Here’s our Vietnam itinerary plus a slide show of pictures.
For journal postings from Vietnam, CLICK HERE.
- Dec. 11th Travel overland to Phnom Penh and transfer to the airport for our flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Four nights accommodations at Elios Hotel.
- Dec. 12th Today’s full day city tour includes the Presidental Palace, History Museum, Chinatown and Temples and more.
- Dec. 13th Today’s full day tour takes us outside Saigon to the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai temple, where we’ll see the temple ceremony.
- Dec. 14th Day at leisure to explore Saigon on our own.
- Dec. 15th Begin our 2day/1night Mekong Delta excursion. Travel to Cai Be where we’ll take a boat ride on the river. Then travel overland from Vinh Long to Can Tho. One night accommodation at Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel.
- Dec. 16th This morning we’ll explore the floating markets, Can Tho Museum (if open) and the Khmer Pagoda. Return to Saigon in the afternoon. One night accommodation at Elios Hotel.
- Dec. 17th Transfer to the Saigon airport for our flight to Danang. Three nights accommodations at Hoi An Beach Resort.
- Dec. 18th This morning we’ll take a guided walking tour of this 1,000 year old town that’s now a World Heritage Site. The afternoon is at leisure.
- Dec. 19th Day at leisure to enjoy the beach or return to Hoi An town on our own. [? My Son 40km north of Hoi An]
- Dec. 20th This morning we’ll travel overland to Hue, the old imperial capital of Vietnam, following stops at the Cham Museum, China Beach and MarbleMountain. Two nights accommodations at Park View Hotel.
- Dec. 21st Today’s full day Royal Kingdom tour includes a boat ride on the PerfumeRiver, the Imperial Citadel and visits to Thien Mu Pagoda, and Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs.
- Dec. 22nd Morning transfer to the Hue airport for our flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival we’ll be met and will immediately begin our full day Hanoi city tour. Our tour includes a walking tour and a visit to the Ho Chi Minh complex, including his cottage, mausoleum and museum. We’ll also visit the Temple of Literature and the “Hanoi Hilton” prison. This evening we’ll attend a performance of the Water Puppets. Two nights accommodations at La Belle Vie Hotel.
- Dec. 23rd Today’s full day tour takes us outside the city to the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda. The pagoda is actually a series of temples and pagodas, some of which will be reached by boat.
- Dec. 24th Today we’ll head out on our 3day/2night excursion to the Mai Chau Valley and PhuongNational Park. Today we’ll travel to Mai Chau where we’ll explore the village. Our accommodations tonight will be in a local Tai village longhouse.
- Dec. 25th This morning we’ll take a trek in the valley. In the afternoon we’ll travel overland to CucPhuongNational Park. Our overnight stay will be at the Park Headquarters.
- Dec. 26th This morning we’ll take a walk in the Park. We’ll also visit the Primate Center before traveling back to Hanoi in the afternoon. One night accommodation at La Belle Vie Hotel.
- Dec. 27th Today we’ll travel to Halong Bay where we’ll board a private Princess junk boat for a cruise of the bay. Kayaking is included. Overnight accommodations are on board.
- Dec. 28th Disembark in the mid-morning and transfer to the Hanoi
airport.
SLIDE SHOW HINT: If you’ve already seen the earlier pictures in the slide show, use the dot placemarks below the slides to jump around.
View of Saigon from the hotel 
Reunification Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, Saigon 
Sixties style at the Presidential Palace, Saigon 
Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon 
General Post Office in the French style – open every day of the year 
Interior of General Post Office, Saigon 
Helicopter pad atop the former American embassy and current consulate 
Ceramic decoration at the Chinese temple 
Incense at the Chinese temple, Saigon 
Tumult in Chinatown market, Saigon 
How much can you carry on a scooter? 
