Vietnam Holidays with Teenagers from Australia

Our Vietnam holiday with teenagers starts in the South of Vietnam. We enjoy a river boat cruise through densely connected network of rivers and canals in the Mekong Delta, passing through colorful floating markets and orchards. Then we have a day visit to its key historic sites including Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and the fascinating Notre Dame Cathedral.  Heading to Hoi An, we visit the ancient town of streets, communal houses and traditional lifestyles. In Hue, we spend some time to enrich our knowledge of the former capital of Vietnam, and possibly enjoy a visit to a poor coastal high school where students learn lessons and carry out climate change adaptation activities. The capital city of Hanoi will enrich our experiences with its historic sites, busy shopping streets and cultural places. We take a cruise boat in the spectacular Halong Bay, where the Limestone Mountains and caves combine to make up one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. Finally we explore tribal life in Sapa, one of the key attractions in the remote North Vietnam, experience the hard life of minority ethnic groups in rocky and harsh climatic terraced rice fields. A short but memorable holiday to treat your teenagers before they join universities elsewhere.

Highlights
-       Appreciating the bustling city of Saigon and seeing Saigon War Remnants Museum
-       Trying to live on floating communities on the Mekong River
-       Feeling the past through ancient town of Hoi An: its unique architecture, art, silks
-       Embracing local ways of life in Hue city and exploring Emperors’ tombs
-       Getting to know Hanoi’s rich cultural and historical values: its past and presence
-       Boat Cruise through the limestone karsts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay
-       Enjoying the magnificent Sapa landscape and colourful tribal villages
-       Exchange with high school students ideas on climate change adaptation in central Vietnam

Typhoon Usagi

The super typhoon (cat 2) has caused tremendous damages and losses to the Philippines and Taiwan. It is making landfall in Hong Kong and South China. Here is the latest update of its position at the moment.

For 24 hours lead time: the typhoon will head to the West, hitting mainly the south China. It will decrease to Cat 1 and tropical storm. Here is the position:

For 36 hours lead time: the tropical storm will continue to the West, and is likely to hit the China-Vietnam border. There will be significant rainfall and strong wind in the frontier provinces of Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Hai Phong.

Currently Vietnam is on high alert and the Government has sent the urgent telegraph to the Flood and Storm Control Board of the northern provinces to monitor the situation closely. There has been no warning from the Tourist Port Authority of Quang Ninh province where all overnight boards are registered with. The official announcement is expected to be made in the next day. It is therefore unclear whether overnight cruises in Halong Bay will be canceled or not. More updates will be posted.

Storm No 8

The tropical depression has formed a new storm, No 8 this year, over the seas of Hoi An and Da Nang. The storm is heading to the West at the speed of 10 km per hour and is predicted to hit the mainland in a couple of days.

At 7AM tomorrow, it will be just 240 kms far away from Hoi An beach. At 7Am the day after, it will be hitting the coastline of the central provinces. It is anticipated that there will be significant rainfall for a few days in the region.

 

The storm No 8 has not been given a specific international name. This is the latest update from the national weather forecast of Vietnam. By now there have been two active tropical systems over the Philippines.

 It

Holiday makers in Hoi An and Hue should beware of the current situation and make their plan to cope with the storm. Travelers who are intend to visit these destinations should watch out for more weather forecasts and update. More information of the storm No 8 will be updated in the coming days.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on Fire

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on Fire

At 20PM on the 8^th September 2013, the billboard around 8 meters in length that was hung in front of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre (on the Dinh Tien Hoang Street , Hanoi ) suddenly ignited. The fire was fierce and quickly burst into a big flame, controlling the whole building and trapping dozens of foreign tourists inside.

A loud bang came from the billboard in front of the Theatre. The fire burst into a flame that swallowed the whole front of the Theater. One corner of the Theater was totally covered by the flame. The thick smoke arose. The plastic from the billboard fell down on the ground and continued burning. People around were too scared. All shops around had to close fear of the fire.

At the time of the fire, some 30 actors and staff were welcoming tourists to see the expected performances starting at 20PM. When people discovered the fire, the show was canceled. People tried to stop the fire and guided tourists to the emergency exit.  Mr Bui Duy Tan , Theater actor , said: "People initially panicked , but then calmed down knowing that the fired did not attack the inside”.
About 10 minutes later, two fire trucks were dispatched. The fire was under control after about 20 minutes. There were no casualties, and the next houses were not on fire too. The inside of the Theatre were almost not impacted. However, the billboard covering a front corner of Thang Long Puppet Theatre was burned down.

The fire occurred on Sunday evening. The Theatre location was adjacent to the Sword Lake, where hundreds of people were walking around, causing traffic congestion at the Dinh Tien Hoang Street.  Police said the fire was caused by electrical problem during the continuous rains over the last week.

Vietnam Travels

Overview
Our trip starts in busy and bustling Saigon. We have a half day visit to its key historic sites including Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and the fascinating Notre Dame Cathedral. We enjoy a river boat cruise through densely connected network of rivers and canals in the Mekong Delta, passing through colorful floating markets and orchards. We then try to explore the stronghold of Cu Chi tunnel, crawling through tiny path to experience a guerrilla life. Heading to Hoi An, we visit the ancient town of streets, communal houses and traditional lifestyles. In Hue, we spend some time to enrich our knowledge of the former capital of Vietnam, and enjoy a visit to a poor coastal school where primary students learn lessons and carry out climate change adaptation activities. The capital city of Hanoi will enrich our experiences with its historic sites, busy shopping streets and cultural places. We take a cruise boat in the spectacular Halong Bay, where the Limestone Mountains and caves combine to make up one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. Finally we explore tribal life in Sapa, one of the key attractions in the remote North Vietnam, experience the hard life of minority ethnic groups in rocky and harsh climatic terraced rice fields.

Highlights
-       Appreciating the bustling city of Saigon and seeing Saigon War Remnants Museum
-       Crawling like guerrillas in Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam’s longest underground networks
-       Trying to live on floating communities on the Mekong River
-       Feeling the past through ancient town of Hoi An: its unique architecture, art, silks
-       Embracing local ways of life in Hue city and exploring Emperors’ tombs
-       Getting to know Hanoi’s rich cultural and historical values: its past and presence
-       Boat Cruise through the limestone karsts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay
-       Enjoying the magnificent Sapa landscape and colourful tribal villages

Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival in Saigon
This is a free day in Saigon. We pick you up from the Tan Son Nhat airport which is some kms away from the central business districts. Transfer to the hotel, have a shower and a rest. Explore the city on your own in the evening.

Day 1: Saigon city tour (Dinner)
Have a pleasant morning at your own to recover from the jetlag. At 13PM, start having a half day tour to explore this vibrant city, visitting its key historic sites including Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and the fascinating Notre Dame Cathedral. At the end of the day, have a dinner before we take you back to the hotel or the CBD for a short walk. Overnight in Au Lac 2 hotel.    

