Hanoi - Capital of Vietnam

Background

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. It has an estimated population nearly 6.5 million (2009),  (but only 2.6 million (2009) in urban areas). From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. From 1902 to 1954, it served as the capital of French Indochina. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam.

Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate with plentiful precipitation. The city experiences the typical climate of northern Vietnam, where summers are hot and humid, and winters are, by national standards, relatively cool and dry. Summers, lasting from May to September, are hot and humid, receiving the majority of the annual 1,680 millimeters (66.1 in) of rainfall. The winters are short, relatively dry, and mild, while spring can bring light rains.

Hoan Kiem Lake

 

Located in the centre of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake (‘Lake of the Returned Sword) is regarded as the heart of the city. Once a marshy lagoon, it owes its name and its fame to a powerful legend, a close parallel to an episode in the UK’s Arthurian mythology.

West Lake

Ho Tay is the largest of all the lakes in Ha Noi. The lake is on the northwest part of the city. When Ha Noi was still the capital city, the kings from the Ly and Tran dynasty built summer homes along the lake. In the north end of the lake there are several villages famous for their flowers and fruits plantations. Most famous is Nghi Tam village, the birth place of Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, one of Vietnam's premier Poetess.

Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi

The original pagoda was built in the 6th century and is considered the oldest in Vietnam. It was founded on the bank of the Red River by King Ly Nam De who named it Khai Quoc (National Founder). Much later, it was moved to its present site beside Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake during the reign of King Le Kinh Tong (1600-1618) and renamed Tran Quoc (National Defence). The current building is the result of major renovations in 1815, but one of its effigies dates back to the early 17th century.

 

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

 

In the centre of Hanoi, a large area is devoted to Ho Chi Minh. The centrepiece is a large mausoleum where his embalmed body lies in a bier inside a glass case. Visitors must join a queue and file through the room without stopping. No photography is allowed, and all personal possessions must be left outside (provision is made for this).

 

Chua Mot Cot (One Pillar Pagoda), Hanoi

 

Chua Mot Cot or the One Pillar Pagoda has become the symbol of Vietnamese rich culture and history. The pagoda was built in the reign of king Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). According to legend, in his dream, in 1049, the king saw a vision of Phat Ba Quan Am - Kwan Yin. She led him to a shrine in the middle of a lotus pond. When he woke up, he consulted with his court and decided to replicate the shrine in his dream to dedicate it to Kwan Yin. The One Pillar Pagoda resembles a giant lotus blossom.

Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi

Built in the latter part of the ninth century, Van Mieu is one of the oldest universities in the world. Its original purpose was the worship of the sages and saints of Confucianism, but six years later, a National College was established on the site. Initially, it admitted only princes, but soon expanded to admit bright students nationwide.

Hotels in Hanoi

Sofitel Metropole Hanoi - 5 stars

The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi is an award-winning French colonial-style hotel lying in the heart of Hanoi, near Hoan Kiem Lake and the magnificent Opera House. Boasting a    classical white façade, green shutters, original wrought iron detail, wood paneling and a lush courtyard lawn, the hotel is one of the region's few remaining hotels of its era.

Add: 15 Ngo Quyen St., - Hanoi - Vietnam

Hanoi InterContinental Hotel - 5 stars

The words luxury, opulence, grandeur and elegance define the best Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel. Intercontinental hotel offers a serene and sumptuous lifestyle to its guests. The prime location, attentive hospitality, exclusive facilities and seamless services of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake hotel truly make everyone a privileged visitor.

Add: 1A Nghi Tam - Tay Ho District - Hanoi - Vietnam

Sunway Hotel - 4 stars

The Sunway Hotel is located on Pham Dinh Ho street - a quiet location at the fringe of Hanoi's famous old district, within convenient accessibility to downtown commercial houses, a variety of entertainment, shopping opportunities and some of the renowned tourist attractions are close nearby.

The Hoan Kiem lake is merely a 10 minute walk away from Sunway Hotel.

Add: 19 Pham Dinh Ho Street - Hanoi - Vietnam

 

Hanoi Grand View Hotel - 3 stars

Hanoi Grand View Hotel is conveniently located within 3 minutes walk to the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, the old quarters with it's walking streets and colonial architectures. It's 55 tasteful rooms are specially designed for both the leisure and discerning corporate guests alike.

Add: 50 Hang Be - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi - Vietnam

Hoa Binh Palace Hotel - 3 stars

Located at 27 Hang Be Street, the hotel features an accommodation of 40 rooms, two restaurants at 1st floor and 8th floor, and a basement for parking. Designed in traditional French architectural style, the newly- built hotel is both in harmony with its surrounding area and differs itself from other neighboring buildings as well.

