Vietnam & Myanmar Exploration 15 Days

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Your guide will be holding a welcome signboard with the ASIA TOUR ADVISOR LOGO & your name. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture and tranquil lakes of this unique city.

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe locals practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.

Notes:
+ Hotel check-in time is from 14:00/ early check-in subject to room availability
+ We’re flexible to switch the itinerary if you want to start/finish your trip in another city

After breakfast at your hotel .The guide pick you up at your hotel and then visit the capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our days' tour will visit the highlights.

See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the 'icon of Hanoi' - The One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake's Tran Quoc temple. After lunch, visit the beautiful Temple of Literature, take a cycle for visiting the bustling Old Quarter .

Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure or on your own activities.

We'll pick you up at hotel and drive through the verdant Red River Delta to make our way to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay. You'll board a luxury junk ship for an overnight cruise-- while you relax on-board you can marvel at the incredible limestone karsts that jut out of the sea and the thousands of jungle-covered islands that seem to float on the waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin swirl around hidden grottoes and ancient caves to create an enchanting, timeless world.

We'll serve you a fresh seafood lunch while you sit back and relax as you enjoy the incredible view with a drink in your hand. We'll take you to a traditional fishing village where the locals have created an entire town on the decks of their boats, then you can explore Tien Ong Cave before returning to the cruise for cocktails, canapés, and a spectacular sunset. End your day with a romantic, candlelit dinner.

Begin the day with a Tai Chi class on deck in the early morning mist or just admire the beautiful scenery as the sun rises over the azure waters. Choose between an excursions to a secluded island with a sandy beach for a swim or join the chef for a cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy a leisurely brunch while your junk cruises Halong Bay, passing islets and caves as you make your way back to the dock.

Your driver will meet you when you disembark and transfer you straight to the airport for a short flight to Danang. Meet your guide upon arrival and heading to your hotel

Hoi An was a prosperous port from the 16th to 19th centuries trading with merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who came to buy silk, spices and porcelain. Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Quarter is beautifully preserved with ornate pagodas, antique trading houses and old tile-roofed shops.

It is a rich architectural fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European styles. Many of the historic buildings lining the canals and pedestrian streets have been converted into art galleries, boutique restaurants, bars and cafes. Hoi An is surrounded by attractive countryside with traditional farming and fishing, and by sandy beaches with modern seaside resorts.

Note: The cruise itinerary is subject to change according to weather conditions & different cruise operators

Option 1 – Cooking class:
Your cooking class today will begin with a visit to a colorful local markets, buying all the necessary ingredients and head back to prepare. Your cheft will demonstrate how to cook some typical Vietnam cruisine, you will then start cooking yourself and enjoy what you have cooked.

In the afternoon, exploring the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Hoi An was a major sea port in Asia and it resulted in a fusion of style and culture that has been perfectly preserved. Wander traditional Chinese shops, luxurious French homes, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town is home to silk markets, Vietnamese food stalls, and talented street performers-- all of which are sure to charm you.

Option 2 – Vegetable village:
Breakfast at your hotel and then it’s time for a little bit of exercise and a bike ride to Tra Que Vilage and a visit to a local farm. This is a very special involvement in true Vietnamese rural life. You will learn about the history of the village and then be shown the daily practices of growing vegetables.

You will learn how the vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. You will join in the activities of the farmers – collecting seaweed fertilizer, sowing, raking, watering and picking. Your cultural immersion continues as you join the family to prepare and eat the lunch you have helped grow. You will also taste other local specialties such a Tam huu (spring roll) and Bahn xeo (pancake). Of course you must also join in the after lunch nap before returning to the fiel to learn how to harvest and wrap the produce. Mid-afternoon we wave goodbye to your new friends and go back to Hoian for visiting Hoian Old Quarter. Return to your hotel for relaxing

Option 3 – Countryside biking or motor riding:
Our guide will pick you up at the hotel by motobike, riding to Tra Que village and then ride back to the river for aboard a local ferry to Kim Bong Village. This village is not only famous for wood carving but weaving sleeping mat as well, so we will stop at a family to see how they weave the mat for every day use in the old time before having today popular mattresses. Visit a local family making the famous local noodle - Mi Quang is the other chance to learn the local life.

