Vietnam Encompassed
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Trip Highlights
- Volunteering with victims of Agent Orange
- Bustling Saigon
- Mekong Delta
- Peaceful Dalat
- Nha Trang’s beach
- Sleepy Hoi An
- Colonial Hue
- Stunning Halong Bay
- French influenced Hanoi
- Sapa's hilltribes
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
Physiotherapy, Repairs & Renovations, Gardening and Teaching English.
Trip Description
Your enriching adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh, where you visit this fascinating city before transferring to the Mekong Delta, for an overnight cruise. The Hill station Dalat is our next stop, before enjoying Nha Trang, Hoi An, where you cycle out to the Marble Mountains and Hue, the cultural capital of Vietnam.
Your Community Development volunteer project then begins in Hanoi. During these four days, you will help at the Vietnam Friendship Village: teaching English or helping in the organic garden. We then drive to Ha Long Bay for an overnight boat trip. The next destination is mountainous Sapa, where you will encounter local ethnic minority people, like Red Zao, Hmong and Tay. We say our farewells back in Hanoi.
Day 1: Arrival Ho Chi Minh City
Upon arrival at your hotel our guide will meet with you for a brief orientation.
(Welcome dinner included)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour
This city tour unravels Saigon’s turbulent past and also provides a glimpse into the fascinating variety the city has to offer.
AM:
· The Reunification Palace: Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
· War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war.
· Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture.
PM:
· Giac Lam Pagoda: This is Saigon’s oldest pagoda, dating back to 1744 and one of the finest in Vietnam.
· Cholon, including the Thien Hau Pagoda: Cholon actually means Big Market – a claim that is well justified as Vietnam’s largest market, the Binh Tay is situated here.
· Ben Thanh Market: This bustling market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 3: Cao Dai and Cu Chi Tunnel
This morning will start with a 1 hour and 45 minute drive to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. This amazing network of tunnels which stretched for over 250 kilometers, and was three levels deep, gives the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life in the American war was like. From here we have another hour drive to Tay Ninh, the headquarters for the Cao Dai Sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill. The religion is an odd mix of a number of today’s leading religions.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 4: Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three harvests per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500km journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors.
We drive to Vinh Long, boat through the lush green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch complete with tropical fruits. We also visit a snake farm that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh - Dalat
This morning we will take an early flight to Dalat. After all check-in formalities are done, we have a tour of Da Lat and the surrounding area. We begin with a visit to the summer palace of Vietnam\'s last Emperor, Bao Dai. From here we visit the rather bizarre and very aptly named Crazy House, a brightly painted concrete house which winds itself around trees, mimicking their shapes. Lastly we visit a Lat minority people’s village where the people live in wooden, thatched huts.
(Breakfast included)
Day 6: Dalat – Nha Trang
We drive to the Prenn Pass for a stop at the “Chicken village,” so-called because of its statue of a chicken, inhabited by the Koho minority people. From here we head east and down the Ngoan Muc Pass to the coastal lowlands. Our destination for today is Nha Trang. This part of the country was once inhabited by an ancient civilization known as the Cham and our next stop will be the Po Klong Garai Cham Tower, built in the 13th century. We stop for a late lunch at Cam Ranh Bay and arrive in Nha Trang by mid to late afternoon.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 7: Nha Trang
A relaxing day on the water is the plan for today as we cruise around the islands off the coast. Our first stop will be at a local fishing village. There will also be plenty of time for swimming and snorkeling on some of the coral reefs that surround these islands as well as generally lazing about on the deck of the boat, working on that tan! A sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch will be served on board to satisfy any hunger pains.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 8: Nha Trang – Hoi An
This morning we take about one-hour flight to Dannang. From Danang Airport, we will make the 40 minute drive to Hoi An and transfer directly to our hotel. After lunch, we will take a half day walking tour of ancient Hoi An town includes all the major attractions. We take you on a walk through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter viwiting the various Chinese Assembly Halls, Ancestral Homes, the Japanese Covered Bridge and well-preserved pagodas that make Hoi An such a fascinating town.
(Breakfast included)
Day 9: Hoi An (a cycling tour)
Today there is plenty of time to discover what Hoi An has to offer. We spend the morning exploring Hoian’s temples and ancestral homes that litter the old part of this fishing town. After lunch we cycle out to the Marble Mountains. Here we can climb up and into the old pagodas built into the limestone cliffs. We return to Hoi An via a charming beach roads, where we have time to stop along the way and admire the views.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 10: Hoi An – Hue
As we bid Hoi An farewell this morning we continue our north bound journey. This time we will be in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. Our destination is Hue, widely regarded as the cultural capital of Vietnam and the home of the Emperor’s court and Citadel. We set out on a tour of th Citadel, another World Heritage- listed site containing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, the Emperor’s private residence.
