Homeland Heritage Tours

Related Information

Vietnam Root-seeking and Cultural Exploration Tour A

Explore your children's motherland and appreciate their cultural heritage as a family today!

Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam's tropical rainforest areas. Located in large networks of rivers and waterways, the area is often known as Song Cuu Long-the River of the Nine Dragons. The delta is famous for its mango, mangostenn, jackfruit, oranges, guava, pepper, durian and pineapple productions. At the same time, the region is also the richest agricultural area in Vietnam; it covers approximately 67,000 sq. km of farmlands and keeps the majority of Vietnamese away from hunger.

Interestingly enough, most remarkable attractions at the delta are new according to Vietnamese standards. Temples, for instance, that appear to be centuries old are in fact built during the 1930s and 40s. Ha Tien is the oldest area of the delta and is located near the Cambodian border. Nevertheless, touring the Mekong Delta by boat can be a blast for all travelers.

Lotus Travel donates 2% of your standard tour cost to its Orphans Improvement Program. This is a program designed to improve the quality of life of special needs children in Vietnam. By joining one of our Homeland Heritage Tours, you help the children of Vietnam in need.

Itinerary

Day 1: US/Hanoi

accommodations: n/a

meals: n/a

Begin your tour to Vietnam's most popular historical sites and cities today when you depart from the US gateway city for Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi

accommodations: Hanoi Horison Hotel

meals: n/a

Please meet your private English-speaking tour guide and driver at the airport exit for transfer to the hotel. Have a good rest today to adjust to the time difference.

Day 3: Hanoi/Halong

accommodations: Halong Bay Cruise Ship

meals: B/L/D

This morning, travel east to Hon Gai (approximately 170 km or three hours away from Hanoi), the gateway to Halong Bay. In fact, Halong means "descending dragon" and the name is derived from one of the interesting legends of the area: an invasion flotilla once sailed closer and closer to Vietnamese soil and the gods from heaven sent several dragons to guard the territories and prevent the fleet from proceeding. In order to secure the areas silently, the dragons turned themselves into islands, which surrounded Halong Bay until present day; this legend still continues to stimulate imaginations of visitors nowadays. Upon your arrival in Halong, transfer to your cruise ship for an overnight cruise.

Day 4: Halong/Hanoi

accommodations: Hanoi Horison Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Explore Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Grotto this morning as you continue your cruise on Halong Bay. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood lunch onboard before your return trip back to Hanoi. Visit the Ceramic production house at Hai Duong Town and en route to Hanoi this afternoon for dinner and a traditional water puppet show.

Day 5: Hanoi/Danang

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Visit Hanoi's first University-the Temple of Literature, which is built according to the blue print of a Shan Dong temple in China. This first learning institute was developed in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong who was deeply fascinated by the teachings of China's great philosopher Confucius; the school used to be an advocate of Confucian principles and ideologies' research. Then visit the infamous "Hanoi Hilton", a former central prison in Hanoi. Also known as the "Hoa Lo", the prison incarcerated most American prisoner of wars during the Vietnam war and many were not released until 1973. Interestingly enough, part of the prison became a hotel and shopping center-Hanoi Towers and the remaining sections were turned into a museum, serving as the witness of war and cruel tortures. Fly to DaNang from Hanoi in the afternoon. Upon your arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing visit to Southeast Asia's most attractive town filled with centuries old houses, handicraft villages and impressive pagodas constructed in Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese styles.

Day 6: Hoi An

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Visit the Hoi An Museum, where you can find nice photos detailing the changes of Hoi An between the 1930s and 1990s; remember to browse through the displays of various ornamentation, which depicted "watchful eyes" and at the same time incorporated the yin-yang symbol. Then carry on to the Chinese Assembly Hall established by different groups of Chinese traders between the 18th and 19th centuries. These halls were in fact "self-governing dialect associations" or "clan houses", which maintained their own facilities, such as hospitals, schools, cemeteries, etc. Enjoy your explorations of an ancient house, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Tra Kieu Church and My Son "Beautiful Mountain" where architectural treasures and sculptures of Cham culture dating between the 7th to 13th century could be explored.

