Best of Vietnam tour

THROUGH THE BEST OF VIETNAM TOUR, YOU WILL DISCOVER

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi – Evening street food tour (D)

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam and where you will start your adventure ahead. Meet your guide and from the airport transfer to your hotel.

In the evening, join in a foodie tour of Hanoi with your guide to sample street food in Hanoi’s old streets. You have many opportunities to taste weird looking food (your aren’t sure what they are) but wonderful flavor. As you walk through the old streets the guide will point out the best noodle shop, the crispiest spring rolls, the most flavorful Vietnamese baguette with marinated grilled pork and varieties traditional snack. These small shops are the Hanoi pop up businesses as many of them only appear in the evening, a mighty feature of Hanoi. After being filled, find a Hanoi coffee shop for some sip of traditional Vietnamese coffee before returning to the hotel for sleep.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)

After a hearty breakfast, begin to discover the highlights of Hanoi, starting at the Temple of Literature, homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius and considered as the oldest university in Vietnam, the Temple of Literature history goes back almost one thousand years!

Next, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This solemn structure conserves the remains of the former president of Vietnam who led Vietnam to independence and liberated Vietnamese from colonial rule. Ho Chi Minh is the most important Mecca of the Vietnamese people.

For lunch, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese meal in a local restaurant, after lunch in the afternoon, follow your guide to visit the Ngoc Son temple set on a tiny emerald island on the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake. You’ll hear how it got its name from a legend of an emperor, a magic sword and a giant turtle! Hop on a cyclo for a breezy ride through the 36 streets in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The street name indicates the products produced there. Today, families on Tin and Bamboo Streets still sell the same products as the street name. Wrap your day with an entertaining water puppet show, a traditional art of performance that is still being performed today in most of the rural villages of the North Vietnam.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B, L)

You will be picked at 8:00 AM for a 100 km journey south of Hanoi to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le dynasties during late 10th century. On arrival, pay visit to the two temples dedicating to two emperors of the Viet Kingdom.

After a local lunch, continue to Trang An UNESCO World Heritage site for its spectacular natural landscapes and the magnificent rock formations which is often referred to as “Halong Bay on land”. Take a local boat and glide along the picturesque river which runs through five limestone mountains. While enjoying the sounds nature with birds soaring take some great photos of the vertical cliffs shadowing in the emerald crystal water.

Finally, before return to Hanoi, climb up a white stone cliff to visit an ancient pagoda, from the mountain top you will be amazed with scenic view of the surrounding area. Arrive back in Hanoi in the afternoon.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight boat cruise (B, L, D)

Take four hour drive through the center of the Red River Delta to the coastal city of Halong where you explore the amazing natural wonder of Halong Bay a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your junk cruises for two-day through the jade green waters past several fishing villages where you will fill your boat cruises to the far-most corners of the world, visit fishing villages and floating fish farms, past jungle-clad karsts towering up out of the sea. It’s nothing like having a glass of wine up on sundeck to savour with sunset to wrap your day in the world wonder.

Tonight, the dinner will be served on board.

Overnight on board in Halong Bay.

Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B, L)

Wake up from a good sleep while your boat glides towards the Surprise Cave or Sung Sot cave, the biggest one in Halong Bay. Be prepare to be amazed with wow as the entrance to the cave is deceptively narrow and hidden but, once you get in, the cave opens up to very surprisingly large chambers. Surprise! Get back down to the boat for a scenic cruise across the bay to Halong Port.

After arriving in Halong port, be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 6: Hue city tour (B, L)

Enjoy breakfast and embark on an exploring day of Hue. Visit picturesque royal tombs and bonsai garden houses.

Begin with a dragon boat ride down the royal Perfume River with breathtaking lush greenery landscapes. At the end, hop off the boat and drive to the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh the unusual combination of architecture that mixed a traditional Vietnamese style with a modern Western features.

For lunch break, visit Dong Thiên Pagoda and enjoy a vegetarian food prepared by the nuns. After the feast, with your guide’s help, take the chance to learn about Buddhism tradition in Hue.

Next, continue your day to Thanh Tien Village, a 300-year history village of crafting paper flowers. There, local villagers will show you how to make paper flowers for your home. Your visiting to this social enterprise is very meaningful as it provides a chance for struggling local artists, craftsmen and home-based workers with additional income and recognition.

Finally, visit a Garden House and explore this traditional Hue residence, built in 19th century. Meet the owner and listen to the family’s stories of their royal kin heritage before transfer back to the hotel for the night.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B, L)

Today, on the way south to Hoi An, you will be transferred over spectacular Hai Van Pass or Pass of Sea Cloud, probably, one of the most spectacular coastal road in Vietnam!

Hoi An was a former international trading port for Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, French and Portuguese merchants during period from16th to 18th centuries. Today Hoi An is famous for its well conserved architecture, silk tailors and delicious local specialities and fresh seafood.

The tour journeys around town for visiting the most famous landmarks like Chua Ong Pagoda, built in 1653 to honour Chinese general Quan Cong. Phuc Kien Assembly Hall which was functioning as the headquarter and worshiping place of people from Phuc Kien province and dedicated to the goddess of the sea. A short walk leads to Tan Ky House, a 200 year old traditional home. At the end, Japanese bridge will be a fascinating stop for postcard photos. End your day with a boat trip on Hoi An’s Thu Bon River before going back to your hotel for your rest.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An free day (B)

It is time for well deserved break or you can spend the whole day wandering the town.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Half day tour (B)

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your southbound flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, your new guide provides transfer to your hotel.

Begin the Story of Saigon tour at War Remnants Museum. Here, you will see displays of military aircraft, horrifying photographs taken during the tragic Vietnam war.

After ten minute walk, visit the Reunification Palace, once was considered “White House” of the South Vietnam Government. Here, at 11:30 o’clock on 30 April 1975, the war tragic Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank destroyed through the iron gate. Stroll through from the Presidential banquet room, the Conference hall to the war room down the basement bunker. Then, the Saigon Post Office and just across the road in front the Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral. Nowadays, the church becomes a favourite backdrop for Vietnamese wedding photos.

Next, stroll down along Dong Khoi Street, which figured solidly in Graham Greene’s novel, The Quiet American. The walk ends at the Saigon Opera House. Return to your hotel as and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Depart at 8 AM for a 2.5 hour drive to Cai Be town to meet your boat Mekong Queen, a traditional wooden riverboat. During French colonial period in Vietnam, these boats type played an essential role in transportation for the areas with poor dirt roads. And even today, they still mean a lot for reaching the delta’s isolated river communities on tiny islands.

On your arrival at Cai Be jetty, your crew welcomes you with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Mekong Queen sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. From your comfort sampan, observe river life as it plays out on the riverbanks – the people, houses on stilt, stunning landscapes. On the island, stops along the way to have a glimpse of the Delta local industries, visiting workshop making coconut candy and puffed rice and other products that provide a living for the river people.

Arrive at a local family to enjoy lunch cooked in local style.

After lunch, take a short boat ride across the mighty Mekong to Vinh Long city where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)

It has come to the last day! Be met by your guide and transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination.

 

You might be interested in our Essence of Vietnam from South to North, otherwise look for other interesting options in our Vietnam multi-destination tours.