VIETNAM ADVENTURES > FAMILY ADVENTURES > IMPRESSIVE CENTRAL VIETNAM AND HIGHLANDS
Tour Code: VPR-ADV15
Saigon – Cat Tien – Dalat – Buon Me Thuot – Quy Nhon - Hoi An - Hue - Saigon Journey Map
Vietnam is a land of rich natural and cultural beauty. Vietnam tour exploration either on road or on train is a good chance to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the whole country along the way. This 15 day program will bring you different experiences on forest, mountain, river and coast beauty. Add to these natural features a diverse range of cultural relics, green parks, pagodas and warm friendly Vietnam Central Highlanders, historic sights, and the must-see areas of Vietnam including the old trading port of Hoi An, the former Imperial Capital in Hue.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
  • Experience the culture, the French colonial charms and night life of dynamic Saigon
  • Adventure to Central Highland with boat excursion, elephant riding, sightseeing tours to cultural spots and villages with the typical features of Highlanders
  • Ecotours at Cat Tien and Yok Don National Park
  • Enjoy many natural and historic sights of Dalat, well-known for pine trees
  • Witness the old trading port of Hoi An and the former Imperial Capital in Hue
  • Enjoy free time, sunbathing, lazy on beach in Quy Nhon, Hoi An
DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL
On arrival in Tan Son Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Check in, then free to stroll around the city renowned for its nightlife, ranging from international class cafes to surprising bars and nightclubs.
Accommodation at hotel in Saigon
DAY 2: SAIGON FULL DAY CITY TOUR (B, L)
Our tour starts at 8:30am and the itinerary of today is as follow:
Morning:
  • Take a look around the Opera House, City Hall, Ben Thanh market
  • Visit the Central Post Office and Notre Dame, the French footsteps in Vietnam
  • The Reunification Palace, a political and historical site in South Vietnam
  • The War Crimes Museum, a show of what really happened at the war time (French and American)
  • A visit to Haven Emperor Temple will be a moment as where you can join the religious atmosphere of the local people
At noon, we come to a local restaurant for lunch.
DAY 3: SAIGON - NAM CAT TIEN (B, L, D)
At 8am, departure to Cat Tien National Park. The terrain rises up gradually via volcanic area. On arrival, we cross Dong Nai River to the park center. Check in room at the park center and enjoy lunch. After lunch, we start walking 8km along the ecologic route: sites of Lagerstroemia Ovalfolia (BangLang), Tetrameles nudiflora (Tung), Cycas rumphii (Thien Tue), Ancistrolandus tectorius (Trung quan), Afzelia cyclocarpa (Go). Then trek back to the center for dinner. 20.00 Jeep transfer to TaLai buffer zone for animal spotting (view animals at night).
Accommodation at Guesthouse in Cat Tien Park
DAY 4: CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK - DALAT (B, L, D)
Jeep transfer 9km inside the park to junction where we turn off the main route and trek 5km to Crocodile lake station. Short break at the lake watch tower. Then trek back to the main route. Jeep pick up, transfer back to the center. Check out. Lunch in the park before continuing our journey to Dalat. Arrive Dalat, sometimes known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” by late afternoon, there will be the chance for a short walk to get a feel for this delightful city before dinner.
Accommodation at hotel in Dalat
DAY 5: DALAT SIGHTSEEING (B)
Today, we enjoy all the famous spots in Dalat. AM: Enjoy a half –day sights tour of Dalat including the colourful local market, Dalat cathedral and Emperor Bao Dai’s summer palace, set atop the ridge overlooking DaLat, this residence is one of the more bizarre buildings you can visit. If time allows, we also can see Vien Thuc artist monk at Lam Ty Ni pagoda. PM: Drive outskirt of Dalat, visit to Lat village and trek to Lang Bian Mountain. Breathtaking view from summit (~ 2100 m), great view of Dankia Lake as well as Dalat city. Moderate 5 hours hike up and down.
Accommodation at hotel in Dalat
DAY 6: DALAT - LAK LAKE - BUON ME THUOT (B)
Drive to Buon Me Thuot via 27 National Road, to visit Lak Lake of Bana Ethnic Minority with beautiful scenery en route. Taking a dugout canoe trip on Lak Lake. Before arriving Buon Me Thuot, visit Dray Sap Waterfall, Museum of Ethnic Minorities of the Central Highlands. Check in Hotel.
Accommodation at hotel in Buon Me Thuot
Overnight on board
DAY 7: BUON ME THUOT – YOK DON NATIONAL PARK (B)
In the morning, leave Buon Me Thuot for Ban Don, village of Mnong minority who traditionally specialized in hunting and domesticating wild elephants. Visit the Ancient wooden house- on- stilts with the architecture belongs to Laotian. A feature of the house is its roofs made by wood. Visit the tomb of the King of elephant catchers before riding elephant cross Serepok river or in to the jungle. Take a walk through suspension bamboo bridge. Transfer to Seven-branch waterfall, walking around the falls and along the river. Then back to Buon Me Thuot City for overnight.
Accommodation at hotel in Buon Me Thuot
DAY 8: BUON ME THUOT - QUY NHON VIA PLEIKU (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Overland to Pleiku. Pleiku is a market town in the center of a vast and fertile plateau of red volcanic soil. Most of the towns 40,000 inhabitants are members of ethnic minorities. Picnic lunch en routes (your own account). Drive to Quy Nhon after sightseeing in Pleiku.
Accommodation at hotel in Quy Nhon
DAY 9: HOI AN – TRAIN TO QUY NHON (B)
Relax on the beach.
Accommodation at hotel in Quy Nhon
DAY 10: QUY NHON –HOI AN (B)
Breakfast at hotel, then depart early on road of 350km to Hoi An via Quang Ngai. Visit Cham towers en route. Arrive Hoi An around 15.00pm, you are free to stroll around the town, get a wardrobe of clothes tailor made, or relax at a cafe by the river front.
Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An
DAY 11: HOI AN - MY SON -HOI AN (B)
At 8am, start our trip to the ruins of the Cham Kingdom in My Son. Located in a lush valley, My Son now remains with red brick towers and sanctuaries. In fact, My Son is comparable to other big icons in Southeast Asia, like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Ayutthuya in Thailand and the Borobodur in Indonesia. The ruins and temples of My Son have been dated as being from the 7th to the 13th century. Return Hoi An in the early afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through the Ancient Town, which was declared a Unesco World Heritage site to soak up the atmosphere. Here we can see the vestige of the mix combination of Chinese and Japanese architecture as well as traditional cultural values via a historic house (formerly home to a prominent trader), the Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese assembly hall and a museum. The remainder of the day is for shopping or tasting culinary specialities, like Cao Lau or White Rose.
Accommodation at Ancient House Resort
DAY 12: HOI AN - HUE (B, D)
After breakfast, you get on car for 4 –hour journey to Hue. Along the way we can take a break at Elephant Springs where you can cool off in the rock pools and take photos at Lang Co Beach. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. Arriving in Hue in the early afternoon, you will have a quick visit to the Imperial Citadel, and Khai Dinh Royal Tomb.
Accommodation at Asia Hotel (Code: 240709; C/O: Ho Thi May)
DAY 13: OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO HCMC WITH SE1 0817/ 0520
Early breakfast and transfer to Hue railways station for morning train back to Saigon. The train is very basic; we travel in 'soft sleeper' class which is a compartment for up to four people; a communal environment. This journey is in keeping with the adventurous nature of our trips and allows you to experience a taste of the 'real’ Vietnam.
Accommodation: on train
DAY 14: Saigon arrival (B)
Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for relaxation. Today, you are free to further explore the city or shopping at Ben Thanh Market.
Accommodation at hotel in Saigon
DAY 15: SAIGON DEPARTURE (B)
Trip concludes after a drop off at the airport for the flight home. End of services by Indochina Travel Service.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL PHOTOS
INCLUSION
EXCLUSION
All accommodation with daily breakfast (twin share)
Local Extra meals as clearly mentioned in the itinerary (B=breakfast; L =lunch; D =dinner)
Private A/C transportation within the itinerary
01 Throughout English speaking tour guide
Entrance fees and permits where applicable during guided time
Elephant riding in Yok Don
Train tickets: Hue –Saigon (A/C cabin of 4 soft –sleepers)
Transfers beyond the itinerary
Any drinks, beverages
Tips & Personal expenses
Travel insurance (compulsory)
Services not mentioned in the included items above
ACCOMMODATION
Location   Standard Option   Superior Option
Saigon   Saigon Hotel***   Kim Do Hotel****
Dalat   Empress Hotel***   Novotel Dalat Hotel****
Buon Me Thuot   Bach Ma Hotel***   Dakruco Hotel****
Quy Nhon   Seagull Hotel***   Saigon Quy Nhon Hotel****
Hoi An   Ancient House Resort***   Hoi An Riverside Resort****
Hue   Festival Hotel***   Century Riverside Hotel****
Mui Ne   Swiss Village Resort***   Romana Resort****
PRICING
Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

