19 Days Best of China and Vietnam

Day 1Arrival Beijing

Meals: No Meals
Overnight: Citadines Ritan Beijing or similar ★★★★

Arriving in Beijing, the capital city of China, you will be greeted and met by TCT tour guide at the airport, whenever your flight arrives in Beijing.  We will transfer you to check in hotel with the guide's assistance. After check-in, free at leisure for the rest of the day. You could choose to have a rest in the hotel or walk around by yourself.


Beijing City View
 

Day 2Beijing

Meals: Breakfast, A la carte Chinese lunch
Overnight: Citadines Ritan Beijing or similar ★★★★

TCT local guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at the appointed time. It will be an exciting day as we will explore the world well-known wonders today. The 1st stop is Temple of Heaven, the existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven and a place where the emperors prayed for a year of abundance. In the visit of Temple of Heaven, you will be astonished by the exquisite ancient Chinese architectures. Besides, you will see local seniors doing morning exercises in the square and full of vigor. You will have chance to watch Chinese Kongfu, Taichi, square dancing, playing cards, playing chess etc.

Then our group will move to a less commercial Hutong nearby. A short walking along the authentic Beijing Hutong will give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live. A la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant to have a taste of the authentic Chinese food at noon time and have a break at the restaurant.

Then continue this Beijing city treasure city by a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city center square, the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. It is only a walking distance from Tian'anmen Square to Forbidden City, the world's existing largest and most complete ancient wooden structure buildings. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there. You will be stunned by the numerous old art treasures exhibited in halls. Drive back to hotel, we will have a stop at pearl store en route. Please feel free to consult with your local guide about the evening activities in Beijing, such as the night shows of Beijing.


Forbidden City
 

Day 3Beijing

Meals: Breakfast, A la Carte Lunch
Overnight: Citadines Ritan Beijing or similar ★★★★

It will be an exciting day today. In the early morning, guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby. Today we will visit the must-visit spot in Beijing--- Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the famous sections of China Great Wall. It takes about 2 hours driving from the downtown of Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. (***Cable car and slideway are available at Mutianyu Great Wall. It is optional and excluded from our price***)

A la carte lunch is arranged at a good restaurant at the foot of Mutianyu. Drive back to downtown of Beijing. We will have a stop at a tea store en route. When we reach Beijing, we will have a photo stop outside the Bird Nest and Water Cube, which were the famous sites constructed for 2008 Beijing Olympic. The tour finishes by dropping off at your hotel. If you would like to try local specialty tonight, you could ask for some suggestion about Peking Roast Duck Restaurant.


Beijing Great Wall
 

Day 4Beijing Xi'an

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an or similar ★★★★

In the morning, check out from hotel and start to visit the last spots in Beijing --- Summer Palace, the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. The Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake are regarded as the representative of Summer Palace. In the park, you could choose to take a boating trip on the lake, enjoying the beautiful royal garden view. Walk along the Long Corridor--- the longest corridor in the world, admiring the extremely rich and prestigious paintings on the beams of the corridor.

A la carte lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant on the way to Beijing West Railway Station to take high speed train (2nd class seat, duration: about 5-5.5 hours) from Beijing to Xi'an. TCT guide will wait at the exit of Xi'an train station with our signboard and transfer you to check in hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the time.


Summer Palace
 

Day 5Xi'an

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an or similar ★★★★

Today we will have a full day to explore this historical and cultural city in China. Pick up from hotel in the morning, and then have a visit to the landmark of Xi'an---Xian City Wall. You could choose to have a bicycle riding on the city wall (***Bicycle riding is optional and excluded from our price***). An impressive Tai Chi Chuan course is arranged at the City Wall for you. Originating from the roots of classical Chinese culture, Tai Chi Chuan absorbed a variety of sources including the Book of Changes, Taoism and Buddhism. With a professional Tai Chi Master's teaching, you will understand Chinese culture better.

After that, we will drive to the highlights in Xi’an ---the Terracotta Warriors. On the way to Terracotta Warriors, we will have a stop at a pottery workshop, where you will have chance to learn how to make a pottery figure.  A la carte lunch is arranged at a local restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, we will have enough time to visit this world wonder --- Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation.

The tour finishes by dropping-off at the hotel lobby. You could ask your local guide for some information about evening entertainment or night show, such as Tang Dynasty Show.


Qin Terracotta Warriors
 

Day 6Xi'an Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: Guilin Bravo Hotel or similar ★★★★

You will have a leisure morning for your to walk around. We will check out at noon time and drive to have lunch directly. In the afternoon, Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda ,  one of the most well-preserved Tang Dynasty buddha temples. It is  reputed as the Tang Dynasty elaborate and valuable Buddhist architectural heritage. While visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, you will have chance to watch the traditional shadow play, visit Jianfu Temple as well as Xi'an Museum.

Take a flight to Guilin, the local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to check in the hotel.


Guilin City View
 

Day 7Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: Guilin Bravo Hotel or similar ★★★★

We will have an exciting day to visit the ethnic group villages and the stunning rice terraces today. The local tour guide picks you up from hotel lobby in the morning. It takes about 2 hours driving from downtown of Guilin to Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area (Dragon's Back). The magnificent terraces are built into the hillsides and look like great steps cut into the slopes as they wind around the mountainsides.

Lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant in Ping'an Zhuang Village, which is just located in the rice terraces. You will have chance to try the local food cooked in bamboo, such as bamboo rice, chicken, ect. It tastes with the light fragrance of bamboo, quite different from which we eat in downtown.