Day 2: Mekong Delta day trip (Breakfast, Lunch)
7AM: Today we will transfer in a private car to the town of Cai Be town (80 kms away) in the Mekong Delta to take a private river boat trip. This journey cruises through floating markets, rice fields, fruit plantations and so on along a densely connected network of rivers and canals. An absolutely amazing view of a totally flat, low-lying delta that seems to have no boundary will bring you an immense feeling of this region. Get back to the city in the afternoon. Overnight in Au Lac 2 hotel.

Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels -Hoi An (Breakfast, Lunch)
7AM: check out and start the tour. In the morning we will explore an incredible network of underground tunnel designed and constructed to withstand fierce crack down of the external forces, the Cu Chi tunnel. No word could describe it better than experience it yourself. Come and see how Vietnam won the war. You will have to appreciate the talent of the country. Have lunch and take a rest among the scenic rural settings. Get back to the city airport for a flight to Da Nang (VN1320 taking off at 15.55). Get transferred to Hoi An. Free to explore this historical town at night. Overnight in Hoi An Glory and Spa.

Day 4: Hoi An (Breakfast, Lunch)
8AM: The ancient and historic town of Hoi An was for three centuries one of the most important ports in Central Vietnam, visited by sailing ships from all over the world seeking trade in silk, ceramics, spice etc. We have a half day bicycle tour to visit rural villages that once provided services and goods to merchants in town. Get relaxed along the ever green, small lanes full of vegetables, flowers, water buffalos. In the afternoon we visit Japanese covered bridge, Tan Ky Old hose, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Cham Museum and Chinese Assembly Hall. Then get back for a great swim in Cua Dai beach. The beach is clean, shallow and often calm. Enjoy seafood and local delicacies by the beach or in a restaurant. In the evening you explore this ancient city on foot on your own. Overnight in Hoi An Glory and Spa (One Deluxe room).

Day 5: Hoi An –Hue by car (Breakfast, Lunch)
8AM: After breakfast, we check out and take a three hour drive to another World Heritage site, Hue city. Along the way our car passes by stunning coastal scenery and Lang Co beach. Check in hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, we start discovering key highlights of Hue: the Imperial City where the last 13 Vietnamese emperors lived and reined the country: Ngo Mon gate, the Forbidden Purple Palace, The Mieu Temple. Then we pass by rice field and beautiful green hills to reach the tomb of Khai Dinh emperor. A magnificent place that buried the king is seen as a symbol of glory luxury lifestyle. Overnight in Camellia Hotel.

Day 6: Hue school –Hanoi by SE4 train (Breakfast, Lunch)  
8AM: After breakfast, we start the tour to a less traveled corner of Hue province. Further to the east coast of Hue, the rural life remains unchanged for centuries. We have a half day visit to a primary school in the outskirt of Hue city to interact with primary school students. Hue is one of the most disaster prone provinces, and annually it is hit by several floods and typhoons. As climate change is affecting Hue severely, communities and students are learning new initiatives to adapt to new circumstances. We will have a half day discussion, chat, enjoy some games, or teach them some English. Have lunch in the commune, then visit the Thanh Toan tiled bridge. Get back to the hotel, have a shower. Enjoy the streets of Hue before we take the night train to Hanoi, leaving at 4.30 PM and arriving at 4.30 AM the next morning. Overnight on SE4 train.

Day 7: Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch)
4.30AM, get picked up from train station, transferred to our hotel for an early check in. At 8.00AM, we drive to Ho Chi Minh complex, spend a couple of hours to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh museum.  We walk to the One Pillar Pagoda, the iconic Buddhist temple of Vietnam. We continue to the Temple of Literature originally built as a temple of Confucius. This is the site of the Vietnam first university dating back to 1070. The Temple highlights the importance of education. Have lunch in KOTO restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the Museum of ethnology, the most interesting museum in Vietnam, showing the diverse cultures of 54 ethnic groups in the country. In the evening, you two enjoy the unguided water puppet show in the Old Quarter Area. Overnight in Hanoi Posh Hotel.

Day 8: Hanoi-Halong Bay on Paloma Cruise (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
7.30-7.45AM: the shuttle bus picks you up from the hotel where you will leave heavy luggage. Take a

four hour drive to Halong Bay before boarding on our cruise boat. We will cruise through remarkable limestone formations of Halong Bay. We have the opportunities to enjoy a swim, visits to stunningly beautiful grottos and do some kayaking. Overnight on the cruise boat will be a memorable experience for all group members. Overnight on Deluxe cabins of the Paloma Cruise boat.

Day 9: Halong Bay-Hanoi-Sapa by train (Breakfast, lunch)
In the morning, enjoy some guided Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. We continue sightseeing and cruising around Halong Bay. Have lunch onboard before turning to the harbor and driving back to Hanoi. We arrive in Hanoi at about 4PM. Collect our heavy luggage from the hotel, have a shower and dinner before we transfer you to the Tran Quy Cap Train Station at around 7.30PM to catch a train to Sapa. The train leaves at 21.30PM. Overnight on Orient Express (Soft sleeper, 4 berth cabin). 

Day 10 : Sapa Discovery (Breakfast).
5AMA: The train arrives in Lao Cai Train Station, which is some 30 kms from the Sapa Town. Transfer to the hotel for a breakfast and check in, have a great shower in this magnificent hotel by the beautiful valley. Have a half day free (explore the town then have lunch by yourself). Early in the afternoon, we start to have a half day private tour to see Cat Cat village, home to H’mong ethnic group. Enjoy the traditional lifestyles, scenery and landscape, and daily activities of the group. Overnight in Holiday Sapa Hotel.

Day 11: Sapa - Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch).
8AM: Today we have a combined trekking and car-transferring visit to Ma Cha and Ta Phin village. In the beginning, our car will take us out of town to Ma Cha village of the Black H’mong, and spend few hours in the primary school very untouched by mainstream tourists. Get interactions with ethnic school children and teachers, share things and learn things from these resilient community members. Start the trek of 7-9km from Ma Cha to Ta Phin. In the afternoon, we get to Ta Phin, home to the Red Zao ethnic group who is very skilled at handicraft and herbal medicine. After sightseeing in Ta Phin village, in the afternoon around 3PM, we transfer you back to the Hotel for a shower and a rest. Have dinner at your own. In the evening, we transfer to Lao Cai City to catch the night train back to Hanoi at 9PM.  Overnight on Orient Express (Soft sleeper, 4 berth cabin).

Day 12: Train station to Hanoi hotel
5AM: We pick you up from the train station and drop you off at the hotel. Spend the last day shopping and exploring the city unguided. Hanoi has lots to offer, and the Old Quarter streets are havens for beers, street food, silk, handicraft products. Or try to get to know the many fascinating museums, pagodas and temples. Overnight in Hanoi Posh hotel.

Day 0: Hanoi departure
At your own time schedule. We will take you to the Noi Bai International airport for the flight home. End of service.

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Hanoi car rental, rent a car in Hanoi 

Booking travel services can be handy and cheaper if you know the destinations well enough, or if you want a customized Vietnam trip. Save your time, efforts and money by using our high quality travel services for cheap Sapa train tickets, discount airfares, top car rentals and on-arrival Vietnam visas.

