Hanoi - Halong - Hue - Hoi An - Nha Trang - Sai Gon
Introduction:
Hanoi Vietnam, capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Hanoi is one of the most visited of the popular destinations, is the beautiful capital city of Vietnam, sprawling in the banks of the Red River with French colonial heritage, most foreigners on a short visit find Hanoi to be slow paced, pleasant and even charming.
Hanoi is a sacred land of Vietnam. The year 1010 then became an historical date for Hanoi and for the whole country in general. For about a thousand years, the capital was called Thang Long (Soaring Dragon), then changing to Dong Do, Dong Kinh, and finally to Hanoi, in 1831. This sacred piece of land thereafter continued to be the theatre of many fateful events. Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples. Famous sites include the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Hanoi Citadel, Hanoi Opera House, President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum...
Ha Long Bay is located in the northeast corner of Viet Nam, 165 km from Ha Noi. In the Province of Quang Ninh. Ha Long Bay covers an area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands, of which 90% are limestone islands. To the west and north west, Ha Long Bay stretches from Yen Hung district in Ha Long city to Cam Pha town in Van Don district; to the south-east and in the south, Ha Long Bay borders the western shore of Tonkin Gulf; to the southwest the Bay borders Cat Ba island (Hai Phong province).
In 1962, Ha Long Bay was recognized as a vestige and beauty spot of national significances by Ministry of Culture and Information of Viet Nam and was also recognized as a world national heritage site twice by UNESCO organization. The first time, in 1994 for the exceptional and universal value of the landscape and the second time in 2000 for the special value of geology and geomorphology.
Hue is located in central Vietnam on the banks of Perfume River (Sông Huong), just a few miles inland from the East Sea. It is about 700 kilometers (438 miles) south of the national capital of Hanoi and about 1100 kilometers (690 miles) north of Hochiminh City.
Hue is not only famous with History, Culture, Royal Music, Religion, Festival, Cuisine Imperial Citadel and & tomb but also Architecture in Hue is the combination of royal architect, folk, religious ones, tradtional and modern sides. On December 11th, 1993, it was classified by UNESCO as the world cultural heritage.
Hoi An: In the 16th and the 17th centuries, Hoi An commercial port was the international trade center in Southern Vietnam. Foreign merchant ships came to Hoi An in great numbers and a bustle for annually commercial fairs, each lasted from 4 to 6 months. Right in this town, Japanese, Chinese,Dutch, Indian traders set up their emporiums or established their own quarters for permanent habitation.
Thanks to fortunate opportunities, the old town of Hoi An, a unique concentration of architectural monuments of various forms: living house, assembly hall, communal house, pagoda, shrine, temple, water well, bridge, wharf, market...has been preserved rather intact. They are along the streets that cut one another, forming palaces and giving a good example of symbolic oriental cities in the Middle Age. So wonderful with its old aged and traditionally well kept habits and customs, the town is now an excellent model of a living museum of architecture and urban lifestyle.
On the 4th, December 1999 the Old Town of Hoi An was inscribed on the World Heritage list.
Nha Trang is the capital of Khanh Hoa province with a population of over 350.000 inhabitants. This resort town is located in the South of Vietnam, 1287km south of Hanoi, 442 km from Ho Chi Minh city (Sai Gon).
The average temperature in Nha Trang is 26C.
Today, Nha Trang ranks among the top of all beaches in Vietnam, one of the 10 beautiful beaches of the world. The city is flanked by nearly ten kilometers of prime beach where the water is warm year round. Nha Trang has several famous islands of which the
most notable are Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and Spratly islands. Off shore are a score of attactive islets which contain acaggey eaves and caverns and provide home to the swallow, who built their nests which are used for the famous delicious swallow-nest soup. Warm and clear
water the all year round and an unspoiled environment, Nha Trang Bay is ideal for scuba diving. Within the city are historical sites such as the thousand years old-Cham Ponagar Temple, the Long Son Pagoda wiht its huge white Buddha satue, the Pasteur Institute which is famous Dr. Yersin's
Museum. Nha Trang is one of the Vietnam's mafor culture centers.
Ho Chi Minh City - still known to locals as Saigon - is Vietnam’s largest city and its economic powerhouse.
Like many cities in Vietnam, Saigon did not escape the wrath of war.
The name Saigon was used officially in 1698. In the 60's and 70's, Saigon was bustling with commerce and business. It was the cultural center and the capital city of South Vietnam. Already heavily influenced by the French in terms of culture and style, the city had an air of a French provincial town with a Vietnamese twist. Saigon was dubbed the "Pearl of the Orient" by the foreign press. The city was alive with activities and cultural diversity that rivaled any Asian city at the time.
In 1975, the city and many of its inhabitants were in a state of chaos and turmoil. In 1976, the new government renamed the city Ho Chi Minh City and shut its door to the rest of the world. Although recognized world wide as Ho Chi Minh City, to the people of Vietnam, the city is still lovingly referred to as Saigon.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrive in Hanoi
Arrive at Noi Bai international airport. Visa arrangements. Welcomed by your local tour guide and driver. Transfer to your hotel in the city center. Take an orientation on the tour. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 02: Hanoi City Tour (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Today we commence our exploration of Hanoi by visiting the Ho Chi Minh complex, starting at the President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. We continue to his humble “house on stilts”, his musuem and the 11th century One-Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards we go to the Museum of Ethnology, which is an excellent museum containing the ethnic costumes of the various minorities of Vietnam, as well as relics, tools and even full size replicas of their homes and buildings.
After lunch in a great local restaurant, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature which was the first Vietnam University dating to 1070.
You will take short time to visit the Hoa Lo Prison Musuem before head to the Old Quarter. You will have one hours for shopping & walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Enjoy water puppet show. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 03: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Hanoi (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel then check out - Transfer to Halong for a magical 4 hours boat cruising around the bay. Considered Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay boasts over 3, 000 islands that just out of the sea to provide a spectacular natural environment. We admire its beauty and scale before stopping at one of the many secluded bays for a refreshing swim (Weather permitting ). We also take the opportunity to enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on our boat. Back to the mainland. Transfer back to Hanoi. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 04: Hanoi - Hue City (B/L)
Early breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Visit Royal Citadel which was constructed by Emperor Gia Long in the style of French military architect Vauban during the first decades of the 19th century. Before leaving the site of Imperial city we visit Imperial Museum, many precious objects which were salvaged from the Imperial city then we visit Khai Dinh Tomb. Lunch at local restaurant.
PM: A boat trip along Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Minh Mang tomb, visit Dong Ba market. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight in Hue.
Day 05: Hue - Nha Trang (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Nha Trang. Check into hotel. Lunch at local restaurant.
The rest of the day is reserved for swimming at the Nha Trang beach. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 06: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel. Take a tour through out Nha Trang. Lunch at local restaurant then transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon. Pick up and transfer to the hotel for check in. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 07: Ho Chi Minh City Tour - Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. City sightseeing: Reunification Palace (Thong Nhat), Maria Cathedral, Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Cho Lon. Lunch at local restaurant then transfer to the airport for flight back to your country. End of services.
Price: The price is very flexible follow the trip quality and the number of people in the goup so please feel free to contact us http://hanoihighfivehostel.com/en-us/contact-us.html