2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions - Uniworld River ...

Day 9 | Shanghai BB, L, D
Day 11 | Ho Chi Minh City BB, L, W
Grand Asia & the Mekong
Featured Excursion: Shanghai city tour with Oriental Pearl TV
Tower and Shanghai Acrobats performance
8 2 b m p f
Bustling Shanghai is the commercial capital of China, and
today’s tour will take you to some of this sprawling city’s most
impressive sights. You’ll go to Old Town—with its teahouses,
temples, narrow alleyways, and markets—for a taste of historic
Shanghai. After a dim sum lunch, you’ll stroll along the Bund,
Shanghai’s famed waterfront promenade, which is home to over
50 buildings offering a variety of architectural styles, including
Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Déco.
Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower—one of the tallest towers
in Asia—and Shanghai Municipal Museum. This evening, be
dazzled by the amazing Shanghai Acrobats.
Day 10 | Shanghai, fly to Ho Chi Minh City CB/BB b d
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam and transfer to the hotel.
Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International
Airport, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and
transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a private check-in and a welcome
briefing with complimentary drinks at the hotel. An elegant
flower arrangement and fruit platter await you in your room.
Tonight, consider popping out to explore the lively Ben Thanh
Night Market or one of the city’s quintessential evening cafés.
Featured Excursions: Cu Chi Tunnels, rubber plantation, and
Ho Chi Minh City tour 8 2 b f x
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an astonishing system of underground
passageways begun by the Viet Minh in 1948 and expanded
by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. You’ll learn about
the tunnels’ astounding history, when they housed everything
from soldiers’ sleeping quarters to hospitals and schools.
Examine the frightening traps that once protected the tunnels
from enemy combatants and, if you’re feeling adventurous,
step into the tunnels yourself for an up-close look. You’ll also
get to speak with a Viet Cong veteran about his experiences
living and fighting in the area. Then it’s on to a local rubber
plantation for an eye-opening lesson on how latex is harvested
and processed.
After stopping for lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll enjoy a
panoramic tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Known as Saigon until
1975, this is the largest, most energetic city in Vietnam. Your
tour will introduce you to the city’s storied past and its
vibrant present, as you drive past elegant French colonial
buildings and teeming new commercial centers. You’ll begin
with a stop at Reunification Palace, which is situated on the
site of the former French governor’s residence. On April 30,
1975, a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the
gates of the palace, symbolizing the downfall of the South
Vietnamese government and the end of the Vietnam War.
You’ll then head a few blocks away to Paris Square, where
you’ll see the stately General Post Office and imposing Notre
Dame Cathedral, which was built entirely with materials
imported from France.
Grand Asia & the Mekong
Then hop back on your motorcoach for a drive around the
city to see City Theater, the French-era opera house; City
Hall; and the US Consulate. You’ll also stop at a local shop
to visit with lacquer artisans about the history and cultural
significance of their beloved craft. Tonight you’ll be treated
to a special Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant,
featuring live music and exquisitely presented food.
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