VIETNAM, Land of lotus Flowers
SAPA Halong Bay Hanoi
Hue Da Nang Ho An
Nha Trang
Dalat Ho Chi Minh City
$ CURRENCY: V i e t n a m e s e POPULATION: 87 Million
Dong
Xin Chao and Welcome to Awesome Vietnam! Vietnam has something for everyone, at every age, and from any background. Whether this is your first visit or you have being here before, there is always something to discover. And nothing better than touring with a private guide!
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8 DAYS
BEST OF VIETNAM HANOI to HO CHI MINH CITY
SNAPSHOT Best of Vietnam on 8 Day / 7 Night: if you have one week to travel to Vietnam, or just want to take a tour that covers best places in Vietnam to see and explore then following itinerary would be the best fit for you.
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ITINERARY ON DETAILS
01
Welcome to Vietnam, Arrival at Noi Bai Hanoi, where you will be met by our representative, or you’re Vietnamese Private Tour Guide, meets and assist and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi
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Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam where we start our tour, after breakfast we visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh Museum. After we visit The Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11 th century. Afterward we visit one pillar pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake and Sword Lake and temple of the mountain Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Overnight in Hanoi Early morning for an excursion we move to Halong bay heritage site, the new wonder of the world with its 2000 islands rising from the emerald water, En-route we stop to visit small farms famous for its ceramic handicrafts, Arrive in Halong board boat. Enjoy the Halong Bay on a typical Vietnamese Junk in wood. The cruise on the boat is marvelous, sailing in turquoise waters. After we have chance to visit amazing cave we stop to see the floating house and enjoy kayaking. And then we take a sunset cruise towards Halong wharf drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi Fly to Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to Hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam’s largest metropolis and its undisputed capital of commerce; We visit Oldest Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, the Giac Lam pagoda, after visit Thien Hau pagoda, Chinatown, Binh Tay market, Ben Thanh market. Afterward, visit Reunification Palace (Ex-Presidential Palace) that was built in 1963 and is well-known as an outstanding example of 1960’s architecture, the War Remnants, passing by Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 1877), the General Post Office. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City Early in the morning and after breakfast we drive to Cai Be, arrive at Cai Be where we take a motor boat ride to Cai Be floating market. Our activity in Cai Be is to walk around to see orchard, rice paper making, rice crispy producing process after we have our lunch
including tropical fruits afterward we take boat through a village to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers. We have time to visit the village, now we visit Vinh Long Market. You will visit the Great Temple of Caodaism in Tay Ninh, about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Caodaism is a Vietnamese religion with its philosophy based on Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Christianity. Its tenets include believing in one God, the existence of the soul and the ability to communicate with the spiritual world. You will stop for about 2 hours to visit Ben Dinh tunnel, a section of the 200 km-long Cu Chi tunnel network that was built over 2 decades and used as an army base during the Vietnamese-American War. You will be amazed at the tunnels with their underground store’s including trap-door, living areas, storage, weapon factories, field hospitals, kitchen, command centers, etc. You can also fire M-16, AK-47, and carbine rifle. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City
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Today we transfer you to the airport 3 hours before your flight, departure and fly back home
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INCLUSIONS Airport Transfer Services upon the day of arrival and departure Private English speaking Tour Guide 7 Night Hotel accommodations on 3 star hotels based on bed and breakfast Entrance fees
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Vietnam
DAYS
Highlight’s HANOI to HO CHI MINH CITY
SNAPSHOT Highlight’s of Vietnam on 12 Day / 11 Night: if you have one week to travel to Vietnam, or just want to take a tour that covers best places in Vietnam to see and explore then following itinerary would be the best fit for you.
