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Inter-Cultural Arts Exchange

Cultural and Historic Highlights + Tribal Villages: 14 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Transfer - Evening Waterpuppet Show. - Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi Sightseeing; Overnight in Hanoi Visit Old Quarters, Hoan Kiem Lake,Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Temple), One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Day 3: Drive Hanoi - Sa Pa (tribal area) (9 hrs) - Overnight in Sa Pa Journey north west along Highway 2 past Viet Tri and Tuyen Quang and then on minor roads past Bao Ha and Van Ban. You will stop at Yen Bai (180 km from Hanoi) for a short break for lunch at a local restaurant. (a lunch box can also be arranged from Hanoi). Note: Staying overnight in Yen Bai is also possible if you donŐt want to do a long drive, but the hotel will be a small 1-2*.

Day 4: Sightseeing Sa Pa - Hiking in the Sa Pa area - Overnight in Sa Pa Sa Pa is a hill station built in 1922 which lies in a beautiful valley with Fansipan Mountain overlooking the valley. Sapa has both Hmong and Dzao people, the largest and most colourful ethnic groups in the region. Visit the following sights and Hiking in the Sa Pa area. Explore villages (Cat Cat, etc) of various minorities. MARKET: Montagnards from surrounding villages don their most colourful costumes and head to the market on Saturday. THAC BAC WATERFALL: 100 m high and very impressive during the rainy season. TRAM TON PASS: pass on the north side of Fansipan. At 1900m, this is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Aside from the magnificent views, the bizarre thing is how dramatically the climate changes.

Day 5: Sa Pa: Excursion to Tavan Jeep ride to Lao Chai village of the Hmuong minority people, pass terraced fields to Tavan to see the Zay people.

Day 6: Drive Sa Pa - Hanoi (9 hrs) Overnight in Hanoi Journey south east along minor roads past Van Ban and Viet Tri.

Day 7: Fly Hanoi - Danang; Drive to Hoi An past the Marble Mountains and small villages. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 8 Hoi An: Half Day Morning Sightseeing/Afternoon Independent Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It is best to visit some of the following sites of Hoi An by walking around and/or by cyclo.

QUAN CONG TEMPLE: founded in 1653, the main altar is dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilt statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Stone plaques on the walls list contributors to the contruction and repair of the temple. The temple was open to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau: a small chinese style temple with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary. PHUOC KIEN PAGODA: Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area. The temple is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau (Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen). JAPANESE COVERED BRIDGE: the first bridge on this site was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. The bridge was provided with a roof so it could be used as a shelter from rain and sun. TRAN FAMILY CHAPEL: thishouse for worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from the family members. The Tran family traces itsorigins to China and moved to Vietnam around 1700. The architecture of the building reflects the influence of Chinese and Japanese styles. SA HUYNH MUSEUM: located near the Japanese covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. PHUNG HUNG HOUSE: one family has been living here for already 8 generations. The house is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style. QUANG DONG PAGODA: this pagoda was open to all Chinese traders or seamen and is dedicated to Thien Hau-- it is a small chinese style temple with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary

Day 9 Excursion to My Son, one of the most stunning sights in the Hoi An area, and Vietnam's most important Cham site. Overnight in Hoi An MY SON: considered to be Champa's counterpart to the grand cities of South East Asia's other Indian-influenced civilisations: Angkor, Bagan etc. The monuments are set in a verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by massive Cat's Tooth Mountain. TRA KIEU: formerly known as Simhapura, it was the first capital city of Champa, serving in that capacity from the 4th through to the 8th century. A large number of artifacts, including some of the finest carvings in the Cham Museum in Danang, were found here.

Day 10: Drive Hoi An - Hue- Sightseeing old Imperial City - Visit the Dong Ba Market - Overnight in Hue
IMPERIAL CITY: this is in the Citadel and was built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City in Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum. NGO MON GATE: this is the principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and faces the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was reserved for use by the emperor, as was the bridge across the lotus pond. THAI HOA PALACE: built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833, Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. HALLS OF THE MANDARINS: these buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for court ceremonies, held in Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in 1977. NINE DYNASTIC URNS: these were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation was then chiselled into the sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different Nguyen sovereign. FORBIDDEN PURPLE CITY: this was reserved for the personal use of the emperor. The only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose no threat to the royal concubines. **today site in ruins** Sightseeing Tombs of the Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh TU DUC TOMB: Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still alive and used it for meditation, reading and theater performances. There are pavillions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was contructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious life. KHAI DINH: this was the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty and was constructed between 1920 and 1931. It sits magnificently on the slopes of Chau E Mountain in Chau Chau Village. It has a long staircase flanked by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes. DONG BA MARKET: local market near the Imperial City

Day 11: Hue: Visit Tien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang by boat; Tombs of the Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh - Overnight in Hue THIEN MU PAGODA: just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolations. TOMB OF EMPEROR MINH MANG: complex built in 1840 by King Minh Mang and its known for its magnificent architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs.

