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Bay to Temples
Hanoi - Halong - Hue - Danang - Saigon - Phnom Penh
- Siem Reap
Price from 1,209 US$
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| Day 1 - Hanoi - Halong |
• Arrival in Hanoi
• By vehicle from Hanoi to Halong Bay: Journey east
along Highway 5 across Hai Hung Province and around Halong Bay.
• Overnight in Halong |
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| Day 2 - Halong - Hanoi |
• Excursion by boat through Halong Bay (4
hours)
Cruise on a traditional wooden boat among the emerald waters
and craggy limestone cliffs of Halong Bay, stopping at different
islands to explore some of the many caves in this area. Sail
past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets and pearl
fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay.
• By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi: Journey
around Halong Bay to Hai Phong and west along Highway 5, across
Hai Hung Province.
• Overnight in Hanoi |
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| Day 3 - Hanoi |
• Sightseeing in Hanoi
Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks,
is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive city with
French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in
Asia.
• One Pillar Pagoda: built by the Emperor
Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood
on a single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus
blossom.
• Temple of Litterature: founded in 1070
by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who dedicated it to Confucius in order
to honor scholars and men of literary accomplishment.
• Hoan Kiem Lake: right in the heart of Hanoi,
this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped
with a red star.
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: in the tradition
of Lenin and Stalin before him and Mao after him, the final
resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep
in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a site
of pilgrimage. The Mausoleum is open only in the mornings, and
is closed on Mondays and Fridays. Every year, it closes in October
and November for renovation and maintenance.
• Opera House: a magnificent 900-seat opera
house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the outside only).
• St Joseph Cathedral: a neo-Gothic cathedral
finished in 1886, it is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate
altar and stained-glass windows.
In the afternoon, visit one of the following museums:
• History Museum (Bao Tang Lich): once the
museum of the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, is a building
constructed of reinforced concrete completed in 1930. Exhibits
include artefacts from Vietnam's turbulent history including
some from prehistory, proto-Vietnamese civilisations, the Dong
Son culture, the Oc-Eo culture and the Khmer Kingdoms.
• Museum of Ethnology: This museum brings
to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with art
and artifacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit
the country. Inside the museum are detailed descriptions of
minority groups, with examples of their traditional clothing
and way of life. Outside are faithful reconstructions of traditional
longhouses, cemeteries and other distinctive ethnic buildings.
• Overnight in Hanoi |
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| Day 4 - Hanoi - Hue |
• Transfer
• Flight from Hanoi to Hue
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in the Old Imperial City
• Imperial City: located in the Citadel,
it was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the
Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples
within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum.
• Ngo Mon Gate: the principal entrance to
the Imperial Enclosure, facing the Flag Tower. The central passageway
with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as
was the bridge across the lotus pond.
• Thai Hoa Palace: built in 1803 and moved
to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall
with an ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and
lacquered columns.
• Halls of the Mandarins: these buildings,
in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies held in
the Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in 1977.
• Nine Dynastic Urns: these were cast in
1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiseled into the
sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign.
• Forbidden Purple City: this was reserved
for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed
into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to
the royal concubines. (Today the site is in ruins).Visit the
Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
• Tu Duc Tomb: Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled
Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still
alive and used it for meditation, reading and theater performances.
There are pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills
and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu
Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious
life.Visit Dong Ba Market
• Dong Ba Market: a local market near the
Imperial City
• Overnight in Hue |
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| Day 5 - Hue - Danang |
• Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda with a boat trip
on the Huong Giang river
• Thien Mu Pagoda: just outside of Hue, on
the bank of the Perfume River, this was a hotbed of anti-government
protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of
the pagoda is the Austin motorcar which transported the monk
Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.
• By vehicle from Hue to Danang
Journey south along Highway 1 past the Hai Van Pass and Lang
Co.
• Hai Van Pass: the pass crosses over a spur
of the Truong Son Mountain Range that just into the South China
Sea. It is an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with
spectacular views.
• Lang Co: a pretty, island-like stretch
of palm-shaded sand with a crystal-clear lagoon on one side
and many km of beachfront facing the South China Sea.Sightseeing
in Danang
Vietnam's fourth largest city marks the northern limits of Vietnam's
tropical zone, boasting a pleasant year-round climate.
