Vietnam with Post Trip Extension to Ankor Wat

DAYS 1-2:
Depart U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam On Day 1 you’ll depart the U.S. for Vietnam, spending Day 2 in transit. (Meals aloft)

DAY 3:
Arrive Hanoi
Mid-morning today we arrive in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and transfer to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest and relax; tonight we gather at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and a traditional Water Puppet performance. Overnight at Hilton Hanoi Opera (D)

DAY 4:
Hanoi
This morning we set off on a walking tour of Ba Dinh Square, a popular complex of cultural and historic sites, including the marble and granite mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. Ironically, Ho Chi Minh wished to be cremated, but the nation so mourned him that it chose to construct this massive edifice of natural materials collected from across Vietnam. Inside Ho Chi Minh rests in a glass sarcophagus, visible to onlookers (his corpse is sent to Russia annually for “upkeep”). For this visit, please dress respectfully and do not bring your camera inside – photos are strictly prohibited. We also see the bright-mustard French colonial Presidential Palace, and 1,000-year-old One Pillar Pagoda, built on a single stone pillar to resemble a lotus blossom. Following lunch on our own we embark on an orientation tour of this French-accented city with broad tree-lined boulevards and colonial architecture. We pass Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the city, where legend has it that, in the mid-15th century Heaven gave Emperor Ly Thai To a sword to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. We also see the marvelous Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius – it later became Vietnam’s first university and today remains an active place of worship. Later we walk through the narrow streets of the Ancient Quarter (more commonly called the “36 Streets District), where goods of all types are bought and sold, alongside houses and temples. There are so many shops, in fact, that each has its own separate street – Shoe Street, Sugar Street, Paper Street–– to help direct customers to their desired product. In addition to offering great shopping, this is one of the city’s most popular gastronomic areas, with dozens of excellent restaurants. Perhaps return to this neighborhood for dinner on your own this evening. Overnight at Hilton Hanoi Opera (B, L)

DAY 5:
Hanoi/Ha Long Bay
Depart early this morning for a full-day excursion to Ha Long Bay (“Bay of the Descending Dragon”) Vietnam’s legendary and beautiful waterway sprinkled with some 3,000 islands and islets, and surrounded by a fairytale landscape of limestone cliffs, secret grottoes, and hidden caves. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay was the home of ancient cultures dating back 25,000 years. Our tour here includes a boat ride on the placid waters and a lunch of local seafood. We return to our hotel in Hanoi early this evening; dinner tonight is on your own. Overnight at Hilton Hanoi Opera (B, L)

DAY 6:
Hanoi/Hue
Early this morning we board a 1-hour flight to the ancient imperial capital of Hue, whose ruins evoke its past grandeur as home to emperors and mandarins. After checking in at our hotel, this afternoon we tour the Imperial Citadel, housing the Forbidden Purple City where the emperors once lived with their families. A vast complex of palaces, residences, temples, courtyards, and gates, the Imperial Citadel was built in 1804; today it is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We also visit the Dong Ba central market where locals buy their produce, fish, meat, and sundry items such as Vietnam’s ubiquitous conical hats, ironware, jewelry, and tea. Tonight we enjoy a special Hue buffet at our hotel, accompanied by a performance of traditional music. Overnight Hotel Saigon Morin (B, D)

DAY 7:

Hue
This morning cruise by sampan along Hue’s Perfume River to peaceful Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist monastery that ranks among the city’s oldest and most important monuments. After exploring the seven-story octagonal tower, we visit the palatial Tomb of Minh Mang (c. 1840), with its pavilions, reception hall, summerhouse, lakes, gardens, and courtyards modeled after the Ming Tombs of China. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then visit two more tombs: Tu Duc, sitting in a narrow valley in a pine forest and considered one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture from the Nguyen dynasty; and Khai Dinh, an elaborate architectural mélange of European and Asian, ancient and modern styles. Dinner tonight is on our own. Overnight at Hilton Hanoi Opera (B, L)

