Sure it takes time, patience and a bit of effort getting everything to link up and link in with trains and stuff but at the end of it you get a good feeling a sigh of relief that it's done and the knowledge that you've done it all by yourself without outside help is a good feeling. You feel like you've accomplished something, something perhaps which not everybody can do and you feel like at least there's something you can do. I mean I might not be a big wig with a high priority career under my belt or a university educated magna cum laude with a first rate degree in Save the Spotted Owl or a high falutin' society matron married to the CEO of a billion dollar company who only has to decide on whether to wear the Balenciaga or the Lagerfeld, but at least I can put together a travel itinerary!
So, here it is:
VIETNAM AND CHINA ITINERARY 2012
VIETNAM
Wed 16 –MELBOURNE TO KUALA LUMPUR
Thu 17 – KUALA LUMPUR
1. Check in luggage at Tunes Hotel
2. Shuttle to KL – day in KL
3. Berjaya Time Square
4. Footmaster – Fish Spa
5. Hard Rock Café – buy pin
6. Other sightseeing stuff
OVERNIGHT TUNES HOTEL – LCCT
Fri 18 – SAIGON
Arrive airport 10.15am. Look for my name outside arrival hall: Madam Cuc Hotel
Welcome HANNAH AL - OTHMAN
1. Check in
2. Collect train tickets from reception
3. Buy tickets for Mekong Delta
4. Sightseeing
OVERNIGHT MADAME CUC’S HOTEL 184 – 4 nights
Sat 19 –
1. Saigon walking tour
2. Hard Rock Café – buy pin
Sun 20 –MEKONG DELTA
To be booked
Mon 21 – MEKONG DELTA TO SAIGON
Tue 22 – SAIGON TO DALAT
Check in, Central Markets walk round town
OVERNIGHT HOA BINH (PEACE) HOTEL – 2 nights
Wed 23 – DALAT
Tour – Crazy House, train station etc.
Thu 24 – DALAT TO NHA TRANG
Around town, check out cafes etc. Beach
OVERNIGHT PHO BIEN HOTEL – 1 night
Fri 25 – NHA TRANG
Watch sunrise from balcony. Sit on beach early morning. – o/n train to Danang
Be at train station by 9.00pm. Train SH2 departs 22.12.
OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Sat 26 – HOI AN
Arrive Danang 8.59am, get bus or taxi to Hoi An.
City walking tour. Check out conical hats. Look for silks to buy. Cooking class 3.00pm – 7.00pm $15 ?
Wander around Old Town.
THANH BINH II HOTEL – 2 nights
Sun 27–
Boat cruise on perfume river?
Mon 28 – HOI AN TO HUE
Depart 8.00am for easyrider bike ride arrive Hue at 4.30pm.
Meet Maureen at Bar Why Not on the corner of Vo Thi Sau and Pham Ngu Lao streets around 6.00pm?
THANH XUAN HOTEL – 2 nights
Tue 29 – HUE
Hue sightseeing. – Walk around Old Town.
Wed 30 – HUE TO HANOI
Last minute look around
Be at Livitrans hall in Green Hotel Hue, 02 Le Loi Str – Hue City. Tel: +84 (0) 54 384 9922. by 13.48.
Train departs 14.48.
OVERNIGHT LIVITRANS TRAIN
Thu 31 – HANOI
Arrive Hanoi 4.10am. Taxi to Vega Hotel.
Walking tour of Old Quarter
Water puppets at night.
OVERNIGHT VEGA HOTEL – 2 nights
Fri 1 – HANOI TO LAO CAI
Walking tour continued? Details to be finalised.
Maybe bus to local villages?
- You are supposed to be at Vega Travel office ( 24a Hang Bac – adjoining Ma May Street) by 20h00 then our tour guide will transfer you to Hanoi station for the 21h15 train to Lao Cai
- 8 hours sleep on the train
Inclusive services: Transfer and train ticket (Shared in a cabin of 4 soft berths with A/C – Lower berth)
OVERNIGHT LIVITRANS TRAIN
Sat 2 – LAO CAI TO SAPA
As per tour itinerary
Sa Pa Trekking to 4 villages - Ylinh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai village
6-7 hrs trekking throughout 4 hamlets - visit 2 different kinds of minority.
- 05h15 you will arrive at the last arrival station – Lao Cai station. Picked up and drive up to Sapa. First of all, get shower, luggage store and then enjoy breakfast
- Trek down to YlinhHo and Lao Chai village of the black H’mong people.
- After a picnic lunch, keep on alongside Muong Hoa stream, over suspension bridges to Ta Van village of the Dzay people.
- Keep trekking to Cau May (Rattan Suspension bridge) - Giang Ta Chai I.
- A standby car to return to Sapa
- Check in hotel, free and easy to stay in Sapa, enjoy Sapa by night
Inclusive services: Transfer, tour guide, entrance fee, Holiday hotel*** (deluxe room) and meals (B + L)
OVERNIGHT SAPA HOLIDAY HOTEL - 1 night
Sun 3 – SAPA TO BAC HA TO LAO CAI
As per tour itinerary
Sapa - Ba Ha Market – night train back to Hanoi
- 07h30 leave Sapa for Bac Ha market – a colorful market of the local hill tribes
- 10h00 you will arrive Bac Ha, independently attend the market that known as the most colorful ethnic market of all Northwest Vietnam. It is a fusion of many different hill tribes inhabiting around Bac Ha moutain district and here you can easily distinguish them by their different colorful costume dressing
- Attend the market, you will find out not only typical traditional costumes but also the way of bartering trade existing in daily life of the Tay, the Dzay, the Red Dzao, the Black H’mong…
- After lunch, visit Ban Pho village of the Flower H’mong people
OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Mon 4 – HANOI TO HALONG BAY
Arrive Hanoi, get taxi to Vega Travel office.
AM
- Approximately 07h40, depart for the 3,5 hour drive through the Red River Delta to the town of Bai Chay and the Ha Long boat station.
- 11h45 Welcome aboard and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on the boat restaurant while we cruise further into the bay of immensity of limestone mountains
PM
- Sit back and relax as we cruise past the following islands and sights: the Dog stone, the Fighting Cock islet and the couple islet via the 3 -tunnel grotto, the floating fishing villages and fish farms.
- Visit the largest cave in the bay called Hang Sung Sot (Surprising cave).
- Paddle in our 2-person kayak through a limestone tunnel grotto called (Hang Luon) into a lovely lagoon. You may even see wild monkeys playing on the mountain cliffs. Paddle along and through narrow passages to visit the Man head island, Butterfly cave and Horse Neck cave. Spend more time swimming from the boat or kayak in the emerald waters…
- Anchor in a tranquil lagoon among Bai Tu Long Bay, Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay for dinner and a peaceful night on the boat.
Inclusive services:
Vega minivan and 1 deluxe double room on Vega Cruise, full-time English speaking tour guide, kayak, entrance fees into Halong Bay, meals (L+ D)
Rooms on the Cruise: Air-conditioned rooms, private bathroom and window with an ocean view see the cruise's amenities in Images Tab)
AM
- 07h00 Wake up, do morning exercises on the boat deck and then the boat will drop us on Titop Beach island.
- Walk up 340 constructed terraced steps to the top of the mountain to watch the sunrise over the bay. The 360 degree view is breath-taking from this pagoda with views of Halong Bay and Cat Ba Island Nat Park
- Walk down to Titop beach, a naturally formed sand beach, for a refreshing dip in the bay.
- Afterwards enjoy breakfast on the boat while we cruise towards Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island.
- Cruise past Van Gia fishing village further into Bai Tu Long Bay. This outer route will lead you into an area lesser traveled by tourist and well-known for its magnificent seascapes
- We will stop for a while in a peaceful place for relaxation on the boat deck before heading for Halong pier.
PM
- 11h45 Disembark and transfer to a hotel restaurant for lunch.
- After lunch we will drive back to Hanoi
- Estimated to arrive in Hanoi between 16h30 – 17h00.
Inclusive services:
Vega minivan and cruise, full time English speaking tour guide and meals (B)
Things to bring for this trip
- Your passport is required for check-in on the Cruise
- Small backpack, sunglasses and sunblock
- A good sandal and/or sport shoes, swimming wear, hat or cap and rain coat
Note: Bath towels and Life jackets (for both adults and kids) are available on the cruise
As per itinerary, arrive Hanoi approx. 16.30pm. Check into Vega Hotel
Last minute look around Hanoi
OVERNIGHT VEGA HOTEL – 1 night
Wed 6 – HANOI TO XIAN, CHINA
Arrive at airport 6.30am for 8.30am flight.
CHINA
Wed 6 – HANOI TO GUANGZHOU TO XIAN
Depart Hanoi 8.30am,
Arrive Guangzhou 10.55.
Depart Guangzhou 14.15
Arrive Xian 16.50.
Pick up from Han Tang Hostel..
Check in. Pick up train tickets. Organise tours.
OVERNIGHT HAN TANG YOUTH HOSTEL – 3 nights.
Thu 7 -
1. Terracotta Army tour with lunch.
2. Tang Dynsasty Music and Dancing Show with Dinner.
Fri 8
1. Walk around City Walls, Great mosque, muslim quarter,
2. Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Forest of Steale Museum, Temple of the Eight Immortals.
3. Free dumpling party at 19.00.
Sat 9 – XIAN TO PINGYAO
Activities to be decided.
Free shuttle to train station. Train K690 departs from Xian South at 22.19.
OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Sun 10 – PINGYAO
1. Arrive 7.38. Hostel shuttle to hostel. Sights and attractions:
2. City Walls – maybe hire a bike and ride?
3. City Tower, Confucian Temple, Rishengchang Financial House Museum
4. Dacheng Hall, Nine Dragon Screen, Qingxu Guan.
OVERNIGHT HARMONY GUESTHOUSE – 2 nights
Mon 11
Continue wandering around the sights and attractions.
1. Qiao and Wang Family Compounds,
2. Ming Qing Street, Ancient Government Office,
3. Tongxinggong Ancient Security Guard Company, Shuanglin Temple.
Tue 12 – PINGYAO TO BEIJING
Activities to be decided
Free shuttle to train shuttle. Train K604 Leaving:18:47 Arrival:06:28
OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Wed 13 – BEIJING
Arrive Beijing West at 6.28am. Transport to hostel.
1. Hard Rock Café - Landmark Towers, 8 North Dongsanhuan Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100004,
2. South German Bakery.
3. Evening see the Chinese acrobats.
OVERNIGHT QIANMEN HOSTEL – 3 nights
Thu 14 – Beijing day tour:
1. Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven.
2. Chinese lunch.
3. The Summer Palace.
4. Silk Factory to buy high quality silk products.
5. Evening Houhai Lake, restaurant for dinner or enjoy nightlife in pubs & bars.
Fri 15 – Great Wall of China:
1. Mutianyu Cable Car + Toboggan. Ming Tombs?
2. Peking Roast Duck at the famous Quanjude Restaurant.
3. LaoShe Tea House taste Chinese Tea and kinds of local snacks. Meanwhile, enjoy the fantastic performance including various Chinese folks and traditional arts.
Sat 16 – BEIJING TO SUZHOU
1. Beijing zoo to see pandas?
2. If time, famous Xiushui Street (silk market). It is a paradise for shopping for Chinese goods and souvenirs
3. Be at Beijing Station by 8.00pm. Train T109 Leaving:19:28 Arrival:09:17
4. Note:
If Train T109 not available, will be Train D311 leaving at 20.52, arriving 7.49
OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Sun 17 – SUZHOU
1. Buy train tickets to Hangzhou and ticket for Hangzhou to Shanghai
2. Bus to Tongli
3. Back to Suzhou for musical evening.
OVERNIGHT MINGTOWN SUZHOU HOSTEL - 1 night
Mon 18 – HANGZHOU
Tour gardens of Suzhou – pick out three –
1. Humble Administrator’s Garden,
2. Fisherman’s Net Garden,
3. Lingering Garden,
4. Lion Grove Garden.
Train departs at 13.00. Be at station early. Arrive at Hangzhou at ?
On arrival, check out local shops and tea houses. Ask for information.
OVERNIGHT WUSHANYI INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HOSTEL – 2 nights
Tue 19
1. Stroll around shops near hostel.
2. Visit West Lake – see tea plantation
3. Walk to Lake in evening for photo of sunset
Wed 20 – SHANGHAI
Arrive afternoon. The Bund – walk along the river front.
OVERNIGHT CAPTAIN HOSTEL - 2 nights
Thu 21 –
1. City walking tour
2. French Concession?
Fri 22 – SHANGHAI TO HONG KONG
Arrive in Hong Kong. Transport to hotel
8.00pm: Watch Symphony of Lights.
Vantage Points:
1. Along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
2. Aboard a harbour cruise.
OVERNIGHT YMCA SALISBURY – 4 nights
Sat 23 – HONG KONG
1. Go to Stanley for Dragon Boat Festival.
2. The Peak – Peak Tram
3. Hard Rock Café – Café, LG/F LKF Tower, 55 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong Central Hong Kong
4. Ferry back to Kowloon.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Peak
a. Bus 6X or 66 from Stanley Plaza. Alight at Cheung Kong Center in Central.
b. Walk to the Lower Peak Tram Terminus on Garden Road.
c. Take the Peak Tram up to The Peak.
Sun 24 – Visit markets,
1. Lady Street and others.
2. Nathan Road and sights
Mon 25 –
1. Ferry to Macao for day trip.
2. Hard Rock Café Level 2, The Boulevard City of Dreams Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau
3. St. Paul’s ruins
Tue 26 – HONG KONG TO KUALA LUMPUR
1. Kowloon Walled City Park. To get there - Bus 1 from the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier Terminus. Get off at Tung Tau Tsuen Road (opposite to the park).
2. Last minute shopping and sight seeing.
3. Hotel to arrange transport to airport.
OVERNIGHT TUNES AT LCCT – 1 night
Wed 27 – KUALA LUMPUR TO MELBOURNE
1. Breakfast at coffee shop. Take photos of café.
2. Shuttle to LCCT.
Wed 27 – ARRIVE MELBOURNE 11.30PM.
