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4D3N Can Tho, Sa Dec & Vinh Long … a tour inspired by the movie “The Lover” Discover the Mekong Delta where the flow of life is determined by rivers and canals, ...fertile grounds for rice fields, fruit orchards & flowers, ...of crossings by bridges and ferries, ...of trade & industries centered around riverside towns. A flow little changed from 100 years ago, when during the French colonial days, a teenage Marguerite Duras began her love affair with the son of a wealthy local merchant... an affair that she later transcribed into her award winning novel which was later made into the movie "The Lover".

DAY 1: CAN THO – XEO QUYT – SA DEC (L/D) 7.55am Air Asia departure from KLIA2, arriving 8.50am at Can Tho Airport. Transfer to visit Xeo Quyt Heritage Zone, located in Dong Thap Province. It is a forest and swamp area which is also filled with remnants of a hidden Viet Cong base of the Vietnam war. Take a sampan boat ride to

explore the area; followed by a walk along the tourist trail to see up close remnants of the base.

After lunch, transfer to Sa Dec city with a ferry crossing across the river (just like in the movie "The Lover"). Sa Dec city is a riverside port plus agricultural and industrial trading center.

On arrival, visit the House of Huynh Thuy Le, Marguerite Duras’ real life lover who inspired her award winning novel. The house was still under the ownership of his

descendents right up to the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975. It then became a police station (hence filming of “The Lover” in 1991 could not be done at this house) before restoration as a heritage museum in 2007. Next, visit the riverside Sa Dec Market area. Overnight in Sa Dec

DAY 2 SA DEC – VINH LONG – CAN THO (B/L/D) Morning, stop in front of the School which Marguerite Duras’ mother taught as a teacher (the school is now Trung Vuong Primary School).

Then transfer to visit Happy Land Flower Gardens located in Tan Quy Dong commune. Sa Dec area is famous for flower cultivation and is nicknamed “Garden of Cochin-China”.

Then transfer to Vinh Long Province (in the movie “The Lover”, the lover’s family home is mentioned to be in Vinh Long). Take a boat to An Binh Island, an island located in the middle of the Mekong River. Visit Vinh Sang Eco-Tourism Area where you will learn of local community lifestyle, see how coconut candy is made and visit the bird garden. (Other optional activities/games EXCLUDED: pay direct at counter). Enjoy your lunch and then take a short walk to visit a fruit orchard to enjoy delicious seasonal fruits; the Mekong Delta area is famous as fruit producing region of Vietnam. Then take a boat to visit Tien Chau Pagoda, an ornate Buddhist temple which is also the oldest in Vinh Long.

Return back to main land and take a boat to visit a brick making factory, which features a series of ‘bee hive’ shaped kilns. Brick-making and pottery has been long established in

Vinh Long province due to abundant supply of pyrite clay of reddish colour. Then visit Van Thanh Mieu Confucian Temple; which is 1 of only 3 Confucian temples in south Vietnam; it was built in 1866. The Vietnamese call Confucius “Van The Su Bieu” (‘eternal teacher’).

Transfer to Can Tho city, the 4th most populated city of Vietnam (after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong) and the largest in the Mekong Delta area. It is an independent municipality and not attached to any province; it is known as the “Western Capital”. Visit Lotus Pedestrian Bridge to enjoy the lighting at night. Then dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 3 Can Tho & Cai Rang Floating Market (B/L/-) Morning, visit Cai Rang Floating Market, one of busiest floating markets in the Mekong Delta, with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods.

Then visit Cai Khe Market, the main wholesale & retail market of Can Tho city

with variety such as fruits, vegetables, dried seafood, local snacks & dessert, coffee and clothing.

Lunch in restaurant at riverside Ninh Kieu Old Market building. Visit Ho Chi Minh Statue, Ong Pagoda (a Chinese temple dedicated to Guan Kong) and Khmer Muniransay Temple (a

Theravada Buddhist temple of the local Khmer community).

Then visit Dinh Binh Thuy House, the French-style influenced house built in 1870 by the Duong family on an area of nearly 6,000 sq m. This house was used in filming the movie “The Lover" to represent the lover’s family house (instead of the actual family house in Sa Dec). Then visit Ninh Kieu night market. Dinner on your own here. Transfer back to hotel for overnight. Overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 4 Can Tho Departure (B/-/-) After breakfast, transfer to airport for 9.20am flight home, arriving KLIA2 at 12.15pm. RATES: in Ringgit Malaysia, per person, twin sharing basis, for travel Dec 2020 to Jun 2021

13–15 paxs: RM 935 10–12 paxs: RM 995 7–9 paxs: RM 1020 5–6 paxs: RM 1190

4 paxs: RM 1350 3 paxs: RM 1590 2 paxs: RM 2090 Sgl Supplement: RM 280

Surcharge to be advised for:

a) X'MAS to New Year DEC 21 - JAN 5 b) Vietnamese New Year FEB 7-20 c) Hung Kings' Temple Festival APR 21 d) Unification Day and Labor Day APR 30 – MAY 1

Rates and itinerary subject to changes in FOREX rates, unforeseen surcharges, weather, local conditions, etc. INCLUSIVE:

a) Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast: Sa Dec: Van Kim Long Hotel (2 star best in Sa Dec; Bungalow Deluxe or Premium Deluxe) or similar Can Tho: Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel (3 star; Superior) or similar

b) Lunch and Dinner as mentioned in itinerary above. c) Airport transfers and transportation on private basis using air-con tour van/coach d) Entrance fees for attractions as per itinerary; including sampan ride at Xeo Quyt Heritage Zone. e) English speaking tour guide f) Drinking water with 2 x 500ml bottles/day/person (except last day)

EXCLUSIONS:

Air tickets, airport taxes & fuel surcharge

Dinner on Day 3 (on your own budget at Can Tho Night Market)

Compulsory minimum tipping (shared by guide & driver): 2 to 4 paxs group: USD 7/ pax/ day 5 to 7 paxs group: USD 5/ pax/ day 8 or more paxs: USD 3/ pax/ day

Boat Rower at Xeo Quyt Heritage Zone: approx. 20,000 Dong /pax

Travel insurance: can be arranged separately AXA Assurance RM40 /person (4 days coverage)

Malaysian passport holders don’t require visa to visit Vietnam. Other nationalities to be advised.

Expenses of personal nature like activities not part of itinerary, drinks during meals, tipping for hotel staff/restaurant staff, laundry surcharges, mini bar charges, etc.