Vietnam's Heritage and Cultural Tour 12 days
Valid Until 30 Sep. 2010

The Luxury Travel Vietnam Company To Launch a new pure luxury tour “Vietnam's Heritage and Cultural Tour 12 days” with extension to Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Voted Best Luxury Tour Operator in Vietnam for The Guide Awards 2009 and Luxury Travel To Launch a New Pure Luxury Tour with Optional Extension To Cambodia

To celebrate “the Year's Best” of tourism products and services in the tourism and hospitality sector in Vietnam with The Guide Awards 2009. With award winning service, The Luxury Travel Company has just launched a new pure luxury tour “ Vietnam's Heritage and Cultural Tour 12 days” with optional extension to Wonder of Angkor Temples, Cambodia.

The Luxury Travel Company ( www.luxurytravelvietnam.com ) is Vietnam 's first luxury tour company and full travel service agency. Luxury Travel is experienced in providing special services and unique tourism products to luxury global travelers.

Start in colonial and charming Hanoi, Vietnam's tangible and intangible heritage. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake , ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance of at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater.

Full day city tour Hanoi . Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam Ethnology Museum . Dine in French colonial villas converted into upscale gourmet restaurants.

Next, guests take a 2 day trip to Halong City with one night on Deluxe Cruise on the famous Halong Bay Natural World Heritage where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape.

Next, fly to Hue , the former Imperial capital that is a quiet city renowned for the magnificent architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River.

Enjoy a Royal banquet dinner in this former Imperial Capital to enrich your experience in Hue, one of five World Cultural Heritages of Vietnam .

Drive to Danang via the Hai Van pass to see the My Son World Cultural Heritage. Visit atmospheric Hoi An a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets.

Fly from Danang to HCMC ( formerly Saigon ), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum.

Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street (guests can come to talk and chat with Luxury Travel Representative as Luxury Travel, Saigon Branch Office is located in this street), the city's most upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares.

Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an unusual, eclectic religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Dai, a unique fusion of world religions alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta on charming sampan.

“Visit the most highlights of Vietnam, explore four of five World Heritage Listed Sites of Vietnam, savor best typical cuisines of three regions. This trip is designed to discover the very best of Vietnam in term of culture, sightseeing, discovery, comfort and style, this special 12 day tour combining local charm and luxuries from North to South Vietnam which is so unique, special for a life time experience” says Hung Nguyen, Sales and Marketing Manager of Luxury Travel Company.

Tthis includes accommodation costs at deluxe rooms at luxury properties, nearly all meals, regional flights, private transfers, private pick up and drop off service. The tour can be booked at last minute, and can be customized to suit individual interests and schedules. Guests can make an extension to the marvelous Angkor Temples, Cambodia.

Guests are also free to request helicopter tour, restaurant reservations, meetings with artists, cooking instructors and designers, shopping recommendations, spa reservations, tours with special-interest lecturers, and exclusive access to local activities and cultural events.

Order this unique tour package and travel to Vietnam before 31 Sep 2010 with the company secret code lux4lux, payment by master, Visa or American Express Cards guests get 5% discount and 1 Extra night FREE OF CHARGE at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi and a complimentary Vietnam visa pick up on arrival.

Itinerary Details

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi (D)

Upon arrival at Hanoi 's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Welcome dinner at local restaurant followed by evening water puppet performance. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 2 Hanoi 's tangible and intangible heritage (B/L)

Vietnam 's artistic and intellectual capital. Full day visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature , Ethnology Museum . Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake . Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people-watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's myriad galleries. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 3 Hanoi - Halong Bay Natural Worl Heritage on Deluxe Cruise (B/L/D)

This morning, we will depart Hanoi at 8.30 am for a four-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. On the way we will stop for refreshments. Upon arriving in Halong City we transfer to a boat cruise of the crystalline emerald waters of Halong Bay , giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail upon boarding the Emeraude around noon at the Emeraude Pier. After checking in, have lunch at the restaurant. Cruise among hundreds of islets to discover unspoilt pockets of Halong Bay and its remote, floating fishing villages. After sunset, enjoy dinner at the restaurant, before retiring to your cabin for a good night sleep or join the crew and learn squid fishing. Overnight on cruise.

