1st
Day
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Saigon; Vietnam
- Welcome to Vietnam’s financial hub: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Pick up by guide and driver and enjoy an orientation tour through Saigon’s bustling streets en route to the hotel
- Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag and explore the city on your own
- Meals: N/A
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
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2nd
Day
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Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam
- After breakfast at hotel, you travel outside of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels (After breakfast at hotel, you travel outside of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.)
- Next you will return Saigon for a brief city tour (Visiting such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the CityPost Office and Ben Thanh Market.)
- Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
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3rd
Day
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Saigon - Danang – Hoian, Vietnam
- Today you spend a day away from the busy city of Saigon and drive to Ben Tre Province (Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient southern architectural gem in Tien Giang en route. On arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, board on your private boat for a glimpse at the delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Mekong Delta as you visit fruit orchards, coconut groves, brick workshops, and home-made products such as coconut candies, rice cakes, handicrafts etc. After a short walk to visit a local family to learn how they make sedge mat and enjoy tea, tropical fruits, take “Xe Loi”, a kind of motorized rickshaw or you can hop onto your bicycle and peddle through picturesque villages (about 20 minutes).)
- Stop at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and filling lunch
- Then board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals (The boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre where your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to the airport of Saigon to catch your domestic flight to Danang. On arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport and take you on the short drive to the sleepy riverside town, Hoian.)
- Overnight in Hoian
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
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4th
Day
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Hoian, Vietnam
- Immerse yourself in the tranquillity and charm of this sleepy riverside town (From the 16th to 18th centuries Hoian was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders, who came to trade in the high quality silk still produced in the region. Today, Hoian is a relaxing resort popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors and numerous cafes. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge.)
- After lunch, take a short boat trip to a nearby island and visit a handicraft village specializing in ceramics
- Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy a free evening at your leisure
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
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5th
Day
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Hoian – Danang – Hue, Vietnam
- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then check-out and drive over the 500m-high Hai Van pass to Hue
- Enjoy a stop at the scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing on to Hue (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam’s former capital. Spend the afternoon on a leisurely walking tour through the ancient city. Visit the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Museum, as well as the Mausoleum of King tu Duc (a replica of the king’s palace built for the next reincarnation of the king).)
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
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6th
Day
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Hue – Hanoi, Vietnam
- Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda, Dong Ba Market and the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. Drive to Phu Bai Airport to catch your short flight to Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi.)
- Upon arrival, get transferred to your hotel in the city centre
- Free at your leisure
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
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7th
Day
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Hanoi, Vietnam
- Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital (With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city's museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum).)
- Later in the afternoon, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance (A unique folk art that originated a thousand years ago during the Ly dynasty. A water puppet show depicts the daily activities in Vietnamese rural life as well as important historical events and ancient legends. Each water puppet is hand-carved and given five layers of lacquer paint to protect the puppets from the water and to add vital colors to the performance.))
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
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8th
Day
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Hanoi – Halong Bay, Vietnam
- Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning (Your guide and driver will meet you at the railways station and take you to a local restaurant for breakfast, before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot).)
- Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach (Take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: on cruise
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9th
Day
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Halong Bay – Hanoi, Vietnam
- Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands
- Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat
- Return to the junk for breakfast (Take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier.)
- Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi to catch your departure flight home
- Meals: Brunch
- Accommodation: N/A
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