Vietnam discovery tour of highlights from North to South

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam!
Get pick up at the airport upon arrival and transfer to the downtown of Hanoi for hotel check-in.
Remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest and/or explore the central area at your own pace.

Boasted as one of the liveliest and loveliest city in Asia, Hanoi – the capital city of Vietnam with its thousand year history retains in it a deep sense of tradition and at the same time containing very sparky character of a fast growing city.
The city is home of tree-lined boulevards characterized by yellow painted colonial buildings, the Old Quarter with a maze of narrow streets where you can get lost among thousands of colorful shops, traditional guilds, ancient temples, food venues, street café, sounds and smells.
What an interesting experience to join with local for morning exercise around lakes, strolling around capturing scenes of people daily life or just sitting back sipping café au lait watching fast moving currents of the city’s traffic. Night market in the town center is available on the weekend.

Summary of inclusions

This morning you will spend time to explore some main interesting sights of the city including:
Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex dedicated to the father of modern Vietnam consisting of his Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho’s house on stilts; One Pillar Pagoda – an iconic symbol of the city that dated back from 1049; the ruin of the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long; Temple of Literature, the first University of the country that built from 1076, where huge stone steles on turtle backs bear names of the country’s men who received Doctor Laureate through royal examinations.
In the afternoon, explore the Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple where a legendary turtle is reserved.
Later, take a leisurely walking tour for sightseeing of the Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of streets with thousands of photo opportunities around you. Along the way, you will have chance to sightsee local street life, traditional guilds, food market, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses and temples.

Enjoy tasting some Hanoi specialties and finish your tour with a stop at a traditional coffee shop for a cup of Hanoi special egg coffee in a hundred years old family shop.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, leave Hanoi for your drive to Ninh Binh province, the land that is famous with spectacular karst landscapes and rustic countryside.
Visit to Hoa Lu ancient capital dating back 10th century and surrounded by a nature wall or high limestone mountains, visiting temples dedicated to National heroes and Kings of the Dinh and Early Le Dynasties. From here you will take a bicycle ride along little country path passing fascinating rice paddies and villages for exploring the rural life.

In the afternoon, take little rowing boat for a leisure ride along peaceful stream amongst jutting mountains and undulating water rice paddies, getting through three natural caves of Tam Coc. The scenery along the gentle row is stunning and it is deserved to be the highlight activities of the day.
Later, pay a visit to the Ngu Nhac Mountain with Bich Dong Pagoda that consist of three temples built on cliff and in cave of the mountains. 
Drive back Hanoi and evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

08.30AM – 09.00AM: Get picked up from hotel and leave Hanoi for a drive to Hon Gai pier where you board the boat for cruise on spectacular Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay. 

Said to be one of the most beautiful nature wonders in the World, Halong Bay consists of thousands of limestone islands soaring up from the emerald water of the bay. The different shape of islands here is the result of the work of wind and water through millions of year. With dotted pristine beaches, floating villages, amazing natural caves and fascinating scenes, Halong and its surroundings is the must-see for travelers to Vietnam.

Check in on board upon arrival at noon time.
Have lunch while leisurely cruising to the core of the bay amongst thousands of dramatic lime stone islands.
In the afternoon you will enjoy kayaking through the karsts and breathtaking nature or swimming on one of the beaches
Enjoy sunset party while your cruise is sailing to the overnight anchorage.

Dinner and overnight on board amongst islands and under star live sky.

Note: The cruise itinerary can be different depending on tide condition, boat and route assigned.

Summary of inclusions

Wake up early in the morning if you wish to catch the sunrise over the Bay’s spectacular landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

After breakfast, take a rowing boat tour around to visit to explore a natural tunnel and floating village.  Later, you will cruise to visit another part of the Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay.
Lunch is served on your way cruising back to the harbor. Disembark the boat at early noon (11.00 – 11.30 depending on boat and tide).  Drive back to the airport for late afternoon flight to Da Nang, gate way to Hoi An.
Pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Evening is at your leisure.
Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, drive out to visit the My Son Holy land, a World heritages sites 40km west of Hoi An.
Built between the 4th and 13th centuries in a lush valley sounded by high mountains, My Son is a unique cultural site which owes its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism and was the religious and political capital of the ancient Champa Kingdom before it became a part of Vietnam.
Enjoy a traditional music performance then spend time to walk along little trails, wander through time-worn architectures and learn about the historical glory of the kingdom once a power in southeast Asia.

