Classic Travel - by Malgosia and Jurek Majcherczyk

Day 1 (Friday 11/18):  Departure from JFK - Hanoi

We will meet at JFK at 9:00pm on Thursday November 17th. Depart on EVA Airways from JFK at 12:20am (20 minutes past midnight). Full day flight to Taipei. 

Day 2 (Saturday 11/19):   Arrival in Taipei / Flight to Hanoi

Arrival in Taipei at 5:30am. Departure to Hanoi at 9:30am with an 11:35am arrival. After purchasing our tourist visas we will pass through customs and retrieve our luggage. Transfer by private bus to our hotel in the center of Hanoi. During check-in we'll have welcome drinks and after settling in we'll have some free time to relax. In the late afternoon we will take a walk around Old Hanoi. Welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3 (Sunday 11/20):   Hanoi

We'll begin our full day tour of Hanoi with a visit to Ba Dinh Square. For those interested, a quick visit to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is possible. We will visit Ho Chi Minh Park as well as talk a stroll around the Presidential Palace and see where he lived. Next we'll visit the oldest university in Vietnam. For lunch we'll take a stop by a local Pho Bo restaurant (lunch not included) to try the delicious soup. In the afternoon we will walk through Old Town and take a ride on rickshaws. We'll visit a cafe that has a view of the Hoan Kiem Lake. To end the day we'll travel to a restaurant where cobras are served for dinner! Those interested can have a cobra heart! The entire dinner will consist of meals made from cobra - soups, rolls and cutlets. Return to hotel after dinner. (B,D)

Day 4 (Monday 11/21):   Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

Early morning after breakfast we will begin our 3+ hour ride along the Red River to Ha Long Bay's Tuan Chau International marina. Here we'll board a boat that will take us to our 4* luxury cruiser. Upon arrival we will be greeted with a welcome drink while checking in. While settling into our cabins our cruiser will set sail on our 3 day cruise through the UNESCO heritage site of Ha Long Bay.

Lunch will consist of fresh seafood at our on board restaurant. We will be passing by the Duck and Thumb isles and eventually by Coconut Island, the only soil island in Ha Long Bay. The beautiful views of flora and fauna covering the isles and hills will only be surpassed by our tasty meal! At the Luom Bo area, the boat will stop as we'll have a chance to kayak through the turqoise waters here. Those not interested in kayaking can swim by the sandy beach.

Before sunset we'll return to our cruiser to freshen up. Coffee, tea and fruits will be served on the sundeck shortly after. Our cruiser will continue to the Fair Lake (Ho Dong Tien) where we will anchor overnight. Dinner will consist of locally farmed fresh seafood. For those interested, squid fishing at night will be available. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Tuesday 11/22):   Ha Long Bay

Weather permitting, today we can wake up early to see sunrise on the peaceful bay. Coffee will be served while we enjoy the beautiful peaceful views of the bay. After breakfast we will hop on our kayaks to visit the smaller inlet bays of Ba Trai Dao and Ho Ba Lan Ha Ham. We will swim by the Frog and Chopstick Islands. After returning to our cruiser we will ride through Lan Ha Bay and visit a local beach for swimming.  After lunch on our cruiser we will continue sightseeing, visiting the Ho Ba Ham bay where we'll once again board our kayaks to see the flora and fauna from close up. We'll have a chance to pass by Cua Van floating village. After returning to our cruiser, free time to freshen up. Dinner with views of Ha Long Bay. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Wednesday 11/23):   Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Luang Prabang/Laos

After breakfast aboard our cruiser we will take a trip to a fascinating cavern - Sung Sot Cave. We will explore the awesome cave and adore its size. After we finish sightseeing we will return to our cruiser for our return ride to the marina. Along the way we will observe various isles, named „Incense Burner”, „Stone Dogs” and the "Fighting Cocks".

For lunch we will witness our masterful chefs as they prepare (and show us how to make) authentic Vietnamese rolls. After lunch we will take a boat ride back to the marina and transfer straight to the airport in Hanoi for our 6:50pm flight to Luang Prabang. After arriving at 7:50pm we will purchase our tourist visas and then transfer to our hotel. Free time to visit the local night market and eat dinner at the many various restaurants. (B,L)

Day 7 (Thursday 11/24):   Luang Prabang – Elephant Village

Early today after breakfast we will take a bus ride to the elephant village.Here we will learn about how the elephants live here and what they do on a daily basis. We will ride elephants through the Nam Khan river. After the ride we will take a short walk through the jungle to visit baby elephants. Afterwards we'll take a boat ride to the Tad Sae waterfalls, where we'll have free time to swim and enjoy a brew. Lunch by the waterfalls. Afterwards we will return to our hotel. Free time for a massage, shopping at the night market, or getting drinks at a local pub. (B,L)

