TRAVEL ITINERARY:
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DAY 01: SAIGON ARRIVAL.
Arrive Tan Son Nhat international airport. After completing immigration formalities and clearing customs you will be met by our guide 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 guide will be holding a welcome board with your name. Check in hotel, you're handed a welcome drink at the check-in desk. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.
DAY 02: SAIGON – CU CHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR.
Breakfast at hotel. 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).
• Visit 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.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant (Top 10 must-try dishes in Saigon will be served during your lunch).
Afternoon. Half day Saigon city tour:
• The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed.
• The historic Saigon Central Post Office.
• The Reunification Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon government during the American war.
• The War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American war through the eyes of the Vietnamese.
• Walking tour along Dong Khoi Street, known as Rue Catinat in French-colonial times.
• 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.
It's time to enjoy a cup of coffee, our local guide will help you enjoy a truly Saigon, experience Saigon's famed coffee street culture to get closer to its locals. (coffee will be free offered by our guide).
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.
DAY 03: SAIGON – CAI BE FLOATING MARKET – CAN THO.
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel and then transfer to Vinh Long (140 km | Approx. 02 hours 30 minutes).
• Visit the Cai Be colorful floating market - One of the most renowned and captivating markets in the Mekong Delta.
• Visit the home of Mr. Kiet and his family (was built in 1838 with unique architecture).
• Visit a bee farm a flora garden. You can learn about how honey and pollen and royal jelly are harvested.
• Try lifting a fishing net and walking on a “monkey” bridge.
• Enjoy Mekong traditional music.
• A delicious home-cooked Vietnamese meal will be served for lunch in the family’s house.
Meet the driver in Vinh Long and transfer to Can Tho (60 km | Approx. 01 hour 30 minutes). Check into hotel.
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Can Tho.
DAY 04: CAN THO - CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET - SAIGON.
Breakfast at hotel.
• Boat on Cai Rang floating market, the biggest floating market in the delta.
• Visit to the ancient Binh Thuy house, a very beautiful residence imbued with features of the southern delta. The house was famously used in the 1992 movie “L’Amant” (“The Lover”).
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant (Top 10 must-try dishes in Saigon will be served during your lunch).
Transfer back to Saigon (170 km | Approx. 03 hours). Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.
DAY 05: SAIGON – CHINA TOWN – FLY TO HUE.
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel.
• Explore the China Town called “Cho Lon”.
• Visit the Thien Hau Temple - most well-known sacred site in the heart of prosperous Saigon.
• Visit the amazing Cho Lon and Binh Tay Markets, which are full of energy and dazzling array of goods.
We then transfer to the airport (12 km | Approx. 30 minutes) to catch a domestic flight to Hue (Approx. 01 hour 10 minutes). You are welcome at Phu Bai airport then be transferred to your hotel (20 km | Approx. 40 minutes). You’ll be greeted with welcome drink at the check-in desk. Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hue.
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DAY 06: HUE IMPERIAL.
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel.
• Boat trip along the romantic Perfume River carries us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes.
• Visit Thien Mu Pagoda - one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue.
• Visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes.
• Visit the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - One of the most beautifully designed complexes among the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty.
Afternoon:
• Hue Citadel Complex including Royal Citadel and Forbidden Citadel - UNESCO World Heritage sites, set up by Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945.
• Visit the striking Flag Tower, the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, Dien Tho Residence (Dien Tho Palace), Thai Hoa Palace, the magnificently decorated reception hall, the Halls of the Mandarins, and the original Nine Dynastic Urns…
• Visit the bustling Dong Ba Market - one of the romantic symbols of this city, interact with local people.
• Enjoy “Royal dinner”. Enjoy a delicious food while listening to melodious music and having a feeling of being the King and Queen. All wear traditional royal clothes.
• Meet and talk with people who are descendants of kings and royal family to have an in-depth experiences of Nguyen dynasty.
Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 07: HUE – HOIAN – CHAM RUINS OF MY SON.
Breakfast at hotel. We leave Hue to Hoi An (135 km | Approx. 03 hours), on the way to Hue city we will visit:
• Cham Museum - One of the largest collections of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world.
• Explore a nearby stone-cutting craft village.
Afternoon:
• Visit the ancient Cham ruins of My Son (40 km | Approx. 01 hour).
• Walk around to see the historic and culture ruins of the 16th century, and be brought back to the glorious time of the Champa civilization. The guide will show you the remains of special brick tower, explain the origin and historical significance of the site including the meanings of each tower or monument.
