VIETNAM DISCOVERY

(12 days / 11 nights)

Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi – My Tho – Can Tho Hoi An – Hue – Hanoi – Mai Chau – Ninh Binh – Halong

Day 1: HO CHI MINH CITY
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Transfer to the hotel. If time permits, visit the former Catinat Street, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office,  Reunification Palace and the War Museum.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 2: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI (B)

Excursion to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels (60 km), visit the incredible underground tunnel network of over 200 kilometers hand-constructed by Vietnam Communist guerrillas, virtually underneath the U.S. bases, to stage surprise attacks.

Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh city, visit Cho Lon, Saigon’s China Town and Thien Hau Pagoda.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH CITY - MY THO - CAN THO (B)

Travel by road into the Mekong Delta (125 km), stopping in the town of My Tho, board a private sampan for a cruise on the mighty Mekong river to visit the fish market, get onto the Unicorn island visiting fruit garden to taste diverse types of fruits, tea mixed with bee’s honey, enjoy Mekong Delta’s traditional music and songs. Continue to Can Tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta region (100 km)

Ovenight in Can Tho.

Day 4: CAN THO - HO CHI MINH - DA NANG – HOI AN (B)

Morning visit the famous floating market Cai Rang, then a vermicelli making shop, a rice husking mill and fruit gardens. Afternoon return to Saigon. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport for the late afternoon flight to Da Nang, then transfer to Hoi An, one of the major trading centers of South East Asia in the 16th century, now a World Cultural Heritage Site, well-known for its ancient and remarkable architecture of mixed Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese styles from the 16th century. Check in the hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: HOI AN (B)

Visit this ancient town: the 200 year-old Tan Ky house, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful riverside market. Afternoon free at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6: HOI AN - HUE (B)

Leave Hoi An for Hue, the last imperial capital of Vietnam, well-known for magnific architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills. En route we visit Cham Museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Upon arrival in Hue, visit the Imperial Citadel and the Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: HUE (B)

Morning take a boat trip on the romantic Perfume River visiting Hue’s oldest and most revered site, Thien Mu Pagoda and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. Afternoon visit  the mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: HUE - HANOI (B)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, enjoy a full day city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword and the Ngoc Son temple.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: HANOI - HOA BINH - MAI CHAU (B)

Drive to Hoa Binh (60 km), a mountainous province assorts with diverse minorities of characteristic culture and tradition. Stop en-route visiting a Muong minority village. Continue driving to Mai Chau (80 km) where exists a very original culture. Admire this marvelous and beautiful village by viewing a fresh green valley with plants and fields together with rows of tilted houses. In the evening, we enjoy a traditional music show performed by the young White Thai boys and girls, reflecting the rich culture of this ethnic group. The show is followed by ethnic rice wine “Ruou Can” and ethnic rice “Com Lam”.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 10: MAI CHAU – NINH BINH (B)

Drive to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam late 10th century - early 11th century, which is called “the terrestrial Ha Long Bay” as its towering limestone cliffs and mountains spring up form the green, lush paddy field instead of blue water. Visit two temples dedicated to Dinh and Le Rulers, climb 200 steps to the top of Ma Yen mount for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Take a boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful landscape to Tam Coc caves. Then continue our route to visit the amazing Phat Diem stone cathedral built in 1875.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 11: NINH BINH – HA LONG (B, L, D)

Overland to Ha Long Bay, the most wonderful scenic sight of Vietnam, the World Natural Heritage Site with over 3000 limestone islands and islets rising fantastically from the clear and emerald water. Board a traditional-style wooden junk to travel around this magnificent landscape visiting its amazing grottoes and caves. Opportunity to dive off the boat and have a pleasant swimming in the deep blue water of East Sea.

Overnight on board.

Day 12: HA LONG – HANOI (B, L)

Morning continue our cruise exploring the natural beauty of the World Heritage. Afternoon return to Hanoi, Transfer to Noi Bai airport for departure flight.

Inclusion:

•    All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver

•    9  nights hotel accommodation in twin sharing room

•    1 night home stay in Mai Chau; 1 night on board the junk in Ha Long

•    All meals as mentioned

•    English speaking tour guide

•    Entrance fees

•    Boat trips in Mekong, Hue, Ninh Binh and Ha Long

•   Traditional music show in Mai Chau  and Mekong Delta.

•   1 FOC for group of 15 paying pax up, base on twin sharing room, for landcost only.

Exclusion:

•    Visa to Vietnam

•    International and domestic flights

•    Drinks

•    Other meals

•    Single room

•    Travel insurance

        •    Tip

•    Personal expenses

•    Any optional tours or activities during free time