Indochina Trekking Company

This looks like an interesting company - provides trekking and off the beaten track adventures in Asia: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand

Indochina Trekking Company
http://www.indotrek.com/

HALONG BAY CRUISES

We went on a fantastic 5-Star cruise with Emeraude Cruises. We enjoyed watching the famous french flick on the roof at night under the stars on the big screen!

Emeraude Cruises
http://www.emeraude-cruises.com/


Also check out..

Halong Jasmine
www.cruisehalong.com


Both will pick you up from Hanoi (3.5 hour drive to where you port)

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Where to stay:

Caravelle Hotel:
A: 19 Lam Son Square
W: www.caravellehotel.com
**Very nice hotel in central HCM. It is modern and contemporary

Nguyen Park Villas
www.ndparkvillas.com.vn
**boutique accomodations in HCM

Ordinary Bed and Breakfast
25 Dong Du Street
84-8-824-8262
**double from 35 USD


Restaurants:

Club Camarague
**We had a great meal here - french fusion in candle lit atmosphere - great spot for dinner. I had been to this exact spot years ago on Semester at Sea.
16 Cao Ba Quat
Dinner Only

Bun Ta
**one of our favourite lunches in HCM
A: 136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia
6-11 PM

Temple Club
Set in a colonial villa/once served as Hindu pilgrim guesthouse
29-31 Tom That Thiep
84-8-829-9244




To DO:

*War Remnants Museum
*Cu Chi Tunnels


Shopping:
1. Ipa-Nima (famous local designer)
A: 85 Pasteur Street
W: www.ipa-nima.com

2. Minh Khoa - great dresses
A: 39 Dong Khoi Street

3. Puri Chori
A: 73 Pasteur Street

4. Authentique - ceramics, textiles, etc
A: 6 Dong Khoi Street

5. Gaya - interior
A: 39 Ton That Thiep Street

6. Life Impression - interior
A: 47 Ton That Thiep Street

7. Ben Thanh Market - bargain hunting
A: Le Loi Street

8. Mai's 132-134 Dong Khoi Street
www.mailam.com.vn


Great driver to take you to Cu Chi Tunnels and wherever you need to go:

He has a big van and can load up the whole crew. He does not speak much english but can certainly understand where you need to go...good value

Mr. Thang
912-0222 or 0918-030-702

SAPA and Mai Chau, VIETNAM

Take an excape from the chaos - retreats in the woods!

Places to stay in Sapa:

Topas Eco-Lodge
A: 24 Muong Hoa
P: 84-20-201872-404
W: www.topas-ecolodge.com
***around 100-115 USD

Places to stay in Mai Chau:

Mai Chau Lodge
130 miles from Hanoi
www.maichaulodge.com
**150 USD including transfer from Hanoi

Hanoi and Halong Bay Trip with the Stanleys

Monday, 12/3: Arrive, check into hotel (The Church Hotel);

Dinner at Nam Phuong (casual), 19 Pho Phan Chu Trinh; +84 4 824 0926

Tuesday, 12/4: See Hanoi Luxe Guide for daytime activities in Hanoi. Old Quarter Tour (Start at Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake), Opera House performance, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison Museum, Art Shopping, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Shows at 5:15, 6:30, and 8pm. 57B Dinh Tien Hoang; +84 4 825 5450. Lunch at Au Lac Café (57 Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, +84 4 825 7807).

Dinner at Bobby Chinn, 1 Ba Trieu St, Hoan Kiem; +84 4 934 8577; www.bobbychinn.com.

Wednesday, 12/5: Full day exploring and shopping in Hanoi. Shopping at To Tich Street (Dragon Gallery, Kien Boutique, Bao Minh, L’Unique, Vietnamese Craft Guild).

Drinks at the Metropole Sofitel. Dinner at Verticale?

Thursday, 12/6: Depart for Halong Bay (Emeraude-Cruises.com)

Pickup at 8:30am from the Church Hotel

Friday, 12/7: Transfer back to Hanoi for final night in Hanoi at the Church Hotel.

Saturday, 12/8: Transfer to airport provided by The Church Hotel. Depart Hanoi airport for Hong Kong. Plane departs at 9:45am (call to confirm), arrives in Hong Kong at 12:05pm.