HIGHLIGHT VIETNAM 13 DAYS

13 Days
TYPOLOGIES

Cultural

+ 2
DIFFICULTY

MIN. AGE

3 Years

$1105

General Information

Route: Hanoi – Halong – Danang –Hue - Hoian –HCM city–Mekong delta –Vung Tau beach

Duration: 13 days / 12 nights 

Features: A program in compact to see the highlights of Vietnam in 13 days. This is a little rush but it’s your private tour so you can always customize this to make it more relaxing at your wishes.

Inclusion

Boating on Ha Long Bay on a full board basis

Good tourist hotels on a half board basis

Private car for whole program

English - speaking local guide

Entrance fees for sites included in the trip plan

Visa approval letter to Vietnam

Exclusion

Drinks

Personal expenses

Soft drinks during meals

 Insurance

Tipping for driver and tour guide & personal expenses

Any service not clearly mentioned in the program

Visa fees

TOUR MAP

DAY BY DAY

Discover the spirit of Vietnam on a visit from north to south, taking altogether the attractions in between. Experience Vietnam's beautiful landscapes, delicious cuisine, and therefore the renowned friendliness of the Vietnamese people, the undeniable charm of Hanoi... Top it all off with an overnight cruise on mystical Halong Bay and you will not ever want to go away. Explore Vietnam's fast-paced Ho Chi Minh City, wander the traditional Vietnamese streets of Hoi An, experience the history-soaked monuments of Hue.

DAY 1 - Hanoi arrival – Hello Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to your hotel in the heart of Hanoi. You will have some hour rest at the hotel (time for check-in from 13:00, early check-in subject to availability) before start a visit Hanoi in the afternoon, Then, Lunch is served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup) – paid on your own. In the late afternoon, take a cyclo trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi´s fascinating Old Quarter. This is your chance to be in the midst of typical Hanoi life and Vietnamese culture. We finish our tour by walking and see Dong Xuan market then we spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Tour finishes at about 17:00 PM. Dinner on your own.

DAY 2 - Hanoi city tour

Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, where travelers can find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, and unique museums within the city center. In the morning, breakfast at the hotel. Start the city tour with Ba Dinh Square, including: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday), view of the presidential palace, Uncle Ho's house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Set menu lunch (paid on your own)at local restaurant in the city.In the afternoon, Hoa Lo Prison (A add-on if you are interested in); Ethnology Museum (about Vietnamese ethnic minorities). An interesting walk along the train tracks through a part of the city residence. Then you visit Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

DAY 3 - Hanoi –Halong bay, welcome on board

Departure for Ha Long Bay is around 8:00 AM in a private car. 12:30 Receptionists welcome guests at the International Tuan Chau harbour. 12:45 Captain welcomes guests to Syrena cruises by tender. Check-in cruise, whilst enjoying a welcome drink, safety briefing, and check-in cabin. 13:00 Leaving International Tuan Chau harbour, discover the Halong Bay - natural wonders of the world. Have lunch with special foods while cruising through famous sights Ba Hang fishing village, Đỉnh Hương island, Chó Đá islet, Gà Chọi islet... 14:30 Cruises stop at Bồ Nâu cave, the core area of the world's natural heritage. Transfer by tender to Surprise cave - one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay. 15:45 Leaving Surprise cave, transfer by tender to Titov island was named by Uncle Ho, after Gherman Stepanovich Titov - the Soviet astronaut who visited in 1962 Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach or climb the steps of the Rock to the top of the island. On the top of the mountain, you can see a corner of magical Halong Bay ... 16:45 Back to the cruise. Relax and enjoy the sunset on the sun deck. Go to the overnight place. 18:00 – 19:00 HAPPY HOUR - Buy 1 drink get 1 free (wine excluded). 18:30 Enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. 19:00 Acquaint yourself with the set menu dinner. 20:30 Evening activities include film entertainment (in the dining room); squid fishing; massage (contact with cruise manager for service price)...

DAY 4 - Halong bay – Hanoi – flight to Danang – transfer to Hue

06:00 Morning call (if you request). 06:30 Enjoy Tai Chi instructions on the sundeck in 30 minutes whilst cruising to Luồn cave. 07:00 Enjoy a light breakfast in the restaurant (coffee, tea, fresh milk, water, pastries, bread, egg, fresh fruit, cereals will be served in the dining room). 08:00 After breakfast, take a guided tour to visit Luồn cave - one of the caves open to the beautiful endemic vegetation of Halong Bay. Visit Luồn cave by a traditionally woven (bamboo) boat rowed by a local boatman. 08:30 Then come back to Syrena cruise, relax and check out of the cabin. Please put your luggage outside the door. Our porters will collect and get them ready on the Pier for you. Finally, the cruise disembarks in International Tuan Chau harbour. 09:15 Enjoy brunch buffet menu served in the dining room. Settle bills in the dining room after brunch (if you have). 10:45 Transfer by tender back to Tuan Chau harbour and disembarkation. Our driver is waiting for you here then drives you in 4 hours to Noi Bai airport for Lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to the boat pier. Hit the road, stopping at the handicraft centre for rest and observing disable people making masterpieces of lacquer art and embroidery of Vietnam before driving to Hanoi domestic airport for an afternoon flight to Hue ancient city. Upon arrival in Hue, our tour guide and driver will pick you up then transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Dinner on your own and overnight in Hue.

