Coming home (again) in Vietnam
Dec. 22, 2013 - Jan. 04, 2014
revised: 28 June 2013
EARLY BIRD BOOKING: New cost for group of 12 paying persons based on twin share: 1,998 USD/ person for early confirmation & registration on or before September 15th, 2013.
Itinerary & Important booking information
Day 1: Dec 22: arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. After check in, free time to relax & recover after long flights. Overnight at Hanoi Celia Hotel, Deluxe rooms.
Day 2: Dec 23 (B,L,D): Explore Old Quarter & sites of interest in Hanoi the capital of Vietnam. Group Lunch. This afternoon, visit Women's Museum then tea and sharing with local friends – or visit a social humanitarian project. Dinner at Art Vietnam, home of Suzanne Lecht- O/n at the same Hanoi Celia Hotel
Day 3: Dec 24 (B,L,D): Hanoi – Halong: After breakfast, 8:00am depart Hanoi to Halong Bay (Unesco World Heritage site)
12.00 – 12.30: Embark at Hon Gai International harbour; Check- in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing; Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay, admiring by the fascinating formations of the Bay. Enjoy swimming in the crystal water. Explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Short cruise to Hon Co island where you can enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach, swimming or kayaking
Dinner & overnight on Boat at Ha Long Bay on Dragon Pearl Boat with 11 Deluxe cabins.
Day 4: Dec 25 (B,L,D): Halong – Yen Tu
Early morning view of Bay’s landscape; breakfast in the fresh air. Then disembark and depart to Yen Tu mountain home of King Tran-Nhan-Tong Bamboo Forest Zen Buddhist tradition & Truc Lam Tay Thien monastery for a mountain climb Day of Mindfulness.
16:00 – Board Bus back to Hanoi; .arrive around 19:00 for check in & group dinner. Overnight at Hanoi Celia Hotel
Day 5: Dec 26 (B,L,D): Hanoi – Danang – Hoian: After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Danang on VN1310@9:30 – 10:40. On arrival, pick up and transfer to Danang and visit Marble Mountain and Non Nuoc Beach. Then visit one Orphanage in Danang until transfer back to your hotel in Danang for time to relax on the beach. Overnight at Sea Lion Hotel , Superior Sea View rooms. More on Danang
Day 6: Dec. 27 (B,L,D): Full day in Danang: visit pagodas or social projects in this area; or visit My-Son or My-Lai village in Quang Ngai. Then have time to visit Cham Museum and/or relax on the beach. Overnight at Sea Lion Hotel
My Son: Early morning, drive to explore the 4th century Cham religious sanctuary of My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage site designated in 1999. Once the political and religious capital of the Champa kingdom My Son is an exceptional example of Hindu architecture of the 15th century.
Or My Lai Village: Son My Memorial is a memorial to the victims of the My Lai Massacre where 347 civilians were killed on March 16, 1968. The memorial was built in 1978 in the village of Tịnh Khê.
Day 7: Dec 28 (B,L,D): DEPART DANANG – HUE: Free on your own until 10:00am depart Hoian for Hue the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty via Hai van pass and stop at Lang Co Beach. Lunch at some place by Nature. Upon arrival, check in hotel, visit Thien Mu pagoda and - time allowing - other historical and cultural sites. Group Dinner. Overnight at Park View Hotel, Superior Rooms.
Day 8: Dec 29 (B,L,D): Day of Mindfulness at Tu Hieu – root temple of Zen Master Thich-Nhat-Hanh (Tu Hieu monastery images). Arrange to arrive very early for morning meditation. Group Dinner. O/n at the same Park View Hotel.
Day 9: Dec 30 (B,L,D): Hue – Saigon: Early morning, transfer to airport for your flight Hue to Saigon on VN1371@8:00 – 9:20. On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Then drive to Cu Chi. Enjoy scenic drive through the countryside as people work on their rice paddies and thatched hut villages scattered along the way. Visit a local village making rice paper, a well known product used to make the delicious spring rolls. Arriving at the tunnels 0f Cu Chi you will have an opportunity to go underground to see the intricate system of tunnels (images)and learn tactics of revolutionary forces. Have lunch in Cuchi. Back to Saigon & continue visiting Chinatown with Thien Hau Chinese temple, Chinese medicine street and Binh Tay market. Then have dinner at HUM Restaurant. Overnight at The Ruby River Hotel, Deluxe rooms.
