A colorful picture of
Vietnam across South, Central and North is going to open up before your eyes.
It is filled with natural scenery as well as historical and cultural footprints
many of which are classified as world heritages. Observe the interesting mixture
of old and new of fast-moving Ho Chi Minh City and learn about the Vietnam War
there from the local war museum as well as the unimaginable underground tunnels
of Cu Chi. Watch a lively floating market and interact with warm-hearted
villagers in the canal-ridden Mekong Delta. Feel the souls of the ancient
cities of Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi through stories of a long mystic past and the
unique architecture of houses, bridges, citadels, temples, pagodas and tombs. A
boat ride on Perfume River in Hue and a water puppet show in Hanoi will add to
your impressions of Vietnam’s former and current capitals. Last but not least,
blend in the heavenly sight of thousands of karst islets in Ha Long bay while
cruising, swimming and relaxing on board of a junk boat. Not only seeing the
picture, you are part of it.
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, welcome by
our guide and transfer to your hotel. The transfer distance is approximately 30
munites. Ho Chi Minh City formerly named Saigon is the largest city and
economic center of Vietnam always bustled with activities of modern life. It is
where businesses converge and shoppers indulge themselves into unlimited
choices. However the city also carries with it a rich historical legacy in
contrast with its dazzling glamor
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, 01 bottle of mineral water, Hotel accommodation.
Morning, drive to visit Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which
were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces
during the two wars against the French and later on Americans. The tunnels,
entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel
passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over
120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting
rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits
all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to
withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged
sieges.
Afternoon, take a city tour to visit War Remnants Museum which features a
comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation
of Vietnam War with the both the French and Americans, Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the
President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a
neo-Roman cathedral as a French-built neo-Roman cathedral, the Saigon Central Post Office, former US
Embassy, Cho Lon or the city’s China Town including the Quan Am Pagoda
and the Jade Emperor Temple (Phuoc
Hai), a rare Taoist structure in Vietnam built in 1909.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, entrance fees, 02 bottles of mineral per pax, Hotel
accommodation.
Morning, pickup at your hotel to transfer about 136 km
to Vinh Long, a riverside town in
the vast Mekong Delta, the
world’s largest delta. The transfer distance is approximately 2h30munites. Take
a boat cruise to lively Cai Be floating
market where sellers and buyers bargain and exchange goods from their
boats. Proceed through a fascinating maze of shady canals to Hoa Binh
Phuoc Island. Beautiful landscape of zigzag canals, lush vegetation, peaceful
villages and activities of rural life will make you a delightful sight. There
on the island, visit some local farmers’ homes, interact with warm-hearted
hosts and learn about their trades of bonsai gardening, tile and ceramic
production and rice paper and coconut candy making. Return to Ho Chi Minh City
late afternoon and enjoy your free evening.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, entrance fee, boat trip, 02 bottles of mineral water
per pax, Hotel accommodation.
Morning, transfer to airport for one-hour flight to Da
Nang. Your flight should reach Hoi An
at around 10:00 or earlier. Arrive in Da Nang, welcome by our
guide and take a quick tour of Da Nang City including the Museum of Cham Sculpture, China Beach and Marble Mountains before transferring to Hoi An. Once a bustling
maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An, recognized by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site, is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved
architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating
fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China,
Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.
The transfer distance from Danang to Hoi An is
approximately 45 munites.
Afternoon, take a
town tour of Hoi An to see its beauty up close. Included for your
sightseeing will be the town’s iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small
temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture,
the Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house
built in 1858 showcasing antique ceramic artifacts, the 200-year-old Tan Ky
House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, the Ong Temple built in
1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose
character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice. Enjoy strolling the small
streets of antique low tile-roofed houses, which reflect the town’s
multi-cultural past. Overnight in Hoi An.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, entrance fees, 02 bottles of mineral water per pax,
Hotel accommodation.
Whole day is free at your leisure for shopping in the
central of town. Please note that Hoi An is famous for fine clothes tailoring
to quick made-to-measure orders. You can chose to relax on Cua Dai Beach take
one of our optional tours.
Today
included: Hotel accommodation.
Morning,
transfer to Hue via Hai Van Pass (Ocean
Cloud Pass). Enjoy a stunning headland-and-bay panoramic view from the
pass, which for miles hugs the mountainside along the shoreline and overlooking
the Pacific Ocean. Arrive in Hue, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for
the 1802-1945 or the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. It is known as a city
of poetic beauty that blends a scenic landscape characterized by the Perfume
River and surrounding mountains with an extremely rich historical legacy
typified by numerous relics such as citadel, tombs and pagodas. The transfer
distance from Hoi An to Hue is approximately 2h30munites.
Start
a sightseeing tour of Hue City beginning with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site
which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and
featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue
(Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam
Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Move on to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Khai Dinh, Vietnam’s
second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The
tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style.
Stop by Dong Ba market, the city’s
traditional commercial center, for shopping.
Late
afternoon, take a boat cruise along the
Perfume River for sightseeing and visiting two prominent historical
landmarks namely Minh Mang Tomb, where
Minh Mang, the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried, and Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist monastery
still in use with its origin dating back to 1601. Overnight in Hue.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, entrance fees, boat trip, 02 bottles of mineral water per pax, Hotel
accommodation.
Morning,
transfer to Phu Bai International Airport for flight to Hanoi. Your flight
should reach Hanoi at around 11:00 or earlier. The
transfer distance is approximately 30 munites. Hanoi or “River-bound City” as
its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history
dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by
unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French
colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of
the most charming cities of Asia.
Arrive
at Noi Bai Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer in town for a city tour.
The transfer distance is approximately 40 munites.
Pass by Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the
nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed
on Monday, Friday and through October – November and every
afternoon), the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French
Governor Office and a fine example of French architecture in Hanoi, and the
rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked.
Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One
Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Avalokiteshvara
or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond.
Continue to the Temple of Literature,
known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to
honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple located on an islet in the lake. Hoan Kiem Lake is
the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a
legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species.
Discover special Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry as well as
Vietnamese folklore through a compelling puppet
show at Thang Long Theatre.
Morning
pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about
160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. On the way, you will see some rural areas of the
Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers
working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine
clothes and embroidered paintings. Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check
in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start
cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. Ha Long Bay
meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where
a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s
wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years,
consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of
1,553 km2. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong
Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and
swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have
dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, 02 bottles of mineral water on transport, Hotel
accommodation.
Early
risers can enjoy the splendid yet tranquil view of the bay at the crack of
dawn. Breathe the sea’s fresh air, feel the morning breeze and hear the sounds
of birds above. Have breakfast and cruise to visit Human head shaped island and
Tortoise Island. Continue to cruise into Bai Tu Long Bay to discover the
adjacent bay of “The Little Dragon Bowing to His Mother” as it is named. Check
out and have lunch on board while heading to shore. Disembark and transfer back
to Hanoi.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide, 02 bottles of mineral water per pax on transport, Hotel
accommodation.
Free
at leisure until transfer to airport for departure flight.
Today
included: Private transportation with
English speaking guide.