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Introduction Tour Contact       Tours Exotissimo Travel Vietnam   INTRODUCTION SAMPLE ITINERARY - MICE VIETNAM 5D/4N Day 1: Arrive in Saigon Day 2: Mekong Delta Day 3: Saigon / Hanoi Day 4: Ha Noi – Halong Day 5: Halong – Hanoi departure DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HOCHIMINH CITY SAIGON, Once called the Pearl of Orient, is the largest city and economic centre. It is a blend of Chinese, colonial and modern influences. The huge number of people, shops and stalls give Saigon, now named Ho Chi Minh City a bustling atmosphere. Flocks of schoolgirls on bicycles, their traditional white "Ao Dai" tunics fluttering in the breeze; vendors engulfed in bright bubbles of balloons or pushing carts heaped with wares. Arrive in Saigon. Airport welcomes by your guides and trip coordinator. Transfer to the hotel by air-conditioned coach. Luggage is transferred separately. Option: Two ladies in “Ao Dai”, the traditional Vietnamese tunique offering garlands of flowers at the airport lobby. Option: Magnet stickers with group logo on the buses. Option: Early check-in inclusive of breakfast at the hotel (depending on the room availability) Option: Spa package Welcome drink (a non alcoholic-fruit juice) during the check in at the hotel Lunch at the hotel restaurant. SAIGON LIKE A SAIGONESE Half Day CITY TOUR by “XE LAM” This is a city tour with a difference as it will cover most of the districts of the city, and some of the sites that the client will visit are not used or visited by Tourist or Expats they are solely used by local people. For this we will use Xe Lam (local open air mini-truck taxi) as our mode of transport, each with its own driver. (Possible branding with client logo etc…) Meet the clients at the hotel. They will then split up into groups who will have a pre-assigned route around the city which will be different for each group and will be given a handbook with the list for this tour. (The group will be divided in subgroups of 3 Xe lam, each of them with 4 passenger on board. This way of breaking the group is the only true mean of having them experiencing the visit of Saigon the way other tourists groups can’t. They will meet all together for the Diner time, a sharing time!) Spiritual time: Tai chi Session in the pagoda courtyard: Two “Masters” of this Chinese Martial art form will guide you and teach you the basics. Participants will be able to keep their Tai chi jacket. Incense ceremony at the Pagoda. Taught by a venerable and wise old man, 2 by 2 each participant will light and offer incense sticks to the spirit of the ancestors…1 packet of incense offered to each participants. En route stop by Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central post office that are two of the splendid colonial buildings of Saigon and have remained unchanged since their completion. Mail your postal back home before to leave… Market time Discover Cho Lon, the Chinese district by cyclos (the local Ricshaw) . Ben Thay Market (the biggest in Vietnam) – The Chinese medicine street-The rice street (learn about the rice process) Medicine street– This Street in the centre of District Five is mainly where the Chinese community live. There is a cornucopia of items for sale and to look at and the smell of the various medicines is very strong. You will see main of the Vietnamese shopping here, as traditional medicine is still widely used and favored by most Vietnamese. Relaxing time A stop in a typical Saigonese Tea and coffee shop followed by a 15mn foot massage session. This is a coffee shop that caters to Vietnamese clientele the group will stop for a traditional coffee or tea and enjoy this everyday activity of Vietnamese life. And watch the world go by. The order in which these places are visited will differ for each group Diner time / all group at a Deluxe “street food” restaurant: A crowded typical “street food” restaurant for the Saigonese middle and upper class. Set in a traditional and remodeled French colonial villa and offering a wide range of simple and savory Vietnamese dishes. Now you are in Vietnam !! Overnight stay at a 5 stars hotel DAY 2: EXCURSION TO THE MEKONG DELTA (CAI BE ) Breakfast at the hotel En route to Cai Be, 80km to the south of Saigon, in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Board private river boats Cai be Princess and cruise on the Mekong River through Cai Be Floating Market then continuing on to see various cottage industries that line the banks of the Delta (Coconut Candy wrapping home factory, rice paper making etc..). On one of the many islands that are totally given to agriculture, especially the growing of tropical fruits, experience a short but breathtaking Bicycle ride through the lanes and villages of this area. The lunch will be served either in the Islands at a local family run restaurant or on the mainland at a restored colonial villa nearby the river. Lunch can be completed with a fruit tasting in the fruit orchards. Return to Saigon in the afternoon. SHOPPING TIME: There is always something that you must have or would love to offer that you can find in the boutiques of the small street of Hanoi or in the market place. Get some free time to indulge yourself and others for a budget that you wouldn’t even believe possible!! Dinner at a fine dinning Restaurant. Overnight stay at a 5 stars hotel DAY 3: HO CHI MINH CITY / HANOI Breakfast at the hotel Transfer to the airport by air-conditioned coach for domestic flight to Saigon. Luggage is transferred separately. Option: Domestic air ticket Saigon / Hanoi in economic class. Flight proposed : VN214 09.30-11.30 The charm from the French colonial era still resonates in the capital of Vietnam. Hanoi a City of broad boulevards lined with tamarind trees and numerous lakes. Arrive in Hanoi. Airport welcomes by your guides and trip coordinator. Transfer to the hotel by air-conditioned coach. Luggage is transferred separately. Option: Spa package Welcome drink (a non alcoholic-fruit juice) during the check in at the hotel Lunch at the hotel restaurant. FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE CITY: Start Discovering the capital of Vietnam by visiting its major historical highlights: Exterior