L O A D I N G

Taste of Vietnam
Viet Nam AED 2,275.00 / per person

Details

 HIGHLIGHTS

●Exploring Halong Bay a world natural heritage site

●Seeing cultural andhistorical highlights

●Boat Trip on traditional 'Dragon Boat' on the Perfume River

●Visiting the vibrant and bustling city Saigon

Programs

Day 1
HANOI –HALONG

Arrival in Hanoi (before midday). Meet and greet your tour guide and transfer directly to Halong Bay (about 3,5h)

Remaining day free for leisure.



Day 2
HANOI –HALONG

Halong Bay is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was recognized as a world natural heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. Halong is a picturesque bay with almost 2,000 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Cruise for four hours in the tranquillity of Halong Bay and visit two limestone caves with colourful stalagmites and stalactites, an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood, served on board. Afterwards return to Hanoi by vehicle

Day 3
HANOI –HUE

With a millennium-long history, Hanoi is a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks dotted with French-style buildings and historical monuments. During the half-day city tour, you’ll see cultural and historical highlights, comprising Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, Presidential Palace (in order to take photos of the outside), One-pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Ngoc Son Temple. The tour gives you time for shopping and socializing with the local people.Airport Transfer with Guide. Flight from Hanoi to Hue. Airport Transfer with Guide.

Day 4
HUE

Enjoy sightseeing in Hue including a visit of the Imperial Palace with cyclo-ride, the tomb of the emperor Tu Duc as well as a visit to Dong Ba Market. The Imperial Palace was completed in 1833 and from here the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam until 1945. Entering the citadel
via a stone bridge you can see the Thai Hoa Palace, an important venue for official receptions and other important court ceremonies. The ostentatious columns supporting the roof are lacquered and inlaid with gold. There is a pair of smaller halls behind the Thai Hoa Palace used by mandarins to prepare for court ceremonies. A one hour pedicab ride gives you a chance to assess the size of the citadel and to watch the daily life of people living in its boundaries. The tomb of Tu Duc is one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty. In a sprawling lush pine forest 8km (5 miles) from Hue, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who enjoyed the longest reign of any monarch of the Nguyen dynasty. The construction of the tomb started in December 1864 and was completed in 1867. Stroll around Dong Ba Market at the end of your sightseeing.

Overnight in HUE

Day 5
HUE –HOI AN

Board a traditional 'Dragon Boat' for a 40 minutes ride on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, which overlooks the river. The ThienMu Pagoda has two sections. The front of the Pagoda houses the seven-storey octagonal Phuoc Duyen tower, which has become the symbol of Hue. The other section of the pagoda is its rear portion, where the monks of the temple live and practice Buddhism. ThePagoda was the centre of Buddhism in central Vietnam. In 1963, in an act of defiance against the Diem regime, Thich Quang Duc torched himself in downtown Saigon. Transfer to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass with a visit of the Cham Museum in Danang en route. The Cham Museum, housed in a classical French colonial building in Danang, has the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world.


(B)Overnight in HOI AN

Day 6
HOI AN –SAIGON

Start your walking tour at the Culture and History Museum where you will learn about the history of this charming and peaceful town before you walk around the small market regarded as more authentic than markets in Vietnam’s big cities. Walk along the main street to the Chinese Assembly Hall of Fujien Chinese community. The hall, built in 1697has been used as the worshipping place to dedicate to Thien Hau (the Goddess of the Sea or Holy Mother) and also the meeting place for the Fujien Chinese community. Continue to the riverbank along narrow streets –on both sides are old houses transformed into beautifully decorated shops with colourful lanterns in different shapes. Next we’ll stop to see the Japanese covered bridge built in the early 17th century by Japanese traders who settled in the town. The special pagoda-shaped bridge is now the official symbol of Hoi An. We finish with a visit to a historic old house of this UNESCO -recognized town.Airport Transfer with Guide. Flight from Danang to Saigon. Airport Transfer with Guide.


(B)Overnight in SAIGON

Day 7
SAIGON

Enjoy a halfday tour through colonial Saigon. The tour will take you through the busiest city of Vietnam for an overview of a rapidly developing city. You will learn its history and culture with stops at the History Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral (closed for renovation until 2019 TBA, but still possible to admire its beauty from outside), the Central Post Office and the Old Town Hall. Take the rest of the time for shopping activities around Dong Khoi Street and Ben Thanh Market. Transfer to the airport for your departure.

Other Details

All described sightseeing as in program above

Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle

Accommodation in hotels with daily breakfast

English-speaking local guides

Admission fees to indicated sights

Meals mentioned in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)

Domestic gov’t tax and service charge

Domestic flights HAN-HUI and DAD-SGN

International air tickets
Flights & visa fees
Travel Insurance
Meals not mentioned in itinerary any personal expenses
Early check-in and late check-out
Peak season surcharges
Compulsory meals on 24 and 31 Dec
Accommodation in hotels is subject to availability. If the listed hotel is fully booked, alternate accommodation will be booked within the same hotel category without surcharge/reduction. If no hotel in same category available, we preserve the right to apply a surcharge for any higher categoryor a reduction for any lower category. All hotel ratings are according to the local accreditation authority. Compulsory surcharges and meal options apply during peak holiday period such as Christmas, May 1st, New Years and Chinese New Year. These will be advised at the time of booking or at any time should the hotel apply on an ad hoc basis