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Be ready to smile, laugh, and be welcomed by the locals as soon as you arrive. Your adventure starts in the capital city of Hanoi where the group will stay in the bustling Old Quarter. After a bicycle taxi tour of the city, we will have time to join the locals for a morning session of tai chi, step into a French café and discover the side-street markets, with their endless passageways and culinary mysteries. From Hanoi, we will head over to breathtaking Halong Bay. Awe-inspiring, the majestic limestone islands that dot the bay are said to have been formed by a family of jewel-spitting dragons sent by the gods to protect Vietnam. During the day, we will cruise the bay on a junk, pausing for an ocean swim while our chef prepares our meals. At night, the junk becomes our hotel. And, of course, we will hike inside the incredible island caves, a UN “world heritage site.” After a short flight, we’ll be in central Vietnam where we will explore Hue, the ancient imperial capital. We will settle here for a few days to learn even more about Vietnam’s past and present. We will hear about university life from Vietnamese students, and learn about modern Vietnam. A day will be set aside to take a tour by dragon boat up the Perfume River to explore ancient imperial temples. Nearby, Hoi An, an international seaport for centuries, offers us a look at the traditional lifestyle and its unspoiled 17th-century architecture. We will explore at our leisure this tranquil town before flying off to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly “Saigon”), the economic heart of the country. It’s hip. It’s fast. It’s not what you expect! We will tour the Reunification Palace, Museum of History, and enjoy the “big city” life of restaurants, shopping, and evening activities. You can be confident that Vietnam – from its intense natural beauty, to its quiet and graceful culture, to its driving energy for life - is a country you will never forget! |
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