HANOI - HALONG - HUE - DA NANG - HOI AN  - SAIGON – SIEM REAP- SAIGON

(14 days, from  29 February to 13 March 2008)

Day 1. Fri 29

Greeting at airport at 15.40 and transfer to your hotel. Free time to relax after a long flight and enjoy your first evening in The Capital of Vietnam.  Overnight at Melia Hotel *****

Hanoi city tour : Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his house-on-stilts inside the Presidential Palace compound, then visit the One Pillar Pagoda nearby . Transfer to the beautiful West Lake to visit the ancient Tran Quoc buddhist pagoda and the Quan Thanh taoist temple. In the afternoon , visit the Confucean Temple of Literature which is Vietnam’s first university founded in the 11^th century. Transfer again to the Sword Restored Lake in the centre of Hanoi to visit the Jade Mountain Temple and a nearby shopping street and a local market. Enjoy a water puppetry show at 14.45 then a brief excursion to visit the Old Quarters by rickshaw in one hour.Overnight at Melia Hotel ***** in Hanoi.

After breakfast, departure to Halong City with several photo stops to get acquainted with life in the Red River Delta. Arrival at Halong Bay around noon. Welcome on board of Halong Jasmin Junk (your Spanish-speaking guide is not allowed to board the Junk, you will be served by on-board English-speaking guides)  and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth.  

After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with Halong Jasmin golden sails, go swimming on a quite beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishmen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations.

At sunset time, kayaking  (optional, with a supplement of USD60 per person for 2 hours) or enjoying cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at Jasmin restaurant.Overnight  on Jasmin Junk

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit beautiful limestone grotto then back to the boat for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Transfer directly to airport for Hanoi/Hue flight VN247 (19.30-21.30). Transfer to your hotel in Hue.Overnight at Imperial Hotel *****

Morning : Cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda on the bank of the river. Then visit the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. In the afternoon :visit the Imperial Palace and Royal Citadel . Overnight at Imperial Hotel ***** in Hue.

Transfer to Da Nang via Hai Van Pass . Continue to Hoi An Ancient Town.  Afternoon : visit to Hoi An Ancient Town : the Japanese Bridge, the Fukien Chinese Congregation House, then a stroll between ancient houses and temples in Hoian, including the Tanky's House, 200 years of antiquity, with Chinese poems written in nacre inlaid, or even the structure oldest call "The House at Tran Phu St.", made of carved wood. Visit city's Market, located on the right bank of the river and one of the most colorful places of the trip. Transfer to Cua Dai Beach 5 km away for overnight at Palm Garden Resort***** .

All the day , leisure time at Cua Dai beach in Hoi An. Night at Palm Garden Resort*****.  

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All the day , leisure time at Cua Dai beach in Hoi An. Night at Palm Garden Resort*****.  

Transfer to Da nang airport for the flight Da Nang /Saigon  VN323 13.40 – 14.50.  Saigon city tour to visit  fine examples of French colonial architecture, the Notre Dame Basilic and the Old Saigon Post Office. Overnight at Caravelle Hotel***** in Saigon.

After breakfast, a 3-hour drive. full day trip to the watery world of the Mekong Delta. A stop en route to visit a Cao Dai temple in My Tho province. At Cai Be, take a boat trip along narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. Enjoy the landscape of the Mekong delta with  floating markets. Lunch in a bonsai garden  on an island in the Mekong for sample of local delicacies. Return to Saigon, and visit Phuong Nam  lacquer ware factory. Overnight at Caravelle Hotel***** in Saigon.

Morning : free . Transfer to airport  for  VN 813 Saigon/Siem Reap flight ( 11.40 - 12.40)  Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport, welcome by Cambodian guide and transfer to your hotel.  After check-in, short visit to Siem Reap city. Overnight at la Residence d’Angkor ***** in Siem Reap .

The discovery of Angkor Ruins begins with the visit the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, 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.

After lunch, drive out to Angkor Thom to discover the impressive Angkor Thom: South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King and Phimean Akas Temple.

Then visit to other temples and sites :  Thomonon, Chao Say Tevoda, Takeo, Ta Prom, Bunteay Kdey and Sras Srong.

After that, visit Ba Kheng Temple: the first temple in the Angkor region built by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, and enjoy a romantic sun set view form Bakheng hill.

Overnight at la Residence d’Angkor *****   in Siem Reap.

Morning, drive to Kbal Spean. Walk 45 minutes through the forest to the top of the hill to reach Kbal Spean, the "Thousand Linga River." Discover the 10th-12th century sculptures chiseled into the rocky riverbed, the Royal Bath and the waterfall. Continue to the enchanting temple of the Banteay Srei, nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its compact size, remarkable state of preservation, and the excellence of it decorative carvings. In the afternoon, visit Banteay Samre. Return to Siem Reap at the end of the afternoon. Accommodation at la Residence d’Angkor ***** in Siem Reap

We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake. Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, hospitals, and the handicrafts school Les Artisans d’Angkor.

Rolling at local market for shopping until transfer to Siem Reap International airport  for Siem Reao/Saigon flight  VN822  ( 17.25 – 18,25) and connection to departure flight. AF169 at 20.20

TOUR COST : USD 2190  per person in double rooms

INCLUDING:

-                accommodation double rooms in 5* hotels with buffet breakfast

-                Airport transfers & Transport by air con. vehicles as per program

-                Sightseeing and entrance fees as specified

-                Local  Spanish speaking guide as per program

-                Domestic and inter Vietnam-Cambodia air ticket for flights : Hanoi/Hue, Danang/Saigon, Saigon/Siem Reap, Siem Reap/Saigon

-                Cruise in Halong Bay and overnight on board  with Halong Jasmine Junk

-                Boat trip on Perfume River, Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake

-                Cold water during transfers

NOT INCLUDING:

-                Visa fee to Vietnam (55$) and to Cambodia: (visa upon arrival : 20$)

-                International air ticket Madrid/Hanoi and Saigon/Madrid

-                International airport tax in Siem Reap 25$

-                Drink, personal expenses and tips.