Vietnam - Cambodia Trip 2019
Vietnam
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam
Day 1
Tuesday - May 7
Depart from Sydney - flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Fly with Singapore Airlines. On arrival be picked up by a tour representative and transferred to the hotel.
Tuesday - May 7
Depart from Sydney - flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Fly with Singapore Airlines. On arrival be picked up by a tour representative and transferred to the hotel.
Travel to Sydney left Wagga at 8am to leave the car at Scott’s.
Arrived in time to collect Jake and Zoe from school but had a call from Hills shuttle service, just as we arrived home, that they would pick us up 15 minutes early.
They had to collect three other travellers travelling to Croatia.
Got to look around Northwest Sydney a little more.
Shuttle driver was talkative that got us to the airport in ample time.
Check in to Singapore airlines easy and getting through customs was okay.
The flight to Singapore all good, arrived in Singapore with one hour to get to our connecting flight to Hanoi. Singapore airport very big and the shuttle train makes it easy to get around.
Found our connecting flight no problems and arrived in Hanoi on time.
Hanoi airport very new and our transfer driver was a little late but found us and eventually.
Trip into our accommodation was very interesting. Travelled across the Red River on obviously a new bridge that was very colourfully lit up.
As we got closer to the main part of Hanoi and our accommodation the number of scooters and motorbikes increased exponentially.
Our accommodation, the Adamas Hotel was in the main part of Hanoi and also the older part with very narrow streets and lots of people everywhere.
We booked into our room and had to use a ‘two person’ elevator which made moving up and down from our room rather interesting with everyone else in the hotel. Paula was keen to use the stairs most time.
After such a long day of travel it was easy to sleep.
Overnight: Hanoi - Adamas Hotel
Arrived in time to collect Jake and Zoe from school but had a call from Hills shuttle service, just as we arrived home, that they would pick us up 15 minutes early.
They had to collect three other travellers travelling to Croatia.
Got to look around Northwest Sydney a little more.
Shuttle driver was talkative that got us to the airport in ample time.
Check in to Singapore airlines easy and getting through customs was okay.
The flight to Singapore all good, arrived in Singapore with one hour to get to our connecting flight to Hanoi. Singapore airport very big and the shuttle train makes it easy to get around.
Found our connecting flight no problems and arrived in Hanoi on time.
Hanoi airport very new and our transfer driver was a little late but found us and eventually.
Trip into our accommodation was very interesting. Travelled across the Red River on obviously a new bridge that was very colourfully lit up.
As we got closer to the main part of Hanoi and our accommodation the number of scooters and motorbikes increased exponentially.
Our accommodation, the Adamas Hotel was in the main part of Hanoi and also the older part with very narrow streets and lots of people everywhere.
We booked into our room and had to use a ‘two person’ elevator which made moving up and down from our room rather interesting with everyone else in the hotel. Paula was keen to use the stairs most time.
After such a long day of travel it was easy to sleep.
Overnight: Hanoi - Adamas Hotel
Our trip overview
Narrow streets in Hanoi
Day 2
Wednesday - May 8
Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise
Wednesday - May 8
Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise
Breakfast was upstairs with an interesting overview of parts of Hanoi. We met some people who were two days ahead of us on the same trip. They had some interesting insights for us. We didn’t meet any of our fellow travellers until we got on the bus. Our guide for this section was Tony.
This morning after breakfast drive through beautiful green rice paddy fields on the way to the coast (approx. 4 hours) where you will board a Junk boat for an overnight cruise through the thousands of towering limestone islands and emerald waters of UNESCO listed Halong Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch before taking part in some afternoon activities such as relaxing on a remote beach, swimming, climbing to the top of a lookout for an amazing panoramic view or take a ride on a rowing boat into a secluded bay. Most people, including Paula and I settled for the panoramic views as it was too cold to swim.
That afternoon we dropped anchor for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea.
