Colors of Vietnam
13 Days

Vietnam's capital is a fascinating city - a blend of Asian and colonial influences - and an excellent introduction to the country. Discover Hanoi with a full day's sightseeing including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the excellent Museum of Ethnology.
KOTO, an excellent restaurant and a training center for street children is great for lunch, or just a coffee & cake break. One evening dinner is on us as we introduce some of the flavors of Vietnam's incredible cuisine and on another a performance of the Water Puppets shows one of the countries oldest art forms.

Thousands of islands rise dramatically from the waters of Halong Bay, the limestone karst formations are hollowed by intricate caves – have lunch on board your sailing junk, visit some of the islands and caves, perhaps a pre-dinner swim and a very peaceful night beneath the stars.

Vietnam's imperial capital, Hue, issurrounded by beautiful countryside, pagodas an the tombs of the emperors. Drift along the Perfume River, dine in a restored Royal home of a descendant of the Nguyen Emperor and lunch with the Buddhist nuns at Dong Thuyen Pagoda - a very special experience.

In Danang visit the famous Cham Museum - housing the best collection of architecture and sculpure from the 2nd-15th century Hindu influenced Champa civilization. Marble Mountain and China Beach played their role in the American War and are now a thriving center of stone and marble carving workshops. In Hoi An there are centuries old merchant houses, culinary delights, tailors and silks by the bale and the opportunity to interact with the local villagers and to try making a silk lantern on your own.

Explore the charming little town of Hoi An on foot, visiting the Museum of History and Culture, the Tan Ky house, the Japanese bridge, and the Fujian Assembly Hall. You could sample famous local dishes including "cao lao", relax by the river, browse and shop amongst the many art shops or indulge in a new wardrobe from one of the many excellent tailors.

Saigon is a city of incessant activity - frenetic traffic, fantastic markets, lovely temples and colonial architecture. Dinner at a typical Vietnamese restaurant introduces the tastes of the south.

A day trip takes in two of southern Vietnam's highlights. The Cu Chi tunnels, begun in the 1940s, are the legendary tunnel network that allowed the Viet Cong to control a large area close to Saigon – at its peak the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. Over 250kms of tunnel, some several storeys deep including living areas, hospitals, storage facilities, weapons factories and kitchens. Vinh Long is the center of the Cao Dai faith - a religion uniquely Vietnamese, incorporating Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

The Mekong Delta is home to small farmers and cottage industries - rice paper, cotton candy, fish sauce, fruit orchards, tofu, thatching, floor tiles and potters - many of their markets are aboard the boats which ply the canals and waterways - also the local transport.

Tour Costs
PRIVATE DEPARTURES
1 person - USD2430
2 people - USD1570 p/p
3 people - USD1410p/p
4 people - USD1310p/p
single supplement:
USD253

FLIGHT COST
USD130p/p
Hanoi-Hue / Danang-Saigon