VIETNAM
FULL & HALF DAY TOURS

Often referred to as the mini 'Angkor Wat' of Vietnam, the Cham ruins at My Son are well worth the slightly arduous journey needed to reach them.
You will start your day with an early morning drive from Danang/Hoi An through 60 km of rolling countryside, before hitting the last few kilometres leading into My Son which are quite rough.
On arriving at the My Son area you will transfer to a local jeep for the last spectacular 3 km bump and jolt along a river gorge.
Finally a short walk before emerging into the main site.
Your guide will offer full commentary on the Cham heritage of My Son whilst you wander at will around this most historic site.
Your included lunch will be taken at a local restaurant en-route back to Danang.

After a short walking tour of the town meet with Ms. Vy, who will escort you through the market place, with in depth explanations of the herbs, spices, fruits and seafood that will need to be purchased in preparation for her cooking lesson.

Guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese foods and prepare their own dishes under Ms. Vy's guidance, before enjoying these dishes for a sumptuous lunch.

Travel the bustling highway into the surrounding countryside where you will pass lush rice paddies carefully tended, before boarding your motorised sampan for a unique experience on the mighty Mekong Delta waterways.

Enjoy a sample of delicious fruit in the shade of a fruit farmer's garden before continuing via even smaller waterways to lunch, where the speciality is a remarkable dish of 'elephants ear fish'.

Situated some 60km from Hanoi, the Perfume Pagoda is one of the most famous sites surrounding the city. Journey first by road before boarding your simple sampan for the serene ride to the enormous complex of pagodas and shrines built into the cliffs of the Huong Tich Mountain, known collectively as the Perfume Pagoda.

Journey out of the city centre to the Cu Chi regions, where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels, with secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above.

Cu Chi Tunnels vast underground tunnels, with secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living and meeting rooms.

Tour the charming merchant town of Hoi An on foot with your guide, then journey by boat along the Thu Bon river to see the famed market from the waters edge.

Continue up-river to the riverside Brother's Cafe to enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch included in your tour, followed by a 5 kilometre bicycle ride to Cua Dai beach where you stop for a refreshing drink at the Victoria Resort before returning to your hotel.

A cyclo (pedi-cab) awaits for your transfer to the theatre, where the 'stage' is a pool of water in which the hidden puppeteer must stand (waist deep!) to skillfully manoeuvre dancing puppets on its surface. Following the performance, transfer by private vehicle to dinner in one of Hanoi's many superb Vietnamese restaurants.

Three hours east of Hanoi lies Halong Bay, often called Vietnam's eighth wonder of the world.

Upon arrival in Halong you will hire a traditional Chinese-style sailing junk and meander through the area, stopping off at an islet to climb through a series of breathtaking caves and grottoes, marvelling at some of the most impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations anywhere in the world.

Whilst cruising, enjoy an included delicious seafood lunch served on board your very own private vessel.

Visit the Presidential Palace, now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American War.

Continue to the History Museum, with a water puppet performance housed in the grounds.

See Notre Dame, the 'wedding cake' styled hotel d'ville, and Dong Khoi Street, formerly the centre of haute couture in Saigon when it was known as Rue Catinat.

40 kilometres southwest of Hanoi lies the Thay Pagoda (Master's pagoda), widely known for its finely carved statues in lacquer and gold of Buddha in his past and present form, and for its colourful Buddhist ceremonies.

Water puppetry is also occasionally performed in the courtyard of the pagoda.

Only 6 kilometres away lies Tay Phuong Pagoda situated at the top of a small hillock. Built in 1794, this pagoda is famous for its vast display of finely carved wooden statues of former monks from the 18th Century.

Just 128 kilometres south east of Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau is a favoured beach resort for the local Saigonese.
Pass through picturesque rice paddies to the eastern point of land once known as Cape St Jaques, and marked by a large Jesus statue (a la Rio de Janeiro).
Visit the former royal residence of Bach Dinh with its refreshing ocean views and bougainvillea surrounds.
This tour finishes off with a swim at one of several popular beaches after lunch in an excellent local restaurant.

Visit Cholon, which is the focus of the Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by the Cha Tam Church and the impressive Thien Hau Temple, famous for the huge coils of incense hanging from the ornate ceiling. Finally you will see Binh Tay market and the surrounding area, before stopping at a tiny Cao Dai temple on your return journey.

Enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake en-route to one of the city's fascinating museums (Army, History or Fine Arts, depending on your preference).

Continue to the Temple of Literature, then take to the streets on foot for a walking tour of the Ancient Quarter or 36 Streets District. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you will see street names such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street - a true souvenir hunter's paradise!

Combine a morning tour of Ba Dinh Square including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Museum and cottage, with an afternoon Hanoi Highlights tour for a thorough exploration of this Paris of the Orient.

Lunch is included at one of Hanoi's superb local restaurants.