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I’m a world traveler and recent Columbia University graduate. That said, I’m older than your usual grad…. because I took off tons of time to travel extensively!

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Destination Vietnam: From the Mekong River Delta to Ha Long Bay

Fortunately, the present-day experience of traveling from South Vietnam to North Vietnam is not at all like it was during our parents’ time. Instead of fighting from a swift boat in the Mekong Delta, you can now be enjoying cheap beer on a luxury liner. You can even make silly television shows about making the entire South-to-North trek on underpowered motor scooters in the rain. Either way you look at it, the experience is, shall we say, a lot safer. This is even true if you are stupid enough to be taking a scooter into Vietnam traffic as an inexperienced Westerner, but just barely so.

Vietnam is a stunning country with rich history, beautiful, powerful scenery, and it is a good value destination on top of that. It is also popular as a destination for some of the older crowd. There is a generation of tourists out there, freshly retired, who want to visit the country under more favorable circumstances than they did in the past, people who want to choose to visit the country rather than be forced to do so.

Starting in the South, cruising the Mekong River is a popular place to start. Many travelers choose to start in Cambodia and cruise down the river before disembarking outside Ho Chi Minh (Saigon for all you old-schoolers out there) and taking a bus in. Another highlight of a trip in the area can be taking the Cu Chi tunnels into the city instead. The Viet Cong dug this nearly 200 kilometer-long network of tunnels to infiltrate American camps in Saigon during the war.

Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling, modern city, and the most populous one in Vietnam. It is also a traffic nightmare, as well as an excellent place to go shopping and pick up some trinkets for the folks back home. Don’t forget the Presidential Palace and possibly a visit to the War Remnants Museum while staying here.

Next on the list of places to see would have to be Nha Trang, consistently ranked as one of the top beaches in Vietnam, as well as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. The scuba diving in particular is making this a huge backpacker destination. More and more, however, the big tour companies are also catching on to this fact. Just check out a comparison of Vietnam tours, browse around, and you will find that many of these tours include Nha Trang. Additionally, it was the site of Miss Universe 2008, and will play host to Miss World 2010. Not my thing, to be sure, but for some, I guess this is an attraction.

Most people don’t have forever to dilly-dally in Vietnam, so for the next major attraction on the list, we’re going to have to jump all the way forward to Hoi An, home to numerous small museums concerning the history and culture of the region. This ancient town has been remarkably well-preserved over the years, well enough for the area to be recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a traditional South-East Asian trading port.

Hue is another great ancient city with an amazing amount of monuments . This was the Royal City, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The “Pass of the Ocean Clouds” is supposed to be an unforgettable drive. Our imaginary itinerary next takes us to Hanoi, the capital and second largest city of Vietnam. Hanoi has been a city for nearly 1000 years, and this has necessarily left its mark on the area. If you want culture, history, urban tourist attractions, and the like, the city is definitely a must-see.

Of course, the true must-see destination of Vietnam, and where we will end our journey, is Ha Long Bay. This site should be recognizable to backpackers, seasoned world trekkers, and even those armchair travelers out there whose idea of travel is watching an old VHS flick on the tube television. This was where the young couple floated around for days in Indochine (an amazingly beautiful movie, which I highly recommend, by the way.) In more recent times it was highlighted in Tomorrow Never Dies, one of the forgettable Pierce Brosnan Bond films.

Beyond all that, it is shockingly beautiful. The landscape is utterly surreal, with over 2000 small limestone islands erupting from the placid jade waters. A complex of grottos and caves, mountains and beaches, floating fishing villages and spectacular sunsets should enthrall you. Silently, you mourn the fact that you must inevitably return from this island paradise to the drudgery and office politics of the paper company you work for in Scranton.

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Samantha Berkin -
About the Author:

I’m a world traveler and recent Columbia University graduate. That said, I’m older than your usual grad…. because I took off tons of time to travel extensively!

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Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/destination-vietnam-from-the-mekong-river-delta-to-ha-long-bay-1321764.html

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vietnam tour, vietnam cruise, compare tours vietnam, travel, tour, tour reviews, places to see

