Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1 : HO CHI MINH CITY

Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest at the hotel. Lunch.

In the afternoon, discover the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel - beautiful architecture . Visit Thien Hau Temple, a Taoist temple in Cho Lon, which is the Chinese district of Ho Chi Minh. Then we continue to discover Chinatown with the famous Binh Tay Market, seeing the locals purchasing, selling marchandises.

Dinner. Walk on the Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2 : HO CHI MINH CITY – TIEN GIANG – CAN THO

Pick up and depart for Tien Giang province. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient architecture.

Arrival at the port of My Tho, embark on a boat for visit the Tien river, visit the Thoi Son island, discover the traditional homes of the South, the production of coconut candy and tropical fruit gardens. Listen to Don Ca Tai Tu, intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. Lunch at Phung island. Return to the port for departure to Can Tho.

Visit the ancient house in Binh Thuy, also known as the orchid house, where the movie "The Lover" (1990) was filmed, a novel by Marguerite Duras. Dinner. Overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 3 : CAN THO – HO CHI MINH CITY - DA NANG

Discover the Cai Rang floating market early in the early morning. This is a typical market of the South, and also the largest market in the Mekong Delta. You will experience getting around in a boat filled with heaps of fruits and vegetables.

Return to the hotel. Breakfast. Departure to the Buddhist Institute Truc Lam in the South, one of the largest Buddhist institutes in the South. We continue our visit to the orchard Phong Dien. Lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Da Nang. Arrival in Da Nang. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 :  DA NANG – HOI AN

Visit the Ngu Hanh Son Marble Mountains, known for their landscape and beauty. Discover Non Nuoc, famous for marble sculpture making and stone-cutting crafts. We continue the journey to Hoi An, which was declared UNESCO World Cultural Heritage because of its ancient town. It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.

Lunch. Walk in the center of the old town and visit typical old houses in Hoi An, the Chua Cau bridge (Japanese Covered Bridge) and the Quan Cong Temple. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 5 : HOI AN – HUÉ

In the morning departure to Hue - an ancient citatel in central of Vietnam. Check in hotel. Lunch.

Visit the Imperial City and the Purple City of the Nguyen Dynasty, famous historical relics in Vietnam. We continue to visit the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady, the highest pagoda in Vietnam, one of the major symbols of the city.

Dinner. Cruise trip on the Perfume River listening to Nha Nhac Cung Dinh Hue, a type of traditional court music singing of the Nguyen dynasty, which has been declared UNESCO World Intangible Heritage. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 6 : HUE – HANOI

In the morning we visit the Dong Ba market. Apart from providing food and other goods for the cities, it’s also perfect to discover typical trading methods as well as to buy some specialties of the local people. We will buy the food we later need to cook our own dish in a famous restaurant in Hue. The chef gives us instructions how to prepare a special dish of Hue. We taste the food we cooked at lunch.

In the afternoon we visit the tomb of Tu Duc, one of the most famous kings of the Nguyen kingdom. This tomb is the most spacious as well as the most beautiful of the Nguyen kings tombs. The tomb of Khai Dinh is the next destination on the trip back to Hue. Especially the mix of different architectures between Eastern and Western styles of the tomb appeals to all visitors. Transfer to Phu Bai airport for the flight to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi. Dinner. Check-in hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 7 : HANOI        

Discover the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-placeand, seeing the One Pillar Pagoda - symbol for Hanoi. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university.

Lunch. The afternoon is devoted to the walk at the Lake of the Restored Sword, a place that lies in the heart of Hanoi. Visit the Temple of the Jade Mountain, located at the shore of the lake. Take a cyclo to get around the old neighborhoods.

Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 8 : HANOI – HALONG BAY

  In the morning, pick up and departure for  Ha Long Bay.

  12:30 Upon arrival at Vinashin Tourist Harbor, You are welcomed at our waiting room before enjoying the cruise.

  Embark. Enjoy welcome drink. Check in your cabin. Start cruising among famous Islets (Indochina studio, Am Islet…) of Bai Tu Long Bay, the wildest beauty with the  panoramic natural views.

  Explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Treasure the wonderful beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay at sunset; admire the striking islands and islets.

  16:30  Enjoy kayaking/swimming at Cong Do or relaxing on the cruise (expense personal). Onboard the vessel, surrounded by a stunning, attend our chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking (spring roll) on the sundeck.

  19:15  Dinner is served in the restaurant. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

DAY 9 : HALONG BAY - HANOI

  06:15 Morning exercises on the Sun-deck. Have breakfast.

  07:30 Visit Vung Vieng village - the famous fishing farm by bamboo boat and discover life of local people living on the surface of Halong Bay.  Pack up the luggage and check out of the cabin.

  Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to Vinashin tourist harbor. Disembark.

Landing at noon, then departure to Hanoi. Free time in Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10 : HANOI

Visit the village of Bat Trang, which is known for its traditional pottery, one of the villages of the Red River Delta that always kept its originality. You can also observe and learn how to make a cup or a vase. Lunch. The afternoon is devoted to visit the Ethnographic Museum to get more information about the 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam.

    End of excursion

The price of the tour includes:

• domestic flights

• transfers with private air-conditioned vehicle

• accommodation

• visits and services mentioned in the programme

• meals mentioned in the programme

• the assistance of English speaking guide

• travel insurance

The price of the tour excludes:

• personal expenses

• tips for the guide and the driver