ASIA
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Yes, go to worldstrides.com.au No, stay on worldstrides.comWe will enjoy full meal service on our scheduled wide-bodied flight to Budapest.
We will be met at the airport by our guide and transfer into Hanoi, whose iconic French colonial architecture and network of markets present a variety of Vietnamese tastes and smalls. Continue to our hotel in Hanoi for the next four nights. Attend a performance at the Water Puppet Theatre. The world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi has its roots in an art form that. The tradition of water puppet theatre dates back to the 11th century, stemming from a time when rice-patty fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water. Dinner is included this evening after the show at a local restaurant.
We begin our exploration of Hanoi at Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble mausoleum in which Ho Chi Minh lies in state. The mausoleum is usually crowded with Vietnamese of all ages wishing to show their respect. Continue to the modest stilted wooden bungalow where Uncle Ho lived and worked, a symbol of his simplicity and gentleness. Nearby visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader. Also known as the 'father of the nation,’ the museum chronicles the evolution of Vietnamese independence. View the nearby former Governor's Residence, a fine example of French architecture brought over by colonizers. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda with a history steeped in folklore. We will have some free time for lunch and to explore the Old Quarter, giving Hanoi an old world feel mixing French colonial and ancient Vietnamese architecture. Dinner is included at a local restaurant together this evening.
Concert PerformanceToday you will have the opportunity to give a concert performance.
Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi’s most well-known landmark, nestled on the southern edge of the Old town quarter. On the lake is a small island, which can be reached by a red bridge that holds Ngoc Son Temple, dedicated to three grand figures from Vietnamese history. Another tiny island on the Southern section of the lake holds the stocky Turtle Tower that is best viewed from the bridge. Continue to Hoa Lo Prison, a thought-provoking site, ironically nicknamed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by US prisoners of war during the American War. Most exhibits relate to the prison’s use up to the mid-1950s, focusing on the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France. Built by the French in 1896 and originally intended to house around 450 inmates, records indicate that by the 1930s, there were close to 2,000 prisoners. After lunch, we will have some free time to explore the Dong Xuan Market, the city’s largest indoor market for produce as well as clothes and souvenirs. Next, we tour the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple originally built as a university in the 11th century. Later, it was used to teach Confucianism and literature. After dinner, attend a performance at the Hanoi Opera House, built by the French at the beginning of the 20th century.
Today, we will journey to Hai Phong. Upon arrival, visit Du Hang Pagoda, first established in the 17th century. Walk through the pagoda and bell tower, see intricate carvings of guardians, images of Buddha, and a unique bonsai collection in the gardens. Continue to Hai Phong Opera House, built in the early 20th century by the French colonials. Outfitted with an ornate Gothic interior, massive, winding staircases, Grecian design elements, and opulent paintings from floor to ceiling, the opera house is a testament to the foreign influences in local architecture. We will have lunch together and some free time before dinner together this evening.
Concert PerformanceToday you will have the opportunity to give a concert performance.
Our journey continues today as we climb aboard an Hạ Long Bay Cruise, considered to be one of the Eighth Wonders of the World. Start out on this 2 day, 1 night cruise through the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin from Tuần Châu Island, where President Hồ Chí Minh spent his holidays, for transfer to La Vela and our boat. Enjoy a later lunch aboard the cruise as we set sail, past many scattered islands, and grottoes eroded by wind and water. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest in Hạ Long Bay, with stalactites and stalagmites, clear water lakes, and a few species of trees and birds. Take in a Cooking Demonstration on the sundeck and learn more about local cuisine. Then enjoy the meal we’ve watched be made.
We may choose to wake up early this morning and participate in a Tai Chi class on the sundeck of the boat. There will be a continental breakfast served immediately afterwards. Our first visit today will be to Ti Top Island, named for Russian astronaut German Titop following his first visit in 1962. We may swim at the small, sandy beach in clear blue waters, or we may choose to hike the 100 meters up the mountain for spectacular views over the bay. There will be additional time for breakfast once we’re back aboard the boat and are preparing to disembark. Attend a Traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony aboard the boat as we head back to Tuan Chau Marina. Upon our return to Hanoi, we will have some free time before dinner together this evening. Dinner this evening will be Spanish tapas style, as we take in Hanoi After Dark by Vespa, stopping at various nighttime vendors through the Old Quarter. Start by trying a Buffalo Jerky appetizer, then Bun Cha, a quintessential Hanoi dish of rice noodles, grilled port and meatballs with a side of Nem (AKA spring rolls). Then try Phở Cuốn, compared to the phở noodle dish being transformed into a fresh spring roll. Finally, we will end at a Jazz Club near the Opera House were we will hear a blending of 30’s style Jazz and traditional Vietnamese music.
Our most memorable and rewarding journey will come to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport for our return flight home.
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