Welcome to Vietnam!

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at airport, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. Early check-in at your hotel is subject to availability on arrival.

Suggested evening Water Puppet show: Water Puppetry is a traditional and unique Vietnamese Art. This highly entertaining form of theatre uses the water surface as stage. Standing waist-deep in the water, the master puppeteers are hidden behind a bamboo screen. The technical virtuosity of the puppeteers is startling and the music enticing. The entire atmosphere is truly enchanting. Many of the brief episodes relate to scenes of the daily life. (The water puppet show is not included in your itinerary but can be arranged by your guide and paid for locally).

Highlights: Arrival and welcome
None
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Morning tour of Hanoi & cyclo tour of the Old Quarter: Start the tour of Hanoi with a visit to Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a relic complex associated with the history of Thang Long – Dong Kinh citadel and Hanoi province starting from the pre-Thang Long period (An Nam invaded in 17th century) through Dinh – Tien Le period. thriving under the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties and Hanoi citadel under the Nguyen dynasty.This is a huge architectural work, built by the kings in many historical periods and became the most important monument in the system of Vietnamese monuments. Following we will pass by the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation’s independence in 1945. Afterwards you will visit the ancient Temple of Literature which was built in the 11th century and was the first university established in Vietnam. End the day by enjoying a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. The best way to explore the picturesque area of the Old Quarter is by “cyclo” (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi). Also known as the “36 Streets District”, it was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds.  This is still reflected in the names of certain streets:  like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street.  Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of tantalising souvenir shops.

Afternoon at leisure in Hanoi: This afternoon you have time at leisure to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, go shopping in the Old Quarter, and sample some of Hanoi’s many culinary delights for dinner.

Highlights: Hanoi city tour with cyclo ride
Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay: This morning (at approximate 08.00am to 08.30am) you will be met at your hotel by your private guide. Then You will be driven through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the waters of Ha Long Bay are found, a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Overnight Ha Long cruise: You will arrive in Ha Long around midday, where you will board your deluxe junk where a welcome drink awaits. After a relaxing break, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch while cruising through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waters like dragons’ teeth. All activities arranged by the cruise are on a shared basis. After lunch you will explore some of Ha Long Bay’s famous caves and grottos. There will also be the opportunity for swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon there will be an excursion to a local fishing village, and a water tunnel. Return to the boat in time for a pre-dinner drink as the sun is setting. Please note that the cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Highlights: Overnight on bay, swimming
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sharing on your selected boat in Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay

Morning’s Cruise: Enjoy an early start with Tai Chi on the sundeck, otherwise sleep in until breakfast is served. This morning, you will visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the medium size and less visited cave in Bai Tu Long Bay. After seeing these amazing rock formations return to the quay at Hon Gai in the mid-morning, whilst brunch is served on board. Disembark the junk late this morning.

Road journey from Ha Long back to Hanoi: Travel back by road to Hanoi with sightseeing en route, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Continue to Hanoi airport in time to catch your onward flight to Hue.

Highlights: Tai Chi on board and fly to Hue
Brunch
Overnight in Hue at your selected hotel

Morning guided tour of Hue city: This morning, stroll around the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City nearby. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls surrounded by a large moat afford good views of Hue. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence. Following, we will visit a special residence in Hue where you can learn from the family members how they bring the essence of the Royal ambiance and culture into their home. The house was built in royal architectural style, located on the most beautiful site of the Perfume River, and conceptually designed as an East West cultural meeting place. The owners will welcome you personally for tea-break and possible interaction to learn more about Hue cultural.

Afternoon tour to the Royal Mausoleums: The final resting places of the Nguyen Emperors are dotted around the hills surrounding the south bank of the Perfume River. They were also designed for recreation – somewhere the emperor could fish, hunt and enjoy the company of his concubines in his twilight years. Each tomb is of individual construction but usually features a pavilion, detailing the lifetime accomplishments of the dead emperor, a temple for worship to the emperor, a sepulchre, where the emperor’s remains are enclosed, a decorative courtyard and a lotus pond. The Tomb of Tu Duc and of Khai Dinh are two of the best examples and you will be shown around these during the tour.

Highlights: Explore Hue city
Breakfast
Overnight in Hue at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hue to Hoi An: This morning, you will be driven south, along highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son Mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloudbanks over the peaks. The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam’s turbulent history and from the top there are views of the curve of Danang Bay. Then, continue transfer to Hoi An and check in your hotel and relaxation.

Afternoon Hoi An walking tour: You will enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center including temples, old houses, pagodas and the Japanese-covered Bridge to introduce an insight of Hoi An architecture/ history as well as the restoration plan being implemented by UNESCO. Free on your own to explore this ancient town and the colorful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. The market is a good place to buy silk, which can be made upon into fine garments, all within a day. The remainder of the day is free at leisure for your own time of shopping or hanging around.

