Overall:Relish Vietnam’s distinct and energetic character as you journey from Hanoi in the north to Saigon in the south. Explore the country’s turbulent past, meet the friendly, resilient locals and get lost in spectacular panoramas on this tour of discovery.
Welcome to Vietnam!
Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Start your morning with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of President Ho Chi Minh who led Vietnam to independence from French colonial rule. His preserved body has been an important landmark in the capital city since 1969, and a perfect place to learn more about Vietnam’s rich history. From there, wander through the beautiful surrounding gardens and toward the One Pillar Pagoda and Presidential Palace, where a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s simple working space is on display.
Afterward, set off through central Hanoi toward the Temple of Literature, the oldest university in Hanoi and a perfect example of ancient architecture built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius. Then tend to your rumbling stomach with a traditional Vietnamese lunch with a chance to get a bit more “hands on” for a cooking demonstration!
Afternoon visit Ethnology Museum then take cyclo tour in Hanoi Old Quarter and visit Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple.
In the evening, seeing a traditional Water Puppet show in Hanoi is one of the most unforgettable experiences to be had in the Vietnamese capital. Performed in Hanoi’s famous Thang Long theatre, located alongside Hoan Kiem Lake, the Water Puppet show is one steeped in history and culture.
Water puppetry is a traditional art-form originating in northern Vietnamese villages in the Red River Delta as far back as the 11th century, during the late Le Dynasty. Hidden Performers behind a curtain whisk brightly painted puppets along waist-deep water to tell stories of tranquil village life and age-old folk tales.
The puppetry is accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music performed by a live orchestra, and combines both traditional and modern influences to create a unique and priceless cultural experience for visitors to Vietnam. A visit to the Water Puppetry show is one not to be missed when visiting the capital.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Depart from Hanoi and travel to the seaside port of Halong Bay. Transfer to Tuan Chau island to board the overnight cruise, a beautifully restored traditional wooden junk. Settle in and enjoy the view from the water.
Visit the Lom Bo Canal area, and visit a floating pearl farm and learn how these precious ‘stones’ are made. Then, drop anchor at Kiem Lam; where you can swim around the limestone karsts or simply lounge around on deck.
Back on board, head on to your mooring for the evening and take part in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration from the on board chefs! Enjoy dinner on the deck and wrap up your day with a cocktail or try your hand at squid fishing.
Overnight Cruise in Halong Bay.
On the second day, enjoy the sunrise over Bai Tu Long Bay, followed by a special Tai Chi class, which will add another dimension to your Halong journey. Afterwards, sail to Sung Sot, or Surprise Cave, where guests can walk through the fascinating grotto and get an inside look at Halong Bay’s beauty.
Say goodbye to the crew at the main harbour and take the transfer about 4 hours back to Hanoi arriving late in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.
Upon arrival, a guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight in Hue.
Hue was the Vietnamese capital during the Nguyen Dynasty 1802-1945 and ruins of the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the Citadel and the Imperial City. Created in the 19th century, the Imperial City was modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and holds many palaces and temples inside its giant walls. Many of the buildings have been damaged by war over the years and are now being restored to their former glory.
Spend some time wandering through the citadel before taking a short journey into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of the Emperors at two of the most impressive Royal Tombs and take a boat trip along the Perfume River, visit Thien Mu Pagoda.
Overnight in Hue.
Depart from the hotel in Hue, continue south to the riverside town of Hoi An. The five hour trip hugs the coastline along the North Pacific Ocean with breathtaking views particularly as the road winds its way up Hai Van Pass (“Pass of the Clouds”).
As you pass through the city of Danang, stop at the Cham Museum. The Cham civilization ruled central Vietnam from the 2nd – 13th centuries and was considered extremely important for religion and learning.
In the afternoon, begin your tour of Hoi An, a former trading port that welcomed Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants between the 16th to 18th centuries. Today Hoi An is famous for its restored architecture, homemade silk, expert tailors and delicious noodles and seafood. Its relaxed vibe and pedestrian streets make this town a pleasure to walk around and discover new things.
