Back to the hotel.
DAY 7 HUE –DA NANG – HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (B/L/)
Check out the hotel, you will be on one of the most incredible roads with green mountains and vast brackish water lagoon on the way to Hoi An ancient town. Making a halt at Lang Co Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the country for taking photos and a drink before driving over Hai Van Pass(Pass of ocean and cloud),one of the most scenic tops in Vietnam.
Arriving in Da Nang, photo stop at Dragon Bridge, Da Nang sandy beach, well-known as R&R beach for US soldiers during Viet Nam war. Continue to visit Marble Mountains, Holly Mountains, known as the mountains of Five Elements of the Universe, here is famous for scenery, old Buddhism pagodas and caves, the place is well-known as a holly destination for the Buddhist pilgrims. Also some minute stop at the biggest stone carving village in the world at the foot of the mountains to see how sculptors turn insentient stones into lively fine art masterpieces is great experiences. Upon Hoi An arrival, Stop for a mall lunch with delicious Vietnamese baguette(called Bánh Mỳ) before taking a walking tour around this fantastic ancient town to explore it beauty and history by paying a visit to Tan Ky old house, a typical represent for wealthy merchant’s house in the past, Chinese Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, a gathering place for home-away Chinese traders, Japanese covered bridge, the symbol for the town, lively market and Hoi An traditional handicraft demonstration whArriving in Da Nang, photo stop at Dragon Bridge, Da Nang sandy beach, well-known as R&R beach for US soldiers during Viet Nam war. Continue to visit Marble Mountains, Holly Mountains, known as the mountains of Five Elements of the Universe, here is famous for scenery, old Buddhism pagodas and caves, the place is well-known as a holly destination for the Buddhist pilgrims. Also some minute stop at the biggest stone carving village in the world at the foot of the mountains to see how sculptors turn insentient stones into lively fine art masterpieces is great experiences. Upon Hoi An arrival, Stop for a mall lunch with ere you could see how Hoianian raise silkworms to produce silk for embroidering gorgeous paintings and fold-up lanterns. Check in hotel for a rest and discover the sparkling town in the light of lanterns by yourself.
DAY 8 HOI AN – MỸ SƠN SANCTUARY (B/L/)
In the morning an one-hour driving to the hilly place to visit Mỹ Sơn UNESCO site to discover the miracle of thousands-year-old Hindu temples built by the native people in the secret lush valley and served as the most sacred religious land from 4th to 13th century under the ancient kingdom of Champa related to the Maritime Silk Route in the past. Walking around the valley of Mỹ Sơn, you seem to be getting lost into the mythological land with ancient temples, epitaphs, mysterious religious rites, statues of deities and sacrifices. Enjoying fresh air, green nature, ancient fine art, and the special architecture of Champa temples whose construction technique remains controversial. Mỹ Sơn temples are unique and without equal in Southeast Asia. That is the reason it was honoured as the World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Lunch at local family to learn more about local life around Mỹ Sơn site and taste local dishes bringing the cuisine integration between Champa and Việt culture.
On the way back, making a stop to visit Thanh Hà pottery village to see how locals produce terracotta products by hands supplying for around markets. Leaving the village back Hoi An town by Boat on the historical Thu Bon river. Free time in the rest of the day.
DAY 9 HOI AN –DA NANG –HO CHI MINH CITY (B / /)
Morning transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh, formerly called Sai Gon. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, taking the city tour around the most bustle place in Viet Nam, visiting War Remnants Museum where displays some US military weapons left during Viet Nam War and a lot of graphic photographs reminding you of the bloodiest battle field in the world in 1970s.Another visit to Reunification Palace, the headquarter for south Viet Nam government. A photo stop at Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the country with excellent architecture and General Post Office Designed by Gustav Eiffel. A cup of Saigon coffee is a sweet end of the city tour. Hotel check- in .Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
End of the Tour
