BANGKOK STOPOVER - VIETNAM TOUR

DAY 01: HANOI ARRIVAL

Pick up upon arrival and transfer to the city for hotel check-in. Free at leisure to explore the city. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included: None

DAY 02: HANOI CITY TOUR

AM: After breakfast at hotel, get on bus and drive to the historic complex of Ba Dinh. Visit Ba Dinh Square, where The Late President Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnams Independence on 2 September 1945, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, the must-see monument in Hanoi - It is an ancient Buddhist pagoda, built in the early 11th century in the reign of King Ly Thai Tong, all construction supported by only one pillar, resembling a Buddhist lotus. Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple. Visit Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature - The first Imperal school in Vietnam) built in 1070 during the dynasty of King Ly. 

PM: Visit a complex of the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Jade mountain Temple), ButTower (Pen - shaped tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), the Red - painted wooden The Huc bridge…. Have a cyclo (pedicab) trip around with 36 streets of Hanoi old quarter. Enjoy the special Vietnam traditional Water Puppet show. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 03: HANOI - HALONG BAY

Morning depart for Halong bay, we go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Halong bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Stay overnight on the Junk Cruise.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 04: HALONG BAY - HANOI

Waking up and having breakfast served onboard. Continue cruising around the bay. Take sampan to visit Luon Cave and come back to the boat. Having brunch before disembarking and van will pick you up at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi. Visit Dong Trieu ceramic and pottery village on the way. Arrive in Hanoi at 04:00 pm. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 05: HANOI - HUE

Transferring to the airport to catch morning flight VN1543 (11h50 - 13h00) to Hue. Check-in hotel upon arrival and take refresh for a while. This quiet city is widely known for the magnificent architecture of its citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples built under the Nguyen Dynasty. We visit the major sites including the Imperial Citadel with Forbidden Royal City like in Beijing. Free shopping in Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 06: HUE CITY TOURS

Morning boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda and Ming Mang Emperor's mausoleum. Have lunch at local restaurant. This afternoon will be free at your leisure for shopping at Dong Ba market. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 07: HUE - DANANG - HOI AN

This morning we drive to Hoi An, we will cross Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the East Sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, famous East Beach and the Marble Mountains en route to charming Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter and try some of the local specialties. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 08: HOI AN TOURS

Morning tour to visit local market and boat trip on Thu Bon River to visit handicraft villages. Back to hotel and you will be free at leisure on the beach or wandering around the town for the rest of day. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 09: HOI AN - HO CHI MINH (SAI GON) CITY

Free at leisure until transferring to Danang airport to take flight VN1317 (13h30 - 14h40) to Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's largest city has an exciting buzz as millions of people rush around on their daily business. You will be free at the rest of day to make your own exploration to discover the city. Overnight in Sai Gon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA - CAN THO

At around 08h00, we leave Sai Gon for My Tho. Upon arrival, board a motorboat and head out on the mighty Mekong to Xuan Dong Islet. In contrast to many of the overly visited Mekong islands, we choose Xuan Dong for its quieter, less crowded, and more authentic slice of Mekong life. Hop on a bike and savor the leisurely time to explore and pedal through this green and unspoiled island. Make frequent stops for photos and glimpses and of the daily lives of local villagers. We'll then take a small boat as you are rowed quietly along the thick mangroves of Vam Xep, a small canal with little village houses dotted along its sides. Get off the boat to enjoy some honeyed tea at the 'Coconut Artisan' village to check out the workshops where a range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted. We next take a small sampan along Vam Chua canal, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Sai Gon which seems far, far away. We then stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Back in the car at about 15H00 to drive to Can Tho. On arrival in the capital city of the Mekong Delta, do a walking city tour, including the local evening market to take photos of the busy trading activities before checking in the hotel. Overnight in Can Tho. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11: CAN THO - HO CHI MINH

Early morning board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang, a big floating markets with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try passing one of the many fragile monkey bridges along the canals photo shot. At the floating markets, you will discover a typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong river to trade their goods. Drive back to Sai Gon with a lunch stop at My Tho. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY TOURS - CU CHI TUNNELS

After breakfast, enjoy a 2-hour drive northwest of Sai Gon to the Cu Chi tunnels, through urbanized areas and a lush southern Vietnamese countryside. This tunnel complex was dug in 1948 for the guerrillas to hide from French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, food and weapon caches, and as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American war. Visit the underground villages to better understand the tunnels’ history, life in the tunnels and the Vietnamese people’s resilience during combat. Have lunch at local restaurant.

PM: Sai Gon city tour with: Opera House, a three-story classical theatre built to entertain the French colonists (outdoor visit); the former Hotel de Ville constructed for the French bureaucrats of Indochina in 1901, now The People's Committee building with no public access; the Notre Dame Cathedral, a stunningly massive red-brick edifice with twin spires, a clear reminder that French once ruled this city (open only 3-4pm every day, otherwise just an outdoor visit); the Central Post Office influenced by Renaissance architecture; and the former Presidential Palace, headquarters of the Sai Gon Government during the American war. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel, free at your leisure until transfer to the airport to take departure flight to your home. End of services.

Meals included: Breakfast