Highlights:
- Tour dynamic Ho Chi Minh city - Visit head quarter of Cao Dai region - Explore famous Cu Chi tunnel - Join Chol Chnam Thmay festival in Soc Trang - Take a boat trip on Perfume River in Hue - Discover the unique Formal Capital - Hue - Join Full Moon festival in Hoian with lanterns - Take a trip on board to explore World Heritage of Halong Bay - City tour around Hanoi. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Ho Chi Minh – Arrival (11, April). On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. A half day tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City takes in the Nôtre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquer ware factory and the bustling market of Binh Tay Market in Chinatown. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. Includes: (D). Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Ho Chi Minh (12, April). Today, we head out of town to Tay Ninh, the head quarter of Cao Dai region. On arrival we attend the fantastic mid-day temple service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. On return trip, we also make stop to explore Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 3: Ho Chi Minh – Soc Trang with Chol Chnam Thmay Festival (13, April). The Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, which is the biggest festival of the Southern Khmer, is held at the pagodas and local homes. It is the New Year festival of the Khmer people, similar to Tet of the Viet people. The purpose of the festival is to see off the hot sunny season and to welcome the rainy period, which is the time to make preparations for the upcoming ten-month long rice season. The first day is for the ceremony to receive the great calendar. Moha Sang-Kran is considered a calendar which gives a detailed account of dates and festivals in a year and a forecast of rainfall so the villagers can foresee if they get a good or bad crop that year. On this day, at a selected hour no matter it is in the morning or afternoon, people take a bath and put on their best clothes in anticipation of the new year. They take incense, lamps, flowers and fruits to a pagoda where they do the great calendar-receiving ceremony. At the pagoda, Moha Sang-Kran, put on a red-lacquered, gilded tray, is placed on a palanquin and carried three times round the main sanctuary. This rite is to welcome the new year and wait for omens for a bad or good new year. Then the official ceremony is carried out inside the sanctuary. After that, every participant prays to the Buddha and chant prayers for a happy new year. Young males and females walk out to the pagoda yard and join in fun activities until late at night. Overnight in Soc Trang. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 4: Soc Trang – Ho Chi Minh (14, April). Enjoy Festival with local Khmer people. The second day is for the ceremony to offer boiled rice and heap up a sandy mountain. On this day, every Khmer family cooks rice and offers it to Buddhist monks at the pagoda in early morning and at noon. The monks chant prayers to thank those who make the food and bring it to their pagoda and say good luck to them. On the afternoon the same day, people start to heap up a sandy mountain in search of happiness and luck. They make small mountains looking to eight directions and one in the middle which represent the universe. This custom originates from an age-old legend. It displays people’s aspirations for rain. Late afternoon, drive back to Ho Chi Minh for leisure. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 5: Ho Chi Minh – Hue (15, April). Take a morning flight to Hue. After a morning at leisure, we take a boat trip on the Perfume River, stopping at the beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in the tranquil setting garden and lakes. Overnight in Hue. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (16, April). The Imperial Citadel and the elaborate mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc are also visited this morning before we drive to Hoi an. The scenic route passes fishing village of Lang Co before through Hai Van tunnel. Tonight, we join the Full Moon festival at Hoian. The festival activities display the real life of Hoi An people over 400 years ago.Some groups of the Hoi an old men play the Chinese chess in front of their houses on the street. All the houses in Hoi An old town area have no light(Power off). Just only the lit-candle lanterns are used.That lanterns make Hoi an town become the famous one not only in viet nam but also in the world.It attracts lots of the tourists.They come here to join the festival and throw the lit-candle paper lotus lanterns down the Thu Bồn River from the boat . Take the boat along the Thu Bồn river to visit the town by night and throw the lit-candle paper lotus lanterns. Overnight in Hoi An. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 7: Hoi An (17, April). Sightseeing of Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The tranquillity and charm of this town with its low tiled houses of Chinese appearance, Japanese covered bridge, brightly painted temples and pagodas make it one of Vietnam’s most delightful places. Overnight in Hoi An. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 8: Hoi An – Hanoi (18, April). Take a morning flight to get to Hanoi. Vietnam’s capital is one thousand year old city with peaceful lakes, French styled buildings, old quarter streets, three lined boulevards, brightly painted temples and pagodas. Enjoy a tour in the afternoon with Literature Temple, Hoa lo Prison, Ethnology Museum and a cyclo drive around Hoan kiem Lake and Hanoi's Old quarter. Overnight in Hanoi. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 9: Hanoi – Halong ( 19, April). Transfer to Halong. Upon arrival in Halong bay we board our Junk for the overnight boat trip. After lunch we begin our fantastic cruise in Halong Bay. The scenery is truly breathtaking and is continuously changing. This includes a visit to Sung Sot Cave, round over Tuan Chau Island, Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island and a swim at Titov beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching the sunset. Overnight on board. Includes: (B, L, D). Day 10: Halong – Hanoi – Departure (20, April. After an early breakfast we continue our cruise to visit Man‘s Head island, Tortoise Island, Bai Tu Long Bay, Toad Island and Bai Tho Mountain. Upon our return to Halong city we have lunch on board, and then board our transport back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Free at leisure or downtown shopping till the time of departure with sweet memories. Includes: (B, L). Notes:
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