Revealed Travel

Spotlight on Vietnam Newsletter July 2017

Revealing Vietnam Practical Information Vietnam is an exotic, appealing country with considerable natural beauty, a fascinating history and undiscovered beaches. Discover an amalgam of ancient buildings and temples with French-colonial architecture, hill tribes preserving traditional customs, vibrant floating markets and street food as well as top-end restaurants and designer shops. From the mountains of Sapa to the delightful coastal towns of Hue and Hoi An, the islands and majesty of Halong Bay to the paddy fields and sleepy villages of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam has something for everyone. We hope these pages provide a useful introduction to this enticing and interesting country.

Our dedicated Vietnam Revealed website has useful information on climate and seasons, visas, vaccinations and currency together with links to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for up-to-date advice.

www.vietnamrevealed.co.uk

Tailor-made itineraries & Group Tours throughout South-East Asia At Revealed Travel we have a dedicated team of travel specialists who are used to researching and putting together tailor-made itineraries, excursions, tours, activities and ground arrangements throughout South-East Asia to suit the needs and budget of our passengers. So do let us know any special interests you may have (e.g. street food tours,

cooking with locals, bird-watching, diving, ballooning). We book hotels from three star standard accommodation to five star luxury. If you prefer to join a small group tour we will research the right trip to suit you.

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Quick Facts Capital: Hanoi Area: 127,880 Sq. Miles (331,210 km2)

Population: 95,261,021 (2016 Estimate) Main Languages: Vietnamese Currency: Vietnamese Dong Time: GMT + 7 hours Gross National Income: US$6,000 pp.

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Hanoi The Vietnamese capital is where East meet West and where Chinese and French influences have left their mark. Hanoi has over 600 pagodas and temples as well as 18 lakes. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet, constructed upon the remains of a Chinese fortress which dated from the 7th century, on reclaimed land from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. Key sites include the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049) and the picturesque Temple of Literature (1070) dedicated to Confucius.

Hue Hué was the political, cultural and religious capital of a united Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 until 1945. The Perfume River winds its way through the city giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty. Hué was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Within the Hue Citadel were located not only administrative and military functions of the Empire, but also the Imperial Residence, the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City), the Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) and related royal palaces.

Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city. Today Ho Chi Minh is very much the heart of the Vietnamese business world whilst continuing to retain its connections to the past, particularly in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh’s Chinatown. Here dozens of elegant temples and pagodas can be found. The French also left their marks with some fine colonial-era buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. The War Remnants museum is a sobering reminder of Vietnam’s recent history.

Hoi An During the 16th and 17th centuries Hoi An was a busy trading port attracting merchants from the great navigating nations of the day, the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese and a meeting place of many cultures, such as Champa, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese. Today Hoi An is a living museum, an appealing town with historic houses, public halls and pagodas. Don’t miss the covered Japanese bridge. Cua Dai Beach with white sand and deep blue water is warm and sunny all year round. The nearby Cham Islands are a world biosphere reserve with colourful coral reefs and fantastic sea life.

Ha Long Bay Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gulf of Tonkin consisting of around 1,950 towering limestone islands and tiny islets of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the islands are uninhabited. The names given to the islands are based on their shapes and forms: Human Head Island, Sail Island and Fighting Cock Island. There are some spectacular caves, magnificent palaces with huge stalactites hanging down and stalagmites growing majestically upwards.

Sapa The Sapa district is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and its rich cultural diversity. Sapa is a delightful picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as “the Tonkinese Alps”. The region is home to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam.

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Phu Quoc The “emerald island” of Phu Quoc is the largest in southern Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Thailand. So far, the island is largely undeveloped and offers an appealing combination of laid-back charm, tropical rainforest and untouched remote beaches with calm, blue waters fringed with coconut trees. Sounds awful, doesn’t it?

Phu Quoc is well known for its seafood and fish sauce. The island is linked to the mainland by an airport and by hydrofoil.

The Marble Mountains The cluster of five hills known as the Marble Mountains and named after the elements (metal, wood, earth, fire, and water) can be easily reached from Da Nang and Hoi An. To reach the peak of Mount Thuy, follow the trail and explore the enormously impressive caves, tunnels, temples and pagodas which for centuries have been a place of pilgrimage. Note that there are a number of steep steps to reach the top but there is also a lift service. Fantastic views too.

Da Lat The hill town retreat of Da Lat was founded in the 1890s during French colonial times. At 1,500m (4,900 ft) above sea level, it has a refreshingly cool climate. The last emperor of Vietnam had his summer palace here (constructed 1926). There are a number of waterfalls nearby and the French quarter is worth a visit. Da Lat is a good base from which to visit some traditional villages inhabited by the Lat people after whom the town received its name.

