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Trip Details |
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December 2010 |
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| 11 Days/10 Nights | |
| Landcost: From $3,980 | |
| Single Supplement: $1,180 | |
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ITINERARY
BRIEF |
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| Hotels: Luxury 5-Star | |
 La Residence, Hoi An |
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| TOUR EXTENSIONS: | |
| Hong Kong & Bangkok | |
| Angkor: 3 Days/2 Nights | |
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Indochina Travel Presents
C H R I S T M A S I N D A L A T, V I E T N A M
It was under the French that the Catholic Church took hold in Vietnam and it fact was once the largest landowner in the country. The legacy remains and there are some 8 million Catholics in Vietnam. Recently, American-style Christmas has become popular in Vietnam, as in other parts of the world and there can be seen expressions of it throughout the country during the holiday period. We can't promise snow, but this tour provides a complete Vietnam experience and culminates with a special Christmas Eve dinner in Dalat. The next day we visit the Dalat Cathedral to witness Christmas-day mass with few other tourists in sight.
Witness the rush of modernization in Saigon and life in agrarian villages where little has changed in the last thousand years. Discover ancient wonder in Cham temple ruins, Buddhist pagodas and ancestor worship at the center of Vietnam's spiritual element. We'll encounter the legacy of French rule in the elegant colonial architecture and hotels, study the ancient Chinese influence on customs and food as well as the profound effect of the American period on Vietnamese culture, for better or worse. Ancient traditions, foreign influences and dynamic society make Vietnam a fascinating destination.
Along the way we will observe the distinct personalities of Vietnam's provinces, spending quality time in the fertile Central Highlands, pristine coastal regions and the pastoral countryside where vast stretches of rice paddies meet a jungle foliage that is a hundred shades of green. In addition to stunning landscapes, bicycling will provide access to Vietnam's greatest treasure - its people. Their warm greetings and smiles come naturally and their optimism and enduring spirit are inspiring. The Vietnamese are happy to have visitors again, especially Americans, who are now a novelty, yet historically familiar.
Our route travels the length of Vietnam, from the stoic, socialistic capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, through the unique provinces on the way south to capitalist Saigon. On a historic level, we will see the stately French-built mansions and tree-shaded boulevards in Hanoi, as well as the impact of the communist period. From there we continue south and observe life in agrarian villages where little has changed in over a thousand years. En route we will view breathtaking landscapes and the dramatic setting of ancient rice villages.
We will be staying at the finest hotels and experiencing gourmet meals without compromising the essence of the Vietnamese culture which has been influenced by the Chinese, French, Russians and Americans.
Airlines: December is high season to Vietnam. Air seating fills early — reserve your air travel as soon as possible, either with your own agent or with assistance from us.
~ Highlights ~
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Unesco World Heritage Sites: Hanoi's Old Quarter, Halong Bay, Imperial Tombs in Hue, and the ancient port town of Hoi An. This journey will also encompass Ho Chi Ming City and the Mekong Delta, two places of strong historical interest to Americans.
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Dining in Vietnam's finest restaurants, including traditional and contemporary French and Vietnamese. All meals are inclusive in this journey with the exception of two dinners and one lunch.
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Accommodation in Vietnam's finest hotels, including the historic and newly remodeled Hanoi Sofitel Metropole on central Hoan Kiem Lake and newly-opened Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City which lies in the heart of the central district near the Saigon River.
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Continued travel options in neighboring Cambodia to the UNESCO Khmer Empire temples at Angkor. Also options for Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok stopovers or continued travel in the region before or afterwards.
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Escorts will include culinary expert Miss Diep To.
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