Going Home to Visit My Mother

DAY 1: SAN FRANCISCO - HANOI

Guests will gather at San Francisco airport to complete check-in procedures for their flight back to Hanoi, Vietnam.

DAY 2: HANOI - CITY TOUR (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, guests will complete immigration procedures, and a vehicle and guide will take the group for lunch and check into the hotel for rest.

In the afternoon, the group toured around Hanoi.

• The Grand Church - Cathedral: Hanoi Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, where the Archbishop's throne is located. It is an ancient church in the city, regularly hosting religious activities for Catholic parishioners from the cathedral parish as well as the entire archdiocese.
• Ngoc Son Temple: Located on a mound known as Ngoc Son Island in the northeast of Hoan Kiem Lake, the temple gate is situated on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Trong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. The history of this temple is marked by many ups and downs and is closely linked to the history of the country.
• The Huc Bridge: “"Curved like a shrimp," it is made of wood. The Huc means "the place where the early morning sun's rays rest." This is a symbol of the sun god leading the way into Ngoc Son Temple.

Experiencing a ride around Hanoi on a cyclo will bring visitors unforgettable emotions when they come to the capital city.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Feel free to explore Hanoi's Old Quarter at night.

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI - SAPA (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

In the morning, guests will have breakfast at the hotel and check out. The vehicle will then take the group to Sapa.

Have lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Sapa.

In the afternoon, upon arriving in Sapa, visitors will have the opportunity to explore.

• Cat Cat Village – This is an ancient Hmong village that still preserves many traditional crafts such as cotton and linen cultivation, weaving, and jewelry making. In particular, it retains many unique customs that are not found in other regions or no longer exist in their original form.
• Offering prayers at Sapa church.

After dinner, guests are free to stroll around Sapa at night.

Spend the night in Sapa.

DAY 4: SAPA - HANOI

After breakfast at the hotel and checking out, guests will be taken by car for sightseeing.

• Climb Ham Rong Mountain for sightseeing: Orchid Garden 1-2, Pear Garden, Wild Apple Garden, Central Flower Garden, Broken Rock, Heaven's Gate, Dragon's Head, ... offering panoramic views of Sapa from an altitude of 1,600m.

Take the cable car to conquer Fansipan, located at an altitude of 3,143 meters. Known as the Roof of Indochina. (Expenses are self-funded)

Depart for Hanoi. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

DAY 5: HANOI - NINH BINH (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

Have breakfast at the hotel. Check out. Depart. Ninh Binh – dubbed the "Ha Long Bay on land," with its many undulating hills and mountains running along the roads and rivers, creating an incredibly poetic and picturesque landscape. The delegation visited:

• The So Kien Pilgrimage Center in Ha Nam belongs to the Archdiocese of Hanoi.

Here, visitors can explore the exhibition of relics of the martyrs, such as: the rope used to bind Saint Peter Le Tuy, the earthenware jar stained with the blood of Saint Ven, chains, shackles, torture instruments, death row cards, tombstones, and especially the skull of Saint Peter Thi, the bones of Saint Andrew Dung Lac, and 14 paintings depicting martyrdom scenes, preserved at the Paris Foreign Missions Society in France, which are also reproduced and displayed here. The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in So Kien, formerly the Cathedral of the Western Tonkin Diocese (Hanoi), bearing the title of the Immaculate Conception, began construction on October 25, 1877, and was inaugurated in January 1883, under the direction of Bishop Puginier Phuoc (1835-1892). The church is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.

• Offering Mass at So Kien.

Have lunch at a local restaurant. Continue your journey. Ninh Binh.

• Take a boat trip on the Ngo Dong River and visit the scenic Tam Coc area.
• Visit Kim Son to see Phat Diem Stone Church - a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge, and a structure that has been classified as a national historical and cultural relic.

Have dinner. Check into the hotel.

Overnight stay at Ninh Binh.

DAY 6: NINH BINH - LA VANG (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

Have breakfast at the hotel. Check out. Depart. Quang Binh.

Have lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Quang Binh.

Arrive Yell, Check in. Have dinner.

Attend Mass. Keeping vigil beside Mother.

Overnight stay in La Vang

 DAY 7: LA VANG - HUE - DA NANG (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

Guests will have breakfast at the hotel.

After attending Mass at La Vang, we continue our journey to Hue and visit the Hue Imperial Citadel complex.

• Hue Imperial CitadelClosely associated with the history of 13 kings of the Nguyen dynasty.
• Thien Mu PagodaAlso known as Linh Mu Pagoda, it is one of the most famous and important pagodas in Hue City, Vietnam. Located on Ha Khe Hill, on the banks of the Perfume River, it offers a beautiful and solemn setting. With its long history and unique architecture, Thien Mu Pagoda has become an attractive religious and tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors.

The group departs for Da Nang, has dinner, and checks into their hotel for rest. Free time to stroll along Da Nang's beach promenade at night.

Spend the night in Da Nang.

DAY 8: DA NANG - SAIGON - BEN TRE (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

After breakfast at the hotel, guests check out and are transferred to the airport for their flight to Saigon.

Upon arriving in Saigon, the group continued their journey to Ben Tre, the land of coconuts, for a visit to:

• Church of Our Lady of RomeThe church houses an image of the Virgin Mary that was submerged in a canal for three months. Although the image faded and became blurry after being submerged for three months, it gradually regained its original clarity.

The bus took the group to Can Tho, known as the capital of the Mekong Delta, which attracts many domestic and international tourists every year.

Check into the hotel and rest.

Spend the night in Can Tho.

DAY 9: CAN THO - TAC SAY CHURCH (FATHER TRUONG BUU DIEP) - SAIGON (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

After breakfast at the hotel and checking out, the group departs for Bac Lieu to visit:

• Tac Say Church– is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Western region. It is not only associated with the sacred and touching stories of Father Truong Buu Diep, but it is also famous for its beautiful architecture, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
• Celebrating Mass at Father Diep's church.

After lunch, you will return to Saigon for sightseeing:

• Notre Dame Cathedral:
• Ben Thanh Market
• Central Post Office.
• Ben Thanh Market.

Check into the hotel. Have dinner and rest. Overnight stay in Saigon.

DAY 10: SAIGON – OUR LADY OF NUI CUI – OUR LADY OF TA PAO (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

Guests will have breakfast at the hotel in the morning. The vehicle will then take guests to the pilgrimage center.  “"Our Lady of Mount Cúi"”.

The Nui Cui Pilgrimage Center, belonging to the Xuan Loc Diocese, is considered the largest pilgrimage center in Vietnam. It features a 33-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary (excluding the base) and a square with a capacity of over 100,000 people, not including surrounding areas. The majestic scenery is another reason why visitors cannot miss it, with the statue of the Virgin Mary atop the mountain on one side and her image facing the vast, tranquil Tri An Lake on the other.

– Offering Mass at the pilgrimage center Our Lady of Mount Cúi.

After attending Mass, guests will have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue their journey to Tanh Linh, Binh Thuan.

Upon arriving in Binh Thuan, adjust your attire and begin your visit.  Mother Ta Pao. Attending a pilgrimage Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary.

In the afternoon, the vehicle will take you to the hotel to check in and rest. In the evening, you are free to explore.

Spend the night in Binh Thuan.

DAY 11: BINH THUAN - SAIGON (3 MEALS INCLUDED)

After breakfast at the hotel, the vehicle will take you back to Saigon for sightseeing:

• Ong Ba Chieu MausoleumThis is the largest cultural and spiritual landmark in Saigon. This is a mausoleum.‘General Le Van Duyet (1764-1832) – the former Governor-General of Gia Dinh citadel”. The mausoleum's official name is Thuong Cong Temple, as inscribed in Chinese characters at the triple-arched gate.
• Binh Tay Market: Binh Tay Wholesale Market is located in the Cholon area, so it is also unofficially known as Cholon Market. It is one of the oldest markets in Saigon, with a history of nearly 100 years.

After lunch, the vehicle will take you back to the hotel to rest. In the evening, you are free to explore Saigon at night.

DAY 12: SAIGON - SAN FRANCISCO (BREAKFAST INCLUDED)

Guests will enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel. After checking out, the vehicle and tour guide will take guests to the airport for their flight back to San Francisco. Farewell to the group – we look forward to seeing you again on future trips with Carnival.

You can change your ticket to stay and visit relatives in Vietnam.