Tours, Travel and Vacation

Tour code: VNLXBT07

Series: Best of the Best Tours

Highlight:
Hanoi – Sapa – Victoria Train – Ha Long Bay – Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam is a country of brilliant green rice fields, bustling city streets, thatched bamboo huts, grand colonial buildings, exotic temples and pagodas, deserted sandy beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery.

Vietnam is a country of brilliant green rice fields, bustling city streets, thatched bamboo huts, grand colonial buildings, exotic temples and pagodas, deserted sandy beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery.

The two great metropolises of the country are the elegant capital city, Hanoi, and the dynamic, economic powerhouse, Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is located in the north of the country and Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is in the south. Most visitors to Vietnam start their travels from one of these two cities.

An overnight train journey to the north of Hanoi is Sapa, home to Vietnam’s highest mountains and colourful ethnic minorities. To the east of Hanoi is the spectacular natural wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Halong Bay with its thousands of limestone islands jutting out of the emerald green bay.

Hue, the former imperial capital under the Nguyen Dynasty, is a short flight south of Hanoi and a scenic three-hour drive from Hue leads to the historic trading port of Hoi An.

Vietnam’s premier beach destination is Nha Trang on the south central coast. Other beach resorts can be found at Hoi An, Quy Nhon and Phan Thiet. The former colonial hill station of Dalat is a few hours’ drive inland from Nha Trang while in the southernmost part of the country where the Mekong river empties into the ocean is the Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam’s rice basket.

Itinerary in brief
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
Day 3: Hanoi – train Victoria To Sapa
Day 4: Sapa
Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Day 8: Hanoi – Nha Trang – Evasion Hideaway at Ana Mandara
Day 9: Evasion Hideaway at Ana Mandara
Day 10: Evasion Hideaway at Ana Mandara
Day 11: Evasion Hideaway at Ana Mandara – Nha Trang – HCMC
Day 12: Departure HCMC

Detail Itinerary

Day1: Arrival – Hanoi
we are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam’s capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we embark on a cyclo for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour [B/ L / - ]
AM: 8h00 Pick up from your hotel, start of the tour journey visit by coach trip along the Hanoi Old Quarter. After that we take you to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house- where Ho livedon and off from 1958 to 1969, then visit Ho Chi Minh’s museum, Where tourists will learn what he has done for Viet Nam and some other countries and learn all kinds of information about President Ho Chi Minh. The next place to move to is One Pillar Pagoda – a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. Leave One Pillar Pagoda for the Temple of Literature – the first college of Viet Nam and the place dedicating to Confucian. Have lunch at a restaurant. O/N in Ha Noi PM: After having lunch, drive to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, Which is on the shore of West Lake. Quan Thanh Temple and the Museum of Ethnology (Museum of history) – Where you can look at the cultural mosaic of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. The last place of city tour is Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) with Ngoc Son Temple. in the late afternoon we join water puppet shown.O/N in Ha Noi

Day 3: Hanoi – Train Victoria to Sapa [B/ - / - ]
You will be able to enjoy a free day of leisure in the colonial city Hanoi. You may like to visit the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter, or perhaps opt for some cultural sights by viewing some of Hanoi’s many museums, in particular the Museum of Ethnology dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples. Perhaps you could visit Hoa Lo prison, formerly known by its inmates as ‘The Hanoi Hilton’. Some of its more notable guests included Senator John McCain and Douglas Peterson, the first post-war US Ambassador to Vietnam . You could stroll around the French quarter where many of the Embassies are located. Maybe a shopping expedition in the old quarter or just relaxing around one of the many parks and lakes that helps to make Hanoi one of the greenest cities in Asia. Your trip to Sapa starts with an overnight train journey from Vietnam’s capital city to the border town of Lao Cai . The luxury Victoria Express departs at 22:00 p.m.

Day 4: Sapa [B/ - / - ]
The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will check into the Victoria Hotel in order to freshen up, and have breakfast at TaVan Restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. Aftert 10 a.m. pickup from the hotel, there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the Black H’mong minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight at Victoria Sapa Hotel

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi [B/ L / - ]
Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H’mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. This afternoon we transfer back to Lao Cai for the Victoria Express train journey back to Hanoi . The train departs at 21:15.

Day 6: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay [B/ L / D ]
Arrive in Hanoi at around 5 am in the morning. Pick up from here, transfer to Restaurant and we go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Stay overnight on the Junk Cruise

Day 7: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi [B/ L / - ]
Waking up and having breakfast served onboard. Continue cruising around the bay. Take sampan to visit Luon Cave and come back to the boat. Having brunch before disembarking and van will pick you up at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi. Visit Dong Trieu ceramic and pottery village on the way. Arrive in Hanoi at 04:00 pm. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 8: Hanoi – Nha Trang – Evason Hideaway at Ana Mandara[B/ - / - ]
Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your short flight to the the resort of Nha Trang to spend 3 nights in a secluded private Beach Pool Villa overlooking beautiful Ninh Van Bay at the Evason Hideaway Resort at Ana Mandara.

Day 9: Evason Hideaway Resort at Ana Mandara [B/-/-] Free time to
snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your private plunge pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views.

Day 10: Evason Hideaway Resort at Ana Mandara [B/ - / - ]
your time and facilities of the resort at your leisure.

Day 11: Evason Hideaway Resort – Nha Trang – HO Chi Minh [B/- / - ]
Transfer to Nha Trang airport for your short flight to HCMC, the country’s commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city’s main upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Try the south’s strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi (baguette sandwich) and enjoy what HCMC nights have to offer.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh – Departure [B/ - / - ]
There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh. The trip ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure.

Tour price includes:
– A private transfer and transportation
– Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
– French or English Speaking Guide
– Domestic flights: Hanoi – Nha Trang/ Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh
– Victoria Express train to and from Sapa
– Domestic departures taxes
– Boat trip in Halong Bay and Mekong Delta
– Meals as stated in the itinerary
– Sightseeing tickets
– Services charges and government taxes

Not Tour price excludes:
– International flights
– Entry Visa and visa fees
– International departures taxes
– Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
– Travel insurance
– Meals and beverage
– Optional surcharge for business class flight around $100 per person

Remark:
P = Person, B= Breakfast , L = Lunch , D = Dinner

Source: http://www.greentrailtourism.com, http://www.greentrail-indochina.com

Product Description
This sign is made of indoor/outdoor weatherproof.040 polystryrene (plastic as thick as 2 credit cards on top each other).This sign comes with rounded corners and one hole at each end for hanging.This is a great gift… More >>

This anniversary you want to gift your partner something different. You are running out of ideas and have tried all option. Still, you are indecisive as what to do. If you are looking for that something special and unique gift, a trip to the most romantic city, Paris, can be that perfect gift you have been looking for.

You may think why Paris? Why not Paris? Paris is often referred to as the most romantic city in the world. It is immensely popular among couples, lovers and honeymooners. The romantic city welcomes everyone with open arms. Not only are Parisian romantic, even you will find that accommodations and Paris romantic hotels exudes romance as these romantic hotels are tailor made to give an ambience of intimacy and romance.

Paris offers numerous romantic hotels. Choose the best romantic hotel and make your anniversary a special one to cherish for the rest of your life. You can choose your ideal Paris romantic hotel according to your preference. Some of the romantic hotels are listed below:

Hotel du Jeu de Paume
If you want to stroll hand-in-hand with your partner, leisurely dine and kiss while overlooking the Seine River, Hotel de Jeu de Paume is the ideal place for you. Formerly a royal tennis court, this four-star hotel has perfect location, in the center of the city in the heart of the charming Ile Saint Louis neighborhood. The architecture of the hotel is marvelous with interiors featuring timbered beams. What more you can get fabulous views on the open indoor courtyard provided by the glass elevator.

Chateau de Montvillargenne
Make your anniversary cherishable in a stunning castle of 1900. This hotel is the epitome of romance featuring a whirlpool tub in every finely appointed non-smoking room, an indoor pool, a sauna and three golf courses within just five minutes of the chateau. From the Chantilly rail station it is located a mile and 20 miles from the city.

L’Hotel
This can be your ideal romantic hotel as the atmosphere is very intimate and inviting. You can spend your most intimate moments in this quaint, boutique style hotel nearby cafés as you gaze into your partner’s love struck eyes. Honeymooners will appreciate the thermal baths right inside the hotel. You will simply love the themed rooms which are marvelous and luxurious. Situated in the vibrant and artistic Left Bank St. Germain de Pres neighborhood, it boasted of formerly seeing guests like Oscar Wilde and other authors.

Hotel de Banville
Stay in Hotel de Banvlle and have the privilege to view the Eiffel Tower from some of the rooms featuring balconies. If love quietness, then this lovely and charming small hotel in the quiet 17th arrondissement is the perfect gateway for romance. Feel indulgent in the turndown service, robes and slippers. The décor and style of each room is unique.

Hotel Britannique
Your limited budget should not come on the way of your romance. Hotel Britannique is a cheap hotel in one of the central locations in all of Paris, in the first arrondissement and a block away from the Seine. The rooms are small, but just perfect for both of you.

Hotel Claridge Bellman
Hotel Claridge Bellman is the ultimate place to experience true French joie de vivre. Located near the Champs Elysees, the Claridge is a lovely 42-room small hotel. You can feel yesteryear Paris in the beautiful décor. You can spend some precious intimate moments at the Claridge Honesty Bar as you serve yourself. Guests have the privilege to choose any period-decorated room.

Hotel Saint – James & Albany
You and your partner can take a romantic stroll near the Tulieres Garden which is situated near this former residence of a Duke. Built in the 1600s, this hotel exudes class and boasts of spa services, including an indoor pool and massages. Couples of honeymooners can indulge themselves in the hotel restaurant which is simply great.

Hotel Lutetia
Hotel Lutetia is ideally located in the Left Bank. Enjoy your stay in this art deco hotel as you and your partner spend some unforgettable moments here. The hotel speaks of Left Bank style and ambience is intimate and romantic. The hotel has large rooms.

Duquesne Eiffel Hotel
Take the opportunity to stay near one of the major symbols of romance, the Eiffel Tower. This fine intimate hotel is situated in a renovated 18th century townhouse and is just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. Get yourself a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

Hotel Vernet
A stay at Hotel Vernet near the Arc de Triomphe and just off the Champs Elysees can make your anniversary or honeymoon truly splendid. Indulge and relax in the spa services, including a pool, sauna and Turkish bath at no extra cost. It is located within walking distance.

Romantic Paris hotels will compel you to come here again and again. Be early bird and book your ideal Paris romantic hotel.

The world of Internet is like a magic. You can get any type of information regarding any topic just by typing in a few words. The Internet has brought a revolutionary change in every business and trade. Today, you can book a room in any hotel at any corner of the world. All you need for that is just an Internet connection. So, if you wish to visit the city of Paris, you can easily avail of the services of Paris hotels just by clicking a mouse.

Online hotel booking offers various benefits. First of all, it allows you to check and compare the price of various Paris hotels so that you get the most economical deal. You get to know not only about the hotels, but also about the place when you book a hotel. Online hotel reservation will save your time, money, and energy.

Online booking of hotels in Paris gives you information about the hotel policies, such as the check in and check out time. The cancellation policies are also provided online. Whilst booking a hotel online, you will come to know about the special hotel deals offered by various hotels. These hotel deals help you make your trip affordable and enjoyable.

Online hotel reservation also provides the viewers with property description, whether it is a five star hotel, three star hotel, or a budget hotel. You can also have a glance at the images of the hotel and the amenities provided by it. You can also check what business facilities and recreational facilities you can avail of by staying in a particular hotel.

