From Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi
Departing 19-Sep-2010
to 11-Oct-2010
Several motion pictures, countless university courses and hundreds of books about Viet Nam have captivated audiences around the globe, but virtually all have been about the American war in Indochina; not many truly acknowledge Viet Nam, the country. The real Viet Nam with its unique and rich civilisation, highly cultured people, delicious food and hauntingly beautiful mountains, plains and coastlines, have been almost totally ignored. Most visitors to Viet Nam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting.
In 2010 we have reversed the usual Viet Nam tour travelling north instead of travelling south, following the expansion of the Viet culture into Central and South Viet Nam. We are starting in Ho Chi Minh City so that the tour culminates with the 1000th Birthday of Hanoi (Thang Long) which is being celebrated on 10/10/2010.
We start the exploration of Viet Nam in its dynamic economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) were traditional communist ideology has been turned on its head. After local touring and a trip to the Mekong Delta to see the agricultural wealth that this region adds to the Vietnamese economy, we drive north to the former French hill station of Dalat, with its villas dating from the early 20th century, its pine covered hills and its fruit and flowers. Then to the coast to discover the culture of the Chams who occupied central Viet Nam, and who are now one of the 54 minority peoples who make up modern Viet Nam. This Indian influenced culture emerged before the Angkor civilisation and lasted longer. In central Viet Nam we will also discover the ancient merchant town of Hoi An.
Then we drive up Highway 1 to Hue, the cpaital of Viet Nam's last imperial dynasty, lasting from the beginning of the 1800s until the abdication of the last King in 1954. After exploring the Forbidden City and one or two of the imperial mausoleums, we fly to Hanoi the present capital and seat of earlier kingdoms. We explore Co Loa, the first capital of a united Viet Nam, cut down by the Chinese who then occupied the country for 1000 years, until it regained its independence in 1010.
We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Ha Long Bay with its spectacular limestone mountains rising out of the sea, and we have an extended trip to the northern highlands to discover some of the other minority people.
Then we are uniquely placed to enjoy the spectacle of the Birthday celebrations, in our hotel beside Hoan Kiem Lake.
This tour will be followed by an optional extension tour to the wondrous temples of Angkor with enough time to really explore the marvellous architectural and artistic heights reached by the Khmer civilisation.
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Rob Lovell studied at the University of Durham (MA) and at the University of Sydney (BA, Dip Ed, MEd...
