Homeland Heritage Tours

Related Information

Vietnam Root-seeking and Cultural Exploration Tour D

The remarkable cultural relics of My Son, a glorious and powerful empire of Champa (AD 192- 1832) were discovered near Danang. Rated as the forth-largest city in Vietnam, Danang's Museum of Champa Sculpture displays the most Cham art in the world. Each exhibition hall in the museum is dedicated to display art works from a different region of Champa; almost all artistic works reflected strong influence and belief in the Hindu religion. At the same time, the museum also contains relics from Dong Duong, which replaced My Son as the dominant site of Cham art in the ninth century. One important characteristics of the art from this region was the distinct reflections of Buddhism although it never replaced the strong influence of Hinduism.

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. Explore the Reunification Palace (previously the Presidential Palace) originally constructed in 1868 for the French governor. The palace served as the work place and residence of Ngo Dinh Diem, the Vietnamese President who held office during 1955 to 63. The palace currently exhibits Diem's office, conference rooms, living area with cinema, fancy dance hall, casino and bar, and crucial political operating equipments, such as military maps, telephones, radios, etc.

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. 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, 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 sailors. Legend said that the goddess was born in China and saved her father from drowning as a little girl and thereafter became the respectful and divine figure. Enjoy a delicious cruise dinner on the river tonight.

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City/ Nha Trang

accommodations: Vin Pearl Beach Resort

meals: B/L

Depart Ho Chi Minh City for Nha Trang today. 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/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, 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.

Day 9: Hoi An/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 10: 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 11: Province/Hanoi

accommodations: Hanoi Horison Hotel

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.

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. Pass through the fields where busy farmers plant their crops by using traditional methods of cultivation. The bay holds an important position in Vietnamese legend and continues to 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 on board 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 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: Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Nam.
For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert, Louie.