Vietnam TOURS
ESSENTIAL VIETNAM
10 days/ 9 nights
Explore the essential highlights of Vietnam including vibrant Saigon, the colorful markets of the Mekong Delta, the mercantile history of Hoi An and the grace of Hue on the Perfume River, colonial Hanoi and dramatic Halong Bay with all of most beautiful landscapes and the most famous destinations provides you the real experience of the country.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met our guide and transferred to hotel for check-in. Free at leisure till welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Saigon.
After breakfast, we commence a full-day city tour with a first visit to the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, the home to the last 3 President of South Vietnam; the War Crime Museum which exhibits photographs and weapons of the Vietnam, the town’s center with the Notre Dame Cathedral - the city’s main Catholic cathedral built by the French in the 1880s with twin spires are for decades the city best-known landmark, the City Hall, the Municipal Theater. Lunch at a local restaurant
In the afternoon, we head to Cuchi district to visit Cuchi Tunnels, located 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, built and used by the Viet Cong during Vietnam War. It took 25 years to construct this tunnel and it stands today as a symbol of struggle of the Vietnamese people. This Tunnel consists of more than 200km of underground tunnels, many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels and home to more than 16,000 communist guerillas and sympathizers during the war. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese. Back to your hotel
Overnight in Saigon
Our guide will meet and pick you up at the hotel lobby then we leave the bustle of the city behind for a day of exploring scenic rice fields, waterways and extensive orchards of Mytho, one of exciting destinations of the Mekong Delta area, just some hours by coach from Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival at My Tho boat station. You board a local boat for a boat trip up to Mekong River and sightseeing of fish floating market, four famous islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix and then stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, you will take a short trek for a orchard visit, enjoy a folk music show performed by peasants and seasonal fruits. Visit then to a coconut candy workshop, taste fresh candies. It’s time for you to experience of the daily life of villagers in Mekong Delta by getting on a horse-cart and it brings you along the countryside road. The next spot is to visit a bee- farm and enjoy honey- tea.
We end the day excursion with a discovery of Ben Tre province’s Vam Chua natural canal by rowing boat. Proceed to Can Tho for check in hotel
Overnight in Cantho
After breakfast, we embark for a boat trip up to Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the most well-known and the biggest floating markets in the Mekong Delta, where you can witness all of trading activities of local traders, discover the rural lifestyles and daily activities of the delta inhabitants. The market run with many boats filled with fruits, vegetables, and other products are anchored along the banks of the river and make it very busy from early morning until late in the afternoon. After visiting the floating market you will take a short trek for an orchard visit and enjoy tropical fruits, hot tea in the orchard of Ut Trung or Cai Son before disembark at Ninh Kieu quay in Can Tho where you board your coach and head back to Saigon. Lunch at local restaurant and arrive Saigon in late afternoon
DAY 5: SAIGON - DANANG - HOIAN (B/L/D)After breakfast, take the short flight to Danang. Upon arrival you are picked up and transferred to Hoi An ancient town for check-in hotel. On the way there, visit the Museum of Cham, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world
Overnight in Hoian
Today we will discover Vietnam's rich cultural and historical heritage. The morning begins with a visit to My Son, the capital and religious centre of the Champa Kingdom, and Tra Kieu (formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel) to view the Cham ruins and artifacts. This afternoon, a walking tour of Hoi An's ancient town centre will take you back in time to when it was a major trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries in Asia and today an officially listed UNESCO world heritage site. Visit old shop-houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market in this well-preserved town. The rest of the day is free at leisure to enjoy the shopping in Hoi An – a paradise for silk & fashionable clothing and accessories.
Overnight in Hoi An
After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure then transfer to Hue via the Hai Van Pass and through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co.
In the afternoon, visit the Khai Dinh Tomb, was built within 11 years to complete. In comparison with those of the preceding emperors, Khai Dinh Tomb is much smaller in surface but it is very elaborate. It is the result of the interminglement of many architectural trends; European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern.
Overnight in Hue
We commence our half day tour with the Imperial City of Hue, it was a walled fortress and palace in the former capital of Vietnam. The capital of Vietnam during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 - 1945, the last dynasty and it is one of the oldest cities in Viet Nam, The complex of Hue Monuments straddling the Perfume River, most of which remaining unchanged were officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2003 by UNESCO. Our last stop is to visit Thien Mu Pagoda on the banks of the Huong River, one of the most famous pagodas in Hue City
We take the afternoon flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture and tranquil lakes of this unique city.
Overnight in Hanoi
After breakfast, this morning a scenic drive leads you to the stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Arrive at your jetty in Halong City towards noon then board your traditional wooden junk boat, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay and pass by the emerald waters soaking up the panoramic vista of the thousand or so karst limestone islands that stud the bay.
In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight on Halong Bay
Enjoy the sunrise over the Bay and explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot). Your breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer to Noi Bai airport for onward flight
- Transfers and ground transport by private air-conditioned vehicles.
- Domestic airfare in Vietnam.
- Accommodation based on twin/double sharing room with daily breakfast.
- All meals mentioned in the itinerary.
- English speaking guide throughout the itinerary.
- All entrance fees, boat cruise trip, water puppet show as indicated in itinerary.
- 2 bottle mineral water per day per person.
- International airfare and airport tax.
- All other services which are not mentioned above.
- Personal expenses are such as laundry, telephone, drinks etc...
- Tips for guide, travel insurance.
- Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (typhoon, floods), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc.