The Mandarin Route From North To South

To have a first taste of real Hanoi, you will climb into a traditional cyclo (pedicab) for a tour around the streets of the Old Quarter and the Colonial Quarter. You will find your-self in the middle of the chaotic traffic of motobikes, cars, bicycles and walkers coming from all directions and be surprised to detect some harmony in that very chaos. Have a stroll around lovely Hoan Kiem lake to meet a sample of Hanoians, and very possibly  some nervous grooms and brides-to-be on their wedding album shooting. Join the crowd for a short visit of the Ngoc Son temple which is built on an islet linked to the lake’s shore by a red, wooden bridge.

Today, you will spend the whole day exploring Vietnam’s capital city. First you will join the queu waiting their turn to visit Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, then continue on in a  green park adjacent to the Gorverment’s compound, where stands the Ho Chi Minh’s lovely stilt house. Leaving the park, you continue on foot to the One-Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of Hanoi. Next is the visit of the 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature, where you will learn about the ancient educational system in Vietnam, and get an idea of the basis of the country’s traditional culture and values. In the afternoon, you will be introduced to the richness and diversity of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam at the  Ethnology Museum, then enjoy a peaceful moment at Tran Quoc Pagoda on the  beautiful West-lake.

In the morning, you will travel to Ha Long Bay, where you arrive at noon. Ha Long Bay is a World Natural Heritage, covering a huge area of 1500km2. There is no better way to discover the stunning beauty of its 2000 limestone towers than being on board of a beautiful wooden junk for a 24-hour cruise. As the junk is navigating through the bay, you will have the chance to see several fishing villages, where people live on floating houses and the kids go to school by rowing  their own bamboo boats. Depending on the season, you can have a swim in the sea, then watch the sunset  as you lie relaxing on the junk’s sundesk. The junks are well-equipped: air-conditioned cabins with two beds, private bathrooms and toilet, to make sure  your night on board will be as comfortable as it is exotic.

Remember to put on the alarm clock to enjoy a spectacular dawn over the bay (providing the sky is clear). After a morning swim (depending on the season), enjoy breakfast onboard as the junk weighs anchor and head  back to the pier. Transfer directly to Hanoi’s aiport on the new road, passing vast expanses of rice fields of the Red River Delta. You will see scenes of farmers working in the fields, children going to school, and even little pigs transported on motobikes.

Today, you will have an exploration of Hue, a Worl Heritage city known for its traditionalism, sophistication and discreet pride. In the morning, take a cyclo and mingle your self with the flow of bicycles and motobikes crossing the Perfume River, to go for a visit of the Imperial Citadel, vestige of the past glory and splendor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Your exploration of this dynasty, which played a very important role in the history of the French involvement in Indochina, will continue with the visit of Tu Duc Tomb, built as a secondary residence for the King before serving as his own cenotaph. After lunch, spend some time in the majestic yet serene compound of the tomb of Minh Mang emperor, followed by a cruise down the placid Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. This is a good place to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the river and to get some understanding of the Buddhist monastics’ life.

Today, we will travel to Hoi An on a scenic, famous portion of the Mandarin road. The sights of rice fields, water buffalo and mountains along the way is appeasing. You will pass the quiet, white sandy beach of Lang Co before attacking the renown Hai Van pass where you can enjoy, if the weather is good, a spectacular panorama of the central coasline. After traversing Da Nang, one of Vietnam’s fastest growing cities, you will arrive to Hoi An, another World Heritage, an old trading port of great charm and hospitality.  Take a bike ride to the old Hoi An to explore the quaint cobblestone streets of the town with 2-century-old Chinese houses. The atmosphere of the town reflects a succesful combination of Chinese, Japanese and local cultures. Sights include the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple, and Tan Ky ancient trading house.

Depart in the morning for Quy Nhon, a drive of about seven hours. In the first section of the road, you will go through immense rice fields with wonderful landscapes. On the last section of the road, you will go along the coast and discover the large beaches of Quy Nhon area. On the way, we will stop over at Son My – a peaceful village where a brutal massacre of civilian population known as the My Lai Massacre took place during the Vietnam–American war. This event caused a shakeup in American public opinion. After lunch, continue on to Quy Nhon where you will arrive at the end of the day. The balance of your day is at leisure.

In the morning, travel by road to Nha Trang, about a five-hour drive, where you will arrive at around noon. The route from Quy Nhon to Nha Trang is certainly one of the most beautiful roads in southern Vietnam, traveling along white sandy beaches and a turquoise sea. You will also feel refreshed by the sights of huge coconut plantations, and of small, quaint villages surrounded by rice fields. On arrival in Nha Trang, you will visit the Cham temple Po Nagar. Late afternoon is free time to enjoy the beach.

Nha Trang has been recognized as one of the 30 most beautiful bays of the World. Blue water, white sandy beaches, lovely public squares along the sea, great food and various possibilities for activities are the main elements that make this city increasingly popular as a destination for vacation.
Free day in Nha Trang to enjoy the beach  without a guide or vehicle.

Head out early for the four-hour drive to Da Lat. We will make several stops on the way to take photos and enjoy the panorama. Visit the Cham towers of Pokhlong. You will arrive in Da Lat at the end of the morning. Situated at 1000m above sea level, Da Lat is endowed with a temparate climate all year round, with four seasons within a day. During the French colony, French officials came here to escape from the heat of Saigon and had their villas built  in the style of Swiss Chalets. Today, the European aspect of its hilly landscapes covered by pine forest and dotted with lakes and flower gardens continue to attract many Vietnamese to come for a feel of the distant continent. It is also a dwelling place of many artists, who need solitude and nature for inspiration. In the afternoon, we make a city tour to visit the flower market, Bao Dai Palace, the old railway station and the valley of love. Return to the town at the end of the day.

After breakfast, leave for Saigon, a seven-hour drive, with a stopover on the way to visit Bao Loc tea and coffee plantations. You will also traverse rubber and cashew plantations. These are important exportation products of Vietnam.
 

In the morning, visit the historic sites of the city, including the Old Post Office of Saigon, the Notre Dame cathedral, and Dong Khoi street, all dating back to the French colonial time. You will also visit the War Museum, where tanks and aircraft wreckage still breathe the destruction of the war, while the final message as we go through it is one of peace. In the afternoon, visit the Chinese district of Cho Lon with the bustling Binh Tay market and Thien Hau Temple, where you can admire the ceramic basreliefs dating from 17th century depicting social scenes and traditions in old China. Then, it is free time for shopping.

In the morning, leave Saigon for Cai Be, a three-hour trip, where you can embark to the boat to Vinh Long. Discover the charm of the legendary Mekong River with the rush of the Cai Be floating market, bordered with seemingly endless orchards, where you can gather and taste exotic seasonal fruits.  A stop in a garden for lunch will allow you to observe the lifestyle of local residents.  Thanks to the generous nature of the Mekong delta, their inhabitants are usually very simple people, warm and gentle in their heart. In the afternoon, continue by boat to Vinh Long, where you take the road to Can Tho via the longest bridge of South-East Asia.

Boarding the Mystic Mekong for a cruise to the lively, colourful floating market of Cai Rang. On the way, the crew will serve a breakfast with coffee, tea and fruit juice. Is there any better way to make your breakfast more abundant than with fresh fruits purchased directly from the market, while surrounded by a crowd of busy traders and brim-full boats engrossed in their business? You will be surprised by the huge variety of products sold at the market, from well-known fruits like mangos and bananas, to exotic ones like mangosteens, star apples. the sweetened longans and the very odorous durians. Once satisfied with the fruity flavours of the market, you will enter the labyrinth of the channels and streams surrounding Can Tho. From the Mystic you can observe daily life on the river, catch the simple happiness in a sitting grand-father’s eyes and join in the laughter of children swimming in the clear-brown water. You’ll return to Saigon late in the afternoon, then transfer directly to the airport for your flight home, full of fresh memories in your heart.