Purpose

Car rental can be for various purposes including: airport transfer or pick up, doing a day trip out of Hanoi, visiting a friend in his home town, doing a business trip to a factory in nearby provinces, visiting your partners in Hanoi, having a discussion with universities, etc. In these situations, you will need a car and an experienced driver to support you with travel to make sure you get to the destination on time and hassle free. On the other hand, you don’t need a costly tour that provides extra things you don’t want while you are in Hanoi.

See the best tours in Hanoi: - Hoa Binh Hill Tribe Village - Vietnam Heritages Explored - Ba Vi National Park Fatpacking Tour

Our new fleet for 2013
-          3 luxurious 4 seat cars for business trips: BMW, Mercedes, and Toyota Camry
 
-          2 standard 7 seat cars for private group day trips: Toyota Innova.

-          2 brand new 16 seat vans for small group excursions: Ford Transit and Mercedes Benz


Packaged services
-          A car which meets all of your specific requirements
-          24/7 customer support at 098 362 9088
-          All bridge tolls, parking fees, taxes, surcharges, fuels and repairs.
-          An experienced, helpful, English speaking driver to accompany you unless you want to drive in crazy streets of Vietnam.
-          Car and passenger insurance
-          Feeding and housing the driver on trips out of town.
-          Free support to liaison on your behalf with your partners, local authorities, universities or companies.
-          Free travel advice to make your Vietnam visit as memorable as possible

Combining with a Vietnam trip?
For frequent visitors or expat families, booking a tour is a bit more costly than organizing one by yourself. Just rent a good car with a driver, and off you go to sightseeing places outside the cities. All you have to do is to get relaxed on the road, buy some entrance tickets, and prepare your lunches.
For longer customized trips, lets our experienced travel consultants customize a trip for you. At times, you will be accompanied by a group of friends, family members, or business partners. Then you need some professional travel consultants to take care of details (what to see, how to get there, what to treat your group, local customs to follow, travel insurance, etc).
Finding a hotel and negotiating for a hotel discount can be difficult for independent travelers. Combining car rental and discount hotel booking will solve an unnecessary headache.

What is one day rental?
One day rental is from 7AM until 19PM of the same day. However you will not need to pay extra working hours to the driver! We will do it, not you.

Frequently asked questions

Do you rent a car without a driver?
Yes we rent a car without its driver to expats in Vietnam only. Travelers who want a car without a driver should take horrific traffic in Vietnam into consideration. It is best to get a car and a driver for a smooth and relaxing trip.

What is the minimum number of kilometers for one day?
It is 100 kilometers per day. If you travel only 150 kilometers for two days, you will be charged for 200 kilometers.

How are rates calculated?
Rates can be calculated based on the total number of kilometers the car run multiplying with 0.5 dollar per kilometer. For example, you rented a car for one day, which run 120 kms. The rate is:  120 kms x $0.5 = $60. This rate calculation is good if you know the distance between various places you need to visit.

Rates can be calculated based on the estimated lump sum of kilometers the car run. If you don’t know the distance between various places you need to visit, we can help you with that and will give you the lump sum quote.

What are cancellation policies?
-          2 days before the use of the car: full reimbursement
-          1 day before the use of the car: a fee of $25 will be applied.

Cambodia tour, cambodia highlight, cambodia discovery, cambodia splendor, cambodia travel

We had an opportunity to visit Cambodia with a friend, and immediately we thought of going to Siem Reap and then to Angko Park. For those who want to see cultural highlights of Cambodia, a trip focusing on sites near Siem Reap should be well prepared in order to get the most out of this stunning region of Cambodia. Here is a drafted schedule to work on for a great trip:

 
Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival
Land in the airport, get picked up and transferred to the hotel for a rest. Depending on the time, you can have a city tour of the Capital. Enjoy key attractions of the city at a glimpse.  Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
After breakfast, head to Siem Reap by air or by road. In the afternoon, begin our exploration of Angkor Park with a visit to the Rolous group, Cambodia's ancient 9th century capital. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 3: Angkor Park
Start by visiting Angkor Thom, “the World of Gods”. Explore South Gate, the famous Bayon and the Elephant terrace. In the afternoon, tour the rest of the complex before making your way to the hill top temple of Phnom Pakheng to view the sunset over this timeless land. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 4: Angkor Park
Drive to Koulen Mountain where you will find the great reclining Buddha, beautiful waterfalls and many original Siva writings. Enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre Temples. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 5: Angkor Park
This morning will be spent at Angkor Wat, marveling at the work of countless artisans over many centuries. In the afternoon visit the amazing Ta Prohm which has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man's work. End the day with the temples of Banteay Kdei, surrounded by four concentric walls. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 6: Siem Reap
Today offers a change of pace, with a visit to the silk farm of Pok, the Artisan D’ Angkor and the Land Mine Museum. The Land Mine Museum is an important reminder of a tragic chapter in the history of Cambodia. In the afternoon, visit the Wat Bo Pagoda and the Old Market. Shoppers and bargain hunters will love the old market where they can purchase a variety of works by Cambodian artists and artisans.

Day 7: Siem Reap Departure
After breakfast, take some last minute shopping to buy souvenirs for friends and families. Then get transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Vietnam Street Vendors: Friends or Fouls

The street vendors are everywhere in big cities in Vietnam. They start work before the sun rises, carrying and peddling, offering their goods for sale and get back home late at night. They sell everything from flowers, fruits to foods, books and anything. Probably the image of Vietnam cities is street vendors, and as a tourist you would jump into a conclusion that scam risk is there. This article will investigate further into this group of people who earn a hard livelihood in streets of Vietnam.

Typical working tools:

 

The most typical tools include two baskets on shoulders, bicycles, cyclos, or sometimes just displaying their goods on the streets. In Hanoi, life seems so convenient. No matter where you are, you can easily get anything you need from the street vendors. They can make money by carrying a “quang ganh” (two baskets slung from each end of a wooden or bamboo pole), riding a bicycle or staying at a street’s corner.

Gender balance:              
Most ‘Street vendors’ in Vietnam is female who make their living by selling goods in the street. A significant propotion is male. Most are seasonal migrant workers from rural provinces. It portrays their daily lives, the difficulties and hardships they suffer to make a living, and their dreams for a better future. Many tourists salute these amazing people for supporting their families as well as the community, and the contribution they make to the society and the economy of Vietnam. Some do not, as they are afraid of scam risk.

Employment Context
The employment context of street vendors varies greatly. Many of them work long hours from the same site on a daily basis. Other vendors rotate among two or more sites, taking advantage of different types of clientele and different patterns of urban movement.
Low waged government staff or students also vendor. Some of them work on a more part-time basis, in weekly rotating markets or as seasonal vendors of specialty items. While some rely on street vending as a regular primary or secondary occupation, others vend only when an opportunity presents itself to earn extra income.
A variety of employment statuses can be found among street vendors. Most vendors work as independent self-employed entrepreneurs, either with or without employees. There are also many vendors who work as contributing family members, and some work as employees of informal or even formal enterprises.

