Myanmar & Vietnam Explorer

Arrive at Yangon international airport where you will be welcomed by your English speaking local tour guide and transferred to your hotel. (If the room is not ready, proceed for Yangon sightseeing).

After refreshment at hotel, enjoy a walk through downtown Yangon where most of the colonial buildings such as City Hall, Mahabandoola park, High Court and telegraphic office are holding an elegant beauty of Yangon. Stopover at the Strand Hotel and feel the warmth and atmosphere of British era. Continue visit to Pansoedan jetty serving locals living across the Yangon River. This evening visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land“. After visiting Shwedagon pagoda, transfer to you hotel and overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Morning flight to Bagan. Check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes NyaungOo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; KyansitthaUmin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple.

In the afternoon, visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temples of Bagan.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

This morning, enjoy sunrise over Bagan and back to hotel for breakfast. Later, head to Mt. Popa about 48 km south east of Bagan. Mt. Popa, known as the abode of Nats (spirits) – a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak. It’s time to climb for 777 steps to the summit. Proceed to Popa Mountain Resort ( 1hr drive ) for lunch (own account). The restaurant offer a great view to the Popa summit that stands straight from the central plain. After lunch, return drive back to Bagan. On the way back, enroute stop at village cottage industry to learn the regional product as well as to watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion to brown sugar.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, depart the hotel for flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Upon arrival, transfer by road to Inle lake. Enjoy a leisurely morning to make your way down into the Inle basin and by “long-tail” boat out across the lake to our hotel right on the Inle Lake. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat, Plane

After breakfast at the hotel, visit floating market which is a 5-day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue our excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Inle Lake.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

After breakfast, drive back to Heho for a moring flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Yangon. This afternoon, visit Karaweik, a royal barge for fantastic photo shot along the “pilgrims” causeway across the Royal Lake with stunning views of Shwedagon Pagoda and proceed to visit Chaukhtutgyi Reclining Buddha Image and there you see the sparse pilgrims in silence. You will also call in the Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) market famous for its colonial architecture and inner cobblestone streets. It is one of the major bazaars in Yangon and built in 1926 by the British. You can buy from a simple Myanmar slipper to a jewelry crown there.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

After breakfast at hotel, you will be picked up by your guide and transferred to Yangon International airport for your flight to Hanoi.

When you arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi, you’ll be smilingly met and transferred to your downtown hotel. The remainder of the day will be all yours to stroll around the Old Quarter of Hanoi and its raucous streets full of traditional vendors and artisans, or if you prefer, simply relax and recover for your adventure ahead.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

After a breakfast worth writing home about, you’ll jump head-first into Hanoi’s sights and sounds on a tour that covers all the essentials. You’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Temple of Literature, which, dating back to 1070, is Vietnam’s oldest university.

After lunch, explore the enthralling Museum of Ethnology, which contains an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities. Next, enjoy an hour-long cyclo ride winding through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter – a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.

Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Monday and Fridays, as well as from 15th June to 15th August (approx.) for annual conservation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

At 08.00, you will be picked up at your hotel and start the scenic 3.5 hour drive to Halong Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta countryside and have a short break en-route. Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. Visit a fishing village by a rustic rowing-boat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and pearl farms. Return to the junk refreshed and and relax on sundeck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight Cruises
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Enjoy an early morning swim/Taichi (if weather permits) followed by breakfast. You will visit a famous ancient limestone cave in the middle of the bay where you’ll discover magnificent stalagmites and stalactites as you walk along the lit paths on a guided tour. Enjoy a tasty brunch while cruising back to the main harbor pier where your private car will be waiting for you and drive straight to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for a late afternoon flight to Danang. On arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel in the downtown.

By the way, if you’d like to add an extra night to your trip in Halong Bay and spend 2 nights on the junk or 1 night on the junk and one night on Cat Ba Island, just let us know.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat, Plane

At 8:30 sharp, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby to give you a proper show-around of the old town. You’ll start a walking tour with a lion’s share of places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls; the museum and the colorful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you’ll meander through tiny streets studded by houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures.

After such gallavanting, your time will be your own to wander around or getting amongst some retail therapy. This afternoon is your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

First up, you head to Danang airport for your morning dash to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by another local expert who will escort you for your drive to the stupefying Cu Chi Tunnels.

After a light lunch at a local restaurant [today at your own cost], visit the amazing network of underground tunnels that was used by the Viet Cong throughout the War. This huge construction was a war-time home for many villagers. With three different levels and despite its proximity to Saigon, it was never discovered by the US. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide, before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

Today you’ll embark on a guided city tour, starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opening part of Vietnam’s proud history; followed by the Reunification Palace; the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace; the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, as you  get your camera working overtime peeking into the past of Vietnam’s biggest, most energetically progressive city.

After a tasty lunch at a local restaurant, continue with a Chinatown walking tour through the back streets to be part of the local daily life. Stop off for a visit to Thien Hau temple, which was built in the early 19th Century in tribute to the goddess of seafarers. Delve deeper into Chinatown by visiting the amazing Cholon and Binh Tay Market (or Ben Thanh market) for an insight into where the locals actually shop. Then you’ll be back at your hotel in time to have a bit of a stroll around the city centre, or simply relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Your time will be your own until being picked up to head to Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward journey or departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None
Transportation: Private vehicle