Globus
OFFER ID 1488430
Explore the highlights Southeast Asia on this fascinating journey with Independence by Globus. You’ll begin in Hanoi, Vietnam, with guided sightseeing and a cyclo ride through the ancient Old Quarter where merchants trade as they have for centuries. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s humble cottage, as well as the mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, and the 900-year-old Temple of Literature. Embark on a cruise on stunning Ha Long Bay, with its 3,000 limestone islands carved by time into spectacular landscapes rising from the Gulf of Tonkin. Taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine on this overnight cruise and visit spectacular caves, tunnels, and pristine beaches. Take a walking tour in ancient Hoi An town and sample the region's famous Cao Lau noodle dish. You’ll have plenty of I-time to relax at the beach or on a day trip to historic Hue. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City to explore the city’s many famed landmarks, including the War Remnants Museum and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Take an excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels-an extraordinary network of passageways used by the Viet Cong during the war. In Siem Reap, visit the largest temple complex in the world-including incomparable Angkor Wat. See the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom with some 200 faces carved in 54 towers. Interact with the children at a local school and venture on to Ta Prohm-virtually untouched and wrapped in ancient tree roots around its ruins.
12 nights from $3,539 per person
Independent Treasures Of Vietnam & Cambodia
Day 1 ARRIVE IN HANOI, VIETNAM
Welcome to Vietnam! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
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Day 2 HANOI
• This morning, enjoy a private guided tour of the city. First, take a cyclo ride though the ancient streets of the fascinating Old Quarter. Here, merchants trade as they have for centuries.
• Then, visit the mausoleum and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace.
• Also, visit the ancient Temple of Literature, more than 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university.
• Enjoy lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that teaches local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities.
(B,L)
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Day 3 HANOI–HA LONG BAY CRUISE (EMBARKATION)
• A private transfer takes you from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water.
• Upon arrival, board an overnight cruise that takes you to explore the tunnels, caves, pristine beaches, and floating villages that are sprinkled across the bay.
• Visit a working pearl farm to see the process of pearl cultivation in the area, then visit a nearby island for a swim or a walk to the top of the island for panoramic views of the bay
(B,L,D)
You may consider a massage or spa treatment onboard your boat.
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Day 4 HA LONG BAY CRUISE (DISEMBARKATION)–HANOI–DANANG–HOI AN
• Early birds can participate in a tai chi demonstration on the Sun Deck at the break of dawn.
• Further, explore the massive caves found in the bay to see the dramatic formations inside the caverns before disembarking later in the morning.
• A private transfer brings you to Hanoi for your flight to Danang.
• Upon arrival transfer to nearby Hoi An, a charming trading town that has been largely preserved with influences from China, Japan, Portugal, and France.
(B)
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Day 5 HOI AN
• Start today with a walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town including an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese assembly Hall, and the Japanese Covered Bridge.
• For lunch, sample Cao Lau, a distinctive dish with smoked, chewy noodles only made here in Hoi An.
• Afterwards, take a cruise on the Thu Bon River, passing unspoiled countryside before visiting with a local farmer.
(B,L)
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Day 6 HOI AN
• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.
(B)
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps spend it at the beach, take a full day excursion to historic Hue, or explore pottery and wood carving villages.
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Day 7 HOI AN–DANANG–HO CHI MINH CITY
• Transfer to nearby Danang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many.
(B)
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Day 8 HO CHI MINH CITY
• Start your private guided sightseeing with a walking tour of the city’s famous and historic landmarks as you stroll through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
• Next, visit the moving War Remnants Museum, followed by bustling Ben Thanh Market, the largest and oldest in the city.
(B,L)
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Day 9 HO CHI MINH CITY
• Today, enjoy a half-day private guided excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war.
(B)
Sample a sweet Vietnamese iced coffee or stop at for a drink at one of the city’s iconic rooftop bars.
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Day 10 HO CHI MINH CITY–SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
• Today, fly to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples are unmatched among the world’s ancient ruins.
(B)
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Day 11 SIEM REAP
• Your private guided sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples—Angkor Wat, honoring the Hindu god Vishnu.
• Next stop is Angkor Thom to see Bayon Temple. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers.
(B,L)
You may consider a Apsara dinner show featuring traditional Khmer music and dance or an exciting performance of Phare, The Cambodian Circus.
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Day 12 SIEM REAP
• Continue exploring the Angkor temple complex on a private guided tour.
• Start at Banteay Srei, a unique, small temple outside the main complex built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. On your return journey stop at a local school to interact with the children.
• Then, on to Ta Prohm, which has been left relatively untouched, unlike many other temples. Here, the jungle surrounds you, and tree roots grow over and through the ruins. The afternoon is at your leisure.
(B)
Explore the temple complex further or take a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see a floating village.
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Day 13 SIEM REAP
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(B)
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Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi
Highlights:
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive to Tuan Chau pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 05 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Lunch · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · Other meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Pick up time: 08:00AM or 12:30PM
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then drive 15 minutes to Bai Chay pier. Board your traditional junk for a cruise amongst the stunning islets that soar from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Towering limestone pillars and tiny islets topped by forest along with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes add to the enchantment of this breathtakingly beautiful region. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board before returning to the wharf. Return to Hanoi arriving in the evening.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 07 hours
Meals: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Lunch · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · Other meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Hon Gai/Hai Phong - Hanoi only
Duration: Within 08 hours (From 08:00 – 18:00)
Meals: None
Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 hours)
On arrival to the port (Cai Lan /Hongai/ Halong port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then take 4 hours’ drive to Hanoi for an informative city tour.
With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Start the tour at the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that offers a broad insight into Vietnam’s people including its 54 ethnic groups through a lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions from street vendors to marriage to family life to traditional fashion.
Lunch is on your own.
End the trip with a cyclo tour from the museum to the Old Quarter. Ride through its narrow streets to indulge yourself in the bustle and hustle of the local daily life. Later, drive back to Halong to embark the ship.
NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 10 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · Other meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon
Highlights:
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Ho Chi Minh City
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide · Cold towels and water on car · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation with daily breakfast · Entrance fees · All meals · All flights · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.
Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.
After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
· Tour duration: 08 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.
Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 04 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.
NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 05 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)
On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.
After lunch, transfer back to your ship.
Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Lunch · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Limited area: Danang/Hoian
Duration: Within 4 hours OR within 8 hours
Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide · Cold towels and water on car · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation with daily breakfast · Entrance fees · All meals · All flights · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
Hoi An Culinary at Market Restaurant (5-6 hours)
On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class. Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.
NOTES
Inclusive of: | Non-inclusive of: |
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Meals as per specified · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities |
· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column |
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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