Route: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnel – Hoi an – Hanoi – Halong – Yangon – Madalay – Mt. Topa – Bagan – Inle Lake – Yangon.
From the bustling city of Saigon to the Parisian charm and grace of Hanoi, travel the length of Vietnam, Myanmar and savor its natural, cultural and historical delights. This 18 days trip offers the real essence of Vietnam, Myanmar and the real local experiences as you will enjoy the Halong Bay from your luxury of your traditional junk, stroll through the narrow streets in the historic town of Hoian, discover the bustling city of Saigon and truly experience the mystery land of Myanmar. The quality of accommodation is a real highlight of this trip. Hotels are centrally located with private, western style bathrooms and airconditioning. You will also have a lot of flexibility on this tour as you have your own private tour guide and driver who will be handy to assist you with any special travel need & interest.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu chi Tunnel
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Danang Hoian
Day 4: Hoi An at leisure
Day 5: Hoi An at leisure
Day 6: Hoian at leisure
Day 7: Hoian Hanoi
Day 8: Hanoi Halong
Day 9: Halong – Hanoi
Day 10: Hanoi city tour
Day 11: Hanoi – Yangon
Day 12: Yangon – Mandalay
Day 13: Mandalay – Mt. Topa Bagan
Day 14: Bagan
Day 15: Bagan – Inle lake
Day 16: Inle lake
Day 17: Inle lake – Yangon
Day 18: Yangon Departure
Inclusions:
Exclusions:
Clothing and Suggested Packing
Welcome to Vietnam! On arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy your free time or stroll around the local stores for shopping and tailoring. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
This morning, enjoy guided tour to the Reunification palace and the War remnant museum. You may also want to take a leisurely walk along Dong Khoi, or ‘People’s Revolution’ Street where the iconic photograph was taken of the helicopter lifting people out during the ‘Fall of Saigon.
We will make a stop to visit the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the former Opera House which tells tales of the history of the city. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The complex system of underground tunnels contained innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.
This morning you will take a short flight to Danang then travel south to Hoian. Enjoy your free time in Hoian for your own exploration and here below is our activitie suggestions:
Take a guided walking tour in the ancient town of Hoian to the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Ancient House,
Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Chua Ong Pagoda. In the afternoon, enjoy a peaceful boat ride along the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha Ceramic village. Overnight in Hoian
Hoian is a very charming little town with its exotic color and many old historical sites.
Today you spend your free time for your own exploration in this charming little town or discover Hoian’s surrounding countryside by bicycle or just relax at Cua Dai beach, a long beach which stretches from Danang to Hoi An, marked by palmfringed white sands, local seafood restaurants. Overnight in Hoi An.
Take a short flight in the morning to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be met by your guide & driver then transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
This morning, enjoys a drive to Halong city though rural areas with scenic views of rice paddy fields and local people at work along the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, check in to your wooden Junk and cruise zigzag through the spectacular limestone islands and floating villages whilst having a delicious seafood lunch, then disembark to visit a Ba Hang village where you can see the local people live their floating life. Late in the afternoon, you can join in a funfilled cooking demonstration.
Tonight, you will be delighted by a candle light seafood dinner on board. Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, board games, playing cards and massage services are available. You can also try your luck with squid fishing from the boat. Overnight on board in Halong bay
Enjoy the fresh air of the bay in the morning and start your day with a Tai Chi lesson upon a sundeck; tea or coffee and the hearty breakfast will be served on board. Afterward, we will get into a smaller cruise for the day trip to Lan Ha bay
where you can explore some untouched parts of the bay on your own kayak. We will make a visit to a “Sung Sot” or Surprising cave and then having our Brunch on board before disembarkation at around noon time. Our driver and tour guide will be awaited at the dock to transfer you back to Hanoi.
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a guided tour to Hochiminh Complex which includes Hochiminh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Hochiminh’s House on Stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda, then visit the Temple of Literature. Next is Vietnam National Museum of Ethnology, the attractive collection of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Enjoy lunch at Cha Ca La Vong restaurant which is listed as a famous local fish restaurant in Hanoi. You might also want to make a visit to the infamous Hanoi Hilton which is home to US pilot during the Vietnam War. Our guide & driver will drop you off at the Fanny Ice Cream at 51 Ly Thuong Kiet str if you wish to try some of the best icecream in Vietnam.