The four prophets of the Cao Dai religion – Confucius, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Buddha 
Schematic of three-levels of tunnels at Cu Chi 
Demonstrating pop-up entrance to Cu Chi tunnels 
Grisly booby trap at Cu Chi tunnels 
An exposed entryway to the Cu Chi tunnel, formerly hidden in brush 
Walking the Cu Chi Tunnels, once only as high as my shoulder 
Going down a level at the Cu Chi tunnel now double original size 
The main Cao Dai Temple 
Prayer service at Cao Dai Temple 
Saigon makeover 
3rd-4th century wooden Vietnamese Buddha, Saigon history museum 
Living on the edge of the Mekong at the delta 
Wholesale trading at the floating market, Mekong delta 
Delivering the goods at the floating market, Mekong delta 
Houseboat resident “cleaning” utensils in the Mekong delta waters 
Houseboats/barges on the Mekong delta 
Garbage and water hyacinth along the banks of Mekong delta 
Ancient form of travel on Mekong delta – rowing the tourists 
Tourists enjoying the Mekong row boat 
Luncheon music at a Mekong restaurant 
Ho Chi Minh delivers a greeting at the waterfront in Can Tho, Mekong delta 
Local factory making rice paper for spring rolls 
Stirring up the puffed rice and caramel for rice cake sweets 
Slow cooking at the rice wine still 
A woman Buddha as celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese, Mekong delta, 
What you face crossing the street in Saigon 
16th century Japanese bridge, symbol of Hoi An 
Tourists at the Japanese bridge, Hoi An 
The ancient merchant street of Hoi An 
Chinese temple and meeting house in Hoi An 
Wood panelled doors and floodstage marks in ancient Chinese home, Hoi An 
Garden courtyard of ancient Chinese home, Hoi An 
Ornate inlaid chair in ancient Chinese home, Hoi An 
Tempestuous beach in monsoon season, Vietnam 
With no chimneys, Santa climbs the palm trees to deliver the goods 
Merry Christmas from Vietnam! 
Flooded street in Hoi An 
Geese on the move across the shrimp farms 
Farming the fertile lands of Hoi An 
Water buffalo and friends in the farms of Hoi An 
Checking the nets for fish – he got lucky! 
Typical village home, Hoi An 
Home of prosperous villager across the street, Hoi An 
Mandarins in the backyard 
With the family at our favorite restaurant, Hoi An 
Bronze lady Buddha from 7th century Cham temple 
Elaborate 7th century Buddha pedestal, Cham museum 
Da Nang bay and China Beach in the mist 
Supper and Last Supper at local restaurant in Hue 
Selling goods in the rain, Hue 
Traffic on a rainy afternoon in Hue 
Thien Mu Pagoda of the Nguyen clan, Hue 
Three stages of Buddha’s life – past, present, future – at Thien Mu Pagoda 
Perfume River walk near the citadel, Hue 
The south gate of the Imperial City, Hue 
Interior gate of Imperial City, Hue 
Ascent to the mausoleum of emperor Khai Dinh 
Mandarins attending the emperor, Khai Dinh mausoleum 
Baroque interior of Khai Dinh mausoleum 
Poet’s pavilion for emperor Tu Duc 
Enamel dragon detail at summer palace, Tu Duc mausoleum 
Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh 
Monastic office of Ho Chi Minh 
11th century Confucian university, now Temple of Literature, Hanoi 
Representation of prisoners held by France, later known as “Hanoi Hilton” 
Hoan Kiem Lake, central lake of Hanoi 
Emperor Ly Thai To, founder of Hanoi in 1010 
Hybrid styles in the Old Quarter, Hanoi 
Christmas and Nativity Scene, St. Francis Cathedral, Old Quarter, Hanoi 
Water puppet show, Hanoi 
On the way to the revered Perfume Pagoda outside Hanoi 
Limestone cliffs on way to Perfume Pagoda 
Villagers clearing plants from rice fields by the river 
The most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site at the Perfume Pagoda cave 
On the descent into the Mai Chau valley 
Tai family longhouse for visitors in Mai Chau valley 
Resting visitor overnighting at tribal village longhouse in Mai Chau 
Tai tribe villagers preparing the rice fields for planting, Mai Chau 
Mai Chau valley 
Traditional village dancing in Vietnam 
Village girl saying hello and asking for dollar, Mai Chau valley 
Mai Chau valley 
Waterway in Mai Chau valley 
Our Tai family hosts at the village longhouse 
Garden flower at Tai family home 
Monkey family in the primate rescue center, Cuc Phuong National Park 
Lake reflections, Cuc Phuong National Forest 
Banana leaves, Cuc Phuong National Forest 
Slowing down in the tropical forest, Cuc Phuong National Forest 
Flycatcher with dragonfly (courtesy Hung Nguyen, our guide) 
The only stateroom on board our Ha Long Bay boat 
On the deck of our junk boat in Ha Long Bay 
Waterscape, Ha Long Bay 
Ha Long Bay cove 
Our Ha Long Bay boat in a cove, viewed from a cave mouth 
Tourists kayaking in Ha Long Bay 
Receding landscape of limestone islets, Ha Long Bay 
Junk boat oving into cove for overnight stay in Ha Long Bay 
Fishing village in Ha Long Bay 
Ha Long Bay meal presentation, a boat made of watermelon, pumpkin, bamboo 
Green-draped mountain islets of Ha Long Bay 
Floating fishing village in Ha Long Bay 
Tourists amid scenic wonder of Ha Long Bay, World Heritage site