Homeland Heritage Tours

Related Information

Vietnam Root-seeking and Cultural Exploration Tour C

Engage in an exciting and fun Vietnam adventure as a family today!

Halong Bay, also known as the "Descending Dragon bay" is a reputable scenic attraction most suitable for over night cruises. Currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the islands located in the bay area were said to be created by various dragons sent from heaven, in an attempt to protect Vietnam from aggressive foreign invasion, according to Vietnamese myth. At a more scientific perspective, the rising sea level and inundated area turned hills into islands, when glaciers melted during the end of the last ice age. Furthermore, Halong Bay is famous for its spectacular caves, islands and landscapes, which were produced over millions of years of river erosion and chemical reaction within the area.

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. 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) constructed in 1868. Originally served as the French governor's residence, the palace was utilized by Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's work head quarters and home when he held office from 1955 to 63.

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. Situated in the tropical rainforest, the delta is the major agricultural region in Vietnam today. Major cash crops of the region are: mango, jackfruit, mangostenn, oranges, guava, pepper, durian and pineapple. 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

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 and attend a memorable prayer service. Then explore Cholon-- the China town district of the city, which is also known as the "big market". Besides remaining as a popular shopping district, Cholon is also reputable for its temples and assembly halls. The halls are created by groups of people with Chinese heritages to offer essential supports for their dialect group of members. Explore 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 this morning. Nha Tranh is 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 perhaps make room for fun water activities. Nha Trang is in fact divided into two different parts: a seaside town with exotic scenic beaches and a commercial district full of fancy Chinese retail stores. Enjoy fishing-this Cham settlement's tradition as a family.

Day 7: Nha Trang/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 8: 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 9: Province/Danang

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Depart the province 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. Rated as the fourth largest city in Vietnam, Danang contains the richest Cham art relics that could be dated back to AD 192. The city's Museum of Champa Sculpture showcases a large variety of art works from the glorious and holiest My Son Empire, which reflected a strong influence of the Hindu religion.

Day 10: Hoi An

accommodations: Hoi An Riverside Resort

meals: B/L

Visit the Hoi An Museum, the Chinese Assembly Hall, an ancient house and the Japanese Covered Bridge, and the Tra Kieu Church and My Son "Beautiful Mountain" where architectural treasures and sculptures of Cham culture dating from the 7th to 13th century could be explored. Located in the jungle area, My Son's ruins of the Kingdom of Champa were preserved and protected to their very best; the region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Day 11: 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 could be dated back to 1070; this historical learning center is currently devoted to promoting Confucian worship. Visit the infamous "Hanoi Hilton", a former central prison in Hanoi. The site of the prison is recently developed even though one wing has been retained as a museum.

Day 12: 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 stimulate imaginations of visitors. Upon your arrival in Halong, transfer to your cruise ship for an overnight cruise.

Day 13: 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 found very amusing.

Day 14: 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 Hanoi 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:
14 days/13 nights
Price:
Adult: $1,599 (land only)
Child: $1,280 (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: Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan.
For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert, Louie.