Size:
In the Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, street vendors account for over 11 per cent of total informal employment. In these cities informal traders as a whole comprise 26 and 35 per cent of total informal employment, respectively.

Driving Forces
Like other occupational groups within the informal economy, the street vending sector seems to increase during economic downturns. While Vietnam economy is performing instably, and workers face the greatest increase in competition, the newly unemployed people turn to vending as a possible source of income to support their family.
Many of the working poor who enter Hanoi or Saigon streets vending do so because they cannot find jobs in the formal economy.
Other people take street vending because it offers a more flexible or even attractive employment option than wage or salaried work. Vendoring is a good way to avoid the costs of operating a formal storefront business. For many women, street vending is a more viable option even where wage work is available, because the flexibility of working hours allows them to fulfil their family need for dependent care.

Working Conditions:
Income and earnings risks are common to many street vendors. Harassment on the part of local authorities – including evictions, confiscation of merchandise, and demands for bribes – is a common source of income risk for street vendors. Vendors of seasonal goods do cope with fluctuations in supply and demand over time.
Many vendors must lift heavy loads of goods to and from their point of sale each day on their shoulders. The physical environments in which they work typically lack proper infrastructure, such as clean running water, toilets, and solid waste removal. They are also exposed to a high concentration of air pollutants and to inclement weather.These physical risks take a particular toll on young children who must accompany their mothers to vend in the streets.

Scam:
Tourists beware of street sellers who offer themselves to be photographed. They will pose with their baskets of wares balanced on headtops to be photographed or they will pass you their pole with basket of wares for you to carry and be photographed. After that, they will ask you to pay them a fee for taking their photo or using their equipments.
Lots of people are selling hats, books, fruits, flowers, postcards and t-shirt on the streets, following tourists from one place to another to sell their things. It's not always pleasant and tourists can't enjoy their walking tour because they constantly have to refuse politely from these aggressive sellers. Lots of sellers I've talked said that if they don't hassle people they don't sell anything and they go home empty handed.

Contribution to the economy
The most important point about street vendors is the large number of benefits they bring to the city and to the economy, which is often not recognized. They truly are the face of cities and they bring it to life; thus, many tourists are attracted by them to come to Saigon or Hanoi.
Street vendors contribute significantly to the local economy by providing reasonably-priced goods to the poor and middle class. This includes migrant workers, blue-collar workers and students who depend on them for daily necessities.

Helpful street vendors:
Street vendors are extremely hard-working and good people who have little income and little support. Each one of them has a story of their struggles that would touch your heart. Street vendors have really enriched expat experience living in Vietnam. They have always been open, friendly and easy to talk to, and have even taught Vietnamese to expats.
They are willing to share their life stories with those who ask and talk with foreigners without the least bit of shyness. Expats love walking down the street and seeing familiar faces and their bright smiles. It is so comforting because it makes them feel like they am part of a host community.

Journey to all World Heritages of Indochina

In an effort to draft suggested itinerary for those who want to see all three countries in a row, here is our first example: Indochina Heritage Journey. For detail and customised requirements, travelers can contact any agents to get help. 

Day 1: Hanoi
Your flight lands in Noi Bai international airport, 30 kms from Hanoi city centre. Our car will pick you up and transfer to a three star hotel in the Old Quarter. Depending on your arrival time, we will arrange tour activities that are most suitable. Once you have checked in, a short introductory meeting will take place to welcome you, and inform of useful itinerary, advice, preparations etc.

Day 2: Hanoi
We drive to Ho Chi Minh complex, spend a couple of hours to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh museum.  We walk to the One Pillar Pagoda, the iconic Buddhist temple of Vietnam. We continue to the Temple of Literature originally built as a temple of Confucius. This is the site of the Vietnam first university dating back to 1070. The Temple highlights the importance of education. In the afternoon, we visit the Museum of ethnology, the most interesting museum in Vietnam, showing the diverse cultures of 54 ethnic groups in the country.

Day 3: Halong Bay
Halong Bay is known as a majestic and mysterious natural wonder. Imagine that around 3000 or more incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin creating a breathtaking beauty. It is a pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures given by the nature. We take a four hour drive to Halong Bay before boarding on our cruise boat. We will cruise through remarkable limestone formations of Halong Bay. We have the opportunities to enjoy a swim, visits to stunningly beautiful grottos and do some kayaking. Overnight on the cruise boat will be a memorable experience for your group.

Day 4: Halong Bay-Hanoi
In the morning, enjoy some guided Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. We continue sightseeing and cruising around Halong Bay, before turning to the harbor and driving back to Hanoi. Take your own time to discover Hanoi by night in the Old Quarter. Take a quick bite and board the night Reunification Express train to Hue. Enjoy Vietnam by night along the railway including city and rural life. Remember to buy some extra fruits and drinks to the train.

Day 5: Hue
Get off the train in the early morning to start discovering the former capital city of Hue, a World Heritage site, well-known for its imperial city, relics, and emperor tombs. We start with the imperial city where the last 13 Vietnamese emperors lived and reined the country: Ngo Mon gate, the Forbidden Purple Palace, The Mieu Temple. We pass by rice field and beautiful green hills to reach the tomb of Khai Dinh emperor. A magnificent place that buried the king is seen as a symbol of glory luxury lifestyle. Take a walk along the Perfume River to reveal a special character of Hue people, something contrasting to Saigon and Hanoi in social conversations and traditions.

Day 6: Hoi An  
After breakfast, we take a three hour drive to another World Heritage site, Hoi An ancient city. Along the way our car passes by stunning coastal scenery and Lang Co beach, a new tourist destination of the central region. We continue driving through Da Nang city, a booming real estate market and a trading port. We reach the ancient and historic town of Hoi An which was for three centuries one of the most important ports in Central Vietnam, visited by sailing ships from all over the world seeking trade in silk, ceramics, spice etc. In the afternoon we visit Japanese covered bridge, Tan Ky Old hose, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Cham Museum and Chinese Assembly Hall. Then get back for a great swim in Cua Dai beach. The beach is clean, shallow and often calm. Enjoy seafood and local delicacies by the beach or in a restaurant. In the evening we explore this ancient city on foot or on rickshaw.

Day 7: Hoi An-Da Nang
Enjoy its unique architecture, lifestyle, markets, ancient houses which have been preserved for years. Extra activities for further consideration include Scuba diving/snorkeling in Cham Island; bike tour to the adjacent Marble Mountain, half day trip to the ancient ruins at My Son (kingdom of Champa), or just relax on one of the best beaches on earth, the My Khe (China Beach). In the afternoon we transfer to Da Nang for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Cu Chi Tunnels-Cao Dai Temple
We visit Cao Dai temple, a monastic religion that was formally established in Vietnam in 1926. The temple is the head quarter of Caodaism. It is a combination of different religions and beliefs such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Vietnamese spiritualism, Christianity, and Islam. We then head to Cu Chi tunnels. Situated 60 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi is now described as a heroic district for its important role in Vietnam War. Cu Chi is famous for its tunnel system of over 220 km and is a popular tourism destination for both domestic and international travelers. The network of the tunnels includes numerous trap doors, command centers, living areas, weapons factories, hospital area, and kitchens.

Day 9: Saigon
We start our city tour by visiting the War Remnants Museum to discover one chapter of the city, then head to Reunification Palace close by. Take a walk around Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the central Post Office. The afternoon is free for independent sightseeing, enjoying some coffee and ice cream, or shopping along the streets of central business districts. Take a good rest before a flight to Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap
Today we will visit Cambodia’s key tourist attraction the Angkor Archaeological Park, just 6 kms away to the North of Siem Reap. Stretching over some 400 square kilometers, including forested area, the Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries. The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom with its countless sculptural decorations. Our tour covers the famous Bayon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple within the Royal Palace enclosure, Baphuon Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Siem Reap-Phnom Penh
In the morning, we continue to explore other temples and sites at the Park including temples of Thommanon, Takeo, one of Angkor's great mountains temple, Ta Prohm who become part of the jungle, Banteay Kdei with attractive carvings, Srah Srang, Prasat Kravan unique brick sculptures. Take a good rest before your flight to Phnom Penh.

Day 13: Phnom Penh
We plan for a visit to key attractions in the capital which sits by the Mekong and the Tonle Sap Lake. Most of the impressions will be the French colonial influence amidst the strong Khmer cultural values. We will visit Wat Phnom Temple, the Silver Pagoda, one of the richest shrines in the world. The floor is made of 5.000 silver tiles. In the afternoon day, we head to the Royal Palace, a magnificent example of Khmer architecture, which was built in 1866. We will see the Throne Hall and the Napoleon III Pavilion.

Day 14: Phnom Penh- Vientiane
In the morning, we visit the National Museum, a Khmer Rouge pavilion, which is dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture. The majority are from the Angkor period (9th to 15th century), and some from the 4th century. A dark period in the country’s history is depicted at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Then in the afternoon we take a flight to Vientiane. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 15: Vientiane
Laos is well known for a slow pace of life, and the PDR is often referred to as Please Don’t Rush. Today we have the chance to explore the capital city of this beautiful country. We first visit Wat Sisaket Temple, the oldest one that survived from the Siamese war of 1828. It has more than 8000 Buddha statues inside. We then go to another Temple of Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo. This temple contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane. We then get to That Luang Stupa, Symbol  of Lao nation the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha. After lunch we continue our journey to Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land-mark of Vientiane. Other sites include Buddha Park, Friendship Bridge and a weaving village of Ban Nong Bouathong. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 16: Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Enjoy your breakfast and watch sunrise over the Mekong River. We then head to the airport for a short flight to Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage which is set amongst forested mountains and dotted with golden temples that are home to saffron robed monks. Luang Prabang is an outstanding example of the fusion of traditional architecture and Lao urban structures with those built by the European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of these two distinct cultural traditions. After lunch we have a half day tour of the town. 

Day 17: Luang Prabang
Today we enjoy a boat cruise on the Mekong River to the holy caves of Pak Ou. The Pak Ou Caves reside where the Ou River and the Mekong merge, under a limestone cliff. These caves were originally used for the worship of the river spirit until Buddhism spread into Laos from India. The trip begins zigzagging down the river, leaving winding trails in the milky brown water. Once inside, one realizes the spiritual nature of these caves. Thus over 60 decades, more than 4,000 Buddha images – mostly the standing Buddha of the Luang Prabang style - were placed within the caves by believers. In the afternoon we visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls. You will be well and truly relaxed after spending time in Luang Prabang.

Day 18: Departure
Spend the morning at leisure before you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh

The Silver Pagoda, also known as the Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morokat, which means the Emerald Pagoda, is located right inside the ground of the Royal Palace, near the Mighty Mekong Bank. However, the Pagoda nowadays has named the Silver Pagoda. The pagoda is a must visit place during any Cambodian tour.

  

Originally constructed in 1892 by the King Norodom, the Pagoda initially had a look of a wooden structure, but in 1962 the pagoda was rebuilt for its present grand look by the King Norodom Sihanouk. With the effort of making the pagoda a true symbol of the splendid Khmer art, more than 5300 pieces of 1.125 kilo silver tiles were used to cover the floor of the Pagoda.





Inside the pagoda, hundreds of royal gifts received by the Royal family over the years are now on display. Among the significant treasures of the pagoda are a solid gold Buddha craved with 9,584 diamonds of 90 kilos weight, and a small baccarat crystal Buddha dating from the 17^th century. The pagoda compound includes Wat Preah Keo Morokat, Ramayana Frescoes, Dhammasala, Keong Preah Bath, Library, Phnom Mondop, Statue of HM King Norodom, Stupa of HM King Ang Doung, etc.

Hanoi firework displays during 2013 Tet holiday

Hanoi is the heart and power centre of Vietnam. It is the centre of political and economic powers of the whole country, and it should celebrate Tet as noisily as possible.

Every year, on the eve of the old and New Year, which is Saturday the 9^th February this year, Hanoi authorities will organize firework displays in key areas to see off the old year and welcome the New Year.

What is the plan for this year?
Fireworks displays will be for 15 minutes between 0-0h15. Visitors in the Old Quarter can experience the long-range fireworks at the Sword Lake (in front of the Post Office), Thong Nhat Park, Lac Long Quan Flower Garden, Van Quan Lake, and My Dinh National Stadium.

Other short-range fireworks are in 24 local districts.
While enjoying the fireworks, be careful of pick pockets as there will be a huge crowd around the Sword Lake. Do not bring wallets and belongings along. Do not look up into the sky as firework debris can fall into your eyes.

How will 2013 Tet Holiday affect you?

Tet holiday will start from Saturday the 9^th February until the end of Sunday, the 17^th February, for a total of 9 consecutive days. The Tet holiday (Lunar New Year) is one of the most important national holidays in Vietnam.

It is the time of the year when migrant workers return to their hometown for family reunion and celebrations. The country will almost come to a stand still. Services will be running partially, and markets and business close for this period. This year the Government allows 9 days for celebration of Tet. How will the Tet holiday plan affect you as an international visitor?

-          Shops, restaurants, businesses will mostly be closed
-          Prices in restaurants will shoot up, do not be surprised.
-          Services come to a stand still as people have not got back to town from the country side
-          Or service disruption is widespread as people work part time, and the other part time is for  drinks
-          Expect to get your emails replied late or no response at all during this period
-          ATM may be out of money or functions improperly as migrant workers get all cash out
-          Taxi scam gets widespread, and be polite to negotiate the price before getting in
-          Food and meals may not be as fresh as normal as markets will have been closed
-          Be ware of drunk men on the streets, and do not try to explore streets at night
-          Internet café is closed, so try to send emails before Tet.
-          Etc

Make a good plan in order not to ruin your vacations. Some visitors try to have a home-stay with some friends back to their hometown, and take the opportunity to enjoy traditional festivals and games. Some stay on in cities and experience rare days in which cities are absent of people. In general, a well planned itinerary will help you avoid unnecessary congestion and inconvenient delays and business closures.

