Deluxe Vietnam: March 11-26, 2011

will take travelers from that grand old dame of the orient, Hanoi to the highlands of hill-tribe villages in SaPa to beautiful Halong Bay aboard a deluxe classic junk, from Danang to the Citadel city of Hue and to historic Hoi An. That's three World Heritage sites, in each of which the group will spend several days.

Hanoi, a city with a thousand year history, has a unique and vibrant culture today. It is dotted with lakes and temples, graced with sweeping, tree-lined boulevards, bustling with innumerable motorbikes, and offers many museums with exhibits to suit almost every interest. Travel by train (private carriages) to the scenic, mountainous northwest region of Vietnam right near the China border. Here are the terraced rice paddies and small villages of the H'mong people with beautiful textiles and colorful dress. Next depart to the geological wonders of Halong Bay with its famous limestone islands and caves (featured in LA Times Travel Section) and stay aboard a classic Junk for a night right on the bay and another night on Cat Ba Island. Head back to Hanoi and then south for a languorous boat ride on the Tam Coc and ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Take the night train (private carriages) to the old imperial city of Hue for tours of the Citadel (similar to Forbidden City in Beijing) and boat ride on the Perfume River. Then go further south to relax in riverside Hoi An, an ancient trading center where Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, French, Dutch, and Thai merchants lived together peaceably. Today Hoi An has become a travelers haven, but it is still irresistible with its authentic, quaint charm. And, yes, there are beaches, like China Beach. The town is also famous for its tailor shops which can make you any custom clothing you desire for reasonable prices. Finally a flight back to Hanoi and then back home.