Arrive Hanoi

Hanoi – Full Day City Tour

Start your day with an hour-long cyclo ride around the French Quarter in the heart of Hanoi. Immerse yourself in the nostalgic atmosphere of this area, which perfectly captures the timelessness of Vietnam. Developed during the French colonial era in the 20th century, the French Old Quarter is planned on a chessboard model, making it unique and hard to alter. The buildings, designed by French architects to suit Vietnam’s climate, range from grand structures on tree-lined boulevards to modest buildings hidden in small alleys. Despite many decades since the French left, these architectural gems remain significant heritage sites, contributing to the distinct charm of the capital.

Afterward, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, important pilgrimage sites for the Vietnamese. Explore the simple cottage on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during his early revolutionary days. Then, head to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which offers an extraordinary tribute to his life. Gain insight into the prewar history of the country at the Governor’s Residence, also known as the Presidential Palace, a prime example of Hanoi’s classical French architecture. Ho Chi Minh chose not to live in this opulent structure, opting instead for a traditional Vietnamese stilt house on the grounds. Stop by the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, a unique piece of Vietnamese architecture resembling a lotus blossom rising from a pond, and learn about its legend. Return to your hotel for some leisure time.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. Later, your guide and driver will take you to Chợ Hôm market, known primarily as a fabric market where you can buy fabric by the meter to make dresses and other items. The market is also full of produce, meats, seafood, and traditional Vietnamese foods. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere and see how locals shop for their daily needs.

After finishing the city tour, visit a unique café hidden in a small alley in the Old Quarter. With about 95% of its furniture and decorations made from recycled materials, the café’s owner aims to protect the environment and raise community awareness about nature conservation. Using the principles of “reduce – reuse – recycle,” the café creatively repurposes scraps into tables, chairs, decorative lights, and drinking cups.

In the evening, enjoy a Water Puppet show, a unique traditional art form in Vietnam. Originating from rural festivals, this style of theatre features artists standing waist-deep in water to manipulate puppets, making them move, talk, laugh, and dance on the water’s surface. The performances depict typical Vietnamese stories, such as farmers working in paddy fields, water buffalo bathing, courtship scenes, and martial arts displays, all delighting the audience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Full Day Trang An

At 8:30 AM, we pick you up from your hotel and depart for Ninh Binh province. Upon arrival, take a boat trip to discover the stunning Trang An grottoes. Here, you’ll marvel at the forested limestone mountains reflected in the emerald waters, explore caves, and glide along lowlands and rivers. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and take a short rest before continuing your adventure.

Next, visit Mua Cave, also known as the “dancing cave,” named for its historical significance as a place where King Tran enjoyed dancing and singing performances. Mua Cave features a challenging climb of nearly 500 steps, modeled after the Great Wall of China. Though the trek is tough, especially towards the top, your efforts will be rewarded with an impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc, Trang An, Ninh Binh city, and the surrounding rice fields and limestone mountains. Take a moment to enjoy the breathtaking sunset from the peak of Ngoa Long mountain.

After the visit, return to Hanoi by car.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Halong Overnight on Boat

In the morning, depart Hanoi at 08:30 for a 3.5-hour drive through the scenic Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Along the way, you’ll stop for refreshments. Upon arrival in Ha Long City, take a tender transfer to your junk boat and set sail through the bay while enjoying a delicious lunch. As you cruise, marvel at the thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth.

In the afternoon, visit a fishing village where you can interact with fishermen who have lived in the bay for nearly three generations. Afterward, return to the boat to enjoy cocktails or participate in a cooking class as you watch the sunset. Later, indulge in a lavish dinner at the onboard restaurant.

In the evening, unwind with activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment before retiring for the night on the junk.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included
Overnight on the cruise.

Halong – Hanoi (Drive) & Hanoi – Danang (By Flight) & Danang – Hoi An (Drive)

Rise to the soothing sounds of the ocean and enjoy breakfast on board. For early risers, there’s an option to take a Tai Chi class and watch the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a stunning limestone grotto, then return to the junk for a final cruise through Ha Long Bay as you head back to the dock.

Disembark at the Cruise Café Lounge and rejoin your private car for the transfer to Hanoi Airport. Board your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, our guide will pick you up and transfer you to Hoi An town, a journey of about 45 minutes.

Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time at your leisure.

Meals: Brunch Included
Overnight stay at the hotel in Hoi An.

Hoi An – Historic Tour

Morning: Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then set off for a full day of exploring.

Half-Day Cam Thanh Village Tour Located about 5km southeast of Hoi An Old Town, Cam Thanh village is known for its coconut paintings and the water coconut forest ecosystem. This cultural space attracts both domestic and foreign tourists for visits, sightseeing, and study.

Activities at Cam Thanh Village:

• Explore the water coconut forest ecosystem and learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen and their families.
• Learn traditional fishing techniques and how to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats.
• Enjoy rowing the bamboo basket boats through the small, beautiful channels of the coconut palm forest and observe the coconut trees growing in their natural habitat.

End your visit with a must-try stop at the famous baguette shop, Banh Mi Phuong, where even the Australian Prime Minister and celebrity chef Luke Nguyen visited during the APEC meeting in 2017.

Half-Day Hoi An Walking Tour Take a walking tour around Hoi An, a town recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Once a bustling maritime commercial port from the 15th to 19th centuries, Hoi An is now a peaceful town with well-preserved architecture, lifestyles, and traditions. The town showcases a fascinating fusion of Vietnamese and international cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Filipino influences.