Interesting facts about Vietnamese New Year, unknown facts about Vietnamese New Year

Interesting facts about Vietnamese New Year, unknown facts about Vietnamese New Year

1.     Clean and decorate the home All homes are often cleaned and decorated before New Year's Eve. Children will be in charge of sweeping and scrubbing the floor. The kitchen has to be cleaned before the 23rd night of the last lunar month. Usually, the head of the household cleans the dust and ashes (from incense) from the ancestral altars. In general, it is a common belief that cleaning the house will get rid of the bad fortunes associated with the old year.

See the best tours in Vietnam: - Vietnam Attractions for Kids - Vietnam Romantic Honeymoon - Phu Quoc Beach Vacations

 

2.     Literally means “getting new clothes”
This is often the most interesting part of the Vietnamese New Year among children. Parents usually buy new clothes and shoes for their children a month prior to the New Year but children cannot wear their new clothes until the first day of the New Year and onward. The best clothes are always worn on the first day of the year.

3.     Farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Ong Tao)
Seven days (the 23rd night of the last lunar month) prior to the New Year, each Vietnamese family offers a farewell ceremony for Ong Tao to go up to the Heaven Palace. His task is to make an annual report to the Jade Emperor of the family's affairs throughout the year!

4.     New Year's Eve
In a literal translation, New Year also means "Passage from the Old to the New Year". It is a belief among Vietnamese people that there are 12 Sacred Animals from the Zodiac taking turn monitoring and controlling the affairs of the earth. Therefore, New Year's Eve is the moment of seeing the old chief to end his ruling term and pass his power to the new chief. New Year's Eve is also the time for Ong Tao (Kitchen God) to return to earth after making the report to the Jade Emperor. Every single family should offer an open-air ceremony to welcome him back to their kitchen.

5.     The Aura of the Earth
New Year's Eve is the most sacred time of the year. Therefore, the first houseguest to offer the first greeting in the New Year is very important. If the particular guest has a good aura such as well-respected, well-educated, successful, and famous, etc, it is then believed that the family will receive luck and good fortune throughout the year. The belief of “xong dat” still remains nowadays, especially among families with businesses.

6.     Apricot flowers and peach flowers
Flower buds and blossoms are the symbols for beginning a new year. These two distinctive flowers are widely sold and purchased during Tet including apricot flowers and peach flowers. Apricot flowers are the yellow apricot flowers often seen in Southern Viet Nam which are more adaptable to the hot weather of southern regions. Thus, it is known as the primary flower in every home. Peach flowers are the warm pink of the peach blossoms that match well with the dry, cold weather from the North. New Year will not be a happy celebration if there is no sight of apricot flowers in the south or peach flowers in the north in every home.

 

7.     Giving away red envelopes (filled with lucky money)
This is a cultural practice that has been maintained for generations. Red envelopes symbolize luck and wealth. It is very common to see older people giving sealed red envelopes containing some lucky money to younger people. Before receiving the envelopes, younger people have to perform a certain greeting.  Reciprocally, the older ones would return good advice and words of wisdom, encouraging the younger ones to keep up with the schoolwork, live harmoniously with others, and obey their parents. This greeting ritual and “Li Xi” is also known as “Mung Tuoi”, honoring the achievement of another year to one's life.

8.     Making offers for the Ancestors
This ceremony is also taken place on the first day of the New Year before noontime. The head of the household should perform the proper ritual (offering food, wine, cakes, fruits, and burn incense) to invite the souls of the ancestors to take part in the celebration with the family. This is the time for families to honor the souls of their ancestors and present the welfare of the family.

9.     Family reunion
New Year celebration means all family members return to their family even though they live and work in another city. Making the way home is the most exciting journey in one year’s time. No matter how hard and expensive the journey is, one must get home before the New Year’s Eve.

 

10.  Gambling

The most common and popular entertainment activity in the New Year is gambling for money, ranging from playing cards to lottery and cock fighting betting etc. Almost all people take part in some sorts of gambling in the New Year.

11.  Festivals
There are thousands of festivals to celebrate the New Year. There are local ones and national ones. Festivals are organized to welcome the New Year and wish for more success, happiness and luck. Festivals can last until the end of April, where businesses, companies and authority offices start to work more seriously.

Laos Discovery

Within the 9 day trip, your family will experience the sheer excitement of Laos. It combines getting to know the friendly Lao people with exploring the country's fascinating culture and nature. Your family will be enchanted by the charming and fascinating city of Vientiane; stunning scenery in Vang Vieng town, Luang Prabang - a UNESCO World Heritage site; peaceful Ban Pha Phet village;  breathtaking Khouang Xi Waterfalls to famous Ban Long Lao village and finish again in Luang Prabang city. The highlight of our tour is an overnight  homestay in a local village, which is an interesting experience for the whole family. In this tour you may add different travel activities to make the tour even more fun and enjoyable for both parents and children. It will be an unforgettable experience for your family in Laos.

Highlights
-       Discovering the charming and fascinating capital of Vientiane and visiting Wat Sisaket, Wat Prakeo, That

Luang Stupa.

-       Admiring the picturesque mountain landscape in Vang Vieng town.
-       Exploring famous Tham Jang cave which was used as a hideout from the Chinese invaders in the early 19th

century.

-       Viewing monks dressed in orange robes scurry in all directions carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from

the sun in Luang Prabang city.

-       Visiting the highlights of Luang Prabang, including Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, the city’s oldest

temples of Wat Sene and Wat Mai.

-       Learning more about the culture and lifestyle of local villages.
-       Going souvenir shopping in Luang Prabang.

Day 1: Arrival – Vientiane
Pick-up from the airport and transfer to your centrally located hotel. After a short relax, we begin discovering the charming and fascinating capital with an interesting mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and American influences. We will visit major highlights including Wat Sisaket - the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the well-known Emerald Buddha Image. After that, we will explore Lao’s national icon - the precious and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa. Your family will have a chance to take some beautiful pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument that is known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph. The Mekong riverside will be an ideal place to finish the first day by viewing the sunset. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 2: Vientiane – Vang Vieng
Our journey begins as we depart from Vientiane and drive along one of the most scenic routes in the whole of Asia to Vang Vieng - a small town which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River with its stunning scenery and limestone outcrops. After checking into your hotel, we will absorb the picturesque mountain landscape and explore the famous Tham Jang cave which was used as a hideout from the Chinese invaders in the early 19th century. Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 3: Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang
After breakfast, we depart early for our journey by road to Luang Prabang. While the road conditions are very poor, the stunning mountain scenery makes it worthwhile. Your family will arrive in Luang Prabang in the afternoon and have time to stroll around to catch the first glimpse of the sleepy town. This enchanting town with its gleaming temple roofs, fading colonial architecture and stunning mountain backdrop has been claimed by UNESCO to be “the best preserved traditional city in South East Asia”. Your family will be surprised by the little traffic on Luang Prabang’s roads and especially your children will be interested in seeing monks dressed in orange robes scurry in all directions, carrying umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 4: Luang Prabang – City Tour
Today we will go on a city tour to discover the famous city. It is worth visiting the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through the last sovereign. Then, we will explore some of the major highlights in this peaceful city, including the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun, the shrine of Wat Aham, the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and Wat Mai. Moreover, we will visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong, its exterior architecture is remarkable with decorated guided stuccoes and doorways, a “tree of life” mosaic pattern set in coloured glass on the back wall and its three tiered roofs sweeping low to the ground, representing classical Lao architecture. A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending 329 steps to the top of Mount Phousi for an interesting exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa. Finally, we will visit the Night Market in which your kids can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people from the surrounds of Luang Prabang . Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 5: Luang Prabang – Ban Paklung – Adventure trekking packages
The extremely beautiful mountain region around Luang Prabang is perfect for your family to go on an adventurous trekking expedition. After having breakfast, your family will cross the mighty Mekong River and visit one of the famous caves in Luang Prabang before walking to local villages. It will be a wonderful chance for your kids to learn more about villagers' culture and lifestyle. After an enjoyable stop at Ban Pha Phet village, we continue our trek and embark on a boat for a leisurely trip to Paklung, where we are fortunate to be the guests of a friendly Lao family. In the evening, we will have dinner with them and experience the hospitality of the villagers. The accommodation is very simple and dormitory style with no western facilities. Overnight at homestay in Ban Paklung village.

