Explorient Travel

VIETNAM INSIGHT

Vietnam Tours - Vietnam Highlight

Trip code: VET.HI-06 Type of trip: Private Trip Duration: 12 Days Starting: Saigon, Vietnam Finishing: Hanoi, Vietnam Destinations: Saigon - Hoian - Hue - Hanoi - Halong Bay

Description: In this program, you will visit Saigon first. The city excited with its modern life and modern people. While around the city you may wish to wear battledress and discover the tunnel underground at Cu Chi, a famous place during Vietnam War, the farmer hardly working at their paddies on the fertile of the Mekong Delta of busily deal with their crops or the seller and buyer are bustling bargain at floating market. All that sight is so attractive. Continue to the north, great surprised because of the quiet and peaceful life. Hanoi capital is the same it was some decades ago. Not too much building, more open spaces, just only hustling and bustling when going around Old quarter Guild Street, a business centre in Hanoi. Around Hanoi to the northeast and northwest the scenery are unexpected changes. Visitors will outside influences or taking a cruise to delight the magnificent of Halong Bay with its 2,000 plus islands rising from the emerald water of the Gulf of Ton Kin. All this sight is the image of Vietnam today.

BRIEF ITINARARY

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 – Welcome to Vietnam - Saigon arrival (D)

Arrive in Saigon, greeted by your tour guide and transfer to the hotel. After noon time, the city tour will begin at Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market in the city's bustling Chinatown and end at a famous lacquer ware factory.

Welcome dinner in one of the finest local restaurant in town.

Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 2 – Saigon City – Cu Chi Tunnel (Breakfast)

Breakfast in the hotel then you are transferred for Saigon city tour:

• The Reunification Palace.
• War Remnants Museum.
• Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office.
• Ben Thanh Market.

After having a lunch by your own, we will go straight ahead to Cu Chi.

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground tunnels begun in 1948 by the Viet Minh in their struggle against the French. These tunnels were expanded and used by the Viet Cong during the war between Vietnam and America. American called this area the “Iron Triangle” and was a Viet Cong strong hold for almost thirty years. You may walk underground in the tunnels.

Back to Saigon in the late afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 3 – Saigon – Mekong delta boat trip (Breakfast)

After breakfast, depart the hotel and drive South ward to the Cai Be – Vinh Long Province. From here we will see the Mekong Delta (“Nine Dragon River Delta). This is special experiences of Mekong Delta. Visit the Candy factory, orchard garden, listen to traditional music and have lunch in the ancient house. We cross the islands on Mekong River on oars boats and experience the real of country side along Mekong. Stay overnight in CanTho – the capital of Mekong Delta.

Late afternoon take the short walk to the local market nearby.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Day 4 – Mekong – drive back to Saigon (Breakfast)

Depart hotel early in the morning to board a motorized boat to travel to visit the famous Cai Rang Floating market. Continue the boat ride to visit the orchards and try the tropical fruits. Visit the local people at their home.

After having lunch in Can Tho, we go back to Saigon and arrive at Saigon in the late afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 5 – Saigon – flight to Danang – Hoian (Breakfast)

Breakfast is at hotel. You are free at leisure until being transferred to Tan Son Nhat airport to take one-hour flight to Danang City. Our guide will pick up upon arrival and transfer for almost an hour to Hoi An city. Stop en-route to visit the fascinating Cham Museum, the famous China Beach on the way to charming Hoi An. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. Check in to hotel, then you are at leisure for the rest of day.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Day 6 – Hoian city tour (Breakfast, Lunch)

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoian was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk & ceramics which is still produced in the area.

Today, Hoian is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century.

We start the day (08.15am / 13.00pm) with a drink then take part in a guided visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.

On arrival, we 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. Finish at approximately 13.00 P.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 - years old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 7 – Hoian – drive toHue (Breakfast)

Breakfast at your hotel, then our driver will meet you at hotel’s lobby for transfer to Hue.

Hue is an ancient romantic land and famous for its magnificent architecture of citadel, palaces, pagodas and royal tombs built under the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty in a poetic background of greenery on the bank of the Perfume River. Hue was recognized as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1993. Hue has been representing the cultural and spiritual centre of Vietnam for a long period. On arrival in Hue, visit the Imperial Palace - a citadel surrounded by large moats. Then visit the King Tu Duc Mausoleum. It is a great pleasure to sit on the boat enjoying the traditional music on Perfume River.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 8 – Hue – flight to Hanoi (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel, and then you will be transferred to Phu Bai airport for flight to Hanoi.

Upon arriving in Hanoi, our tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of the day is time at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 9 – Hanoi city tour (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast in the hotel, we will have a full day city tour and visit the most tourist attraction in town:

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Closes in Oct and Nov just have look from outside)

• One pillar pagoda
• Tran Quoc Pagoda and Temple of Literature
• Hoa Lo Prison which is known as “Hanoi Hilton”.
• Having an hour cyclo around Hanoi old quarter

Evening highlight will be Water Puppet Performance – the unique form of Vietnamese art derived from wet-rice civilization in South East Asia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 10 – Hanoi - Halong bay (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

After breakfast, we will depart for Halong Bay – designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1994. Traveling through the scenic fertile Red River Delta countryside, we get to Ha Long Bay by noon. The natural world heritage site Halong Bay is truly one of the most impressive scenery that should not be missed if someone ever come to the north. Upon arrival at Ha Long, we embark on a Chinese style junk for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting hours cruise passing by the evocatively shaped islets will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands and islets rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Enjoy a Sea food lunch while you cruising through the bay.

Here the limestone karts formations are littered with beaches. You then explore the Surprising Sung Sot cave which still reserve much of the amazing original stalactites and stalagmites. By summer, there is always some chance to leisurely swim in a secluded cove of the bay. Dinner will be served on board and stay overnight on the Junk Cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Day 11 - Halong - Hanoi (Brunch)

Wake up in the morning to the calming sound of the waves crashing on the nearby islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and relax. Sitting on the upper deck, you can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie; in summer you can hear birds singing, even that cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. Our boat start cruising back and brunch buffet will be served on the way. Check out and arrive at the harbor by 11:30. You get back on our car and head back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around 16:00, check in the hotel and enjoy the rest fee day.

Meals: Breakfast,
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 12 – Hanoi – Departure (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel, Free till transferred to airport for flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Price & Inclusion

This rate is quoted in USD per person, based on Double/Twin occupancy with 3-star hotel standard.