An amazing 15 day trip where, you will discover the wonders of Ha Long Bay, Hue and the picturesque port town of Hoi An, a favorite with many travelers. Also on the tour is the lush Mekong Delta, the amazing Cu Chi tunnels and vibrant Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon). After leaving HCMC, you will fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia to discover the marvel of the Angkor Complex, including Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Bayon, Banteray Srei and countless other masterpieces of Khmer architecture.
Best time to visit: The time period from November through February is generally the best one to visit Southeast Asia when drier, cooler weather prevails.
Day 1:
(Passengers departing from Israel: Depart Tel Aviv on Monday and arrive Noi Bai on Tuesday).
Arrival Noi Bai airport. Pick up and transfer to hotel.
Hotel: Lacasa Hotel or similar
Day 2: Hanoi- Halong
After breakfast we will visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument where the preserved body of ‘Uncle Ho’ resides. We will also visit the homes where he lived. Continue to the Temple of Literature, the first university for the sons of mandarins, for an overview of Hanoian culture and we will also visit Maison Centrale also known as Hoa Lo Prison and the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and American POW during the Vietnam War. The fortress was once a vast colonial-style prison, most of which was torn down in the 1990s. We will drive to beautiful Halong Bay, a World Heritage site. and be welcomed aboard and set sail through the bay that passes through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, we will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails.
Hotel: Royal Lotus Hotel or similar
Day 3: Ha Long – Ha Noi- Night train to Lao Cai
Breakfast at hotel. Get on boat for 4 hours on the bay to visit famous caves and lagoon. Transfer back to Ha Noi, take the cyclo tour to visit Ha Noi old quarter then dinner at restaurant. Transfer to the railway for night train on TSC TRAIN to Lao Cai ( Air-conditioned cabin: 2 persons/cabin).
Day 4: Lao Cai – Sapa
Early morning, arrival at Lao Cai station at 05.00AM. Pick up and transfer for breakfast at hotel in Sapa. In the terraced hills and mountains of Sapa, the monotony of the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill tribe population … the rainbow colors of the Flower H’mong, flashes of the shining silver jewellery from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad H’mong and the scarlet hues of the turbans worn by the Red Dao. It is where you will find hands stained with color from fabric dyes and shades of blue, red and green intricately embroidered and stitched into jackets, waistcoats, pants, skirts, caps purses and leggings.Enjoy a trek to through the green Sa Pa Valley to visit the Black H’mong minority of Lao Chai Village and Giay minority of Ta Van then back to Sapa and start preparing for Shabbat.
Hotel: Chau Long Hotel or similar
Day 5: Sapa
After prayers and breakfast our guide will takes us on walking tours to visit Ham Rong Mountain with orchid garden enjoy to see the show in Ham Rong Moutain then walking to visit Sapa Town.
Accommodation at hotel in Sapa.
Day 6: Sapa- Bac Ha- Ha Noi
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Bac Ha Sunday market to see the colorful market. Visit some minority villages then after dinner, proceed to Ha Noi.
Day 7: Ha Noi- Da Nang – Hoi An
After breakfast we will visit Ethnology museum. Then transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Da Nang. Arrive Da Nang, pick up and transfer to Hoi An.
Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An.
Hotel: Green Heaven or similar
Day 8: Hoian
Breakfast at hotel.
AM: Transfer to visit My Son Sanctuary.
PM: Visit Hoi An ancient town, Phuc Kien pagoda, Japanese Bridge and the AO DAI shop.
Take a boat trip to visit Thanh Ha village.In the evening, sail on little boats with candles from a bridge in town.
Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An.
Day 9: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Danang to visit Cham Museum and Marble mountain then proceed to airport in Danang for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Arrival Ho Chi Minh, pick up and transfer to visit Vinh Nghiem pagoda. Enjoy Water puppet show.
Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
Hotel: Novotel Sai Gon Centre Hotel or similar
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh- Vinh Long – Ho Chi Minh
08.30: Transfer for tour to Mekong delta with visit to Vinh Long. Boat trip to visit Cai Be floating market. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh- Cu Chi, Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh
Starting early morning we will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometers, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Continue to Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a “Walt Disney World of the East.” The temple’s exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of religious symbols. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect.
Return to the hotel and prepare for Shabbat. Tfilot and Shabbat dinner.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh
After prayers and breakfast, we shall go for a walking tour including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap
Transfer to airport for departure flight to Siem Riep. Pick up at airport in Siem Riep, transfer to hotel (early check in is subject to availability). Visit to Gate of the Death, Spean Thma, T Keo, Terrance of Srang, and Prasat Kravan. PM: Visit the famous temple: Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology, visit Bakheng Temple and enjoy a romantic sun set view form Bakheng Hills.
Hotel: Apsara Angkor Hotel or similar
Day 14: Siem Reap
AM: Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.
PM: Visit the floating village of Chhong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.Relaxation with traditional Khmer foot massage for 1 hour in the city.
Accommodation at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 15: Siem Reap
Breakfast at hotel. This morning begins with a visit Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre temples. Transfer to Visit Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and spend time at leisure at a local market. Early dinner at restaurant.
Transfer to airport for departure flight. (Passengers departing to Israel arrive Tel Aviv on Wednesday).