Overview

            Brief itinerary

Day 01: Hanoi

Day 02: Hanoi city tour – Halong Bay                                          

Day 03: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Day 04:  Hanoi - Hue

Day 05:  Hue – Hoi An 

Day 06: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon                                              

Day 07: Excursion to Mekong Delta

Day 08: Half day to Cu Chi Tunnel

Day 09: Departure

 
      Highlight of the trip:

- Enjoy the colonial French architecture of Hanoi
- Cruise along Halong Bay with its other-worldly karst islands
- Visit the Imperial City in Hue and then take a dragon boat up the Perfume River 

- Stroll along the traffic free streets of Hoi An’s old town
- Experience the  vitality of Saigon with its unique blend of history, culture and modern conveniences
- Wander along the Mekong Delta with its floating markets and lush water-side villages

- See how the Viet Cong lived during the war; take a guided tour through a portion of a tunnel.

- Marvel at the delicious fresh cuisine and decadent French pastries served by friendly and cheerful wait-staff.

Full itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi

Arrival in Hanoi. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Halong Bay (B)

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a beautiful city of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks.  In the morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the French colonial styled Presidential Palace,  and the historical Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 in honor of Confucius.
After lunch we cross the Red River towards Halong Bay. We stop en route at Hong Ngoc, where we will have time for a drink and see local people demonstrating different types of handicrafts.
Overnight in Halong City 

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)

In the morning we will transfer to the harbor to board a junk for a fantastic cruise on Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea. Halong Bay is in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) gulf and stretches over an area of 1,500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like jewels. We will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on the boat while experiencing the majestic beauty of Halong Bay. The junk is a wooden sailboat designed in a traditional Vietnamese style while offering a full range of modern amenities. We leave the boat to visit the Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Cave), a fascinating cave filled with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
In the afternoon, we return to Hanoi and visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake, and then enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it.
In the evening we will attend a traditional Water Puppet show. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists – men and women – stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk, and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival.
Overnight in Hanoi. 

Day 4: Hanoi - Hue (B)

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, the local guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel. After check-in and some time for relaxation we continue with a visit to the Imperial City, an impressive royal complex built in the 17^th century based on the ancient feng shui practice of geomancy.  The Imperial City is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will visit Khai Dinh tomb and the colorful Dong Ba market. The tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, who ruled between 1916 and 1925, is the last grand imperial tomb in Vietnam. It is almost entirely made of concrete and includes many European architectural details.
Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue – Hoi An  (B)

In the morning we will take a dragon boat trip along the Perfume River. We will stop at the Thien Mu Pagoda, which is located on the southwest bank of the Perfume River and was the centre of Buddhism in Central Vietnam.  We continue to Lang Co, which we will reach after approximately two hours. Optional lunch at the Lang Co Beach Resort. We head on to Hoi An with a photo stop on the summit of the breathtaking Hai Van Pass. In the evening your guide will pick you up for an amazing walk through the illuminated ancient part of Hoi An. .  Hoi An old town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as an example of a well preserved South East Asian trading port of the 15^th – 19^th century.  In addition to its unique architecture, it is also noted for its tailors and handicrafts, especially lanterns.
Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon (B)

Free morning at leisure in Hoi An, then transfer to Danang airport and a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On arrival we transfer to the hotel and then enjoy a city tour to visit Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the beautiful French-style Post Office with its glass canopy and iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel. Visit the famous War Remnants Museum, with armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons displayed in an outside walled courtyard. Continue to Cholon, the Chinese quarter, and see Binh Tay Market with its big clock tower in the centre.  Discover the Thien Hau Pagoda, build by the Cantonese congregation in the 19th century. 

Evening at leisure
Overnight in Saigon

Day 7: Excursion to Mekong Delta (B,L)

We depart from the hotel in the morning and drive southwards to Vinh Long Province, which is situated between two branches of the downstream Mekong River.
On arrival, we enjoy a boat trip along the river’s narrow waterways, overhung with dense vegetation. We will have the opportunity to try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. For lunch, we will serve you the local delicacy - Elephant’s-Ear fish. We continue with a visit to the Cai Be floating market before heading back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon.

Day 8: Half day to Cu Chi Tunnel (B)

Morning departure to the small town of Cu Chi, located 35 km from Saigon (1h30), an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.

Visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnel Network which became legendary during the 1960s for its role in facilitating Viet Cong control of a large rural area. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border; in the district of Cu Chi alone, there were over 250 km of tunnels. The network, parts of which were several stories deep, included innumerable trapdoors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapon’s factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. The tunnels of Cu Chi were built over a period of 25 years beginning in the late 1940s.

Return to Saigon for an afternoon at leisure to stroll around the city, shop in the Ben Thanh market, or enjoy a drink at the rooftop bar of the Rex Hotel (paid by yourself).
Overnight in Saigon. 

Day 9: Departure (B)
Free time at leisure for last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for departure home.

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