NOTE:
This private tour can be customized upon your request. Traveling alone? Tight budget? Want to explore the country on your own way? Please contact us with details of your tour requirements via email or telephone. Our team of experienced travel consultants will then help you design your dream vacation to Vietnam according to your needs and budget.
FAMILY ADVENTURES TOURS
Vietnam Northern Highlights
Tour Code: VPR-NHI
 
Vietnam Discovery By Train
Tour Code: VPR-ADV18
 
Vietnam Grand Circle
Tour Code: VPR-ADV19


READ WHAT FELLOW SAYS

We did enjoy our Vietnam holiday very much and it surely was one of the best trips we ever made.

The highlights were surely in the North Vietnam. The trip to Sapa and the mountain bike tour was magnificent, though we underestimated how cold it can be in the mountains in December especially during the night time. Since we live in Singapore we are not really well equipped if it comes to warm clothes, but we would surely take more warm clothes with us when traveling in winter up there.

As I said we loved the North of Vietnam especially and I suppose if we would do it again, we probably would spend more time up there.

Our Vietnam tour was very well designed and organized and it was a first for us that an operator actually was checking several times during the holidays, if everything is OK. That was very much appreciated.

Again - it surely was one of the best trips we ever made - we had a great holiday.
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VIETNAM ADVENTURES We will pick you up and drop you off at
   your hotel and set a schedule at your
   convenience
VIETNAM ADVENTURES This tour must be booked at least 72
    hours in advance of your travel date.