Vietnam a coastal odyssey

THROUGH THE VIETNAM A COASTAL ODYSSEY TOUR, YOU WILL DISCOVER

 

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Welcome to Hanoi capital! The city features with colonial buildings, green parks, beautiful lakes.

Upon arrival to Hanoi airport, meet your guide then transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day will be at own leisure or take the first own exploration of the surrounding area.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Street food& city tour (B, L)

Begin day 2 with a street food tour as an introduction to Hanoi’s cuisine. Start from Thanh Ha market, this colourful and vibrant market is a mirror reflecting Hanoi culture, stroll along the Old Quarter streets to have a glimpse of Hanoian lifestyle. Randomly, stop to sample some street delicacies which may look strange but taste delicious and listen to the guide’s explanation about Vietnamese food and cooking. Continue through Dong Xuan market, walk into an alleyway jammed pack with food stalls for more local treats like, Banh Goi or pillow cake as the way it looks or trying pork satay grilled on charcoal skewer.

Stroll down to Hang Than to sample other Hanoi’s speciality Wedding cake. Stop at one of the Old Quarter’s hidden cafe for a cup of dripping coffee before heading back to the hotel.

Continue highlight destinations in Hanoi with a first visit to Ho Chi Minh (Uncle Ho) complex, visit the exterior of Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, the Grand Presidential Palace, walk around Uncle Ho’s wooden stilt house to understand why Vietnamese consider him as the national founding father of Vietnam. At the end of the walk, visit Vietnam’s most iconic pagoda structure which was built in 1049 and represents a lotus flower. After a short car transfer, walk through the iconic landmark of Temple of Literature, built in 1070 to worship the Chinese Confucius and scholars then became the first national university functioning for 700 years, Van Mieu or Royal Academy was the educational center for Vietnam’s royal sons and the elite class.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

After good breakfast, depart Hanoi for a car journey to Halong Bay through the Red River Delta with the scenes of verdant rice fields, urban townships with everyday activities of farmers working the rice fields, herding buffaloes, selling chickens and ducks in the roadside market, carrying pigs on motorbikes. Arrive in Halong, board the overnight junk boat for the cruise into the limestone Halong Bay. After a sea food lunch, take the whole afternoon traversing the Bay, at the end of the day enjoy the Bay sunset. Arrive at the anchorage for the night before dinner is served with Vietnam traditional fresh seafood.

Overnight on board in Halong Bay.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B)

Enjoy a light breakfast in a beautiful sunrise morning, amidst the karst formations of Halong. Spend last hours on the deck to shots for more postcard pictures of the bay before enjoying a lavish brunch on the boat while the vessel glides through the jungle clad limestone formations towards Halong port.

Disembark the boat and transfer to Noi Bai domestic airport and board flight from Hanoi to Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue – Full day city tour (B, L)

Today, embark on a full day tour within the UNESCO heritage Imperial Citadel. Visit the former royal court, the “Forbidden City” and other beautifully constructed wooden palaces of the Nguyen dynasty the final one of Vietnamese feudalism before 1945.

Visit the tomb of Minh Mang who was one of thirteen Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. From the tomb, transfer to countryside for a local lunch set in a beautiful fruit garden. After that, enjoy a leisurely walk through this countryside village with fruit orchards and bonsai gardens.

Embark on a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River back to Hue. Stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (heavenly lady pagoda) – one of Vietnam’s most well-known pagoda in Hue. In the pagoda garden, see the Austin car driven by a monk from this pagoda to Saigon where he immolated on fire protesting again the South Vietnam government. Arrival in Hue and spend the rest of the day at own leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 6: Hue – Danang – Son Tra Peninsula – HoiAn (B, L)

After hotel breakfast, depart Hue for Danang on a road transfer. This land journey runs paralleled coastline with stunning beaches at Lang Co. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route by the beach.

After lunch, your car transfer climbs upon scenic Hai Van Pass, on reaching the top, enjoy 2 spectacular bay views of Danang and Lang Co. From the top of the pass, go steep down to Danang then to Son Tra Peninsula, also known as Monkey Mountain as there are wild monkeys. Drive to reach the summits at 696 meters for panoramic views over the bay then descend along the other side of the mountain to see Vietnam’s biggest Buddha statue of 49m in height and down toward beaches with the colourful wooden boats swinging along the coast. Arrive Hoi An in late afternoon.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An – Half day Hoi An city tour (B)

Today, take a half day tour to discover charming Hoi An. The town was once the Asia’s busiest trading port during the past centuries from 17th and 18th century. On the half day walking tour of Hoi An, visit the most prominent landmarks like Phuc Kien Assembly House, the Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky ancient house. The afternoon is free at own leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An (B)

Enjoy this day as a free day.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An – Quy Nhon (B)

Wave good bye and leave Hoi An to begin a full day on scenic coastline road in the South. The coastal road scattered with small coastal towns , fishing ports and villages, and various of stunning idyllic beaches.
Take the gold opportunities along the way for a swim on one of the moody beaches. Arrive in Quy Nhon and check in the hotel.

Overnight in Quy Nhon.

Day 10: Quy Nhon – Nha Trang (B)

Leave Quy Nhon and continue with the Coastal journey traveling further south to Nha Trang. Similar to the day before, the drive is spiced up with numerous of rural beach front towns and fishing villages. After having lunch, stop at the stunning Doc Let Beach for a swim.

Arrive in Nha Trang and after check in and spend the remainder of the afternoon as free time.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 11: Nha Trang (B)

Another day to relax at one of the sandy beaches or by the hotel swimming pool.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 12: Nha Trang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – City tour (B, D)

From Nha Trang transfer to Cam Ranh Airport to board the flight to metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam’s largest and most chaotic city.

This afternoon, begin your guided tour visiting the Reunification Palace or the former name Presidential Palace and then stroll towards the most well known colonial sights Ho Chi Minh City: Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Saigon Opera House and Ho Chi Minh City Hall.

In the evening, experience the real nightlife in Saigon on a truly local motorbike. Soak in the culture of the city with a ‘Saigon After Dark’ Vespa tour. Begin at 18:00 from your own hotel, the tour then heads to the chaos streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Stop to have a culinary exploration with sampling Saigon’s local snacks before whizzing to a traditional restaurant for dinner for more Saigon’s street food and drink. Your Vespa adventure continues to a local cafe cum club to see how the young Vietnamese generation spend their evening.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Depart from the hotel and drive into the heart of Mekong Delta. After two hours on road, board a traditional boat and cruise to the place for a fascinating cycling tour. Cycle leisurely along on the island road, cross over tiny canals, past fruit gardens, through sleepy villages. If you are not keen on the bike, take an option to hop on Xe Loi, a sort of cart towed behind a bicycle.

Spend time to visit a family fruit farm of diverse tropical fruit trees. Meet the owner who was a solder for stories from his life and how it changed as well as the regional people. Follow his lead for sampling some fresh tropical fruits in the garden. At the end of the farm, there is a fish pond, jump into the mud pond trying to catch fish by bare hands. If you miss a fish the owner will teach you the skills. Wave goodbye to the friendly host to take relax sampan boat ride along water coconut canals.

The final cycling leads to a local home which was built over a century ago features a blend of East and West designs. Enjoy a late but tasty lunch which includes some of the most typical dishes from Mekong River delta.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)

Enjoy free time at leisure before transfer back to the airport for the onward flights from Tan Son Nhat airport.

You might be interested in our Absolute Vietnam tour, otherwise look for other interesting options in our Vietnam classic & culture travel style.