Enchanting Vietnam Highlights

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, the financial hub of Vietnam! Your guide will await you at the airport holding a banner bearing your name. After a warm greeting, you'll be transferred to the hotel by a comfortable private vehicle, and we’ll leave the rest of the day for you to recover from jet lag. If it’s before 14:00, the standard check-in time, you can store your luggage at the hotel and explore the city on your own.

➤ Recommended Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Head to Ho Thi Ky Food Street, which is located in Alley 52, to experience the vibrant local daily life. You can taste some flavorful dishes here for dinner. The Nhat Quynh mixed rice paper and Co Thao beef hotpot are highly recommended. Many kinds of delicious food are served for less than VND 130,000 (USD 5). The Ho Thi Ky is also the largest wholesale flower market in Ho Chi Minh City. Besides delicious food, you can also walk through the narrow alleyways and admire the diverse range of fresh flowers.

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

You'll have a full day tour today to visit the attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, which is also well known as Saigon. First, let's start Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown-Cholon, where you may visit some temples dedicated to the worship of Tin Hau, Avalokitesvara, and Buddha. Later, you will be guided to the first Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO). Apart from the unique building and ornaments, you'll also learn about the history of the development of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine. The displays here are exquisite and stunning and you are sure to find them really interesting. Then, we'll head to the War Remnants Museum for the history of the Vietnam War and the Second Indochina War.

After lunch, we'll visit the former Presidential Palace, also called the Reunification Palace. While wandering around the beautifully-decorated halls, you can see various function rooms as well as elegant lacquer paintings and tapestries in the corridor. Afterward, we'll go on to visit some French colonial buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

Today you will have an excursion to the Mekong River Delta to experience the diverse culture and gain a close appreciation of the local lifestyle. In the early morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel at the appointed time and then transfer you to Ben Tre. After a two-hour drive, you’ll arrive at Hung Vuong Pier and your tour will really start with the cruise on the Ben Tre River, a branch of the Mekong River. A glass of refreshing coconut juice is prepared for you! You will pass by various local barges stuffed with fresh fruits, vegetables, and drinks and coffee. Ask the guide to stop for a while if you would like to try some local fruits, which are really sweet and cheap. Later, get off the boat and visit fruit orchards, a coconut candy factory and brick workshops, from which you’ll find the Mekong Delta is really a hidden gem not only for its natural scenery but also for its traditional culture.

Then, the boat will take you to a village where you’ll disembark and walk to a peasant’s house to get in touch with rural life. The fresh local fruits and tea prepared by the warm-hearted villagers will help you unwind. After that, take your chance to admire the picturesque sceneries by bicycle or a kind of rickshaw called "Xe Loi". Finally, explore the lush waterways by sampan before reaching Ben Tre, and we will drive back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon-Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

In the morning, you will take a 1.5-hour flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, you'll be picked up and escorted to the well-preserved Hoi An Ancient Town, which was a traditional trading port of Southeast Asia thriving from the 15th to the 19th century. The town is attractive with the fusion of multiple ancient architectural styles and local features, and is even more enchanting when countless lanterns along the streets lighten up in the evening.

Then, we’ll have a half-day walking tour through the winding streets with some stopovers at attractions including Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky Old House and the famous Japanese Covered Bridge. Finally, a short relaxing experience on the river by boat will conclude today's journey.

➤ Taste Vietnamese Flavor, Drip Coffee!
Travel in Vietnam and you can incredibly find coffee shops everywhere throughout the country, and coffee is a daily necessity for the locals. From chic coffee shops to small roadside stalls, Vietnamese drip coffee can be served. Here, you can see that the coffee is extracted from the ground coffee drop by drop with a stainless steel filter, and the simple method preserves the aroma of coffee to the maximum. As condensed milk and ice cubes are added, a cup of cold and delicious drip coffee is completed. While visiting the old town, the guide will take you to the popular Cargo Club Cafe for a cup of Vietnamese drip coffee, where you can also enjoy views of Hoi An from the terrace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa-Deluxe Balcony Room (5 stars) or Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

Today, your guide will take you away from the bustling city to experience the tranquil rural life around Hoi An. After breakfast, we will go to Vong Nhi Village by car, where we will then transfer to bikes for a 6km (3.7-mile) cycling journey to Tra Que Vegetable Village. On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful villages along the Thu Bon River, the vast expanse of rice paddies, and dotted islands of coconut groves. You will certainly be immersed in the picturesque countryside. Arriving in Tra Que Village, we will walk into Thanh Dong Organic Farm to learn how organic vegetables and herbs are grown here. The farmers will be honored to introduce their farming methods to you, such as raking, sowing and irrigating. You may follow their way to water the vegetables, or pick up some seasonable ripe ones to taste. We will then leave the farm and take a local special basket boat along the Do River to The Field Restaurant. The warm-hearted boatman will teach you how to keep balance in a basket boat, and drive you to watch how the local fishermen cast their nets skillfully. Upon arrival, you will take part in a simple cooking class and enjoy an authentic Vietnamese lunch. Afterwards, we will return to Hoi An Ancient Town or the hotel. The afternoon will be on your own arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa-Deluxe Balcony Room (5 stars) or Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An-Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel, and then we will drive to Hue by private car. The scenery along the way has been nominated as one of the 50 must-see places by the National Geographic magazine. You will go through Hai Van Pass which is over 500 meters (1,640 feet) high to overlook the spectacular coastline, and your experienced guide will show you some marvelous spots for photographing.

