Vietnam and Thailand Adventure

This year's Long Yang Club international conference, iCON 2004, will be held in Bangkok.  Several people have expressed interest in seeing more of Thailand and visiting Vietnam.  Our friend Dana at Vietnam Adventure has proposed the following itinerary.

On 26 Feb 2004, Dana wrote:

I am currently working with my business partner in Vietnam (Mr. Tuan Nguyen) to finalize & price the tour package.

The hotels selected for the tour are considered in the 4 star range and names are listed for each date in the tour below. A possible exception is for HCMC. While we normally use the 4 star Rex Hotel for HCMC, some persons might want to use the 3 star Spring Hotel, which is a couple blocks from the Rex. I mention the Spring Hotel because it is rather gay friendly. Also, for those looking to bring "guests" to the room, it is much easier to do here than at the Rex. Perhaps we can reach a consensus on which hotel the group will prefer.

The tour package price will include airfare from Bangkok to Hanoi; domestic flights within Vietnam (listed below); flight from HCMC to Bangkok at end of trip (unless you have a different route planned for heading home); hotels; boat trip on Halong Bay and in Mekong; guides; van with AC and driver; breakfasts and other meals as listed in itinerary.

Not included in the tour price: international airfares (except for Bangkok > Hanoi & HCMC > Bangkok), domestic and international departure taxes, visas, travel insurance, lunch & dinner (except where indicated in the itinerary), suggested and optional activities, tips for driver & guides, and personal expenses such as bar bills, shopping, laundry service.

The plan is to limit the tour size to 8-10 persons. The tour rate will be based on double occupancy. However, single room occupancy is available at an additional charge.

If you would like to contact some of our previous clients (gay or straight) as references, let me know and I will forward their contact information.

Our plan is to begin taking reservations and deposits beginning in May.

Mr. Dana Utz
utzdana@earthlink.net
http://www.VietnamAdventure.net

Post ICON 2004 Tour to Vietnam
8 days/7 nights

Sun, Nov 21 Bangkok > Hanoi > Halong Bay
On Sunday fly from Bangkok to Noi Bai International Airport (2:00-3:50 PM), 40 km outside Hanoi. Our driver and guide will meet us and we will drive out to Halong Bay for an evening welcome dinner.

Hotel: Halong Plaza

Mon, Nov 22 Halong Bay > Hanoi
Taking a boat cruise among the 2,000 towering limestone outcrops of Halong Bay is a serene experience. In the morning your guide and driver will take you to Halong where you will take a private boat tour of this UNESCO cultural heritage site.

In the afternoon, head to Hanoi. Optionally, in the evening you may want to attend the famous water puppet performance at the Thanh Long Theatre and go out to a disco such as Heavy Metal.

Hotel: DeSyloia

Tue, Nov 23 Hanoi > Hoi An
Hanoi is one of Asia's most enchanting cities because of its slower pace of life, tree-lined boulevards and French colonial architecture. Its busy alleys of the Old Quarter have changed little since the 15th Century. A local guide will take you on a morning tour to the historical and cultural highlights of the capitol of Vietnam, including the Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, Single-Column Pagoda and West Lake.

In the afternoon, you will transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam (5:00-6:15 PM). From there, your driver will take you to the Victoria Hoi An. Evening is free.

Hotel: Victoria Hoi An

Wed, Nov 24 Hoi An > HCMC
In the ancient port town of Hoi An, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese influences of earlier centuries are reflected in the charming architecture. It is also an ideal place for shopping for art. Your guide will accompany you through the Old Quarter of Hoi An with its Chinese community houses, tailor shops and merchant homes.

In evening transfer to Da Nang for flight to HCMC (8:25-9:35 PM). At Tan Son Nhat Airport outside HCMC, driver will pick you up for transfer to hotel. Evening is free. If you are up to it, visit Apocalypse Now, which is walking distance from hotel.

Hotel: Spring or Rex

Thu, Nov 25 HCMC > Can Tho
Ho Chi Minh City (also called Saigon) is the city that never sleeps. Your guide
will meet you in the morning for a half day tour of city highlights including the Reunification
Palace (former Presidential Palace), War Remembrance Museum and Cho Lon (China Town).
Tour begins at 8:00 AM and ends approximately noon.

In afternoon drive south to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. Evening is free. (Victoria Can Tho Hotel)

Hotel: Victoria Can Tho

Fri, Nov 26 Can Tho > HCMC
Visit important sites in the Mekong Delta between Can Tho and Vinh Long. Stop at the Dong Tam snake farm, which was the former base of the 9th US Division and Riverine Units, then visit Ap Bac village - the former site of the ground battle between the VC and ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam). At Cai Be, take a motorized sampan to cruise and see the floating market with sellers and buyers busily bargaining
exchanging goods on their colorful boats, a visit to the rice papermaking village. Continue the boat trip through small village canals to experience the lazy fishing trap, visit the village making thatch roof from the palm-water coconut leaves. End the boat trip with a visit at a brick and pottery village. Return to HCMC late afternoon via Vinh Long town.

Hotel: Spring or Rex

Sat, Nov 27 Tay Ninh, Cu Chi & HCMC
In the morning drive northwest of HCMC to Tay Ninh near the Cambodia border. Here you will visit the famous Cao Dai Temple. Cao Dai is a religion that developed in the 1920s. It is a synthesis of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism and Islam. Saints in this religion include people as diverse as Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, Winston Churchill and Sun Yat Sen. It is estimated that this uniquely Vietnamese religion has up to 2,000,000 adherents. The Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh is a twin-towered cathedral with distinct Oriental features. Author Graham Greene (The Quiet American) describes it as the Walt Disney Fantasia of the East. It is certainly something that one must see to believe.

In afternoon, you will then visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels and explore the amazing underground tunnel system built by Vietnamese guerilla fighters during the war. On the way to the Cu Chi complex, we will pass the former Cu Chi base, the former Headquarters of the 25th infantry Division.

In evening you will have a farewell dinner with the group.

Hotel: Spring or Rex

Sun, Nov 28 Departure Home
Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport with a stop at the Cac Phuong Cafe (a very popular gay hangout on Sunday morning). Fly back to Bangkok (12:00-1:30 PM).

If you are interested in this tour, please contact Dana.

Web links associated with this tour

iCON 2004 — Bangkok here we come!

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This page was updated Saturday February 28, 2024.