Day 8 (Friday 11/25):   Luang Prabang – Siem Reap

Early in the morning, before breakfast, we will take a walk to see how the local monks partake in traditional ritual whereas they walk through town collecting food from the locals. Return to hotel for breakfast. Next we will take a walk to the King's Palace and museum as well as the Old Town pagodas of Xiengthong and Sene. Next we will hike up Phousi Mountain to see a fantastic panorama of the city. Next we'll check-out of our hotel and transfer to the airport. Departure from Luang Prabang at 2:35pm with a 4:05pm arrival in Siem Reap. After taking care of our tourist visas we will transfer to our hotel. Free time to relax at the hotel pool. An evening ride to town on tuk tuks is optional for those interested. (B)

Day 9 (Saturday 11/26):   Siem Reap – ANGKOR WAT

For those interested, we will wake up very early to see sunrise at the Bayon Temple. Today we will spend the entire day visiting Angkor Wat - one of the 7 wonders of the world, as well as the other nearby temples. Angkor Wat was built in the XII century by the Khmer King Suryavarman II for the Hindu god Vishnu. We'll see the most interesting parts of the temples throughout different parts of the day. The entire temple grounds occupy around 2km², with the tallest one measuring 65 meters in height. This is one of the largest temple complexes in all of Asia and one of the largest in the world! We will have a break around midday to relax and eat lunch.

In the afternoon we will continue our touring, ending with sunset at Angkor Wat. Dinner at a restaurant where folkloric dances will take place. Return to hotel after dinner and show. (B,D)

Day 10 (Sunday 11/27):   Siem Reap – Phnom Penh

After breakfast at our hotel we will ride by bus to Banteay Srei, one of the most unique temples in the Angkor complex. We will also visit the Museum of Landmines, where we'll see mines from three wars that Cambodia went through in the 20th century. Next we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Phnom Penh. Transfer to the hotel, check-in, and free time for shopping at the Central Bazaar. Dinner at the Friendship Restaurant - run by children who escaped life on the streets. Return to hotel. (B,D)

Day 11 (Monday 11/28):   Phnom Penh

Today we will tour Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, not only by bus but also by tuk tuk. First we will see the King's Palace, followed by the Silver Pagoda. At noon we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will see the Killing Fields and S21 Tuol Sleng prisons under Pol Pot's Red Khmer regime. We will later visit the local market for sightseeing and shopping. Return to hotel for relaxation. Free time for massage, shopping, and individual sightseeing. (B,L)

Day 12 (Tuesday 11/29):   Phnom Penh – Chau Doc

After breakfast we will transfer to the dock and ride a few hours from Phnom Penh down the Mekong River to Chau Doc in Vietnam, making one stop at border patrol to pass through customs. After arriving at the dock we will take a bus ride to our resort, arriving in the afternoon. Free time to enjoy the infinity pool and restaurant. For those interested we will hike to the top of Nui Sam to see a fantastic panorama of the Mekong Delta. Dinner in the evening with a performance by a local band. (B,D)

Day 13 (Wednesday 11/30):   Chau Doc - Can Tho

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and transfer to Tra Su - a bird sanctuary and forest, a very unique spot in Vietnam. Next we will transfer to Long Xuyen to a crocodile farm where we'll take a tour and then eat lunch made of crocodile! Transfer to Can Tho. Free time in the evening to swim in the pool, get a massage or walk along the promenade. (B,L)

Day 14 (Thursday 12/01):   Can Tho - Tien Giang (Mekong Lodge)

Before breakfast we'll take a boat ride to the Cai Rang floating bazaar, the largest floating bazaar in Southeast Asia. We'll see plenty of boats and junks selling raw products amongst themselves. After breakfast at our hotel we will transfer by bus to Tien Giang, located along the Mekong. After checking into our lodge and eating lunch, we will have free time to relax by the pool. For those who are interested, there is an optional bike ride through the nearby village, where you can see rice fields, kids playing, and many other lovely sights. 

In the evening we will learn how to make a Vietnamese meal with the local chef. We will have a chance to learn some secrets to the Vietnamese cuisine and make something just like the locals do! Dinner and free time. (B,L,D)

Day 15 (Friday 12/02):   Tien Giang – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

After breakfast at our lodge we will take a short boat ride through the Cai Be Floating Market. We will also visit a local rice and coconut manufacturing shop wherewe'll see how (and get a chance to taste) rice candy, cakes, moonshine and coconut candies are made. At noon we will check-out of our lodge and take a boat ride to Cay Lai. Once there we'll transfer to a bus and ride through villages, where we'll eventually end up interacting with locals, who tend to invite people over for dinner spontaneously! We will arrive at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in the evening. (B,D)

Day 16 (Saturday 12/03):   Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Today we'll begin our full day tour of Ho Chi Minh City with a rickshaw ride around town. We'll begin with the colonial district: Opera, post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, United Palace. Break for lunch for some Pho at a famous restaurant. Next we visit War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Bazaar for shopping. We will return to our hotel to drop off what we bought, take a short break and continue with a night tour. Districts to see include Chinatown, the Port, Residential District. Along the way we will try many various dishes in local restaurants. We will top it off by visiting a bar where Vietnamese youth sing American songs. Return to hotel, free time. (B,D)

Day 17 (Sunday 12/04):  Departure from Saigon - NYC

After breakfast we will check-out and transfer to the airport around 9:00am. Departure from Saigon at 12:45pm to Taipei via Eva Airways. Arrival at 5:00pm. Departure from Taipei at 7:30pm. Arrival in NYC/JFK at 9:20pm that same day. (B)

*** End of Itinerary ***

Abbreviations: B - Breakfast; L - Lunch; D - Dinner

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts and 7 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. The number of population in 2015 was estimated at 7.7 million people. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Huế, the imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802–1945), but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam, and it became the capital of a reunified Vietnam in 1976, after the North's victory in the Vietnam War.

The city lies on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is 1,760 km (1,090 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City and 120 km (75 mi) west of Hai Phong city.

October 2010 officially marked 1000 years since the establishment of the city. The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural is a 4 km ceramic mosaic mural created to mark the occasion. The city has witnessed 9% growth in the last 10 years and among the highest GDP per capita in Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay

Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, in Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cẩm Phả town, and the part of Vân Đồn District. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Hạ Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.

Hạ Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2, including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Hạ Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistorical human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhụ culture around 18,000–7000 BC, the Cái Bèo culture 7000–5000 BC and the Hạ Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago. Hạ Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bài Thơ Mount, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Bãi Cháy.

500 years ago, Nguyễn Trãi praised the beauty of Hạ Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of North Vietnam listed Hạ Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Hạ Long Bay was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site according to criterion vii, and listed for a second time according to criterion viii.

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang (Lao: ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ, literally: "Royal Buddha Image (in the Dispelling Fear mudra)," pronounced [lǔaŋ pʰra.bàːŋ]), is the capital city of Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. The city is located at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River, approximately 300 km (190 mi) north of Vientiane. The population of the city is about 50,000.

The city was formerly the capital of a kingdom of the same name. It had also been known by the ancient name of Chiang Thong. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. The old town centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The main part of the city consists of four main roads on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Every morning, hundreds of monks from the various monasteries walk through the streets collecting alms. One of the major landmarks in the city is a large steep hill on which sits Wat Chom Si.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and a popular resort town as the gateway to Angkor region.

Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handycraft shops, silk farms, rice-paddies in the countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.

Siem Reap today—being a popular tourist destination—has a large number of hotels, resorts, restaurants and businesses closely related to tourism. This is much owed to its proximity to the Angkor temples, the most popular tourist attraction in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (Wat temple) is the central feature of the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer civilization. Angkor Wat's rising series of five towers culminates in an impressive central tower that symbolizes mythical Mount Meru. Thousands of feet of wall space are covered with intricate carving depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The most important are the Carved Bas reliefs of the Hindu narratives. They tell a story about gods fighting demons in order to reclaim order which can only be achieved by recovering the elixir of life known as amrita. The gods and demons must work together to release it and then battle to attain it.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since French colonization of Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia.

Once known as the "Pearl of Asia," it was considered one of the loveliest French-built cities in Indochina in the 1920s. Phnom Penh, along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, are significant global and domestic tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city is noted for its beautiful and historical architecture and attractions. There are a number of surviving French colonial buildings scattered along the grand boulevards.

Situated on the banks of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers, the Phnom Penh metropolitan area is home to about 2.2 million of Cambodia's population of over 14.8 million, up from about 1.9 million in 2008.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named and still also referred to as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It was once known as Prey Nokor, an important Khmer seaport prior to annexation by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. Under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding Gia Định Province and was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after revolutionary leader Hồ Chí Minh (although the name Sài Gòn is still unofficially widely used).

The metropolitan area, which consists of the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, Thủ Dầu Một, Biên Hòa, Vũng Tàu and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million people, making it the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam. The city's population is expected to grow to 13.9 million by 2025.

The Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, a metropolitan area covering most parts of the south-east region plus Tiền Giang Province and Long An Province under planning, will have an area of 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi) with a population of 20 million inhabitants by 2020. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Economist Intelligence Unit and ECA International, Ho Chi Minh City is ranked 132 on the list of world's most expensive cities for expatriate employees.

Cost: $4,250

• per person in a 2-person room, minimum 20 participants
• additional payment for single supplement: +$850

Included in cost:

• International flights: NYC - Taipei - Hanoi / Saigon - Taipei - NYC
• Accommodations in 4* hotels (3* hotel for 1 night at Mekong Lodge)
• 3 day cruise on a luxury 4* cruiser through Ha Long Bay
• Flights: Hanoi – Laung Prabang (Laos) / Luang Prabang – Siem Reap (Cambodia) / Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
• Private transfers in air conditioned bus with English speaking guide
• All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 10 dinners
• Entrance fees to attractions listed in itinerary (excludes optional tours)

Not included:

• Services not mentioned in the itinerary
• Cost of optional trips 
• Tips for local tour guides and drivers
• Insurance (mandatory for this trip - please contact us for more information)
• Tourist visas to Vietnam ($25 + $135), Laos ($35), Cambodia ($35)

Additional comments:

• If you plan on taking part in this trip with a group of 10 or more friends/relatives and would need a connecting flight to reach the starting destination of the trip (NYC) there is the possibility of receiving group discounts on the connecting flight. Please contact as soon as possible if this is the case.
• In the event that there is an odd number of group participants, the person to last join the group will be required to buy a single
supplement for the trip or, when possible, share a 3 person room.
• In the event that there are less than 20 participants for this trip 14 days before the trip date there will be an additional charge of maximum $100 per person.

Trip Reservation

In order to secure a reservation for this trip each participant must pay a deposit of $500 and complete and sign a trip participation form. For guided group trips the number of space is limited – reservations are accepted in the order that they are received in. Full payment is required 60 days before departure. If the departure date is already within 60 days, then full payment is required immediately. If payment is not made in this time frame, the trip price as well as a spot reserved on the trip are not guaranteed.

For the quickest turnaround, please request your reservation through our website (use the “Request Reservation” option on the trip page). Our agents will email you with the invoice, payment options, all applicable forms, and instructions on how to complete the reservation. You may also request a reservation by emailing us at classic@classic-travel.com, or by calling our office toll free 1-800-774-6996.

Trip Cancellation

Any cancellation by a client must be made in writing and be acknowledged by the company in writing (mail/email/fax). The date on which the request to cancel is received by the company or its agents will determine the cancellation fees applicable. The cancellation fees are expressed hereafter as a percentage of the total tour price, excluding insurance.

• Cancellation 90 or more days before the trip: return of deposit, less $20 for office fees.
• Cancellation 89-60 days before departure: Loss of entire deposit.
• Cancellation 59-31 days before departure: 50% of cost of services booked.
• Cancellation less than 30 days before departure: 100% of cost of services booked.

Cancellation of trip by Classic Travel

Classic Travel reserves the right to cancel a trip under any circumstances. Cancellation cannot be made under 60 days to trip departure date, except under circumstances of "Force Majeure," which our agency has no influence or control over.

When it comes to trip cancellation, the client has the following options:

• Use the trip deposit payment towards another trip as a deposit or partial payment (if the amount is larger than $500).
• Receive a full refund of the paid deposit for the canceled trip

Classic Travel is not responsible for any costs incurred to the clients in preparing for the trip.

Required Documentation

Trip participants must be in possession of a valid passport, any applicable visas, and their insurance policy. Passport must be valid 6 months past the return date. It is highly recommended that participants have at least three photocopies of these documents. The trip participant accepts full responsibility for obtaining all such documents and is responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing or defective documentation. At the time of booking Classic Travel will advise on what documents are required for your trip.

Travel Documents Issued by Classic Travel

No later than two weeks prior to departure, all trip participants will receive via mail and/or email a packet that contains flight tickets (if purchased through Classic Travel), a detailed trip itinerary, additional information & brochures, baggage tags, and a list of suggested items to bring.

For the complete terms and conditions, click here.

Travel Insurance

Insurance is not included in the cost of this trip. Medical insurance is mandatory for all trips and it is up to the trip participant to choose an insurance package that fits their needs. Prior to the commencement of the trip, Classic Travel will request all trip participants to provide a copy of their travel insurance certificate. Medical insurance should cover accident and sickness expenses and emergency evacuation.

We also highly recommend that cancellation insurance is purchased. This will allow you to recover your costs in case you must cancel the trip due to an unforeseen circumstance (sickness or death of yourself or a close family member, extreme weather conditions, terrorism, loss of employment, etc).

Travel insurance can be purchased through Classic Travel - our plans are available to all our clients regardless of nationality and residency. We offer travel medical insurance as well as more comprehensive insurance packages that cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, baggage loss, and more. During the reservation process we will provide you with our insurance options and rates.

You may choose to purchase travel insurance with us or with any other venue, so long as you are insured!

Click here to learn more about travel insurance.