Authentic Myanmar and Vietnam

breakfast and lunch

Today you will take the flight to Mandalay with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and start to have a half day city tour.

First, you will visit a gold paper factory to witness how to make the gold leaf. Then pay a visit to Mahamuni Image. There you will see local people stick the gold paper on Buddha and pray for a blessing. Besides, you can also make your own wish by sticking the gold paper on the statue (donation needed and only man allowed to do the job). You will also visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, which has the meaning "Golden Palace Monastery" and was built in the 1900s.

Next, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, the one with the largest Buddhist books in the world. Last but not least, end the day at the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy wonderful sunset.

Mahamuni Pagoda

Kuthodaw Pagoda

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will head for Sagaing, located by the Ayeyarwady River. It takes about 30 minutes' drive. First visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery by crossing the Innwa Bridge built by the British in 1934. There you will see lots of monks waiting in line for daily meals in the morning.

Then visit Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda, a 46-meter high and dome-shaped pagoda.  There lies 812 stone pillars at pagoda base, with a hollow and an image of a Nat in each. You will continue with Sagaing Hill. A lot of small pagodas and meditation centers are waiting for you there. You can stop for a tea break and chat with monks.

After lunch head to the City of Immortality--Amarapura. It is located 11 km to the south of Mandalay. There you will first visit the world's longest teakwood bridge--U Bein Bridge, with a length of 1.2 kilometers. The following is Bagaya Monastery, decorated with wonderful Burmese architectural works, for example carvings, floral pictures, curved figures and the reliefs of animals. Next visit Nagayon Temple, the roof of which is covered by the naga Mucalinda, who helped the Buddha to achieve enlightenment. Transfer back to Mandalay.

U Bein Bridge

breakfast and lunch

Today you will take the flight to Bagan with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and start to have a half day city tour. There thousands of Buddhist pagodas on the plain will surprise you. Rich individual families once own these pagodas. You will experience the place where local people buy food in daily life in Nyaung Oo Market.

Then visit Shwezigon Pagoda,the largest real gold painted pagoda in Bagan. Have a rest at the hotel to avoid the heat. Then go out and enjoy a Horse Cart Ride for the sunset. Climbing up to the top of the Shwesandaw Pagoda is also a good choice. The horse cart ride will definitely be a pleasant memory for you.

Bagan

breakfast

You will take the flight to Inle Lake with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake. Inle Lake with an altitude of around 3,000 feet, sits in the middle part and highland of Myanmar. There you will feel quite different atmospheres. Starting a little adventure on your own or just having a rest, either can be good.

Inle Lake

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, start with a boat trip to Inle Lake, which is the second-largest lake in Myanmar. Local ethnic people live on the lake. They eat fish as main food. In unique floating gardens they also plant fresh produce, for example tomatoes, melons, and papayas.You can witness traditional fishing methods on the lake.

The following is Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the area's most highly admired one. Continue the boat trip to one of the oldest monasteries - Nga Phe Chaung, with over 200 years old Buddha statues.

Next, explore the floating garden - Kyun-Hmyaw. You can hardly believe it was built-up from strips of mud and water hyacinth. Last but not least breathtaking sunset views over Inle Lake will be the best end of the day.

floating garden - Kyun-Hmyaw

breakfast

Today you will take the flight to Yangon, then connect with the international flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is your own time.

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, you will discover Ho Chi Minh City's popular sights. You will find our sophisticated local guide very helpful to you. On the tour list, you will find the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace). Have a relaxing stroll in Dong Khoi Street.

In the afternoon, you will explore the Cu Chi tunnels and you will be definitely amazed by the underground network spreading over about 150 miles. The tunnels were built by Vietnamese soldiers during war times. Admiring the remaining tunnels, you will be absolutely impressed by the wisdom and courage of the people.

Then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Cu Chi tunnels

Notre Dame Cathedral

breakfast and lunch

Today you will be the early bird in order to admire Mekong Delta Area. We first leave the chaotic city. Stop by My tho city to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, the most historical one in the region.

Then you will be stunned by the tool in front of you. It's called sampan: a kind of boat that has been used in Vietnamese for generations. Now start the cruise with the sampan on the Mekong river. What to explore? The fish floating market and islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix are waiting for you.

Drop by Unicorn island, stroll on the village road. A visit to an orchard of tropical fruits is pleasant. Then enjoy honey-tea in a bee-farm and visit a Mekong Delta style house. Taste fresh candies in coconut candy workshop. Southern Vietnam traditional music will also add a special flavor to your tour.

It's almost lunch time. Let's try a homemade lunch in a local family. The family members will share their cooking time with you. You will be more than happy to practice a little with your own hands.

After lunch, say bye-bye to the hospitable people and you will go back to the boat pier. You will return to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight this evening to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hoi An for hotel check-in.

Mekong Delta

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will pick you up at hotel and start the discovery tour of Hoi An. Hoi An, the ancient city, is on the central coast of Vietnam. The Old Town of Hoi An is a must for every tourist. It's an remarkably well-preserved South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.

You will visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, also known as the Cau Chua Pagoda, one of the most visited landmarks in the city. The bridge was built in the 17th century, allowing the Japanese quarter of Hoi An to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge is covered and resembles a Japanese pagoda, and its original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years. You will also discover that many of the historic buildings are built in a traditional Chinese style, in contrast with the Japanese Bridge.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to My Son, once the holly land of Cham people from the 4th to 13th century. Nestling in a narrow valley surrounded by mountains, this temple, tower complex is a masterpiece of ancient Cham architecture. My Son consists of 70 architectural works ranging from small to great size. The charming red towers in My Son surely amazes you in the sunset.

The Old Town of Hoi An

breakfast

Today you will be transferred to the airport and you will fly to your next destination - Hanoi. Upon arrival, your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Starting a little adventure on your own or just having a rest, either can be a good choice.

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will pick you up at hotel and transfer you to Halong Bay. Halong Bay is famous for the largest marine limestone 'karst' landscape in the world and the whole area is awarded as UNESCO World Heritage. You won't be bored during the three-hour ride as your eyes enjoy a feast of wonderful landscape of the countryside.

The crew will assist you board the traditional Vietnamese sailboat. The 4-hour amazing water adventure starts. On board all meals are included. You will drop by a fishing village where you can still see a rowing-boat. You can communicate with local residents and visit the school on water. Last you will sail back to the harbor and go back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Halong Bay

breakfast and lunch

In the morning, you will visit the Museum of Ethnology, where you can get the vivid information of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Next you will visit some symbolic places related to Ho Chi Minh (known as Father of Vietnam), including the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the former residence, one-pillar pagoda, Ho Lo Prison and the Temple of Literature, which was the first university in Vietnam.

In the afternoon, Your guide will take you to airport for your departure flight. Hope to see you again.

One Pillar Tower

Temple of Literature