Sapa Easy Trek

Price: $399 (included taxes & service charge) Route: Hanoi - Sapa Duration: 2 days/3 nights Depart from: Hanoi Return to: Hanoi Situated at an elevation of 1,650 meters and overlooking Fansipan (Vietnam's highest mountain at 3,143 meters), Sapa can have all four seasons in one single day. The weather changes rapidly; in the morning it can be bright and sunny but within minutes, clouds can appear and the rains begin to fall. It is where you find the beauty of nature in valleys, mountain, streams, water falls, and the warm welcome of the ethnic peoples. Come to Sa Pa to enjoy the scenery and explore daily activities of the tribal peoples. Night: Hanoi - Lao Cai At 08:30 pm our tour guide will pick you up at hotel lobby to go to the Hanoi railway station for the night train to Sapa. Sleep on the train. Day 1: Sapa - Cat Cat Village (D) Train arrives at Lao Cai Railway Station at 06.00 am, transfer to Sapa by bus. Have breakfast at hotel or in the local restaurant (optional). Relax. Your guide will meet you at hotel for a short walk downhill to Cat Cat village. This village of H'mong tribe in the valley which remains very generally unaffected by outside influences. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of H'mong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs. After the village and further down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. A "White curtain" cascade appears, within a flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather… Have dinner at a local restaurant. Then discover Sapa in night, see ethnic people's activities and life in Sapa. Day 2: Sapa - Ta Van Village (B, L) Breakfast before private jeep transfers you to Lao Chai village, a village of Black H’mong. A short walk down to the river to visit hill tribe house to see their living style and the local women making their handicraft and clothes. Further on along the road, the Ta Van village where the Dzay people live can be seen. Visit the village and learn their customs. Return to Sapa in the afternoon for a hot shower; relax before returning to Lao Cai railway station by bus for the night train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train. Day 3: Hanoi Train arrives around 06am; tour finishes at railway station. Return to your hotel on your own. Tour Price starting $ 399 Trip includes: All transfer & transport Accommodation at Sapa hotel – 3 star hotel Meals as mention in the itinerary (B- breakfast, L- Lunch, D- dinner) Return train ticket Hanoi- Lao Cai- Hanoi (soft sleeper with air- condition, 4 berths) Local ENG speaking tour guide Entrance fee & permission to visit the hill tribe village Trip excludes: Travel insurance Pre-post accommodation in Hanoi Other meals & drinks Admission fees during free time Personal expenses such as shopping; telephone, laundry and bar bills etc. Tips and gratuities All other service not made on the written form Scenery of Sapa Sapa Cat Cat Village Ta Van Village

Emotion Vietnam

Price: $854 (included taxes & service charge) Route: Hanoi-Sapa-Halong-Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An-Ho Chi Minh City-Mekong Delta Duration: 16 days/15 nights Depart from: Hanoi Return to: Ho Chi Minh City

This is the comprehensive alternative to our previous trip and shows you Vietnam in close-up, from top to bottom. It's not just a change of direction - this trip packs another adventurous week into the itinerary. We'll explore Hanoi, Halong Bay and visit the hill tribes of Sapa and colourful Bac Ha market before slowly making our way south along stunning coastline to Ho Chi Minh City, the vibrant City and the mighty Mekong Delta. Highlight: Boating, trekking and cultural experiences