Day 7: Danang/Nha Trang

accommodations: Vin Pearl Beach Resort

meals: B/L

Take a flight to Nha Trang this morning. Nha Trang is a famous coastal destination that offers pristine beaches, offshore islets, Cham towers, hot springs and abundant water sport options.

Day 8: Nha Trang

accommodations: Vin Pearl Beach Resort

meals: B

Relax in the Resort today and feel free to climb the Cham towers for spectacular scenic views and engage in different water activities.

Day 9: Nha Trang/ Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: B/L

Today you will fly to Ho Chi Minh City from Nha Trang. Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City. Your private driver will transfer you to the hotel upon your arrival. HoChiMinh City is Vietnam's economic center and is still often called Saigon even though the name of the city was officially changed in 1975 upon the reunification of North and South Vietnam. After lunch, begin your exploration of HoChiMinh City. Your tour will take you through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), pass the prominently well-known Rex Hotel, HoChiMinh Square, Municipal Theatre and Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit the Reunification Palace (previously the Presidential Palace) originally constructed in 1868-- the residence of French governor Cochin China.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: B/L

After breakfast, depart HoChiMinh City for My Tho and cross the Mekong Delta by boat to see the manufacturing of coconut tree handicrafts. After lunch, continue to Ben Tre to see the orchards and a bee-keeping farm to taste natural honey and honey wine. Return to HoChiMinh City in the late afternoon.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, the main temple of the Cao Dai religion and the focal pint of the Cao Dai complex called Holy See to attend a memorable prayer service. Then drive to Cholon-- the China town district of the city, where you could visit the Binh Tay Wholesale market and the ornate Thien Hau Pagoda, which is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and the protector of fishermen. Enjoy a delicious cruise dinner on the river tonight.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City/Province

accommodations: three or four star hotel

meals: B/L/D

After your breakfast in the hotel, your private English-speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up in the hotel lobby and travel to the adoption city for an orphanage visit.

Day 13: Province

accommodations: three or four star hotel

meals: B/L/D

With the assistance of your local English-speaking tour guide and driver, visit the orphanage and finding site.

Day 14: Province/Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: B/L

Today you will be back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City/US

accommodations: n/a

meals: B

Please meet your private English-speaking tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby and travel to the Ho Chi Minh City International airport for your international flight back to the United States. Cross the International Dateline and arrive home on the same day.

You may extend your tour to visit other cities in Vietnam, such as your child’s birthplace.

Inclusions

Prices listed above include Super Deluxe (5-Star) hotels. In the event that a 5-Star hotel does not exist in a city, we use a top-class hotel in that city.
Prices listed above are based on group size of 10 or more passengers.
In the event that less than 10 people sign up for a tour, Lotus Travel reserves the right to cancel the tour and issue a full refund to participant.
For private package tour under 10 passengers or different scheduled tour, please contact us for a price quote.
Tour price includes sightseeing and meals as noted on the itinerary, intra-Vietnam airfare, private transfers and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and the services of an English- speaking guide and driver.
All prices are quoted in US Dollars and are subject to change without notice. Please check at time of booking.
All prices are quoted per person based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplement applies for single travelers.
For Air and Land Packages, international airfare is included.

Exclusions

Airport tax
Passport and/or Vietnam Visa Fees
Some meals
Tips to guides and driver
Expenses of a personal nature.
Costs associated with side-trip to orphanage

Lotus Travel Terms and Conditions

Tour Overview

Trip Duration:
15 days/14 nights
Price:
Adult: $1,650 (land only)
Child: $1,299 (land only)
Departure Dates:
Passengers can depart on their selected date as long as there are at least two people in the party.
Orphanage Visits:
Oprhanage visits in the following provinces are available: An Giang, Binh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Binh Duong, Ben Tre, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Kien Giang, Soc Trang and Vinh Long.
For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert, Louie.