DISCOVER ASIA |
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VIETNAM
"Vietnam is a country", not a war, goes the popular saying...
Though memories lie just below the surface for all combatants and those who lived through the war in Vietnam and abroad, Vietnam is long a vibrant tourist destination and a visit of any length will dispel many preconceptions. From lush jungle terrain to beautiful coastline, cosmopolitan cities to friendly hamlets, or among Vietnam 's many ethnic hill tribes, travelers can experience the gamut in only a short trip here. We suggest spending at least a week, visiting the three major regions, with perhaps a stop at the beach in Nha Trang.
Hanoi & the North
On arrival in Hanoi, you will be met by our local host who will accompany you into the city and be with you during your stay. Hanoi is a truly delightful city to explore and features a grand collection of European colonial-era architecture. One could easily spend a week or more and not see it all. In the time you have in Hanoi , much of the downtown area we will explore by cyclo, a trishaw or bicycle-taxi, and on foot to enhance the experience. In addition to seeing Hanoi , we will arrange for an excursion to the famed Halong Bay, where It is said that the Great Dragon himself formed the bay when he fled his mountain redoubt, ran towards the coast and plunged into the sea, the slashing of his mighty tail creating the strikingly beautiful islands. On Saturdays, the excursion is done by helicopter or by road during the week. Also, time permitting, we can spend a day in the craft villages that surround Hanoi , know for everything from porcelain to firecrackers.
Hue, Danang, & Hoi An & the Central Region
The central part of the country holds both history and tradition for the visitor and can be seen in as few as two nights, but more time is recommended. Highlights include the drive over Hai Van Pass, the Pass of the Clouds , located right along the coast between Hue and the Danang/Hoi An area, the great imperial city of Hue, and the ancient trading port of Hoi An (now a World Heritage Site), just south of modern Danang. When visiting Vietnam from north to south, this portion begins with a flight from Hanoi into Hue . This pattern can be reversed should your itinerary call for arrival from Saigon . On arrival, you are met by our local host who will be with you during your stay in this entire area. Your visit to Hue takes in the old imperial city and tombs on the outskirts of town, but, if you stay longer, you can take a full day (and that is a really a full day from before dawn until after dark) excursion north into the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the demarcation line that once separated Vietnam into tow countries, visiting places like Khe Shan, the Rockpile, and other military sites located there. If you spend two or more nights in Hue , you will have time to take in the markets and perhaps even visit the private studio of a local artist. In the Danang/Hoi An area, you will spend time in the ancient town of Hoi An as well as visiting places like the Marble Mountains and the sites of the Cham people who once dominated this area before the Viets moved south. These include the ruins at My Son and an excellent museum of the famed Cham statuary in Danang Town . Also, we can make plenty of special arrangements here according to your interest including, if you are visiting on the 14 th day of the lunar month, attending the Hoi An Lantern Festival.
Saigon & the Mekong Delta
After 1975, a new urban zone was created in the south called Ho Chi Minh City . It stretched from Tay Ninh in the west to Vung Tau along the coast and encompassed all of the former towns, districts, and provinces in that area into one administrative zone. The districts themselves were never renamed so places like Saigon, Cholon, and Bien Hoa still exist, which is why we still call it Saigon as do most Vietnamese when speaking among themselves. Without a doubt, this area is the economic heart of Vietnam, but there are fewer cultural attractions and less historical significance as by the time the French showed up in the mid-1800's, this area of modern Vietnam was only an outpost of the Vietnamese emperor and ethnic Vietnamese were the minority. But what has happened since then is part of our shared history and from the time our local host meets you on arrival, this sophisticated city is guaranteed to captivate you entirely. While here, you will visit the Reunification Conference Hall, the presidential palace for former South Vietnam, as well as many other sites, including the newly restored colonial-era Central Post Office, around town and, time permitting, you can venture to the distant districts of Ho Chi Minh City to experience the famed tunnels at Chu Chi and see the mid-day ceremony at the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh, 60 miles west of Saigon. If you have more time to spend, it is from here that excursions (from one day to several nights) are mounted into the agriculturally rich Mekong River Delta. Also, Saigon is alive with dining and entertainment options for all tastes, and the markets and galleries are fantastic too.
Nha Trang & Dalat
Located a short (1 hour and 20 minute) flight from the Danang Airport , or an hour from Saigon , Nha Trang has been a beach resort since the late 1800's when the French dubbed it the Riviera of Indochina . This resort town is well known for its miles of beach, fantastic seafood, and the friendliness of its people. The city is flanked by nearly six miles of prime beach where the water is warm year round. The temperature in Nha Trang is always in the mid-seventies and low-eighties with the lowest level of humidity in all of Vietnam. The best months are from March through October, with mid-April through June considered the peak season. Tran Phu Boulevard is Nha Trang's most famous thoroughfare and runs the length of the beach with most major hotels located along it within a few steps from the beach. Unlike many Vietnamese cities where the primary mode of transportation is the motorbike, the people of Nha Trang still walk or use a bicycle as their means of getting around, adding greatly to the tranquility of the town. The transparent turquoise water around Nha Trang, the abundance of offshore islands, and the old world charm of colonial-era hotels and villas that line Nha Trang Bay, are simply irresistible to any beach person. While in Nha Trang, we do not assign a local host or plan any activities for you. A representative of your hotel will meet you at the airport and the hotel can assist you to arrange local excursions. The most popular, which can be done on a bicycle if you would like, includes the Cham ruins at Po Nagar, Long Son Pagoda, overlooking the city, and the Nha Trang Cathedral, an impressive French-Gothic church. Of course, scuba diving and all sorts of excursions to the islands can also be arranged locally. After Nha Trang, depart by road into the coastal hills to Dalat, a four-hour drive from sea level to over 4,000 feet above in the cool Aniniate Mountains . At points along this splendid road, views of the plains as far as the blue Pacific can be had and it is here we find more Cham ruins at the twin cities of Phan Rang-Thap Cham. Lunch is taken along the route. Dalat, known as the City of Love . Founded in 1893 by a French doctor who recognized the recuperative benefits of the mile-high elevation, the town overlooks lakes and is surrounded by pine tree covered hills. Dalat has some of the most beautiful old colonial hotels and residences found in all of Asia. |
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