VIETNAM EXPLORATION

(13 days / 12 nights)

Experience the charm of Hanoi, the  scenic impressive sight of Halong Bay, the ancient capital of Hue, the charming Hoi An, Nha Trang, the hill station of Dalat,  the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City and the mighty Mekong Delta. This is a wonderful trip designed for those who want to experience the very best of Vietnam, but only have limited time.

       HIGHLIGHTS

       . Hanoi

       . Ha Long Bay

       . Perume Pagoda

       . Hue ancient city

       . Chaming Hoian town

       . Historic Hue City

       . Nha Trang

       . Da Lat

       . Ho Chi Minh

       . Cu Chi Tunnels

       . Mekong Delta

Day 1: Arrival - Hanoi

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi , Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits  we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Ha Long 

Your trip starting with a half day city tour of Hanoi includes the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university, and the History Museum which displays an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also visited before we depart for Halong Bay through the scenery countryside of Red river Delta. Along the way we make stop over at Dong Trieu pottery village to see many craft man at work. O/N in Ha Long. (B)

Day 3: Ha Long - Hanoi

The wondrous Ha Long Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. This  morning after breakfast we embark on a boat for an exploration of the Bay. This exciting five hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 1,969 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and very beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood lunch on board we return to Ha Noi. We arrive in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets. O/N in Ha Noi. (B,L)

Day  4: Hanoi - Perfume Pagoda - Hanoi

Heading out of town we make our way to Perfume Pagoda, which is not just one pagoda but many shrines and sanctuaries built into mountainsides. This famous complex of pagodas is also one of Vietnam great pilgrimage sites. On arrival  we enjoy an impressive boat excursion on the Yen River past the spectacular landscape of flooded rice fields and undulating mountains. After two hour river trip we embark on a rugged walk uphill past some of the many pagodas towards the sacred grotto of Huong Tich. We return to Hanoi in mid afternoon with stopover at Van Phuc silk making village. Here is a chance for shopper to try their hand at bargaining. We  transfer to the Hanoi railway station for night train to Hue (Soft sleeper cabibin for 4 persons with A/C). O/N on board. (B)

Day 5: Hue

Hue was once Vietnam’s feudal capital from 1802 to 1945. This small and quiet city is widely known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We arrive in Hue this morning. Upon arrival at Hue railway station, you are met and transferred to hotel.  We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to stroll among the ruins. Heading out of this landmark, we enjoy a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass by many fantastic eating spots, ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B) 

Day 6: Hue - Hoian

This morning we enjoy an impressive boat excursion on Perfume river to see the  beautiful riverside pagoda of Thien Mu which now becomes the symbol of Hue and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside. After boat trip we drive south to Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. Along the way we can break the journey in Lang Co Beach for a leisurely swim and an enjoyable visit to a nearby fishing village. The winding road begins as we make our way up the  spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. Our next stop is Da Nang which is famous for the  Cham Museum. After seeing this sight we continue to the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 7: Hoian

The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Japanese and Chinese influence. There are  plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are  the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit these on our morning  walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The remainder of the day will be free for your own exploration of the town and relax on a beach. O/N in Hoian. (B)

Day 8: Hoian - Danang - Nha Trang

An early morning transfer to Danang Airport for a short flight to Nha Trang. The fabulous sunny weather,  turquoise water surrounding a string of offshore islands, and  white sandy  beach stretching the whole length of the city make Nha Trang an ideal place for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape. After checking into hotel we visit Nha Trang's some major sights, including the Oceanographic Institute, the Long Son Pagoda with its famous giant Buddha image, the Hon Chong Rock formation and the impressive Ponagar Cham Towers, which are overlooking the colourful fishing port. The remainder of the day will be free for a well earned rest on a beach. O/N in Nha Trang. (B)

Day 9: Nha Trang - Da Lat

Upon leaving Nha Trang we head south towards Da Lat, sometimes known as the " City of Eternal Spring". The journey will pass by the famous Cam Ranh Bay before arriving at the Po Klong Jarai Towers which represent an interesting culture and a colorful history of the Cham people. At an elevation of over 1,000 meters, the hill station of Da Lat was founded in the early year of the last century for the colonials to escape the heat and chaos of Saigon. On arrival in Da Lat we start our tour taking us through plenty of the French colonial architectures to the summer residence of Vietnam’s last Emperor Bao Dai, who was forced to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of the World War II. The following sights are the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda and Hang Nga Guesthouse, known as the Crazy House because of its bizarre architecture. O/N in Da Lat. (B)

Day 10: Da Lat - Ho Chi minh

The following destination of our trip is Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. After an enjoyable visit to the  busy Hoa Binh Market in Da Lat, we make our way down hill to Ho Chi Minh, travelling through the many tea and coffee plantations. The drive is long, but views are fantastic. Along the way we can make stops as we please, to stretch our legs and take some wonderful photographs. O/N in Ho Chi Minh . (B)

Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh

The sightseeing tour of  Ho Chi Minh begins with a visit to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and  the War Remnant Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is for sale! We then transfer out to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of approximately 200 km constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)

Day 12 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh

Heading out of the town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embark on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up. The most interesting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the most beautufull Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to visit some fascinating local industries, stroll around an orchard and taste many seasonal fruits. And then we continue our trip to see fascinating local industries in Ben Tre Province. After feasting on a huge lunch we return to Ho Chi Minh with stop over at the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)

Day  13: Ho Chi Minh - Departure

There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh. The trip ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure. (B)