DAY 8:
Hue/Da Nang/Hoi An
Depart Hue by motorcoach this morning for the journey south to Da Nang. Along the way we encounter the spectacular scenery of Hai Van (“Cloudy”) Pass, a precarious switchback offering panoramic views of the central coast; from the top we can see down the valley to the village of Lang Co far below. In Da Nang we visit the acclaimed Cham Museum, which celebrates the Cham peoples’ Hindu legacy with a fine collection of sculpture and artifacts dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. We also stop by famed “China Beach” (My Khe), the still beautiful and unspoiled swath of white sand where American soldiers enjoyed some R&R during the Vietnam War. After checking in at our hotel overlooking China Beach, we set out again, first to the Marble Mountains, five rocky outcroppings said to represent the five natural elements and the source of many intriguing legends. We continue on to ancient Hoi An, where a succession of Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese traders all contributed to the building of an architecturally diverse and colorful village (and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) where many ancient traditions still hold sway. Because no cars are allowed here, the streets belong to pedestrians (and bicyclists), making it perfect for exploring. You’ll want to see the colorful low, tile-roofed houses lining narrow streets; the Japanese covered bridge, and the Chinese communal house. Hoi An also boasts numerous art galleries and small shops, and a relaxed riverside ambience. We return to our hotel late this afternoon; dinner tonight is on our own. Overnight at Furama Resort Danang (B, D)

DAY 9:
Da Nang/Hoa Chau
Travel to the heart of rural Da Nang where we gain a special insight into the everyday life of a local farming community. At the small settlement of Hoa Chau, nestled amidst seemingly endless rice paddies, we walk through the village past modest homes, gardens of vegetables and fruit, the village temple, and husking mill. Depending on the season, we may see the villagers engaged in threshing and harvesting. After returning to our hotel around lunchtime, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Tonight we enjoy dinner together. Overnight at Furama Resort Danang (B, D)

DAY 10:
Da Nang/Mekong Delta/Can Tho
Transfer to the airport this morning for the one-hour flight to Saigon; from here we travel about three hours by coach south to the Mekong River town of Cai Be where we board a motorized sampan for an up-close look at river life. Lifeblood of southern Vietnam, the Mekong region counts as one of the country’s two “rice bowls,” as well as a major producer of vegetables and tropical fruit. It is along the river that locals conduct the business of every day life, as we see on our visit to one of the many the floating markets where farmers display their goods from bamboo poles suspended over their boats. Cruise along the upper reaches of the Mekong, exploring the maze of tributaries and inlets that lead to tiny settlements and villages populated by fishermen and farmers. After lunch at a local farm, we continue cruising to the beautiful, lush island of Vinh Long, populated mostly by the Khmer people. From here we travel by coach and ferry to the busy river port of Can Tho, the provincial capital where the various waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta converge – and where we spend the next two nights at a riverside hotel. Overnight at Victoria Can Tho Hotel (B, L, D)

DAY 11:
Can Tho/Mekong Delta
Rise early for today’s journey by boat to the bustling floating market at Cai Rang on the Mekong’s lower reaches. After this scenic outing, we enjoy lunch together and visit the Mekong Museum, which chronicles the river’s vital role in local life. We return to our hotel mid-afternoon; the remainder of the day is at leisure. Choose to join an optional excursion (at additional cost) to Thot Not Bird Sanctuary, home to thousands of wild storks. Dinner tonight is on our own. Overnight at Victoria Can Tho Hotel (B, L)

DAY 12: Mekong Delta/Saigon
After a morning at leisure, travel by coach to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City is used interchangeably). After checking in at our hotel, the day is at leisure until tonight’s dinner at the popular Mandarin restaurant, known for its Vietnamese specialties, traditional décor, and romantic atmosphere. Overnight at Sofitel Plaza Saigon (B, D)

Day 13: Saigon
Once the proud capital of South Vietnam, Saigon was renamed in 1976 by the war’s Communist victors as Ho Chi Minh City and virtually closed to the outside world. Since the reentry of a peaceful and united Vietnam into the community of nations several years ago, however, Saigon has once again reclaimed its more cosmopolitan outlook – and its former name, which is used interchangeably with Ho Chi Minh City. We get our first real tastes of Saigon on this morning’s tour that includes such highlights as the former Presidential Palace (now called Reunification Palace), the former wartime headquarters that remains preserved just as it was on April 30, 1975, when Communist tanks entered the city; the Historical Museum, housing a fine collection art and artifacts of Vietnam’s indigenous peoples; and Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880 with bricks from Marseilles and stained glass windows crafted by artisans from Chartres, France. This afternoon is free to explore on your own. Overnight at Sofitel Plaza Saigon (B, L)

Day 14: Saigon
On this morning’s tour, visit a place of infamy: the Cu Chi Tunnels. Built over a period of 25 years beginning in the 1940s to sabotage the French occupiers, the tunnels are marvels of engineering, stretching from Saigon to the Cambodian border. Parts of the tunnels descend several stories deep, and include living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, and kitchens. Americans will be most familiar with the tunnels because of the role they played during the war, when these tunnels allowed the North Vietnamese to engage in combat in an area completely surrounded by Americans and South Vietnamese. Those who choose to will have a chance to descend into the tunnels. And those who choose to remain outside will have ample opportunities to explore the excavations above. Our guide will tell us about each tunnel’s length and level of difficulty before we enter. If you choose to go underground, you’ll want to wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty (you’ll also need a pair of sturdy walking shoes). We return to our hotel in time for lunch on your own then the remainder of the day is free to explore. Saigon boasts virtually hundreds of pagodas and places of worship, including the Giac Lam Pagoda, the city’s oldest; and the Jade Emperor Pagoda, considered the most colorful temple in Saigon. Or, just take a walk and enjoy the sight of thousands of bicycles and small motorbikes winding their way through the city streets, or visit one of the city’s colorful free markets. Tonight we gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight at Sofitel Plaza Saigon(B, D)

DAY 15: Saigon
Our day in Vietnam is free to explore on our own; our tour director will be happy to offer suggestions. Dinner tonight is on our own. Please note that guests taking the Angkor Wat extension will depart for Siem Reap late this afternoon. Overnight at Sofitel Plaza Saigon (B)

DAY 16: Saigon/Depart for U.S.
This morning is at leisure before we depart for the airport and our connecting flight to the U.S.
(B, Meals aloft)

Itinerary Note

We will do our best to adhere to our printed itinerary. Occasionally though, unexpected obstacles, and opportunities, may arise that will force us to deviate from the itinerary as written. We would ask you to be open-minded and flexible should we vary the itinerary slightly. In addition, please note that airline schedules are subject to change. Updated flight information will be provided closer to departure.

POST-TOUR EXTENSION TO ANGKOR WAT

DAY 16:Saigon/Siem Reap
An early morning flight brings you to Siem Reap, Cambodia.   After checking in at the hotel, we begin our discovery of Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the three great Buddhist sites of the Eastern world (the others are Borobudur in Java, Indonesia, and Pagan in Myanmar (Burma). For many years, Angkor Wat was rumored to be a lost city, hidden from the world until its discovery by French explorer Henri Moughot in the mid-19th century.  In fact, however, it was very much a living city until 1431, when the Thais forced the Khmer court to move southeast. Studies reveal that Angkor Wat was inhabited until recently, a contention proven by the fact that one of its main temples contained Buddhist statuary from every century between the 15th and the 19th. Today the site contains magnificent temples and statuary from the Angkorian Empire, which in its heyday rivaled those of Greece and Egypt.  At the center is Angkor Wat Temple, the world’s largest religious building.  It took more than 500,000 artisans, workers, and slaves some 37 years to complete and contains five towers, each reaching more than180 feet high. Our exploration starts at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmers.  Sites here include the Elephants Terrrace, Terrace of Leper King, and the stunning Bayon Temple, an imposing stone edifice of 54 towers each carved with four enigmatic faces and decorated with bas-reliefs detailing events of the reign of Kong Jayavarman VII (1181-1202).  We return to the hotel for lunch on your own and to rest during the heat of the day, then we return to Angkor later this afternoon through sunset.  We walk across the moat through the main gates to the temple complex itself, where we see more intricately carved bas-reliefs, these depicting battles from mythology as well as scenes from every day life.  Then we return to our hotel in time for a buffet dinner there tonight. Angkor Palace Resort & Spa (B, D)

DAY 19:Depart for U.S.
This morning we transfer to the airport for our connecting flights to the U.S. (B, Meals Aloft)

PLEASE NOTE
We will do our best to adhere to our printed itinerary. Occasionally though, unexpected obstacles, and opportunities, may arise that will force us to deviate from the itinerary as written.  We would ask you to be open-minded and flexible should we vary the itinerary slightly.  In addition, please note that airline schedules are subject to change.  We will provide you with updated flight information closer to your departure.