After around 3 hours, we’ll arrive in Hue, another ancient town with a long history. We will spend the whole afternoon walking around the town and visiting some attractions including the Imperial City (The Citadel), the former capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the Hue Royal Palace, and the Tomb of Tu Duc. After the visit, stay overnight in Hue.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Indochine Palace-Palace Deluxe Room (5 stars) or White Lotus Hotel Hue-Deluxe River View Room (4 stars) or similar

The poetic and picturesque Perfume River is the mother river of Hue. This morning, you’ll have a private boat cruise down the river to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous and important monastery in Vietnam situated by the river. The place where the monastery stands is said to be the Dragon Vein of the Nguyen Dynasty.

★ What Makes Us Different?

1. Perfume River, aka Huong River, is a major part of the natural landscape around the city and is well known as “the soul of Hue”. Thien Mu Pagoda is just located in a geomantic treasure land by the Perfume River. Different from driving to the pagoda arranged by other travel agencies, we will offer you a special dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River. Thus, you can enjoy the local scenery along the river as well as the panorama of Thien Mu Pagoda.

2. Thien Mu Pagoda has always been a great place for the practice of local Buddhist disciples, as many monks live inside the temple. According to these monks’ life schedule, we’ll arrange your visit in the morning. You can enjoy the natural beauty of the Thien Mu Pagoda, and also get a chance to see the monks chanting sutras and meditating in the Dai Hung Palace, which are their compulsory courses every day.

Next, you’ll be escorted to spend some time at the busy Dong Ba Market and the ornate Minh Mang's Tomb before boarding the 1.5-hour flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to check in the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hotel-Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

As the capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi has a long history and is rich in cultural relics and historic sites. Today you will have a full day to explore this ancient and charming city thoroughly. First, we will arrive at Ba Dinh Square in the center of the city. The square can accommodate one or two hundred thousand people and is a major site for celebrating festivals. You will also be guided to visit the nearby attractions to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his Stilt House, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, and the Temple of Literature. Then, we will go to the West Lake to enjoy the enchanting scenery while walking around. We will also pay a short visit to the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda or Quan Thanh Temple by the West Lake.

In the afternoon we will go to the In the afternoon, we’ll go to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology for an overview of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam or visit the National Museum of History if time permits. Then, proceed to the Old Quarter to experience the bustling indigenous life of Hanoi. Be smitten by the vivid scenes. Each of the labyrinthine streets focuses on a specific industry, such as the silver street, kitchenware street and silk street. Stalls and shops selling local snacks, like glutinous rice and rice cakes, are scattered throughout the alleys, and shuttling motorcycles whiz by from all directions. This is the unique charm of Hanoi! Later, we will conclude today’s tour by enjoying a special Water Puppet Show at Hoan Kiem Lake. It is a unique folk art with a long history that you may not see anywhere else in the world. We will then transfer you back to the hotel or you may continue to enjoy some time at Hoan Kiem Lake at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hotel-Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

The breathtaking and elegant Ha Long Bay will be a highlight of your Vietnam trip. It is 2.5 hours’ drive from Hanoi, but you will find it worth the lengthy transfer. After having a big breakfast at your hotel, we’ll set out early in the morning.

Ha Long Bay is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. You will appreciate the beauty of this natural wonderland by cruise. You will board the cruise at around noon and have lunch onboard while sailing out into the mysterious bay. After lunch, you will be free to enjoy a relaxing time with comfortable sunshine, gentle breezes and the majestic sight of soaring limestone islands coming into view. Local people have given these islands cute names according to their shapes, such as Dinh Huong, which means incense burner, and Ga Choi, meaning fighting cocks. This afternoon, let our handpicked cruise show you around the mysterious parts of the bay. Stay overnight on the cruise.

★ What Makes Us Different?

As the essence of Vietnamese tours, Ha Long Bay is beautiful and spectacular. However, some areas have been overdeveloped and quite commercialized in recent years. As a professional travel agency, we have made many field trips and strictly selected cruise ships as well as the routes. In contrast to overcrowded cruises in the offshore area, we offer you two different cruises, you may choose either one, that allows overnight stay and sail in the deep water area of less-traveled bays. The Indochine Cruise, a Vietnamese style 5-star ship with balcony rooms, will take you to Lan Ha Bay, located to the south of Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival, take a kayak or sampan to admire the limestone formations and natural creatures in the Dark and Bright Cave (Bat Cave). The Signature Royal Cruise, a western style 4-star ship, will take you to the more original Bai Tu Long Bay, located to the northeast of Ha Long Bay. You’ll kayak around the floating Vung Vieng Fishing Village to experience a distinctive life style and the hospitality of the locals. Maybe the fishermen will show you some fishing skills! After the visit, return to the cruise ship. Activities including swimming, diving, board games and night squid fishing, as well as buffet and set menus will make your Ha Long Bay cruise pleasant and leisurely.
Please note: The itinerary can be subject to the cruise companies.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indochine Cruise-Junior Suite (5 stars) or Signature Royal Cruise-Junior Suite (4 stars) or similar

You may find it interesting to participate in Tai Chi Class on top deck or enjoy sunrise if you could wake up early. Then after a morning cup of coffee or tea and snacks, you will take a rowboat to explore the nearby islands. If you take the Indochine Cruise, head to Cat Ba Island to visit the Trung Trang Cave, which boasts stunning stalagmites and stalactites. Explore Thien Canh Son Cave if you take the Signature Royal Cruise - you can enjoy a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay on the top of the cave, and lie on the white sandy beach outside.

As you get back to the cruise for brunch, the ship will head back to Ha Long City. The return journey is easy and relaxing so you may take your time to have a rest or enjoy the gorgeous picturesque setting along the way. Upon arrival at the dock, your guide and driver will meet and transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport of Hanoi for your departure flight, which will signal the end of your memorable Vietnam travel. Bon Voyage!

Meal: Brunch

➤ Friendly Notice:
If your flight departs the next morning, you can talk to your travel consultant and add a night stay in Hanoi. We are always ready to customize the itinerary to perfectly match your schedule.