TAF
International, Inc. (TAF) specializes in travel to Vietnam and can
arrange all your tours, transportation and accommodations while you are in
Vietnam. General information on Vietnam and descriptions of places of
interest are listed on this website. Any of the tours listed can be
customized to fit your needs. Please contact us at any of the numbers
below for more information.
Classic Tours - Vietnam Grand Tour
(14 days/13 nights)
Meal basis:
B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Daily departure with English/French speaking local guide
Itinerary:
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh - Arrival (-/-/-)
Welcome
upon arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport and transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi
Minh City. Formerly called Saigon, HCMC is the center of commerce,
finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis,
contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and
motorbikes, exciting with its numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh at a hotel category of your choice.
Day 2:
Ho Chi Minh – My Tho - Can Tho (B/L/-)
After
breakfast, drive to My Tho, the heart
of the Mekong delta, famous for its vast rice fields and beautiful
landscapes. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda en route and stop by the bank of
Tien Giang river. Take a boat trip on the Mekong River to Phoenix Island
where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are being produced. Enjoy
fresh seasonal fruits and traditional life music and songs performance. A
short ride on a horse carriage to a typical local house to taste some
homemade honey-tea. Proceed by small sampan boats through the small canals
and side arms of the river to observe the daily life along the riverbanks
with a stop and short leisurely walk at the Turtle Island. Lunch will be
served at a local restaurant before driving to Cantho.
Overnight at
Can Tho.
Day 3:
Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh (B/L/-)
Boat trip to visit Cai Rang Floating market. You will also have the
opportunity to watch local villagers producing instant rice noodles (Hu
Tiu), visit boat builders and observe the husking of rice. Drive back to
Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en route.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4:
Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh (B/L/-)
After
breakfast,
drive out of
the city to explore Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground
network built by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for
independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and
schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American
war. Drive back to Saigon for lunch at a local restaurant. The sightseeing
tour of Ho Chi Minh City begins with a visit to the Reunification
Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South
Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking
French colonial structures. Continue to visit War Remnant Museum,
Notre Dame Cathedral, Town Hall, Old Saigon Post Office and
the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for
sale. Overnight at Saigon.
Day 5:
Ho Chi Minh - Dalat (B/L/-)
After
breakfast,
overland
northbound journey (approx: 310km) to Dalat which passes through the many
tea and coffee plantations to the hill station of Da Lat, sometimes known
as the "City of Eternal Spring". The drive is long but views are terrific.
Lunch en route, on arrival we can soak up the cool climate as much as we
want by spending our time to wander around and catch our first glimpse of
the town. The influence of the French is prevalent since Da Lat was
founded as a hill retreat for the colonials to escape the oppressive heat
of the coastal plains and Mekong Delta. This charming town is set around a
lake and surrounded by forests, waterfalls and rolling countryside.
Overnight in Da Lat.
Day 6:
Dalat – Nha Trang (B/L/-)
After
breakfast, take a short drive past the charming pine hills to visit the
summer residence of Vietnam’s last Emperor Bao Dai, who was forced
to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of the World War II. We follow
this with a trip to the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda, and the Hang Nga
Guesthouse, well known as the Crazy House because of its bizarre
architecture. Central market and the old railway station. After lunch at a
local restaurant we travel by road through the undulating terrains to the
picturesque coastal town of Nha Trang. Along the way we make stopover at
the scenic Ngoan Muc Pass and the Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers.
These amazing structures represent an interesting culture and a
colorful history of the Cham people. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 7:
Nha Trang (B/L/-)
The fabulous sunny weather, turquoise water surrounding a string of
islands and white sandy beach stretching on the whole length of the city,
make Nha Trang one of Vietnam's premier beach resorts. After breakfast,
take a boat trip around the coastal islands, stopping on the way at a
local fishing village to observe the island life. Today we also have lots
of time on the blue clear water enjoying swimming and snorkeling or lazing
on a beach. A seafood lunch is some enjoyment of the trip. We arrive back
in town late afternoon and spend our time to catch up on some shopping
areas or simply to relax. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 8: Nha Trang – Danang - Hoian (B/-/D)
After breakfast, check
out and drive to visit the beautiful Ponagar Cham Towers, one of
the most interesting sights in Nha Trang and Long Son Pagoda before
transfer to Cam Ranh Airport for flight to Danang. Welcome upon arrival at
Danang airport, transfer to the city to visit the Cham Museum, Han
river with its famous bridge before driving to the ancient town of Hoi An.
