Itinerary 1
13 Dec. Bangkok ~ Danang ~ Hoi An
Arrive Bangkok at 0425 and transit to flight TG 688 bound for Danang, departing at 0835. Arrive Danang at 1120 where a vehicle and guide will meet you and drive you the 20 km (approx.) to Hoi An. If you are feeling up to it, you could visit the Cham Museum in Danang first which will help to give you a perspective on some of the historical points of interest that you are going to encounter in the following days. Check into the Hoi An hotel. Afternoon free to acclimatise and to explore Hoi An.
14 Dec. Hoi An
Hoi An was once one of the major trading ports in Asia and much of it?s architecture has remained from those days. A walking tour of the ancient town centre takes in the former merchants? houses, the 400 year old Japanese covered bridge and the colourful market with it?s stalls brimming with tropical specialities. In the afternoon enjoy a boat trip on the Boung River. Overnight in the Hoi An.
15 Dec. Hoi An
Full day free to enjoy this lovely riverside town or to visit the beach a few kilometres away.
16 Dec. Hoi An ~ Hu?
After an early breakfast, set off by road for the ancient capital of My Son, considered as a Holy Land, to see the oldest and most significant historical ruins in Vietnam. From here it is a 4 hour drive over the spectacular Hai Van pass to Hu?, the capital of the country under the Nguyen Dynasty and still considered to be the cultural capital of Vietnam. En route stop to admire the spectacular views (cloud permitting) and at the quaint beach side village of Lang Co. there may be many other points of interest that catch your eye so don?t be shy to ask your driver to stop at any time. On arrival in Hu?, check in to your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the ancient citadel with its impressive walls and moats. Sadly the Americans bombed the site heavily and there only remains one temple standing. Overnight at the Houng Giang Hotel.
17 Dec. Hu?
Best to rise early (and beat the other tourists) for a leisurely cruise by sampan on the evocative river to the mausoleum of Emperor Ming Mang. There are seven royal mausoleums lining the valley here, each a unique expression of the relevant Emperor?s life, meticulously planned and built within his lifetime. Of all Nguyen architecture, it is these mausoleums which strike the highest chord of harmony between works of man and the natural surroundings, a central theme of the arts at that time. There is also a visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda (1601), standing on the riverbank with it?s 7 storey tower, and the Imperial Citadel from where Vietnam was once ruled. Overnight at the Huong Giang Hotel.
18 Dec. Hu?: O/n train to?
Full day free to enjoy Hu? in your own time. You could Continue exploring the mausoleums of the Nguyen emperors visiting those of the Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. The Emperor Tu Duc was a romantic - ineffectual as a leader - he retreated into beauty and libertine excess enjoying the harmonious surroundings of his ?death palace? for 16 years before he died. Tu Duc?s walled mausoleum complex is a full 12 hectares in area and is reckoned the finest example of man-nature harmony amongst the mausoleums. The Emperor Khai Dinh by contrast was vain, conceited and effective puppet ruler of the French. He loved all things Western and this is reflected in the buildings of his mausoleum, a confection of European Baroque, Cham and highly ornamental Sino-Vietnamese styles. In the late afternoon, pack your bags and set off with your guide to the railway station to board the night train to Nha Trang, departing at ???. Overnight on board.
19 Dec. Nha Trang
Arrive Nha Trang at ???. Check in to your hotel then set off for a brief exploratory tour of the beach, fishing village and Cham Towers. Overnight at the Que Houng hotel.
20 Dec. Nha Trang ~ Dalat
After breakfast, rejoin your guide and vehicle and set off for the scenic drive up the switch back roads to the mountain town of Dalat. Just after Phan Rang, the point at which you turn inland, visit the ancient Cham ruin of Ponagar. then, as you progress up the hill, keep you eyes open for anything of interest - I once visited a primitive kind of sugar refinery on the side of this road which was a highlight of my day.
Established as a hill station at the beginning of the century, Dalat is reminiscent of an alpine town with its French chalets and pine forests. You will take a short sightseeing tour of the city stopping to see the Truc Lam pagoda, the old Dalat Railway Station, and Lam Ty Ni Pagoda where a Buddhist monk, Vien Thuc, produces his abstract paintings and writes poetry. Overnight at the Novotel Dalat, a restored colonial French hotel - the best in town.
21 Dec. Dalat
In the morning explore the lively market then spend the day discovering environs of Dalat. There are several former palaces of the last emperor, Bao Dai, some of which are open to the public to view, still featuring the 1950?s formica furniture and linoleum floors. Overnight at the Novotel Dalat.
22 Dec. Dalat
Full day from to explore by yourselves. You might consider hiring bicycles to peddle around the little hill roads. Overnight at the Novotel Dalat.
23 Dec. Dalat ~ Phan Tiet
After breakfast, set off by road down the windy, hairpin strewn road towards the coast and the South China Sea. En route enjoy the panoramic view of Song Pha Pass, one of the highest passes in Vietnam. Once you reach the coast, turn right and drive south to Phan Tiet where there are some nice beaches on the Mui Ne peninsular nearby. Check in to the Saigon Mui Ne Resort on the best of these small beaches, a few kilometres out of town. Overnight at the Saigon Mui Ne.
24/25 Dec. Phan Tiet
Relax on the beach or explore the area. Phan Tiet is famous for the production of Ngoc Mam - fermented fish sauce and you can see houses along the roadside with large jars outside in which the fish are fermenting. Is is also renowned for its sand dunes along the ocean front where you can take long walks. Bicycles and motorbikes can be rented to give you some freedom. Overnight at the Saigon Mui Ne.
26 Dec. Phan Tiet ~ Saigon
Enjoy a last morning on the beach, then set off along Route 1 for the three hour drive to Saigon, Vietnam?s southern capital and largest city, population approx. 8m. Check in to the Continental Hotel, the famous French colonial hotel right in the centre of town where Somerset Maugham would stay and where Graham Green wrote ?The Quiet American? that is currently being made into a Hollywood film. Afternoon explore the city. This is the final day of the scheduled group trip. Hereafter you are on your own personalised extension.
27 Dec. Saigon
After breakfast set off for a city tour which will introduce you to all the main sights and historic points of interest in Saigon, including a visit to the infamous Cu Chin Tunnels where the Viet Minh, and later the Viet Cong, tunnelled right underneath their respective enemies, the French and the Americans, living, eating etc. underground. This is the final day of the scheduled group trip. Hereafter you are on your own personalised extension.
28 Dec. Depart Saigon
Ends
