Tour Program: 12 Days China and Vietnam
Day 1
Istanbul – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Meeting at 22:50 in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal. (Meeting one calendar day before the tour departure date) Overnight on the plane.
After our ticket, baggage and passport procedures, departure to Ho Chi Minh City with Turkish Airlines flight TK162 at 01:50. Landing at Ho Chi Minh City Airport at 16:10 local time. After our passport and baggage procedures, transfer from the airport to our hotel by our vehicle. We check in and settle into our rooms. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After breakfast at our hotel, departure for a panoramic Saigon city tour. First, we will see the Reunification Palace, built in the 1960s by the South Vietnamese President as a symbol of independence, but which in 1975, with the tank raid, symbolizes the fall of South Vietnam. Then we will see the Opera House, the City Hall, the historic Post Office from the French colonial period, and Notre Dame Cathedral, an exact replica of the one in Paris. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will visit the War Museum, which reveals the horrific traces of the Vietnam War, the colorful Chinatown, and the local market called Ben Thanh, before returning to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for a Mekong Delta tour. Our journey on the Mekong River begins with a private boat trip. Our first stop will be Thoi Son Island, known as Vietnam's fruit basket. Here, we will have the opportunity to taste a variety of interesting tropical fruits. We will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will have a 15-minute horseback riding experience on a local village road. At the end of this ride, we will reach the Chuong Duong Fruit Orchards. In this area, we will have the opportunity to taste both tropical fruits and Vietnam's beautiful green tea accompanied by local Vietnamese music. Afterwards, we will take a canal cruise in sampan boats, unique to Vietnam. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Hanoi
After breakfast at our hotel, we will check out and depart for the Cu Chi rural area for a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Built in the 1940s, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a massive underground hiding system consisting of interconnected tunnels. Used first against the French colonial forces and then during the American War, it is said that the Vietnamese achieved many military successes thanks to these tunnels. This tunnel system, which allowed for silent and unseen approach to the enemy, sudden attack, and then disappearance, includes; The long pathways that allow for crawling, kitchen and rest areas, weapon depots, and wells for clean drinking water are located here. We will then proceed to Hanoi Train Street. This street is a narrow train crossing point in Hanoi, and trains pass very close to the buildings on either side of the tracks several times a day. After this, we will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport. After ticket and baggage procedures, we will fly to Hanoi with a local airline. After landing at Hanoi Airport and completing baggage procedures, we will travel by vehicle from the airport to the restaurant where we will have dinner. After dinner at a local restaurant, transfer to our hotel. Upon arrival, we will check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Hanoi.
Day 5
Hanoi
After breakfast at our hotel, we will begin our panoramic Hanoi city tour, heading towards the Old Square. Passing through the shops among the interesting narrow streets and houses, we will learn about both the city and local culture. Our tour will include a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the mummy of Ho Chi Minh, the architect of the Vietnamese revolution and founder of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, known to the people as Uncle Ho, is displayed; his last residence from 1958 until his death in 1969, the stilt house; and the elegant Single-Pillar Pagoda rising from a pool of lotus flowers. We will also see the Old Quarter, a collection of 36 intersecting streets dating back to the French Colonial period, including Silk Street, Paper Street, Shoe Street, Bronze Street, and the Pagoda. We will have lunch at a local restaurant during the tour. At the end of the tour, we will travel to see a show by Vietnam's world-famous Water Puppet Theatre. After the show, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. Following dinner, we will transfer back to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Hanoi.
Day 6
Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
After breakfast at our hotel, we will check out and depart for Ha Long Bay, a place of stunning natural beauty in Vietnam. Upon arrival, we will board our boat. After an informative briefing by the boat crew, we will have a traditional set-menu lunch with a rich variety of dishes, and then settle into our cabins. At the time announced by our guide, we will depart for a half-hour boat trip to the fishing village of Vung Vieng. Afterwards, free time on the boat to enjoy the scenery and the sea. We will have a rich set-menu dinner in Vietnamese style on board. Overnight stay on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
Day 7
Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Shanghai
Early wake-up call on the boat and the opportunity for Tai Chi with an instructor for those who wish. Around 07:00, after a light breakfast, we will visit the Sung Sot Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the tour, we will return to the boat. At approximately 10:30 AM, after checking out of the cabins, we will depart for Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century and the first university in Vietnam, and Hoan Kiem Lake. We will have lunch at a local restaurant during the tour. At the end of the tour, we will depart for Hanoi Airport. After completing our ticket, baggage, and passport procedures, we will fly to Shanghai with a local airline. We will land at Shanghai Airport. After completing our passport and baggage procedures, we will travel by vehicle from the airport to a local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we will transfer to our hotel. We will check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Shanghai.