Online hotel booking offers you the opportunity to check room availability along with the room types available. You can opt for single room, double room, family room, or suite in luxury or discount hotels. The best thing about the online booking facility is that most sites offer 24 hour booking facility.

One site that offers you hotel booking facility is the Hotels Online. It contains an extensive database of hotels from all over the world. You can easily book star-rated or cheap hotels as per your specific requirements and budget. If you want to know more about booking hotels in Paris or about booking luxury or cheap hotels, log on to www.hotelsonline.com.

Despite the economic recession, holiday makers are still searching for the best holiday deals for vacation, business trips and even for honeymoon. They mostly check which holiday destination to go best. With a lot of travel related websites that have spread in the internet, it is necessary that one must take time to check the website’s credibility before they make a transaction with them. Also, with these websites’ various offers, it sometimes get confusing of which ones are the best for you and which popular holiday destination to go.

Those who want to travel used to take care of their own arrangements for necessary bookings like air tickets and accommodation, and had to figure out for themselves how to get around when they arrive at their holiday destination. For most people, this is a bit annoying, time consuming, or even intimidating. It is also an expensive and unsafe task, so to say. But today, many airlines, hotels, and tour operators team up together to give the holiday makers a successful package deal that answers the needs of most travellers and solve their dilemmas. These are called all-inclusive holidays.

The all-inclusive holiday package already includes almost everything you need in a holiday vacation in a super low price. The hotel reservation, airfare, car rental, and other additional tour amenities. Most travelers have discovered that an all-inclusive holiday package is the best way to go for their vacation. Today, airlines, hotels, and car rental companies team up and takes advantage of the so-called economies of scale. This extremely lowers the overall expenses of an all-inclusive holiday package and at the same time travelers can have a great savings and won’t have to undergo all the exhausting process of making all the arrangements for themselves. Nowadays, millions of people go for the all-inclusive holidays to destinations around the world. But travelers always want to secure the best all-inclusive holiday package.

So, if you want to look for a guide on finding an all-inclusive holiday package, the best place to check is the internet. There are hundreds of top holiday destinations that you can browse in the internet instead of calling each of them for inquiries. Aside from that, you can browse through various pictures, videos and you can even read reviews from other holiday makers who have purchased the package or you can read reviews about various holiday destinations to help you decide where to go.

Some travelers like the honeymooners, who do not want to be caught in a holiday without a concrete plan of where to stay and how to get around, need an all-inclusive holiday package. So for the travelers who want the best holiday ever, going for an all-inclusive holiday package is the best deal and will let you avoid those headaches and inconvenience of making your own arrangements for airfare, hotel reservations, and the likes. Aside from that, you can go for a cheap holiday and save a lot. That is just the best deal anyone could grab and enjoy.

Copyright (c) 2009 Casper da silva

Let’s commence with the watch words of the year Credit Crunch and reccession, and what it means for holiday seekers this season. I remember when I first started in the Travel Industry last century – I do laugh when I throw that one out – twenty two years ago going on holiday was a luxury to be cherished. By the late eighties quickly followed by the naughty nineties, going on holiday evolved from being a luxury shared by a small minority to becoming an absolute necessity shared by the masses and a way to keep your sanity for the rest of the year. It was also something to aspire to and look forward to and despite the saturation of the travel industry it still holds that certain magic for the great British public going away wanting to leave their humdrum lives behind and live the dream, catching the rays, looking at beautiful sunsets, tasting different foods meeting different people as well as enjoying the culture. Needless to say this year in 2009, there has been a bit of panic about whether going on holiday is going to be a possibility for most couples and families and the media’s ongoing credit crunch mantra hasn’t helped those with fears to the average traveller.

However, I am going to go on record and state with absolute confidence and clarity that this is going to be a dream year for last minute holidays and great bargains will be bountiful in this buyers market. However and there is a ‘however’ to consider you’d better know what to do and when. As any self respecting gambler will tell you, you just have to know when to gamble and when to fold. A last minute holiday booking does not necessarily mean booking your holiday a day before departure to get the best deal, a day before departure can sometimes mean you pay more than your counterpart who booked four weeks before you and sometimes six weeks. If I could count the times I have heard my clients kick themselves in the shin for playing with waiting on brilliant holiday offers they were given and decided to take a gamble and wait till a day before departure thinking they would get it even cheape than chips is in fact a silly gamble and it wont work in your favour. If you have a specific somewhere that you want to go to with a certain type of board in a particular resort, frankly you book your holiday a minimum four weeks before departure so that you can get your particular deal. If however you are the type who wants to just turn up at the airport with a suitcase not caring where you go as long as you get a bit of sun then a few days before departure for a great late holiday deal will suit you just fine.

Again word to the wise, gambling with a last minute holiday a day before a Bank Holiday or the start of any school holidays is a definite no-no, trying to find a suitable last minute holiday bargain a couple of days before you want to get away can be an extremely stressful exercise for a family with specific needs and requirements, so always start looking five to nine weeks before departure. Be prepared when booking a last minute holiday make sure your budget is accounted for on your debit or credit card, losing a holiday to something as routine as a ten minute account to account fund transfer. If you are sans debit or credit cards, then phone a friend or family member and ask them to help you out with the use of their card details which you of course repay, and make sure you have this in place before you start searching for your last minute holiday, as some offers need to be booked and paid for straight away or you may lose out on a great deal by the time you try and sort out ways to pay for your holiday. Remember no one holds options on last minute holidays anymore. You will find companies are more than willing to offer competitive prices, and it’s easy to get caught up in getting companies to compete with each other to get the best deals. But take too long and use too many companies to do your bidding war and it could end up you become the loser, as the electronic data been gathered by the operator gives them the idea that the demand on the holiday you are searching for is great and the price will go up. So snap up that fantastic lasty minute holiday, and do so with some defiance, 2009 is going to be one of the best years to find last minute holiday, so enjoy it!

Gardiner Street (Irish: Sráid Ghairdinéir) in Dublin City Centre stretches from the River Liffey to its south end via Mountjoy Square up to Dorset Street at its north end. The street is divided into Upper, Middle and Lower sections with the Georgian Custom House at the southern end. Several Dublin Hotels are on this part of the street.

Middle and Upper Gardiner street are separated from the lower street by the west side of Mountjoy Square, a Dublin Georgian square noted for its cultural and historic connections. Saint Francis Xavier Church is located on Upper Gardiner Street, a classical building dating from 1829 and with a connection to the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins. Gardiner Street also features in a famous Irish Poem by Patrick Kavanagh’s called. “Memory of My Father”. Luke Gardiner developed Gardiner Street which commenced in 1792 and finished about 1820.

When taking a stroll down Gardiner Street (just off O’Connell Street) and the first thing that becomes apparent is the sheer amount of accommodation available, there are a range of budget hotels and bed and breakfasts the full length of the street. The buildings are classic’ old Dublin’ style Georgian terraces converted into accommodation providers. There is a busy hustle and bustle along the street of the ‘Inner Orbital Route’ where the heart of this busy Dublin’s tourist district. It’s easy to see why this Dublin 1 Hotels location has been turned into an accommodation base in the city centre; it close to everywhere. The main bus station in Dublin is at the end of the street, the ’Luas’ tram service up the street and a short walk takes one straight to the main street in Dublin, O’Connell Street. Behind the Custom House the DART line crosses at the ‘Beresford Place’. ‘Connolly Train Station’ is only a few minutes walk. Dublin Hotels in this area offer fantastic rates and there is nearly always availability due to the high volume of accommodation providers.

Product Description
This sign is made of indoor/outdoor weatherproof.040 polystryrene (plastic as thick as 2 credit cards on top each other).This sign comes with rounded corners and one hole at each end for hanging.This is a great gift… More >>