TOUR SCHEDULE
DAY 1: ARRIVAL – SAI GON
Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met by our representative and be transferred to your hotel for check in. Free at leisure after a long flight. Dinner is on your own arrangements.
Overnight: Saigon
DAY 2: SAI GON – CU CHI (B/L/-)
Begin our trip to the Cu Chi by departing at around 8:00 from your hotel. Then we travel through the countryside which was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. Upon arrival, watch a short video about what life was like for soldiers during the war. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn’t escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind.
After lunch, get back to the city and be ready for the city’s exploration trip.
Then start our day visiting two special iconic architectural landmarks of Saigon. The Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. It built between 1877 and 1883. The cathedral remains an active church with services each day. It's also very favored backdrop for Vietnamese wedding photographs.
From here, we will take a short walk to the Opera House. From a bomb shelter to housing the parliamentary Lower House. It's had an interesting history. Restored in 1995 the Opera House has returned to its roots and is once again a theatre.
Then, our trip continues to visit the Reunification Palace. It's once a symbol of the South Vietnamese Government. It was here on 30 April 1975, that the war ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. See the war room, the banquet hall and the presidential office with the unusual gifts which have been received. Then we keep enjoy the War Museum. Where our tour guide will tell the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic time during the Vietnam War. The museum displays of military aircraft, many photographs and weaponry ...
Overnight: Saigon
DAY 3: SAIGON- DISCOVER MEKONG DELTA- CAN THO (B/L/-)
8:00 Help yourself to an amazing breakfast at the hotel and then ready yourself for a 2-hours driving to Mekong Delta area.
Visit My Tho - a busy hub of Mekong delta. Upon arrival at local pier, board local motorized boat on the Mekong river to visit a coconut candy workshop, a famous local specialty. You will see the candy production right in this place with the explanation of local guides.
Take a short horse ride to a local house, meet and talk with people, observe local daily life, visit their bee farm & sample honey-tea. You will continue to take small rowing boat on canals to visit another local house with their orchard, enjoying the traditional music. Walking through fruit orchard to see and taste different kinds of fruit before returning to the pier. Lunch is provided at a local garden restaurant. After lunch, Continue to Can Tho Dinner is on your own. Have free time at night.
Overnight: Can Tho
DAY 4: CAN THO FLOATING MARKET - SAIGON (B/L/-)
7:00 In the early morning, we’ll take boat trip to Cai Rang floating market then you have some distances to cover. First cruise on river and then take a walk on country roads in the magnificent scenery and getting a little bit closer to the local peoples.
Returns to Saigon in the afternoon. Then we will take a walking tour of Saigon’s famous and historic city landmarks. The tour will take you through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street, past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, Municipal Theatre and Notre Dame Cathedral. And then do shopping in Ben Thanh Market. Dinner is on your own.
Overnight: Saigon
DAY 5: SAIGON – HOI AN HIDDEN STREETS (B/D)
Breakfast is served at your hotel. Pick up and transfer direct to the Tan Son Nhat Airport for flight to Hoi An. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be received and guided by one of our representatives who will also help you in getting transferred to your hotel with utmost ease. Check in at the hotel and then relax until 17:00
Start the Hoi An Afternoon Street walking with some hidden venues await to be explored. Explore former merchants’ homes, colourful communal halls, narrow lanes lined with traditional houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. Leave the crowded venue behind and discover some untouched stories in the beautiful old town.
Meander down the small alley to discover an ancient house where the art of healing through martial art is passed down through generations. This healing method is the master’s invention, combined between Qigong, Tai Chi, and traditional Vietnamese martial art. Have a chance to learn some basic steps under the guidance of the master.
Last but not least, visit a cozy home to taste a typical dessert of locals and relax before heading back to the hotel.
Overnight: Hoi An
DAY 6: HOI AN BIKING TO THE RURAL VILLAGE- THE BASKET BOAT TRIP WATER COCONUT FOREST (B/L/-)
08.30 Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, then you will cycle around Hoi An towards through paddy field, Ba Le market, kindergarten … until reaching Van Lang fisherman village and Bay Mau coconut water forest – about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangrove forests, canals, houses covered by coconut water leaf . This place had ever been the refuge for people and local soldiers during the Vietnam War. Nowadays, it is famous for providing the most seafood products.
You will be warmly welcomed by local family, taste of green tea and stroll through the village. You will row a basket boat within the hands of skillful locals and discover their techniques of traditional fishery in water coconut forest.
Back a local family for enjoy a foot bath with medicinal herbs, traditional therapeutic practice before getting ready to prepare lunch with a local family. Lunch will feature many local delicacies, such as Tam Huu spring rolls, Banh Xeo local pancakes, grilled fish in banana leaf and others.
After lunch, free time and take a short rest before returning to your hotel at about 3.30PM.
You have free time to shopping in Hoi An. Dinner is on your own arrangement.
Overnight: Hoi An
DAY 7: HOI AN – HUE (B/L/-)
Our trip will be start from your hotel to Hue in about 2 hours and a half transferring time. Hotel check-in.
After lunch at local restaurant, continue to visit the Imperial City, which is in the Citadel. It's built in the early 19th century. Explore the Thai Hoa Palace, with its spacious hall and ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. See the Halls of the Mandarins. Especially the Nine Dynastic Urns and the site where the Forbidden Purple City once stood. After that we travel to Dong Ba market where you will understand more about the royal citizen life.
Overnight: Hue
DAY 8: HUE – KITE MAKING EXPERIENCE (B)
This tour begins at 08:30. Learn about Hue’s rich culture and heritage from a local artisan. Transfer to the home of Mr. Cu, the director of Hue’s ‘Kite Flying Club’. For three generations, his family has been making traditional Vietnamese kites and he has more than 45 years of experience in crafting unique, handmade kites.
Enter his house, seeing examples of his remarkable kites. Hear about the history of kite flying in Vietnam, a form of once entertainment favoured by the aristocracy and mandarins of the Nguyen Dynasty. Then step into his workshop and watch as the master demonstrates his techniques. Learn about his life as an artisan and the traditional methods he uses to make his one-of-a-kind kites.
After this introduction, it is time for a hands-on kite-making course. Under Mr. Cu’s guidance, grab a brush and start painting a traditional, 1.5-meter-long Hue-style kite. Wrap up this kite making Hue experience with a truly unique handmade souvenir- a reminder of Hue’s rich artistic heritage.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Phu Bai Airport for your next flight to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 9: A DAY TO DISCOVER THE CAPITAL OF VIETNAM (B/L/-)
08:30: 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, be driven to Hoa Lo prison museum – also known as the Hanoi Hilton- was a prison complex where Vietnamese revolutionaries and American soldiers were killed during infamous American war. This prison, however, was demolished and was transformed into a museum in 1990. 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.
The day ends on a relaxing note as you get to witness the Water Puppet Show - a traditional Vietnamese art form.
Overnight: Hanoi
DAY 10: HANOI – 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 Hanoi 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 11: 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 or Haiphong.
Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
Overnight: Hanoi
Distances and journey time:
From Halong Bay to Hanoi (160km): approx. 4hrs
DAY 12: HANOI – DEPARTURE (B)
Have breakfast at hotel and transfer to Noi Bai 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