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Vietnam Homeland Heritage Tour A (South to North)

Enjoy this wonderful tour with your family that explores Vietnam from South to North, and provides you unique experiences such as the opportunity to have farming lessons in the Vietnamese countryside, lunch in a beautiful bonsai garden and relaxing days at a beach resort.  This tour offers a customizable visit to your child’s orphanage city as well as the opportunity to visit a local Vietnamese school and capture glimpses of daily life in Vietnam.

Tour Overview
Trip Duration:14 nights/15 days
Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Long, Province side trip, DaNang , Hoi An, Hanoi, and Halong Bay

Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival –Ho Chi Minh City
meals: N/A
Upon arrival, meet the English-speaking tour guide at the airport gate exit, and your driver and guide will escort you to the hotel. Relax while you soak in the local sights and culture while adjusting to the new time zone.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
meals: B/L

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and then enjoy your short journey "images of Saigon Past & Present“ with Local Food Discovery
+Take in the imagery of Saigon past and present
+ Experience local foods
+ Examine the busy markets to understand local lifestyle.
We visit to the Jade pagoda which was built in the early 20th century. It is fascinating as we can see the combined worshiped of three religions here "Buddhism - Taoism & Confucianism".
We then drop by other interesting locations such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Municipal Post Office, and other remarkable buildings which the French strongly influenced in Indochina during the early 20th century.
You continue the drive a long a man-made canal that was an important water way to link Sai Gon and to the Mekong Delta 200 years past. Nowadays, with the quick development of roads, goods and produce are mostly shipped by truck however, we can still see boats from the Mekong Delta arriving loaded with agricultural products and returning with consumer goods. The contrast of past and present creates an image that will be remembered.
We will stop at typical Market in China town to get a complete view of the daily lives of food-stall sellers, buyers and vendors at the market which reflects a major part of daily activity in Vietnamese culture which has been the same for centuries, but now adjacent with a modern shopping mall.
In the market, you will have exciting photo opportunities as you experience the buying and selling of produce and goods done in a tradition that is centuries old. We will learn of local ingredients as we sample different authentic dishes.
We continue with a drive to surrounding areas in China town to get a whole over all view of how all sources of products are brought here for distribution to all corner in the cities,
We will also visit some local craftsman at work at their age old jobs so elusive to find in Saigonlunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you can visit the Dam Sen Water Park where kids play and all can cool off in the heat of the day and have some relaxing fun in the water. Or, if you prefer your family can enjoy a visit to the History Museum, which displays antiques on the Phu Nam culture, Cham arts and Mekong Delta arts.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be floating market- Vinh Long
meals: B/L/D
Drive to the Mekong Delta where the group will experience its first evening of The Mekong Delta or Cuu Long in Vietnamese, with its rich agricultural soil, is one of the nation's treasured "rice baskets." The surrounding area is comprised of low lying rice paddies and the rivers are bordered by dense mangroves and palms.
The tributaries of Mekong River provide a comprehensive network of canals and channels. Travel by river is the best method to explore the region at a leisurely pace as it offers opportunities to experience the truly unique Mekong River lifestyle.
During the day, you will choose from a variety of activities:
- Boat trip to Caibe floating market
- Visiting the cottage industry workshops (coconut candy, rice paper, pop-rice).
- Watching a performance of local traditional music
- Rowing boat on the small canal
- Lunch at a local house
- Walking or biking along the village
- Homestyle Cooking with a local family
We enjoy diner and have cup of tea or rice wine when talking together. You can ask the locals about the culture, people, history of this Island. They do not mind to answer some personal questions. Overnight in a private room of local house
Overnight at the home-stay/ a private room with air-conditioner, mosquito net, private bathroom inside
Day 4: Vinh Long- Orphanage- Ho Chi Minh City
meals:B
Have a breakfast and walk along the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning Boat trip to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Our boat will go along the floating village. We will learn how to farm catfish on Mekong river We can visit Vinh Long market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables...
We visit The Home for Care of Helpless Old People & Children and Social Support Center of Vinh Long. Lunch in Vinh Long at Thu Thuy restaurant and then drive back to Saigon. Check in your hotel, free time and Overnight in Saigon.
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City - Province
meals: B
Meet your tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby after breakfast and youll be driven to the airport for your flight to your childs adoption city. Upon your arrival, meet your guide and driver and you will be escorted to your hotel. We can arrange optional local activities of interest to the area, or arrange specific desired site visits as you designate. Or, you may choose to explore the adoption city on your own.
Day 6: Province
meals: N/A
Today, a Lotus guide will sensitively and carefully assist your family with your arranged visit to the orphanage, foster care family or birth family as youve requested. This day is customized to your familys wishes and specifications.
Day 7: Province - DaNang - Hoi An
meals: N/A
Take a late morning flight from your childs province to DaNang. Please meet your guide at the airport gate exit upon your arrival in DaNang. You will be escorted to visit the March 29th Park where one can walk along the shady streets, enjoying fresh air right at the heart of the city. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Hoi Ans old town where you will discover the historic part of the city which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Its sizeable community of foreign merchants created a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. You will have a walking tour in Hoi An to the Chinese Assembly Hall & Temples, old houses & Japanese Covered Bridge. You will then go to the beach resort hotel for check in.
Day 8 :Hoi An
meals: B
Today, you will have full day to enjoy and relax on the beach. The beach resort is equipped with pools, lounge chair and other amenities. You can enjoy beach volleyball, tai chi, kite flying and water sports like wind surfing, kayaking sailing, snorkeling, jet-skiing parasailing and others.
Day 9: Hoi An
meals: B
Today, you will have another full day to enjoy and relax on the beach while you absorb local culture as well as the resorts fun activity options.
Day 10: Cam Thanh- fishing & Tra Que Village-food Massage cooking class
meals: B/L
Morning, we take a car to Cam Thanh village, we will passing the rice paddy-field and have experience to learn the method of rice production. We will be amazed how nice is the coconut characteristic house and water coconut and bamboo handicraft furniture. As well you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. Later you will meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat, it will be an unforgettable experience.
We leaving Cam Thanh village, continue visiting and experiencing the daily activities of local farmers in Tra Que village. We will join with farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake and learn how to plan vegetable. Upon returning to the farm house, you will be treated to an herbal foot massage followed by a session of cooking various local dishes such as: Tam Huu Spring Roll, Banh Xeo or the local pancake of the people from the middle region. After lunch, chatting with local people before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Return back to hotel afternoon.
Day 11: Hoi An – DaNang – Hanoi
meals:B
After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon your arrival, meet your guide at the airport gate exit and you will be escorted to the hotel.
Day 12: Hanoi
meals: B/L
 full day tour visiting Hanois most interesting sites, visit Dong Xuan market, viewing the variety of transaction of local people. Tour continue to the must-see places of our beautiful city such as Ho Chi Minh mausoleum-the Mecca of Vietnamese, the 1000 year-old Buddhist and Taoist temples of Tran Quoc, temple of Literature, the historical training track, the enchanting French Quarter, The hustling & bustling Old Quarter.
A walking along the streets to taste street foods and learn about "local cuisine culture", such as cha que (sausage with cinnamon), banh cuon (Vietnamese rolling cakes), bun cha (rice noodles served with Vietnamese BBQ pork), nem (deep fried "square-shape" spring rolls).
Enjoy traditional cyclo ride through Hanois Old Quarter and transfer back your hotel for relax.
Day 13: Hanoi - Halong Bay
meals: B/L/D
This morning, depart Hanoi for a trip to Halong Bay by shuttle bus of Cruise with a scenic drive through the Red River delta. Upon arrival you will be escorted to Bhaya Classic Cruise.
Things to do: Kayak around Trinh Nu Area / Sip between sights in Happy Hour/ Try Masterchef "Halong Bay Edition" / Squid fishing like a local *Depending on weather conditions, this activity might be replaced by kayaking in Luon Cave.
Departs: 12:30 PM
Attraction: Trinh Nu Area includes Trinh Nu Cave, which is the finest sunlight-filled cave in Halong Bay, and a stunning private beach surrounded by Ha Long Bay's crystal water. This is where visitors will have a chance to unwind in a quieter neighborhood and be in touch with raw nature.
Activities (on-board & off-board):
Kayak in the tranquil Trinh Nu Area