(Breakfast included)
Day 11: Hue - City tour day
Cruising the Perfume River is the order of the day. This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The ornate Minh Mangs tomb will be the first stop. From here we will cruise back to the eccentric Tu Ducs tomb, and discover the life of opulence that was led by this Emperor. With the mid day approaching, it will be time to cover the short distance back to the Perfume River and board our Dragon Boat. We will enjoy lunch while cruising back down towards Hue, stopping on the way to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda which is considered the unofficial symbol of Hue. In the evening we will board our express train to Hanoi, 13 hours away.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 12: Hanoi
Upon arrival at Hanoi Railways station around 6:00 AM, our waiting van will transfer you to your hotel. En-route we will stop at a coffee shop for an early bird breakfast near by Hoan Kiem Lake, where you can watch locals doing their morning exercises while enjoying your breakfast. The rest of the morning is free for relaxing.
In the afternoon, around 1 PM, we have a half day city tour of the capital. We start with the Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the grounds. Next we visit the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam\'s oldest university, dating back to the 11th century and dedicated to one of the world\'s great scholars, Confucius. Inside the grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who would later go on to become mandarins in the Emperor\'s court. At last, we have a walking tour of the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter; each street specializing in one particular product.
(Breakfast included)
Day 13-16: Community Development work at Vietnam Friendship Village
During these four days, we will help Vietnam Friendship Village’s inhabitants, who suffer Agent Orange, by teaching them English, teaching children sing in the afternoon. In the morning we will be growing organic, and taking care of hundreds of fruit trees. Vietnam Friendship Village is a project founded and funded by 5 governments, namely Vietnam, USA, UK, France and Germany. The Village is home for 160 children and elderly or disabled adults, who are victims of Agent Orange, defoliant sprayed extensively by US forces in Vietnam during the war.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 17: Hanoi – Halong
We depart from the capital for Ha Long Bay approximately three hours away. En route we have a short stop at the Sao Do centre run for and by handicapped children. Upon arrival at Ha Long Bay (approx. midday) we will be met by the Customer Services Manager and transferred to our luxury junk, the ‘Jewel of the Bay’. Once we have settled in we can begin our cruise around majestic Ha Long Bay accompanied by a delicious lunch. After lunch we have the chance to explore some of the limestone caves dotted around the bay. Then our captain will find a secluded spot where we can swim in the clear water of the bay, soak up the sun on the top deck or try our hand at some kayaking. After we have finished exploring for the day we retire to the junk. We can relax on the top deck using the sun-tanning area or enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. In the evening our cook will prepare a splendid meal comprised of fresh seafood dishes as well as traditional Vietnamese fare as we weigh anchor in the heart of the bay. For those that are interested there is the opportunity to do a spot of night fishing from the boat.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 18: Halong – Hanoi- Sapa
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas to either swim or kayak in. The kayaks are lightweight and easy to use and in keeping with our safety policies all participants will be issued with water buoyancy vests. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. We should be back in the capital at around 3pm.
Around 9 PM, we board the express for an overnight train journey. Our destination is the valley town, Sapa.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 19: Sapa
Today we start with a walk to the H\'Mong village of Cat Cat. Later we drive out to the settlements of Ta Van and Cau May. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These people include the Red Zao, Hmong and Tay. Tonight we spend a second night in our hotel at Sapa town.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 20: Sapa
Today our morning exercise involves walking up Ham Rong Mountain for a panoramic view of Sapa. From here we drive out of town and commence an hour-long walk to Ta Phin. Ta Phin is home to the distinctive Dao (pronounced Zao) community. From here we will return to Sapa for lunch and free time in the afternoon. Around 9:00PM we will board our express train back to Hanoi.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
Day 21: Sapa – Hanoi
We arrive back to Hanoi station in the early morning. Today is a free day for you
Day 22: Hanoi – Red River Cruise
The Red River winds for more than 500 km through northern Vietnam, flooding the surrounding plains and enriching the soil providing the farmers with the nutrients they need for their crops. The villages and rural communities that line the river\'s banks date back more than a thousand years. On this full day cruise we have the opportunity to explore the Red River from our private boat, the Jewel of the Delta. We stop along the way and cycle to some of the most impressive pagodas in northern Vietnam as well as visiting some traditional handicraft villages.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Farewell Dinner included)
Day 23: Departure
This is time to bid your guide farewell. There will a transfer waiting to take you from the hotel to the airport for your flight out of Vietnam.
Extension Trips
Extension: Laos 6 days
Extension: Laos 10 Days
Extension: Cambodia 6 Days
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