Phoenix
Rising
Vietnam in Depth
May 24 – June 7, 2003
RISING FROM THE ASHES
The Phoenix is
a mythical bird that never dies. As its end approaches the phoenix
makes a nest of aromatic branches and spices, sets it on fire, and
is consumed in the flames. From the ashes then miraculously springs
a new Phoenix.
The
Phoenix represents rebirth and our capacity for vision and collecting sensory
information about our environment and events unfolding within. The Phoenix, with
its great beauty, has also become a symbol for intense excitement and deathless
inspiration.
The
resurrection of this fabled creature is an apt metaphor for Vietnam, a
country once synonymous with tragedy and conflict. However, Vietnam is a country, not
a war. This dignified land has discarded its post-war fatigues, enabling more
relevant and contemporary portraits to emerge and gain currency in the West.
A new era is dawning in Vietnam as this age-old civilization experiences a rebirth
of its own, once again opening its doors to the outside world.
Vietnam’s past reads like a romantic
legend. It is full of heroic struggles and astounding victories. Throughout many centuries
of attempted occupation by the Chinese and colonialization by the French, this
small country has managed to retain its culture and sense of history while absorbing
and adapting the strengths of its foes.
Here,
traditions still carry meaning. Its ancient heroes are still venerated at colorful
temple festivals, people honor their ancestors, and village elders teach the
values of hard work, hospitality, and filial loyalty. With fifty-four ethnic
groups, most of whom live in remote areas and follow age-old customs, Vietnam
offers unparalleled opportunities for cultural exploration.
Most
first-time visitors to Vietnam are overwhelmed by its ancient history, rich culture,
and the sublime beauty of the country’s natural setting. Vietnamese people
describe their homeland as a bamboo shoulder pole slung with two baskets of rice.
The Red River Delta in the north, and the fertile Mekong Delta in the south are
a patchwork of vast rubber plantations and brilliant green rice paddies tended
by women in conical hats.
Almost
2,000 miles of coastline boasts endless stretches of white sand beaches. Inland
mountains soar majestically from dense, misty forests to heights of nearly 10,000
feet. Hidden away in impenetrable jungles lie the remains of ancient cities.
Vietnam holds a special allure for the eco-tourist.
Vietnam’s greatest resource, however, is its
friendly, welcoming people. Long closed to intrepid tourists, the country retains
a charming innocence that most vacation hotspots lack. Yet in the decade since
it has reopened its doors to the outside world, the country has built world-class
hotels and tourism facilities featuring the special Vietnamese hospitality.
Toto
Tours continues its springtime tradition of offering new, exciting, and exotic
destinations with our first visit to Vietnam. Explore the country’s ancient
history, the impact of 19th-Century French colonialism, and the costly consequences
of war. On Memorial Day we pay tribute to the gay men who lost their lives in
the long conflict, and we issue a special invitation to all gay Vietnam Veterans
to be present on that occasion.
Experience the length and breadth of a country
that has achieved the status of a cultural legend during this special adventure
spanning the Memorial Day holiday. We invite you to come with us to see first-hand
how Vietnam has risen, Phoenix-like, from the ashes.
ITINERARY
Saturday, May 24, 2003
Departure from the U.S.
Depart your home city today on an overnight international flight to
Ho Chi Minh City, arriving tomorrow.
Sunday, May 25, 2003
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport located about five miles outside of
Ho Chi Minh City, which the locals still call Saigon. Tour
the bustling downtown before our hotel check-in. French colonial
influences are still present in the cafes and shops which are as
much part of the city’s ever changing dynamic as the colorful
Chinese Temples and sculptures of local deities. Tonight Toto Tours
hosts a cocktail party at Rex Terrace (the meeting place for
many world faces and American troops during the war) before heading
to our Welcome Dinner. (Dinner included)
Monday, May 26, 2003
Ho Chi Minh City / Memorial Day
This morning take a sightseeing
tour around Saigon and Chinatown. Ho Chi Minh City is
the bustling, dynamic and industrious heart and soul of Vietnam.
The streets are a myriad of markets, shops, sidewalk cafes, shops-on-wheels
and vendors selling wares spread out on sidewalks.
The teeming metropolis churns, fumes, ferments, and
bubbles, but within the city are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient
culture. Sights include the Reunification Palace, the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame
Cathedral, a large open market in Chinatown, the harrowing War Remnants Museum,
and fascinating water puppet shows created by the Ly king in the Tenth Century.
