Taste of Vietnam with the South Carolina Bar Senior Lawyers Division
Bustling Ho Chi Minh City, picturesque colonial Hoi An, world-heritage Halong Bay & the northern capital of Hanoi
Overview
Final reservations deadline: November 15, 2017
Style | Custom Group Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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What to Expect | This moderately-paced, locally hosted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip domestic flight from Charlotte, N.C. to New York via Delta Airlines
- Roundtrip flights from New York (JFK) via scheduled China Airlines wide-body jet service including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
- All intra-Asia flights and ground transportation
- 9 nights’ deluxe and superior class hotels with private bath
- 1 night post hotel in New York (JFK Airport Hotel)
- 18 Meals: 10 buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches & 2 dinners
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking tour director and local guides
Optional add-ons
- Air upgrade option for Premium Economy
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA
- Check-in for your domestic flight from Charlotte to New York. Connect with your ongoing flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam via Taipei, Taiwan departing after midnight from New York (JFK).
Day 2: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
2 nights Grand Hotel Saigon.
- Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to your hotel for check-in
- This afternoon, explore Ho Chi Minh City on an included city tour
- Begin at Reunification Hall, formerly the Presidential Palace
- Visit the ornate French colonial Saigon Post Office
- See Thien Hau Pagoda before continuing on to the FITO Museum
Full Day Itinerary: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to your hotel, located in the heart of the city and within easy access to shopping, touring and dining.
This afternoon, explore dynamic Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many locals) on an included comprehensive city tour. Begin at the historic Reunification Hall, which formerly served as the Presidential Palace. It was towards this modern building that North Vietnamese resistance fighters’ tanks (the Viet Cong) rolled on the morning of April 30, 1975 as Saigon fell.
From 1885 to 1954, Vietnam was the French colony of Indochina, and you'll see remnants of the French influence throughout the city.
You'll visit the ornate French colonial Saigon Post Office, built by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel, where locals still come to post letters and make international calls from the beautifully trimmed phone booths inside.
You'll also see the Thien Hau Pagoda before continuing on to the FITO Museum, Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum. Here you’ll find an amazing collection of 3,000 items used throughout the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Among these, you’ll see implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, objects common in traditional pharmacies, as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast.
- Visit to Ben Tre including lunch.
Full Day Itinerary: Depart your hotel this morning heading south to the Ben Tre Province, where you will cruise along the Ham Luong River and enjoy the landscapes of the delta on a motorboat. Explore the area with a visit to a coconut pressing workshop and learn about the various uses of coconuts, including the multi-uses of its fibers.
Stroll through a fragrant fruits orchard and learn more about "Mekong Culture." Continue exploring the river as you cruise through its small canals and stop to enjoy lunch. Afterwards, relax by the river or hop on a kayak to further explore the canals. You'll also get the chance to take a leisurely bicycle trip around the village. Return to Saigon for an afternoon at leisure.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue.
2 nights Indochine Palace Hotel. Breakfast & lunch.
- Depart Ho Chi Minh City this morning
- Tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Transfer to Hue
Full Day Itinerary: After enjoy breakfast at your hotel, at 8:00am you will attend a private meeting for approx. 90 minutes with a local lawyer for a presentation about the system of law in Vietnam (coffee included). After your meeting, depart for a tour to visit the world famous Cu Chi Tunnels.
The incredible underground tunnel network was constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during their long struggle for independence. The tunnels are evidence of the tremendous ingenuity and resourcefulness that are characteristic of the Vietnamese. You’ll see the secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels. If you prefer to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above.
Our guide will advise us of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering - some are easily accessed by stairs.
Have lunch at local Propaganda restaurant before transferring to the airport for your late afternoon flight to Hue. Check in to your hotel later this evening.
Day 5: Hue
Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
- Visit to the Imperial Citadel
- Continue to visit Thien Mu Pagoda
Full Day Itinerary: Today you will depart to visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today.
From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax; full of lotus flowers in summer there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study. Later, you will visit the Out-door Military Museum nearby.
Continue to visit Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River; constructed in 1601 the 21-meter tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. On the grounds of the pagoda is the Austin car made famous when in 1963, a resident monk drove the vehicle to what was then Saigon to protest against the southern regime, the photo of his self-immolation was captured and was one of the most well-known images of the war.
Lunch at La Pines restaurant.
In the afternoon see the tomb of the former emperor Minh Mang which is located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.
Journey on to Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.
Before heading back to your hotel take time to stroll around Dong Ba Market with your guide. The market is another of the must see sites in Hue, the stalls are teeming with color and a great place to catch a glimpse of everyday life.
Dinner at DMZ restaurant
Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Hue & Hoi An
2 nights Hoi An Historic Hotel. Breakfast & dinner.
- Visit to An Bang this morning
- Depart for Hoi An
- Visit to the Cham Museum
Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, you will depart for a visit to An Bang, the locals call it City of Ghosts. It is a quiet village near Thuan An Beach, about twenty kilometers east of the ancient capital city of Hue.
Continue towards Hoi An where you will visit East Sea (former China beach) & Red Beach II. Then, continue to Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. After that, you will have a good chance to visit 327 Hill. Hill 327 (also known as Brigade Ridge, Camp Perdue, Camp Reasoner, Division Hill, Division Ridge or Freedom Hill) is a former U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base southwest of Da Nang in central Vietnam. The base was established on a ridgeline 4 km west of Da Nang Air Base where is the last stop before continuing to Hue.
Dinner at Streets International restaurant.
Overnight at Hoi An Historic Hotel in Hoi An.
Special Note: 327 hill now belongs to military zone of government so our bus will stop at the edge of the mountain and our guide will talk about history.
