TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Liz Hoehnke

Day 1 – 19 Apr: Hanoi (Arrival)

Arrival at the airport in Hanoi at 21:10 PM – VN 786, our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel.

Rest of the day is your leisure time in Hanoi.

• Overnight at Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi.
• N/A

Day 2 – 20 Apr: Hanoi → Ha Long bay

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Halong bay trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

07:45 – 08:15 AM: Get picked up from your hotel (In Hanoi Old Quarter area and not included in cabin rate).

8:15 ~ 11:30: Follow the newest highway connecting Hanoi and Hai Phong. Upon arrival at Station number 17 – OVERNIGHT CRUISE PORT, Tuan Chau Maria, Ha Long passengers will be welcomed by receptionist at La Casta’s waiting lounge.

11:30 – 12:00: After taking a rest, our high speed tender will transfer you to the main boat (Around 25 minutes). Get onboard and warmly welcome from La Casta crew team with welcome drink. After that, you will be given a short briefing about La Casta Cruise and safety guideline at our restaurant. Complete the check-in procedure and check-into our suite cabins.

13:00: Enjoy a lunch in the restaurant. La Casta Cruise start to depart for the voyage to discover the Lan Ha Bay.

15:45: Visit the Ba Trai Dao area and the natural lagoon of Lan Ha Bay – this area includes the beach breaths a romantic atmosphere and three smaller islets like three giant peaches on the sea. You can join with our activities such as: kayaking, swimming, sightseeing and explore the Ba Trai Dao area. (In unfavorable weather conditions, to ensure the safety of our guest, this destination would be change into Dark and Bright cave- famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. You can join with our activities such as: kayaking, sightseeing on the bamboo boat, … – This is the best time for you to enjoy bamboo boats or swimming which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the stunning limestone structure and the blue sky of Lan Ha Bay).

17:30 – 18:30: Come back to our La Casta cruise and enjoy the pre-dinner sunset party with Happy Hour Promotion (buy 2 get 1 free with some kinds of drinks) at the bar while watching the view of the bay at sunset.

18:00: Join a cooking demonstration, our chef will guide you how to make some simple signature Vietnamese dishes.

19:30: Enjoy special seafood and typical Vietnamese food on the cruise.

21:00: Evening entertainment: Squid fishing, karaoke…

• Stay overnight on La Casta Cruise in Ha Long bay.
• B,L,D

Day 3 – 21 Apr: Ha Long bay

06:15 AM: Wake up early, join the Tai Chi session on sundeck area, enjoy the fresh atmosphere and watch the sunrise in Lan Ha Bay.

7:00 – 7:45: Have breakfast. Admit morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

8:00 – 8:30: Day boat to pick up guests at overnight cruise ships for a separate program of the 3 day 2 night tour.

8:30 – 9:30: Transfer to Day Boat and sailing further on Lan Ha Bay toward Ba Trai Dao, Van Boi Area and Viet Hai village

9:40 – 10:30: Guests will be taken to Viet Hai village and discover the 100 years old with plenty of interesting things. Cycling around, take a deep breath of fragrance paddy field, trying fish massage or talking with gentle and charm local people.

12:30 – 13:30: Return to Day Boat and enjoy lunch.

14:00 – 15:00: Kayaking in Dark and Bright cave

15:00 – 16:30: Leisure time on Day Boat and return to the pickup places.

16:40 – 18:30: Come back to our La Casta cruise and enjoy the pre-dinner sunset party with Happy Hour Promotion (buy 2 get 1 free with some kinds of drinks) at the bar while watching the view of the bay at sunset.

18:00: Join a cooking demonstration, our chef will guide you how to make some simple signature Vietnamese dishes.

19:30: Enjoy special seafood and typical Vietnamese food on the cruise.