• Cham Museum: founded in 1915 by the Ecole
Francaise d'Extreme Orient, the open-air collection of Cham
sculpture is the finest in the world. Many of the sandstone
carvings are breathtaking.
• China Beach: made famous in the American
TV series of the same name, it stretches for many kilometers
north and south of the Marble Mountains. During the American
War, soldiers were airlifted here for 'rest and relaxation'.
• Marble Mountains: Five stone hillocks,
once islands, made of marble. Each is said to represent one
of the five elements of the universe. The largest and most famous,
Thuy Son, has a number of natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries
have been built over the centuries. When the Champas ruled this
area, these same caves were used as Hindu shrines.
• Overnight in Danang |
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| Day 6 - Danang - Hoi An - Saigon |
• Excursion by vehicle from Danang to Hoi An
Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known
as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East
Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th
centuries. It is good to see all the sites in Hoi An by walking
around and/or by cyclo. You will vist five of the following
sights.
• Quan Cong Temple: founded in 1653, this
Chinese temple is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilt
statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary.
Stone plaques on the walls list contributors to the contruction
and repair of the temple.
• Phuoc Kien Pagoda: Chinese pagoda built
around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical
of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area.
The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the
Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen).
• Japanese Covered Bridge: the first bridge
on this site was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese
community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across
the stream. The bridge was provided with a roof so it could
be used as a shelter from rain and sun.
• Diep Dong Nguyen House: built for a Chinese
merchant, an ancestor of the present inhabitants, in the late
19th century. The front room on the ground floor was once a
dispensary for Thuoc Bac (Chinese medicine).
• Tran Family Chapel: this house for worshipping
ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from
the family members. The Tran family traces its origins to China
and moved to Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building
reflects the influence of Chinese and Japanese styles.
• Sa Huynh Museum: located near the Japanese
covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period
of Hoi An's history.
• Trading Ceramics Museum: museum offering
a display of old Hoi An ceramics.
• Quan Thang House: one of the oldest and
nicest houses in Hoi An. There are some especially fine carvings
on the wooden walls of the rooms around the courtyard.
• Phung Hung House: one family has been living
here for already 8 generations. The house is a combination of
Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style.
• Quang Dong Pagoda: this pagoda was open
to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau
– it’s a small chinese style temple with a lintel
gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary.
• Chua Chuc Thanh Pagoda: founded in 1454
by Minh Hai, a Buddhist monk from China, is the oldest pagoda
in Hoi An. Among the antique ritual objects still in use are
several bells, a stone gong two centuries old and a carp-shaped
wooden gong said to be even older.Transfer
• Flight from Danang to Saigon
• Transfer
• Overnight in Saigon |
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| Day 7 - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) |
• Sightseeing in Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown)
Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, with the hustle
and bustle of Vietnamese life visible everywhere. There are
street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new bars. The city
churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300
years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture.
To the west of the city is District 5, the huge Chinese neighborhood
called Cholon, which means 'Big Market'.
• Notre Dame Cathedral: built between 1877
and 1883 and set in the heart of Saigon's government quarter.
It has a neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped
with iron spires. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the
Virgin Mary.
• Central Post Office: a French-style building
with a glass canopy and iron frame, situated next to the Notre
Dame Cathedral. The structure was built between 1886 and 1891
and is by far the largest post office in Vietnam.
• City Hall: completed in 1908, also known
as Hotel de Ville , and located at the northern end of Nguyen
Hue Boulevard. With its ornate gingerbread façade, it
looks like the town hall of a French town. (May be viewed from
the outside only).
• Opera House: built around the turn of the
century and first renovated in the 1940s, the building housed
the lower division of the National Assembly. Today it is a Municipal
Theatre and also known as the Saigon Concert Hall. (May be viewed
from the outside only).
• Jade Emperor Pagoda: was a key meeting
place for Chinese secret societies. It has very colorful and
mysterious ambience.
• Reunification Palace: this was the Independence
Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by
tanks on 30 April 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam.
It has been preserved in its original state.
• War Remnant Museum: collections of weapons
and photographs from two Indochina wars are exhibited along
with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early
20th century.
• Ben Thanh Market: the central market of
Saigon, its surrounding streets make up one of the city's liveliest
areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average
resident of Saigon is available here.
