Vietnam March 2011
March 2011
Join our 8th international painting excursion to Vietnam and Cambodia as we explore these amazing countries. Our journey begins in Ho Chi Minh City (formally Siagon), teeming with markets, sidewalk cafés, massage and acupuncture clinics, centuries-old pagodas, sleek skyscrapers and ramshackle wooden shops. From here we travel to
central Vietnam to the beautiful central coast town of Hoi An, which we will call home for a few relaxing days in this historic town with its ancient architecture, including the majestic 400 year old Japanese covered bridge and the vibrant riverside market, and easy access to the beautiful beaches of the south China Sea.
We then travel north to Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam. Hanoi has it all; the ancient history, colonial legacy and modern outlook all jockey for attention amid the surreal urban setting, where every dynasty has left behind its imprint. A short coach ride from Hanoi brings us to Ha Long Bay, a breathtaking Unesco World Heritage Site where we will overnight on a Junk and explore several of the 2,000 limestone islands covered with wildlife and filled with caves and grottoes.
Our adventure continues in Cambodia with a tour of Angkor Wat, the largest and undoubtedly the most breath-taking of the ancient ruins, which is widely believed to be the largest religious structure in the world. A stunning blend of symmetry and spirituality, and an enduring example of man’s devotion to his gods. Our trip concludes with departure via Penom Pehn en route to Hong Kong and home.
Opportunities to lengthen your tour exist extending your stay in Hong Kong; fit in some last minute shopping, visit Aberdeen Harbour, Victoria Peek, or ride the Star ferry to Kawloon to take in the colours and smells of the night markets.
Itinerary
Although every effort has and will be taken to adhere to the following itinerary it is subject to change without notice - pending hotel and tour availability, group size and other practical concerns.
March 12 /13(Day 1) Early morning departure from YVR for Ho Chi Min city (Saigon) via Hong Kong- losing a day across the international date line. On arrival to Saigon, we transfer to our hotel and venture out on an orientation tour of city with visits to Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post office, China Town, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple. Group dinner and a well deserved sleep. (D)
March 14 (Day 2) Breakfast is followed by a brief meeting and our first painting morning session with lunch on our own. *Optional tour to Cu Chi tunnel is planned for the afternoon for anyone who is interested. We will meet up as a group for dinner on our own. (B)
March 15 (Day 3) Depart Ho Chi Minh City for the Mekong Delta. At My Tho we take a boat cruise along the river including a short walk to visit a handicraft workshop with products made from coconut tree. Float on a sampan through the narrow, tree-lined canals of the Mekong Delta. Return to Ho Chi Minh City by late afternoon. (B,L). Dinner is on our own.
March 16 (Day 4) Morning breakfast is followed by a day of painting and time to explore the shopping in the markets as well as explore individual interest like the War Museum, Museum of History or the many Pagodas and temples around our centrally located hotel (B)
March 17 (Day 5) Following breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight to Da Nang where we make the short coach trip to Hoi An and a tour of this quaint historic town before checking into our Hotel for the afternoon. (B)
March 18 (Day 6) Breakfast is followed by a painting demonstration in the beautiful gardens of our Hotel followed by an art walk of the local galleries and studios, as well as plenty of time to paint in the streets of this inspiring town. Lunch at local restaurant with dinner on our own (B,L)
March 19 (Day7) A completely free day for painting, photography or a visit to the nearby beach (B)
March 20 (Day 
Following breakfast we depart for our flight to Hanoi. Meet our guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel. In the evening we will enjoy the famous Water Puppet show. (B) (Hue departure)
March 21 (Day 9) A free day for drawing and painting in and around Hoan Kiem lake sandwiched between the old quarter and the French quarter and central to Hanian folklore. (B)
March 22 (Day 10) An early breakfast is followed by a coach transfer to Halong Bay where we will board a junk for a overnight tour of this stunningly beautiful location, visiting the many islands, viewing wildlife and floating markets. (B,L,D)
March 23 (Day 11) Return to Hanoi, en route we stop at Bac Ninh, take a horse-drawn cart and visit Dinh Bang communal house and Do Temple before returning to Hanoi. Lunch at local restaurant. (B,L)
March 24 (Day 12) A completely free day for painting, photography or a visit to the nearby beach (B)
March 25 (Day 13) A lazy morning to pack and then transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival we are picked up by our local guide and transfer to hotel with time before dinner to explore on our own. Dinner at local restaurant. (B,D)
March 26 (Day 14) Breakfast is followed by an early morning tour of Angkor complex, with the afternoon free to paint at the ruins. We end the day with a tour to the mountaintop temple of Phnom Bakheng for sunset view. (B,D)
March 27 (Day 15) Morning tour of other temples for Angkor Wat, with time in the afternoon to paint, and our farewell dinner at hotel. (B,D)
March 28 (Day16) Transfer to airport for departure flight from Hong Kong Via Phnom Penh International.
Hong Kong Extension: The opportunity to extend your visit in Hong Kong for a little shopping, or a studio visit with our friend and Master painter/printmaker Joseph Wong.
Our Painting locations
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is located at the heart of the southern part of Vietnam, between the northern edge of the Mekong Delta and the South Eastern region of volcanic red soil. Being a transformation between the two terrains, Ho Chi Minh City is intertwined with natural forest, vast plains, long coast and hundreds of rivers and canals.
Over the past three centuries, Saigon, once praised as the “Pearl of the Orient”, was known as an important trade center for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants. It had also been christened the “Paris of Asia” for its wide boulevards lined with stately trees and magnificent French villas. With a population of 9 million it is the largest city in Vietnam, and a major hub for commercial, tourist, cultural and scientific activities.
Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. Hoi An is a town oozing charm and history, having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars. Once a sleepy riverside village, it’s now quite definitely a tourist town – with hotels, restaurants, bars, tailors and souvenir shops dominating the old centre. Hoi An is pedestrian-friendly: the Old Town is closed to cars.
Perhaps more than any other place in Vietnam, Hoi An retains a sense of history that envelops you as you explore it. In the past Hoi An has been used by the Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the large remaining Chinese community. Remnants of these past traders’ influences can still be seen lining the streets of Hoi An. There are nine different types of historical sites in Hoi An with an average age of 200 years. They include private houses, family chapels, community halls, communal houses, temples, pagodas, bridges, wells and tombs.
Hanoi is often referred to as the grand old dame of Asia. Hanoi lay in a deep slumber after Vietnam’s partition in 1954 until the effects of economic reforms kicked in four decades later. The city survived American bombs and Russian planners to emerge relatively unscathed in the early 1990s as an example of a French-conceived colonial city. Huge mansions line grand boulevards, and lakes and parks dot the city, providing a romantic backdrop to the nonstop soundtrack. There are still moments of Paris, as the smell of baguettes and café au lait permeates street corners.
During the two Indochinese Wars in the 20th century Hanoi had been heavily damaged, but there is virtually no evidence of that now and the particularly thin, tall, often awkward-looking buildings that you see on streets are not a result of bombing, but are created by landowners who own only a thin slice of land. Hanoi has a number of lovely parks and big lakes which inspired the ancient architects to build graceful temples nearby, and Museums with precious exhibits of Vietnam’s Fine Arts, Ethnology, History and Recent Wars that attract not only historians but foreign visitors and local people.
Ha Long Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders and is the most beautiful tourist destination of Vietnam. Ha Long Bay features more than one thousand awesome limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes along the 120-km coastline of Bai Chay Beach.
Majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious: words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Halong Bay. Imagine 3000 or more incredible islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and you have a vision of breathtaking beauty.
Its waters are host to a great diversity of ecosystems including offshore coral reefs, freshwater swamp forests, mangrove forests, small freshwater lakes, and sandy beaches. The folk tale has it that the dragons descended from heaven to help locals by spitting jewels and jade to the sea, forming a natural fortress against invaders; these precious stones are represented by the lush green outcrops. Several islands boast beautiful grottos and caves with contiguous chambers, hidden ponds and peculiar stone formations. The bay is about 170 kilometers northeast of Hanoi and 3,5 hours by road.
Siem Reap (see-em ree-ep) Back in the 1960’s it was the place to be in Southeast Asia and saw a steady stream of the rich and famous. After three decades of slumber, it’s well and truly back and one of the most popular destinations on the planet right now. The life-support system for the temples of Angkor, Camboia’s eighth wonder of the world, Siem Reap was always destined for great things, but few people saw them coming this thick and this fast. It has reinvented itself as the epicentre of the new Cambodia, with more guesthouses and hotels than temples, world-class wining and dining and sumptuous spas.
At its heart, Siem Reap is still a little charmer, with old French shop-houses, shady tree-lined boulevards and a slow-flowing river. But it is expanding at breakneck speed with new houses and apartments, hotels and resorts sprouting like mushrooms in the surrounding countryside. The tourist tide has arrived and locals are riding the wave. Not only is this great news for the long-suffering Khmers, but it has transformed the town into a pulsating place for visitors. Forget the naysayers who mutter into their beers about Siem Reap in the ‘old days’, now is the time to be here, although you may curse your luck when stuck behind a jam of tour buses on the way back from the temples.
If you’ve read anything at all about Angkor Wat, you’ll probably know at least three things: Angkor is one of the most beautiful and suggestive place on the planet, the Angkor Wat Temples area is much bigger than the Angkor Temple alone, and last, nothing is homogeneous, the temples having been built in different times, during a four centuries process.
Trip Registration Details
Thank you for your interest in our Painting tour of Vietnam and Cambodia in March 2011. We ask you to please keep in mind that our itinerary and hotel arrangements may be subject to change without notice for circumstances beyond our control, although we make every effort to stay faithful to our outlined plan.
Important note:
Travelers will be responsible for booking their flights, travel and medical insurance, which are mandatory for travel with our group. A C$500.00 p/p deposit is due on registration and will guarantee you a place for our exciting tour : please see payment schedule on this page.
Painting Tour Dates:
Depart March 12 - Return March 28, 2011
Cost Overview
- Tour Package based on Double occupancy $3450.00 plus gst
- Single occupancy Surcharge $895
(6% discount for early registration prior to May 31st)
in addition you will save the HST tax if you pay before June 30th … don’t delay!
Flight Information: It is the responsibility of each participant to make arrangements for their own flight and insurance. The great benefit to participants making their own flight arrangements is the flexibility it provides for those travelers who wish to extend their tour, use travel points, or are joining us from destinations other than from Vancouver, our home base. After completing the Registration form, specifics on flight details and how to book on line will be provided.
Tour Costs Includes: Our tour package includes all administration and teaching fees, hotel and airport transfers, hotel rooms, breakfast each day, as well as other meals outlined in our itinerary, all tours listed in our itinerary including driver and guide, gratuity, all inland flights while in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Our Tour Costs do not include: Our package does not include international Airline tickets to Ho Chi Minh City– returning via Phnom Penh and related airport fees and taxes, flight or medical insurance, personal bills such as telephone, laundry, room service etc., expenses arising from delays, missed connections and lost tickets,
passport fee, visa fees or meals not indicated on our itinerary
Payment Schedule Please read rules and regulations
On Registration $500 per person deposit
July 1 $500 per person
Sept 1 $500 per person
Nov 1 $500 per person
Dec 1 $500 per person
Jan 1 $500 per person
Feb 1 Final payment
Health & Safety
It is the responsibility for each passenger to look after their own health needs - please check Vancouver Coastal Health Travel Clinic which is up to date with all travel health information www.travelclinic.vch.ca
Appointment Line: 604.736.9244
or check with your GP for recommended shots/ vaccines or prescription drugs you may require while traveling to Asia
- As of today April 22nd there are no Canadian Official travel warnings posted for Vietnam, however travelers are encourage to read health guidelines and safety tips issued by the Canadian government, please check link below! http://www.voyage.gc.ca
- There is a localized travel warning for an area of Cambodia which we will not be traveling to: “travel is not recommended to the Preah Vihear temple area between Preah Vihear province in Cambodia and Sisaket province in Thailand due to a border dispute.”
Registration Requirements:
- Complete Registration Form
- Completed Waiver Form
- Photocopies of Passports
- Copy of Travel and Medical Insurance
- Post Dated Cheques dated as per our schedule
( all the above are non-negotiable)
Visa Requirements:
Vietnam: need to obtain visa prior to arrival
copy of passport + 1 PP Size Photo
Visa fee is $100.00
Cambodia: Visa Obtained upon arrival 1 photo
required + $25 payment due at point of
entry
Rules and Regulations
RULES AND REGULATIONS
RESERVATIONS:
Reservations should be made as early in advance as possible. Late reservations will be accepted only subject to availability.
DEPOSITS:
A deposit of CAD $500.00 per person is required at time of booking. Reservations may be subject to cancellation if deposit is not received within 7 days of booking. If booking is made within 30 days prior to the date of departure from Canada, then full payment is due. A 3.5% surcharge for credit card payments will be applied. Registration after July 1st will require passengers to pay dues according to payment schedule outlined on previous page.
BALANCE PAYMENTS:
Balance payments must be received by Phoenix Art Workshop no later than 30 days prior to the date of departure from Canada. Failure to comply may result in the cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of deposits received.
CANCELLATIONS:
A charge of CAD 300.00 will be levied for any cancellations received 120 days or more prior to the date of departure. Thereafter, the following cancellation penalties will apply:
90 days prior to departure: CAD 500.00 per person
89-60 days prior to departure: CAD 1000.00
59-30 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour cost per person.
7 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total tour cost per person.
*All cancellation notices must be received by Phoenix Art Workshop in writing.*
After departure, any voluntary unused tour services or features, including hotel accommodations, ground transportation, domestic or international flights, and sightseeing tours, are neither refundable nor exchangeable.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
A valid passport is required for all travelers. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after date of tour termination. Visas may also be required for certain destinations. (Passport and visa fees are NOT included in tour cost and are subject to additional charges.
INSURANCE:
As a condition of traveling with Phoenix Art Workshop travelers are required to purchase travel insurance to protect their tour arrangements against cancellation, medical, and other expenses. This will be the responsibility of individual travelers.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Phoenix Art acts only as intermediary for independent suppliers and other contractors providing transportation, accommodation, and other related travel services. Phoenix Art assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident with any services resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, strikes, war declared or undeclared, government regulations, thefts, failure of any means, discrepancies or changes over which it has no control. Any claims for refunds must be made in writing through the agent from whom the tour was purchased within 30 days after tour termination. Failure to provide Phoenix Art with notice in writing will preclude your right to claims against us.
YOUR RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREED TO EACH AND ALL OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS AND LIMITS ON RESPONSIBILITY.
If you have any questions regarding this schedule, rules, or itinerary please do not hesitate to call:
Mark Glavina Phoenix Art Workshop
604-448-1860 mark@phoenixcoastalart.com
Annie Lueng : Cultural Tours 110-8877 Odlin Cresent Richmond, BC V6X 3Z7
604-214-8866
