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11 days from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in festive mood: Hanoi, Halong, Ha Tay, Hue, Hoi An, Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet and Ho Chi Minh City.
Tet, the Lunar New Year, is the most important of all Vietnamese festivals. Celebrating this holiday season with Vietnamese across the country, visitors can see their many different ways of merry-making on the New Year occasion.
During the run-up to Tet, people are busy shopping for new clothes, food, flowers and miscellaneous decorations. They will be impressed by the colours and sounds of flower markets and lively festivals.
At Tet, excursions to the countryside and visits to local homes and temples will give visitors rare opportunities to socialize with the locals and thereby get to know their gastronomy, social mores and customs during this exuberantly festive time.
After days of sightseeing from north to south, lazing and frolicking on the pure white sand and azure waters of Phan Thiet will bring them genuine relaxation. Come and visit Vietnam at this time of the year when there are lots of places to go, people to see and things to do.
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Day 1 Arrive Hanoi .
Arrive at Noi Bai Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city, boasts tree-lined streets and centuries-old temples. An afternoon sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum, the old quarters and a downtown pedicab ride (1 hour). The sightseeing day ends with a water puppet show, a theatrical genre reflecting the agricultural civilization of thousands of years ago. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi - Halong
Before leaving for Halong (170km), take an early morning drive to Nghi Tam Village to watch gardeners pick blossoming flowers and carry them by bicycle to market places. A wide variety of colourful flowers gives a unique opportunity for snapshots. Onwards to Halong with a stop-over at Dong Ho Village, known for its traditional paintings, and 13th-century But Thap Pagoda, filled with impressive ornaments. Overnight in Halong.
Day 3: Halong - Hanoi
In the morning, board a private boat for a cruise in Halong Bay (5 hours), a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1994. Visit some magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty of Vietnam. Lunch of fresh seafood is served on board. Return to Hanoi (170km) with stop-overs at ceramic and hand embroidery workshops en route. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: ( Lunar New Year's Eve) Excursion to Ha Tay
Before leaving for Ha Tay (50km), enjoy a morning pedicab ride around Hanoi to One-Pillared Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple and the old quarters. Wander about the bustling streets of Hang Dao and Hang Ngang teeming with eye-catching local goods. Take a trip past villages and rice fields to Ha Tay. Visit Tay Phuong Pagoda standing on a hillock and famous for its intriguing wooden statues of arhat & buddha, and Mong Phu Village where ancient houses made of red laterite and rammed soil can be found. Meet with local families preparing for Tet. In the evening, join a Lunar New Year's Eve party at the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5: ( Lunar New Year's Day) Hanoi - Hue
Dress in new Vietnamese national costume: a set comprising a long dress, trousers and a turban (ladies: a choice of colours, gentlemen: black & white) individually tailored for every customer (complimentary). Pay a courtesy call (being the first visitors) at a local home for Lunar New Year greetings. Enjoy a warm party of New Year specialties at the home. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hue, a former royal capital city where centuries-old customs are still alive in daily life. In the evening, a typical royal court dinner with a presentation of ancient dancing and music is arranged (minimum group size: 10). Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: (Second day of Lunar New Year) Hue - Hoi An
Take a boat ride on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest religious structures in Hue. Then overland to the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy, and a garden house, which used to be a royal property. Enjoy Hue cakes with the proprietor. In the afternoon, transfer to Hoi An (140km) with a stop-over on the Hai Van Pass overlooking the scenic Lang Co Lagoon. In the evening, attend a folk show in an ancient house. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 7: (Third day of Lunar New Year) Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City
Join a pedicab tour of lush Cam Nam Islet and attend an ancestral commemoration party at a local home. Then visit Hoi An, a centuries-old town with ancient houses, temples, markets and handicraft workshops. Transfer to Danang with a stop-over at the Non Nuoc stone-carving village where a wide variety of articles is sculptured from marble and sandstone. Take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Phan Thiet
A morning city tour features the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and a spring exhibition. Mingle with locals at New Year festivities, places of worship and flower markets. Leave Saigon for Phan Thiet (200km) via a scenic road past rubber plantations. Overnight in Phan Thiet.
Day 9: Phan Thiet
Hidden among coconut trees, a chain of seaside resorts attracts every taste and all ages. Spend the whole day relaxing at a resort, or roaming over coloured sand dunes at Hon Rom. The coast offers spectacular views at sunset along the Cape Ne beach drive. Golfing at an 18-hole course is optional. Overnight in Phan Thiet.
Day 10: Phan Thiet - Ho Chi Minh City
In the morning, relax by the pool side or lounge on the sandy beach. Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (200km) with a visit to a dragon fruit farm en route. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 11: Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
Spend last minutes for downtown shopping (embroideries, silk, lacquerware,...) or at leisure before check-out. Transfer to the airport for departure. End of service.
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