12 day Vivid Vietnam
Description:
Itinerary:
Departure from San Francisco on Vietnam Airlines
Flights depart on a Wednesday at 21:10 with Vietnam Airlines, Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A350.
In Flight
Today you will be in flight and enroute to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon – Arrival
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, a local guide will welcome and take you to your hotel in the city center. You will leave your luggage with hotel reception and be guided to a restaurant for breakfast. The remainder of the morning is free to explore the city or relax at your hotel until the check in time of 14:00. Your guide will then collect and take you to dinner at a traditional restaurant where you will enjoy local Vietnamese cuisine.
Overnight: A&EM Art Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Dinner
Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
Option #1:
After breakfast, your guide will escort you to My Tho City by bus. Along the way, we will visit Vinh Trang pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong delta. You will then take a boat trip along the Mekong River and disembark at a coconut island in Ben Tre, to enjoy a walk around the village. You will stop at a local family home to enjoy tropical fruit, taste the honey tea and wine and listen to Vietnamese traditional music performed by the villagers. Take your time snapping photos and enjoying the natural scenery before we head to a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy some free time before traveling back to Saigon.
Option #2:
After breakfast, you will visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels for a full tour. The network of over 200km of tunnels in their day were functioning underground cities. This included numerous trap doors, constructed living areas, field hospitals and command centers. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava before returning to the city center.
Overnight: A&EM Art Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Ho Chi Minh City – Free Day
After breakfast, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure or join an optional tour.
Overnight: A&EM Art Hotel (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoi An
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An, to then enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight: Oriental Boutique (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
Hoi An – Ba Na Hills – Hoi An
After breakfast, you will be collected and taken to the famous Ba Na Hills for a cable car ride to experience the pristine ecological system of the Ba Na Mountain while viewing the endless tree lined forests! We then visit, Le Jardin and Linh Ung Pagoda, the 88 ft high Buddha statue, before heading to the second cable car station, Gare Debay, which will take you right to the top of Ba Na. Visit and play games at the popular Fantasy Park, the third largest indoor amusement park in the world. After a buffet lunch, you will Conquer the Peak of Chua Mountain at the height of 4,878 ft and visit the famous Golden Bridge before returning to your hotel to spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.
Overnight: Oriental Boutique (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast, buffet lunch in Ba Na Hills
Hoi An – Hanoi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. After checking in, enjoy some free time in the afternoon and take in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town. You will then be taken to a traditional local restaurant to enjoy the famous Vietnamese dish of “Pho” along with a local beer, soft drink or fruit shake.
Overnight: Le Jardin Haute Couture (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – 4 Star Cruise with Victory Cruises
After breakfast, at around 08:00 you will be collected and transferred to the ferry dock in Ha Long International Harbor to embark and enjoy a welcome drink as you board. Cruise the majestic Ha Long Bay and enjoy lunch on board while admiring the fascinating rock formations along the way. We then stop at the Luon Cave for some kayaking or a row in a bamboo boat. This is known to be one of the must-do activities in Ha Long Bay. Your next stop is at Titop Island with its famous crescent moon-shaped beach and tranquil beautiful blue waters. You will view Halong Bay from the peak of Titop Island which is also known as a must-do activity! Finish your day on the ship sundeck taking in the sunset while enjoying drinks while watching a cooking demonstration as the chefs prepare your dinner. Enjoy the rest of your evening on board at your leisure or join some nighttime squid fishing!
Overnight: On board cruise ship
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Ha Long Bay – 4 Star Cruise with Victory Cruises – Hanoi
Wake up to a beautiful sunrise and enjoy breakfast followed by a morning Tai Chi session on the ship deck. You will then head on an excursion to stunning Sung Sot cave, the biggest cave in Halong Bay. After a buffet brunch served on board the ship you will then cruise back to port and disembark at around 11:00.
Overnight: Le Jardin Haute Couture (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast/Brunch
Hanoi – Free Day
After breakfast, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure or join an optional tour*
Hanoi is a city rich in history with the Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. It is invigorated with world class restaurants, modern cafes, art galleries and sophisticated rooftop bars.
Overnight: Le Jardin Haute Couture (or similar)
Meals included: Breakfast
*Optional tour activities available upon request.
Hanoi – Departure
Your final day starts with breakfast at the hotel followed by check-out at 12:00. You will then be transferred to the airport for your departing flight home to San Francisco or for onwards travels.
Meals included: Breakfast
Inclusions:
- International flights to/from San Francisco with Vietnam Airlines*
- Transfer to and from Ha Long Harbor by shuttle bus.
- Domestic internal flights.
- Accommodation in twin/double room hotels of 4 star standard.
- Daily breakfast at all hotels and some lunches and dinners (where indicated in itinerary)
- All transfers and transportation in air-conditioned vehicles.
- Local English-Speaking guides.
- Two bottles of mineral water per person, per day.
- Entrance tickets at tourism sites and attractions (where indicated in itinerary)
*Business Class upgrade available (price upon request)
Exclusions:
- Optional tours*
- Personal travel insurance.
- Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
- Meals and services other than mentioned in the program.
- Drinks with meals.
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the program.
- Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/or upon arrival. Please note American passport holders need to apply for a visa to visit Vietnam. The visa-free stay period is counted from THE DATE OF ENTRY. Please apply via E-Visa to Vietnam at least 15 days before the date of entry.
*Please speak with our Travel Consultant team who will suggest a range of optional tours (and pricing) that will suit your needs
Optional activities:
Optional Tours and Activities:
Day 5: Saigon Sightseeing and Food Tour by Scooter