In Chinatown burn incense for remembrance and good fortune at an ancient Chinese
temple, and stroll through the teeming Binh Tay market.
After lunch, transfer to the Cu Chi Tunnels where
the Vietnamese dug more than 125 miles of tunnels during the war. We will have
a tribute today to gay Vietnam War Veterans, and a memorial for those who perished.
This evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with entertainment featuring
Vietnamese music and folk dances. (All Meals)
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Buon Ma Thuoc, Highland City
After breakfast fly to Buon Ma Thuoc, a highland city near
the Cambodian border. Visit an ethnic hill tribe to see how they live
and raise livestock under their stilt houses. Experience the thrill
of a lifetime, riding an elephant around the village like the natives.
Visit the grave of the elephant king and hear about the people’s
myths and legends. Tonight we undertake the unique adventure of an
overnight stay in the hilltribes’ stilt houses, enjoying a barbecue
dinner and special musical celebration. (All
Meals)
Wednesday, May 28,
2003
Buon Ma Thuoc / Nha Trang
This morning drive to Nha Trang, Vietnam’s most picturesque
coastal town and Pacific Ocean beach resort. Along the way we cross
the Phoenix Pass where local guerillas and American troops fought during
the war. Nha Trang is a seaside town renowned for its sandy
beaches and small, deserted islands. After arrival the remainder of
the day is free to relax and enjoy the town and the ocean. (Breakfast
/ Lunch)
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Nha Trang
This morning enjoy an excursion to one of the deserted islands off
the coast to swim, snorkle, or scuba dive, and to enjoy a picnic lunch
on the beach. In the early afternoon return to the mainland for a drive
to Po Nagar, the majestic towers of a Brahman sanctuary and
temple overlooking the Cai River. Continue on to the photogenic Hon
Chong Rocks jutting out into the South China Sea. The remainder
of the day is free. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Friday, May 30, 2003
Da Nang / Hoi An
Fly to Da Nang,
once the capital of the Hindu kingom of Champa which extended from
central to southern Vietnam. Visit the Cham Museum with its ancient
stone statues. Near Da Nang are the Marble Mountains, the
five peaks of which are each named after one of the natural elements:
water, earth, metal, fire, and wood. The mountains have caves and
secret passageways containing Buddha images and shrines. Beneath
these peaks is the famed China Beach, where U.S. troops froliced
during their military leaves.
Continue on to the World Heritage Site of Hoi
An, a very busy commercial port in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, where
merchants from Japan, China, India and Holland came to trade. Almost all of the
original architecture of streets, ports, and religious buildings are intact.
Main sites include the ornate Tan Ky merchant house, the lavishly decorated Kwangdung
Assembly Hall, a Japanese covered bridge, nightly music at the Traditional Performance
House, and the Historical Museum, where century-old photos prove how remarkably
little it has changed. We overnight in this amazing place, with an opportunity
to attend a show at the Performance House. (Breakfast
/ Lunch)
Saturday, May 31, 2003
Hue
This morning transfer to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam
under the decadent rule of the 19th-Century Nguyen dynasty. Enjoy the
beautiful landscape on Hai Van pass and at the Phu Loc fishing village.
We also visit the city’s Imperial Citadel, which still bears the
battle scars of 1968’s Tet Offensive. Afterwards take a leisurely
boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda,
one of the oldest found in the region. This evening enjoy a dinner
feast with imperial formality. (All
Meals)
Sunday, June 1, 2003
Hue / Hanoi
This morning tour the tombs of Nguyen kings Khai Dinh and Tu Duc,
situated in the Valley of Kings on the southern bank of the Perfume
River. These tombs are among the best in Vietnam. After lunch, transfer
to the airport for a flight to Hanoi, capital of Vietnam. Upon
arrival, take an orientation tour of the city’s sights before
checking in to our hotel. After dinner the evening is free for personal
exploration. (All Meals)
Monday, June 2, 2003
Hanoi / Sapa
This morning visit the military museum, the lotus-shaped one
pillar pagoda devoted to the Goddess of Mercy, and the Temple of Literature
(the first university built in 1076). Take a rickshaw into the city’s
maze-like Old Quarter. After dinner transfer to the railway station
to board a special airconditioned train for our incredible overnight
journey up into the highlands to Sapa, a French hillside resort
tucked into the remote mountain terrain near the Chinese and Laotian
borders. Overnight aboard the train. (All
Meals)
Tuesday, June 3, 2003
Sapa
This morning disembark the train and check in to our hotel, where
we have breakfast. Sapa is a terrific place to encounter some
of the more than 50 ethnic groups (also known as hill tribes) that
inhabit the country. These groups range in size from several hundred
to more than a million. The surrounding hills offer prime trekking.