Day 10 : Dec. 31 (B,L,D): Saigon: after Breakfast, visit Boddhisatva Thich Quang Duc Memorial and Xa Loi pagoda. Then visit an Orphanage nearby in Saigon. This afternoon to explore Saigon begins with visits to the highlights of downtown including the Reunification Palace, formerly the South Vietnam’s Independence Palace until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Preserved in its original state, the original war tanks are on display. Visit the War Remnants Museum featuring a detailed photographic exhibition and vast collection of planes, tanks and weapons. See the Emperor of Jade Pagoda and Notre Dame Cathedral and the 1880s General Post Office & Ben Thanh Market. Group Dinner. O/n at the same hotel.
Day 11 : Jan 01 (B,L,D): Saigon – Vung Tau: Early breakfast in Saigon – Full day of Mindfulness at Truc Lam Tri Duc (and/or Thuong-Chieu) Monastery in the Zen Bamboo Forest tradition. Lunch & mindfulness activities at Monastery
PM - Continue to Vung Tau, check in your hotel and relax on the beach. Group dinner at vegetarian restaurant. Overnight at Sammy Hotel, Sea View Rooms.
Day 12: Jan 02 (B,L,D): Vung Tau – Saigon: This morning, breakfast then visit some importance pagodas in Vung Tau; time for lunch and beach.
3:00 pm: take speed boat to Saigon
5:30 PM - Check-in hotel; Dinner at TIB Chay. Overnight at The Ruby River Hotel Deluxe rooms.
Day 13: Jan 03 (B,L,D): Mekong Delta Tours with full day trip Ben Tre:
8:00am departure from hotel. If time is limited and you really want to experience the fascinating Mekong in a breath. Then this trip is for you. Located more than 1,5 hours south of Saigon is the beginning of your discovery of the Deep South. Visit Vinh Trang Buddhist temple and continue to Ben Tre, arrival in Hung Vương Pier (Ben Tre town), Take a boat on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river, Sight-seeings: lively activities along river as fishing, water transfering…. Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleep-mats and enjoying some fruits and tea. Lunch at local house. Then take a motor cart (xe loi) or cycle riding under tree shades, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Afternoon take rowing-boat along water palm creek and cruise back to Hung Vương Pier. Pick up and transfer back to Saigon & drop off at your hotel around 16:30 – 17:00. This evening, have farewell dinner. O/n at the same hotel.
Day 14: Jan 04 (B): Saigon – Back home: After breakfast, free on your own until transfer to airport for your flight back home. End services.
EARLY BIRD BOOKING:
New cost for group of 12 paying persons based on twin share: 1,998 USD/ person for early confirm & register on or before 15th September 2013.
LATE BOOKING:
If you confirm after 15th September 2013, the cost would be: 2,110 USD/ person (based on twin shared).
Single supplement surcharge: 345 USD
Including:
_ All transfers and transportation by a private AC Coaster 30 seats with driver (Huyndai County)
_ Boat trips as program
_ English speaking local guide
_ Entrance fees
_ Air tickets: Hanoi – Danang/ Hue – Saigon on Economy class
_ Meals at local restaurant as in program: B: breakfast at hotel, L: lunch & D: dinner (around 10 to 12 USD/ meal) & tea + mineral water are included at meals also
_ Hotel accommodation with breakfast as program (3 star hotels as per program)
_ 2 days/ 1night charter Dragon Pearl Boat in Halong & included 2 lunches, 1 dinner & 1 breakfast
_ Join-in speed boat Vung Tau - Saigon
Excluding:
_ Air fare from your home city to Vietnam and back,
_ Visa,
_ Other meals and other drinks
_ Personal expenses
_ Tips for guide & driver
Documentation required: upon confirmation we will need the following:
- Full names as on your passport (make sure without abbreviation)/passport number/date of birth/nationality/gender
- Arrival/departure time and flight
- Confirm you will be arranging your own Vietnam visa or would like us to assist
- Emergency contact & travel insurance policy and phone
- Please fill out the information on our secured link for your deposit 50%. The remaining due 50% will be paid upon arrival in Vietnam.
Cancellation policy:
Before 45 days, no charge tours. Only charge 10 – 20% of air tickets which issued (around 80 – 120 USD/ person)
45 to 30 days prior arrival date: 5% of the total price
29 to 15 days prior arrival date: 10% of the total price
7 days to the day of arrival: 50%
3 days to the day of arrival: 100%
We will credit the remaining amount back to your card.
Please confirm ASAP so we can process the booking in advance because December is an extremely busy time of the year.
Past tour: 09 - 21 March 2013: Discovering the roots of Buddhism in Vietnam