of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (due to the waiting time to enter, we don’t recommend to visit the interior),One pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts situated in the garden of the former presidential palace which was also the residence of the French governor of Indochina during colonial period. EXPERIENCING A VERY VIETNAMESE MEAN OF TRAVELLING INSIDE THE CITY: Take a ride by « CYCLO-POUSSE » (The Vietnamese Rickshaw) in the old district of Hanoi and its commercial streets called "District of the 36 corporations". Each streets specializes in producing or selling a certain product for example silk in the silk Street ; Cotton etc,in all there are 36 streets. A very typical and enjoyable way to discover the charms of the Capital. Option: Tai chi session at the Quanh Thanh temple. In this most spiritually important religious monument of Hanoi, conducted by a master of this very Asian and ancient martial Art, make your first basic moves toward the Asian form of enlightenment and wisdom. Dinner at a fine dinning Restaurant. Option: AN EVENING AT THE HANOI NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE In the heart of the colonial district is the Hanoi Opera House, a near replica of the Garnier Opera House in Paris and regarded as the masterpiece of French Indochina architecture. Inaugurated in 1911, it was the art centre of Indochina before it became a theatre of political and revolutionary events. After many years of neglect, the Opera House was restored and reopened for performances in 1997. It is within this prestigious framework that we invite you to an evening of exclusive entertainment and dining. A fleet of rickshaws will lead you from your hotel to the foot of the steps of the opera, where hostesses dressed in Vietnamese Ao Dai (the traditional dress) will lead guests towards the grand ballroom, which can offer up to 900 seats. The evening begins in the ballroom with a presentation that familiarizes the audience with Vietnamese folklore, dance and music. This is followed by cocktails served in the performance room of the opera, where models of Elite Vietnam, show off their ao dai dresses on the winding ornate stairways that acts as the stage. The evening continues with a candlelit dinner set in a room of gilded mirrors that looks onto a simple broad balcony, a place where history was made during the August Revolution in 1945. The Hanoi Opera House can accommodate up to 120 guests for a private dinner. Overnight stay at a 5 stars hotel DAY 4: HA NOI – HA LONG Breakfast at the hotel. Leave Hanoi for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.(03:30 approximately) Option: LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT TRIP? take the regional local train joining Hanoi to Hai Duong,on board privatized coaches. A glimpse of the very local life along the railway of the Northern provinces. Option: MORNING REPAST ON BOARD THE TRAIN: special catering inclusive of assorted beverages (coffee, tea, fruit juices) with pastries and savories (tropical fruits and pastries). Service provided  by waiters in attire. Possible only if Emeraude is privatized. Halong Bay is one of the wonders of the world with over 1,500 km2 and 3,000 islets. Many tales have been woven about the creation of Halong Bay, or Bay of Descending Dragon. Folk law describes that, the Bay’s islands and islets were created when dragons, sent by gods, spat jewels and jade into the area to protect the people of Vietnam from invaders. Upon arrival in Ha Long, board-in The Emeraude Cruiser, privatized for the group, a wonderful replica of one of the classic steamships of the colonial era of French Indochina. With 37 luxurious air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant, two bars and a sundeck this is the ultimate Ha Long Bay experience. Welcome cocktail and check in on board. While cruising through Ha Long Bay passing by some of the most scenic locations including Yen Gnu, Con Coca Mountains and a floating village, a Vietnamese buffet lunch is served in the restaurant. In the afternoon , visit Titov mini beach and Cua Van fishing village. While the boat is stationary, enjoy swimming or optional kayaking and massage. Vietnamese buffet dinner is served in the dinning room. Option: Kayaking in the bay during 1 hour. Option: High tea on the sundeck of Emeraude Option: Dinner in the Hang Trong Grottoes: In the fairy tale setting venue of the natural legendary Hang trong grotto privatized for the group and specially illuminated and decorated, will be served a set menu dinner of Vietnamese specialties. The classical background music will complete the ambiance Option: jazz band playing during the diner Option: Classical string quartet playing during the cocktail Option: Champagne cocktail served before the dinner Possible only if Emeraude is privatized Overnight on board of the Emeraude Cruiser, deluxe cabin. DAY 5: HA LONG – HA NOI / OUT Breakfast on board Check out Emeraude and transfer back to Hanoi. Lunch at a fine dinning restaurant SHOPPING TIME: There is always something that you must have or would love to offer that you can find in the boutiques of the small street of Hanoi or in the market place. Get some free time to indulge yourself and others for a budget that you wouldn’t even believe possible!! Option : DRAGON BOAT RACE ON THE « HO TAY » LAKE : A challenging race on the beautiful and famous West Lake. This activity requires team spirit and a little bravoury.Each participant and his crew will test themselves at rowing these traditional style boats. It is even possible to compete against the local specialist team in front of a frenetic home crowd. The winning team will receive a superb trophy and the prestige and envy of winning. Coffee, tea, mineral water and soft drinks will be available at the tressle in between each race. Farewell standing buffet dinner-cocktail at a famous club-house in the center of downtown Hanoi and within walking distance to the hotel. Option: Farewell Dinner at a fine dinning Restaurant. Transfer to the airport for the departure flight. Luggage is transported separately. Option: Day use with late check out at the hotel until 20.00 Help for check in and formalities

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