Rest of day at leisure. Dinner at hotel and overnight in Hoi An.
Day 9:
Hoi An – My Son - Hoian (B/L/-)
After
breakfast, drive to visit My Son Sanctuary (40 km from Hoi An), the
Imperial City during the Cham Dynasty, between the 4th and the 12th
centuries. Return to Hoi An for lunch then discover
the historic town, which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the
16th to 18th centuries. Its sizeable community of foreign merchants
resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and
Japanese influences. Visit the Phuc Kien hall, Japanese covered bridge,
Tan Ky old house and the workshop of traditional occupation of Hoi An
ancient town.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day
10: Hoian – Danang - Hue (B/L/-)
After
breakfast,
depart for Hue, stopping en route to visit the sensational Marble
Mountains and China Beach. The winding roads begin as we make
our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. At the top of the pass we stop to
admire a fantastic view north to Lang Co and south to Danang. Lunch at
local restaurant in Hue and explore the massive citadel,
containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal
residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 TET Offensive. However ,
it is still fascinating to stroll among the ruins. If time permits, there
is a chance to explore the Dong Da Market before transfering to the hotel for
check in, overnight in Hue.
Day
11: Hue - Hanoi (B/L/-)
After breakfast, enjoy
a boat trip to the beautiful riverside pagoda of Thien Mu, which
now becomes the symbol of Hue, and visit the elaborate royal tomb of
Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh set amidst bucolic gardens and
lakes. Drive back to the hotel for check out. After a quick lunch,
transfer to the airport for flight to Hanoi. Meet upon arrival at Noi Bai
airport and transfer to the hotel for check in. In the evening, attend an
evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppetry. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 12: Hanoi - Halong (B/L/-)
After
breakfast, enjoy a half-day tour of Hanoi at the Ho Chi Minh Complex,
containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the
Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The complex
also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to
the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of
Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university, and the
History Museum (or one of the museums of your choice), which displays
an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating Vietnamese history.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Hoan Kiem Lake where Ngoc Son
Temple is located then depart for Hanoi passing through the charming countryside
to Halong Bay. Overnight in Ha Long Bay.
Day 13: Halong - Hanoi (B/L/-)
After
breakfast, take a boat-trip on the legendary Ha Long Bay, which is truly
one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Embark on a junk for a
five hour cruise around this wondrous bay, dotted with more than 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, the boat will anchor for a leisurely swim
in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden
grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood lunch on board we make
our way back to Hanoi with a stop at Bat Trang pottery village. Overnight
in Hanoi.
Day
14: Hanoi - Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast at the hotel, free time until transfer to Hanoi -Noibai
airport for departure.
*** End of Services
***
Inclusive of tour:
* Accommodations in standard twin shared room at specified hotel in
our hotel list
*
Meals as specified above (half-board)
*
Entrance fees and boat fees
*
Mineral water and cold towel
*
Transfers and tours with English/French speaking local guide
Exclusive of tour:
*
International & Domestic airfares & air tax
*
Personal insurance
*
Other meals than mentioned in the program
* Expenditure of a personal nature such as drinks, souvenirs, camera, etc.
* Visa Arrangement
View Classic Tour Options Below:
Vietnam Grand Tour
14 days & 13 nights; This tour will take you from South Vietnam to North
Vietnam. It starts of at Ho Chi Minh City and continue on to
different cities and towns of My Tho, Can Tho, Dalat, Nha Trang,
Danang, Hoi An, and My son. Tour ends in Hanoi.
Vietnam Impressions
8 days & 7 nights;
This tour begins in Hanoi with a visit to Halong Bay, Danang, Hoi An
and Hue;. Tour finishes at Ho Chi Minh City.
About Vietnam |
Classic Tours |
Center Tours |
Northern Tours | Southern
Tours |
Grand Tour |
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Phone: (808) 735-0238 ♦ Fax: (808) 734-2315 ♦ Email:
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