10 days to discover the famous attractions in major cities and its rich culture & history, as well as experience the life of the local, which is the the perfect way to have a taste of Vietnam's best in a short amount of time.
Take a cyclo tour to travel through the famous Old Quarter to view the most elegant French colonial architectures and the bustling streets in Hanoi; then move to Halong Bay, stay overnight in there, go fishing and swimming in jade green water and feel the natural beauty of the Bay; then transfer to Hoian to discover the quaint streets, ancient shrines and hospitable ambiance of this old town, as well as the gorgeous beaches just out of the town; at last, move to Saigon, to witness the busy city life in Saigon and enjoy a full day unique Mekong River Cruise.
Trip Highlights
Travel to Hanoi and experience a fusion of French and Vietnamese.
Enjoy Halong Bay and it's many limestone islands on this private full-day tour.
Stroll through atmospheric streets in Hoi An Ancient Town and relax yourself totally.
Take a cyclo tour to explore the essential sites in Saigon.
At a Glance
Hanoi(2 nights)
Cruise on Halong Bay(1 night)
Hoian(3 nights)
Ho Chi Minh City(3 nights)
Day 1 Arrive in Hanoi
Flight: International flight on your own arrangment or on requests.
Meals: Dinner
Upon Arrival at the airport, you will meet your private local guide and escorts you to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy welcome dinner at a specially selected restaurant with traditional music.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2 Full Day Hanoi City Tour—Discover the capital city of Vietnam.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, oriental style old buildings, luxuriant trees along street, local market, motor-bikes, etc, A city tour in Hanoi will give you the first impression of oriental.
In the city tour, you will visit the Hochiminh Mausoleum and his former, the One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Vietnam useum of Ethnology or Vietnam History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake and a Cyclo tour to the old quarter of Hanoi.
Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
Day 3 Full Day Halong Bay Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start at 8:00 am with private transfer to Halong City. Upon arrival, you will board the cruise ship for a relaxing Halong Bay Cruise through the stunning Halong Bay. You could be absolute relax by lying down on the sun deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery and sun shine. A shore excursion will bring you to discover a beautiful cave, visit a local fishing village with opportunity to interact with local people.
When the sun become a drop of burning gold that slid nearer the sea horizon, enjoy your dinner while enjoying a charming sun set.
*Sample Itinerary of Bhaya Halong Bay Cruise*
Day 1: 12:00-12:30: Check-in at Bhaya Café, Halong City. Embark on Bhaya Classic for a Welcome Cocktail followed by a cruise briefing.13:00-15:30: Savor a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch as Bhaya Classic heads to Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.
15:30-17:00: Visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour) then return to the vessel for free time at your leisure or join one of the following optional activities
17:00-19:00: Bhaya Classic cruises through the Bay to its overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien. Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck. Happy hour on sundeck.
19:30: Sumptuous Seafood Set-dinner on board.
21:00: Retire to your cabin or join the fishing program. Overnight onboard Bhaya Classic.
Day 4 Half Day Halong Bay Cruise, Flight to Hoian
Flights: Internal flight arranged by Indochina tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Greeting by the morning sun rise from the sea horizon, you can join a Thai Chi lesson for some morning exercise before breakfast. Visit a limestone grotto in the morning and disembark around 11:00 am then transfer to airport for onward flight to Danang.
Upon arriving Danang, you will be pick up and transfer to hotel in Hoian (about 30 minutes drive). Check in hotel and overnight in Hoian.
Day 2: 06:15: Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served. 07:00: Light breakfast. Bhaya Classic weighs anchor to cruise through the Bay passing beautiful spots like Trong (Drum), Trinh Nu (Virgin) and Me Cung Caves, Coc Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc. 08:30: Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot). 09:30: Return to Bhaya Classic. Buffet brunch is served onboard. The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor. 11:00: Disembark at Bhaya Café, Halong City. End of services.
Day 5 Full Day My Son Heritage, Hoian Ancient Town
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, you'll transfer to the My Son Holy Land. Tucked in the mountains up winding roads with serene views, lay the 4th century My Son Holy Land ruins. The surrounding mountains are strictly forbidden from living or development. The ruins lay in a beautiful surrounding mountainous landscape. You'll enter the temples while your tour guide gives you the history and stories of the Cham and the site. Afterward, you'll watch an Apsara show nearby the site, passed through the Cham tradition. The show features live music and colorful costumes.
Transfer back to hotel after the tour, rest of the day is at leisure. In the afternoon, you'll continue to visit Hoi An Ancient Town. This town features the 16th century Hoi An port town in its preserved state. You'll start the day visiting the Museum of Trade Ceramics. This museum houses art and pottery dating from the 1,500s to the 1,700s. Then you'll briefly visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, a temple from the 17th century which features China's influence in the region. You'll continue through the Ancient Town as the streets take on a magic of their own with old lanterns, French-style houses, intricately carved wooden doors and more. You'll take a stroll through the Old Tam Ky House to see it's imperial styles meshed with French overtures. Continue on to stroll along the river and see traditional boats and locals on bicycles passing by. You'll then approach the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge has connected the Chinese and Japanese sides of town over the waterway for centuries. The old wooden structure has shown amazing resilience for more than 400 years. At dusk, enjoy walking along the riverside as colorful lanterns light up the town.
Finish today with a Cooking Class to learn to cook some Vietnamese cuisine, dinner will be what you cooked by yourselves, good luck and bon appétit!
Day 6 Hoian—Relax on the Beach!
Hoian is also famous for its beautiful sandy beach. Today you will relax to just enjoy sun shine and the beach.
If you want some fun activities today, we highly recommend you to join a fishing tour to experience being a local fishman, or go diving in Cham Island
Day 7 Flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Half Day city tour
Flights: Internal flight arranged by Indochina tour
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, fly to Saigon, upon arrive, your guide will meet you at the airport,and escort you to the Cu Chi Tunnels. An immense network of connecting underground tunnels used during the war, you'll explore the complex and see the ingenious traps, bomb holes, and narrow tunnels between underground bunkers.
In the afternoon, you'll come back to Ho Chi Minh City to visit the Reunification Palace, which was the home to the President of South Vietnam during the War, and the place of the end of the war during the fall of Saigon. The Notre Dame Cathedral constructed by French colonists during their settlement. Across the road is the Old Saigon Post Office a neoclassical architectural building which is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the city. The next stop is Cholon , the Chinatown of Saigon, a thickly settled district rife with tea-houses and pagodas, and the famous Binh Tay Market.To finish the tour, you'll visit the Emperor Jade Pagoda, also know as the Tortoise pagoda. This figurine-filled site of worship is considered by many to be Saigon's finest.
When we finish the tour, you will be escorted back to hotel and rest of the day is leisure time for you.
Day 8 Saigon - My Tho - Can Tho - Mekong Delta discovery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will discover the Mekong River and villages at the Mekong Delta region, essential to Vietnamese life Your private guide and car will take you to the remote My Tho. This burgeoning capital rests in the Mekong Delta and is surrounded by beautiful countryside known as the "rice basket of Vietnam". First you'll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda which is decorated with mosaics made from broken pottery. Overlooked by a tall white Buddha, it is set amongst lovely gardens packed with flowers, shrubs, lotus pools and tombs and ornate gates which provide entry. Next, you'll take a boat ride along the river to view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages. You'll stop at the Tortoise Island where you'll enjoy lunch in the orchard.
After lunch you'll visit An Khanh, a small village that specializes in fruit orchards and coconut sweets. If time permits, you can take a short cycling trip through the island. Then enjoy seasonal fruit, honey tea, and delicious coconut candies all to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. When the tour is finished, you'll transfer back to Saigon.
Day 9 Can Tho - Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Rise early in the morning for breakfast at your hotel where your private guide and driver will meet you to escort you to the pier of Can Tho for an adventure on the river. Your motor boat and captain will greet you and help you on board. You'll be taken to the largest floating market in Can Tho where local farmers bring their bulk produce for sale. The trip there will see the banks with various flowers scattered throughout.
When you arrive at the market, you'll see boats with colorful fruits and vegetables local to the region being traded in bulk. After this, you'll venture up narrow canals to find a local fruit farm hidden in the natural landscape of the creek. You'll have the chance to see local fruits such as mango, limes, jack fruit, durian and more being grown. Then you'll have the chance to sit and enjoy fresh cut fruit before returning to town by boat.
After the tour, relax at hotel for short time and check out, then you will be driven back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 10 Departure for sweet home
Flight: International Fligfht to be clients own arrangement
Meal: Breakfast
Enjoy free time and last minute shopping until transfer to the airport for your homeward flight.
Bon voyage and safe journey to your sweet home!
