Hours Before Start
Welcome to Saigon – today’s Ho Chi Minh city – the country’s commercial Centre. The city never sleeps with over nine million inhabitants and five million motorbikes. The drive and tour guide will pick you up and then transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Depart the hotel for a full day Saigon city tour. Head to Chinatown district and discover Cho Lon or “Big Market”, shops, and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda – one of the oldest pagodas of the Chinese in the area. Visit Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, with an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, and objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies can be seen in the galleries as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine.
In the afternoon, visit War Remnants Museum, featuring collections of weapons and photographs during Vietnam Wars and the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Close to the Palace are the major sights of colonial Saigon: Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall (a vehicle will be waiting at all times). At the end of the afternoon head back to the hotel. Overnight in hotel.
Today, you will discover Mekong delta and visit the colorful floating market – Cai Be. Leave bustling Saigon for the 3hours drive to the delta town of Cai Be. On arrival, board your boat for cruise in the Delta’s waterways.
Start your journey by passing by Cai Be’s floating market, cruising among local barges with full of fruits and vegetables… The cruise will then bring you to some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice popcorn, coco candies…
After a delicious lunch at the local ancient house, you will have chance admire the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers by rowboat passing through small sampan. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos marking. The excursion will end at around 3.00 pm. You will return to Saigon in the later afternoon. Overnight in hotel.
This morning, you will catch flight to Da Nang. The driver pick-up and transfer to Hoi An. UNESCO designated Hoi An Old Town as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1999. The town’s historical significance is deeply rooted in its role as a thriving trading port from the 15th to the 20th century. Today, it still has its own distinct beauty lying in every street corner, every roof, and even in the small streets. Transfer to hotel. The afternoon, you walk around this ancient town of 600 years old, visiting the 200 years old Tan Ky House, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the former merchants’ houses, the 400 years old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful riverside market. Overnight in hotel.
Today, you drive to My Son, a World Heritage, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. Located in a lush valley; My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, now remaining with red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son, once the spiritual capital of Champa Kingdom that dominated South East Asia for nearly a thousand years and occupied most of the central parts of Vietnam from 2nd century to 16th century with very rich in history and culture. Contemplate its remarkable red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. Come back Hoi An in the afternoon. Free time for shopping or making tailor.
After breakfast, departure to Hue, via Da Nang visit the fascinating Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. On road, crossing Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Arrive Hue, check in hotel and overnight in hotel.
Hue – the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. Discovery Hue with a private boat for a cruise on Perfume River. You will visit Thien Mu pagoda and then take a drive to visit Minh Mang tomb as well as Khai Dinh tomb. The different style of the tomes will help you to understand the character of each king. After lunch, you will visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Then, transfer you to Phu Bai airport, you will catch flight to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. Arrive Ha Noi. Our team pick-up and transfer to you to hotel. Check in and overnight to hotel.
Ha Noi, Vietnam’s capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. Visit a Hanoi icon in all senses: the Long Bien Bridge, formerly known as the Paul Doumer Bridge, was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of the French colony and a showpiece of colonial infrastructure. In the Vietnam War, it became a symbol of Hanoi’s resistance to relentless US bombing.
Visit the Mausoleum and the stilt house garden, the final resting place of the Vietnam national hero, President Ho Chi Minh, where he lived off and on from 1958 to 1969. Leave the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and then come to visit the Temple of Literature, which was concerned as the very first university in Vietnam where worship was offered to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, the main platform of social morals and culture throughout many feudal dynasties in Vietnam.
Enjoy a special lunch with local cuisine featuring the yin-yang balance of Asian culture at a special restaurant with Vietnamese theme cuisine. Then, come to visit the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, one of the best museums in Hanoi, which chronicles the history, culture, and contributions of Vietnamese women in society throughout the country’s history. Explore the Old Quarter in 1 hour, cruise through the iconic 36 Streets on a cyclo, a traditional three-wheeled bicycle taxi, and pass by iconic landmarks such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Dong Xuan Market, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Hanoi Opera House. Enjoy a water puppet performance before coming to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Ninh Binh Nestled in the Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam, Ninh Binh is a captivating destination that offers a perfect mix of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural significance. Depart to Ninh Binh, arrive at Hang Mua, “Mua Cave” one of the most alluring places to get the panorama view in Ninh Binh, hiking up to the peak of Ngoa Long Mountain to take in your amazing views of the Tam Coc, Ninh Binh area. Having lunch in local restaurant. After lunch break, continue your trip with a sampan rowed by a local for about 1.5 hours to explore Tam Coc “Halong Bay on the land”. The boat trip is a nice journey along the river with the peaceful scenery of limestone mountains and caves stretching along Ngo Dong River rice paddy if travelling during harvest season. Arrive in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, and visit the temple of King Dinh. Under the introduction of our local guide, you will get to know more about Vietnamese history. Transfer to hotel, check in and overnight in hotel
Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel. Our driver will pick you up for the journey to Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon”. Arrive Ha Long, you board a cruise for discovery the natural wonders with the bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. After lunch, check -in your cabin. Then the captain will find a secluded spot where you can swim, soak up the sun on the top deck, or try your hand at kayaking. Come back to cruise, join the exciting cooking on the sundeck (or in the restaurant, depending on the weather). Don’t miss out on the stunning view of the sunset over the enchanting Halong Bay from the sundeck of the boat. Savor the delicious dinner in the restaurant. Overnight on cruise.
Rejuvenate the body and the mind with a refreshing Tai Chi lesson during sunrise on the deck. Light breakfast is served in the restaurant while the boat cruises towards to visit famous Caves that is millions of years. Back to the boat and check out. The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor. Brunch being served in the restaurant. Disembark from boat. Transfer to Ha Noi. Check in and overnight in hotel.
You have free time for shopping or relaxation before your departure flight. End of the trip.