Back to Hoi An and this afternoon you will enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An ancient town,  exploring featured sights of the town such as central market, former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese communal hall and Hoi An museum and so on…
Along the walk you will also have chance try some local specialties such as: Cao lau, Quang noodle, white rose, VAC cake, fried wonton, chicken rice and so on (optional)
Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, meet up with guide and star your exciting tour of Hoi An countryside by bicycle.
Cycle our way through stunning villages and green farm lands, visiting Tra Que herb garden veggie village, meeting local farmers, listening to tour guide explained why it is called “Organic farm” and how it is consumed around Hoi An and local people.
Join with locals on farming activities like: hoeing soil, using seaweed, transplanting and watering vegetable…
Continue our ride passing through undulating rice paddy fields, shrimp farm, duck farms, taking picture of buffaloes, cows, birds, bamboo...
Later, enjoy a round bamboo boat rowing thru the water coconut forest which was the lair of Viet Cong during the war and listen the story about the history of the land.

Back to hotel at noon and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, c heck out hotel, get transfer by private car thru rural land, mountain landscapes with stop on Hai Van Pass and optional visit to Cham Museum and Marble Mountain in Da Nang.
Check in hotel upon arrival.

This afternoon you will have a guided tour to visit to Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City, built from 1804 to 1830, where Kings of Nguyen Dynasty ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.
The citadel was built in square shape with each side is 2.5km long of high and thick brick wall and protected by deep moat. Inside, there are different sections for government offices, resident palaces for Kings and his family. Though most of the buildings here ruined by consecutive wars in the country, the remains reflect well pomp and ceremonies of the royal past.
End our day with a visit to the Dong Ba Market, the central market of Hue. Do not forget to try some Hue's specialty such as 'Banh Nam' and 'Banh Khoai' that is Hue famous for.
Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Today you will have an exciting day tour on motorbike ride to discover Hue countryside and royal monuments. (You can also choose to car drive or bicycle ride instead) 
Visit a local market which located in beautiful and very poetic scenery of Hue’s country, the centuries-old covered bridge of Thanh Toan and a farming exhibition house then ride passing hidden alley and villages, visiting traditional handicrafts such as conical hat making, incense making and so on.
Later, spend time for discovery of one of Emperor Mausoleums, an eternal resting house for Emperor, special architecture in Hue, part of the Hue's World Heritage and built in line with the Royal Citadel according to strict Fengshui principles.
Continue to the ancient relic of Tiger and Elephant Arena then board a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest pagoda and symbol of Hue with its 7 storey Phuoc Duyen tower.

Back to the hotel and free to relax.

Summary of inclusions

Get transferred to the airport for a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Being the largest metropolis in Vietnam, Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City is a very dynamic city that contains a big blend of old and new, East and West. This place is characterized by busy traffic, fast moving daily life, skyscrapers, exciting nightlife and is home of some best street foods. 

This afternoon you will spend our time to explore city’s highlights including War Remnants Museum (or History Museum), Reunification Palace - formerly known as the Independence Palace which was the Presidential Palace of the South Vietnam before North Vietnamese tanks seized on the morning of April 30 1975, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office and Dong Khoi Street - formerly Rue Catinat – that made famous by Graham Greene in his best-selling book The quiet American. Perhaps take a sit by the veranda of colonial building Continental hotel sipping cafe au late watching the current of people and time pass by.
End our day with a visit to the Ben Thanh Market - the central market with plenty of local products.

Evening is free at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, leave Saigon for a 2 hour drive through scenic country land to Ben Tre. Dubbed as the rice bowl of Vietnam, Mekong Delta in general, Ben Tre in particular is home to evergreen scenery of rice paddies, tropical orchards and mangrove along stunning water ways.
On arrival in Ham Luong pier in Ben Tre, board a wooden boat for our leisure cruise on Ben Tre River, exploring lively activities along river such as fishing, water transferring etc.
Following, visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. As Ben Tre is the land famous for coconut, you will have a chance to learn lots about this kind of tree, huge variety of products made from coconut and do not miss the opportunity to taste some local specialties.
Back on the boat and turn on natural meandering creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to visit family workshop making sleeping mats and enjoying some fruits and tea.
Continue with an exciting ride on motor cart (or bicycle) along shady paths, pass by coconut forest, green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about this fascinating tropical land.
Lunch is served in a local home with local specialties.
Later, take little sampan rowing along meandering canal to Ham Luong pier then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast is at the hotel.
Today is departure day. Check out time is 12.00. Enjoy some free time for last purchases or simply relax before your transfer to airport for onward flight or continuing with more “Travel Authentic Asia” destinations.

Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions