Vietnam Highlights Tour – 15 Days

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Welcome up on arrival by local tour guide & driver, you will transfer to hotel in the center city. Relax in the rest of the day and enjoy welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant in town.
Meals:
– Dinner at Wild Rice restaurant

Day 2: Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast, we visit Ho Chi Minh Complex with Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Then stop for lunch.

Afternoon, we visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam – Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. After that we will take one-hour cyclo around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 streets names’ was related to the products being sold there.Before going back to the hotel, we enjoy the unique Water Puppet show. Hear the Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show. The trip will be finished after the show at the hotel.

Note:
– Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is not opened on every Monday & Friday.
– Museum of Ethnology is closed on every Monday.
Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Lunch at K.O.T.O restaurant

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Travel to Halong Bay to board Golden Cruise which is a new 5-star quality cruise ship with 48 rooms – Golden Cruise 9999. The entire frame made from iron with wooden furniture, and European standards. With luxurious amenities: an elevator, gym, Jacuzzi, large bedrooms; most of the rooms have balconies, restaurants, and chic bar.

Welcome on board by crew team and enjoy Asian set menu lunch while cruising deeply to the Bay, we also see the islands and islands, which emerge from the emerald water with many shapes as the Incense burner, Dog, Fighting cocks …and many fishing villages.
On this day tour, we visit the most beautiful cave of Amazing caves (Hang Sung Sot), with thousands of various shape stalactites and stalagmites… And before relaxing and enjoying the sunset, we join the demonstration of trimming flowers from fruits & roots and cooking class at sundeck by the chef. Then try on the food we have made. It is really amazing time.

Optional for the summertime is that we can go up on the top of the Titop island to catch the birds eye viewpoint to experiences the panoramic view of the majestic bay or go swimming on the nice beach.
Dinner tonight in European style on the Coconut island. Overnight in Halong Bay.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Lunch on boat
– Dinner on the Coconut island

Day 4: Halong bay – Hanoi (B)
We begin our day tour today with wonderful Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck, and then explore the Luon cave (a Hallow cave) by small boat or by kayak. Later we check out and go to the restaurant for lunch and transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals:
– Breakfast on boat
– Lunch at Cua Vang Luxury restaurant

Day 5 Hanoi fly to Hue (B, L)
Departure airport: Noi Bai International airport
Arrival airport: Phu Bai airport
This morning we fly to Hue with a welcome upon arrival by local tour guide & driver.

In the afternoon, we start to visit the Hue Citadel , the Forbidden Purple City – home of Vietnam’s last royal Dynasty, and the bustling Dong Ba market to see it’s abundance of fresh produce. Overnight in Hue.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel

Day 6: Hue (B)
This morning, we board the Dragon Boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded by ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today.
The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. We enjoy a great view of the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam.

From here we rejoin our van and go visit King Khai Dinh’s Tomb, which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs and King Tu Duc’s Tomb, built decades before its occupant’s death the tomb was used as a palace retreat before the Emperor’s final resting place.
Afternoon at leisure.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel

Day 7: Hue – Hoi An via Hai Van pass (B)
After breakfast, we depart Hue for Hoi An travel through the high pass of Hai Van with its spectacular views of the East Sea en route to Da Nang. We will visit Cham Museum that has collected and exhibited the finest collection of Cham statues and works of art, the Marble Mountain, My Khe beach and then going to Cua Dai Beach for our resort.
Relax at the beach for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel

Day 8: Hoi An (B)
Today, we have a morning walking tour in Hoi An town – one of the World Culture Heritages of Vietnam. This quaint riverside town still boasts a wealth of century’s old traditional architecture. The influences of several Asian cultures can be seen in the old houses and waterside buildings. It is also famous as a place to be instantly created inexpensive tailored outfits. In the afternoon, we join the fantastic Cooking class at Red Bridge restaurant with first activity to visit Hoi An colorful market to experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market; and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

Later, we board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School; explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.

Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Dinner after cooking class

Day 9: Hoi An (B)
This morning, we can choose bus or bike to cycle to a local farming village to join daily work life of local farmers – hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty. After that, board the Hoi An Eco-tour boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea.

We also learn and try our hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets, learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats. Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides. Have a relaxed fun with catching beautiful purple crabs on bamboo basket boat. After visiting a local water coconut palm village, we take a walk around the village and have some tea and snack with local talks…
Back on-board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat, enjoy our lunch and the cold beer or soft drink on the boat, then back to resort.

Afternoon at leisure.
Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Lunch on boat at Cham Island

Day 10: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh (B)
Departure airport: Danang International Airport
Arrival airport: Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Morning at leisure.
This afternoon, we fly to Ho Chi Minh city where our local tour guide and driver welcome and transfer us to the hotel. Rest of the day, relax.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Meals:
– Breakfast at resort

Day 11: (Saigon) Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L)
This morning, we visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that, we will visit War Remnants Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. Before our lunch, we stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post.

In the afternoon we will visit: Ben Thanh market, and also the sprawling commercial hub of China town(Cholon) including the chaotic Binh Tay market area and Thien Hau pagoda.
Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Lunch at K.O.T.O restaurant

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi – Cao Dai temple (B, L)

In the morning we leave Ho Chi Minh City for the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”. On our way there we will drive through the pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access.

Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After that, we transfer to Tay Ninh province to visit Cao Dai temple to learn about one of the most mysterious religions in Vietnam. Then transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh Long – Can Tho (B, L)
Morning start from the hotel at 8 AM, leaving Ho Chi Minh City, travels to Cai Be, we drive for about 2,5 hours. Vivid farming activities and the riverine life of the Mekong Delta can be seen en route. Take a boat trip from Cai Be along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to view the riverine of local people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta. It would be amiss if we do not visit floating market at Cai Be, and a family-run workshop making popcorn, pop-rice and rice paper. A taste of these local products with green tea brings us a great feeling of tropical weather.

Lunch will be set up in a local house that located on an island, which is the fertile place for different fruits and trees. After lunch, taking a short nap in a hammock under the shady garden or we also can do cycling along the village paths to enjoy the beauty of countryside. Lastly, the cruise will transfer us to Vinh Long city where we take our vehicle to Can Tho – the heart of Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel
– Lunch at a local house

Day 14: Can Tho – Cai Rang – Saigon (B)
Early morning today, we will take the boat trip to visit the Cai Rang floating market with the busy sense right at the time. This is a biggest floating market in Mekong Delta where we can see the daily life and local people selling their products on boats. After that, we are back to the hotel for breakfast & relaxing by the pool of the hotel.
We transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 15: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Departure (B)
Departure airport: Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Free at leisure for last minute shopping before transferring back to the airport for our flight to home. Trip ends.
Meals:
– Breakfast at hotel