The tour includes stops at several famous landmarks. The first is Chua Ong Pagoda, dating back to 1653 and built in honor of the Chinese general Quan Cong, who is worshipped by many as a symbol of loyalty and justice.
Next, pop into Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, to see the Jinshang Temple which is dedicated to the goddess of the sea and the protector of sailors. From there it’s a short walk to Tan Ky House, a 200 year old ancestral house and finally, stroll across the often photographed 17th century covered bridge built by Japanese craftsmen. The beautifully built bridge doubles as a temple and is a major landmark of Hoi An. End your afternoon with a boat trip along Thu Bon river.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Depart your Hoi An hotel for My Son, the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization. The Cham people ruled central Vietnam from the 2nd – 13th centuries, and their kingdom once stretched into what are now Laos and parts of Cambodia. Most of the ruins have decayed over time or have been looted. There are a few headless statues in place and one of the temples has some decorative stonework.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Spend the day getting to know rural Vietnam. Start with a bike ride along green rice paddies to a nearby village where you will roll up your sleeves and help out the farmers. Head back to Hoi An and take a short river cruise to meet some fisherman for a hands-on lesson in net fishing. Then the fun begins as you try to paddle a bamboo basket boat.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day at leisure.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.
Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa province make a small ocean world there. Mun Island is the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. You will also be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest. Then relaxing, swimming & doing water sports or other activities at Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island or on a small island calling “Mini beach”. Taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will visit a fishing village before going to the shore.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day at leisure.
Overnight in Nha Trang.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Dalat. Upon your arrival in Dalat, take the jeep tour to Lang Biang top then continue to Datalan Water Falls, enjoy the alpine coaster here will bring you new experience.
Back hotel and overnight in Dalat.
Dalat was established in 1897 once French colonialists discovered its cool temperate weather as a salve for the heat of steamy Saigon. By the early 20th century the town had grown with boarding schools, military colleges, resorts and private villas all built in the French style and few of which remain today.
Visit the summer palace of Vietnams last emperor, Bao Dai, an art deco style villa was constructed in1933. At the time it was considered quite luxurious but with the wisdom of time it now looks like a movie set from the 1950s. Bao Dai was forced to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of World War II and spent the rest of his life in voluntary exile in France. Continue to the botanical gardens and see a vast array of flowers in bloom, sculpted into different shapes and animals. Take a cable car ride over the gardens for a birds-eye view.
Head to the Truc Lam Zen Monastery for a look into monks at work and see the daily rhythms of temple life. This is a unique form of Zen founded during the Tran dynasty where practitioners develop self-reliance and realisation through meditation. The scenery around the temple is quite breathtaking. Later in the afternoon drive to Pongour Waterfall the most beautiful in the south. The waterfall has many cascades falling from 30 metres to pools below.
Overnight in Dalat.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.
Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
Afternoon, your guide will meet you at your hotel and driven to the city’s Central Post Office, which was designed by the renowned French architect Gustav Eiffel, and Notre Dame Cathedral, the iconic landmark built between 1863 and 1880. Admired for its neo-Romanesque architecture, the cathedral is a popular backdrop for local wedding photographers.
Next, stroll toward the Saigon River along Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American, to the Saigon Opera House, a commanding building completed in 1901. Shelled during World War II, it was used to shelter French citizens fleeing North Vietnam in 1954, the year Vietnam earned its independence from France.
The tour continues with a stop at the Reunification Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates in 1975 to end a war that killed an estimated 58,000 Americans and three million Vietnamese. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum, where Vietnam’s government has assembled presentations – some of them graphic – of wartime hardships and atrocities.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Depart from your hotel at 8am and drive to the township of Cai Be to board the Cai Be Princess, a traditional riverboat made from native bamboo, wood and rattan. During Vietnam’s French colonial period, boats like this were an essential means of transport in a swampy areas and poor roads. And even today, they are a handy means of reaching the delta’s isolated river communities.
Meet at the Cai Be jetty at 10am, your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Cai Be Princess sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases. Observe from the comfort of your sampan life as it plays out on the riverbanks – the people, the stunning landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit. Visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. We’ll make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries: coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people.
Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during Indochinese times.
After lunch, at around 2.30 pm, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.
