Vietnam Catholic Pilgrimage Tour

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

You will be greeted at the airport by our guide and driver and transferred directly to your hotel. Rest of the day is free at your own pace.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI CITY SIGHTS (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will take a full day tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh Complex, West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Ethnology Museum. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, continue your tour to Hoa Lo Prison, History Museum and Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem lake, then take an hour cyclo ride through the fascinating medieval streets of the Old Quarter. Enjoy Water Puppet Show of Vietnamese traditional art before having your dinner.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

Morning depart to Halong Bay, which is considered the 8th wonder of the world. Sip on a refreshing welcome drink upon check in before beginning cruise through the bay. Lunch served while cruising among hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi – Fighting Cock islet, Dog islet, Finger islet, etc.) to discover unspoiled pockets of Halong Bay and visit Sung Sot cave, one of the most imposing grottoes of the Bay. Swim at Soi Sim beach or Titov beach or a short trek to the top of Titov mountain for a magnificent panorama scenery. Enjoy dinner with fresh seafood on board. Relax or chatting with partner, friends, family.

Overnight on Halong cruise.

DAY 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B/L/-)

For early risers complimentary tea, coffee, fruit and cake are served. Visit Luon cave on small bamboo boat paddle by out crew staff and enjoy the quiet atmosphere enclosed by high islets and mountains. Be back to our Huong Hai Junk. Sail past rock formations such as Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, Butterfly cave, Lion islet, Bai Tho mountain, enjoy the tranquil scenery as the boat meanders its way through the bay on the way back to Ha Long city, etc. Check out on boat at around 10.00 am. Enjoy lunch as boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Arrive back at Ha Long city around noon time for disembarkation, return to Hanoi for your overnight stay.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 5: HANOI – NAM DINH – NINH BINH (B/L/D)

Transfer to Nam Dinh, visit Phu Nhai Church – Kien Lao Shrine, it’s not only the architecture of Catholicism, sights of tourists near and far, but also the object of the research civil engineer, architectural and cultural studies. Proceed to Ninh Binh for your dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

DAY 6: NINH BINH – HANOI – HUE (B, L, D)

Morning, drive to Phat Diem Stone Cathedral, which was built from 1875 to 1899 by Priest Tran Luc and Catholics in here made by all of stone and wood. Now, there is Priest’s Grave in front of the Church. The feature of this building is modeled on the architecture of the traditional temples in Vietnam inspite of Catholic Church. Then take a boat trip along the stream between rice paddy to visit Trang An complex where the limestone ranges, valleys and rivers fuses intertwined to create a magical space, mysterious surprise ever for you. Return to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

DAY 7: HUE CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

Morning take a boat trip on Perfume river visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu pagoda and the mausoleum of former emperor Ming Mang. After lunch, you will visit Ancient Citadel and Forbidden City, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 and continue to Khai Dinh tomb and Hue Anglican Church.

Dinner and overnight in Hue.

DAY 8: HUE – QUANG BINH – QUANG TRI – OUR LADY OF LA VANG (B/L/D)

Leave for Quang Binh to visit Phong Nha Cave located in the complex Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park with stunning stalactites jelly. Many travelers recognized as in-ground Heaven. Transfer to La Vang Center of Pilgrimage, Quang Tri, the basilica of the Catholic Church in Vietnam. It’s also the largest center for Catholics pilgrimage and foreign Catholics. Pray in here.

Dinner and overnight in Quang Tri.

DAY 9: QUANG TRI – DA NANG (B/L/D)

Morning drive to Da Nang to visit Da Nang Cathedral known as Chicken Church built in the French colonial period. After lunch, visit Cham Museum and Marble Mountain representing the 5 main factors of universe. Continue to visit the Shrine of Sao Bien built near the My Khe beach.

Dinner and overnight in Da Nang.