Day 4 Halong Bay – Hanoi (B)

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto then back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Rejoin car drive back to Hanoi with stop to visit Bat Trang ceramic located on the Red river . It has been famous for its tradition of making pottery for a thousand years, particularly dinnerware and ornamental ware. You can also try your hand on making a souvenir product for yourself or riding on a buffalo cart wandering around the village. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 5 Hanoi - Hue World Heritage (B/D)

Transfer to airport for flight to Hue . Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport , you will be transfered directly to your hotel. This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City , the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in the Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant. Overnight in Hue .

Day 6 Hue World Heritage (B/L)

Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River . This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. In the afternoon we will continue our day by a drive to visit King Khai dinh's tomb and King Tu Duc's tomb. The day will end with a Royal Boat cruise on the perfume river. Overnight in Hue .

Day 7 Hue - My Son - Hoian World Heritages (B/L)

We will travel over the Hai Van pass and visit Ruines at My Son Holy Land. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam . The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations and is now one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam . Once in Hoi An, we will check into our hotel and have some free time to explore. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8. Ancient Town Hoian (B/L/-)

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. We enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.

Following the tour there will be free time to shop or relax or take part in:

Farmer to Fisherman in Hoi An town

Take a walk through the fishing village to see the local fishing life. Talking and sharing fishing life with the local fisherman people in the village. Boarding on boat to fish at the mouth of the sea. Joining to fish with the local fisherman by their special fishing nets. Learning how to raise and throw the castnet and roundn. Try to catch fish because they will be used for lunch. The captaincook will cook on boat. Enjoy lunch and cold drinks. Drive back hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9. Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B/D)

Transfer and flight to HCMC. Welcome pick up and transfer to hotel. At leisure. In the afternoon take a private tour of Ho Chi Minh City , the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum . Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street , the city's main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and accessories designed by up-and-coming Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Dinner on Bonsai Cruise on the Saigon river. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 10. Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta /My Tho (B/L)

The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam . It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three crops of rice per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500 km journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors.

Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where you will board a private boat to go through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where guests are treated to a delicious lunch in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong , complete with succulent tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong before heading back to HCMC. Overnight in HCMC.

Alternative:

Spend the day on the beautiful Cai Be Princess exploring the fascinating life on the Mekong River . Visit a floating market, a beautiful island and lunch at a superb Indochine restaurant, this trip is the ideal way to spend the day on the delta in style.

Drive to Cai Be - Phu An where we will board the Cai Be Princess at around 11.00 am. The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market. We will proceed by the visit of some local home factories such as rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying processing. The trip continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During this 40 minutes cruise you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos making. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people. Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An resort, a superb Indochine style resort. After a short walk along a narrow canal we drive back to HCMC.

Day 11. Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)

Half-day private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. 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. Afternoon free at leisure in town. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 12 . Depart Vietnam (B/-/-)

There are no activities planned for today. You enjoy your free time until transfer to airport for your onward flight.

ANGKOR EXPERIENCE
3 days - 2 nights

DAY 1. ARRIVAL – SIEM REAP (D)

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport , you will be met and welcome by our friendly guide then transferred direct to your hotel. Start your visit to South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Temple, Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. It is time to visit one of the great wonders of the world, symbol of the heart and soul of the Cambodia , Angkor Wat. Then view wonderful sunset from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hills. Tonight you will enjoy dinner with Khmer Apsara Dance Show. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 02. SIEM REAP – TOURS (B/L)

We continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers, Pre Rup, East Mebon , and Neak Poan. Visit Krovan, Royal Bath of Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei temples. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 03. SIEM REAP –DEPARTURE (B)

We board on boat in Tonle Sap Lake , the " Great Lake " of Cambodia , one of the largest in Asia . Here, enjoy a brief cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Free & leisure at your own time for rolling at local markets or shopping until transfer to Siem Reap Airport for departure. (B/L)

Tour price includes:

• Transportation in private A/C vehicle
• Accommodation in twin share
• Tours with English speaking guide
• Admission fee to indicated sights
• Boat trips at Tonle Sap Lake
• Meals: Haft board as stated in above sights
• (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch , D = Dinner)
• Government's tax & service charges
• Luggage handling & drinking water

Tour price excludes:

• Visa fee on arrival
• International return air ticket
• Drinks or meals not mentioned
• Personal expenses/ tips/ travel insurance
• Pax stay at single supplement