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Vietnam Family Adventure (16 days)
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This special package is perfect for family that has kids go together and would love to discover Vietnam in a more-than-classic-way! Pack all the things you needed and immerse fully in colorful hill tribe market, stunning terrace field valley in Sapa; shake hands and lovely chat with locals in one of the best rural architecture-preserved villages; kayaking and admire floating village in amazing World Heritage Halong Bay; feel the cultural atmosphere of ancient Hue and Hoi An; and get on the boat to cruise along canals lined with palm trees and thick mangroves in Mekong Delta. We've designed this soft adventure package to make it an ideal trip for people of various fitness levels and experience. Let's make a move now!!! DESTINATIONS • Hanoi, Vietnam's vibrant 1000-year-old capital and one of Asia's loveliest cities HIGHTLIGHTS • Lot of fun experiences for every each member in family
ITINERARY [Day 1] Hanoi Arrival - Water Puppet Show Welcome to Vietnam! You'll be greeted at the airport and driven downtown to a centrally located Hanoi hotel. You will have time to relax after the journey before a performance of traditional Water Puppetry, a unique art form in Northern Vietnam, and a good light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. [Day 2] Hanoi City Tour – Night Train to Lao Cai Departing from the hotel at 8am, we'll start the day with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex: which includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Museum, and his modest stilt house which provide valuable insights into the life and times of one of the most successful leaders of the 20th century. You will then visit the historic Temple of Literature - Vietnam's first university, which was established in 1070. After lunch, you will visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of the culture and history of the 54 ethnic minorities living in Vietnam and see reconstructions of their traditional housing styles at the outdoor museum. Back in the city center we'll take a small walk through Hanoi's medieval Old Quarter for innumerable glimpses of daily life throughout the narrow streets and alleys while pausing to sample coffee, tropical fruits, and visit with a local family. Free time for dinner. 8:00 pm: our guide will take you to Hanoi railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai. [Day 3] Lao Cai – Sapa Weekly Market 05.30: Pick up from Lao Cai railway station, you'll then have time for breakfast and refreshment at a local restaurant before departing to a market frequented by ethnic minority people. You'll drive along attractive landscape and have a fascinating experience of ethnic markets. There will be plenty of colour and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertilizer. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll drive back to Lao Cai with a visit to a local village en route. Continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa. [Day 4] Sapa – Lao Cai Take your time a morning stroll to the town's busy market. 9.00 AM: you'll hike down a scenic valley along local trails and across rice terraces to visit Black HMong and Dzay ethnic minority communities. Lunch will be prepared at a local residence where your guide will prepare for that. Join with them if you'd love to and enjoy Sapa's seasonal vegetables and fruits 14.00 PM: Car pick you up back to Sa Pa. Free time for wandering around the town before Handspan's bus take you to Lao Cai around 18.00 for the night train back to Ha Noi. [Day 5] Hanoi – Ky Son Arriving at the Hanoi railway station early in the morning, you'll be greeted by one of our staff members and be driven to our restaurant for breakfast. 8.00am - We leave Hanoi and drive out of the city on the dyke along the Red river toward Ky Son village. This is an ancient Viet village of the most friendly local farmers who you will meet and interact with you through this two days trip. There are more than a hundred families living in this village, and most of them are farmers. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a local specialty 'welcome drink' before a short introduction to the house, kitchen and garden before joining the host for a home-cook lunch. After lunch, you will have a brief discussion with the host about the village, the local life; learn some basic Vietnamese words and the traditions of the Vietnamese. We will continue walking or cycling through the village, visit families along the way as you will be invited in for a cup of tea and a very friendly chat... The host will not forget to ask you to bring a long a bamboo basket which you will take to the village field, pick up some herbal medicine for the traditional style bath this afternoon. You will be meeting with many local farmers in the field, take some sweet corn, sweet potatoes and vegetable (depending on the season) back to the homestay... Enjoy an herbal bath before dinner. The night here is the most precious moment after full afternoon activities. Enjoy the quiet night in the court yard full of candle light while the host does a Buddhism chanting for peace and good health. [Day 6] Ky Son – Hanoi Wake up in the peaceful morning with fresh air, we will do a morning exercise or you will join the host for a 30 minute Taichi. We enjoy a breakfast before helping the host to prepare offerings for ancestor worship, a Vietnamese tradition to honor and show deep gratitude to their ancestor. We take an easy cycling on the quiet village roads to the nearby village of Duong Lam (about 5km) call in their famous pagodas and temples, experience daily life of local resident at their ancient houses. Mong Phu Village in Duong Lam Commune has nearly 400 family homes, 100 of which are very old with the oldest 30 houses estimated to date back 200-400 years. Mong Phu and other hamlets in Duong Lam are archeologically important because the villagers have clung to their traditional communal farming lifestyle. We cycle another thirty minutes by anther village way back to Ky Son for lunch. We say goodbye to the host family to drive back to Hanoi. Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi. [Day 7] Hanoi - Halong 8:00am - Depart Ha Noi for a 3½ hour drive to Ha Long City through the Red River Delta with a rest stop on the way. We arrive at Halong City at about noon and you can check into your room aboard the Chinese junk and relax with a welcome aboard cocktail. We start cruising around 12:15 while you watch the beauty of the World Heritage Halong Bay start to unfold. A delicious lunch with traditional Vietnamese seafood is served as we cruise through the stunning limestone karst mountains rising from the emerald waters of the bay. We pass by different quaintly named islets and soak up the tranquility of this very special place. After a short briefing on paddling technique and safety from your guide, we'll enjoy a bit of gentle kayaking which is the perfect way to explore the calm waters and to see the complexities of the karsts up close. Our kayaking experience is perfect for both beginners and experienced paddlers, combining the perfect amount of physical activity and relaxation. Exploring caves, hidden lagoons and fishing villages, you'll discover a side of mystical Ha Long Bay that you just can't see from a tourist boat. We'll dive in for a swim at the quiet area and then head back to the junk for a relaxing dinner and evening conversation. [Day 8] Halong - Hanoi – Hue Wake up and enjoy breakfast while witnessing the silence of beautiful misty bay. You'll be free to relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery on sundeck, take fantastic photos of the bay. Lunch will be served before getting back to the harbor. The junk will dock around noon to begin the car journey back to Hanoi around 4.00pm. Free time for dinner, then you'll be transferred to Noi Bai airport in plenty of time to board an evening flight to Danang, then private car to Hue. Check-in at your hotel in Hue's historic centre. [Day 9] Hue City Tour In the morning, board a boat for a trip on the Perfume River to visit the towering Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous Vietnamese landmarks. Differing legends explain how the pagoda came to be - one tells of an old woman who instructed Lord Hoang Nguyen in 1601 to walk contemplatively along the river with a lit incense stick and to build a city at the spot where the incense stopped burning. We then take a short drive into a lush valley of the river where seven tombs were built for seven Nguyen emperors. Each is an ex In the afternoon, we return to the center of Hué city. The massive Kinh Thanh Citadel is the most well known and iconic site in Hué. Begun in 1805 by Emperor Gia Long, it is actually a sprawling complex comprised of the Imperial City, several museums, lakes, and lovely gardens, all laid out in a series of concentric circles. We also visit the Forbidden Purple City, originally built in the early 1800s for the personal use of the emperor and staffed by eunuchs who posed no threat to the royal concubines. Nearly destroyed in the Tet Offensive, the ruins today house the Royal Library and the grounds flourish with mimosa plants and vegetable gardens. Overnight in Hue [Day 10] Hue – Hoi An After breakfast, let's get in the car and watch the scenes of Vietnam go past as we drive to Hoi An. On the way you'll visit the Cham Museum in Da Nang which houses the largest displays of Cham art anywhere in the world. This ancient kingdom once stretched far beyond central Vietnam but has since receded into history. We also drive to the nearby Marble Mountains: five limestone peaks with marble outcrops known for their beauty and their network of caves. At the foot of Marble Mountain, an important religious site since the time of the Cham, you can see artisans hard at work crafting many fine marble ob The preserved center of Hoi An is a World Heritage site, and invariably seduces visitors with its gorgeous architecture and colorful streets. Enjoy a guided visit through the ancient town and let your guide explain its considerable significance in the history of Vietnam. A stay in Hoi An is often mentioned by many travelers as one of their favorite parts of any Asian journey, and we're proud to share this jewel in Vietnam's crown with you. Overnight accommodation in Hoi An. [Day 11] Hoi An Cooking Class This 4 hour session is a richly comprehensive gourmet experience. You start with a one hour market tour to learn about Vietnamese ingredients and how to choose them wisely. Next is a ½ hour talk on the art of Vietnamese gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & spices, and how to prepare them. It's then time to roll up the sleeves and try your hand at learning cooking techniques with a Vietnamese vegetable grater and knife. You will get the joyous hands-on experience of preparing fresh summer rolls, grilled chicken with lime leaf, banana flower salad, and soup with cabbage-wrapped shrimp. Afternoon is free to spend at your leisure enjoying the incomparable Hoi An. Dive into this mecca of clothes shopping, enjoy a beer by the river, or ask your guide for any number of other enchanting possibilities. Overnight in Hoi An. [Day 12] Cycling Hoi An – Tra Que Vegetables Village In the morning, you'll be met