Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Hanoi
HanoiIncluded Activities
- Airport to hotel arrival transfer
Optional Activities
- Explore wide tree-lined avenues
- Visit beautiful lakes
- Visit ancient pagodas
- Explore thriving historic old city
- Day 2
Hanoi
Hanoi- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hanoi street food specialties)
Included Activities
- Guided backstreets tour of Hanoi
- Street market visit northwest of city
- Stroll through Vinh Phuc neighbourhood
- Refreshments at local coffee shop
- Taxi-motorbike ride through streets and along Ho Tay Lake
- Street food lunch
- Walk past Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (exterior)
- Guided tour of Temple of Literature
- Visit to Hoa Lo prison
- Local bia hoi (beer) experience
Optional Activities
- Air-conditioned car/taxi alternative to taxi-motorbike (no extra cost)
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison Ho Tay Lake - Day 3
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tasty lunch onboard junk boat with views of karst islands), Dinner (Sumptuous seafood dinner onboard junk boat)
Included Activities
- Cyclo (rickshaw) ride through French Quarter
- Transfer to Halong Bay
- Traditional junk boat cruise
- Lunch onboard junk boat
- Visit to Trinh Nu Cave
- Kayaking opportunity
- Swimming opportunity
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration
- Dinner onboard
Landmarks Opera House Ly Thai To Park Trinh Nu Cave - Day 4
Halong Bay to Hue
Halong Bay to Hue- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Grotto)
- Leisurely walk through '36 streets of the old quarter'
- Overnight sleeper train Hanoi to Hue in basic 4-berth cabin
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi class on sundeck
- Traditional massage
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue (available instead of train)
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Grotto) - Day 5
Hue
Hue- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hue
- Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Tour of Imperial Purple Palace
- Tour of Royal Tombs
- Visit to Emperor Tu Duc's mausoleum
Optional Activities
- Cruise in long boat along Perfume River at sunset
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Purple Palace Royal Tombs Emperor Tu Duc's Mausoleum Perfume River - Day 6
Hue to Hoi An
Hue to Hoi An- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive scenic Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds)
- Walk along China Beach
- Guided walking tour of Hoi An
- Visit to Chua Ong Pagoda
- Visit to Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit to Tam Ky house
- Visit to former merchants' homes
- Visit to Japanese Covered Bridge
Optional Activities
- Refreshing swim at China Beach
- Hoi An Street Eats add-on tour by vintage Vespa with local Vietnamese cuisine (book early, limited numbers)
Landmarks Hai Van Pass China Beach Chua Ong Pagoda Chinese Assembly Hall Tam Ky House Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 7
Hoi An
Hoi An- Meals
- Lunch (Tasty lunch prepared during hands-on cooking demonstration at Tra Que village)
Included Activities
- Bike ride to Tra Que village
- Hands-on farming experience
- Learning about traditional medicine
- Cooking demonstration
- Cooking lunch experience
Optional Activities
- Alternative transportation to Tra Que village at no extra cost (for those who don't wish to cycle)
Landmarks Tra Que Village - Day 8
Hoi An
Hoi An- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Rowboat journey along river
- Beach relaxation
- Hotel pool relaxation
- Excursion to UNESCO-listed My Son sanctuary (book and pay locally)
- Day trip to Ba Na Hills mountain resort with cable car and Golden Bridge walk (book and pay locally)
Landmarks My Son Sanctuary Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge - Day 9
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional meal served in wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island)
Included Activities
- Flight from Danang/Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
- Sampan boat cruise from Cai Be
- Visit to local cottage industries
- Lunch in traditional wooden home on Dong Hoa Hiep Island
Landmarks Mekong Delta Cai Be Dong Hoa Hiep Island - Day 10
Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise to Con Son Islet
- Visit floating fish farm on Hau River
- Stroll along floating bridges
- Watch fish feeding
- Fish massage experience
- Walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Old Post Office
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Landmarks Con Son Islet Hau River Notre Dame Cathedral Old Post Office War Remnants Museum - Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Cu Chi Tunnels
- Video presentation
- Walk through bush trails
- Exploration of trapdoors, booby traps, living areas, weapon factories and kitchens
- Safe crawl through widened tunnel sections
- View of bomb craters
Optional Activities
- Fire weapons of the era at firing range (M16s and AK47s)
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Reunification Palace
- Tour of War Room
- Visit to Giac Lam Pagoda
- Visit to FITO Museum
Optional Activities
- Shopping and haggling at Ben Thanh Market
Landmarks Reunification Palace Giac Lam Pagoda FITO Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport departure transfer