You also have a chance to make make and eat the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Riding into a small village , gearing up for an adrenalin pumping 300 metre bamboo bridge river crossing to the opposing landscape of the sea-board side of the island making our way to Duy Hai market and harbour. Here, the local ferry crossing takes guests to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh village. Have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay. Back your hotel by motobike.

Note: If you prefer biking than scooter tour, we can be flexible to modify the route, matching with your cycling ability.

The most common regret from travelers leaving Vietnam is staying too short in Hoi An! You can stay from three to five nights or even longer, it’s really hard to run out of things to see & do in Hoi An. From the lanterns to the beach, from the boat trips to the shopping, from the vegetable villages to the handcraft areas.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy time on your own activities or ask our travel experts to organize our Hoi An tour collections.

You'll have the morning for a leisurely breakfast before we come to collect you and take you to Danang to catch a flight to Yangon (via Hanoi or Bangkok). When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure.

After breakfast at hotel, start sightseeing with Sule Pagoda in the city center. Enjoy your time seeing the colonial buildings and visit Mahabandoola Park which includes the Independence Monument, an obelisk which commemorates Burmese independence gained from the British in 1948. Next visit Chaukhtatgyi (Reclining Buddha) Pagoda a colossal reclining Buddha and Karaweik Hall a Royal barge on the Royal Lake for photo stop.

Then, proceed to National Museum and enjoy your time observing Myanmar’s ancient handicrafts, history and culture. Next stop is Bogyoke Market where you can buy souvenirs. Then, visit Yangon’s city center covering World famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Witness the golden dome light up sunshine at the sunset. Overnight at hotel in Yangon.

After breakfast at hotel, proceed to airport for the flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, drive to Mahagandayon Monastery where hundreds of young Novice (Sanga) studying Buddhist Literatures with strictly obeying rule and regulation of the Monastery according to Buddha teaching.

In the afternoon, cross the small river by ferry boat to make joyful excursion by horse cart at Ava (Innwa); it was one of ancient Myanmar capitals before British annexation in 1885. Next, proceed to Sagaing Hill, which is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides are dotted with numerous Pagodas and Monasteries. Continue to visit Khaungmudaw Pagoda. Then, transfer back to U-Bein bridge and enjoy sunset before going back to Hotel.

Have breakfast at hotel. Depart Mandalay on a private boat along the Ayeyarwaddy River to visit Mingun, a village on the west bank of the river. Visit to Settawya Pagoda, Mingun Pahtotawgyi, and the world renowned ringing Mingun Bell and Myatheintan Pagoda.

In the afternoon, visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda a large Buddha image carved out of a single block of marble, Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace)noted for its exquisite wood carving, Kuthodaw Pagoda known as the world’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures and Mandalay Palace. Overnight at hotel in Mandalay.

You will be transferred back to the airport for a short flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, drive to hotel. Along the way, see nature of local people and beautiful scenery of local villages. Overnight at hotel in Bagan.

Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Then, start sightseeing by visiting to the colorful Nyaung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple, with superb mural paintings of jataka scenes and Htilominlo Temple.

After the must visit to lacquer ware workshop; continue to Manuha Temple; Nanphaya, the residence of Kind Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural master piece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colors paintings. Enjoy the breath taking sunset from sunset platform. Overnight at hotel in Bagan.

After breakfast at hotel, proceed to airport for the flight to Heho. Then, drive to Nyaung Shwe jetty by car and start Inle lake sightseeing by boat starting visit to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Floating Gardens, Unique Leg-rowers, Traditional Fishing Method, Silk Weaving, Stilt House Villages on the lake and Nge Pe Chaung Monastery. Overnight at hotel in Inle.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel & a day on your own activities or relaxing

The glittering blue water of Inle Lake lies at the heart of the Shan Highlands, surrounded by verdant hills. Myanmar’s second-largest lake is a popular destination for any traveler visiting this country, who come to cruise the lake, soak up the scenery, and experience local life in the lakeside fishing villages.

After breakfast, proceed to airport for the flight back to Yangon & connect with your flight home. Tour ends.
Thank you for traveling with us & we wish to see you in the next trips