Day 6: Ban Paklung – Khouang Si Waterfalls
After breakfast is served by the Lao family, we will begin our full day trek, using local tracks and passing through various hill villages from Ban Jong to Ban Long Phu. On arrival at Ban Saluen, we will cross the Mekong River again and walk towards the famous Khouangsi Waterfalls, where water tumbles over multi-tiered limestone formations into a cool and crystal clear pool. Your children will enjoy in swimming and bathing to relax after spending the day trekking. Overnight in Ban Thapene near Khouang Si Waterfall.

Day 7: Ban Long Phu – Ban Long Lao
After breakfast, we will continue venturing into breathtaking areas surrounding Luang Prabang. We will walk up mountainsides passing through forests, streams and rice fields. We arrive at Ban Long Lao village by late afternoon. Your family will have time to walk around this little village, observing the lifestyle of the local people. Your kids will have unforgettable experience when talking and play with the local children. Here, we will be honored guests at a villager’s home. Overnight at homestay in Ban Long Lao village.

Day 8: Ban Long Lao – Luang Prabang
In the morning, we will trek through several small hill villages to come to Ban Xieng Mouak. Here, we will be picked up by a local transport, a Tuk Tuk for a short drive back to Luang Prabang. The rest of the day is free at your leisure for your own exploration of the town and to go shopping. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 9: Luang Prabang – Departure
Your family will be free time for you to discover the town further or to relax before your transfer to the airport for departure.

Vietnam Discovery, Vietnam Tour

Overview
A new way of exploring existing historical and highlights of Vietnam will take us to the World famous network of Tunnels at Cu Chi. We explore the South of Vietnam first, visiting Phu Quoc Paradise Island and enjoying the snorkeling and fishing there. Heading to Can Tho the next day, we will try to survive on stilt houses and boats, an amazing feeling when we stay on floating sampans. Our highlight is the floating market locally organized for some hundreds of years. The North of Vietnam Hanoi is next with all of its colonial charms: The capital city will enrich your experiences with its historic sites, busy shopping streets and cultural places. We take a cruise boat in the spectacular Halong Bay, where the Limestone Mountains and caves combine to make up one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. Heading to Hue and Hoi An, the two World Heritage sites in the centre of Vietnam, exploring Imperial City, the Ancient City and so on, before boarding our plan back home through Danang International airport.

Highlights
-       Appreciating the longest tunnel at Cu Chi, seeing Saigon war remnants museum
-       Enjoying a paradise on Phu Quoc beach, taking a scuba diving and snorkeling
-       Exploring floating communities on the Mekong River
-       Getting to know Hanoi’s rich cultural and historical values: its past and presence
-       Boat Cruise through the limestone karsts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Halong Bay
-       Discovering the former capital city of Hue, a World Heritage site
-       Feeling the past through ancient town of Hoi An: its unique architecture, art, silks
 

Itinerary

Day 1: Saigon
Our team lands in Saigon international airport, 10 kms from the city centre, and is then transferred to a three star hotel in District 1. Once you have checked in, a short introductory meeting will take place to welcome you, and inform of useful itinerary, advice, preparations etc. Depending on your arrival time, we start our city tour by visiting the War Remnants Museum to discover one chapter of the city, then head to Reunification Palace close by. Take a walk around Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral and the central Post Office.

Day 2: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels
In the morning we will explore an incredible network of underground tunnel designed and constructed to withstand fierce crack down of the external forces, the Cu Chi tunnel. Come and see how Viet Nam won the war. No word could describe it better than experience it yourself. You’ ve got to appreciate the talent of the country. In the afternoon, we head out to the airport for our flight to Phu Quoc.

Day 3: Phu Quoc
So now you have landed on the so-called Caribbean Paradise Island of Vietnam. Get transferred to your beach front resort. The rest of the day is at leisure. Lots of things you can do: taking a sun bed and relaxing at the stunning beach; enjoy a great swim before having a massage right on the beach; visit Night Market and have dinner.

Day 4: Phu Quoc
The highlight of today is a snorkeling visit to An Thoi Island in the south of the Phu Quoc. We pass by a Pearl Farm selling precious pearls. Then onboard a cruise boat and start our discovery journey some 15 kms from the shore. A group of protected islands is in the front. We reach the destination by around 11h. Enjoy some amateur fishing. Have lunch onboard before start snorkeling to discover coral reefs, fish and sea weeds.

Day 5: Phu Quoc
The morning is free, relaxing and enjoying some fresh sea breeze by the beach. Or arrange your own time and explore the Island on a rented scooter. In the afternoon, we head to the airport for our flight to Can Tho, the centre of the Mekong delta.

Day 6: Can Tho - Mekong Delta
In the morning, we take a cruise boat cruising through floating markets, rice fields, fruit plantations and so on along a densely connected network of rivers and canals. An absolutely amazing view of a totally flat, low-lying delta that seems to have no have no boundary will bring you an immense feeling of this region. Dinner by the Ninh Kieu Quay, the most historical symbol of the capital city of the Mekong Delta.

Day 7: Can Tho - Hanoi
Discovery the lifestyle on boats, stilt houses and so on, enjoy some fresh air, fruits, café and shopping of the Mekong before taking for a flight to Hanoi. Check in our hotel in the Old Quarters. Free in the afternoon. In the evening we enjoy a performance of Hanoi’s famous Water Puppets - kids and parents will be equally delighted! Enjoy dinner on one of the best local restaurant.

Day 8: Hanoi
We drive to Ho Chi Minh complex, spend a couple of hours to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh museum.  We walk to the One Pillar Pagoda, the iconic Buddhist temple of Vietnam. We continue to the Temple of Literature originally built as a temple of Confucius. This is the site of the Vietnam first university dating back to 1070. The Temple highlights the importance of education. In the afternoon, we visit the Museum of ethnology, the most interesting museum in Vietnam, showing the diverse cultures of 54 ethnic groups in the country.

