SELECTED HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS AND GOURMET CUISINE

This tour of the two largest cities of Vietnam provides the top traditional hotels and a selection of the most outstanding restaurants in Saigon and Hanoi.  Of course, tours of  each city's historic, scenic, and cultural offerings are the highlights of each day's activities.

The dates chosen provide for a more comfortable climate than the spring or summer months, and the locations of this itinerary are not within the area of the autumn monsoons which affect Central Vietnam at this time of the year.

Hotel selection:  We have intentionally not chosen the New World, Omni, Marriott, Hilton, Westlake or any other new or modern hotels in Saigon or Hanoi.  These are superb hotels; however, they do not have the character, historical significance, or traditional charm of the fine hotels listed below.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Hotel Selection:
These hotels date from the French colonial period.  They have style and charm and are located in the most desirable locations for convenience to activities, shopping, and the riverfront.  Take your pick from the following outstanding Saigon Hotels:

Majestic Hotel
Located on the Saigon Riverfront, this hotel has received the best renovation of the traditional French-style hotels.  With an outstanding French restaurant, beautiful lobby, riverfront location, and superb service, this is our number one pick of the hotels in Saigon.  The Majestic Hotel is only a few doors away from Maxim's, the famous French night club which was closed briefly after reunification in 1975.

Rex Hotel
Our second choice is the Rex Hotel.  For veterans of the Vietnam War, this hotel has special significance, as it was the officers' BOQ in Saigon.  Famous for its ornate decor and rooftop garden restaurant, it remains the preferred hotel for those who want to be at the center of the city's nightlife.  From the roof, as you sip tall drinks, you can look down on the bustle of activity which goes on until about 11 PM as people congregate in the park and on the streets below, around the statue of  Ho Chi Minh reading a book to a young girl and in front of the City Hall.  You are at the center of the main shopping district and only a block or two from the Ben Thanh Market, the City Theater, the Saigon riverfront, the Central Post Office and most anything that happens downtown.

Continental Hotel
The dining room of the Continental Hotel still retains the same ambience as when Graham Greene made this hotel his home away from home while writing "The Quiet American."  The Continental, located on Dong Khoi Street, Saigon's Champs Elysees, is in the center of the most fashionable of Saigon's shops.  The Continental has recently reopened after a second complete renovation in the past several years.

Hanoi Hotel
In Hanoi we have selected the Sofitel Metropole.  Now owned and managed by one of the world's leading hotel chains, it is magnificently restored to the days of its former glory.  The Metropole was and still is the premier hotel address in Hanoi, a landmark of the city.  Located a few blocks outside the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Water Puppet theater, the Metropole is convenient to restaurants, activities, and nightlife.  In the evening, during your free time, you could go out for an ice cream, sit on the shore of the lake, or wander through the intriguing streets of the Old Quarter poking around to find treasures in the shops or people-watching in this fascinating district.   Sitting in the lobby of the Metropole in Hanoi you could easily imagine yourself to be in a posh hotel in Paris.

Restaurants:  We are continually making a few changes in our restaurant selection as we discover new restaurants or receive recommendations.  Both Hanoi and Saigon have a plethora of excellent restaurants, and the variety of cuisine is continually improving.  You will experience, of course, the best of different varieties of Vietnamese cuisine.  We will experience regional specialties of Saigon and Hanoi, but also Hue cuisine, as there is a restaurant in Saigon run by a family which cooked for the imperial court of Vietnam. We will indulge ourselves in a special vegetarian restaurant where you will not be able to tell that what you are eating is not really meat, but it is all made from vegetables. Also, there are fine restaurants featuring French, Japanese, Thai and Chinese foods which we will include in our fare.  Some of the places we choose are obviously fancy and expensive; some are rare finds of superb food in modest settings.

Tours:  Each day we will tour sites and locations of special interest in and around Saigon and Hanoi.  We will spend one night outside of Hanoi at Ha Long Bay where we will have a half-day cruise and seafood feast on board as we weave among some of the 3000 fantastic limestone monoliths that rise from the sea.  In Ha Long Bay, we will stay at the beautiful Ha Long Plaza Hotel which faces the bay.

Saigon Sightseeing:

Presidential Palace (Reunification Hall).  This is the "White House" of  South Vietnam which served as the home and office of South Vietnam's presidents.  It is preserved just as it was in April, 1975, when President Nguyen Van Thieu left Vietnam.

Remnants of War Museum:  Originally called the American War Crimes Museum, the displays have been toned down to not be as vehemently anti-American as they once were.  The displays have also been expanded to show the horrors of war in Vietnam from the French/Vietminh War and other wars.

History Museum:  Located at the Saigon Zoo, this museum traces the history of the Vietnamese people from earliest times until the present.  Our tour guide will explain the exhibits which are marked mostly in Vietnamese.

Cho Lon, Saigon's Chinatown.  We will visit a very active Chinese Pagoda and have an authentic Chinese lunch in Cho Lon.

Cu Chi Tunnels.  Here we will have the opportunity to go briefly underground into the tunnels from which the Viet Cong attacked Saigon and confused the U.S. 25th Infantry Division.  American and Vietnamese opponents fought and died in these tunnels.  A movie, guerilla weapons displays, firing range, bomb craters, captured tank and helicopter are all part of this exhibit.

Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh.  Cao Dai is a religion unique to Vietnam, and it is the third largest religion after Buddhism and Catholicism.  Taking from all religions and philosophies, but especially from Buddhism, Confucianism, and Catholicism, this is a religion designed for all people.  The compound in Tay Ninh is modeled after the Vatican and called the Holy See, but the Temple is unlike any place of worship you have ever seen.  We will have a chance to observe a colorful worship service with it's unique instrumental music and chanting, stroll the formal gardens where the plants are made to grow in fantastic shapes including real and mythical animals, and see the murals depicting their religious beliefs and history.  During the French period and the Vietnam War, the Cao Dai also were a significant military force to be reckoned with.

Tay Son or Lam Son lacquerware workshop.  Here we will see the intricate and lengthy process used in creating masterpieces of lacquerware figurines, pictures, and furniture.

City center with the Central Post Office designed by Gustav Eiffel, the Notre Dame Cathedral, classic hotels and other historic buildings.

River cruise on the Saigon River through the port facility with large steamers from all over the world.  The cruise features seafood specialties for dinner.

From Saigon, we will go to My Tho for a cruise on the Mekong River, visit an island where tropical fruits are grown and be able to sample the fruits, visit a Vietnamese farmer's or beekeeper's home, ride a gondola through narrow channels in the jungle, and have lunch at an open-air riverside restaurant featuring the delicacy, "elephant-ear" fish.

Hanoi Highlights:

Temple of Literature.  This famous structure, in the best classical architectural tradition of Vietnam, is both the oldest university in Vietnam (for the training of Mandarins to serve the royal court and administer governmental functions) and a shrine to Confucius.  At the Temple of Literature we will also be able to watch and listen to a traditional musical performance.

Water Puppet Theater:  This is an entertainment form that was developed among farmers in North Vietnam.  This art form has reached its peak in Hanoi, and the Hanoi Water Puppet theater has toured the world.  We will see the water puppets in their Hanoi home.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum:  See Uncle Ho lying in state.  He is preserved jsut as Lenin and Mao have been preserved.  The mausoleum is very impressive. In November of each year, Ho Chi Minh's body is sent to Moscow for preservation work, so we will see him just before he goes on vacation.

Ho Chi Minh's House and Office on Stilts.  Ho lived a very modest existence. You will see the impressive government building he was offered as his residence and office, and nearby is the modest building that was constructed for him on a beautiful lake.

Ho Chi Minh Museum.  This is a remarkably modern and symbolic museum showing the past and future.  Your guide will explain the exhibits.

One-Pillar Pagoda.  Though very small, this is the most famous Pagoda in Hanoi.

Army Museum.  This is a remarkable military museum highlighting the French and American wars.  Large to-scale lighted panoramas depicting the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and the Fall of Saigon are particularly impressive.

Hanoi Circus:  The Hanoi Circus has truly amazing acts in the tradition of Beijing Circus performances.

Hoa Lo Prison.  Still remaining of the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" is part of the wall and front gate.  When you read the sign posted on the wall, you will be amazed at what it doesn't say! A museum at the site depicts the prison's history.

Fine Arts Museum.  This large building houses the finest collection of Vietnamese art to be found in the country.  The gift shop offers excellent reproductions of rare antiques.

The Old Quarter.  You can walk or take a xich-lo through the Old Quarter with streets named for the craft guilds that once occupied the streets.  Still today, there is a concentration of shops that sell the products for which the streets are named such as "Gold Street", and "Paper Street."  You can find just about anything you want in the shops in the Old Quarter.

Hanoi's Lakes:  Hoan Kiem Lake is adjacent to the Old Quarter.  West Lake is Hanoi's largest lake.  Hanoi is a charming city, much calmer and slower-paced than Saigon, with wide tree-lined avenues and beautiful lakes.  A ride through the city will take you to scenic spots as well as past the Hanoi Opera House, a very impressive building.

Overnight trip and cruise to Ha Long Bay.

There are many more museums, pagodas, and interesting things to see and do in Hanoi.  If time permits, your guide will add locations to the itinerary.  

Day 1 & 2: Travel to Vietnam

Day 3: 
Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Check in to the Majestic Hotel. The Majestic is one of the classic French-Colonial Hotels which contributed to Saigon's nickname of the Paris of the Orient. While several of the other classic hotels have also been remodeled, the Majestic is spectacular with the outstanding hotel restoration in Saigon. Located along the Saigon River front, it offers a view of the river with it's floating restaurants and merchant ships. Located at the beginning of Dong Khoi Street, Saigon's premier shopping street, it is close to the City Theater, Central Post Office, custom tailor shops, restaurants, and art and craft boutiques. The Majestic features an excellent French Restaurant. It is appropriate that the Vietnamese name of the Majestic is Cu Long, or Nine Dragons. Nine Dragons is the nickname for the Mekong River after the nine branches of the river in the delta region. The Majestic Hotel shall be the headquarters for our group tour. If you would prefer one of the other classic hotels, these are also available at the same price as the Majestic. Your choices: The Rex Hotel which will be remembered as the Officers BOQ of the Vietnam War Era famous for its rooftop garden bar and restaurant overlooking the heart of downtown Saigon or the Continental which is an elegant hotel at the main intersection of Dong Khoi (formerly Tu Do Street) and Le Loi Streets, across from the City Theater which was once South Vietnam's Parliament Building. Lunch will be at Pho Hoa Pasteur. Here you will get to try the staple of Vietnamese food, pho, a hearty noodle soup. Pho can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner or as a snack. This is the most popular of all pho shops in Saigon. On this day we will have a short tour including the Presidential Palace, now known as the Reunification Hall. This was the home and office to South Vietnam's presidents, the White House of the Republic of Vietnam. It is preserved exactly as it was when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the front gate on April 30, 1975. Then we will go to the Remnants of War Museum, formerly known as the American War Crimes Museum. With the new name comes a toning down of the anti-American content and removal of the most offensive anti-American exhibits. This museum graphically shows the horrors and inhumanity of war and contains an impressive exhibit of US military weapons and equipment used in the Vietnam War. Return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. Dinner will be at the Phu Xuan Restaurant featuring the best of Hue cuisine. This restaurant is operated by a family that served as cooks in the Citadel for Vietnam's last imperial dynasty. No further activity is planned for this day, as you will need a good night's sleep to recuperate from the long flight to Vietnam. 

Day 4:
Breakfast in the hotel dining room. Each day you will go to the hotel dining room for an American breakfast before the pick-up time to start the day's activities. The first stop in our all-day excursion today will be the ornate and fascinating Holy See of the Cao Dai religion in Tay Ninh near the Cambodian border. This religious group was once a powerful paramilitary force in Vietnam fighting against the French, then for, and later against, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. Today you will be able to observe the colorful worship ceremony in an art deco temple and tour the grounds including the extensive formal gardens with bushes meticulously trained to grow in shapes resembling mythical and real animals. Then we will go to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground labyrinth from which the Viet Minh fought the French and the Viet Cong fought the Americans and South Vietnamese. It was from these tunnels that the Viet Cong launched their attacks on Saigon and the U.S. Embassy during the Tet Offensive of 1968. Also, the US Army 25th Infantry Division unknowingly built its headquarters directly over the tunnels giving the communists access to the base from within its perimeter. If you get the opportunity, read The Tunnels of Cu Chi by Mangold and Pennycate, a fascinating account told from the perspectives of the combatants on both sides during the Vietnam War. Return to Saigon for dinner at the Ca Noi Restaurant atop the Bong Sen Annex. This is a charming and tastefully decorated restaurant with superb food served in elegant style.

Day 5:

After breakfast in the hotel dining room, we will set out for the History Museum at the Saigon Zoo where you will get a good overview of Vietnam's history from ancient times to the present. Spend some time on Dong Khoi, Le Loi, and Nguyen Hue Streets in the shops. This is the best shopping area of Saigon. Lunch at the Tu Do, or Liberty, restaurant. Dong Khoi Street was formerly Tu Do Street. The street name has changed from "Liberty" to "Simultaneous Uprising" (the people of Saigon supposedly rose up in revolution to overthrow the Americans and oppressive South Vietnamese government on April 30, 1975). However, the restaurant has kept the previous name. For those who have read The Quiet American by Graham Greene, you will recognize this same famous street as Rue de Catinat , by which it was known during the French colonial period. In the afternoon go to Cho Lon, Saigon's Chinatown and visit a very active Chinese pagoda as well as the Binh Tay Market, Saigon's largest market after which Cho Lon (Big Market) is named.

Day 6: 
After breakfast, go on a full-day excursion into the Mekong Delta to My Tho. Cruise the Mekong River and stop at an orchard island. Here you will see air-layering and grafting of fruit trees, sample exotic tropical fruits, visit a farmer's or beekeeper's home, and ride a Vietnamese gondola through narrow passageways. Stop at the Island of the Coconut Monk to see the remnants of an amusement-park like setting for this weird religious sect that flourished during the Vietnam War. Lunch at an open-air riverside restaurant where the featured specialty is "elephant-ear" fish. This dish is light and flaky. Your waiter or waitress will pull the meat from the thin round fish and wrap it in rice paper with vegetables and condiments for your enjoyment. Return to Saigon for dinner at Le Mekong. The Vietnam Handbook (Footprint Handbooks/Passport Press) says it is known as the best French restaurant in Vietnam.

Day 7: 
After breakfast, we will take a morning flight to Hanoi. Departure on Vietnam Airlines flight 742 is at 11:30 AM with arrival in Hanoi at 1:30 PM. Transfer to the famous Sofitel Metropole Hotel, the classiest hotel address in Hanoi from the French colonial period until today. Lunch will be at the Au Lac Cafe across the street from our hotel (there will be a "lunch" served on the plane, so the lunch at the Au Lac will be a light lunch). You may want to return to the Au Lac for light fare for an evening snack or afternoon treat. Our tour for the afternoon will take us to the Temple of Literature which has classic Vietnamese temple architecture and honors Confucius. The Temple of Literature is also Vietnam's oldest university which served for the education of mandarins, the court and government officials charged with running Vietnam's governmental operations under the emperors. Here you will able to listen to a performance of traditional Vietnamese instrumental music. Dinner will be at the San Ho Restaurant, Hanoi's top-rated seafood restaurant. Following dinner, we shall go to the Water Puppet theater for a performance of a uniquely North Vietnamese art form.

Day 8: 
After breakfast we shall go the "Hanoi Hilton" to see what remains of the infamous Hoa Lo Prison in which American fliers were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. We will also visit the Museum of Fine Art.  Lunch will be at one of Hanoi's famous Cha Ca Restaurants specializing in fish cakes. This is the Hanoi equivalent of hamburgers in America. We will go to most popular, the Cha Ca La (Hanoi's "McDonalds"). After lunch we will visit the Army Museum which has interesting lighted panoramas of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in which the Viet Minh defeated the French and also of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. You will have some free time at and around the Metropole Hotel before dinner. Dinner will be at one of Hanoi's best-known restaurants, an Australian Restaurant called Al Fresco's. We will attend an evening performance of the Hanoi Circus.

Day 9: 
After breakfast we shall go to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where you can see 'Uncle Ho" lying in state. From here we will go to Ho's House on Stilts, followed by the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Then we shall depart for Ha Long Bay. Two river crossings will take us on ferries. One of the crossings is at the mouth of the Bach Dang River where two famous battles took place in Vietnam's history. If you do not know the story now, you will learn about it on the trip. Lunch will be in downtown Haiphong at the Hotel du Commerce. Upon arrival at Ha Long Bay we will check into the Ha Long Plaza Hotel facing the beach on the Bay Chay. You will have time to relax or take a stroll or swim before dinner. Dinner will be in the hotel dining room.

Day 10:
This day you will experience one of the natural wonders of the world in cruising among the 3,000 limestone islands of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a seafood feast cooked on board with fish caught that morning. You will have a chance to swim from an island beach or from the boat in a deep lagoon. Cave exploring in one or more of the many island grottoes is an exciting activity for the adventurous traveler. After dinner we will take a walking tour of the Old Quarter, Hanoi's famous shopping district where each street is named for one of the ancient guilds and where products are still sold that match the names of the streets. Here is where to get your last minute gifts and souvenirs, for anything you want is available in the Old Quarter. Return to Hanoi for dinner at Indochine for gourmet Vietnamese dishes.

Day 11:
Depart for home from Noi Bai airport after breakfast. 

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Note: We are always looking for better restaurants. If we should find restaurants which we think would be of better quality or offer a more diverse cuisine, we reserve the option to change the restaurant selection. 

This trip will be escorted from San Francisco to Vietnam if there are 10 or more persons on the tour. With fewer than 10 persons, you will be met by your guide at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and will be well-taken care of by guide and driver throughout your tour. Also included with your tour will be customized luggage tags with your name, address, and phone number and that of the Ben Thanh tourist Service Company which will be handling your arrangements within Vietnam. You will also receive a complimentary Vietnam guidebook published by Lonely Planet.

Not included are: beverages with lunch and dinner except for tea ( You will get coffee, tea, and juice with breakfast); personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and purchases; porterage in airports; and possibly a fee to take photos at a few locations. Comprehensive trip insurance is available, and it is highly recommended.

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