Vietnam At A Glimpse

Welcome to Viet Nam! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed , and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi.

A day full of history, culture, architecture and local life! After breakfast we will pick you up at the hotel and tour the most beautiful places in Ha Noi.

Begin your morning with:

• Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural – the world’s largest ceramic mosaic and awarded a Guinness World Records certificate.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda on a small island in the biggest lake of Ha Noi, West Lake
• Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes: the Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, the old residence of Ho Chi Minh, and One Pillar Pagoda
• Temple of Literature (also known as Vietnam’s first university)

In the afternoon:

• Hoa Lo Prison (also known as the Hanoi Hilton)
• Ngoc Son Temple on a small island in the Hoan Kiem Lake (the most famous lake and the symbol of Ha Noi)
• A cycle tour and a walking tour to witness the local activities in Hanoi Old Quarter
• Traditional Water Puppet performance (created in North Vietnam in 10th century)

The rest of the day is yours, to visit the night market if you wish to try some real local food at one of the street vendors and buy some gifts from the local traders. (B)

A day with the dragons in Ha Long Bay, which is one of New Seven Natural Wonders of the world and also a member of the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World. After breakfast we will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to Ha Long by car. Today’s itinerary will be as follows:

In the morning:

• Drive about 4 hours towards Ha Long Bay on the road with lots of the countryside views. A stop can be made at your request at a local workshop for coffee.

In the afternoon:

• Board your traditional Vietnamese boat then set sail through the limestone islands whilst having lunch.
• Drop anchor close to a traditional fishing village then take a sampan ride to see how the villagers live. Experience their way of life before re-boarding your boat.
• After a short cooking class, settle down on the upper deck for some drinks whilst watching the sunset.
• Enjoy massage services, spa, nail service upon your request (directly payable)

In the evening:

• Enjoy seafood dinner. Watch movies, play cards, fish for squids, enjoy some drinks while chatting with your friends… before retiring to your cabins. (B,L,D)

Up early on top deck enjoy a Tai Chi session. Best done as the sun rises and what an experience this is. Breakfast is served and then onto the Caves close by. Returning to land, your private transfer will take you to Ha Noi. On the way we will have the following activities: (if time permits)

• Visit a ceramic factory to learn how the local people make beautiful ceramic products. Then we drive to Den Do temple to learn about the history of Vietnam under Ly Dynasty in 11th century.
• Enjoy the massage service (direct payment) before taking the 1 hour 10 minute flight to the city of Hue and your hotel for the night.

Upon arrival at the airport in Hue you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (Brunch)

Capital City from centuries ago. Along the banks of the Perfume River lies the ancient capital of Hue, which is well known for its historic monuments, which have earned it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. So after breakfast we take a tour of this historical city. During 1968 Tet Offensive the city suffered considerable damage by both the North Vietnamese and American military forces. You will see bullet marks on many of the historical building even though a thorough rebuild has taken place.
Today’s itinerary includes visits to:

• Cau Ngoi Village/ Cau Ngoi Local market to learn about the local life.
• Hue Old Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Minh Mang Tomb

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the facilities at your hotel or wander around the streets. (B)

Hoi An was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a well-preserved example of a south-east Asian trading port of the 15th to 19th centuries, with buildings that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences. After breakfast you drive out of the city and along the coast road until you reach the mountains. At the top of the pass the scenery becomes spectacular. Climbing steeply you reach the picturesque spot of Hai Van pass (Cloudy Pass) with its views of the City of Da Nang. Whilst passing through the city, we stop off at the Cham Sculpture Museum before paying a visit to Non Nuoc Beach and Marble Mountain before arriving at your hotel. You are close to the Old Town so a walking tour will take you to:

• Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Tan Ky Ancient House and the vibrant market

The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city.(B)

After breakfast you will head out of the hustle and bustle of the city to countryside. Our interesting day will go as follows:

• Take a short drive to Cam Thanh Coconut Village, where you get a feel for what village life is like.
• Board your Bamboo Basket Boat and then float along the river to the Water Coconut Forest to try your hand at catching crabs and shrimp. Coconuts play an important part in the lives of the villages. Here you will see the many uses of the coconut plant.
• Continue to Tra Que Herb Garden and try your hand at hoeing, finding uses for seaweed, transplanting and watering vegetables before speaking with the local farmers to find out what it’s truly like to live in a Vietnamese village. Enjoy a cooking class by joining the villagers in preparation for lunch in a traditional way, which is always the highlight of this trip – oh and you get to eat what you have prepared!

Afterwards return to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours! Relax and enjoy the facilities on offer at your hotel or explore the surrounding area prior to getting a good night’s sleep. (B,L)

Head south after breakfast to Da Nang Airport for morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Quite a contrast from Hoi An, the city is bustling. Today you will visit:

• Reunification Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Post office( yes, you will be amazed),China Town, Binh Tay Market.

Afterwards return to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours! Relax and enjoy the facilities on offer at your hotel or explore the surrounding area prior to getting a good night’s sleep.(B)

A day full of history, culture and local life. After breakfast you visit:

• The historically important Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about this incredible underground system of tunnels and even experience what it was like. Walk along them and see what daily life was like during the Viet Nam War.
• Also visit Ho Chi Minh’s busiest markets, Ben Thanh Market followed by the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam.

End your day with a drive back to the city and spend some time in the shopping district before returning to your hotel for the evening. (B)

After breakfast, the guide and your driver will transfer you to Ben Tre. The program for today is as follows:

• Make a stop along the way to view a brick factory.
• A boat journey takes you along the Mekong River before stopping at a local house to see the many uses of coconuts.
• A stopover at Nhon Thanh village to learn about traditional mat weaving, before hoping on bikes for a leisurely ride through the countryside.
• Lunch is served at a traditional Mekong village restaurant.
• Board a motor boat to explore more of the Mekong Delta.

Then, return to your car for transfer to Ho Chi Minh City. The rest of the day is yours! To relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel or explore the night market and the surrounding area prior to getting a good night’s sleep. (B,L)

Today you are free until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.