Take in the stunning views of Trinh Nu Area by kayaking in the jade-colored water. This activity is highly recommended to all guests. Or sunbathe on a private beach nestled behind Trinh Nu Cave.
Sip between sights in Happy Hour - Buy 1 Get 1
Taste our most exquisite drinks varied vastly in the selection while enjoying the scenic panorama view of Halong Bay during Happy hour, time to rejoice with the buy 1 get 1 promotion.
Squid fishing like a local after dinner
After dinner, try out the technique like a local to get the squids from the ocean while having a wonderful time together. Overnight on the cruise.
Day 14: Halong Bay - Hanoi
meals: B
Things to do: Tai Chi on sundeck/ Explore Sung Sot Cave
Attraction: Sung Sot Cave
The most popular and largest cave in Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave keeps up to its reputation by constantly wowing any visitor, regardless of new or old. Its marvelous structure tells an incredible history that you don't want to miss.
Activities (on-board & off-board):
Tai Chi on Sundeck
Rejuvenating the body and spirit with a refreshing Tai Chi lesson as the sun rises over the acclaimed UNESCO Heritage Site is one of the most relaxing experiences that passengers have. Practicing this beautiful art regularly can help treat a number of human ailments.
Be amazed by Sung Sot Cave’s beauty
Paying a visit to the largest and most renowned cave will definitely awe you with many good surprises. Behold the impeccable creation by Nature and use your imagination to connect with ancient folklore.
Check-out: 10:30 AM
You will be driven back to Hanoi by cruise shuttle bus service, check in to the hotel and relax from the day’s activities. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 15: Hanoi – US
meals: B
After breakfast, please meet your guide and driver to be escorted to the Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight back to your home. The guide will help you to check in and you can make your last journal entries about your memorable trip experience.

TOUR PRICE ( Price per person in USD )

price

Travel Time 

2 Persons

3-5 Persons

6-9 Persons

Deluxe class 

May – Sept, 2023

$1890.00

$1,699.00

$1,550.00

Oct – Dec, 2023

$1990.00

$1790.00

$1,640.00


Note:child price is 80% of adult price.

Accommodations:

City

Deluxe Class

Ho Chi Minh City

Grand Hotel

Vinh Long

Ut Trinh Homestay

Hoi An

Hoi An Beach Resort

Hanoi

Hanoi Pearl hotel

Halong Bay

Bhaya Classic Cruise


Inclusions

  • Air fare of DaNang/Hanoi
  • Airport/hotel/airport transfer as listed on itinerary
  • All listed sightseeing and tour programs with private English-speaking tour guide and private van or bus with driver
  • Hotels and meals as indicated on itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Cyclo fee & Mineral water: 2 bottles per person per day

Exclusions

  • Provincial side trip on Days 05 - 07, and the transportation of Ho Chi Minh City - Province- DaNang. The side trip can be arranged with extra cost by us once we get your adopted childrens orphanage information.
  • Some meals
  • Tipping to tour guide and driver
  • Vietnamese visa
  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Vietnamese airport tax
  • Fuel surcharge.

Terms and Conditions:

  • Deposit: A $500.00 per person non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration
  • Balance: Balance is due 60 days before departure
  • Terms & Conditions: Our terms and conditions are listed on

    Lotus Travel Terms and Conditions

Important Remarks

  • Discounted international airfare could be arranged through Lotus Travel with extra cost. You need to contact the airlines directly if you wished to use your frequent flyer mileage to redeem free international air tickets
  • Provincial side trip on Days 05 - 07, and the domestic airfare of Ho Chi Minh City - Province- DaNang could be arranged with extra cost
  • All prices are quoted per person based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplementapplies for single travelers
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