Classic Vietnam

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam

Arrive in Hanoi, you will be met at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and transferred to your hotel in the city center. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 2: Hanoi

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, house and garden. A short walk from the mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda which is an 11th-century wooden temple designed to resemble a blooming lotus, built on a single stone pillar in the water. Pass the Presidential Palace to visit the West Lake and one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam ‘Tran Quoc’, meaning “protecting the country” then visit Vietnams first University (built 1077) the Temple of Literature. Stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter from Hang Be market to Thanh Ha wet market to see delicacies, strange food items and learn about Vietnamese food. These eclectic markets are alive with the sights and sounds of Hanoi and are the essence of Vietnamese culture. Continue to Dong Xuan market and sample some local treats such as beef or chicken noodle (Pho), Bun Cha (Grilled Pork with noodles), Hanoian Sandwich, Green Papaya Salad. Walk deeper into the Old Quarter and its bustling 36 streets, stopping at a famous dessert shop to taste “che” – fresh fruit or bean cooked with sugar, mixed with jelly and ice, or eat some hot. Complete your street food journey with a black or brown coffee in local style – strong and bitter or egg coffee – Vietnamese cappuccino.

This afternoon, take a cyclo (rickshaw) tour around the Old Streets of the Old Quarter which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple to learn about legend of the lake. The day ends with a Water Puppet Show.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay – Vung Vieng

After breakfast, drive approximately 2.5hrs to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage area which is a spectacular seascape sculpted by nature with over 3,000 limestone islands rising from the clear, emerald sea. Here you will board a cruise boat and travel towards Bai Tu Long Bay – a hidden gem and then stop at Vung Vieng Floating fishing village.  This wealthy fishing village has a reputation for culturing pearls, you will have time to discover the life and culture of fishing people by kayaking or for an additional cost you can travel by traditional woven (bamboo) boat rowed by a local boatman.  Tonight you will have a Vietnamese cooking demonstration onboard before watching the sunset.

Day 4: Bai Tu Long Bay

Wake early to join a Tai Chi lesson on the upper deck, the nicest time of the day on Halong Bay is the morning. Transfer by boat to enjoy sightseeing and discover the beauty landscape of Halong Bay. Visit Me Cung (Maze) Cave.

Day 5: Bai Tu Long bay – Hanoi – Hue

You have another chance to join the early morning Tai Chi, while cruising to “Thien Canh Son” Cave. Relax with a coffee and watch the scenery unfold before you. Visit “Thien Canh Son” cave – comprised of three caverns in total, each strewn with stalactites and stalagmites. There are 200 steps today, before walking long the white sand beach and Bai Tu Long paradise view. Return to your cruise, pack and disembark after brunch.  Transfer to Halong Airport for your flight to Hue.  On arrival at Phu Bai Airport, you will be met and to your hotel in downtown Hue.

Day 6: Hue

After breakfast, discover ancient architecture at the Imperial Citadel, including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh). Take a boat up the Perfume River, to Thien Mu Pagoda “Heavenly Lady”, built in 1601 between a river and a pine forest and one of the oldest religious buildings in the country. In the afternoon, drive 12km south to King Minh Mang’s tomb, built in 1840 and the tomb of King Khai Dinh, the twelfth Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Day 7: Hue – Hoi An

After breakfast, drive along the most beautiful coast of Vietnam to Hoi An (approximately 3 hours). Stop at Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of the beach and green mountains. Arrive in Hoi An, an ancient town where you will take a guided walking tour. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall and the local market. Hoi An has many art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops.

Day 8: Hoi An – Tra Que Village – Cam Thanh Coconut Village – Hoi An

After breakfast, bicycle to Tra Que Vegetable Village to walk around the vegetable garden and meet the farmers. Enjoy foot massage here before learning how to prepare ‘Tam Huu’ spring rolls & rice pancakes. and having lunch with a local family.  In the afternoon, travel by handmade basket boat deep into the water coconut forest in Cam Thanh Village. After an introduction to Cua Dai about the history of this unique area, get on bamboo sampan to explore the coconut field. Return to your hotel in Hoi An by bicycle.

Day 9: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An

After breakfast, travel approximately 50km from Hoi An to My Son sanctuary. It comprises many Champa temples located in a valley roughly 2km wide that is surrounded by two mountain ranges. This was the site of the religious ceremonies of kings and also a burial place of Champa royals and national heroes. My Son is one of the top Hindu temple complexes in South East Asia and although it has been destroyed over time, you can still see many ancient ruins. Travel back to Hoi An by a boat trip along Thu Bon River, stopping to see Cam Kim carpentry village where everything is made from wood, including everything from handicrafts to massive wooden boats.

Day 10: Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City

Your time is at your leisure today until your transfer to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival in HCMC, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels

Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels,70 kilometers NW of Ho Chi Minh City.  This is an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals, command centers all created in 1948 to help combat the French. During the American/Vietnam War, the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a fire free zone and was heavily bombarded. In the afternoon, you will explore Ho Chi Minh City’s highlights including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Centre Post Office and Ben Thanh market. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, take a 2-hour drive to the Ben Tre province. On arrival, take a motorized boat on Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the Mekong river to see the lively activities and life along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruit, flowers and rice to local markets. Your first stop is at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally (they are open in summer only when there is enough sunshine to dry bricks). Then visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canals before travelling through creeks to a village where you can see local houses making sleeping mats, and enjoy local fruit. Take a Tuk-Tuk or bicycle, passing rice fields and vegetable plains to see local life. After lunch at a local riverside restaurant, take a rowing-boat along a creek to transfer to the motorized boat back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Depart Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Today is at your leisure before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight (international flight not included in price).