ARRIVAL & HANOI HIGHLIGHTS
Upon arrival to HANOI you will be welcomed by Discovery DMC Travel local guide and transferred to Hanoi (1hr). After check-in to our hotel in Hanoi we embark on a journey to explore the vibrant life of the capital city of Vietnam. We start from HOA KIEM LAKE situated in the heart of the city and famous for its legends, symbolic turtles and a temple built on a small island. We continue to Old Quarter of Hanoi and take a leisurely RIDE ON A BICYCLE “CYCLO” TAXI. Many of the streets here like in the olden days still concentrate on selling particular products like shoes, bags, clothing, house hold items etc. etc. We will sample potent Vietnamese coffee in one of the many coffee shops of Hanoi, and end todays sightseeing with a traditional Vietnamese spectacle at THANG LONG WATER PUPPET THEATRE.
HALONG BAY CRUISE
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Halong Bay approx. 3,5hrs. We will board our well-appointed and comfortable cruise boat around 12 o’clock noon, and embark on a voyage to the archipelago of Halong Bay. Halong Bay is one the wonders of the world and world heritage sites of Vietnam. The archipelago consists of countless limestone karst islands coming in various different sizes and shapes. During our cruise we enjoy tasty Vietnamese cuisine seafood dishes and make shore excursions to a cave and island. Enjoy the magnificent scenery in comfort.
HALONG BAY - HANOI
Breakfast on board and opportunity for a morning excursion with a smaller boat to visit a lagoon, (only accessible during low tide) sheltered by towering limestone walls covered with green foliage. Return to cruise boat and sail through the beautiful Halong Bay archipelago occasionally passing floating villages of the local fisherman families. Enjoy lunch on board before docking at Halong City pier and transfer back to Hanoi (3,5hrs). Arrival to Hanoi will be late afternoon around 5pm.
HANOI - DANANG - HOI AN
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Hanoi airport for morning flight to DANANG. Upon arrival to Danang you will be welcomed by our local guide. In Danang we visit CHAMPA MUSEUM and gain an insight to history of Central and Southern Vietnam and its peoples. We continue our drive 25km to Hoi An and make a visit enroute to marble mountains. Where we will climb up one of the hills offering panorama over the surrounding region. After a temple visit and stopping at one of the marble carving workshops we will continue our drive to HOI AN, the only historical city that miraculously survived war with Americans and has been some decades later been restored to its previous glory. Hoi An is still known for its tailor shops and silk and is arguably most popular tourist destination in Vietnam. Enjoy afternoon WALKING TOUR in the old quarter of Hoi An and visit some of the trader families residences which have been turned to tourist attractions and shops but are still worth the visit.
RED BRIDGE COOKING CLASS & BIKING
After hotel breakfast we will travel to our cooking class briefing session, and venture off with our local chef to Hoi An morning market where s/he will introduce us to the lavish ingredients used in preparing Vietnamese cuisine. From the market we board on a boat and travel along one of the smaller creeks to the venue of RED BRIDGE Cooking Class. After welcome drink visit herb garden of the cooking class before getting into action. You will get your own cooking station, instructions and recipe from the chef and will get cooking demonstration before attempting your own. At the end of the class enjoy delicious self-cooked meal. Later in the afternoon take a digestive bike ride along the small roads and lanes, passing though paddy fields to the Cua Dai Beach.
HO CHI MINH CITY
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Danang airport for a morning FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON). In HCMC we visit WAR MUSEUM show casing artillery and ordinance from the Vietnam war in the 60’s and 70’s. (Some of the galleries are not for the faint hearted.) We will make a photo stop by the NOTRE DAME CATEDRAL, CENTRAL POST OFFICE and drive past some historical buildings like Opera House in the heart of Saigon.
HO CHI MINH - CU CHI TUNNELS
After breakfast we will drive out of the city to Cu Chi 2hrs/70km where we visit the Cu Chi tunnels. CU CHI TUNNELS was a network of more than 200km of underground tunnels connecting to Ho Chi Minh trail supply line of Vietkong fighters. Whole villages were hidden in the tunnels during air strikes. Learn of methods of survival try some of the tourist size tunnels with a tunnel guide if you dare.
