The Colours Of Vietnam Ross Garden Tours Asian Collection

The Colours Of Vietnam Ross Garden Tours Asian Collection

28/02/2009 – 21/03/2009
Fully escorted throughout

Please note our years of experience means that our tours are timed to exactly coincide with the peak times for Gardens and Flowers around the world and so if you have missed this years tour – you can still contact us to ensure you have all the information possible for our next tour – simply CLICK HERE

Day 1 Saturday, 28 February 2009

London – Ho Chi Minh City

Depart London bound for Ho Chi Minh City. The option exists to travel the day before and have an extra day to rest to recover from the flight.

(Book early & use AirMiles© to book your flights.)

Overnight: in-flight

Day 2 Sunday, 1 March 2009

Ho Chi Minh City

Evening arrival into Ho Chi Minh City. Meet your Ross Tour Leader and fellow travelers in the hotel this evening.

Accomm: Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Day 3 Monday, 2 March 2009

Ho Chi Minh City (B/L/D)

A half-day city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Siagon by many locals. See the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Old US Embassy, and the Thien Hau Temple in China Town and Ben Thanh market. Lunch is included at Pho 2000 Restaurant. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Accomm: Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Day 4 Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho (B/L/D)

Depart Ho Chi Minh City for the watery world of the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City’s streets. Visit Cai Be floating markets and a local candy factory. Take a boat trip along narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. For lunch sample the local delicacy, Elephant’s Ear Fish at Sau Giao House. After the boat trip, transfer to Can Tho. Dinner tonight at the hotel.

Accommodation: Victoria Hotel, Can Tho

Day 5 Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Mekong Delta (B/L)

An early start this morning to explore by boat the fascinating floating markets at Cai Rang, a must see experience for visitors to the delta. The remainder of the day is free at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities of the Victoria Hotel.

Accommodation: Victoria Hotel, Can Tho

Day 6 Thursday, 5 March 2009

Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh Ciy (B/L)

Travel back to Ho Chi Minh City with a lunch stop on the way. The afternoon is free to explore Saigon.

Accomm: Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Day 7 Friday, 6 March 2009

Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)

Drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. Lunch at Ben Nay restaurant. Return to Ho Chi Minh City with the remainder of the afternoon free.

Accomm: Grand Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Day 8 Saturday, 7 March 2009

Ho Chi Minh City – Dalat (B/L/D)

Travel by road up into the central highlands – destination DaLat, the cooler weather retreat for the French – passing through rubber and teak plantations and then tea and coffee farming. Lunch is at Bao Loc. There will be a chance to stop at a tea and coffee tasting house en route. Arrive at DaLat in the afternoon to the stunning Sofitel DaLat Palace hotel. Dine that evening in the sumptuous and elegant hotel dining room.

Accommodation: Sofitel, Dalat

Day 9 Sunday, 8 March 2009

Dalat (B)

After breakfast take a tour of DaLat including Domaine de Marie monastery, Tuyen Lam Lake and Truc Lam Pagoda. Travel back to DaLat via cable car where your coach will meet you to visit the last Emperor of Vietnam – Bao Dai – summer palace. Afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Sofitel, Dalat

Day 10 Monday, 9 March 2009

Dalat – Nha Trang (B/L/D)

We leave DaLat to travel back to the coast via incredibly fertile vegetable farming land, descending the Ngoan Muc Pass with amazing views to the coastal plains and on to Phan Rang. We visit the ancient Cham Towers of Po Klong Garai and have a lunch break. Then we follow the coast passing Cam Ranh Bay and up to our overnight stop at Nha Trang. Dinner this evening is at a colourful and vibrant seafood BBQ restaurant – Lac Canh.

Accomm: Melia Sunrise Resort, Nha Trang

Day 11 Tuesday, 10 March 2009

Nha Trang – Quy Nhon (B)

We continue along the famous Highway 1 road up to Quy Nhon today passing through rice paddies, coconut plantations and seeing traditional Vietnamese rural life. Stop at Dai Lanh to see the fishing village and the colourful craft and circular coracles. Arrive at the Life Resort south of Qui Nhon in the early afternoon. Relax at this stunningly situated hotel – a private beach, infinity pool, outdoor dining, spas, massage and tai chi facilities. A welcome break to recharge the batteries!

Accommodation: Life Resort, Quy Nhon

Day 12 Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Quy Nhon – Hoi An (B/L/D)

Continuing along Highway 1 today with a stop for lunch at the My Tra hotel in Quang Ngai, arriving in Hoi An in the afternoon and settle in to your luxury accommodation at the beautiful Riverside Resort. Dinner tonight at the hotel – watch the floating candles drift past whilst you dine!

Accommodation: Riverside Resort, Hoian

Day 13 Thursday, 12 March 2009

Hoi An (B)

This morning visit Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town center to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market. Afternoon is free for shopping.

Accommodation: Riverside Resort, Hoian

Day 14 Friday, 13 March 2009

Hoi An (B/L)

Start the morning with a very easy bicycle ride to nearby Tra Que village. Walk around the market gardens and see traditional farming methods and an abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables being grown. Some of us might do some planting of vegetables and afterwards be treated to a small cooking demonstration followed by lunch. Return to Hoi An with the rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy this delightful small town.

Accommodation: Riverside Resort, Hoian

Day 15 Saturday, 14 March 2009

Hoi An – Hue (B/L/D)

Depart Hoi An for Hue, travelling via Marble Mountain, where we visit a marble factory and climb the mountain. Lunch will be at the famous China Beach just south of Da Nang. Afterwards we travel north over the stunning Hai Van Pass to the Imperial Capital, Hue. Dinner tonight at our hotel.

Accommodation: Morin Hotel, Hue

Day 16 Sunday, 15 March 2009

Hue (B)

Take a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda & the mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. After lunch at An Binh restaurant visit the Imperial Citadel, from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, and Dong Ba Market, famous for selling the best conical hats in Vietnam.

Accommodation: Huong Giang Hotel

Day 17 Monday, 16 March 2009

Hue – Hanoi (B/L)

Take the short flight early this morning from Hue to Hanoi. We drive into this bustling city and visit the craft link shops followed by an unforgettable lunch at Jimmy Pham’s’ famous KOTO restaurant. After lunch transfer to the Melia Hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this fascinating city.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Hanoi

Day 18 Tuesday, 17 March 2009

Hanoi (B/L/D)

This morning we take a city tour that includes Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. You will see the elegant French Colonial architecture and the tree lined boulevards of this vibrant and bustling city.

After time to relax this afternoon gather at the hotel to walk to the Water Puppet Theatre – a ‘must see’ show of traditional Vietnamese puppet wizardry! We follow this with a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter and then dine at the unique Sen Restaurant – a culinary highlight of your tour.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Hanoi

Day 19 Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Halong Bay (B/L)

An early start to Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board a private junk for a 4-hour cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch whilst cruising amongst the islets. We head back to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Hanoi

Day 20 Thursday, 19 March 2009

Hanoi (B/D)

Day at leisure. Farewell dinner tonight at Au Lac House.

Accommodation: Melia Hotel, Hanoi

Day 21 Friday, 20 March 2009

Hanoi – Home (B)

Free time this morning before transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Day 22 Saturday, 21 March 2009

Home

Arrive home.

KEY: B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner

There are limited places on this tour. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Extend your stay in South East Asia. Ask us to design your own itinerary and visit Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore.

Call Ross Garden Tours on 08451 222 650.

How to Book: