Vietnam Discovery & Cruising in Style

Highlight

• Little taste of the Vietnamese culture in Hanoi & HCMC (Saigon)
• Cruising through Natural World Heritage – Halong Bay
• Visit atmospheric Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site
• Biking to Tra Que vegetable village
• Explore the Saigon surrounding, Mekong Delta

Outline Itinerary

• Hanoi: 2 nights
• Halong Bay: 1 night
• Hoi An: 3 nights
• Nha Trang: 5 nights
• Saigon: 2 nights

Day 1 Arrival Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi city tour (B/L)
Day 3 Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Day 4 Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (Brunch)
Day 5 Hoi An (B)
Day 6 Hoi An – Tra Que vegetable village (B/L)
Day 7 Hoi An (B)
Day 8 Hoi An – Danang – Sai Gon (B)
Day 9 Sai Gon – Day trip to Ben Tre (B/L)
Day 10 Sai Gon – Departure (B)

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Hanoi Arrival

You will be greeted by your guide upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport. You will then be escorted to your hotel in town. You’ll then have a relaxing overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 2 - Hanoi city tour (B/L)

This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city's museums, the Ethnology Museum. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.

Day 3 - Hanoi – Halong (B/L/D)

In the morning you will depart Hanoi at 07:30 for a three and a half hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments, and upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a tender transfer to your junk and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons' teeth. Later in the afternoon, you'll visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you'll enjoy cocktails or a cooking class while watching the sunset, and later you can unwind at a restaurant with a lavish dinner. To end the day, you can enjoy some evening activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment, before an overnight stay on the junk.

Day 4 - Halong – Hanoi – Danang – Hoi An (B)

After rising to the sound of the ocean coming to life, you'll enjoy breakfast, take a Tai Chi class and watch the sunrise over the bay (if you choose to get up that early!) You will visit a beautiful limestone grotto, and then head back to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Disembarking at the Cruise Café Lounge, you'll rejoin your private car for transfer back to the airport for a one-hour flight to Danang. Upon arrival at Danang airport, you will be transferred directly to your hotel in Hoi An and have free time before an overnight stay.

Flight Hanoi – Danang by Vietnam Airlines - VN185 @ 18.35 – 19.55

Day 5 - Hoi An (B)

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 - Hoi An – Tra Que Vegetable villae (B/L)

Tra Que is a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An, the village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the every day meals of the Pho Hoi people. Here a new spirit for traditional Hoi An dishes like Cao Lau, Quang noodles, enjoy cooking class served by host with the local ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll which were primarily made from Tra Que vegetables and cake with meat (Banh xeo) has been enlivened

Depart from your hotel and ride bicycle in 30 minutes to Tra Que herb village. Take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the history of the village. Then join gardening activities in preparing the land, fertilizing with seaweed, raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables... Enjoy foot soak before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Join cooking with ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll, ‘Banh xeo’ - a local pancake of people in Viet Nam middle region ...

After your morning excursions and lunch, you learn how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Bid farewell to your host family before riding back to your hotel. Free in afternoon and overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7 - Hoi An (B)

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 8 - Hoi An – Danang – Hochiminh (B)

Transfer and flight to Hochiminh for 3-nights stay. Overnight in Hochiminh.
Flight Danang – Hochiminh by Vietnam Airlines – VN113 @ 12:05 13:35

Day 9 - Hochiminh – Day trip to Ben Tre (B/L)

Ben Tre is the best option for a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Saigon, since it is only around 2 hours away, and 15 minutes from My Tho. However, this wonderful destination retains an authenticity which has been somewhat lessened in nearby My Tho.

This picturesque and friendly Mekong Delta town has historically seen very few travelers, but the recent opening of a bridge connecting Ben Tre and My Tho has made it far easier for day trippers to visit from Saigon.

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Ben Tre. While there, you can take a walk along the waterfront, lined with French era shops and houses, and you'll see plenty of coconuts being unloaded from boats for dispatch around the country. Then, jump on a boat for a couple of hours of cruising on the Mekong River. You will enjoy your delicious lunch at a local restaurant or on board. The excursion will end at around 4:00pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 10 - Hochiminh departure (B)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll have free time until transferring to the airport for your onward flight.

Selection of Hotels

• Hanoi – Sheraton Hotel
• Halong – Indochina Sails
• Hoi An – Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa
• Hochiminh – Equatorial Hotel

Price Include

• Overnight at mentioned hotels at mentioned room standards with breakfast
• Meal according program: B = breakfast, L = lunches and D = dinners
• Transport in private air-conditioned car with driver
• All sights, fees, activities and entrances mentioned in the program
• English speaking guides on days with sightseeing.
• No guide on transfers hotel/airport/boat pier.
• All Flights (International & Domestic )

Price Exclude

• Beverage
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• Meals not mentioned
• Vietnam approved letter
• Vietnam visa stamp fee: $25 per person
• Others not mentioned above