at your hotel and start biking to Tra Que village, where you'll be introduced to one of the local families who will take you to their fields. Your first job will be helping to water the vegetables, a fine opportunity to feel what it's like to use a bamboo shoulder-pole to carry water. It takes quite a bit of skill as well as strength. A good photo opportunity, if nothing else! Next, the farmers will take you to get collect seaweed at the Tra Que lagoon, after which you'll help to prepare and eat a Vietnamese lunch with the family. In the afternoon, you'll be shown how to cultivate and scatter seeds and harvest the produce. It'll be an exhausting day, but there's no better way of gaining an insight into the life of Vietnamese peasant families. Overnight in Hoi An. Tra Que is a small village about three kilometres northeast of the old town on the bank of Tra Que lagoon. The villagers rely upon market gardening for their livelihood, and supply much of Hoi An's vegetable produce requirements. [Day 13] Hoi An – Danang – Sai Gon Pick up from your hotel to drive to Danang airport for your flight to Sai Gon. You'll be greeted at Tan Son Nhat airport and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your flight's arrival time, there should be time to relax before a Southen Vietnamese dinner at a renowned Saigon restaurant. Overnight in Sai Gon. [Day 14] Saigon - Cu Chi - Saigon You depart from your hotel at 8am to visit Cu Chi – a byzantine, 124 mile-long maze of Vietcong tunnels built with only hand tools over a 25-year period. The vast network connects command posts, hospitals, shelters, and weapons factories and most of which were never discovered by French or American troops. You'll be able to get an idea of what it would have been like to live, sleep, and eat in the underground passages and bunkers during the fierce battles before we return to the city for lunch at a tasty restaurant in the city centre. In the afternoon, you'll discover the Reunification Palace - a blend of traditional and modern architecture which served as the presidential palace of South Vietnam until reunification in 1975. The building now functions as a museum and offers tours of the former state rooms, presidential offices, library, living quarters of the president's family and the underground war rooms. You’ll then drive to China town. Almost established in 1778 when the Hoa people(Chinese minority of Vietnam) started their living here. Then they expended the resident, lived and sold goods. Over many generations, they still preserve a traditional culture. [Day 15] Mekong Delta Full Day 8:00am – We leave Saigon for My Tho. Upon arrival, board a motorboat and head out on the mighty Mekong to Xuan Dong Islet. In contrast to many of the overly visited Mekong islands, we choose Xuan Dong for its quieter, less crowded, and more authentic slice of Mekong life. Hop on a bike and savor some leisurely time to explore and pedal through this green and unspoiled island. Make frequent stops for photos and glimpses of the daily lives of local villagers. We'll then take a small boat as you are rowed quietly along the thick mangroves of Vam Xep, a small canal with little village houses dotted along its sides. Get off the boat to enjoy some honeyed tea at the 'Coconut Artisan' village and check out the workshops where a range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted. We next take a small sampan along Vam Chua canal, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat from the frenetic buzz of Saigon which seems far, far away. We then stop for a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. At last we'll reboard the boat to head back to My Tho. Before we return to Saigon, we pause for a visit at the lovely 160-year old Vinh Trang pagoda where a towering white stone Buddha greets us with a smile. The rich architecture of this Buddhist pagoda is a harmonious blend of Asian and European styles, and the pagoda contains a number of finely carved wooden statues of bodhisattvas – Buddhist saints that refrain from entering nirvana in order to save others and instruct them about the nature of the compassionate life. After strolling through the pagoda grounds and learning a bit about its history and about Buddhist beliefs, we start the drive back to Saigon and return you to your hotel around 5pm. [Day 16] Saigon Departure After breakfast, you'll be free for one last look around Vietnam's biggest city until our driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight. Look forward to getting home and sharing memories and photos with your friends. Safe travels! Note: Hue’s airport will be closed for upgrade until October 2013. Until then you have two main options to reach Hue from Hanoi: 1) Take a flight to Danang and then an overland transfer to Hue (from your hotel in Hanoi to your hotel in Hue, it is an approximately 6-hour journey by day) or 2) Take the night train to Hue (from your hotel in Hanoi to your hotel in Hue, it is an approximately 15-hour journey by night). The night train option allows you to save some day time in transportation. It is also a nice insight into local travel atmosphere. You spend the night in a 4-berth cabin with air-conditioner. It is an economic choice and also a real travel experience. For night train option, please contact our sales staff at Cette adresse email est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. PRICE PER PERSON (Valid from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013)
Included • Visa on arrival arrangement fee to Vietnam Not included • International flight tickets and airport tax. ACCOMMODATION Mid-range Superior Deluxe
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