DAY 5 - Hue – city tour -transfer to Hoian

Am: At 8:00 am our guide and driver welcome you at hotel and start a day trip to explore Hue Imperial City. This morning, you will start your tour by making a dragon boat trip on Perfume River and enjoy the fresh atmosphere of Hue. Visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda upon arrival at the dock to discover Buddhism in Hue. Then you will be transferred to visit the Imperial City (Citadel), the Royal Palace of Nguyen Dynasty. Explore the glorious history and stunning architecture inside this complex. Next, you are free to go shopping at Dong Ba Market. You can also discover the interesting local life here while looking for souvenirs for friends and family. Have lunch at the restaurant paid for on your own. Pm: Afternoon is the time for Nguyen Emperors’ Mausoleums. You will have chance to visit two of three most famous tombs. Visit Khai Dinh Mausoleum to admire the spectacular architecture which was influenced by Oriental and Western styles. After that we start driving to Hoian. It take 3.5 hours to Hoian, you will

DAY 6 - Hoi An – My Son holy land and Thu Bon River

08:00 We travel about 50 km from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary. Visit Tra Kieu Ancient Capital, which was the former administration Centre of Champa Kingdom. Enjoy the Cham traditional dancing show. Then start a walking tour to visit Cham ancient ruins. My Son was once the intellectual and religious centre and may have also served as a burial place for Cham monarchs between the 4th and the 12th centuries. Take a boat along Thu Bon river to visit Kim Bong Carpentry village. Have lunch at a local restaurant paid on your own. This afternoon you will take a walk around old streets to discover the charm of Hoi An Ancient Town including Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Sa Huynh Museum, old houses and the local market… Hoi An is ideal for shopping and making tailor with reasonable prices. Drop you off at your hotel in Hoi An and end the tour.

DAY 7 -Hoi An –Danang – Visit Golden Bridge

8.30 AM:You will be picked up at the hotel by tour guide. Transfer to Ba Na Hills and take Cable Car which gains 5 world scores to Ba Na hills station. Stop at By Night station to visit Vong Nguyet hills, The Old Villas of French, the Golden bridge… Continue moving up by cable car to the Nui Chua Mountain – the top of Ba Na range, visiting Nghinh Phong top, Le Nim Villas, Orchid Garden… Experience the hill climbing train (first and unique funicular in Vietnam) and visit an old French cellar (Debay Ancient Wine Cellar), flower garden Le Jardin D’amour. Buffet lunch could be served at the restaurant (if you wish and paid on your own). In the afternoon, you will be free to join games in Fantasy Park – the third biggest indoor games zone in Vietnam with a series of interesting games: 4 – 5D film, skiver, The death race, dinosaur park… (2 hours). Or discover Ba Na hills on your own. 3:00 PM: Back to the cable car. Then, you will be transferred to the airport in Danang for a late afternoon flight (flight at 17:00) to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, pick up then transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 8 - Hoian – Danang – flight to Ho Chi Minh city

In the morning, you walk around Hoian town near the hotel and have breakfast at the hotel. At 10:00AM, you will have a transfer to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. The flight is at 13:00, arrive in Ho Chi Minh city at 14:10, you will have to pick up then transfer to the hotel for check in.

DAY 9 - Full day Ho Chi Minh city tour & Cu Chi Tunnel

8:00am, we leave hotel and headed to the Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fighting strategies during the war. Crawl through 50 to 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system if you dare. On the way back to HCM City visit a local rice paper workshop and take in views of the Vietnam countryside. Then we drive back to Ho Chi Minh city (if time permits), we visit some city's major tourist points: Reunification Hall - which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam till end of April 1975. Close to the Hall are some French colonial structures such as : Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Then visit the War Remnants Museum. Then you can see different things in Ben Thanh market.Then you will have lunch at a restaurant (paid on your own)with egg coffee.In the afternoon you will visit China Town with Thien Hau temple, Jade Emperor pagoda (Điện Ngọc Hoàng - Chùa Phước Hải)and Flower Market and many local wet market such as electronics market, motorbike accessories market, fruits market, fish market. Then we will drive you back at the hotel or drop you at any where you want in city center

DAY 10 - HCM City – Visit the fertile Mekong delta – My Tho

Getting started at 8:00 AM from your hotel, then a drive about 70 km out of HCM City to see Mekong Delta life around My Tho. Upon arrival, they drift down the busy branches of the Mekong and into its peaceful canals. We visited a brick kiln and a coconut shell husking workshop. See the daily life of farmers and try the hard work of taking a coconut that is unique to the region. More boat cruises in the natural waterways, we visit a coconut candy workshop, the main product that made Ben Tre famous, then visit a local market and farmer workshop making sleeping mats, an old traditional hand-weaving sedge mat or rush mat. And now, the Mekong adventure is on, see what life is really like for locals by exploring this quiet island by bicycle or more relaxing way by hop on a Lambretta triporteur an old 1960 traditional tricycle in south Vietnam which is winding around the coconut palms, bitter melon or cucumber farms to a farmhouse that we break for lunch (paid on your own) and relax. In the afternoon, we visit coconut farms and fruit orchards of this village then enjoy the local hand–rowing sampan slowly cruises under the canopy of water coconut palms along the canals. Our boat picks us again and cruises back to the boat landing in Ben Tre town. Head back to HCM City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 11 - HCM city – Drive to Vung Tau beach

After breakfast at 09:30AM at Liberty Central Saigon Centre hotel, you start to drive to Vung Tau, it takes 2.7 hours.

DAY 12 - Beach time at Vung Tau

Free time at the beach at Vung Tau.

DAY 13 - Departure HCM City, Goodbye Vietnam

Have breakfast at the hotel. At 06:30AM, we will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.