12 day Best of Vietnam

Hanoi – Arrival
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

*Optional activities can be recommended and booked by our Travel Consultants*

Overnight: The Q Hotel (or similar)
Meals: None

Hanoi 
Today we embark on a day in the city starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this site is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origin dates to the foundation of Hanoi a thousand years ago.

Your tour of Hanoi continues with a trip to the remarkable Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university. After lunch, you’ll enjoy the always impressive Ethnology Museum dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. You’ll then continue to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem where you will find the famous Water Puppet Theatre to enjoy a cultural performance.

Overnight: The Q Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hanoi – Halong Bay
You will be collected from your hotel for a scenic drive to Halong Bay, taking in beautiful landscapes and countryside. Board your cruise and savor a delectable lunch as you cruise among the limestone islands. Take a small sampan among the hidden bays around the Luon Cave. Cruise to Ti Top Island, go swimming, relax at the beach or climb up to the top of the island for a panoramic view of Halong Bay. Relax at your sunset dinner and enjoy the rest of the night at your leisure.

Overnight in Halong Bay (on board cruise)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hue
Start your day with a sunrise Tai Chi class before boarding a serene cruise along Halong Bay and stopping to marvel at the impressive, Sung Sot Cave. Continue cruising to the Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet and more. On the way back to the harbor, watch a cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional, fresh Vietnamese lunch! After the cruise, you are collected and transferred to the airport for your flight to Hue where upon arrival, you are collected and transferred to your hotel in Hue.

Overnight: Eldora Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hue
In the morning, take a boat ride along the romantic Huong River. Stop off at the Thien Mu Pagoda on the banks of the river to see the 7-story Stupa. The pagoda is also home to the old Austin car driven to Saigon by the Venerable Thich Quang Duc in 1963 for his self-immolation. Continue to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841), built between 1841 and 1843. The emperor’s mausoleum complex consists of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, pavilions etc.) designed on a symmetrical axis. Lunch is a special vegetarian meal with the nuns of Dong Thuyen Pagoda. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City, created in the 19th century for the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. Enjoy some ‘retail therapy’ at Dong Ba Market before transferring back to the hotel.

Overnight: Eldora Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hue – Danang – Hoi An
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Danang, stop off for a refreshment break at Lang Co beach, one of the World’s most beautiful bays. Continue to Danang to visit the Cham Museum & Marble Mountain. On the way to Hoi An, you pass My Khe beach – classified as one of the most attractive beaches on earth. If the time is enough, take some free time to enjoy swimming at the beach before continuing to Hoi An. Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight: Hadana Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hoi An
The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional buildings with Chinese, Japanese and French influence. There’s plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, Pottery Museum, Tan Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda and of course, all the vibrant markets! On your city walking tour you will pass many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls, which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past. You’ll then understand why people visit Hoi An time and time again. In addition to its picturesque setting, many visitors believe the food to be the highlight of their trip to Hoi An!

Overnight: Hadana Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City
In the morning, you are collected and transferred to Danang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City where on arrival, you’ll be guided around some of the most important attractions beginning with the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the Southern Vietnam President until the end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office.

Overnight: Alagon D’Antique Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
After an early breakfast you’ll avoid the city heat and visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels; an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Viet Cong in the American war. Afterwards, you’ll continue to the headquarters of the Cao Dai religious sect in Tay Ninh. This religion was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members. It’s an unusual religion with an eclectic mix of different saints from different religions and has Victor Hugo and Charlie Chaplin as patron saints. You will then head back to Saigon to visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the best examples of Taoist temples in Vietnam, and also the War Remnant Museum.

Overnight: Alagon D’Antique Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho
Depart from the hotel and arrive in My Th. Take a motorboat on the upper part of the Mekong River (Tien River) to see the fish market and the floating fish farm. Enjoy the view of Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn, and Turtle islands. Arrive at Unicorn Island to visit orchards, bee farms and taste pure honey and honey wine! Take a walk around the fruit garden and taste the seasonal fruits as you enjoy a traditional South Vietnamese musical performance. Cross the Mekong River to Bến Tre province and enter the Rạch Xếp natural canal, which is fully covered with water coconuts. Visit Nam Bo house (traditional Southern Vietnamese houses) by horse and carriage (or Tuk Tuk) and stop by a coconut candy mill to indulge in this tasty snack while seeing how it is made. Enjoy a mesmerizing rowboat trip through small canals under the shadow of coconut palms then sit down to relax for lunch at a Vietnamese local restaurant (own expense) You will then be transferred to Can Tho for your stay.

Overnight: TTC Can Tho (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City
Check out of your hotel after an early breakfast and from the wharf, board a motorboat for some sightseeing at the Cai Rang Floating Market which is the biggest and most colorful floating market in the Mekong Delta’s region. At early morning, the river is a busy commercial site with hundreds of boats packed with fruits, vegetables, plants, and foods lined along the river ready for trade. Sellers will hang samples of what they are selling on the top of a long pole on their boats. After the Cai Rang market, we continue cruising through small creeks to a local orchard where you will taste tropical seasonal fruits (included) Return to the hotel for some free time before lunch (at your own expense) We then head back to Ho Chi Minh with a stop at the Vinh Long market. We then cross the stunning My Thuan suspension bridge and have a rest to take on the Mekong before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight: Alagon D’Antique Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Ho Chi Minh City – Depart
Depending on your departure time, there may be some free time to relax or do some further exploring of Ho Chi Minh before you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast