17 Days Vietnam and Myanmar Odyssey Tour

Meals: B

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick up at your hotel, start the tour to beautiful Tran Quoc Pagoda located on the shores of West Lake. This Pagoda is full of amazing Buddhist symbolism that visitors can learn more about.

Then, head to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of Vietnamese great father, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969.

The next destination is One Pillar Pagoda, a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. Leave the pagoda for the Temple of Literature, which is the first college of Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you need to choose one of the city’s museums (History Museum or Ethnology Museum) to visit. After that, drive back to admire Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple before taking cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore in Hanoi.

Optional:
Later afternoon, you can watch a Water puppet show for one hour. It is a unique traditional performance of Vietnam.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast, travel to Halong Bay, one of the Wonders of the Orient (3 hr. drive). Your cruise across Halong Bay starts around noon on Tuan Chau Island at the doorstep of Vietnam's most fascinating wonder. As the boat sets sails, you will be greeted by the Paradise Crew and Cruise Manager who will aim throughout your stay at providing you with the highest standards of service for pure pleasure and utmost comfort onboard.

During the afternoon, discover some of the treasures spread across the Bay of the Descending Dragon: fascinating caves, pristine beaches, picturesque floating villages, fantastic rock formations rising up out of emerald water. While onboard, you can take advantage of the leisure of the Spa, Beauty & Massage services; surrounded by a stunning setting in motion, you can attend the chef's cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking.

One of the highlights of your stay on board is the innovative and varied cuisine offered at Lunch and Dinner in the elegant dining-room, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages from around the world.

Overnight in Halong Bay.

Flight: Domestic flight include and arranged by GTT

Meals: B

Wake up to Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. The breakfast buffet will be served in the restaurant, followed by a visit to the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City around noon and transfer back to Hanoi Airport and flight to Danang.Upon arrival, you will be escorted to Hoi An for hotel check-in.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: B

In the morning, travel to the My Son Holy Land. Tucked in the mountains up winding roads with serene views, lies the 4th century My Son Holy Land ruins. The surrounding mountains are strictly forbidden for living or development. The ruins lie in a beautiful mountainous landscape. Enter the temples to hear all about the history and stories of the Cham people and this holy site.

In the afternoon, continue on to the Ancient Capital of Hoi An, which features the 16th-century port town in its preserved state. The town is a perfect mixture of ancient architecture, houses, and temples as well as modern western restaurants and cafes. The historic sites you will visit are the Japanese Bridge, a renowned Chinese Temple, and former Vietnamese merchants' houses.

Later, take a boat trip along the Huai River to Thanh Ha Pottery Village and see how local people work on their crafts. In the evening, the town became so romantic when the lights come on and you see colorful lanterns everywhere especially the flower lanterns floating on the river.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: B

Today, you'll have a day at leisure to enjoy Hoi An Beach, you can relax in the sunshine and sunbathe on the beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Flight: Domestic flight include in quotation and will be on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

Today, transfer to airport for flight to Saigon, upon arrival, our guide will meet you at airport and escort to hotel for check in.

In the afternoon, you’ll explore some of the most important sights in Ho Chi Minh. Start by visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral. Constructed by French colonists during their settlement, discover its significance as the largest cathedral in Southeast Asia.

Across the road is the Old Saigon Post Office, a neoclassical architectural building considered one of the main attractions in the city. Visit the Reunification Palace, home of South Vietnam’s President during the war.

The final stop is Cholon, the Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh. Explore the thickly settled district rife with tea-houses and pagodas, and the famous Binh Tay Market.

Overnight in Saigon.

Meals: B

This morning, transfer to remote My Tho. This burgeoning capital rests in the Mekong Delta and is surrounded by beautiful countryside known as the "rice basket of Vietnam".

Firstly, head to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, decorated with mosaics made from broken pottery. Overlooked by a tall white Buddha, it is set amongst lovely gardens overflowing with flowers, shrubs, lotus pools, and tombs, and ornate gates that provide entry.

Continue on a boat ride along the river to view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages.

After lunch, visit An Khanh, a small village that specializes in fruit orchards and coconut sweets. If time permits, you can take a short cycling trip through the island or explore the island on foot (the island is flat and relatively small). Return to Saigon hotel and rest of the day on your own leisure.

Overnight in Saigon.

Meals: B

Today, you will be escorted to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Discover these amazing systems developed by the guerrillas fighting in the Vietnam War. You'll have an opportunity to see the various weapons used in the war on display. Then learn about the innovative ways the guerrillas survived and fought back in the war. The impressive underground system they built remains to tell the story of the Vietnam War.