Today is devoted to walking in the countryside and experiencing the
life of the hill tribes. (All Meals)
Wednesday, June 4,
2003
Sapa
/ Hanoi
After breakfast hike to the colorful market of Bac Ha. Visit
some hill tribe villages whose inhabitants wear colorful costumes and
practice different customs. After dinner transfer back to the railway
station for our overnight return train trip to Hanoi. (All Meals)
Thursday, June 5, 2003
Hanoi
/ Ha Long Bay
We sleep aboard the train until 7am, then transfer from the station
to a hotel for breakfast before driving to famous Ha Long Bay. This
slice of the South China Sea has thousands of beautiful limestone peaks
rising out of the water. A group of more than 1,900 of these islets
has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The views at sunset
and sunrise are truly unforgettable. We overnight in this place of
other-worldly beauty. (Breakfast /
Lunch)
Friday, June 6, 2003
Ha
Long Bay / Hanoi
After breakast enjoy a scenic boat trip through the craggy islands.
At adjacent Cat Ba National Park see monkeys, explore the caves
and grottoes of Dau Go and Thien Cung, and swim over coral reefs. After
lunch on the boat we make the short trip back to Hanoi, check into
our hotel, and the remainder of the afternoon is free. Tonight Toto
Tours hosts a Farewell Dinner to celebrate the end of our fantastic
adventures in Vietnam. (All Meals)
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Hanoi / Departure
After breakfast we use the morning hours for hurried last-minute shopping
then provide one group transfer to the airport for departure. (Breakfast)
ACCOMMODATIONS
Ho Chi Minh City: The
New World Hotel Saigon (5 stars) is located
downtown, steps away from world
famous Saigon market, restaurants and business districts. The hotel
has an outdoor swimming pool and modern gym, plus many dining options
and a fully-equipped business center.
Buon Ma Thuoc: Hill
Tribe Long House. Thrill
to the experience of living as the Hill Tribes do. For one night
we will rough it. Those who prefer will have the option of staying
at a hotel (best available) in town, but will miss out on the evening
of revelry with the villagers.
Nha Trang: Anamandara
Resort (5 stars) is located right on the beach
overlooking the spectacular Bay. The lovely property is reminiscent
of old
Vietnamese villages furnished with native wood and rattan. Hotel
has an open-air restaurant, bar, pool, health club, business
center, private library, and activities center for ping pong,
volleyball, windsurfing, snorkeling, parasailing, and fishing.
Hoi An: Victoria
Beach Resort (5 stars) sitting on a stretch of white
sand beach between the ocean and the river delta is built like
a fisherman’s
village with streets, water ponds, small clay-tiled roofed houses
and Chinese lanterns. The hotel has two restaurants, bar, pool,
spa, sauna, and a private jetty along the ocean.
Hue: Huong
Giang Hotel, (4 stars) surrounded by tropical gardens
on the banks of the Perfume River, has restaurants, bar, pool,
business
center, and gym.
Hanoi: Hotel
Nikko Hanoi (5 stars) is situated in the center
of the city and surrounded by scenic lakes and park, yet is only
moments away from prominent
office locations, historic sites and popular shopping areas.
Sapa: Victoria
Hotel (4 stars) is located in pristine environment
and cool climate of the Hoang Lien Mountains, in Lao Cai Province,
near the Chinese border, at roughly 5400 ft. above sea level.
This four-star hotel has restaurant, lounge, pool, poolside bar,
gym, sauna, tennis courts, billiard room, and business center.
Ha Long Bay: Ha
Long Plaza Hotel (4 stars) is located near Ha Long
Bay with a bar, pool, restaurant, and private garden.
TOUR PREPARATION
Entry Requirements—For
citizens of the United States and Canada, both a valid passport and
a visa for travel to Vietnam are required. Visas can be issued upon
arrival, however it is best to get one before the tour. Visas are
issued by Vietnamese embassies and consulates, tourism offices, or
at the Hanoi airport. Tourist visas are good for thirty days after
your arrival in Vietnam.