• Giac Lam Pagoda: the oldest pagoda in Saigon,
built at the end of the 17th century. Because the last reconstruction
here was in 1900, the architecture, layout and ornamentation
remain almost unaltered by the modernist renovations that have
transformed so many other religious structures in Vietnam. Ten
monks live in this pagoda, which also incorporates aspects of
Taoism and Confucianism.
• Binh Tay Market: Cholon's main marketplace,
much of the business conducted here is wholesale.
• Thien Hau Pagoda: built by the Cantonese
congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of
the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It
is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride
the clouds to wherever she pleases.
• Overnight in Saigon |
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| Day 8 - Saigon - Phnom Penh |
• Transfer
• Flight from Saigon to Phnom Penh
• Arrival in Phnom Penh
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in Phnom Penh
Cambodia's capital sits at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac
and Tonle Sap rivers. Considered the loveliest of the French-built
cities of Indochina, it was founded as a small monastery in
1372 by a rich Khmer woman called Penh after she found four
Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. She
set up the monastery on a nearby hill or "phnom" in
Cambodian.
• Wat Phnom: a temple and location of the
first pagoda on this site built in 1372 by Penh to house the
four Buddha statues found on the banks of the Mekong. It is
the only hill (27 meters) in the capital.
• Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda: the royal
palace stands on the site of the former citadel, Bantey Kev
(built in 1813). Visitors are not allowed in some portions of
the grounds, as the palace is the official residence of King
Norodom Sihamoni. The silver pagoda is often called the Pagoda
of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Preah Kaeo after the statue housed
there. The wooden temple was originally built by King Norodom
in 1892 and inside, its floor is comprised of more than 5000
silver blocks which together weigh nearly 6 tons.
• National Museum: designed by a French archeologist
and painter, George Groslier, in Khmer style in 1920 to exhibit
works previously scattered throughout the country. It contains
a collection of Khmer art including the beautiful 6th century
bronze statue of Vishnu.
• Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide):
formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 it became the
Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation center. It was
known as Security Prison 21, or just S-21.
• Central (Russian) Market: Visit one of
Phnom Penh's two great markets. The Central Market is located
in a distinctive domed Art Deco building, and is filled with
jewelry, fabrics and all types of souvenirs. The Russian Market
is a sprawling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from CDs
and DVDs to silks, crafts, jewelry and more. Both are fascinating
places to browse.
• Overnight in Phnom Penh |
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| Day 9 - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap |
• Transfer
• Flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in Angkor: a temple dedicated
to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II, who reigned
between 1131 and 1150. It was constructed over a period of 30
years and is world famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor
Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world,
which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories
from Hindu mythology. In 1992 the UNESCO declared the monument
and the whole city of Angkor a World Heritage Site.
• Visit Angkor Thom: a fortified Royal City
(10 square kilometers) built by King Jayavarman VII, who ruled
from 1181 to 1201. The city has five monumental gates and is
encircled by a moat 100 meters wide. In the center of the walled
city are the city’s most important monuments including
Bayon, Baphuon, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the
Leper King and Phimeanakas with Royal Enclosure.
• Bayon: Jayavarman VII's temple mountain
that stands at the center of Angkor Thom. It is one of the most
popular of Angkor's monuments and a place of narrow corridors,
steep flights of stairs and an amazing collection of towers
decorated with over 200 smiling faces.
• Baphuon: the pyramid shape represents the
mythical Mount Meru and marks the center of the city that was
here before Angkor Thom.
• Phimeanakas: near the center of what was
once the royal palace within Angkor Thom. Phimeanakas means
‘Celestial Palace’, though today there is not much
left to indicate its former splendour.
• Former Royal Palace: nothing remains today
except two pools that were used by royalty for washing.
• Terrace of Elephants: this terrace was
used for viewing public ceremonies and was a base for the King’s
grand audience hall. The famous lines of elephants are at either
end of the retaining walls.
• Terrace of the Leper King: North of the
Terrace of Elephants is a platform named ‘Terrace of the
Leper King’. On the platform is a nude statue – one
of Angkor’s mysteries.
• Overnight in Siem Reap |
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| Day 10 - Siem Reap |
• Sightseeing in Angkor
• Visit Banteay Srei Temple: built in the
late 10th century, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva.
The temple is square with entrances on the east and west. Of
main interest are the three central towers which are decorated
with male and female divinities and beautiful filigree relief
work.