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Saigon.

Flight: International flight is on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

Today, you will take the flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Optional:
In the evening, enjoy a Cultural Dinner Show at Karaweik Palace, a restaurant located on the Royal Lake. The show features the traditional instruments, attire, and dances of Burma, conveying the ten national arts. After the show, return to your hotel for the evening.

Overnight in Yangon.

Meals: B

Rise early in the morning to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda painted with real gold in Yangon. The benefit for visiting the pagoda in the early morning is that you will enjoy a quiet and extremely peaceful atmosphere to watch local people and monks pray in front of the Pagoda.

Transfer back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast you will visit the Reclining Buddha (Chaok-Htat-Gyi) and Mahabandoola Park.

Have some rest after lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time to wander the Bogyoke Market. Then stroll around the busy streets of Yangon’s famous China Town and Yangon Jetty. Finish the day at the riverside where is flanked by colonize style buildings, which will give you the impression of old-time Myanmar.

Overnight in Yangon.

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Transfer to airport for domestic flight to Bagan in the early morning. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be welcomed by your local guide at the airport and then transfer you to the hotel.

In Bagan, you will be amazed by the thousands of Buddhist pagodas spread on the plain. These pagodas used to own by individual families during its prosperous time.

You will visit the Nyaung Oo Market where local people buying food in daily life and the Shwezigon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold.

Have a rest at the hotel during the hottest time in the afternoon. Then it's time to enjoy a Horse Cart Ride for the sunset. You can climb up to the top of the Shwesandaw Pagoda for sunset and then take the horse cart back to the hotel. It will be an unforgettable memory of taking the horse cart ride to travel through the pagodas when it is quiet in the dusk.

Overnight in Bagan.

Flight: Domestic flight include in quotation and will be on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

Today, you will ransfer to airport for the flight to Heho, where you will be picked up by local guide and driver and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at airport and escort to hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day free for you to be on your own.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Meals: B

After your breakfast around 8 am, you will take a boat trip to Inle Lake, the second-largest lake in Myanmar. Lives of In-Tha (name of local ethnic people) are centered on the lake. They live in stilted houses, grow fresh produce such as tomatoes, melons, and papayas in unique floating gardens, and eat fish as a staple. On the lake, you can see traditional fishing methods by using the leg-rowing technique.

Then you will visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most highly revered monastery in the Inle Lake area. After that, continue your boat ride to Nga Phe Chaung monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. The Buddha statues are more than 200 years old.

Next, proceed to the floating garden - Kyun-Hmyaw, which was built-up from strips of water hyacinth and mud. Finally, relax and enjoy spectacular sunset views over Inle Lake before returning to the hotel.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Flight: Domestic flight is on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

Drive to the airport for onward flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, Your local guide and driver will pick you up and bring you to have a city excursion in Mandalay.

Visit Mahamuni Image where you can see local people pray and stick the gold paper on the Buddha for a blessing. You can also try to make your wish and donate money (buy) for the gold paper to stick the gold paper on the statue (only man allowed to stick the gold).

On the way to the Mahamuni Image, pay a visit to a gold paper factory to see how people made the gold leaf. Then visit the Shwenandaw Monastery which means "Golden Palace Monastery" and it was built in the 19th century and well known for its teak carving of Buddhist myths. Next, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a Buddhist stupa that contains the world's largest book of Buddhism.

Finish your day at the top of Mandalay Hill for a stunning sunset.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: B

In the morning, drive about 30 minutes to get to Sagaing which is located by the Ayeyarwady River.

Cross the Innwa Bridge that is built by the British in 1934. Firstly you will visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery to see hundreds of monks lining up for daily meals at 10:15 am.

Continue to visit Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda, a dome-shaped pagoda rising up to 46 meters. At the base of the pagoda, there are 812 stone pillars, each one with a hollow and an image of a Nat in it. Followed by Sagaing Hill, with a number of small pagodas and meditation centers. Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda also sits here. You can stop at a monastery and talk with monks while taking a cup of green tea.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Sagaing and take a short break. Then head to Amarapura, known as the City of Immortality, situates 11 km to the south of Mandalay. Here you will first visit the U Bein Bridge which is 1.2 kilometers long and turns out to be the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

Then visit to Bagaya Monastery that is decorated with splendid Burmese architectural works such as carvings, floral arabesques, curved figurines and the reliefs of birds and animals. Then go to Nagayon Temple. The roof of the temple is draped by the naga Mucalinda, who protected the Buddha from the elements while achieving enlightenment.

Drive back to Mandalay and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Meals: B

Today, the guide will transfer you to the airport. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again!

Service End.