• Cruise along Thu Bon River back to Hoi An town. On the way we will stop at Carpentry village, Pottery village and Cam Ha fish market.
Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoi An town. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 08: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN – COOKING CLASS.
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel. We then visit:
• Hoian’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market, interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
• Cruise on Thu Bon river to Tra Que village, a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An,
• Enjoy a signature hand & foot massages, delivered with a unique musical therapy that synchronises song with rhythmic acupressure.
• Learn to prepare Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Rice Pancake) and be given a sound understanding of the ingredients and flavors used in Vietnamese cooking. You will also be introduced to tastings of local specialty dishes that you may be yet to try.
• Enjoy a delightful lunch prepared by you.
Afternoon:
We enjoy a walking around the historic town to visit:
• Phuc Kien Assembly Hall - One of five official assembly halls in Hoi An (was established in 1697).
• 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge - The symbol of Hoi An.
• Chua Ong Pagoda (Quan Cong Temple, a centuries-old spiritual treasure trove of Hoi An was established in 1653).
• Tan Ky old house, a living museum with more than 200 years old in Hoi An.
• The silkworm & handicraft workshops.
• Enjoy a short cruise on the river to experience the lantern floating with a lantern drop for good luck.
Our guide will help you enjoy an authentic Hoi An ancient town, enjoy a cup of egg coffee by the riverside and witness the local life (coffee will be free offered by our guide). Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 09: HOI AN - DA NANG - FLY TO HA NOI.
Breakfast at hotel. Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoi An town until our guide and driver pick you up and transfer to the airport (35 km | Approx. 45 minutes) to take a domestic flight to Ha Noi Capital (approx. 01 hour 15 minutes). You are welcome at Noi Bai airport and then transferred to the hotel (35 km | Approx. 45 minutes).
Afternoon, we enjoy a private Ha Noi half day city tour. We will visit:
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The museum offers an excellent view of the customs and habits of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam with various unique cultural features.
(Note: Museum of Ethnology is closed on Monday weekly).
• Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university (Founded in 1070 by Emperor Le Thanh Tong).
• The oldest bridge of Ha Noi “Long Bien Bridge” to take photos and see the local life of Hanoi.
• The Maison centrale in Hanoi, also known as Hoa Lo Prison or the ‘Hanoi Hilton’.
• Enjoy a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets.
• Enjoy a traditional water puppet performance “Roi Nuoc” (Approx. 50 minutes).
Dinner will be served at a local restaurant. (Top 10 must-try dishes in Ha Noi will be served during your dinner).
Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure and overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 10: HA NOI – NINH BINH – TAM COC – HA NOI.
Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel, we transfer to Ninh Binh province (105 km | Approx. 02 hours 30 minutes) to visit Tam Coc - is known as Ha Long Bay on the rice fields.
• Visit Hoa Lu, which was the capital of the Dinh and Early Le dynasties in Vietnam in the 10th and 11th century.
• Visit Mua cave with a stunning panorama of Ngo Dong River and the paddy fields below.
• Enjoy walking or biking around the countryside and interact with local people.
• Private sampan ride through a karst landscape to visit Tam Coc Grottos.
• Visit Bich Dong Pagoda
Transfer back to Ha Noi (105 km | Approx. 02 hours 30 minutes). Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 11: HANOI – HA LONG BAY – A NIGHT CRUISE.
Breakfast at 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). Upon arrival in Ha Long. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port.
• Enjoy welcome drinks and cruise briefing.
• Enjoy lunch while cruising to the magnificent Ha Long Bay. Passing the Fighting cocks Islet, the Elephant leg Islet, the Castle Islet, the Soi Sim Island…
• Luon Cave excursion on bamboo rowing boats or kayaks.
• Swimming or sunbathing at Titov beach.
• Pre-dinner sunset cocktail party
• Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck.
• Savour a delicious set dinner in dining room.
• Night-time squid fishing.
(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).
DAY 12: HA LONG BAY – DEPARTURE.
• Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi Exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay.
• Light breakfast. Coffee, tea, and pastries are served in restaurant.
• Arrive at Surprise Grotto - one of the most famous grottos in the entire Ha Long, we will visit the cave by tender.
• Enjoy the international brunch buffet served in the restaurant.
• Check-out on board and disembarkation at boat port.
Our tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to the airport (170 km | Approx. 02 hours 30 minutes) to the airport for your departure flight.
