HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM
A cultural tour of Vietnam

Vietnam is a beautiful lush country offering a rich variety of historical sites, sounds, cultural traditions and friendly people for its visitors.  From the French Colonial architecture to the intriguing scent of the Perfume River, from to the hustle and bustle of the markets in Saigon to the war memorials, Vietnam has much to be discovered.

Day 1: Arrive Saigon
Chào ban! (Welcome in Vietnamese) Upon arrival to one of Vietnam’s largest cities we are met and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Duxton Hotel, Saigon (3 nights)

Day 2: Saigon
We have a whole day to explore some of the most interesting sites, including the beautiful neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House also known as “Saigon Concert Hall’, the Jade Emperor Pagoda with its colorful and mysterious ambiance, the Reunification Palace and Ben Thanh Market. We also visit the Giam Lam Pagoda built at the end of the 17th century and the oldest pagoda in Saigon, Binh Tay Market, and finally the Thien Hau Pagoda, one of the most active in Cholon. (B)

Day 3: Saigon
Today we take an interesting excursion to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. The economy of My Tho is based on fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangos, longans and citrus fruits. We have the opportunity to visit the centuries-old My Tho Church and experience the Central Market, filled with stalls selling everything from fresh food and bulk tobacco to boat propellers. Cao Dai Temple in the Long An Province, is a smaller temple than the one at Tay Ninh, but is well worth a visit. The Vinh Trang Pagoda is a beautiful and well-maintained sanctuary where charitable monks provide a home to needy children. Finally, we visit Dragon Island with its many longan orchards and lush, palm-fringed shores lined with traditional wooden fishing boats. (B)

Day 4: Saigon/Dalat (Drive 298 kms/185 miles)
This morning we journey northeast for Dalat.  En Route we have the opportunity to stop at La Nga Lake, a reservoir that is crossed by a bridge and is residence to many floating houses. Next on our journey is Dinh Quan, where we will find 3 inactive volcanic craters dating from the late Jurassic period. Finally we explore Dambri Falls, the highest falls in Vietnam, where the views are breathtaking. This area is inhabited chiefly by Montagnards.
Overnight: Mercure Dalat du Parc Hotel, Dalat (1 night) (B)

Day 5: Dalat/Nha Trang (Drive 213 kms/132 miles)
Today is our day to tour Dalat beginning with the Hang Nga Art Gallery, a café and art gallery run by the gallery's eccentric owner.  The French District is a delightful area for walking around, and is reminiscent of a French provincial town. Next we are off to visit Prenn Falls then head for the Valley Of Love was named the Valley of Peace by the Emperor; however in 1972 its name was changed by romantically-minded students. Dalat Cathedral was built between 1931 and 1942 for use by French residents and holidaymakers and features stained-glass windows that put us in medieval Europe. Domaine De Marie Convent is a pink tile-roofed structure and was once home to 300 nuns.  Thien Vuong Pagoda, also known as the Chinese pagoda is set on a hilltop amid pine trees. Later this afternoon we depart for Nha Trang, the home of tens of thousands of descendents of the Cham people.
Overnight: Yasaka Hotel, Nha Trang (2 nights) (B)

Day 6: Nha Trang
This day is full of interesting sites! The Po Nagar Cham Towers, built between the 7th and 12th centuries, were used for Hindu worship as early as the 2nd century AD. The Oceanographic Institute has an aquarium and specimen room open to the public. Next we are off to the Lang Son Pagoda, with an exquisite entrance and roofs decorated with mosaic dragons. At the top of the hill, behind the pagoda, is the huge white Buddha seated on a lotus blossom.  Nha Trang Cathedral, built in the French Gothic style, stands on a small hill overlooking the train station. The Bao Dai Villas, formerly the retreat of Bao Dai Vietnam's last emperor, were used by high-ranking officials of the South Vietnamese government.  (B)