This morning after breakfast drive through beautiful green rice paddy fields on the way to the coast (approx. 4 hours) where you will board a Junk boat for an overnight cruise through the thousands of towering limestone islands and emerald waters of UNESCO listed Halong Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch before taking part in some afternoon activities such as relaxing on a remote beach, swimming, climbing to the top of a lookout for an amazing panoramic view or take a ride on a rowing boat into a secluded bay. Most people, including Paula and I settled for the panoramic views as it was too cold to swim.
That afternoon we dropped anchor for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea.
Halong Bay and the limestone islands at night.
Our accommodation, 'Junk Boat' - for 2 days and a night.
On the bus we met the majority of our group. There were 36 of us in total with 10 having an upgrade and staying in a different hotel. We found out later that four people from Albury had missed their flight and wouldn’t be doing Halong Bay at all.
On the bus Tony filled us in on all the things we would be doing for the next two days. The trip out of Hanoi was interesting watching all the scooters and people getting around the narrow streets.
On the way to Halong Bay we stopped at a Pearl Industry farm which was cultivating different types of pearls.
When we arrived at Halong Bay Port we were put into three different junks for our overnight and day trip.
The boats were old and had obviously done a lot of work but were comfortable and interesting especially the galley.
The meals on board were absolutely delicious. Once we got comfortable on the boat we sailed out to explore Halong Bay.
It is an absolutely marvellous part of the world over 1800 small pinnacles of limestone forming small islands.
Overnight: Traditional Junk Boat, Halong Bay
On the bus Tony filled us in on all the things we would be doing for the next two days. The trip out of Hanoi was interesting watching all the scooters and people getting around the narrow streets.
On the way to Halong Bay we stopped at a Pearl Industry farm which was cultivating different types of pearls.
When we arrived at Halong Bay Port we were put into three different junks for our overnight and day trip.
The boats were old and had obviously done a lot of work but were comfortable and interesting especially the galley.
The meals on board were absolutely delicious. Once we got comfortable on the boat we sailed out to explore Halong Bay.
It is an absolutely marvellous part of the world over 1800 small pinnacles of limestone forming small islands.
Overnight: Traditional Junk Boat, Halong Bay
Day 3
Thursday - May 9
Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi
Thursday - May 9
Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi
View over Halong Bay from the Sung Sot Cave entrance.
River supermarket - Vietnam style.
Hoi An at night.
Early risers can take part in an optional Tai Chi class on deck this morning. After breakfast climb aboard the tender for a visit to Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, a colourful grotto of giant stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat and enjoy a short cooking class where you will learn to prepare local delicacies such as spring rolls. Enjoy lunch on board, followed by a relaxing trip back in to port, where you will disembark and return back to Hanoi by bus (approx. 4 hours).
Overnight: Hanoi - Adamas Hotel
Overnight: Hanoi - Adamas Hotel
Morning Tai Chi session
Day 4
Friday - May 10
Hanoi - Hoi An
Friday - May 10
Hanoi - Hoi An
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Da Nang (approx. 1.5 hour flight). Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel accommodation in Hoi An. Stop en route to visit the Marble Mountain and Stone Village. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the UNESCO world heritage listed town of Hoi An.
Overnight: Hoi An - Indochine River Hotel
Overnight: Hoi An - Indochine River Hotel
Hoi An at night.
Day 5
Saturday - May 11
Hoi An
Saturday - May 11
Hoi An
Alan (Chinese name Hongbin Liu) our Tour Guide
Day 6
Sunday - May 12
Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Sunday - May 12
Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After breakfast you will be transferred to nearby Da Nang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) a bustling metropolis located in the south of the country (approx. 1.5 hour flight). Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel accommodation. The rest of the day is at leisure to discover Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
Today enjoy a day at leisure to discover Hoi An.
