Highlights of Vietnam and Myanmar

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed and greeted by the Custom Asia Travel tour guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. The remainder of the day is relaxing or be on your own discovery.
- Located on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi capital is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Here, visitors are able to find well-preserved colonial buildings, old Buddhist pagodas, and unique museums within the city. The best way to explore its Old Quarter is on foot. This French-colonial city is also known for its delicious cuisines, vibrant nightlife, and souvenir shopping…

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, where travelers can find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, and unique museums within the city center.
In the morning, breakfast at the hotel. Start the city tour with Ba Dinh Square, including: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, view of the presidential palace, Uncle Ho's house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Set menu lunch at a restaurant in the city.
In the afternoon, Hoa Lo Prison (A add-on if you are interested in); Ethnology Museum (about Vietnamese ethnic minorities) with water puppet show. An interesting walk along the train tracks through a part of the city residence.

DAY 3: HANOI - SAPA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

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You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi early in the morning (about 7.30 AM). This morning, you will travel to Sapa on the HW Noi Bai – Lao Cai. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province, will be a good start for your trip. Arrive in Sapa by noon. Have lunch at a restaurant in town. After that, we will transfer to a trekking point in Sa Xeng Village, have a short stop on the way to take photos of Muong Hoa Valley. Arrive at Hau Thao, get off your vehicle and start the afternoon trek to Sa Xeng. The trek is on a small back road winding along the uneven Valley. Most of the way is gently downhill, passing several villages and views of rice terraced fields. Get picked up at the end of the trek and make your way back to Sapa town. Check-in a hotel for the night. Dinner is on your own account.

DAY 4: SAPA - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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This morning, you will be transferred to a trekking point in Muong Hoa Valley where you will do a beautiful trek to visit a few villages of the Black H’mong and enjoy the terraced paddy fields in the area. The trek starts at the slope down to Y Linh Ho village, this is one of the most beautiful paths for rice terraced paddies trek. Get picked up and drive back to town for lunch.
The afternoon is spent on the return drive to Hanoi. Check-in your hotel in Hanoi and end the day.

DAY 5: HANOI - HALONG BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

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Halong Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, the bay is a "must-see" place for any visitor to Vietnam, especially an overnight trip on a traditional wooden junk.
Take the morning transfer to Halong Bay pier.
Around noon - Board your boat and start the cruising itinerary with lunch and dinner aboard.
Some interesting activities are available to include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the sun deck.
Overnight at an en-suite cabin on the boat.

DAY 6: HALONG BAY - FLY TO YANGON

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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This morning get up early this morning for some fresh air on the open deck and join the Tai-chi class for some gentle moves if you wish. Otherwise, you are able to remain in your cabin until breakfast time. After breakfast, the crew will pull up the anchor, start the engine again for more cruising to other parts of the bay. After visiting a big limestone cave, the boat is gently heading back to the pier. The early lunch (Brunch) will be served aboard. Around noon, you are ferried in and take the afternoon drive straight to Hanoi airport for catching a 2-hour flight to Yangon City, Myanmar. Check-in a hotel on arrival and stay for the night.

DAY 7: YANGON CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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Today, enjoy full day guided city tour to visit the most highlights of this capital city. Start the sightseeing with a visit to Sule Pagoda. It is believed to enshrine a strand of hair of the Buddha. From Sule Pagoda, you will embark on an orientation walk to Chinese Town, covering exotic streets of Yangon downtown and British Colonial building as Emmanuel Church, Inland Water Buildings.
Continue to Bogyoke Market, formerly named Scott’s Market. It is now the main tourist destination where you can find antique, Burmese handicrafts & jewelry shops, art galleries & clothing stores.
Our next stop is Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda’s 70m long reclining Buddha
Late afternoon, visit Shwedagon pagoda – the most prominent monument in Yangon which dominates the sky with golden flash, giant spires and holy relics.

DAY 8: YANGON - FLY TO BAGAN

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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After breakfast, get picked up and transfer to the airport for a local flight to Bagan. This is Myanmar’s archeological wonderland, where over 3,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside. Upon arrival, start the sightseeing day with a trip to the bustling Nyang U Market in Old Bagan then explore the beautiful, gold leaf Shwezigon Pagoda and learn about the Burmese Buddhist tradition. Followed by a visit to Ananda Temple, stopping along the way on the Bagan plain to admire some of the surrounding temples. In the afternoon, pay a visit to a local lacquer wear workshop where you learn about the traditional craft. Check-in your hotel and relax for the remainder of the day.

DAY 9: BAGAN FURTHER DISCOVERY

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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Optional activity: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE OVER BAGAN - (Only available from October through the beginning of Apr). The morning will start off with an exciting hot-air balloon ride above the Bagan countryside. You will observe one-of-a-kind views when the sun begins to rise over the Irrawaddy River and various stupas in the region. You’re simply not going to find many other opportunities like this on Earth.
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up to start your Bagan excursion. It’s off to the vibrant NyaungOo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily. From here you will have a look around the Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious memorial. Travel over dusty lanes and tree-shaded roads past temples and monasteries to a small village. At one of the monasteries, you will participate in a special traditional Buddhist ceremony.
From here you will journey on by horse cart for an excursion that passes Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, and of course, Sulamani Temple. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples.

DAY 10: BAGAN - FLY TO HEHO - INLE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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Catch a flight to Heho in the morning and drive to the beautiful Inle Lake. This lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar, located 900 meters above sea level and is home to the Intha people, famous for their one leg rowing technique.
Upon arrival, board a motorboat for a sightseeing tour to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famed for its richly gilded five small Buddha images. This pagoda is also believed to be the holiest in Inle Lake. The next visit is Ngaphechaung Monastery, known as “jumping cat” pagoda. As you travel further toward Nam Pan village the cotton and lotus weaving factories and cigar making houses will impress you with true traditional Intha life. Check-in a hotel in Inle for the night.

DAY 11: INLE LAKE EXCURSION

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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This morning, you will visit the “5 Days Market” which is held in different villages surrounding the lake. It is definitely a fascinating place to enjoy the scene of local tribes in their colorful clothes and exotic market atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the boat will take you to a beautiful temple of Indein. The temple's location is on the hill overlooking the lake. It will be relaxing to walk along the corridor and enjoy the giant columns that have been left to nature for centuries.

DAY 12: INLE LAKE - HEHO - FLY TO YANGON - DEPARTURE

Meals: Breakfast

No accommodation

After breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and bid farewell to Inle Lake for a private transfer to Heho Airport for a short flight back to Yangon where you will take your international flight home or continue on your adventures with other Custom Asia Travel's destinations.