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to a hotel in Hanoi. Ha Noi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and has some of Asia‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for a relaxing atmosphere. If time permits, you can enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi. Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L) 8:00 AM: pick up at your hotel and go to the Ho Chi Minh Complex to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar pagoda. Continue the tour and visit the Literature temple, which was the first University in Vietnam built in the 16th century. The tour continues to the Art Museum. Enjoy lunch in one of the famous restaurants in Hanoi before commencing the walking tour in 1000 Years Old Hanoi Old Quarter. At 4pm we go off to see the unique Water Puppet show. Stay over night at your hotel in Hanoi. Day 3: Hanoi - Halong (B, L, D) 8:00 AM: Transfer to Halong City for a boat cruise on the Bay, stop along the way to admire the landscape and take photos. At Halong City board the Huong Hai Junk and check in for registration. The friendly boat screw will provide you with a special seafood lunch with welcome drink during boat cruise around the bay. You will explore the islands and take in the fantastic views of the picturesque scenery. There are some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsks (formations) are littered with beaches, grottos and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and a discovery visit to one of those hidden grottos beneath towering cliffs. Have dinner on board with Vietnamese wine and later rock gently to sleep on the boat. Day 4: Halong - Hanoi - Lao Cai Railway Station (B, L) After breakfast, you can relax on deck to soak up the the beauty of the bay while passing the most beautiful of karsks islets like Man’s Head Island, Tortoise Island. Visit Luon Cave by small bamboo boat, Bai Tu Long bay. Have lunch on the boat while you return to Ha Long wharf for private car to transfer you back to Hanoi. At 8:30pm our tour guide will met you at the hotel to escort you to the railway station for the night train to Lao Cai, near the Chines border. Overnight on the train. Day 5: Sapa - Cat Cat Village (L, D) Train arrives at Lao Cai Railway Station at 06.00AM. Transfer to Sapa by private van. Have breakfast at the hotel or in the local restaurant (optional). Relax for a while. Your guide will meet you at hotel for short downhill walk to Cat Cat village. This village of the H'mong tribe in the valley, remains in very original style. Excellent views of the valley with the magnificent limestone hills and paddy fields of the H'mong village. Mix with the local families and learn of their customs and social life. Further down past the village down you will reach the Cat Cat waterfall. A "white curtain" cascade appears which is surrounded by a flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for photos and sunbathing during good weather You will also see a disused French hydro power station. Have dinner at a restaurant and then discover Sapa in night and see the ethnic people and their activities and life in Sapa. Day 6: Lao Cai - Ta Van Village (B, L) Breakfast before a private jeep transfers you to Lao Chai village, a village of the Black H’mong. A short walk down to the river will take you to a hill tribe house to see their living style and the local women making their handicraft clothes. Further on along the road, the Tavan village where Dzay people stay can be seen. Visit the village and learn their customs. Back to Sapa in the afternoon. Stay over night at the hotel. Day 7: Bac Ha Market - Lao Cai Railway Station - Hanoi (B) Upon leaving Sapa we set off on our scenic drive through the border town of Lao Cai to the colourful Sunday Market at Bac Ha (If time permit). This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their old age cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol before transfer back to Lao Cai railway station for night train back to Hanoi. Day 8: Hanoi - Hue (B) Train arrives back in Hanoi at around 6.00am in the morning. Pick up at the railway station and drive to the Hanoi airport for the flight to Hue. Our tour guide in Hue will greet you at airport for transfer to hotel and learn some history of Old Royal City in Vietnam in 17th century. As Vietnam’s last feudal capital, the small and quiet city of Hue is widely known for magnificent architectures, sculptures, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, which contains the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. Day 9: Hue - Boat Trip on River (B, L) After breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a boat to visit the beauty of riverside pagoda of Thien Mu which now becomes the symbol of Hue and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc are sights not to be missed. After an impressive boat trip, we return to the town and enjoy a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a huge variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass by many fantastic eating spots, ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies. Stay overnight in Hue. Day 10: Hue - Hoi An (B, L) Upon leaving Hue we drive south to Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing over the winding Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Cham Museum in Danang City, the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An. Day 11: Hoi An (B) The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There is plenty to see in this delightful town, some of the attractions are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Today we include some of these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. A perfect way to round off the day is a boat trip on the Thu Bon River, which also gives us a chance to admire the spectacular countryside and explore a handicraft ceramic village and boat building yards. Day 12: Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City (B) An early transfer to Danang Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with motobikes and cars, and has numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafés. The sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh begins with a visit to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is for sale! Day 13: Cao Dai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L) The head quarter of Cao Dai sect is located in Tay Ninh. This religion was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members. After breakfast we travel by roads to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Then transfer out to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of approximately 200 km constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at hotel. Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (B, L) Breakfast at hotel. This morning we travel by road to the small town of Cai Be in the heart of the Mekong Delta. From here we will board our boat and take a cruise around the tributaries of the mighty Mekong River. On the way we visit some local cottage industries, including the puffed-rice and rice paper makers, bonsai nurseries and fish farms as well as exploring a floating market. Each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples, sugar cane etc, and in order that the customer knows where to shop, they hang that item from the highest part of the boat. From here we head out into the Mekong River itself, a huge expanse of water. The Mekong River begins its life in Tibet and travels 4,500 km through six countries before eventually flowing into the South China Sea. Our lunch will be on the banks of one of the many canals that interlace the area, and will include the very tasty 'Elephant ear fish'. After lunch we continue to weave our way through the intricate network of canals. The canals carry everything from human cargo to huge rice barges and are the lifeblood of the Delta. Traveling by boat gives you a unique perspective of life here and later we can even navigate some of the narrower canals by small rowing boats. Overnight in Can Tho. Day 15: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (B, L) Heading out of the town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we the opportunity to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful traditional music. The next stop of our trip is Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries. After feasting on a huge lunch we return to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off along the way to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure (B) Free at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for the flight back home.