Day 12: Flight from Hue to Saigon - Sightseeing Saigon and Cholon (Chinatown) -Overnight in Saigon
Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, and one will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere. There are street markets, pavement cafes and sleek new cafes and pubs. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. To the west of the city is district 5, the huge Chinese neighbourhood called Cholon, which means 'Big Market'.

NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL: built between 1877 and 1883, is set in the heart of Saigon's governement quarter. It has a neo-Romanesque form and two high square towers, tipped with iron spires. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary. CENTRAL POST OFFICE: this is a French-style building with its glass canopy and iron frame right next to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The structure was built between 1886 and 1891 and is by far the largest post office in Vietnam. CITY HALL: completed 1908, also known as "Hotel de Ville" at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard. With itŐs ornate gingerbread facade it looks like the town hall of a French town. **view from outside only** WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM: collections of weapons and photographs from 2 Indochina wars are exhibited along with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century. BEN THANH MARKET: this is the central market of Saigon and the market and the surrounding streets make up one of the city's liveliest areas. Everything commonly eaten, worn or used by the average resident of Saigon is available here. BINH TAY MARKET: is Cholon's main marketplace with much of the business here being wholesale. THIEN HAU PAGODA: built by the Cantonese congregation in the early 19th century. The pagoda is one of the most active in Cholon and is dedicated to Thien Hau. It is said that she can travel over the oceans on a mat and ride the clouds to wherever she pleases.

Day 13: Saigon - Excursion to My Tho with boat ride on the Mekong Delta Drive past Ben Luc, Tan An and Chau Thanh enroute to My Tho (70 km, approx 2 hrs drive); excursion to Mekong Islands with boat trip. Overnight Saigon

MY THO: capital of Tien Giang Province. The economy is based on fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, longans and citrus fruit. MEKONG DELTA: this is the southernmost region of Vietnam and it was formed by sediment deposited by the Mekong River. Silt deposits extend the delta shoreline at the mouth of the river by as mush as 79m per year. The area is known as Vietnam's 'bread basket' and produces rice to feed the entire country. Visit one or two of the islands with traditional handcrafts, bee farms and coconut candy production. DRAGON ISLAND: the island has many longan orchards which can be visited and the lush, palmfringed shores of the island are lined with wooden fishing boats. PHOENIX ISLAND: until his imprisonment and the consequent dispersion of his flock, the coconut Monk (Ong Dao Dua) led a small community on this island. VINH TRANG PAGODA: a beautiful and well maintained sanctuary. Oldest pagoda in the delta. The charitable monks here provide a home to orphans, disabled and other needy children.

Day 14: Transfer to airport for onward flight

PRICES: upon request

HOTEL LIST: CAT A/CAT B
Hanoi Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel 5*/Run of House / Sofitel Plaza 4-5*/Run of House
Sa Pa Victoria Sapa 3-4*/Deluxe / Victoria Sapa 3-4*/Superior
Hoi An Hoi An Beach Resort 3*/Gardenview - Deluxe / Hoi An Riverside Resort 4*/VN Standard
Hue Saigon Morin Hotel 3-4*/Deluxe / Saigon Morin Hotel 3-4*/Superior
Saigon Renaissance Riverside Hotel 5*/Riverview - Deluxe Majestic 4*/Superior

Other hotels priced upon request.

Includes:

• Accommodation, dbl occ
• Daily breakfast
• Meals as indicated in the tour itineraries.
• Private air-conditioned cars/minibuses/buses for ground transportation and transfers.
• Boat ride(s), three-wheeled cycle tours, shows as indicated in the itineraries.
• Flights as indicated in itinerary
• Sightseeing entrance fees
• Local professional guides.

Not included: international flight, international and domestic airport tax, visa fees, travel insurance, gratuities and porter, any expenses of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, phone calls, fax and telex transmission, postage, etc., and other services unspecified above personal expenses.

Notes: Itinerary subject to change due to flight schedules.

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