21:00: Evening entertainment: Squid fishing, karaoke…

• Stay overnight on La Casta Cruise in Ha Long bay.
• B,L,D

Day 4 – 22 Apr: Ha Long bay → Hanoi

06:15 AM: Wake up early, join the Tai Chi session on sundeck area, enjoy the fresh atmosphere and watch the sunrise in Lan Ha Bay.

7:00 – 7:45: Have breakfast. Admit morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

08:00:
● Stroke the stunning views of the Bay and it’s dramatic limestone islets
● Visit the famous Tra Bau, it’s time for freely kayak and explore the landscape, or swim…

09:00: Back to your cabin, relax and check carefully all the luggage before leaving your cabin.

09:30: Check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay for room service. Complete check out procedure and enjoy your brunch at La Casta cruise.

10:30: Enjoy the brunch at restaurant.

11:30: Disembark at Tuan Chau harbor, we hope you have enjoyed your time with us and wish you a safe onward journey. Get on the bus back to Hanoi.

15:00 – 15:30 drop off your hotel.

Rest of day is your leisure time.

• Overnight at Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 5 – 23 Apr: Hanoi → Hoi An

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you). After Hanoi city tour you will come back hotel to collect your luggage.

At 08:00 – 08:30 AM: Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City.

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake

It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Goddess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.

Special Note: we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

14.00 – 14.15: Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century.

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”

After the tour, drop you off at hotel.

At 16:00 PM, we transfer you to airport for flight to Da Nang (depart at 18:20 PM – VN 6071). Arrive at airport in Da Nang at 19:45 PM, our driver transfers you to the hotel in Hoi An for your stay.

Rest of the day is your leisure time to discover the city on your own.

• Overnight at Hotel Royal Hoi An Gallery in Hoi An.
• B,L

Day 6 – 24 Apr: Hoi An (My Son Sanctuary)

Breakfast at hotel.

07:30 – 08:00 AM, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, visit Hoi An town on foot: Hoi An’s Colorful Local Market, Old House of Tan Ky, Fu Jian Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.

• Overnight at Hotel Royal Hoi An Gallery in Hoi An.
• B,L

Day 7 – 25 Apr: Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh

Morning, breakfast at your hotel.

Your leisure time to explore old town until 10:30 AM our driver transfer you to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh (depart at 13:00 PM – VN 127).

Arrival at airport in Ho Chi Minh at 14:30 PM, you will be taken to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.

• Overnight at Majestic Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B

Day 8 – 26 Apr: Ho Chi Minh (visit Mekong Delta)

Breakfast at hotel.

07:30- 07:45 AM – pick you up at your hotel, then transfer to My Tho by bus (1.5 hours). On the way, we will visit Vinh Trang pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival in My Tho, we will take a boat trip along the Mekong River, where you can see fish cages and floating houses on the river. The boat takes you to a small canal, where you can totally escape from the busy town. The boat cruise takes you to a coconut island in Ben Tre. Stop at a local family home to enjoy tropical fruit, taste the honey tea, honey wine and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performed by the villagers.

Stop by the village coconut candy shop, learn how to make candy, and see some handicraft made out of coconut trees. Take a walk through the village and admire the fruits, flowers, trees, local houses, children and people. Then, we head to the local restaurant. Lunch is set with special Vietnamese food at here.

After lunch, relax, go for a walk or bicycle around the area. We’ll then travel back to the river ferry and head back to Saigon by bus, arriving at around 17:30 PM.

• Overnight at Majestic Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 9 – 27 Apr: Ho Chi Minh (Cu Chi tunnels + City tour)

Breakfast will be served at your hotel.

Around 07:30 – 07:45 AM, our guide picks up you to visit Ho Chi Minh. Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Have lunch at restaurant in HCM city.

In the afternoon, visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace.

The Independence palace is a widely known Landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

Back to the hotel. End trip.

• Overnight at Majestic Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 10 – 28 Apr: Ho Chi Minh (Departure)

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel.

At 07:00 AM our driver transfer you to airport for departure flight (depart at 10:40 AM – VJ 083).

• N/A
• B

End of service!