World Trip 2002

A bicycle tour with Veloasia, booked through Patrick Morris, USA Tel. (415) 731-3360
Saigon, Vietnam: 43 Bui Vien St. District 1. HCMC, Tel/Fax: +84.8.8367682
Hanoi, Vietnam: 17B Hang Chuoi St, Tel: (84) 4 9715999, Fax: (84) 4 9715998
Cambodia: 134 National Road #6, Phum Krus, Svaydangkum, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel: (855-63) 964426, Fax: (855-63) 963415, Mobile: (855)12 914 481
Thailand: Lertpanya Bldg. Suite 1607, Sri Ayutthaya Rd., Bangkok, Tel. 642-6679, 640-0066

Brief
Itinerary focuses on the highlights of the Mekong Delta and the Khmer temples of Angkor. Language lesson, cooking demonstrations, and home visits round out the itinerary (optional). English-speaking guides are most-experienced and knowledgeable. Accommodations are standard class, chosen for historical interest, character, staff and client favorites, amenities and/or location. Pre-tour packet and restaurant recommendations provided before tour.






26-November	Arrive in Saigon
	Clear immigration and customs, meet guide and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the Grand Hotel just off the Saigon River. (B)
27-November	Saigon
	Free day to rest and explore the city
28-November	Saigon to Mekong Delta
	Mekong Delta tour. Private van transfer to MyTho (2 hrs). Late morning drifting down the bustling branches of the Mekong and into the tranquil canals by boat. Lunch and sightseeing Orchard Island. Leisurely afternoon boating or cycling to Cai Be, followed by boat transfer with to the island. Dinner and overnight home stay on island. (B, D)
29-November	Mekong Delta
	Morning cycling along the rice fields and lush green canopy to the ferry crossing for Vinh Long. Two-hour hour boat ride to CanTho. Break for lunch, then spend the afternoon cycling around Can Tho. Accommodation at the Victoria Hotel Can Tho. (B)
30-November	Mekong Delta
	Early morning boat trip to CaiRang floating market before turning up a quiet canal and three-hour ride along a quiet country road, enjoying the beautiful Delta scenery and meeting the many locals on bicycle on the way to OMon and the Thot Not Stork Sanctuary. Afternoon drive to ChauDoc Accommodation at Victoria Hotel Chau Doc. (B)
1-December	Mekong Delta/Saigon
	Early morning ride to the famous Lady Chua Xu Temple (built 1820) and then a steep but short ascent up to the sacred Sam Mountain for its panoramic view over the vast plains into Cambodia. After lunch we take a boat through the amazing riverside market with all its bustling activity and smorgasbord of sounds, colors and smells. Then we cruise through the fish-farm village producing tons and tons of fish beneath hundreds of floating homes. Late afternoon return to Saigon. Accommodation at Grand Hotel. (B)
2-December	Saigon
	Escorted to Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples. Accommodation at Grand Hotel. (B)
3-December	Saigon to Hoi An
	Mid-morning flight to Danang, car transfer 20 miles south to Hoi An. Free time in Hoi An or escorted. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel in city center. (B)
4-December	Hoi An
	City tour of culturally-rich Hoi An, an ancient Japanese, Chinese and European port of trade. Much of Hoi An's rare wooden architecture remains in this small, pleasant town -- typically a favorite stopover. There are many options to explore in this wonderful town: elegant pagodas, a bustling riverfront marketplace and artist shops. Local specialty Cao Lau soup lunch. Afternon cycling to Cua Dai beach. The evening is reserved for a cooking demonstration and dinner by one of Vietnam's most talented chefs. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel. (B,L,D)
5-December	Hoi An
	After breakfast, to Marble Mountain and China Beach (40 miles RT). Afternoon free time in Hoi An or escorted. (B)
6-December	Hoi An to Hue
	Morning coach transfer along the picturesque coast to Hue, passing through rural rice villages, Lang Co Lagoon -- one of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia -- and crossing over the dramatic Hai Van Pass. Afternoon and evening free in Hoi An. Note: Optional cycling this day en route to Hue. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel. (B,L)
7-December	Hue
	Cycling through the countryside for exploration of Imperial Nguyen Dynasty tombs, including two of the finest examples: Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs. Cycling or pptional boat return to Hue on the Perfume River. Dinner at the home of the Hue historian, Mr. Phan Thuan An (formerly the home of the princess of the Emperor Dong Khanh of the Nguyen Dynasty). Royal Hue dishes will be served including banh beo, bun bo, banh uot and banh loc. Before dinner in his traditional Royal Hue house, Mr. An will discuss Hue history and anecdotes about the family of the Emperor Dong Khanh (Mr. An was married to the great-grand daughter of the Emperor Dong Khanh). During this special meal, his daughter will play traditional Hue music while singing Hue's folk songs. Overnight at Saigon Morin.(B,L,D)
8-December	Hue to Hanoi
	VN flight #246 to Hanoi, departing 14:20. End of tour. (B)
End of Services/Itinerary
(B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner

26-November

Arrive in Saigon

Clear immigration and customs, meet guide and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the Grand Hotel just off the Saigon River. (B)

27-November

Saigon

Free day to rest and explore the city

28-November

Saigon to Mekong Delta

Mekong Delta tour. Private van transfer to MyTho (2 hrs). Late morning drifting down the bustling branches of the Mekong and into the tranquil canals by boat. Lunch and sightseeing Orchard Island. Leisurely afternoon boating or cycling to Cai Be, followed by boat transfer with to the island. Dinner and overnight home stay on island. (B, D)

29-November

Mekong Delta

Morning cycling along the rice fields and lush green canopy to the ferry crossing for Vinh Long. Two-hour hour boat ride to CanTho. Break for lunch, then spend the afternoon cycling around Can Tho. Accommodation at the Victoria Hotel Can Tho. (B)

30-November

Mekong Delta

Early morning boat trip to CaiRang floating market before turning up a quiet canal and three-hour ride along a quiet country road, enjoying the beautiful Delta scenery and meeting the many locals on bicycle on the way to OMon and the Thot Not Stork Sanctuary. Afternoon drive to ChauDoc Accommodation at Victoria Hotel Chau Doc. (B)

1-December

Mekong Delta/Saigon

Early morning ride to the famous Lady Chua Xu Temple (built 1820) and then a steep but short ascent up to the sacred Sam Mountain for its panoramic view over the vast plains into Cambodia. After lunch we take a boat through the amazing riverside market with all its bustling activity and smorgasbord of sounds, colors and smells. Then we cruise through the fish-farm village producing tons and tons of fish beneath hundreds of floating homes. Late afternoon return to Saigon. Accommodation at Grand Hotel. (B)

2-December

Saigon

Escorted to Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples. Accommodation at Grand Hotel. (B)

3-December

Saigon to Hoi An

Mid-morning flight to Danang, car transfer 20 miles south to Hoi An. Free time in Hoi An or escorted. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel in city center. (B)

4-December

Hoi An

City tour of culturally-rich Hoi An, an ancient Japanese, Chinese and European port of trade. Much of Hoi An's rare wooden architecture remains in this small, pleasant town -- typically a favorite stopover. There are many options to explore in this wonderful town: elegant pagodas, a bustling riverfront marketplace and artist shops. Local specialty Cao Lau soup lunch. Afternon cycling to Cua Dai beach. The evening is reserved for a cooking demonstration and dinner by one of Vietnam's most talented chefs. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel. (B,L,D)

5-December

Hoi An

After breakfast, to Marble Mountain and China Beach (40 miles RT). Afternoon free time in Hoi An or escorted. (B)

6-December

Hoi An to Hue

Morning coach transfer along the picturesque coast to Hue, passing through rural rice villages, Lang Co Lagoon -- one of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia -- and crossing over the dramatic Hai Van Pass. Afternoon and evening free in Hoi An. Note: Optional cycling this day en route to Hue. Overnight at Hoi An Hotel. (B,L)

7-December

Hue

Cycling through the countryside for exploration of Imperial Nguyen Dynasty tombs, including two of the finest examples: Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs. Cycling or pptional boat return to Hue on the Perfume River. Dinner at the home of the Hue historian, Mr. Phan Thuan An (formerly the home of the princess of the Emperor Dong Khanh of the Nguyen Dynasty). Royal Hue dishes will be served including banh beo, bun bo, banh uot and banh loc. Before dinner in his traditional Royal Hue house, Mr. An will discuss Hue history and anecdotes about the family of the Emperor Dong Khanh (Mr. An was married to the great-grand daughter of the Emperor Dong Khanh). During this special meal, his daughter will play traditional Hue music while singing Hue's folk songs. Overnight at Saigon Morin.(B,L,D)

8-December

Hue to Hanoi

VN flight #246 to Hanoi, departing 14:20. End of tour. (B)

End of Services/Itinerary

(B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner