GoPhilanthropic : Vietnam Luxury Tours | Sustainable Vacation Packages

City Tour of Hanoi including the Old Quarter Although it is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, HANOI still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries. Narrow lanes and traditional shophouses invite exploration by cyclo, while its many beautiful public spaceslakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards and monuments give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature unique among Asian capitals. Visit the TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and one of the best surving examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university.

Continue to the miniature ONE PILLAR PAGODA which stands near the vast HO CHI MINH MEMORIAL COMPLEX. Visit HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM, where visitors can pay respects to the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh or go to HO CHI MINH'S STILT HOUSE, the simple two-room dwelling where he lived from 1948 until his final days.

Head to HOAN KIEM LAKE, located in heart of Hanoi, which contains an islet with the tiny TORTOISE PAGODA. Enroute, pass other colonial landmarks such as the magnificent OPERA HOUSE (may be seen from the outside only) and ST JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL. From the lake, take a cyclo tour of the OLD QUARTER. This fascinating network of narrow alleys and shophouses is also known as 'The 36 Streets'.

Visit one of Hanoi's famous museums, either the HISTORY MUSEUM or the MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY which brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with art and artifacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country.

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Thanh Xuan Peace Village - Hanoi
--located outside the Hanoi city-center the center provides shelter, food, health check-ups, education, supervision, and love for over 100 second and third generation children who are the victims of dioxin (or agent orange) used during the American-Vietnam War.
www.journeyswithinourcommunity.org/Peace_Village.html

Board the Victoria Express, an elegant train made up of two deluxe carriages with well appointed, wood-panelled interiors. Departs from Hanoi every day except Saturdays; dining car available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Stay overnight on the train. Visit Tram Ton Pass, Vietnam's highest mountain pass, with spectacular views of swirling clouds over a deep green mountain valley. On the way visit Thac Bac, or Silver Waterfall, which cascades down form a height of 100m. From Sa Pa, travel by jeep to the village of Lao Chai, where the trek begins. Visit the HMong, Dzay and Dzao people, while enjoying spectacular scenery of terraced rice paddies, waterfalls and the small bamboo forests that are unique to the northern region. From Ta Van, continue to Giang Ta Chai, another minority village populated by Hmong and Dzay, after which visitors transfer by jeep back to Sa Pa.

Visit the Spectacular Cliffs of Halong Bay with Overnight on a Traditional Junk

Travel by car journeying east along Highway 5 across Hai Hung Province and around Halong Bay.

Halong Bay - With thousands of exquisite limestone islands rising from the waters, this bay was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. According to legend, the bay's beautiful scenery was carved out by a dragon as he made his flight seawards. The bay is best enjoyed by a leisurely excursion by boat, with stops to explore the area's many cliffs and caves.

Board a traditional boat - These traditionally built junks have facilities of the highest standard, which include seven double cabins with suite bathrooms, a spacious dining room serving traditional Vietnamese cuisine, plus a large sun deck area. The first day's itinerary passes Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Sung Sot cave, before stopping at Titov beach for a swim. Dinner is served on the boat as the sun sets.

Enjoy breakfast on board, while continuing to cruise around the waters of the bays, visiting MAN'S HEAD ISLAND, TORTOISE ISLAND, and LUON CAVE. Return to the pier just before noon and disembark.

The exquisitely preserved merchant town of HOI AN was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colorful shophouses and temples reflect a diverse heritage, dating back to the 16th and 17th century, when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Today it is a thriving center of traditional crafts and a shoppers’ paradise, best explored on foot.

Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central MARKET and the small HARBOUR where colorfully painted boats are moored. The walking tour will include visits to a PRIVATE HOUSE, where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; to one of the FAMILY CHAPELS built by prominent merchant or official families as centers for ancestor worship; and to a typical CHINESE-STYLE PAGODA or ASSEMBLY HALL. Finally, continue to the famous JAPANESE COVERED BRIDGE, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

Vietnamese Cooking Classes – We can arrange for a cooking class anywhere along the way during your stay in Vietnam.

Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century.

Located in the heart of Hue is the IMPERIAL CITADEL, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modelled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Approach the city past the striking FLAG TOWER, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing NGO MON GATE, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter into an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, and visit THAI HOA PALACE, the magnificently decorated reception hall, the HALLS OF THE MANDARINS, and the original NINE DYNASTIC URNS, among other sites.

SAIGON City Sights:

A vibrant metropolis, SAIGON teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorcyles, chatting on cellphones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshippers pray amidst clouds of incense. Begin your tour of this exciting city with a tour of the historic center, strolling along DONG KHOI STREET, formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare and heart of old colonial Saigon. Pass by classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate CITY HALL (HOTEL DE VILLE), the old OPERA HOUSE (both may only be viewed from the outside), and pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and the CENTRAL POST OFFICE.

Afterwards dive into modern history with a tour of the REUNIFICATION PALACE. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates. Continue to the harrowing WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM, which comprehensively documents the travails of the long Vietnam- American War. Inside are detailed photographic exhibitions; outside is a collection of tanks, planes and weapons. A powerful experience, this museum is guaranteed to provoke strong emotions. Finally, end up at the central BEN THANH MARKET, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste.

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From Saigon, transfer to My Tho, a bustling town in the rich agricultural region of the Mekong Delta and visit the VINH TRANG PAGODA, a beautiful temple and a sanctuary for orphans and other needy children. Afterwards board a local boat to explore the MEKONG RIVER ISLANDS, stopping at a fruit orchard to enjoy fruit and tea while listening to local music. The trip also includes a brief sampan ride through the tiny waterways that thread the island.

(From Saigon, drive to TAY NINH, the birthplace of the unique CAO DAI religion, a fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam and native Vietnamese spiritual beliefs. Every day at noon, worshippers garbed in colorful robes flock to the CAO DAI GREAT TEMPLE to participate in the daily prayer sessions, which visitors may respectfully observe from the upper balconies. (Note: shortly before and during the annual TET festival (Vietnamese New Year) the daily ceremony of the priests in Tay Ninh may be cancelled without prior notice). Afterwards, continue to the CU CHI TUNNELS. Never discovered by American forces, these tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 200 km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Today, you can walk through the area and learn about the day-to-day life of the VC, see the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby-traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists. Return to Saigon in the late afternoon.

A sampan (wooden boat) provides a means for making a living, feeding a family, as well as a method of transportation in the Mekong Delta. For some families supporting multiple generations the expense of a sampan is beyond their means. Donating a sampan can change the life of a family by offering means to eat and sell fish as well as providing transport to school. Make this a reality for a family. Send your donation ahead of time and then travel out to this vast and remote area by boat to visit the family for the donation ceremony while in-country.