Homeland Heritage Tours

Related Information

Vietnam Root-seeking and Cultural Exploration Tour B

Prior to reuniting with the orphanage directors and caregivers, visit fun and remarkable attractions to deepen your family's understandings and gratitude of Vietnam.

Besides being one of the major economic and commercial centers, and the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is also travelers friendly. Also known as Saigon, the city can be divided into eight districts, in which district one and three are most popular among visitors. Lam Son Square is located at the heart of the city and is surrounded by a large variety of stores, buildings, restaurants and hotels.

One of the most popular attractions in the city is the Reunification Hall located in Ho Chi Minh City's district one. Built in 1869 as the French governor's residence, it became the presidential palace of Ngo Dinh Diem from 1955 to 1963. The palace currently exhibits the president's living area, conference rooms and operation rooms, which contain precious military maps, radios, telephones and other essential equipments.

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/Ho Chi Minh City

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 Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: L

Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City. Your private driver will transfer you to the hotel upon your arrival. Have a good rest in the hotel and adjust to your new time zone and surroundings this morning. In the afternoon, explore Ho Chi Minh City through its heart along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) and pass by the prominently well-known Rex Hotel, where you can find the statue of Uncle Ho near the former French Colonial City Hall (presently the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee facility). Uncle Ho offered assistance to the helpless and was highly respected in the community; currently many newly weds love to visit that statue as they believed Ho will honor blessings on their marriages. On your way to the Reunification Palace, browse through HoChiMinh Square, Municipal Theatre and Notre Dame Cathedral. The Reunification Palace was indeed the French governor's residence in 1868. During the 1950s, President Ngo Dinh Diem resided in the palace and two well-trained army pilots attempted to bomb the palace and assassinate Diem in 1954, but failed. Despite the failure, Diem was murdered after a military coup at a later time.

Day 3: 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. My Tho is located on the tributary of Mekong-Tien River's banks and be sure to search for the statue of the Vietnamese hero Nguyen Huu Huan, who fought against the French in the 19th century and finally got sentenced to death when captured by the enemy. 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 4: Ho Chi Minh City

accommodations: Sofitel Plaza Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Explore the Cao Dai Great Temple, the main temple of worship of the Cao Dai religion, which is built in 1880 and surrounded by various educational institutes and administrative capitols. Constructed with distinct Asian features and styles, visitors will find paintings portraying reputable French writer Victor Hugo and patriotic Chinese modern revolutionary pioneer Sun Yat Sen at the temple entrance. Drive to Cholon -- the China town district of the city after your exploration of the temple and 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 cruise dinner on the river this evening.

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City/ Nha Trang

accommodations: Vin Pearl Beach Resort

meals: B/L

Depart Ho Chi Minh City for Nha Trang, a famous coastal destination that offers pristine beaches, offshore islets, Cham towers, hot springs and abundant water sport options.

Day 6: Nha Trang

accommodations: Vin Pearl Beach Resort

meals: B

Relax in the resort today and enjoy participating in different water activities.

Day 7: Nha Trang/Danang

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Depart Nha Trang for Danang this morning. Upon 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 8: Hoi An

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Visit the Hoi An Museum, where visitors are usually fascinated by the drastic changes of Hoi An between the 1930s and 1990s. Continue your exploration at the Chinese Assembly Halls established by several Chinese traders; they were in fact "self-governing dialect associations" or "Clan houses" that could be utilized by four different Chinese ethnicity: Fukien, Cantonese, Hainan, Chaozhou and any Chinese sailors and merchants who happened to visit the area. Carry on to an ancient house, the Japanese Covered Bridge, also known as the Faraway People's Bridge, serving as Hoi An's landmark since the 17th century, was said to be constructed by the Japanese. Enjoy your final explorations of the day at 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 9: Danang/Hanoi

accommodations: Hanoi Horison Hotel

meals: B/L

Fly to Hanoi from Danang today. Visit Hanoi's first University-the Temple of Literature, which was built in 1070. Rated as the largest temple in Hanoi, it focused on worshipping the greatest teacher in China-Confucius and researching on Confucius' principles and ideologies. Then explore the infamous "Hanoi Hilton", a former central prison in Hanoi. The site of the prison is recently developed into a hotel and shopping mall, whereas one of the sections retained as a museum. According to a US mission that visited the prison in 1992, 2,000 inmates were incarcerated in rather cramped cells before the site was sold for commercial purposes.

Day 10: 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. Pass through the fields where busy farmers plant their crops by using traditional methods of cultivation. One of the region's legends said that a gigantic beast created Halong Bay in prevention of a foreign invasion. Amazingly, some sailors who recently visited the area claimed that they have seen an enormous sea beast named Tarasque in the area. Upon your arrival in Halong, transfer to your cruise ship for an overnight cruise.

Day 11: 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 which most children will enjoy.

Day 12: Hanoi/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/Hanoi

accommodations: Hanoi Horison Hotel

meals: B/L

Return to Hanoi today.

Day 15: Hanoi/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: Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hung Yen, Hoa Binh, Lang Son, Lao Cao, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai.
For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert, Louie.