Optional Activity: My Son Holy Land Tour - $70 per person
Depart early this morning and travel to My Son (approx. 1 hour), a UNESCO World Heritage site located 40km southwest of Hoi An. My Son was once the capital and religious centre of the Cham people and is believed to be the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. The ruins of My Son were built between the 7th to 13th century BC and are located in a valley surrounded by mountains, the sides of which are covered in thick jungle. Hon Quap (Cat’s Tooth Mountain) overlooks the site, its crooked peak mimicked by the architecture of some temples’ roofs. These mountains are the source of the Thu Bon river, a holy river which flows through the site. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant and after the day’s tour of this magnificent site be transferred back to the hotel in Hoi An.
Overnight: Hoi An - Indochine River Hotel
Optional Activity: My Son Holy Land Tour - $70 per person
Depart early this morning and travel to My Son (approx. 1 hour), a UNESCO World Heritage site located 40km southwest of Hoi An. My Son was once the capital and religious centre of the Cham people and is believed to be the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina. The ruins of My Son were built between the 7th to 13th century BC and are located in a valley surrounded by mountains, the sides of which are covered in thick jungle. Hon Quap (Cat’s Tooth Mountain) overlooks the site, its crooked peak mimicked by the architecture of some temples’ roofs. These mountains are the source of the Thu Bon river, a holy river which flows through the site. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant and after the day’s tour of this magnificent site be transferred back to the hotel in Hoi An.
Overnight: Hoi An - Indochine River Hotel
John, Jane, Paula & Ken (at Zhouzhuang)
Day 7
Monday - May 13
Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour
Monday - May 13
Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour
Alan (Chinese name Hongbin Liu) our Tour Guide
Day 8
Tuesday - May 14
Ho Chi Minh City
Tuesday - May 14
Ho Chi Minh City
Today enjoy a day at leisure to discover Ho Chi Minh City.
Optional Activity: Mekong Delta Day Tour - $50 per person
This morning after breakfast be picked up from the hotel and travel to the city of My Tho (approx. 1.5 hours) on the banks of the Mekong. Upon arrival board a motor boat and cruise along the Mekong River. The boat will take you to Xep Canal, a lovely place where you will transfer to smaller canoes so you may navigate the smaller canals. These canals are lovely places you can escape the traffic of the main river. Here you will cruise under coconut trees before arriving at a small islet. Disembark and walk around a small local village. Stop at a local family’s home to enjoy tropical fruit, honey tea and wine and listen to traditional Vietnamese music performed by the villagers. Afterwards continue onwards to another islet where a traditional Vietnamese lunch will be prepared by a local family (included). In the afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel accommodation.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
Optional Activity: Mekong Delta Day Tour - $50 per person
This morning after breakfast be picked up from the hotel and travel to the city of My Tho (approx. 1.5 hours) on the banks of the Mekong. Upon arrival board a motor boat and cruise along the Mekong River. The boat will take you to Xep Canal, a lovely place where you will transfer to smaller canoes so you may navigate the smaller canals. These canals are lovely places you can escape the traffic of the main river. Here you will cruise under coconut trees before arriving at a small islet. Disembark and walk around a small local village. Stop at a local family’s home to enjoy tropical fruit, honey tea and wine and listen to traditional Vietnamese music performed by the villagers. Afterwards continue onwards to another islet where a traditional Vietnamese lunch will be prepared by a local family (included). In the afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel accommodation.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
This morning be picked up from the hotel and head to the Cu Chi Tunnels (approx. 1 hour) for a half day tour. The Cu Chi Tunnels were constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the country’s long fight for independence. The network of tunnels which make up this underground city include living rooms, kitchens, hospitals, weapons factories, storage facilities and a command centre. The tunnel system was an excellent way for the Vietcong to move around the countryside undetected by foreign troops and was at one stage home to around 10,000 people. After exploring these tunnels along with nearby remains of American tanks and numerous bomb craters drive back to Ho Chi Minh City arriving in the mid-afternoon. The rest of the evening will be spent at leisure.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City - Ha Hien Signature Saigon
John, Jane, Paula & Ken (at Zhouzhuang)