Tonight you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Overnight in Hanoi
Boarinding the flight from Hanoi to Yangon, welcome by our tour guide upon arrival at Yangon International Airport. Take a few hours for refreshment.
Evening tour begins with the most magnificent and spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda before the sun set and enjoy the beauty of Stupa while it changes the shining of gold in different tones according to the radiant of the setting sun.
Dine at local restaurant and overnight in Yangon.
After breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. On arrival, transfer to hotel for checkin. Proceed directly to Amarapura. visit MAHAGANDAYON, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study Buddhism; continue to the 200yearold U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the Royal Capital.
En route stop at a traditional handweaving silk workshop. Lunch at local restaurant . Afternoon sightseeing tour includes MAHAMUNI PAGODA with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves and visit to the Gold Leaf Workshop and Tapestry Workshop.
Then, to SHWE NAN DAW KYAUNG(GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY), a superb example of a traditional wooden building and KUTHODAW PAGODA, known as the world’s largest book, consisting of 729 marble slabs sculpted with the Three Baskets of Buddhist scriptures. Enjoy sunset on the Mandalay Hill. Dine at local restaurant and overnight in Mandalay
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Mt. Popa – an extinct volcano, a Home to myanmar’s most powerful Nats( Spiritual Gods). Climb up the steps to the Stupa and shrines which top the volcano and enjoy the overview of the Oasis of Myanmar. Then, proceed to Bagan. Check in hotel and dine at local restaurant. Overnight in Bagan.
After breakfast at hotel, Sightseeing tour begins to Shwezigon Pagoda the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th CenturyA.D. as a religious shrine. Visit Ananda Temple the finest masterpiece built by King Anawrahta in the 11Century A.D. Lunch at local restaurant. After then, Thatbyinnyu Temple a white stucco building, the highest temple in Bagan built by King Alaung Sithu in mid12 Century; Gawdawpalin, 60 metres high, built by King Narapatisithu during the 13th century.
Proceed to LawkanandaPagoda, where the Buddha’s tooth relic was enshrined built by King Anawrahta. Enjoy the beauty of sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy river with the backdrop of Tant Kyi Hill. Dine at local restaurant and overnight in Bagan.
Breakfast at hotel, Visit Lawkananda Pagoda, where the Buddha’s tooth relic was enshrined built by King Anawrahta.Visit Ananda Temple built after the Shwezigon Pagoda in 1090 by king Kyansittha, the masterpiece of the early style temple architecture; there are four huge Buddha Images in the standing position and eighty reliefs depicting the Life of Buddha from his Birth to His Enlightenment.
Drive to Inle (it will take 6 hours). Overnight in Inle.
Breakfast at hotel, Visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air! Continue to PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Innpawkhoneand a cheroot factory,
where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. take a boat trip to Indein village located at the south western bank of the Inlay Lake, popular for its ruined clusters of Pagodas dated back to the 16 centuries. Meeting with local people and study the traditions and culture of these people. Overnight in Inle.
After early morning breakfast, transfer to Heho airport for departure flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, visit LawkaChantha Abaya Lahba Muni Buddha Image – sculpted from a huge marble stone. The Title means – Lord Buddha – blessing the whole Universe to be healthy, prosperous and free from danger.
Then continue tour to the Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda and the University of Theravada Buddhism, World Peace Pagoda and MahaPasana Cave where the Sixth Buddhist Synod and the World Buddhist Summit were held. Evening sightseeing tour
includes Chaukhtatgyi Huge Reclining Buddha, Royal Lake and Karaweik Royal Barge. Dine and overnight at hotel in Yangon.
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing to the city centre including City Hall, Sule Pagoda, MahaBandoola Park, and Independence Monument. Shopping at Bogyoke Market (Scott) Market with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Lunch at local restaurant. Then, transfer to International airport for departing
End of the holiday – Home sweet home.
Note: You should allow at least 01 hour for check in formality prior to your departure time for domestic flight with Vietnam airline & 02 hours for international flights.