Hanoi Halong Catba Maichau Tamcoc Hue Myson Hoian saigon Mekong Tour

Day 1 : Arrive Hanoi ( D )
Arrive Hanoi airport. Meet the tour guide at the airport and transfered to the hotel. First visit of the city with guide. Take a cyclo tour around Sword Lake and the Old quarter. Dinner and Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L , D)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day city tour : the old quarter, Ngoc Son temple or « Jade Moutain » which was built on Jade island in the 19th century. It was dedicated to Van Xuong, considered as the brightest star in Vietnamese litterary. Visit Ly quoc Su pagoda, vestige of the dynastic temple of Ly. Have a look at the cathedral located at side. Visit Temple of the literature, the oldest school, established in 1070. One of the five courses is the most perfect example of Vietnamese architecture, with her wood sculptures. Visit famous pagoda with the single pillar “Chua Mot Cot”, built at the 11th century, by king Ly Thai To. Walk in the streets of the 36 corporations, the street of silk, the street of hemp, etc. In the evening, enjoy water puppet show. Dinner and Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi -Halong bay – Catba island ( B, L , D )
Departure towards Halong bay, Cruising on the bay, enjoy the landscape of 3000 islands in the sugar loaf shape, scattered on 1550 km2 which constitute this archipelago bathing in the surprising green emerald water. Multiple caves, like Thien Cung grottos, the cave of the wonders, Surprise grotto. Many fine sand splits and beaches in a enchanting decoration. Visit a part of the islands and caves (approximately 6h of boat). Lunch on board with seafood. Overnight at hotel in Cat Ba island.

Day 4: Catba island – Haiphong – Hanoi (B, L )

Drive to visit Cat Ba National Park. Bathing at Cat Co Beach. Lunch. PM: Get hydrofoil to HaiPhong City. Drive back to Hanoi. Free and Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5 : Hanoi – Hoabinh – Maichau (B, L , D)
8:00 AM ick up at your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Hoa binh( about 2 hours). Short stop for break and coffee. Drive on to Man Duc for lunch. Leave Man Duc to Muong village where you can do a short walk for 2 hours. then drive on to Mai chau with few stops on the way for taking pictures.
Go around the valley before having dinner at a stilt house of Thai minority village. Enjoy the traditional music performance ( Performed by local artists ) Overnight in the Thai village. Clean and comfortable matress, blanket and pillow are provided.

Day 6 : Maichau – NinhBinh (B, L , D)
Breakfast. Discover the Thai people. They are the most minority of Vietnam, a visit which will make you enter in a true patriarchal society. Lunch then continue to Ninh Binh by a very beautiful road of countryside. Check in hotel. Dinner and night in Ninh Binh.

Day 7: Ninh Binh – Tamcoc – HoaLu – Hanoi (B, L )
Hoa Lu is called “Ha Long bay in land”, it is a landscape similar to that of Halong bay (without the sea but in the rice fields). You will embark in small boats at Van Lâm, led by young women, to sail on Ngo Dong river which curves among the rice fields and the mountains of limestone and threads under three mountains, to arrive till Tam Coc caves (three caves). Superb landscapes and the meeting of the life on river of the fisherman and Vietnamese farmers. In the afternoon, return to Hanoi. Free and Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Hue (B, L ) Flight
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for flying to Hue. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. AM: Boat trip on Perfume River to visit handicraft village: making conical hat and bronze casting. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda considered as Royal Pagoda of the Nguyen Dynasty and Imperal Citadel. Lunch.
PM: Visit Mausoleums of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh King. Visit a typical garden-house in Hue (Hue has another name as “city of garden”). Visit Dong Ba market. Night at hotel in Hue.

Day 9: Hue – Myson – Hoian (B, L )
Depart for Lang Co, a small village of fishermen. Taking photograph from HaiVan Pass ( The pass of Sea and Cloud). Visit Cham Museum in Danang. Lunch.

Drive to MY SON. Very spectacular, the site Cham of My Son Afternoon visit Marble Mountain. Arrive Hoian. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 10: Hoian (B, L )
Breakfast. Start the visit of this charming small town, first commercial center in Vietnam since the 15th century, with more than 800 classified buildings : Japanese Covered Bridge, TanKy Old house, Assembly Hall Chinese. PhucKien Pagoda, Hoian Museum and Market. After lunch, continue the visit. In the evening, walk on the river Thu Bon in sunset. Back to hotel. Overnight in Hoian town.

Day 11 : Hoian – Danang – Saigon (B, L , D) Flight
Breakfast. Transfer to airport for the morning flight to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon.Transfer to the hotel. Lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon is free for personal discovery. Diner on boat cruise. Overnight in Sai Gon.

Day 12 : SaiGon city tour (B, L )
Breakfast. Beginning of the city tour: post office, cathedral, Reunification palace, centre town, then continuation towards Cholon by trishaw, visit Thien Hau temple, Binh Tay market. Lunch. Afternoon is free for personal discovery. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13 : Saigon – Caibe Floating market – Saigon (B, L )
Breakfast and drive to Mekong delta. Morning is reserved to a boat trip at Caï Be, on the innumerable channels connected to each other. You will discover a watery life. Thousands of people live there, on water, in water, for and thanks to water. Lunch on an island. Afternoon, back to Saigon. Overnight in Sai Gon.

Day 14 : Saigon depurture (B )
Breakfast at hotel. Free time for shopping. Transfert to the airport 2h before the departure flight to your home.

More information at : http://www.hanoipeacetour.com/english/?page=tours&menu=detail&id=431

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Posts Tagged ‘Mekong’

Destination Vietnam: From the Mekong River Delta to Ha Long Bay

Hanoi Halong Catba Maichau Tamcoc Hue Myson Hoian saigon Mekong Tour

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