DAY 10: DA NANG – OUR LADY OF TRA KIEU – MY SON (B/L/D)

Visit Tra Kieu Center of Pilgrimage, the catholic name that Vietnam used to call is Mary built in 1898. The temple is dedicated to the Lady who helped Catholics here fight against Vuong movement in 1885. Proceed to one of the World Cultural Heritage Sites in Vietnam – My Son Sanctuary dating from between 07th and 13th centuries.

If time permits, you will continuously explore Hoian ancient town by visiting the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market.

Dinner and overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 11: HOI AN – DA NANG – SAIGON (B/L/D)

Have breakfast at hotel. Spend your leisure at hotel or go shopping on your own interest until being transferred to Da Nang Airport for flight to Saigon City.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Saigon downtown while our local guide will give you a brief introduction about history of Saigon. Visit some highlights including Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi street, Saigon Opera House, and Saigon City Hall.

With our experience local guide, you will seek out the best local spots for a quick insight into our number one cultural obsession. This is a great time to share some of your tastes and interests with your guide so they can be made a feature of your uniquely tailored experience.

Dinner and overnight in Saigon.

DAY 12: SAIGON – CU CHI TUNNELS (B/L/D)

Breakfast, Morning Mass – not at Notre Dame Cathedral but at the Huyen Sy Church in District 1. Huyen Sy was a Vietnamese business man who donated the money for the church and the land on which it is built. He and his wife are buried in the Church. After mass we walk back to the center of town passing the shrine to St. Matthêu Lê Văn Gẫm (Lê Văn Bôi, 1813-1847) a Vietnamese priest and merchant from Biên Hòa province who was captured and beheaded in that area for his Catholic missionary activities. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1900. On May 11 each year, the anniversary of his death, a festival of remembrance is held at the Huyen Sy Church where there is a statue of this saint.

We will see some of the most famous locations in Vietnam’s spiritual history including Tân Xá Palace in the compound of Arch Bishop’s house – the oldest dwelling in Saigon city – reputed to have been occupied by French Missionary and political operative, Pigneau de Behaine, Bishop of Adran; The spot where Thich Quang Duc self-immolated before the world’s media in 1966; The Cao Dai Temple with the Divine Eye – official symbol of Caodaism; We also visit Communal Worship Houses, a Funeral House and pagodas.

After lunch, you will visit Cu Chi Tunnels consisting of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War. Back to Saigon in late afternoon.

Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 13: SAIGON – CAI BE – CAN THO (B/L/D)

Today we will enjoy the beautiful scenery in Mekong Delta area with hundreds of canal and river system and the most productive farm in Vietnam. On arrival Cai Be town, we take a boat cruise to visit to Cai Be floating market which is very interesting and popular in Mekong region. After visiting this market, we continue our boat trip to local village nearby to view how local people making coconut candy, rice –paper, pop-corn, and local souvenirs.

Return to our boat then relax while we are cruising across the Mekong River to the island where we take a short walk through the fruit garden and visit the farm. Then we enjoy our lunch at the farm, talk to the host, walk around fruit garden and bonsai garden and just take a little nap on the hammock before boarding the boat again heading to Vinh Long town. We disembark at Vinh Long then drive to Can Tho, the fourth largest Cities in Vietnam and the biggest City in Mekong Delta area. This charmed City, the friendly people and their hospitality make it a unique character. A wonderful place to visit!

Overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 14: CAN THO – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – SAIGON (B/L/D)

Early morning we will take a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market which is more activities of buying and selling, more boats and livelier than the Cai Be. Just enjoy a beautiful buffet breakfast on board while we are cruising to market. We are not only the travelers to visit to this market but also the buyers to purchase extra fresh and tasty fruits for our breakfast in this morning. Return to our hotel then relax or just take walk along the river bank or stop at the coffee shop for a drink.

Midday we check out hotel then drive to Saigon City.

Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 15: SAIGON DEPARTURE (B)

Free at leisure till transferring to airport for your flight home. End of service.