DAY 01: HO CHI MINH ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be greeted by local guide and transfer you to your hotel in Sai Gon - a vibrant metropolis, Sai Gon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorcyles, chatting on cellphones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshippers pray amidst clouds of incense. The remainder your day is at leisure. It’s a great city to explore at night, lots of bars and great restaurants...you’ll be spoilt for choice! Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Meals included: None
Optional lunch or dinner:
DAY 02: HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR CU CHI TUNNEL
Journey out of Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels built first as a defence against the French, and later expanded during the Vietnam war. It was from here that the North Vietnamese waged their guerrilla warfare. You will marvel at their ingenuity and resilience. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels. For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. Your guide will advise you of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering - some are easily accessed by stairs. We recommend good walking shoes and sun protection for this tour and advise you may get a little dirty ! In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Proceed to the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunker headquarters for the Sai Gon Government during the War. Continue to the History Museum, which houses an excellent display tracing the origins of the indigenous Vietnamese. Visit the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office. Strolling along Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare and heart of old colonial Sai Gon, passing by classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (both may only be viewed from the outside). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 03: HO CHI MINH MY THO MEKONG DELTA HO CHI MINH
After having a breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your guide at your hotel and depart Ho Chi Minh City for a scenic morning drive through the Mekong Delta. At My Tho, take a boat to an orchard garden. Enjoy a brief walk on the island, trying some tropical fruits grown in the region. Boat along green and empty creek before experience horse cart. Stop at local family to visit bee farm. Sipping Vietnamese tea mixed with bee honey and lemons. Enjoy the Mekong beauty and quietness when rowing sampan through narrow water coconut- creek. After lunch at local restaurant, visit a family-run business making coconut candies. Before returning to My Tho, visit the 150 year old Vinh Trang Pagoda combines Vietnamese Khmer and French architecture which reflects the religion and history of the land. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh for overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 04: HO CHI MINH HANOI
After having a breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure until transferring to Domestic Airport for flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Noi Bai Domestic Airport, you will be greeted by local guide and transfer you to Centre in Hanoi that is Vietnam's capital, ranks amongst the world's most attractive and interesting cities. It was first the capital of Vietnam in A.D. 1010, and though the nation's capital moved to Hue under the Nguyen dynasty in 1802, the city continued to flourish after the French took control in 1888. In 1954, after the French departed, Hanoi was declared Vietnam's capital once again. The remnants of over 1,000 years of history are still visible here, with that of the past few hundred years wonderfully preserved. Visit Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university, was built in 1076. Throughout its hundreds of years of activity in the feudal, thousands of Vietnamese scholars graduated from this university) and 'Hanoi Hilton' prison. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 05: HANOI HALONG BAY
After having a breakfast at your hotel, driver & tour guide pick you up at hotel and start your full day city tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex consisted of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed Monday and Friday year-round and throughout September to November), Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace (outside only), Uncle Ho’s House on stilt, One Pillar pagoda. Then visit Quan Thanh Temple which is one of the Four Guards of Old Thang Long (Old name of Hanoi City) and is an important historical and cultural relic. Walking 500 meters is Tran Quoc Pagoda which is the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De and its location is on a small, beautiful islet and bounded by West Lake (lung of the city). In the afternoon, drive to Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province which is located in East Hanoi about 170 kilometers (approximate 3,5 hours). Upon arrival, check in hotel and have dinner at local restaurant. Free at leisure and overnight at hotel in Halong city.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 06: HALONG BAY HANOI
In 1962, Ha Long Bay was recognized as a vestige and beauty spot of national significances by Ministry of Culture and Information of Viet Nam and was also recognized as a world national heritage site twice by UNESCO Organization. The first time, in 1994 for the exceptional and universal value of the landscape and the second time in 2000 for the special value of geology and geomorphology. Drive to Halong Wharf, take the 4 hours boat trip. During cruising time, boat will through the emerald waters between the limestone outcrops and long corridors and stop to visit Thien Cung cave (the cave of the heavenly palace - famous for its stalagmites and stalactites) the cave has only opened to the public since 1998, Dau Go grotto (wooden stake cave-where in 1288 one of Vietnamese most famous Generals Tran Hung Dao amassed hundreds of stakes deep inside the cave prior to a battle with an invading Mongol army). Then cruise back to Halong wharf where driver are waiting for us. Drive back to Hanoi with stop en route at a ceramic factory. Arrive at Hanoi, have a walking tour into the heart of the old quarter. Try some of Vietnam's unique fresh beer 'bia hoi' at one of Hanoi's local bia hoi establishments. Enjoy a performance of the renowned Water Puppet show an ancient Vietnamese form of entertainment, which enables the puppeteers to control their active marionettes by levers hidden under the water. Water puppet skits generally enact ancient folklore and legends that are rural in origin, and the theme of water is often present, as it defines so much of Vietnam’s landscape. Drive to your hotel and overnight in Hanoi.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 07: HANOI DEPARTURE
Free at leisure until transferring to the Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight back to your home. End of services.
Meals included: Breakfast