Class Number of Person in Group/Pax Tour cost per Person (in $US) 1 2 3 - 7 8 - 11 12 - 15 16 up Single Supplemental 1521 1261 923 878 854 325 1972 1712 1474 1329 1305 475 2478 2253 2084 2067 2060 825

Tourists to enjoy Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand sea route

A travelling route on the southwestern sea linking Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand will be launched.

An agreement to this effect was reached by the tourism authorities and relevant agencies of localities from the three countries at a meeting in the Phu Quoc island District, Kien Giang Province, from October 24 to 25.

There will be two trips a week along this line by a high-speed ship, capable of carrying 300 people. Visitors will depart from Vietnam’s Ha Tien Township, travel to Cambodia’s Shihanouk Ville port city and finally arrive in an eco-tourism site in Thailand’s Chanthaburi Province.

Kien Giang Province, the Vietnamese partner in the project, is mobilising capital to upgrade its infrastructure and entertainment facilities in Ha Tien and Phu Quoc.

Tom Chua (Hue Sour Shrimp) - Hue

Tom Chua (Hue Sour Shrimp)

When Hue natives living outside the city return to their homeland, they usually have sour shrimp. Tourists also make sure to buy some jars of sour shrimp before leaving Hue.

Because of the national reputation of this dish, some cooks and merchants specialize in making sour shrimp. In the past, people made this dish at home, but now it is easier to buy it at the market.

This dish can be prepared with any kind of shrimp. The recipe includes a number of steps that must be performed in a specific order. First, the fresh, clean, and dry shrimp of approximately the same size are put in wine along with dry bamboo shoots, garlic, and chili. The ingredients are kept in a closed container at room temperature for three days. Then the container is put in a cool, dry place. After five or seven days, the sour shrimp are ready.

Com Hen (Hue Mussel Rice) - Hue

Com Hen (Hue Mussel Rice)

Hot white rice is part of every meal in Vietnam, but only Hue mussel rice is served cool. Hue people, after deciding that no food should be wasted, have designed this dish using leftover rice.

This dish includes Chinese vermicelli, bamboo shoots, lean pork meat, and an assortment of green vegetables (banana leaves, mint, star fruit, etc.).

The broth obtained after boiling the mussels is used to flavour the rice. Ginger, sesame, and chili are also added to the broth. This dish is very spicy and it is not rare to see people with watery eyes and sweaty faces while eating it; nevertheless, everyone congratulates the cook for such a delicious meal.

Hue Beef Noodle Soup - Hue

One must have years of experience to cook excellent Hue beef noodle soup. This recipe mainly consists of shredded meat and rice noodles. Most restaurants and merchants in Hue do not make the rice noodles themselves; they buy them in Van Cu and Bao Vinh, two villages located near Hue.

Learning how to make a clear broth from bone and meat is also a difficult task, but cooks have the satisfaction of seeing customers enjoying a good meal. The secret of this recipe resides in the meat–this is why it must be bought directly from the slaughterhouse early in the morning. The meat is then shredded, boiled, and taken out of the water to obtain a delicious clear broth.

The amount of salt put in the recipe varies depending on the season; during summer, Hue beef noodle soup is served with soy bean, mint, and different kinds of lettuce; in the winter, the recipe is saltier and lemongrass and fish sauce are added.

Flying fish with young jackfruit

Flying fish is at its best in summer. You can cook it immediately or dry it for later use. Among the recipes for this fish, cooking with young jackfruit is the most popular. It is affirmed in a local traditional verse.

"Who goes upstream, please help me send flying fish to my friend
And ask him to send me young jackfruit”

Saute the fish and arrange it in a pan with sliced young jackfruit. Cover it with water and simmer. Season with spices. When the jackfruit is well done and the water has gone, add some fat and reheat.

There are a number of flying fish dishes. After cleaning and scaling the fish, split it vertically leaving a "hinge" and soften its backbone. Mix chopped spring onion, garlic, pimento, turmeric and fish sauce. Spread the mixture inside the fish, fold it over and fry until it has a dark yellow coat and an attractive aroma.

As for young jackfruit, we can make soup, cook with fish or eat raw. Remove the skin and core and boil. Let it cool, then slice and wait until it is dry. If you like, you can mix it with well-grated young papaya. Combine with vegetable oil, sauted onion and garlic, crushed dried peanuts, herbs, pimento, a little sugar and fish sauce. Serve with rice noodle and fish paste or fish sauce plus chilli and garlic. "banh trang" is an alternative to rice noodle. Make a special thick sauce from vegetable oil, sauted onion, fish sauce (1/2 bowl), pure water (1 bowl), seaweed flour (2 teaspoonfuls). Boil the mixture; add crushed dried peanuts, garlic, pimento and sugar.