Upon arrival at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by your local guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Relax after a long journey.
Overnight in Hanoi
Enjoy a familiarization tour of the Capital City –the political centre of government and centre of culture, art and education. A short walk through Hanoi Old Quarter this morning will offer you opportunities to observe daily life of the local people. Continue drive to the interesting “House of Ho Chi Minh”; from here we visit the mysterious One pillar Pagoda and the imposing Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. We then proceed to Hoan Kiem Lake to walk across the Ancient Red wooden Bridge to the Ngoc Son Temple.
Optional for your decision (prices included):
Option 1: Bia Hoi as the Vietnamese: You will discover more of Vietnam’s local beer. Your local guide will take you for a “bia hoi” (Vietnamese’s beer) in Old Quarter. Enjoy the fantastic local specialty flavours and learn more Vietnamese’s culture.
Option 2: Cyclo ride: Enjoy an hour cyclo ride through the bustling Old Quarter - 36 ancient streets where peddlers continue trade as they have done for centuries.
This evening, we drive to the water puppet theatre to watch the popular and interesting water puppet show that depicts rural life-style of Vietnamese a thousand years back.
Overnight in Hanoi
This morning you will start your trip east to Halong Bay. En route you will pass fields of busy workers farming their rice using traditional methods of cultivation. The bay has assumed an important position in Vietnamese legend for many centuries and continues to capture the imagination of visitors. On arrival transfer to the port and board your boat for the cruise out to the Bay, enjoying a fresh seafood lunch on board along the way. Considered Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder , Halong Bay boasts over 3,000 islands that rise out of the
sea to provide a spectacular natural environment. You will visit some of the beautiful sites around the bay and enjoy sunbath on the sundeck for a panoramic view. Evening, a tasty seafood dinner onboard will be served before retiring to bed
Overnight on junk
Begin your day with Tai Chi exercises on the Sundeck. Rise early to make the most of Halong Bay’s stunning scenery and continue your exploration and discover what makes this area so unique. Checkout your luggage and then have brunch on board while sailing to the pier. Arrive at the pier and we board our coach back to Hanoi / Hai Phong airport for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city
In the morning, we will drive to visit Cu Chi tunnels. Located north-west of Ho Chi Minh city, passing through the suburbs and then the beautiful green or golden paddy fields to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels-the underground bases of our freedom fighters during the war and see for yourself the life-style and hardship of these valiant fighters. Taste the steamed manioc-compressed rice with sesame and salt; see the torture gears and traps and crawl through a tunnel.
We return to Ho Chi Minh city for lunch. After lunch, you will start the city tour with a short walk through the heart of the city on Dong Khoi street (formerly Rue Catinat), pass by the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square and Municipal Theatre, seeing Notre Dame cathedral and Central Post Office. Continue for a comprehensive and emotive War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace before visit Ben That market. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore this vibrant city.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city
Enjoy a relaxing day at the Mekong Delta –Vietnam’s fruit and rice bowl. A pleasant drive through the lush countryside takes you to Ben Tre. On arrival, boat on river to brickwork to see workers make bricks in handy traditional method. Visit one of coconut processing workshops located along canal where you can sample fresh coconut and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products; Go on natural scissors canals spreading out to rural village. The boat will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a short walk to experience real delta village life, visit a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself, enjoying fruits and tea, and chatting with local people by the way.
Riding on moto-cart or bike on shady road, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains. Stop at local restaurant for delicious lunch featuring such local specialties as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp. Go back to pier by sampan and boat, meet the car for trip back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Overnight in in Ho Chi Minh city
- English-speaking guide
- Transfer round trip by air-conditioned private car with a bottle of water and towel face
- Visit to Vietnam's most famous World Heritage Sites
- Spend just a week in Vietnam discovering the highlights and traditions of this colourful country
- Spectacular view of Ha Long Bay on cruising board
- Experience the culture, history and everyday life of bustling Ho Chi Minh City
- Bargain for souvenirs, clothing and gifts at the Ben Thanh Market
- See examples of Saigon's French colonial period with visits War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and Opera house
- Visit the underground labyrinth of the Cu Chi Tunnels, preserved as a war memorial park, with an expert guide
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1: Transfer from airport to guest’s hotel in Hanoi city (-/-/-)
Day 2: Full day tour Hanoi (B/L/-)
Day 3: 2D1N in Halong Bay Cruise (B/L/-)
Day 4: From Halong back to Hanoi and flight to Ho Chi Minh City (B/Br/-)
Day 5: Full day Cu Chi & City tour (B/L/-)
Day 6: Full day tour to Mekong Delta (Ben Tre tour) (B/L/-)
Day 7: Transfer from guest’s hotel to airport in Ho Chi Minh city (B/-/-)
HOTEL 3*
Ha Noi - Gondola Hotel (Deluxe Room) Halong - Phoenix Cruise (Deluxe Cabin) Ho Chi Minh - Lavender Boutique (Deluxe Skylight)
HOTEL 4*
Ha Noi - The Ann Hotel (Deluxe Room) Halong - Sealife Cruise (Suite Cabin) Ho Chi Minh - Liberty Central (Deluxe Room)
HOTEL 5*
Ha Noi - Apricot Hotel (Sketch Room) Halong - Paradise Cruise (Deluxe Cabin) Ho CHi Minh - Renaissance Riverside hotel (Deluxe City View)