Day 8
Shanghai
After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for our Shanghai tour. Our first stop will be the Jade Buddha Temple, the most important Buddhist temple in Shanghai. The temple, founded in 1882, takes its name from two precious white jade Buddha statues, one seated and one reclining. These statues are of special significance as they were brought to Shanghai from Myanmar. The temple's architecture is in the traditional Chinese Buddhist style, and it remains an active monastery used by monks. After our visit here, we will go to Yu Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden from the Ming Dynasty, located in the Old City. Built between 1559 and 1577 by a ruler named Pan Yunduan as a peaceful resting place for his family, the garden is filled with ponds, bridges, stone structures, traditional pavilions, ancient trees, and the famous Exquisite Jade Rock. After this visit, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch, our tour will continue to The Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. Known for its European-style colonial buildings from the early 20th century, Shanghai also offers one of the city's most iconic views, along with the modern skyline of Pudong on the opposite bank. Our final stop will be the Shanghai Tower. Completed in 2015, the tower is notable for its rotating spiral design. At 632 meters high, it is one of the tallest buildings in China and the world. It houses offices, hotels, and some of the world's fastest elevators. After enjoying panoramic views of the city from the observation decks on the 119th floor, we will return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Shanghai.
Day 9
Shanghai – Beijing
After breakfast at our hotel and check-out, we continue our Shanghai tour. Our first stop will be Xintiandi, a stylish residential and entertainment district where old Shikumen houses have been restored in a modern style. This elegant and touristy area blends historical architecture with modern design, and is filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. Our next stop is Tianzifang, offering a more bohemian and artistic atmosphere. This creative neighborhood, famous for its narrow streets, art studios, design shops, and small cafes, will be followed by the final stop of our tour: Nanjing Road, Shanghai's most famous shopping street. Offering a wide range of shopping options from luxury brands to budget-friendly stores, it's also known as "China's 5th Street." At the end of our tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will transfer to the train station. A high-speed train journey of approximately 5 hours will take us to Beijing train station. From there, we will transfer to our hotel by vehicle. We will check in and settle into our rooms. Overnight stay at our hotel in Beijing.
Day 10
Beijing
After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for our Beijing and Great Wall tour. We will travel by vehicle to Juyong Pass (Juyongguan Great Wall), one of the sections of the Great Wall closest to Beijing. Historically used as an important military pass, it is located in a strategic valley. Its scenery is particularly enjoyable in spring and autumn due to the lush greenery. While it offers easier climbing options compared to other sections, some parts are quite steep. After our visit here, we will have lunch at a local restaurant in the area. After lunch, we will return to Beijing city center and visit the Olympic Stadium. After viewing and inspecting the stadium from the outside, we will return to our hotel. Overnight stay at our hotel in Beijing.
Day 11
Beijing
After breakfast at our hotel and check-out, we continue our Beijing tour. Our first stop will be Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest city squares, located in the center of Beijing. It takes its name from the Celestial Peace Gate to the north, and China's national ceremonies, flag-raising ceremonies, and various official events are held here. A symbolic center in Chinese history, both politically and culturally, the square is surrounded by important structures such as the National Museum, the Monument to the People's Heroes, Mao Zedong Mausoleum, and Qianmen Gate to the south. Afterwards, we will proceed to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, completed in 1420, known as the Forbidden City because unauthorized entry was forbidden to the public for centuries. The residence of Chinese emperors and the seat of government for 500 years, it is the world's largest palace complex with approximately 980 buildings and over 8,700 rooms. At the end of our tour, we will depart for Beijing Airport. Overnight on the plane.
Day 12
Beijing – Istanbul
After completing our ticket, baggage and passport procedures, we will fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK089 at 00:10. We will land at Istanbul Airport at 05:30 local time, marking the end of our tour. We bid farewell until our next distinguished and enjoyable trip.
Economy Class Flights
Airport Taxes
Domestic Connecting Flight (One-way economy class air ticket on the SGN-HAN route with local airlines - One-way economy class air ticket on the HAN-PVG route with local airlines)
Accommodation in Specified Category Hotels (9 Nights Bed & Breakfast)
Accommodation on the Specified Ship (1 night full board accommodation on the ship in Ha Long Bay)
Meals as Specified in the Program (10 lunches - 7 dinners)
Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport Transfers and Intercity Transfers
Guiding Services
Professional Liability Insurance
Airport at Your Doorstep! (Our airport at your doorstep service is only valid for flight packages departing from Istanbul, and transfer service will be provided to our guests residing in Istanbul. All guests included in the reservation will be picked up from a single point they specify and transferred.)
Train Transportation (High-speed train journey between Shanghai and Beijing)