Day 7: Nha Trang/Danang/Hoi An (Flight/Drive 30 kms/18 miles)
We are transferred to the airport for a short flight to Danang where we start our tour with the Cham Museum. Founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, it has the finest open-air collection of Cham sculptures in the world. China Beach, made famous in the American TV series of the same name, stretches north and south of the Marble Mountains. The Marble Mountains consist of 5 stone hillocks made of marble and each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous, Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves, in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. We continue to Hoi An, a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Overnight: Hoi An Beach Resort, Hoi An (2 nights) (B)

Day 8: Hoi An
A full day visiting the many interesting sites of Hoi An, including Quan Cong Temple, founded in 1653. The Phuoc Kien Pagoda is a typical example of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area, was built around 1690. The Japanese Covered Bridge, constructed in 1593 was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An, to link them with the Chinese quarters across the river. The Sa Huynh Museum contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. Finally we visit the Phung Hung House, a structure that combines Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese architectural styles and has been the home to one family for eight generations. (B)

Day 9: Hoi An/Hue (Drive 132 kms/82 miles)
A scenic drive to Hue begins this day.  Upon arrival, our afternoon tour includes the 19th Century Imperial City that was for a long time the cultural and intellectual center of Vietnam. Our tour includes the Citadel that was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. Ngo Mon Gate is the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and faces the Flag Tower. The Forbidden Purple City was reserved for the personal use of the emperor and the only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs. Evening is free to mix and mingle with the local Hue people.
Overnight: Saigon Morin Hotel, Hue (2 nights)  (B)

Day 10: Hue
A jaunt to Tu Duc Tomb, once the Royal Palace of Tu Duc, begins our day’s tour. Constructed between 1864 and 1867, its pavilions are framed in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The Khai Dinh Tomb, the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty, sits magnificently on the slopes of Chau E Mountain in Chau Chau Village and houses a long staircase flanked by dragons and decorated with stunning ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes. Located just outside of Hue on the bank of the Perfume River, Thien Mu Pagoda was a hotbed of anti-government protests during the early 1960s. The Emperor Minh Mang Tomb complex built in 1840, is known for its magnificent architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs, a fitting end to a spectacular day. (B)

Day 11: Hue/Hanoi (Flight)
Morning free at leisure till we are transferred for our short flight to Hanoi, a city of lakes.  Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a charming city of peaceful shaded boulevards, French style buildings and public parks. Afternoon tour of Hanoi includes the One Pillar Pagoda built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong.  Built of wood on a single stone pillar, this structure was designed to resemble a lotus blossom.  Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the heart of Hanoi and is home to a small Tortoise Pagoda topped with a red star perched on an islet in the middle of the lake.  The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s great leader of independence. Our journey today concludes with a visit to St Joseph Cathedral, a striking neo-Gothic cathedral noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate altar and colourful stained-glass windows.
Overnight: Sunway Hotel, Hanoi (1 night) (B)

Day 12: Hanoi/Ha Long Bay (Drive)
This morning we depart for Ha Long Bay to embark a 4 hour cruise around Ha Long Bay, which includes a boat ride to Hang Dau Go, a huge cave consisting of three chambers that are reached climbing 90 steps. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used by Tran Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes that were used against Mongol invaders.  Bo Nau is the 'Pelican' cave of interest.  Thien Cung is "Heaven Palace".  Once the cruise ends you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Ha Long Plaza Hotel, Ha Long Bay (1 night) (B)

Day 13: Ha Long Bay/Hanoi (Drive)
Return to Hanoi.  The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight: Sunway Hotel, Hanoi (1 night) (B)

Day 14: Depart Hanoi
This morning we depart Vietnam with pleasant memories of this historic and artistically rich country.  (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Daily
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotels as mentioned (or similar) International airfares & departure taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast D=Dinner) Insurance & visa fees Domestic airfares Nha Trang/Danang, Hue/Hanoi Drink/beverages with meals All sightseeing and transfers by private transportation Tips/gratuities Services of local English speaking guides   Entrance fees
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 2295 2195 US $ 695
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1200 USA - West Coast US $ 1000 Canada - East Coast US $ 1300 USA - East Coast US $ 1100
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.