Your sightseeing tour will include:

• The iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached, exemplifying Japanese architecture.
• The Museum of Trade Ceramics, an elegant Vietnamese-style wooden house built in 1858, showcasing antique ceramic artifacts.
• The 200-year-old Tan Ky House, representing an ancient Chinese merchant residence.
• Ong Temple, built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general known for loyalty, bravery, and justice.
• The local market, vibrant with colors and activities.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight stay at the hotel in Hoi An.

Hoi An – Hue (Drive)

Start your morning with breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Hue. On the way, stop to visit the French Bunker at Hai Van Pass near Da Nang. This concrete bunker, built by the French military during their struggle against Viet Minh guerrillas from 1945 to 1954, was later occupied by U.S. troops during the Vietnam War.

In the early afternoon, arrive in Hue and check into your hotel. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River, taking in the open views and beautiful landscapes along the riverbanks. During the cruise, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river, with origins dating back to 1601.

Next, transfer by car to Minh Mang Tomb, the burial place of the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. Finally, stop for shopping at Dong Ba Market, the city’s traditional commercial center.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Hue.

Hue – Phuoc Tich Village

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, then embark on a half-day tour of Hue City, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s charm lies in its scenic landscape and extensive historical relics.

Begin your tour at Hue Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This grand 520-hectare complex, built in the early 1800s, features three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) on the outside, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) in the middle, and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) on the inside.

Next, visit Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king. This tomb is the most elaborate of all the kings’ tombs, showcasing a vivid European influence in its architecture despite its Asian style.

In the afternoon, explore the vicinity of Hue. Start with a 40-minute drive out of the city center into the scenic countryside to Phuoc Tich Village. Famous for its pottery, Phuoc Tich now attracts visitors with its 27 ‘Nha Ruong’ (Hue’s traditional houses) and unique gardens. Walk through the peaceful streets, admire the historical sites, visit a traditional home, a pottery factory, and the special Cay Thi temple, which is about 700 years old and features harmonized Vietnamese and Cham architecture.

Continue winding through the countryside towards Pha Tam Giang, observing the daily life of the local people and the serene atmosphere of ancient villages. Stop at Quang Cong Village, known as the ‘City of Ghosts,’ to see the increasingly lavish and elaborate tombs built by villagers for their ancestors.

Once you arrive at Tam Giang Lagoon, take a boat trip on the lagoon, floating past local families living on the riverbank and stopping to meet some of them along the way. Finally, return to your hotel in the late afternoon and spend the evening at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Hue.

Hue – Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) (By Flight)

Morning: Start your day with breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Hue Airport to board your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be greeted and transferred to your pre-booked hotel.

In the afternoon, embark on a half-day city tour.

Begin with a visit to the War Remnants Museum. With your private driver and English-speaking guide, explore the images and sounds of Vietnam’s lengthy war history with the French and Americans. The museum features a comprehensive collection of machinery, weapons, and photos from the Vietnamese perspective, along with moving tributes to the journalists, civilians, and soldiers who lost their lives. The exhibits also provide a critical look at biological warfare, weaponry, and global peace movements.

Next, visit the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, which served as the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 1975. It was here that the Vietnam War effectively ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates, leading to the formal reunification of North and South Vietnam.

Continue your tour with a drive past the former American Embassy and the site where the Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc self-immolated on June 11, 1963. His act of protest sparked a significant uprising that contributed to the fall of President Diem’s regime. Quang Duc’s heart, which did not burn during his self-immolation, is enshrined and treated as a sacred relic.

Conclude your tour with a visit to the iconic Ben Thanh Market, a centrally located covered market where you can shop for souvenirs or relax with a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta & Ben Tre

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred at 8:00 AM for a 2-hour drive to Ben Tre. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, embark on a boat trip along the Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong River. As you cruise along the river, enjoy the scenery of mangrove trees and observe the morning activities such as fishing and coconut cargo boats.

Your first stop will be at a traditional brickwork facility to see how bricks are made by hand. Continue by boat to My Long village and take a walk through the hamlet to witness the making of rice paper and sample some delicious rice cakes. Proceed along the Cai Son canal, winding through the coconut jungle, and visit a coconut workshop to see the various stages of coconut processing, from husking to peeling by hand.

Next, navigate a small waterway to visit a coconut candy mill, where you can enjoy fresh fruits, honey tea, and local music. Take a short walk to visit a farmer’s house where sleep mats are made. Cycle along rural tracks or take a tuktuk ride through coconut groves and vegetable plains, observing crops such as cucumber and bitter melon.

Enjoy a serene rowing boat trip through a shady palm tree canal and stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant. After lunch, return to Hung Vuong Pier by motorboat.

In the late afternoon, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City, check in to your hotel, and enjoy some leisure time.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnel

Morning: Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then head out for a half-day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Transfer to Cu Chi, the northernmost suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City, to discover the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These tunnels were a major underground hideout and resistance base for Viet Cong forces during the wars against the French and the Americans. Hand-dug and highly intricate, the network of interlinked multilevel passageways sometimes stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaled over 120 km in length. The tunnels contained meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches, and emergency exits, all designed for guerrilla warfare. They were deep and strong enough to withstand bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.

Activities at Cu Chi Tunnels:

• Watch a documentary film that provides an introduction to the history and significance of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Crawl short distances through the tunnels that were used by guerrilla fighters during the Vietnam War. Experience what it was like to navigate through the tunnels, which have been enlarged for visitors.
• Learn about the various types of booby traps that were created and set up as symbols of guerrilla warfare.
• Visit the weapons room to understand how Viet Cong soldiers ingeniously made their weapons.
• Get adventurous at the shooting range where you can fire a real AK-47 (note that the cost for bullets is not included).

Afternoon: Return to Ho Chi Minh City and check in to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Leave Ho Chi Minh

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then check out.

Afterward, you will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) Airport to board your flight back home.

Safe travels!