Vietnam & China - OLD Itinerary

Day 1 Depart Australia
Depart Australia for Beijing.

Day 2 Arrive in Beijing
Upon arrival we are welcomed to China by our local guide who will transfer us to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and unwind after our flight. For tonight’s welcome dinner we enjoy the experience of an authentic Peking Duck banquet. [D]

Day 3 Beijing
An action-packed day as we explore Beijing. Our tour includes the enormous Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, as well as the unforgettable Forbidden City. Built between 1406 and 1420, the surviving City complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 square metres. This evening an optional excursion to the sensational Peking Opera can be arranged. [B,L]

Day 4 Beijing
Get your cameras ready because today you will be walking on the Great Wall! The entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km. We also visit the Ming Tombs (the underground tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors) and the Sacred Road which is guarded on both sides by large stone statues. [B,L]

Day 5 Depart Beijing
This morning we travel by rickshaw through the hutongs, the narrow streets that once covered most of Beijing. In the afternoon we visit the Summer Palace which has the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. This evening we enjoy dinner before travelling by overnight train to Xi’an. [B,L]

Day 6 Arrive in Xi’an
After a morning arrival in Xi’an, we enjoy breakfast. Today’s city tour includes the ancient City Wall, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and the excellent Shaanxi History Museum. In the afternoon we visit the Great Mosque and a Muslim community. [B,L]

Day 7 Xi’an
Today we visit the exquisite Terracotta Warriors and Horses, considered the greatest archaeological discovery of the last century! The figures vary in height - 182cm-195cm, or 6ft–6ft 5in - according to their role, the tallest being the generals. The figures include strong warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there are more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pit. This afternoon we also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Bell Tower. [B,L]

Day 8 Xi’an - Guilin
This morning we visit the fascinating Hanyang Tomb, know as an ' underground treasure house of cultural relics'. We then fly to Guilin where the afternoon is free to enjoy some leisure time. [B]

Day 9 Guilin
A fascinating day as we tour Guilin including Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Seven Star Park. [B,L]

Day 10 Guilin - Yangshuo
As we cruise down the scenic Li River to Yangshuo, make sure you have your cameras ready to capture the spectacular beauty of the landscape. We stay overnight in Yangshuo so you can enjoy this lovely town after the tourist buses have returned to Guilin! [B,L]

Day 11 Yangshuo – Kunming
This morning is at leisure before our transfer to Guilin for our flight to Kunming. [B]

Day 12 Kunming
This morning we visit a Sani ethic minority village before continuing on a full-day tour to the amazingly surreal Stone Forest, located 90km to the south of Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like trees made of stone, creating the illusion of a giant stone forest. This evening we will experience a welcome dinner of Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, the most famous meal in the province. [B,L,D]

Day 13 Kunming - Hanoi
This morning we visit Kunming's bonsai and goldfish market, followed by a visit to the beautiful Green Lake Park. In the afternoon we fly to the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. [B]

Day 14 Hanoi
A great day as we explore Hanoi, including a fun tour of the old town by cyclo. Other highlights include the Temple of Literature, the One Pillar Pagoda, the scenic Hoan Kien Lake and the famous St Joseph’s Cathedral. [B]

Day 15 Hanoi - Halong Bay
Bring your cameras because today we head for the water wonderland of Halong Bay. We cruise among dozens of rocky outcrops and islands that dot the bay and stop at Titov Beach for a swim. Overnight we sleep on a traditional Huong Hai junk boat, first enjoying dinner on board as the sun sets. [B,L,D]

Day 16 Halong Bay - Hanoi
We continue cruising around Halong Bay today as we visit some more islands and caves. Later on we leave our boat and travel by road to Hanoi. [B,L]

Day 17 Hanoi - Hoi An
Today we fly to Danang where we visit the Cham Museum and the famous China Beach. We continue to the historic town of Hoi An, stopping en route to visit the scenic Marble Mountains’ Five Stone Hillocks. Once islands, these hillocks now rise sharply from the surrounding paddy fields. [B]

Day 18 Hoi An
A wonderful morning as we wander the cobblestone streets of old Hoi An. Our sightseeing includes a visit to the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, Sa Huynh Museum, Tran Family Chapel and the lantern-making workshop where you will observe local people making silk cloth. The afternoon is at leisure. [B]

Day 19 Hoi An – Saigon
We drive back to Danang for our onward flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam’s largest city. This afternoon we explore bustling Saigon where we see some of its French-colonial buildings, its museum and its thriving markets. [B]

Day 20 Saigon
This morning we tour the Cu Chi Tunnel complex. We then continue on to Can Tho, on the Mekong River. [B]

Day 21 Mekong Delta
We set out by boat in the early morning to explore the Cai Rang Floating Market. It’s the biggest and most bustling of the Mekong Delta markets, and attracts fruit and vegetable vendors from all over the region. Buyers on smaller boats weave between the large barges selling produce, each vendor advertising fresh samples of their wares on long poles that tower overhead above the colourful boats. Sail through the market, watching people haggle and trade, and possibly sample some of the fruit yourself! We return to Saigon in the afternoon. Tonight we enjoy a farewell Saigon River dinner cruise on a Bonsai junk. [B,D]

Day 22 Depart Saigon
We are transferred to the airport to begin our journey home to Australia. [B]

Day 23 Arrive in Australia

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