Ninh Binh The northern province of Ninh Binh is characterised by hundreds of limestone cliffs emerging from the rice fields. You might like to think of it as an inland Halong Bay. In addition to caves, temples and river systems to explore, there is the Cuc Phong rainforest which provides great opportunities for spotting wildlife. The Endangered Primates Rescue Centre has about 150 primates.

Phong Na & Son Doong Cave Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some 300 caves and grottos. The Son Doong

Cave, which was only discovered in 2009, is believed to be the largest cave in the world. Only 500 visitors are allowed in each year in a five day trek covering over 30 miles. Entry for 2017 sold out in less than 24 hours.

Mekong Delta The colourful floating markets and vibrant river life contrast with tranquil villages and verdant paddy fields in the picturesque Mekong Delta.

You can visit the Delta in a day tour from Ho Chi Minh City but we recommend staying overnight in Can Tho if time allows in your itinerary.

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Suggested Itinerary: Vietnam Revealed This two week tailor-made itinerary provides and excellent introduction to Vietnam, which is ideal for the first-time traveller. We can adapt it for a range of accommodation from three star hotels to five star luxury. Please contact us to discuss extensions to Cambodia or Laos or for any particular interest or activities you might be interested in.

Highlights: Hanoi – Hue – Hoi An – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City Day 1. Hanoi You will be met on arrival in Hanoi and driven to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2. Hanoi A full day tour with a private guide to explore this exciting and interesting city. Highlights include the Ngoc Son Temple in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake, a walking tour of Hanoi's Old

Day 8. Hué - Da Nong - Hoi An Departure transfer from Hue to Da Nong, travelling on the spectacular coastal road known as the Hai Van Pass, which once formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Đại Việt and Champa. In Da Nang, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture which opened in 1915 before continuing via the villages of the Marble Mountains to reach Hoi An.

Quarter and the Temple of Literature built in 1076. At Huu Tiep Lake you can see the remains of a US B-52 bomber shot down on 27 December 1972 during the Vietnam War. The day ends with a glass of beer in a local bar.

Day 3. Ha Long Bay Transfer to the Gulf of Tonkin to board a wooden sail boat for a journey in Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of around 1,600 islands and uninhabited islets of outstanding beauty. Overnight in a cabin on board. All meals will be provided on board.

Day 4. Ha Long Bay – Hanoi After a morning exploring Ha Long Bay you will return after lunch to Hanoi. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 5. Hanoi – Hue Departure transfer to the airport in Hanoi in time to check in for your flight to Hue. You will be met on arrival and driven to your hotel in Hue. The Perfume River winds its way through the city giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty. Hué was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Day 6. Hue

City tour includes the Forbidden Purple City which was constructed under the Emperor Gia Long in the early 19th century and an excursion on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. Also visit the tomb of the emperor Tu Duc (1829-1883) who is said to have had 104 concubines. During his reign, Vietnam lost its independence to France. Day 7. Hue

Excursion to the gardens at Vi Da and the village of An Hoa to visit the Chat Vi pagoda and Cu Lai market. We can arrange this excursion by bicycle if you prefer.

Day 9. Hoi An

A walking tour of this delightful city, taking in the lovely 18th century Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant local market. We also include a visit to Tan Ky House, built over 200 years ago.

Day 10. Hoi An Today's activities include an encounter with a specialist in traditional medicine and a former hunter, who used to catch tigers using a net.

Day 11. Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh Transfer from your hotel in Hoi An to Da Nang airport in time to check in for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. This is Vietnam's largest city, an amalgam of modern skyscrapers with oriental pagodas, where office workers in business suits mingle side by side with those wearing traditional palm-leaf conical hats.

Day 12. Ho Chi Minh City Our city tour includes Reunification Palace, which was the residence of the presidents of South Vietnam before 1975. You will also visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, constructed during French occupation in the 1860s, and the impressive Saigon Central Post Office. The War Remnants Museum is a sobering reminder of the Vietnam War (which they call the American War) 1954-1975.

Day 13 Mekong Delta A boat cruise along the river which is a tributary of the Mekong, a visit to local workshops including a brick kiln and a weaving house, where straw mats are woven by hand.

Day 14. Ho Chi Minh Excursion to the Cai Rang Floating Market. Visit a rice husking mill before returning to Ho Chi Minh.

Day 15. Ho Chi Minh Free day.

Day 16. Depart Ho Chi Minh Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Costs from £1,750 per person excluding international flights.

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part of the Revealed Travel group owned by Mercator Enterprises Ltd 01932 424252