Day 9: Halong Bay
Take a four hour drive to Halong Bay before boarding on our cruise boat. We will cruise through remarkable limestone formations of Halong Bay. We have the opportunities to enjoy a swim, visits to stunningly beautiful grottos and do some kayaking. Overnight on the cruise boat will be a memorable experience for your family.

Day 10: Halong Bay-Hanoi
In the morning, enjoy some guided Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. We continue sightseeing and cruising around Halong Bay, before turning to the harbor and driving back to Hanoi railway station for our train to Hue.

Day 11: Hanoi - Hue
Start discovering the former capital city of Hue, a World Heritage site, well-known for its imperial city, relics, and emperor tombs. We start with the imperial city where the last 13 Vietnamese emperors lived and reined the country: Ngo Mon gate, the Forbidden Purple Palace, The Mieu Temple. Dinner in a fine local restaurant.

Day 12: Hue
We pass by rice field and beautiful green hills to reach the tomb of Khai Dinh emperor. A magnificent place that buried the king is seen as a symbol of glory luxury lifestyle. A visit to Thien Mu Pagoda seen as the origin of Vietnam Buddhism. Take a walk along the Perfume River to reveal a special character of Hue people, something contrasting to Saigon and Hanoi in social conversations and traditions.

Day 13-14: Hue - Hoi An  
After breakfast, we take a four hour drive to another World Heritage site, Hoi An ancient city. Along the way our car passes by stunning coastal scenery and Lang Co beach, a new tourist destination of the central region. We continue driving through Da Nang city, a booming real estate market and a trading port. We reach the ancient and historic town of Hoi An which was for three centuries one of the most important ports in Central Vietnam, visited by sailing ships from all over the world seeking trade in silk, ceramics, spice etc. Enjoy its unique architecture, lifestyle, night markets, ancient houses which have been preserved for years. Extra activities for further consideration include Scuba diving/snorkeling in Cham Island, bike to the adjacent Marble Mountain, half day trip to the ancient ruins at My Son (kingdom of Champa), or just relax on one of the best beaches on earth, the My Khe (China Beach).

Day 15: Danang – Departure
We will have a small party to celebrate our Vietnam family trip before transferring to Danang International airport for the flight home.

Loving Vietnamese cuisine? Well, learn to cook some of our dishes!

Food presents at the very centre of Vietnamese culture: food plays an important role in every significant holiday on the Vietnamese cultural calendar, all the important milestones in a Vietnamese person's life, and indeed, most of the important day-to-day social events and interactions.

Vietnamese food always uses a lot of vegetables (boiled, fried, pickled, and raw). Sometimes vegetables are cooked with beef, fish, chicken, etc to produce a mixed dish of veggie and meat. Almost all meals in all regions of Vietnam, you will see at least a type of veggie on the table. It is therefore very healthy.  

It also features the mixture of ingredients which are not too spicy, sweet or fatty. Additional material (spices) to Vietnamese cooking is very rich, including many aromatic herbs (basil, marjoram, onion, etc); vegetable spices (pepper, lemongrass, shallots, garlic, ginger); fermented condiments (shrimp sauce, wine, vinegar, etc).

Another special feature of Vietnamese cuisine which is different from the other countries, especially in Western is the usage of "sauces" and chopsticks. Fish sauce is used often in Vietnamese cuisine which makes the dishes tastier. Some tourists may not be able to taste it on the first day, but they will get used to it along the tours and finally love to food cooked with it. While the usage of chopsticks is symbol of unity and the close-knit community of Vietnamese, it may also be quite challenging for tourists.

Vietnamese territory is divided into three distinct regions: North, Central and South. The main characteristics of geography, cultures, ethnicities, climate regulations etc specify characteristics of cuisine of each region which contributes to the richness and diversity of Vietnamese cuisine.

Northern Cuisine is often not spicy, fatty, and sweet as in other regions. It features and uses a variety of vegetable dishes and fresh seafood readily available, such as shrimp, crabs, fish, clams, mussels, etc. Many people appreciate that Cuisine in Hanoi is the most typical culinary of North Vietnam with the pho, bun thang, bun cha, etc.

Central food with all its unique characteristics is expressed through a distinct flavor: more spicy and savory than cuisine in the North and South which is mixed colorfully and brilliantly. Central provinces such as Hue, Da Nang, Binh Dinh is famous for shrimp sauce and sour sauce procession. In particular, due to the impact from the royal cuisine, Hue cuisine is very complicated in processing and presentation.

Southern cuisine is influenced by cuisine of China, Cambodia and Thailand. Thus it is characterized by often adding sugar or use of coconut milk for main dishes. The Mekong region often cooks fish with veggie and fruits, making a special flavor and taste. 

Author: Duong Van Hung

Noi Bai airport – Ha Long transfer

Noi Bai international airport is about 185 km from Halong. Our advice is to begin your wonderful holiday in Halong by arranging an airport pick up in advance, and NOT to take a taxi on arrival to avoid taxi scam. Booking a pick up or transfer is really convenient and safe.

Red Crane Travel offers a reliable airport pickup and transfer to Halong with only $120 for a 4 seat car. You will be met and greeted upon arrival. After enjoying your journey from Noi Bai International Airport to your arrival in Halong.
From Airport to your arrival:
- Driving time: 4 hours
- Distance: 185 km
- Price: $120, including everything

Beware of Taxi Scam
Some travelers just walk out of the airport and get in a taxi. While some taxi drivers are honest, there are countless stories of bad ones who try to riff you off. Beware of scam by booking a private pick up or transfer for ease of mind. The difference between a private prearranged one and a taxi is just some dollars. What you will get in return is a huge difference in mind.  Stop scam and stress, try the private service.

Tan Son Nhat Airport Pick up, Ho Chi Minh City Airport Pickup

It is true that the oversea flight to Ho Chi Minh City can be a tiring one. Upon your arrival, you will still have work to do: Get your luggage, get through the immigration, and finally try to get to the downtown (district 1). If you have not arranged for the airport pickup, catching a taxi can be uncomfortable and there is a risk of taxi scam.

Red Crane Travel offers a reliable airport pickup for $20 for a 4 seat car. You will be met and greeted upon arrival. Then enjoy your journey from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to your hotel in the downtown.

From Tan Son Nhat airport to city center:
- Driving time: 30 minutes
- Distance: 7 km

Beware of Taxi Scam
The average cost is from 8-10 dollars for a taxi to your hotel in the downtown. However it is on the safe side to note down in a piece of paper that you pay for a 4 seat taxi, and not every person in your group has to pay $8-$10!

Our advice is to avoid all this mess and arrange one comfortable airport pickup sedan in advance. No hidden fee or extra cost will be charged, and the pickup cost has included everything to take you to the central districts.

Help legal tour operators and travel agencies to protect you by reporting taxi scam cases at info@redcranetravel.com. We will deal with the matter strictly and refer to local authorities for further actions.