FLIGHT TO YANGON & CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Upon arrival to the YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by Discovery Destination Management guide and transferred to your hotel. After check-in to your hotel our journey begins with a tour through the colonial-style city center of Yangon. We visit the golden SULE PAYA stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city –CHAUK THAT GYI pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and KARAWEIK HALL to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on KANDAWGYI (ROYAL) LAKE. We visit BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SWEDAGON PAGODA, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.
TEMPLES & ARTS OF BAGAN
After breakfast, transfer to Yangon domestic airport for a 1hr flight to NYAUNG U/ BAGAN. Where, we start our journey to Ancient Kingdoms of Bagan with a visit to DHAMAYAZEKA ZEDI for a panoramic view of the temple studded plains of Bagan. We continue to the ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and magnificent gold gilded SWEZIGON STUPA purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. We enjoy the most well preserved mural paintings in Bagan at MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE and learn how Bagan’s famous sand paintings and lacquerware crafts are produced during our visits to HTILOMINLO temple and MYINGABA VILLAGE. We conclude the day’s sightseeing with a visit to beautifully symmetric ANANDA TEMPLE with its four standing Buddha images inside and continue by horse or bullock cart to witness a magical sunset behind the temples (weather permitting).
BAGAN MARKETS, VILLAGES & SUNSET CRUISE ON AYEYARWADDY HOTEL
We continue the exploration of Bagan with visits to the MANUHA TEMPLE with its Mon architectural lines built by the captive Mon king in the 1300s. We continue to the THANAKA MUSEUM to learn about the traditional uses of the fragrant sandalwood paste and visit the CIGAR WORK SHOP to see how Burmese make local “cheroots.” We follow with a visit to the NYAUNG U MARKET, the largest market in the Bagan region. We then take a stroll through a local village and learn how bricks are manufactured using traditional methods. We have opportunity to learn more about the national educational system with our visit to a MONASTIC SCHOOL where disadvantaged children are provided free primary education. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the Ayeyarwaddy River for a PRIVATE SUNSET CRUISE where local cocktails can be enjoyed on board along with views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore.
Our guides are flexible. All touring schedules and activities can be adjusted according to guests’ wishes.
HEHO MARKET & BOAT EXCURSION ON INLE LAKE
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the Bagan airport for the FLIGHT TO HEHO, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. Visit the bustling main HEHO MARKET, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). Enroute to Inle Lake, we stop at a LOCAL FAMILY WORK SHOP to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made by traditional methods using the fibres of the mulberry tree. Next, we take a 1-hour drive to Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. After checking into the hotel, we embark on afternoon explorations of INLE LAKE, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.
INLE LAKE SACRED SITES, COTTAGE INDUSTRY & CANOE RIDE
After breakfast we journey out by boat, following the currents of a small river to reach the INN THEIN PAGODA COMPLEX, a site that makes us feel as if we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. We boat back to the lake and visit PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, the home of some of the country’s most sacred Buddha statues covered in gold leaf by devout followers. We also make a visit to the INPAWKHON WEAVING VILLAGE to learn how local silks, linens and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, we stop at a house for BURMESE CATS built over the lake, where we see the preservation efforts and reintroduction of this rare pure breed of felines to Myanmar. At NAMPAN VILLAGE, local craftsmen show us how Burmese cigars, or “cheroots,” are traditionally packed and rolled. We end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.
RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE WINEYARD - YANGON
In the morning we transfer to Nyauang Shwe town and visit nearby RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE to tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain. Taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cellar cave. After lunch in Nyaung Shwe we drive 1hr to Heho airport for afternoon flight to Yangon. Upon arrival to Yangon we transfer to our hotel. Rest of the evening is free for relaxing & own Yangon explorations.
YANGON DEPARTURE
Breakfast at your hotel and free time until transfer to Yangon airport for your onward flight.