After lunch, you will have enough free time to explore the ethnic villages, where the Yao and Zhuang people have been dwelling for generations in wooden houses. You will understand how the locals' life is, and you will see the locals working in the paddy fields, the women in their national costumes doing needlework by the village path or beneath her roof, ect. We will drive back to downtown of Guilin from Longji at around 15:00 and you may arrive at hotel about 17:00. A Four Lakes Night Cruise is recommended as an optional activity in Guilin.

Longji Rice Terraces
 

Day 8Guilin Yangshuo Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch-box
Overnight: Guilin Bravo Hotel or similar ★★★★

In the morning you will be driven to the Zhujiang Pier for the Li River Cruise (about 4 hours from Guilin to Yangshuo). Savour the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo. After disembarkation, you can have a walk along the famous West Street and enjoy the free leisure time there before driving back to overnight in Guilin. If you would like to stay in Yangshuo longer and know more about the night show or evening entertainment, do not hesitate to ask your local guide, who'd be very willing to help you. The Show of Impression Liusanjie is highly recommended as an optional activity in Yangshuo if you are interested in.


Li River Cruise
 

Day 9Guilin Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund or similar ★★★★

After a leisure morning breakfast, our local guide will pick you up to explore Guilin city. We will visit to Elephant Trunk Hill Park, which is the symbol of Guilin city. Then visit Reed Flute Cave, which is regarded as the representative of Karst landform of Guilin. After a la carte lunch at local restaurant, take 2-hour flight to Shanghai, where the local tour guide is waiting for you at the exit. Guide will transfer you to check in hotel


Elephant Trunk Hill Guilin
 

Day 10Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast, A La Carte Lunch
Overnight: SSAW Boutique Hotel Shanghai Bund or similar ★★★★

The last day but still an inspiring day to explore the city of Shanghai,the largest and most modern city in mainland China. We will start the tour by walking into Nong Tang, the alleys in Shikumen, where you could witness the locals' relaxing and plain life. You will also find the unique architectural feature of Shanghai.

Then continue the day trip to Yuyuan Garden which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then continue to explore the Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street) nearby.

After a la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant, we continue our trip to Shanghai Silk Museum before moving to the foot of The Oriental Pearl TV Tower to visit Shanghai City History Museum(The Former Shanghai Wax Museum), where you will know more about the history and development of Shanghai. Then take the elevator up to the 2nd ball of the TV tower, from which you will have a bird-eye view of Shanghai. Go on driving through Lujiazui, the finance & trade zone in Pudong of Shanghai, where you will find many skyscrapers. We will have a view of the modern skyline of Shanghai.

Then back to the Bund, admire the illuminated buildings lining the Huangpu River. From the Bund, you could see the landmark of Shanghai--- The Oriental Pearl TV Tower as well as other high-rised buildings, just on the opposite of Huangpu River. 


The Bund
 

Day 11Shanghai Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Tirant Hotel or similar ★★★★

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for flight to Hanoi. The local guide in Vietnam will meet you at the airport and help you with the hotel check-in.


Hanoi City View
 

Day 12Hanoi Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: V’ Spirit Premier Cruise or similar ★★★★

After a leisure breakfast in the hotel, our guide and shuttle bus will pick you up at lobby of hotel and start journey east to Halong Bay, through picturesque rice-farming villages of the Red River Delta, where we see everyday Vietnamese village life. On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on the luxurious boat


Halong Bay
 

Day 13Halong Bay Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Tirant Hotel or similar ★★★★

Get up early in the morning for a lesson of Tai Chi on board or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Cave of Surprises, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbor and the return Hanoi around 4.30pm. Drop at hotel in Hanoi. Free time on your own, you could explore the city by yourself by walking around in the old quaters of Hanoi.


Hanoi Street View
 

Day 14Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Tirant Hotel or similar ★★★★

Breakfast at hotel, our tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby about 08:00AM as appointed one day before to start a full day Hanoi city exploring tour.  Hanoi is really a charming city, the capital city of Vietnam. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone.The key site in Hanoi is  the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). End of the day you can enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture.


Hanoi City View
 

Day 15Hanoi Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Alagon Zen Hotel or similar ★★★★

After breakfast, our driver will pick you up at lobby of hotel and transfer to Airport for flight to HCMC, one major city in south Vietnam. Upon Arriving, you will be met by the local guide holding a sign with your name at the airport exit. Greeted and transferred to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City directly. After check in, free for leisure and shopping in the local markets.


Ho Chi Minh City View
 

Day 16Ho Chi Minh Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Iris Can Tho Hotel or similar ★★★★

Leave Saigon for My Tho, located on the northern banks of the Mekong River to visit a large market that sells just about anything that can be eaten and variety of fruits. Around the My Tho area you will find a maze of small canals that can be explored on one of the many organized boat tours. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River and visit an orchard on an island, with lunch en route. Continue with a visit to a snake farm and then continue driving to Can Tho. Check-in hotel and overnight in Can Tho


Mekong River Trip
 

Day 17Can Tho Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Alagon Zen Hotel or similar ★★★★

Today will begin with an early breakfast to get our energy up for an exciting day. After breakfast, we will take a boat trip to the Floating Market and watch the locals sit aboard their small boats selling and exchanging goods. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, we will visit Dong Tam Snakes Farm – the largest snake farm in Viet Nam. We will have a delicious lunch at the Mekong Rest Stop before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.


Floating Market
 

Day 18Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Alagon Zen Hotel or similar ★★★★

In the morning, we will explore Cu Chi guerrilla's area and visit the underground tunnels. There are more than 200km of tunnels that were built by the Communist guerrillas during the war.  After lunch, the afternoon will be free time left to you to explore the city by yourslef or go for shopping.


Cu Chi Tunnels
 

Day 19Departure Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at hotel, Free at leisure until transferring to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.

Service ends