Tour of Modern Metropolises and Ancient Cities in Vietnam
Cars, mopeds, and rickshaws all vie for space on the roadways of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. They dart past elaborate ancient structures, such as French colonial government buildings and wood-paneled pagodas, which stand as testament to the varied history of this 1,000-year-old city. And right amid the metropolis, you'll find a landscape of sparkling lakes and rice paddies.
You can experience this diverse city, as well as other locales in Indochina, on Pacific Holidays' 9- or 11-day tour.
Both trips offered in this deal include guided city tours and leisure time to explore the scenery on your own. Click here to view the vacation overview, itinerary, and a list of optional tours.
Days 1–2: After crossing the International Date Line during a transpacific flight from LAX, you'll land in Hanoi and be transferred to the Gondola Hotel in the city's ancient quarter.
Days 3–5: A half-day city tour of Hanoi begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a marble monument housing the embalmed corpse of the former president. Other cultural highlights include the Confucian Temple of Literature and the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, a wooden structure perched on stilts over a lake. On day 5, you'll fly to Ho Chi Minh City and stay in Aquari Hotel.
Days 6–9: Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City has overcome its troubled past of colonialism and war to become one of Vietnam's most vibrant cities. You can learn a bit about the city's history at the Reunification Palace, where the North Vietnamese tanks that crashed trough the gates in 1975 still sit within the entryway. On the guided city tour, you'll pass through Chinatown, where you can grab some of the World's Most Delicious Street Food, according to Travel + Leisure magazine.
Days 7 and 8 are reserved for leisure time; you're free to join some of the optional tours. On the day 9, those on the 9-day tour will fly back to Los Angeles, and travelers on the 11-day tour will catch a domestic flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia.
Days 10–11: Accommodations in Siem Reap will be at Khemara Angkor Hotel & Spa, which is near the centuries-old ruins of the Khmer Empire in the Angkor region. The guided full-day city tour begins with a visit to Angkor Thorn, the empire's last capital, which has a stone wall that encloses a 12th-century royal palace. Next, you'll head to Angkor Wat, which Frommer's calls "the most resplendent of the Angkor sites." Highlights here include the main temple, which is built in the shape of a mountainous pyramid capped by five spires and surrounded by moats. On day 11, the extended tour ends with a return flight to Los Angeles.
Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.