VIETNAM

Covering and area of 329,600 square kilometres, Vietnam is some 7.5 % maller than reunited Germany. But, like only a few other countries of similar size, it extends across two climatic zones - with a moderate climate in the North, comparable to that of Southern Europe, and a tropical climate in the South. Hanoi is, like Hongkong, located at a geographical latitude slightly to the South of Cairo or the Canary Islands, while Saigon is at a geographical latitude only slightly to the North of the Nigerian capital Lagos.

Altogether the country stretches for more than 1,650 kilometres from North to South - which is roughly the distance from Hamburg to Athens. The coastline of Vietnam is about 3,000 kilometres long.To the West the country is bordered by Laos and Cambodia, to the North by China and to the East and South by the South China Sea. Geographically there are five different regions: 1. the northern mountain terrain with heights reaching above 3,000 metres; 2. the delta of the Red River (at which Hanoi is situated); 3. the Annamite Mountain Range, which connects North Vietnam and South Vietnam; 4. the narrow coastal strip between the Annamite Mountain Range and the South China Sea; 5. the Mekong delta in the South of the country

HO CHI MINH CITY

formerly known as Saigon is one of the most important commercial and tourist centres in Vietnam. It is 1,730km by land from Ha Noi capital and 50 km from the East Sea. Saigon was once praised as the "Pearl of the Far East". At present, Ho Chi Minh City is not only a commercial centre, but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist one. These are some tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City.

Daily Tour 1 Day

At morning :
We will take you around Ho Chi Minh City from downtown Saigon to Chinatown to get a general view of it as well as its history and culture with stops at Reunification Palace (Ex-Presidential Palace) that was built in 1963 and is well-known as an outstanding example of 1960’s architecture, the War Remmants, passing by Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 1877), the General Post Office. It is optional to see Water Puppet show.
In the afternoon :
You will visit Giac Lam pagoda that was built in 1744 and is regarded as the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. You will also see Thien Hau pagoda built in early 19th century, Chinatown, Binh Tay market, Ben Thanh market. With a stop for a while at a lacquer shop, you can buy some gifts for your friends, beloved relatives.

MEKONG DELTA

Mekong Delta was formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River and the process still continues today. The land of the Mekong Delta is renowned for its richness and most of it is under cultivation. Its product includes rice, coconut, sugarcane, fruits and fish. A major activity in the Mekong Delta is boating. It is interesting to tour through the canals by boat to get a close look at the beautiful natural setting of the Mekong Delta.

MY THO & BEN TRE TOUR 1 DAY

My Tho is the closest Mekong Delta City to Saigon where you will see part of the picturesque natural setting of Vietnamese country. This trip includes seeing a floating fish market, crossing Mekong River by motorized boat, a row boat ride along small creeks to the Mekong river estuary, cruising along the Phoenix Island, quiet villages of Ben Tre Province, seeing the manufacturing of handicrafts made from coconut trees, honey bee keeping farm, tropical orchards, tasting honey, tropical fruit, coconut candy, enjoying Vietnamese tradition music, visiting MEKONG REST STOP on the way back to Saigon.

HANOI CITY TOUR

AM: Visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, One-Pilar pagoda. Tran Quoc pagoda. Lunch break
PM: After lunch, continue to visit temple Literature and the Ethnologic, Hoan Kiem lake

HOA LU TAM COC TOUR 1 DAY

Coach trip to Ninh Binh, 100km down the South of HaNoi to see Hoa Lu citadel, the frist capital of Vietnam in the 10th century with visiting 2 temples of the Dinh Kinh anh the Le Kinh. Lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant.
In the afternoon have a 2 and hafl an hour rowing boat trip along the shallow paddies rice to enjoy the landscape of Tam Coc, the "Landing Halong Bay" passing underneath of 3 caves ( Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba ). At 3PM return to HaNoi.

PERFUME PAGODA TOUR 1 DAY

Depart for perfume pagoda.The Buddhism holland. On arrival talking rowing boat along Yen stream, stop over at Trinh temple. From the landing, walk up to perfume pagoda, which is located inside Huong Tich grotto. Take back for lunch. Visiting Thien Tru pagoda before boat ride back to the whart. Return to HaNoi.

BEST OF VIETNAM

SAIGON-CU CHI-MEKONG DELTA-DANANG-HOIAN-HUE-HANOI-HALONG (11days)

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN SAIGON (D)
Arrive in Saigon. Our staff will meet you at the airport or the border (if you come from Cambodia by road), or the seaport (if you arrive by cruise liner) and transfer you to your hotel. Free for leisure or city tour, as time permits. O/N in Saigon.

Day 2: SAIGON - CU CHI - SAIGON (B,L,D)
Morning visit to Cu Chi underground tunnels, constructed and used by the Viet Minh and Viet Cong during the French and American wars. The tunnels attest to the ingenuity of the Vietnamese insurgents during the war. Afternoon drive back to Saigon for city tour: Independence Palace, War crime museum, Ben Thanh (central) market.... O/N in Saigon.

Day 3: SAIGON - MEKONG DELTA (B,L,D)
Depart for Mekong delta. Stop at My Tho for boat cruise on the Tien river, a branch of Mekong river. Included in this three- hour boat trip are rides in row boats through small canals and visits to exotic islands with orchards and bonsai and fruit gardens. It is also interesting to stopover at the home of local farm families to enjoy hot tea, honey and a few kinds of tropical fruit. Afterwards continue to Can Tho, the southwest capital for Overnight O/N in Can Tho.

Day 4: MEKONG DELTA - SAIGON (B,L,D)
Morning take a boat cruise on Hau river, another branch of Mekong river to see the activities of real floating markets. Afternoon drive back to Saigon. O/N in Saigon.

Day 5: SAIGON-DANANG-HOI AN (B,L,D)
Fly to Danang. Visit Hoi An, an ancient and quaint town located along the central coastline of Vietnam. Hoi An was trading and culture port between Vietnam and other countries in Asia and Europe. Most of centuries old architecture of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Europeans remain. Except during the months from November through January, when it rains daily, sightseeing in Hoi An is a delight. O/N in Hoi An.

Day 6: HOI AN - DANANG - HUE (B,L,D)
Drive to Danang. Visit Cham sculpture museum and Marble mountain adjacent to the Non Nuoc marble village which produces sculptures and other hand made items. Then continue to Hue emperor city. Dinner with royal music show is available and optional. O/N in Hue.

Day 7: HUE (B,L,D)
Full day Hue city tour: Imperial citadel, mausoleums of former Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Boat cruise on Perfume river and visit Thien Mu pagoda. O/N in Hue.

Day 8: HUE - HANOI - HALONG BAY (B,L,D)
Fly to Hanoi. Pick up from airport and transfer directly to Ha Long bay. O/N in Ha Long.

Day 9: HALONG - HANOI (B,L,D)
Morning boat cruise in Ha Long bay. Stopover to see Thien Cung and Dau Go grottos and caves. Lunch on the boat. Afternoon drive back to Hanoi. O/N in Hanoi.

Day 10: HANOI (B,L,D)
Hanoi full day city tour: History museum, Hoan Kiem lake with Ngoc Son temple, The Literature temple, Art museum, One-pillar pagoda, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, Tran Quoc pagoda... O/N in Hanoi.

Day 11: DEPARTURE (B)
Free for leisure or shopping, then transfer to the airport for departure.

VIETNAM