Add: 27 Hang Be Street - Hoan Kiem District - Hanoi - Vietnam

Tour - Full day around Hanoi

- 8h00 AM Departure from your Hotel.

- Take the bus to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of - Uncle Ho's final resting-place.

- Visit the One Pillar Pagoda

- Walk to the Quan Thanh Temple and Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda on West lake

- Lunch.

- PM: Visit the Ethnology Museum, the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university

- Take the bus to Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son temple.

- For the end of the tour journey visit by coach trip along the Hanoi Old Quarter.

- Free for shopping.

- Drop off at your Hotel at around 5h00 PM - 6h00 PM

NOTE: On Monday and Friday morning, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ethnic museums are closed - Bat Trang pottery village will be arranged as substitution.

Inclusive: Transport, Entrance fee, Lunch, English speaking guide, Water Puppet tickets (Applicable to Vip Option).

Exclusive: Drinks, Insurance, Personal expenses, Tip.

Class	1 pax	2-3 pax	4-5 pax	6-8 pax	9-12 pax
Private tour	90	60	45	40	35
Group tour (Normal)	US$ 23/ per person  (Maximum 16 persons)
Group tour (Vip Option)	US$ 30/ per person  (Maximum 16 persons)

Thung Nai - Hoa Binh province

Located on a section of the Da River in Cao Phong District in the northern province of Hoa Binh, Thung Nai, with its hundreds of islands and a large number of Muong ethnic people living in the region, can enchant anyone who sets foot into the land.

Tourists should not miss Ba Chua Thac Bo Temple (Thac Bo Goddesses Temple), which is one of several sightseeing spots in the area.

According to legend, two local ethnic women had supplied food and boats for the troops of King Le Thai To when they defeated foreign invaders in 1431. When the women died, the King praised their services and asked local residents to build a temple to worship them. Since then, boatmen often stop off at the temple to pray for smooth waters and a safe trip.

Visiting the temple, tourists can also witness old Muong ethnic women displaying their farm products to sell to visitors. Their “goods” include the herbal medicines they collect from wild plants the jungle along with fresh and dried bamboo shoots.

Ten minutes by boat from the Goddesses Temple, tourists can get to Thac Bo Cave, which was recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national heritage site in 2008. There are different shapes of stalactites inside the 100m-long cave, and each stalactite brings about a specific sound when a visitor beats on it.

Visitor can expand their sightseeing tours by visiting small villages of Muong and Dao ethnic people, or they can ask the boatman to take them to Ngoi Hoa Lake. Located on the top of a mountain, the lake can be seen after an hour’s climb through the green landscape.

The Windmill guest house attracts visitors not only for its nice location, but also for its local specialities, such as fermented fish and grilled and smoked fish, served with ruou can (a home-made rice wine in a jar, drunk with bamboo straws). It offers a package for tourists for a very reasonable price, from VND250,000-300,000 (about US$13). The package includes a bed, three meals and a sightseeing boat.

Tour to Thung Nai

$ 45, 2days / 1night

Day 1 - Ha Noi - Thung Nai

10.30 am :  Arrive in Thung Nai. Get off the car and take a short rest of several minutes before taking a motor-boat to the rest-house ( Coi Say Gio Hostal ) of Ngoc Island.

After a 20-minute motor-boating, you will reach the rest-house of Ngoc Island. Check in hostel then  Relax and prepare for having lunch with local people.

11.30 am: Have lunch . Enjoy some specialties of Hoa Binh such as “Com lam” (sticky rice in bamboo), Can Wine, Thung Nai chicken , Da river fish … and cheer together.

1.45 pm : Start cuising in Da river and doing kayakking

From 4:00 pm to midnight: Take part in some outdoor activities. Then, come back to the hostel  for a night sleep.

Day 2 : Thung Nai - Thac Bo Temple - Local Market - Ha Noi

6:00 am : Wake up to enjoy the fresh air of the Northern mountain area of Vietnam. Then having breakfast.

8:00 am: Travel on motor-boat around the lake of Thung Nai, visit Thac Bo Temple and Thac Bo Cave. Watching the daily life of some ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh Province, drop in Thac Bo Market.

11:00 am: Come back to the rest-house, have lunch and take rest.

2:00 pm: Prepare and getting back to Hanoi.

4.30 pm : Arrive in Ha Noi, end the tour.