Immunizations & Health—No
immunizations are required, but the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control strongly recommends the following
inoculations: tetanus, hepatitis A & B, cholera, yellow fever
and Japanese encephalitis. You should only drink boiled or bottled
water in Vietnam.
Exit Requirements—A
departure tax of approximately $14 U.S. must be paid at the Hanoi
Airport.
WHAT TO BRING
There are no good or bad
seasons when it comes to visiting Vietnam. When one region is wet
and cold or steamy hot, there is always somewhere else that is sunny
and pleasant. Temperatures will range between 60 to 85 Degrees F,
depending on our location.
Suggested Packing List:
____ Proof
of citizenship. Passport and Visa needed.
____ Comfy walking
shoes for day tours and walks.
____ Polo shirts
/ T-shirts (8 - 10).
____ Long sleeve
shirts (3 - 4) for sun protection.
____ Shorts (4
or 5 pairs).
____ Lightweight
long pants for dinners.
____ Dressy casual
outfits (1 or 2 for dinners and special occasions).
____ Cool sleepwear.
____ Sunscreen /
lip balm.
____ Sunglasses
/ sun hat with tie-on.
____ Mosquito repellent,
with Deet.
____ Windbreaker or
waterproof jacket.
____ Personal toiletries (Bring
an anti-diarrheal remedy just in case!)
____ Swimsuit.
____ Camera & plenty
of film.
____ Ziploc Bags (sandwich
size for documents, gallon size for wet items or toiletries).
____ Voltage converter for
220 volts.
____ A good book for
the long flights.
MONEY MATTERS
The currency unit in Vietnam
is the Dong (VND). Bank notes come in amounts of 50,000; 20,000;
10,000; 5000; 2000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. The VND’s value
can fluctuate wildly, so exchange only a small amount of U.S. cash
upon arrival at the Saigon airport. Major credit cards are now more
widely accepted throughout the country at most hotels and restaurants,
but you will need cash at local shops. As of December 20, 2002, the
exchange rate was 16,000 Dong to the U.S. $1.00.
Taxes and Tipping—Tipping
is not customary in Vietnam, but we will make a collective tip to
our guide at the Farewell Dinner. Budget about $25 U.S. each day
for out-of-pocket expenses.
LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS
Making a reservation with
a deposit shall be deemed to be consent to these conditions: Toto
Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any
delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses,
or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever
cause. All tour participants are required to sign a standard liability
form.
The tour operators reserve
the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour
at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or
without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 10 participants.
To reserve a place on this tour, click on the "Reservations" link
above. Print the form, fill out the
information requested, sign and mail it to Toto Tours with your $500
deposit check.
The balance
of $1,995 (double) or $2,595 (single) is due 80 days prior to departure
(by March 5, 2003). Tour registration is not complete until we have
received both the form and your deposit check.
Toto Tours does not accept credit cards as a form
of payment. An installment plan is possible. Our mailing address is: Toto
Tours, 1326 W. Albion Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626-4753. Make checks payable
to: Toto Tours, Ltd.
THE TOTO SPIRIT
Toto Tours provides Adventure
Travel Experiences as differentiated from tours in the traditional
sense. Adventure Travel allows (even encourages) you to be an active
participant. Adventurers can be identified by certain traits. They
are:
- fun-loving
optimists with a sense of humor and positive outlook;
- good
natured realists who are willing to accept things as they exist;
- undaunted by the
unexpected, like occasional delays or bad weather;
- willing
to forego some amenities we normally take for granted;
- eager to try new things & test
limits;
- punctual;
- not
whiners!
Follow the flight of the
Phoenix by joining Toto Tours on this unforgettable journey in a
land that haunts our memories. If you have any questions, please
call us toll free: 800-565-1241.
THE BOTTOM LINE
(tour
prices per person)
Price: $2,495 double
Private Room: $
600 extra, if available.
Deposit: $500
Final Payment: $1,995
Final Payment Due: March
5, 2003
Included: 13 nights accommodations; hotel breakfast
daily; Welcome & Farewell Dinners; all internal flights; all
meals, activities and transfers as listed in the itinerary; fully
guided and escorted tour.
Not Included: Round
trip airfare to Ho Chi Minh City and return from Hanoi; ground transportation
for sightseeing
on your own (taxis, local guides, etc.); meals and optional activities
not specifically listed in the itinerary; tips to local guides, gratuities
for meals; alcoholic beverages; insurance; laundry; telephone calls;
faxes; or any other expenses of a personal nature.
|
