Day 1: Hanoi arrival. (D)
Arriving Noi Bai airport, our guide will welcome you and transfer to your hotels. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, see the world-famous Vietnamese Water Puppet show in the theatre and dinner at local restaurant.
Day 2: Hanoi. (B, L)
Full day Hanoi city tour includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and the whole October-November) and Residence, One-Pillar Pagoda, Army Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, Fine Art Museum, Quan Thanh Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay. (B, D)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon about 3 to 4 hours drive to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 4: Halong Bay Cruise - Cat Ba. (B, L, D)
A morning cruise in a private junk on the emerald green water of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands. The cruise ends with a fresh seafood lunch on board and then sail to Cat Ba Island, the largest in the bay, and transfer to a hotel. Afternoon tour includes Cat Ba's national park and the famous Cat Ba Hospital Cave used during the American War. The evening is spent in one of the many fine local restaurants on the island.
Day 5: Cat Ba – Hanoi. (B, L)
Morning at leisure on Cat Ba Island. Afternoon by hydrofoil to Haiphong & drive back to Hanoi & transfer to hotel.
Day 6: Hanoi – Hue. (B, L, D)
Transfer to airport for your flight to Hue. Arriving in Hue, pick up & transfer to your hotel. Today our city tour includes the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An. (B, L)
This morning's tour starts with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River to visit Hue's best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. Afterwards drive to Hoi An via Danang. The scenic route climbs over the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. After lunch in Danang and city tour, on the road from Danang to Hoi An visit five sacred hills known as the Marble Mountains containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. On arrival in Hoi An in late afternoon, transfer to hotel.
Day 8: Hoi An. (B, L)
Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its picturesque architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants' houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. Afternoon trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the seventh and thirteenth centuries.
Day 9: Hoi An. (B, L)
This morning we take a 2-3 hour boat cruise along the river with visit to local village. Afternoon at leisure to wander in this lovely ancient town full of old Chinese houses, temples and markets.
Day 10: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, D)
Morning at leisure. Drive back to Danang & transfer to airport for your afternoon flght to Ho Chi Minh City, pick up and transfer to your hotel. Evening dinner at local restaarant.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
Full day city tour includes a tour of The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Lam Son Square, Ben Thanh Market, Thien Hau pagoda, The Museum of HCM Campaign, China Town (Cho Lon) & Binh Tay Market etc.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
Enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province in the west of Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the incredible Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail. In the afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
A full day trip to the watery world of the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City's streets. Depart for Vinh Long -150km southwest Ho Chi Minh City. A motor-boat takes you along the Mekong river and follows small canals flowing sluggishly between banks of luxuriant vegetation to Cai Be floating market, one of the most typical floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Experience the exotic sights, sounds and smells. Lunch at a bonsai garden with special food - "Elephant's Ear" fish. After lunch, we visit a tofu and fish sauce factory etc before return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure. (B)
At leisure until transfer to airport for your return flight back home.
(B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
Arriving Noi Bai airport, our guide will welcome you and transfer to your hotels. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, see the world-famous Vietnamese Water Puppet show in the theatre and dinner at local restaurant.
Day 2: Hanoi. (B, L)
Full day Hanoi city tour includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and the whole October-November) and Residence, One-Pillar Pagoda, Army Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, Fine Art Museum, Quan Thanh Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay. (B, D)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon about 3 to 4 hours drive to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.
Day 4: Halong Bay Cruise - Cat Ba. (B, L, D)
A morning cruise in a private junk on the emerald green water of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands. The cruise ends with a fresh seafood lunch on board and then sail to Cat Ba Island, the largest in the bay, and transfer to a hotel. Afternoon tour includes Cat Ba's national park and the famous Cat Ba Hospital Cave used during the American War. The evening is spent in one of the many fine local restaurants on the island.
Day 5: Cat Ba – Hanoi. (B, L)
Morning at leisure on Cat Ba Island. Afternoon by hydrofoil to Haiphong & drive back to Hanoi & transfer to hotel.
Day 6: Hanoi – Hue. (B, L, D)
Transfer to airport for your flight to Hue. Arriving in Hue, pick up & transfer to your hotel. Today our city tour includes the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An. (B, L)
This morning's tour starts with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River to visit Hue's best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. Afterwards drive to Hoi An via Danang. The scenic route climbs over the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. After lunch in Danang and city tour, on the road from Danang to Hoi An visit five sacred hills known as the Marble Mountains containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. On arrival in Hoi An in late afternoon, transfer to hotel.
Day 8: Hoi An. (B, L)
Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its picturesque architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants' houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. Afternoon trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the seventh and thirteenth centuries.
Day 9: Hoi An. (B, L)
This morning we take a 2-3 hour boat cruise along the river with visit to local village. Afternoon at leisure to wander in this lovely ancient town full of old Chinese houses, temples and markets.
Day 10: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, D)
Morning at leisure. Drive back to Danang & transfer to airport for your afternoon flght to Ho Chi Minh City, pick up and transfer to your hotel. Evening dinner at local restaarant.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
Full day city tour includes a tour of The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Lam Son Square, Ben Thanh Market, Thien Hau pagoda, The Museum of HCM Campaign, China Town (Cho Lon) & Binh Tay Market etc.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
Enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province in the west of Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the incredible Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail. In the afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City. (B, L)
A full day trip to the watery world of the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City's streets. Depart for Vinh Long -150km southwest Ho Chi Minh City. A motor-boat takes you along the Mekong river and follows small canals flowing sluggishly between banks of luxuriant vegetation to Cai Be floating market, one of the most typical floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Experience the exotic sights, sounds and smells. Lunch at a bonsai garden with special food - "Elephant's Ear" fish. After lunch, we visit a tofu and fish sauce factory etc before return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure. (B)
At leisure until transfer to airport for your return flight back home.
(B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)