We are excited to share that the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a trip to Vietnam in March 2023! Discover the essence of captivating Vietnam on this ten-day tour through backstreets, villages, cities and waterways. Trace the east coast on this fast-paced adventure and take in World Heritage-listed landscapes and towns, feel the buzz of bustling cities and fuel yourself with banh mi and condensed milk coffee. As lively as it is lovely, Vietnam can seem an intimidating place to travel, but our local leaders will guide you, introduce you to fishermen on theThu Bon River and give you the inside scoop from Kim Bong Carpentry, one the best tailors in Hoi An. This is an adventure full of life, colour and flavour that introduces you to the highlights of this fascinating nation.
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Day 1 – Gateway Airport Home/Hanoi Check in at your International Airport for a connection flight to Hanoi. Cross the International Date Line. Day 2 – Hanoi Change the connection flight and arrive at Hanoi, the Capital of Vietnam. You will be met at the airport by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel. Day 3 – Hanoi Full day city tour includes the Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university dating back to 11th Century then St Joseph Cathedral. Day 4 – Hanoi/Halong Bay Tour bus excursion to the harbor, board the Cruise Boat for an overnight cruise. |
Vietnamese Culture is one of the oldest culture in the World which has undergone changes almost four thousands of years. Some people said Vietnam culture has influence from Chinese culture but there is a study shows Culture of Vietnam has its own characters and has parallel development to Chinese culture.
According to scholarly sources, the Culture of Vietnam originated from ancient Nam Viet, an ancient kingdom of Giao Chi people which shared characteristics of Han Chinese cultures and the ancient Dong Son Culture, considered one of the most important progenitors of its indigenous culture, during the Bronze Age.
Family is very strong in Vietnam. Family and clan (dòng họ) are valued over individualism. Clan is the most important social unit in the country and each clan features a patriarch heading the clan and a clan altar. Even today, in some parts of the country, the tradition of clan members living together in longhouses is quite prevalent. It is also not uncommon to see three to four generations of a family living together in the same house. Members of a clan are related by blood and often name their villages based on their clan names. Death commemorations of clan members are usually attended by all members of the clan and villagers.
Vietnamese food is fresh and healthy and getting more and more popular all over the World. It exhibits great diversity but can be classified into three primary categories by locations: the north, south, and central regions of the country. Many types of noodles and noodle soups and all type of spring rolls are popular here. Less use of oil and greater use of fresh vegetables is preferred. Soy sauce, fish sauce, mint, and basil are popular ingredients. Rice is the main food and eaten in 3 meals a day. The flavors of Vietnamese food range from spicy and sour to sweet. The Noodle Soup originating in North Vietnam is a noted Vietnamese dish and features rice noodles with beef, chicken, fish, sea food…. soup and scallions or bean sprouts as accompaniments.
Day 5 – Halong Bay/Hanoi/Hoi An
Tai Chi session on the sundeck of the Cruise Boat. Short excursion to Soi Sim Island and take a refreshing swim at Halong Bay. Boat pass Thieh Cung and Dau Go Caves, Fighting Cock Islet. Transfer to Hanoi Airport and fly to Da Nang Airport. Bus transfer to Hoi An.
Day 6 – Hoi An
Morning tour bus excursion to the world Heritage My Son Sanctuary, the remains of remarkable towers constructed by the Cham builders, many centuries ago. Enjoy a 2-hour boat trip on the Thu Bon River, passing Duy Hai fishing village, Tra Nhieu, Kim Bong carpentry village and Cam Thanh coconut village and end at Old Town of Hoi An.
Day 7- Hoi An/HCM City (Saigon)
Fly from Da Nang Airport to HCM City (Saigon).
Day 8 – HCM City (Saigon)
Bus ride to Tien Giang, board a vessel to explore the 4 mythical islets of the Dragon, Unicorn and Paradise located in the Mekong Delta. Enjoy local flavor food, tea, wine and traditional Vietnamese folk songs.
Day 9 – HCM City (Saigon)
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and body traps during the War. Afternoon visit the Reunification Palace, War Museum and Ben Thanh Market.
Day 10 – HCM City (Saigon)/Gateway Airport Home