DAY
ITINERARY ON DETAILS
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
Welcome to Vietnam, Arrival at Noi Bai Hanoi, where you will be met by our representative, or you’re Vietnamese Private Tour Guide, meets and assist and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi Enjoy a guided city tour of Hanoi. Having celebrated its 1000- year anniversary in 2010, the city has a rich and fascinating history. A traditional cyclo tour through the narrow, ancient streets of the exotic Old Quarter is a great way to soak up the sights and sounds. In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai and the mountainous region near the Chinese border. Arrive at Lao Cai station early in the morning and transfer to Sapa. Depending on your fitness level, you can arrange anything from gentle walks to challenging hikes to explore the lush valleys and mountains that surround the town. With an expert local guide, you can navigate small paths through verdant, terraced fields of rice and corn, passing farmers and their water buffalo ploughing the land as they have for centuries. The ethnic-minority groups still maintain their traditions and way of life, including their own language and intricatelyembroidered, colorful clothing. In the evening, you can stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van village or return to the comfort of your hotel in Sapa. Start your morning with a hike to a beautiful waterfall before continuing on to a picturesque Red Dao village. Red Dao women wear giant red scarves around their heads, and their clothing is embellished with colourful red embroidery and coins. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Sapa before returning to Lao Cai to board the overnight train back to Hanoi Arrive in Hanoi at around 5 am. A day room will be available, so you can shower and freshen up before breakfast. At around 8 am start your journey to Halong Bay and arrive at around midday to board a traditional junk for an overnight cruise. Halong Bay is widely considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world. Thousands of towering pillars of sea and wind-carved limestone karst make the bay an unforgettable sight. After lunch, explore some of the huge limestone caves dotted around the bay and visit a floating fishing village. Then the captain will find a secluded spot where you can swim, soak up the sun on the top deck, or try your hand at kayaking. In the evening enjoy a seafood feast for dinner. Enjoy an early morning swim (during the summer), followed by breakfast as you cruise through more spectacular scenery. In the afternoon drive back to Hanoi, where you will have one more evening to sample its fabulous cuisine and explore the Old Quarter. In the morning, fly to the former Imperial Capital of Hue. This beautiful city is rich in history, culture and ancient temples. Spend the day exploring the Citadel, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, before relaxing on a sunset cruise on the Perfume River Drive south along a beautiful stretch of coastline and over the scenic Hai Van Pass, to the picturesque riverside community of Hoi An. On arrival, enjoy a walking tour of this charming traditional town now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the day at leisure on the beach or having clothes made by one of the expert, inexpensive tailors Hoi An is famous for. If you like to cook, you can spend a fabulous day exploring the local produce market with an expert chef who will teach you the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the highlights of this
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bustling, cosmopolitan city. In the evening, you may like to enjoy a fun cooking class or take a cruise down the Saigon River, complete with local entertainment and a fantastic traditional and international buffet dinner.
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Explore the heart of the Mekong Delta on a traditional sampan cruise in Cai Be. Visit floating markets and get a feel for a way of life that has changed little for centuries. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a superb restaurant on the banks of the river before returning back to Ho Chi Minh City for some free time.
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You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight
INCLUSIONS Airport Transfer Services upon the day of arrival and departure Private English speaking Tour Guide 11 Night Hotel accommodations on 3 star hotels based on bed and breakfast Entrance fees
Vietnam Travel Tips Passport: Each passenger must be in possession of a valid passport which must be valid for more than 6 months after the return date of travel. Passport number, date and place of issue, and birth date is now required by airlines and trains, and may be required to confirm services. Names on your airline tickets must match the first and last name listed on your
passport. Visa: Entry visas are obtainable at Vietnamese diplomatic missions and required for almost visitors with valid passports irrespective of nationality. Travel permits are only required for trips to off-limit areas such as border provinces, military bases and remote islands.
What to wear: Appropriate dress differs from North to South. Southern Vietnam is tropical year round and people dress comfortably and casually. Lightweight cotton and wool fabrics will be comfortable at any time of year. While they may resist wrinkles, synthetics and are blends miserably hot. Generally, short pants are inappropriate anywhere but a beach resort or a farm and you will look like a foolish tourist on the streets of most cities. Jeans are almost always fashionable except for business occasions. Winter (November through April) can be cool in Hanoi, and a coat may be necessary. Dress here is a bit more formal and somber than the fashionable South. If traveling on business, jackets and ties are usually appropriate, regardless of the weather. Saigon’s business community is very image oriented. It’s alright to ask your business partners here what kind of attire is appropriate and expected. Remember that Vietnam is a tropical country. Most of the year it is warm and humid. If you are not used to tropical weather, be prepared to shower and change your clothes two or three times a day. During rainy season in Saigon the rain is often short (20-30 minutes) and sometimes quite sudden. Practically every hotel in Vietnam has laundry service, which is usually quite inexpensive.
Customs regulations: Arriving in Vietnam, all visitors must fill in Declaration Forms and show their luggage to Customs Officials upon request. There are no limited amounts of foreign currency, objects made of gold, silver, precious metals and gemstones or plated with silver or gold but visitors must declare these in detail on the customs forms. ENTRY: Tourists are authorized to bring in the following items duty-free: Cigarettes: 400 pieces; Cigars: 50-100; Tobacco: 500 gram; Liquor: 1.5l. Personal effects of a reasonable quantity. Small gift items valued at not more than US$ 500. Note: There is no limit to the amounts of cash, precious metals and gems people can bring in, but amounts of over US$ 7,000 must be declared. It is prohibited for any visitor to bring into Vietnam the followings: * Weapons, explosives and inflammable objects. * Opium and other narcotics. * Cultural materials unsuitable to Vietnamese society. EXIT: Goods of commercial nature and articles of high value require export permits issued by the Customs Office. Antiques, some precious stones and animals listed in Vietnam's red-book may not be brought out of the country. Baggage: Airline baggage allowance regulations are based on a weight and measurement system. Combined overall dimensions for checked baggage cannot exceed 106 inches. Carry-on luggage cannot exceed 45 inches. For flights within
continents baggage is limited to 44 lbs. (20 kilos). One bag not to exceed 106 inches may be taken on escorted programs. For additional bags, there will be an additional charge of approximately $3 per bag per handling.
Vietnam currency: The currency of Vietnam is "Dong" (abbreviated "d" or VND). Bank coins are 200d, 500d, 1000d, 2000d, 5000d. Bank notes are 1,000d; 2,000d; 5,000d; 10,000d; 20,000d; 50,000d, 100,000d, 200,000d and 500,000d. Unlike most of Vietnam's neighboring countries, the US Dollar is widely accepted. At this the official rate of exchange is approximately VND 16,500 to USD 01.
Credit Cards and Travelers' Cheques are accepted at most of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops but in major cities only. Visitors are recommended to carry US Dollar in small notes. Travelers can change their money for Vietnamese Dong (VND) at banks, hotels and jewelry shops throughout the country. Food: Vietnamese food often comes as a wonderful surprise! It has a very distinctive style, although it is also clearly influenced by Chinese and, to a lesser extent, French cuisine. Freshness is of paramount importance so ingredients are bought fresh from the local market on a daily basis. Meals will usually include rice or noodles as staples along with a vast array of vegetables, and meats like chicken, duck, beef, and pork. Good quality seafood (fish, calamari, prawns and crab) is widely available and you’ll find that fish sauce is a condiment which accompanies almost every meal. The most famous Vietnamese dish is spring rolls either deep fried (known as cha gio in the south and nem ran in the north) or served fresh (bi cuon/bo bia) with a combination of raw vegetables and grilled prawns, crab, pork or chicken. Pho (noodle soup) served with either chicken or beef, fresh green leaves, beans sprouts, and red chilly is also found throughout the country. If you are after a snack try a banh cuon, a steamed dumpling stuffed with minced pork or prawns, black mushrooms and bean sprouts. The French colonial period has left a legacy of delicious continental food. Often street cafés have a distinctly French feel with crispy baguettes, pate, crème caramel, banana flambé, and sweet pastries on the menu. Vegetarians: Vegetarians should not have any difficulty in finding a great selection of food in Vietnam as there is a strong Buddhist influence and Chinese and Vietnamese vegetarian dishes abound.
