TRAVEL ITINERARY:
DAY 01: HO CHI MINH ARRIVAL – CITY TOUR (D).
Arrive Tan Son Nhat international airport. After completing immigration formalities and clearing customs you will be met by our driver outside the baggage claim area who will escort you to a private waiting vehicle for your transfer to your hotel (12 km | Approx. 30 minutes). Our driver will be holding a welcome board with your name.
Afternoon:
Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel and then transfer to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Saigon city (approx. 01 hour 30 minutes).
The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command canter, plus accommodation.
Upon arrival to the Cu Chi Tunnels, watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels. Experience history first-hand as you crawl the legendary Cu Chi tunnels, sample local food and food eaten by soldiers who lived in the wonder of Vietnam's unique military art. A war veteran will show you around, allowing a moving insight into the struggles they endured.
Transfer back to the center of city. We then enjoy a walking tour to visit the famous Ben Thanh Market, this will give you a good insight into the Vietnamese markets as well as an opportunity to interact with locals.
Have dinner at local restaurant.
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 02: MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH CITY - FLY TO DA NANG - HOI AN (B,L).
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel and then transfer to My Tho City (70 km & approx. 02 hours). It‘s famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. On the way passing rice fields to discover rural activities of the local people, gardening, fish pond, rice planting.
We stop at Cao Dai Temple in the town of Ben Luc for taking picture.
We then take a private leisurely boat trip, stocked with cold, cloth towels, bottled water, fresh, seasonal fruits, and green tea, cruise around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands (04 sacred animals of Buddhism). We can see the fishing market and visit the floating fish farm.
Enjoy a rowing boat ride in the shadows of the water-coconut palms along the tiny canals to discover “Coconuts homeland”, Ben Tre. Enjoying fresh coconut juice on the boat. We will visit the picturesque orchards and sample the freshly picked fruit at the invitation of friendly local farmers. Spend some time in the villages to learn about the daily lives of the inhabitants, enjoying some kinds of tropical fruits while listening southern traditional music. You can learn how to make coconut candy. You can try some candies, visit the honey bee farm and try the honey, banana wine, ginger jams, soy beans… made by the villagers.
Have lunch with Indian menu at Song Nuoc Mien Tay restaurant.
Enjoy a horse-cart around the village to have a look at the orchards and visit local people’s house. Enjoy a relaxing cup of honey tea before returning to My Tho via a natural canal, cruising under the shadows of water coconut palms.
We boat back to My Tho via a natural canal, cruising under the shadows of water coconut palms.
Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city. We will visit some highlight of Ho Chi Minh city, begin with a visit to the twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed, a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s.
Then head across the square to the historic Saigon Central Post Office, a grand and impressive building incorporating Gothic and Renaissance styles - you may wish to send a postcard home.
If time permit, we can visit the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American war through the eyes of the Vietnamese, the museum is a reminder of the horrors of the war.
We then transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport (12 km | Approx. 30 minutes) to take a flight to Da Nang (approx. 01 hour 10 minutes). Upon arrival Da Nang airport, you are welcome by our driver and then be transferred to Hoi An ancient town(35 km | Approx. 45 minutes).
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 03: HOI AN - BA NA HILL – FLY TO HA NOI (B,L).
Breakfast at hotel.
Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel & transfer to Ba Na Hills, pass the sea-shore on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, one of the most beautiful roads of Danang City and Red Beach, where the French first landed in Da Nang. Arrive at the Cable car station at the foot of Ba Na Mountain. Enjoy the first leg Cable car, which achieves two Guinness World records in 2009, longest non-stop cable car (5,042m) and highest non-stop cable car (1,292m). Sitting in the cabin, in mid air, looking upon the endless tree line of the forests, bring you with spectacular views of the lush jungle and fairly waterfalls along the way. Experience pristine ecological systems of the Ba Na Mountains will leave you the sense of unforeseeable discovery.
Visit the Le Jardin, old wineries, remains of French Villas and Linh Ung Pagoda with 27m high Buddha status. We then leave the Le Jardin for the second cable car station to visit the top of mountain and see the remain of old villas. Conquer the Peak of Chua Mountain at the height of 1,487m. View the whole Danang city under the cluster of white clouds. Leave Peak of Chua Mountain, visit the trail of Dreaming Stream, Rainbow Waterfall, Suspension Bridge, Golden Valley, and ruined Opera House…
Enjoy buffet lunch on Ba Na Hills.
Next, visit the Fantasy Amusement Park, and enjoy the 4D Movie and optionally a few free games. (Games which have rewards, are payable at the location). Play with wild monkeys and take photos. Free time for visiting Ba Na Hills. We return to Cable car station at foot of Ba Na Mountain.
We transfer to Da Nang airport to take a flight to Ha Noi (approx. 01 hour 15 minutes). You are welcome at Noi Bai airport by our driver and then transfer to the hotel (35 km | Approx. 45 minutes).
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 04: HANOI - CRUISE ON HA LONG BAY (B,L,D).
Breakfast at hotel.
Our diver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel. We depart for Ha Long city to visit Ha Long Bay, a World Natural Heritage site and a World of New7Wonders. (170 km | Approx. 02 hour 30 minutes).
Ha Long Bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen. You have chance of observing scenic country side of Vietnam dominated by enormous lush rice field.
Upon arrival in Ha Long. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. Enjoy a refreshing “Welcome cocktail” upon check-in on the sun deck. Enjoy your lunch as the vessel sails to Ha Long Bay passing the Fighting cocks Islet, the Elephant leg Islet, the Castle Islet, the Soi Sim Island…
Arrive at Surprise Grotto - one of the most famous grotto in the entire Ha Long, we will visit the cave by tender.
After taking a lot of photos and admire the beauty of the cave we will visit the fishing village by local rowing boat with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations then we return to the vessel for free time at your leisure. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cool beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (your account) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us.
We retire to the cruise and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck, you can attend the chef's cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking. Your delicious seafood dinner will be served at the restaurant. Stay overnight on cruise for a more in-depth experience.
At night, you may join some activities like: Fishing, shrimp fishing, squid fishing with the crew on board. It's a good time to drink a beer with the squid you caught.
(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).
DAY 05: HA LONG BAY – HA NOI CITY & SHOPPING - FLY DEPARTURE (B,L).
Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi Exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.
Enjoy the international brunch buffet served in the restaurant. Check-out on board and disembarkation at boat port.
12:00. Our driver will pick you up then transfer to Ha Noi (170 km | Approx. 02 hour 30 minutes).
We will visit some highlight of Ha Noi city. We visit to the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070, the temple is dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius, inside the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).
We then visit the Maison centrale in Hanoi, also known as Hoa Lo Prison or the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and American POW during the Vietnam War and hear from a war veteran about his firsthand experiences.
Enjoy a traditional water puppet performance “Roi Nuoc” (Approx. 50 minutes). The stage is actually a large container of water where the characters (carved wooden puppets} “act” out the story, most of the stories are whimsical and fun, and the puppeteers stand in waist deep water behind a screen controlling the puppets with rods that mostly are under the water.
Enjoy shopping time at Hanoi old quarter until out driver picks you up (21:00) then transfer to airport to take your departure flight.
