TOUR SCHEDULE
DAY 1: ARRIVAL – HA NOI
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport, our representative will meet you and transfer to hotel for check in.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Distances and journey time:
Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (35km): 60mins
DAY 2: HA NOI CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
Your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and take you to visit Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then, you will visit one of your choices of the Ethnology, Army or Vietnamese Women’s Museums. Time only allows for one to be visited so please decide which one you would most like to see. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before driving to the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for a view from outside (closed Mondays and Fridays and all mornings) with visits to the “Stilt House of Ho Chi Minh” (closed on Mondays and Fridays) to see his lifestyle as well as the beauty of the gardens; the masterful architecture of the One-Pillar Pagoda, so called as the whole Pagoda actually do stand on only one Pillar. Drive back to central Hanoi for a walking tour through the Old Quarter to enjoy the bustling local life. Then cap off the day with a show at the water puppet theatre - a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history.
Overnight: Hanoi
DAY 3: HA NOI – NINH BINH (B/L/-)
Car & guide will pick up guest at the hotel. Depart to Ninh Binh, a drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital. After visiting the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel of Dinh and Le temples, take a sampan on a river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. Enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place’s other name, ‘Halong on Land’. Lunch will be at a rustic local restaurant serving northern Vietnamese cuisine. On the way back, you may visit the Bich Dong Pagoda is an ancient temple built on Truong Yen limestone mountain range before a private cycling tour, through spectacular scenery of rice fields, karst formations and quaint rural villages. Pass glowing lime kilns fed by the mining of the Limestone Mountains. Then, return by road to Hanoi late afternoon.
Overnight: Ninh Binh
Distances and journey time:
Hanoi to Ninh Binh (95km): 1hr30mins
DAY 4: NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)
The perfect way to see the UNESCO World Heritage area of Ha Long Bay is to spend a night aboard a charming boat. The mystical scenery of Ha Long Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes and surrounded by colorful floating villages, is a truly breathtaking destination.
Following breakfast leave Ninh Binh for a 4-hour drive to Halong Bay including a 20-minutes stop on the way. Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities.
After the welcome onboard, be served with lunch while cruising towards the bay.
In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight on Halong Bay.
Distances and journey time:
From your chosen hotel in Hanoi to Halong Bay (160km): approx. 4hrs
DAY 5: HA LONG BAY – HA NOI (B/L/-)
Enjoy a fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.
Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Distances and journey time:
From Halong Bay to Hanoi (160km): approx. 4hrs
DAY 4: HANOI – PHONG NHA (B)
Be free in the morning until it is time to take the flight to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival, hotel checks in and free at leisure in the evening.
Overnight: Phong Nha
DAY 5: PHONG NHA EXPLORATION DAY (B/L/-)
Transfer to the heart of Phong Nha National Park this morning, and then board your private boat for the 1.5km cruise down the Son River to the Phong Nha Caves. You will enter the mystical tunnels filled with mighty stalactites and stalagmites and visit the Paradise Cave before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Phong Nha
DAY 6: PHONG NHA - HUE (B/L/-)
Leave Phong Nha for Quang Tri Province - Visit Vinh Moc Tunnels - The Old DMZ (Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone) - Hien Luong Bridge Ben Hai River, the Border between the North and the South of Vietnam. Then, you will be transferred to Hue.
Overnight: Hue
DAY 7: HUE FULLDAY CITY TOUR (B/L/-)
8:00 Have breakfast at hotel. This morning you will visit and free go shopping at Dong Ba Market – most famous market in Hue do discover the daily life and get more experience about local people here. Next, you will walk to boat landing for making boat trip on Perfume River to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful scenes along two sides of banks’ river and stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda – one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in Hue and Vietnam. Then you go on visiting the Imperial City, which was the place where Nguyen Dynasty’s Emperor and Royal Family worked and lived from year 1802 to 1945 including many palaces and architectures and surrounding: Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Purple Forbidden City, Nine Dynastic Urns, The Temple, etc. Next, you will visit Khai Dinh Mausoleum which is harmonious with natural surroundings to get some experiences of one of the most famous Emperors in Nguyen Reign.
Free at leisure in the afternoon
Overnight: Hue
DAY 8: HUE- HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (B/L/-)
8:00 Have breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Hoi An Ancient Town. On the way, stop to visit Hai Van Pass, Non Nuoc Beach, Cham Museum, and Marble Mountain. Have lunch at Da Nang local restaurant before going to Hoi An town. Arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon, check in to your hotel and have some free time on your own.
Overnight: Hoi An
DAY 9: HOI AN WALKING TOUR – MY SON HOLY LAND (B/L/-)
8:00 Have breakfast at hotel. This morning departs for the My Son Holy Land to see the remains of Kingdom of Champa. After lunch, drive back to Hoi An for a Walking Tour in Hoi An. It is the best way to get a feel for a place, its past and its people. Our local guide will take you to Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, Tan Ky Old House, Cultural show rooms.
Overnight: Hoi An
DAY 10: HOI AN DEPARTURE – HO CHI MINH (B)
7:00 AM Breakfast at hotel. Transfer back to Da Nang International Airport for your departure flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 11: HIGHLIGHTS OF SAIGON (B/L/-)
9:00 This morning set out for the incredible underground Cu Chi Tunnels, and then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City to visit the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace), Ben Thanh Market, Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) absolutely nice choices for a free stroll.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 12: SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA (B/L/-)
8:00 Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to My Tho.
9:30 – 10:00 am: A smooth one and half hour bus ride passing the green rice fields, leads you to the beautiful rural My Tho city. The morning trip continues the motorized boat on the Tien River to the Qui (Tortoise islet). On the way, you will view the fishing port, stilt houses, boat-building workshops, the other Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. The cruise will lead you through Bao Dinh canal to enter Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, to see a typical agricultural model call “Garden – Pond – Cage” then enjoy coconut candy mill and the relaxing honey tea. Then the amazing rowing boat trip on the small canal – fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut’s tree and cool breezes is something you cannot miss. Lunch will be served right in the heart of the orchard garden.
Afternoon: We will walk into the village, visit fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit while you are listening to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music” performed by the islanders. Here we also can join the daily activities of the local people and enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside.
Your expectations will be fulfilled by final boat trip back to My Tho on the Tan Thach natural canal. Then you will continue to Can Tho in two hours, arrived in Can Tho city – the heart of Mekong River.
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Distances and journey time:
HCMC to Ben Tre (100km): 2hrs
DAY 13: SAI GON – DEPARTURE (B)
Have breakfast at hotel and transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight. End tour.
POLICY
Our services include:
● Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room
● Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
● English or French speaking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply)
● Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle
● Entrance fees for mentioned visits
● Boat trip as mentioned in the itinerary
Our services do not include:
● Other meals than mentioned
● Other services than mentioned
● International and domestic Flights
● Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
● Tips, Travel insurance
Note
Location information