Highlights: Moving to Hoi An and walking tour
Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Guided cycling tour to countryside of Hoi An and cooking class at Kumquat: After breakfast, around 08.00am depart the resort to Hoi An to enjoy a soft cycling tour to Hoi An’s countryside. Our ride begins by exploring the hidden passageways and winding alleyways of Hoi An, stopping to photograph the iconic Japanese bridge. Crossing first the canal bridge near the night market we continue to the new metal bike bridge connecting Hoi An proper and its southern villages. We continue riding to one of Hoi An’s most beautiful villages. Next, we pedal past rice fields and vegetable farms along small canals and waterways towards a boat building site. Next, we pedal past rice fields and head to Tra Que vegetable village, which is named after a sweet-scented herb they grow and use to spice up Hoi An specialties. Upon arrival, learn about the history and custom of this charming village. Learn the traditional gardening methods and how they cultivate the vegetables.

Arriving at Kumquat Cooking class restaurant, where we have a chance to freshen up before joining our cooking class. Working together with the chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils. After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Recipes from the class will be made available to you so you can recreate them at home. After lunch, take a short ride through alleyways back to ancient town. On the way back, we will visit to local shops selling handmade lanterns, leather, jewellery and textiles. Then, take a walk to local coffee in Hoi An town (near the riverbank) to try a local coffee or local fruit/ice-cream.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the charming tour of Hoi and surrounding area independently.

Highlights: Cycling tour and private cooking class
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Day at leisure: Today is at leisure to explore the charming tour of Hoi and surrounding area independently or relax at the nearby beach.

Highlights: Free day 
Breakfast
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Private transfer: This morning you will be met by your driver and transferred to the airport for your flight to Saigon.

Guided tour into the Mekong Delta: On arrival you will be met at the airport and you will then take a scenic one and half hours drive to a lush green area in the middle of the Mekong Delta called My Tho. On arrival in My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, an ancient southern architectural gem. Built in 1849, the structure is a mixture of Asian and European architecture including elements from the Renaissance period, Romanesque style, French decorative flowers and Japanese tiles. Later you will arrive at the jetty in My Tho, here you will take a motorised sampan ride across the Mekong River to the island to visit one of the islands named Dragon or Unicorn or Turtle or Phoenix islands. Enjoy simple lunch at local restaurant offering Mekong Delta specialties. After lunch, continue to visit fishing port and floating fishing village. Have opportunity to interact with local farmer here. Our sampan will be riding through Vam Xep canal to visit orchard garden. Afterward, a hand-rowing sampan will take you through narrow canal under a green canopy of water-coconut trees to catch a glimpse of the daily activities of the local people with a visit homemade coconut candy.

After the visit, re-embark your boat to ride back to My Tho pier for disembarkation and continue by road to Can Tho, a journey of approximately one and half hours. Upon arrival, check in your hotel and evening is at leisure. ***Please note that the above itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Highlights: Mekong Delta
Breakfast
Overnight in Can Tho at your selected hotel

Morning visit to Can Tho floating market: After an early breakfast (or you can enjoy breakfasts after tour) this morning depart by road to a nearby dock, and board a sampan boat to explore Cai Rang (or Phong Dien floating market nearby), the largest floating market on the Mekong. The seemingly chaotic gathering is mostly large boats wholesaling vegetables and fruit, but there are also local traders selling groceries to the larger boats. After visiting the floating market, you have the option to visit a noodle making facility and local fruit orchard or return to the hotel to rest. Have breakfast at your hotel.

Road journey from Can Tho to Saigon: At approximated time today, check out your hotel and you will be transferred back to Saigon, a journey of approximately 2 hours and half, depending on traffic conditions. Arrive in Saigon, you will be transferred to your hotel for check in and relaxation.

Highlights: Move to Saigon
Breakfast
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Morning guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels: Travel out of the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast network of tunnels, stretching for over 150 kilometres, was built by the Viet Cong in the battles for the South. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who virtually lived in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels whilst the war raged. Nearby, a chilling demonstration of the traps and weapons that were used against the Americans is given. The Cu Chi tunnels have been widened in places for visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces.

Afternoon guided tour of Saigon city: This afternoon visits Saigon’s historic landmark including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France. Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Experience Saigon’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into daily life of a Saigonese before returning to your hotel.

Highlights: Saigon city tour and Cu Chi tunnels
Breakfast
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: This morning is at leisure in Saigon to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs. You will have to check out of your room at noon time and then be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. ***Note: check out time at your hotel is at 12:00pm

Highlights: Ends of your trip in Vietnam
Breakfast

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