Food Allergies: If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour guide who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met. Drinking: Bottled water and mineral water are obtainable at any shops in most cities. It is advisable to drink boiled water and not to drink ice and tap water. The most reliable local brand is LA VIE (Don’t confuse them with the imitations such as La Ville or La Vierge). Aquafina of Pepsi and real Evian also available at many shops. Tea, similar to Chinese green tea, is one of the most common drinks in Vietnam. Coffee was introduced by the French and is usually strong, thick and served complete with drip filter, so you know it’s fresh! If you ask for milk it will usually be sweet condensed milk. Popular beers are: Local brand: 333, Hanoi beer, Saigon beer and international brand Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger and Foster
Film and developing: Fresh negative film is widely available. Popular brands are Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and Konica. Memory cards for digital camera could be found easily, but be careful with its quality. Image printing from both negative film or digital file are obtainable in cities and towns. The tourists say that the negative film is cheaper than abroad. One-hour service photo shops have become ubiquitous in places where tourists abound. Positive film can be developed only in Saigon and Hanoi. Most reliable and centered-located Film developing shops are 19 Nguyen Cau – Ba Trieu St. and Photocen – 77 Ly Thuong Kiet in Hanoi and Shops on Nguyen Hue Blvd., District 1 in Saigon. Shopping: The following items are quite unique and have good quality: * Carved wooden furniture, fine lacquer ware (these can be shipped home upon request). * Traditional Vietnamese hand-made silk, linen and cotton dresses, kimonos, embroideries, etc. * Simulated antiques, ceramics, old watches or Zippo lighters, etc. * Copies of famous paintings. Others
Taxi: Taxis with meters are available in big cities. The current price is about US$ 0.5 per kilometer. Most metered taxi drivers can speak a little English. Business hours: (GMT + 7) * Offices: 07:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 01:00 p.m. to 04:30 p.m., closed on Saturday and Sundays * Banks: 08:00 a.m to 03:00 p.m, closed on Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday. Electrical current: 110-220 volts A.C. Telephone: Long distance calls should be made at post offices, hotels or telephone booths (phone cards are available at post offices). Internet: Internet cafes with ADSL can be found easily in Vietnam. Cost for an hour is around 0,5US$. Tip and Gratuities: Tipping is not obligatory in Vietnam; however, if you meet with exceptional services or kindness, a tip is always appreciated. A tip for good service might be about 5% of the bill. Bargaining: Bargaining is a way of life in much of South East Asia. In Vietnam shops don't have fixed prices so the shop keeper will start with a high price which you are then expected to bargain down until you reach a fair price. Bargaining should always be relaxed and can be a lot of fun but you should remember that it is considered disrespectful to agree a price but then walk away.
Laundry: Most of the hotels we use in Vietnam provide a laundry service although this can be quite expensive, sometimes as much as US$1 per item. Alternatively the side streets of most towns and cities are teeming with laundries where the average cost per kilo of laundry is US$0.70. Weather: Vietnam experiences a fair degree of diversity in climate. The north has distinct summer and winter seasons. Summer lasts from May until October, when the weather is hot and very humid with temperatures averaging about 30 degrees Celsius. November to April are the winter months when the weather is mainly dry and average temperatures are about 18-20 degrees Celsius. Please note that in the mountainous regions of the country, temperatures will be much lower than this, so warm clothing is required if you are traveling to hill tribe areas during the winter months. In the centre of the country (e.g. Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An) the weather is very hot and dry from February to August with temperatures of around 33-36 degrees Celsius, but there can be heavy rainfall between September and January. The south of Vietnam has a hot, dry season from December through until April with temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius. May until November is the rainy season, although there are rarely long periods of rain – it is usually short heavy showers.
Useful phrases in Vietnamese
As Vietnamese is a tonal language (with six different tones), the particular tone used determines the meaning of a word. As the same word can mean many different things depending on the tone it is a difficult language to grasp but the locals will certainly appreciate your efforts! The following words and phrases are spelled phonetically to help you with pronunciation. Popular phrases: - Hello >> sin chow - Goodbye >> chow, tam bi-ait - Excuse me (sorry) >> sin looee - Please >> lam on - Thank you >> gum urn - Yes >> vung (when spoken in the north) >> roi (in the south) - No >> kom - Excuse me >> sin loy - How much? >> bough new? - Tea >> cha - Coffee >> ca fe - Water >> nook - Beer >> bia - I don't understand >> toy kom beet
Numbers in Vietnamese: 1 - mot 2 - hai 3 - ba 4 - bon 5 - numb 6 - sow 7 - buy 8 - tum 9 - chin 10 - moo-ee 11 - moo-ee mot 12 - moo-ee hai 20 - hai moo-ee 30 - ba moo-ee 100 - mot traam 1000 - mot ngan