INCLUDED :  

+ Meals in tour

+ Entrance fees, kayaking

+ 01 night in homestay

+ English speaking guide

+ Bus, cruise boat

Danang

Background

Danang City is located in middle of Central Vietnam, between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, separated from Laos by the western Truong Son Mountains. It is surrounded by Thua Thien-Hue along the northern border and Quang Nam on the southern border. It is embraced by the East Sea with 150km of seacoast.

The city’s weather bears the combination of the north and the south climate characters with the inclination to the former. There are two seasons: the wet from August to December and the dry season from January to July, cold waves are occasional but they are of average and short lasting.

Founded in 1915 by the École Française d'Extrême Orient, Cham Museum houses a collection of stone sculptures from the Hindu-practicing Cham civilization, which occupied much of central Vietnam in the first millennium C.E. through about the 14th century.

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are 9km south of Da Nang. The group includes Kim Son (Mountain of Wood), Thuy Son (Mountain of Water), Hoa Son (Mountain of Fire), and Tho Son (Mountain of Earth). Several Buddhist temples have been built into the caves and grottoes, and it's a popular pilgrimage site.

Ba Na - Chua Mount is located in Hoa Vang District, 30km from the centre of Da Nang City. The mountain, which stands at the altitude of 1,487m above sea-level, has an average annual temperature that varies between 17 and 200C (62.6-68°F).

Each of the four seasons appears within a single day in Ba Na: spring in the morning, summer at noon, autumn in the afternoon and winter at night. One particular characteristic is that the clouds are at the mid-height of the mountain, so the peaks are always clear. Ba Na also possesses very beautiful forests with green pine hills. 

Linh Ung Pagoda was built facing the sea on the cliff of Thuy Son Mountain under the reign of King Minh Mang. It was rebuilt in 1970 with contributions from Buddhist followers. The pagoda houses a set of white stone statue. On the right of the pagoda is Vong Hai Dai (sea-viewing pavilion), which offers a clear view of Non Nuoc Beach. 

Non Nuoc Beach in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang City, is a green bow embracing the foot of Ngu Hanh Son Mountain. The white-sand beach stretches 5km long, bordering Dien Ngoc sea in the south and Bac My An sea in the north. 

Hotels in Danang

Furama Resort - 5 stars

The 198 guest rooms and suites occupy two four-storey wings overlooking the ocean on one side and a freshwater swimming lagoon and manicured tropical gardens on the others.

The main lobby, function rooms, restaurants, bars and service areas occupy several two and three-storey pavilions surrounding a spacious courtyard.

Add: 68 Ho Xuan Huong Street, Bac My An Beach, Danang, Vietnam

Fusion Maia Resort - 5 stars

Located on the My Khe Beach, only 10 minutes from Da Nang centre, 20 minutes from the world’s heritage town Hoi An and 15 minutes from the airport, Fusion Maia boasts the largest spa of central Vietnam. It offers three staying options: pool suites, spa villas, and beach villas, each coming with its own private pool and courtyard garden, modern appliances.

Add: Truong Sa Street, Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Bac My An Beach, Danang, Vietnam

 

 

Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort - 4 stars

Sandy Beach Non Nuoc Resort Da Nang is located on 17 hectares of private garden fronting Non Nuoc Beach of the East Sea. This Da Nang property has its very own private beach. It features a full-service spa, 2 outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, and a steam room, offers 118 guestrooms. Rooms feature ocean or garden views.

Add: 255 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, Danang, Non Nuoc Beach / Marble Mountain, Danang, Vietnam

 

 

Royal Hotel Danang - 3 stars

Royal is the superior and  luxury hotel located at the Trading Centre of Da Nang city – the city in  Quang Land of the Central with high prospect and  is renovating more and more and developing strongly. It includes 56 rooms and 4 superior apartments furnished fully modern equipments such as: massage - spa, restaurant, dancing hall, karaoke, conference hall … that is high appreciated in Danang City.

Add: 17 Quang Trung Street, Hai Chau District, Danang, Vietnam

 

Tour from Hanoi to Danang

$250, 3 Days / 2 Nights

Day 1: Hanoi – Danang (L, D)
- Take the short flight to Danang
- Check in, have lunch
- Take a bus to visit Ba Na - Chua Mount, Linh Ung pagoda, Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son)
- Have dinner

Day 2: Danang - Hoi An - Danang (B, L, D)
- Have breakfast

- Transfer to Hoi An
- Take a walking tour of Hoi An, visit Hoi An colorful local market

- Back to Danang

- Have dinner

Day3: Danang - Hanoi (B, L)
- Breakfast, lunch

- Leisure time until transferring to the airport for your flight.