• Banteay Samre: built in the middle of the
12th century under Suryavarman II, and dedicated to the god
Vishnu.
• Ta Phrom: one of the most popular attractions
of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it
looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared
when European explorers first stumbled across them.
• Prasat Kravan: the five brick towers were
built for Hindu worship in 921 and are notable for the bas-reliefs
cut into the bricks on the interior walls.
• Banteay Kdei: a massive Buddhist temple
dating from the second half of the 12th century. It is surrounded
by four concentric walls, the outer walls measuring 500 by 700
meters.Visit Ta Keo
• Ta Keo: built by Jayavarman V who ruled
from 968 to 1001), it was the first Angkorian monument built
entirely of sandstone and was dedicated to Shiva. The summit
of the central tower is 50 meters high and is surrounded by
four lower towers.
• Thommanon: temple which mirrors Chau Say
Tevoda (just to the north), as it was built around the same
time and has a similar plan. It is also dedicated to Shiva and
Vishnu.
• Overnight in Siem Reap |
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| Day 11 - Siem Reap |
| • Transfer |
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| USD p.p | Booking |
| Var A |  |
| Var B | |
| Var C | |
All prices are per person in USD, based on twin-sharing in double rooms in the default hotel for the listed category.
Above prices are subject to US$14/Person airport tax for all international flights out of Vietnam from 1 November 2006 which will be calculated as a seperate service on top of the international airfares in all quotations and invoices.
* Meal plan: ABF.
** Reduction for 3rd pax in triple room Var. A:$69; Var. B:$80; Var. C:$274
*** Child reduction (sharing bed of parents): under 2 years FOC; under 12 years -30%.
NOTE: The itinerary can slightly change according to the season, local conditions, climate, flight schedules and room availability.
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| Hotel | Var A | Var B | Var C |
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| Halong Bay | Sunlight Hotel
Superior
Van Hai Hotel
ROH | Halong Pearl
SUP room
Mithrin
SUP room | Halong Plaza
SUP room
Heritage Halong
SUP room
Tuan Chau
DLX Pine Hill | | Hanoi | Phuc Loi Hotel
Standard
Ha Long Hotel Hanoi
ROH
Prince Hanoi Hotel
ROH
Huy Hoang 1
2nd Class | Galaxy Hotel
ROH
Golden Key Hotel
ROH
Green Park Hotel
ROH | Melia Hotel
Deluxe
Nikko Hotel Hanoi
ROH-Leisure
Sofitel Plaza Hanoi
Deluxe | | Hue | Imperial Garden Hotel
Deluxe
Ngoc Huong Hotel
ROH
Thuan Hoa Hotel
Deluxe | Festival Hue Hotel
ROH - Festival Wing
Hue Heritage
ROH
Huong Giang Hotel
Superior Gardenview | Saigon Morin Hotel
Superior | | Danang | Bamboo Green
SUP room
Daesco Hotel
Superior
Faifo Hotel
ROH | Royal
SUP room
Saigon Tourane
SUP room | Furama
Garden View
Sandy Beach Resort
Deluxe Garden View | | Saigon | Saigon Star Hotel
ROH
Saigon Royal Hotel
ROH
Bong Sen Annex
Economy | Chancery Hotel
Standard Room
Dai Nam Hotel
ROH
Liberty 6 Hotel
Standard
Oscar Hotel
ROH / Standard | Equatorial Hotel
Deluxe
Omni Saigon Hotel
Deluxe
Windsor Plaza Hotel
Superior | | Phnom Penh | New York Hotel
Standard
Princess Hotel Phnom Penh
Standard | The Juliana Hotel
Superior
Monorom Holiday Villa
Standard | Inter Continental Hotel
Deluxe | | Siem Reap | Monica Angkor Hotel
Standard | Princess Angkor Hotel
Superior | Royal Angkor Resort
Superior room |
We will confirm one of the hotels mentioned above according to the selected category. Please note that compulsory gala dinners and peak season surcharges may apply during peak periods surrounding the public holidays of Christmas and New Year - these surcharges will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Included in the price:
Accommodation and meals as described (please note that some hotels provide only CBF).
All transfers within the journey, including pick-up at airport.
Domestic airfares as states in the itinerary in economy class.
All entrance fees.
English, French or German speaking guides (other languages available upon request).
Not included in the price:
Visa fees.
Airport taxes. |
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