The Air base in Danang is now also blocked by a high wall and managed by government. So clients will have a look from a room at a hotel opposite the street.
Day 7: Hoi An
Breakfast.
- Morning excursion to My Son & Phuoc Kieu Village
- Afternoon walking tour of Hoi An
Full Day Itinerary: Depart today on your morning excursion to My Son, with a stop en route to visit Phuoc Kieu Village, a 500 year old village specialized in bronze crafting for a short visit. Some of the products made by this village are bells, gongs, gong-like music instruments, incense burners, lamp holders, ancient vases, and other bronze musical instruments which are normally used in festivals, ceremonies and daily life. Walk around the interesting alleys, visit a workshop (If they open for the day) and a temple where locals worship ancestors. Continue on to the cultural highlight of Central Vietnam, the temple complex at My Son. Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999 the tower-temples were the seat of the Champa Kingdom for the majority of its existence between the 4th and 13th centuries. The sanctuary is situated in an impressive location surrounded by hills, around 35 km inland from the coast at Hoi An. Whilst not as spectacular as the great Angkor complexes in Cambodia, the remaining structures are atmospheric enough to conjure images of the majesty of the Champa Kingdom. Wander through the ruins then visit the small museum at the entrance to My Son before heading back to Hoi An.
This afternoon, at approx. 3:00pm, enjoy walking tour in Hoi An. Your half day tour takes you through Hoi An, once a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hoi An’s architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a leisurely walking tour of the ancient town center and visit the sites of former merchants’ homes, a 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and a Chinese Communal Hall. Before you return to your hotel enjoy browsing and shopping in the one of the most colorful local marketplaces in all of SE Asia.
At the end of your walking tour, you will have a unique chance to visit Reaching Out workshop. Reaching Out is a fair trade gift shop showcasing high quality handicrafts made by disabled craftspeople in Vietnam.
This social business, operating according to Fair Trade principles is located in one of the ancient buildings in the center of the old town. Handicrafts are made either on-site in our workshop or perhaps in their homes or other workshops across many provinces of Vietnam.
Day 8: Danang, Hanoi & Halong Bay
1 night Novotel Halong Bay. Breakfast & lunch.
- Morning at leisure
- Transfer to the airport for an early afternoon flight to Hanoi
Full Day Itinerary: Your morning is free for your own activities. Your guide and private coach will meet you at the hotel at noon and transfer you to the airport for your one hour flight to Hanoi.
On arrival, pick up and transfer directly to Halong Bay.
Lunch en-route at Dai Viet Rest Stop.
Day 9: Halong Bay & Hanoi
2 nights Silk Path Hotel, Hanoi. Breakfast & lunch.
- Set sail on a 3-hour cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay
- Travel to the Yen Duc Village for a glimpse of local life and traditions
- Enjoy a water puppet show by the Yen Duc Village artists
- Return to Halong Harbor and transfer to Hanoi where you will check into your hotel
Full Day Itinerary: After enjoy breakfast at hotel, transfer to the pier to take boat trip with your private junk for a 3-hour cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage. Discover the mystical scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands just out of the emerald sea in bizarre shapes and surrounded by colourful floating villages to create a truly breath taking destination. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on junk while it’s cruising.
After disembarking, transfer to Yen Duc village. Admire the charming fields, the amazing tranquility in Yen Duc village. Visit a farming garden and a local family house. Meet and talk with the friendly villagers and get understanding of local life and family tradition. Pass through the fields to visit the culture house of village with its views of poetry inspiring scenery. Enjoy amazing water puppet show in the village fields, presented by village artists.
Then transfer back to Hanoi and check into your hotel.
Day 10: Hanoi
Breakfast & dinner.
- Enjoy a half day morning tour of Hanoi
- See Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda
- Continue on to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university
- Conclude your tour with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison
- Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion
Full Day Itinerary: This morning's half-day tour of Hanoi begins with a view of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum as well as exploring his private residence from 1954 until 1969. The wooden ethnic minority style house, which was built on stilts, is surrounded by peaceful gardens. In the same complex you will see the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.
Continue on to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Conclude your tour with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton." This notorious prison got its nickname during the Vietnam War—which the locals call the American War, one of many endured in recent times. Long before Americans were imprisoned here, many Vietnamese who fought against the French were held here.
Later this afternoon, join with a local foodie to sample the best food that Hanoi has to offer. Start with a bowl of pho, Vietnam’s national dish. Slurp a bowl of this delicious noodle soup at a popular local shop, getting a first taste of Hanoi’s culinary culture.
Continue to a ‘wet market’ and browse the aisles of fresh produce and exotic items such as live frogs. The market is always busy with shoppers buying ingredients for the day’s meals.
Step out of the market and back onto the streets in search of more tasty treats. Wander through smaller laneways where vendors set up shop along the roadside. Grab a small stool and sample typical Hanoi dishes like banh xeo, a crispy pancake, and bun cha, fresh rice noodles with grilled pork.
Then walk off some of the food with a stroll through the bustling Old Quarter. Find a street side café and sip a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee while watching a bit of people watching.
With a full belly and better understanding of Vietnamese gastronomy, return to the hotel
Day 11: Depart Hanoi/Arrive USA
Crowne Plaza JFK Airport. Breakfast.
- Today, transfer to the airport to check in for your return flight to the USA, via Taipei, Taiwan
- On arrival to the U.S. later this evening, board your complimentary shuttle bus to your New York airport hotel. Overnight at hotel (included).
Day 12: Arrive Charlotte
Breakfast.
- Depart your hotel this morning via complimentary shuttle bus back to JFK airport.
- Check-in and board your non-stop return flight to Charlotte. Welcome home!
Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 21 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Vietnam? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.