Discover Vietnam Roundtrip

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival at Noi Bai international airport in Ha Noi, welcomed by guide and transferred to your hotel in the city center to check in. Relax after a long journey. Stay overnight in Ha Noi. -/-/-

Day 2. Hanoi
This entire day is devoted to visiting Hanoi's most famous landmarks: the impressive Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's final resting place, his simple stilt house to gain insight into his pure and noble way of life, and the One Pillar Pagoda, which was built in 1049 out of wood on top of a stone pillar and resembles a lotus blossom. Retrace the city's history by paying a quick visit to a nearby historical lake with a B-52 relic and listening to an untold story at a witness's home to learn how the locals recovered from the war. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university built in 11th-century Vietnamese architecture.This afternoon, you will have a great opportunity to see Ha Noi from a different perspective on the back of a motorbike with a professional driver. Your guide will provide a quick glance of the French architecture, visible by the many colonial monuments scattered throughout the downtown. Take a stroll pass tiny yet bustling streets of the Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ and reach the historic Long Bien Bridge, famed with its unique historic, architectural, and cultural value. Get your camera ready to capture picturesque panoramic views or memorable moments of local people or street vendors crossing the bridge on their traditional transportation.Stay overnight in Ha Noi. B/-/-
* Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is CLOSED on Mondays, Fridays and all afternoons.

Day 3. Hanoi - Halong Bay Overnight cruise
After breakfast, board the van and head for Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site known for thousands of magnificent limestone islets and grottoes rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink after boarding the cruise. Relax and avail yourself of a delicious seafood lunch, while you passing variety of picturesque stone islands, floating villages, and secluded beaches. In the afternoon, we’ll stop by a floating fishing village to have a chat with the locals and learn about their daily lives before swimming or relaxing on the sundeck. When the boat is anchored at the tranquil overnight spot,  delicious dinner will be served. B/L/D
* There's in-house English speaking tour guide on boat, no private tour guide on board

Day 4. Ha Long Bay- Fly to da Nang – Hoi An
For early risers, Tai Chi lesson is available on the sundeck or you can just relax and take in the breathtaking views of Ha Long Bay as the boat sails leisurely through stunning karst mountains named by their shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger Depending on the itinerary, you may see magnificent limestone caverns this morning or the day before. Return to the boat to freshen up before checking out of your room, then enjoy amazing brunch while cruising toward the pier and disembarking around noon. Your vehicle is ready awaiting for you for direct transfer from Ha Long to Airport in Hai Phong City or Ha Noi for a domestic flight to Da Nang, from where we drive 45 minutes further to the little charming city of Hoian. Stay overnight in Hoi An. Brunch/-/-

Day 5. Hoi An
The Ancient Town of Hoi An, which flourished as a port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, is remarkably preserved, making the city a must-visit. This historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its old tile-roofed shops, shady pagodas, and colorful community halls. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town, known for its well-preserved architecture,pedestrian-only streets, and local cuisine. Making your way through historic merchant and community houses, ancient pagodas, and traditional places of worship with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese culture, you will hear the clattering of sewing machines and observe the day-to-day activities that are taking place. Step into a back alley to visit an elderly man who has a passion for Vietnamese calligraphy. Have some tea and a chat with him to learn that calligraphy is more than just a way to convey information; it can also be used to convey one's innermost thoughts and feelings. See the master at work as he creates a lucky character in calligraphy for you to take home with you as a souvenir. This afternoon, embark on a journey into the countryside that will give you a taste of life beyond Hoi An. Pedal leisurely to take in the rural scenery as you pass by farmers resting in the shade and cows or buffaloes working in the rice fields. We even might be able to catch up and have a chat with the locals to learn about their way of life. Get to know the friendly local boat rowers and master the art of paddling the distinctive circular basket boats through the tranquil canals surrounded by coconut palms. Stay overnight in Hoi An. B/L/-

Day 6. Hoi An - Hue by land
Travel to the Hai Van Pass to see lush mountains, blue skies, and Lang Co beach. From the peak of the mountain, Lang Co beach looks absolutely stunning with its verdant trees, clear waters, and cloud-covered mountains. The fishing village is surrounded by deep mountains and endless sky and ocean, itself offers excellent opportunities for photography including fishermen unloading fish; and old women laying fish out in the sun to dry. Upon arrival, take a leisure boat ride along the Perfume River that will bring you to visit the stunning Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most beautiful pagodas with ancient architecture in Hue. Conclude the tour by visiting Minh Mang Tomb, which is famous for its balance of structures and surrounding nature that is unmatched among all the tombs in Hue. This harmony between landscape and buildings reveals a lot about the personality of Minh Mang Emperor and its characteristics during his reign. Stay overnight in Hue. B/-/-

Day 7. Hue - Ho Chi Minh city by flight
Spend this morning exploring the highlight of Hue City: Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, King Tu Duc's royal tomb, a peaceful resting place surrounded by walls with pine woods and a lakeside pavilion with lotus blossoms where the emperor used to stay in the past for fishing, listening to music, and writing poetry. Transfer to Hue airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. B/-/-

Day 8. Ho Chi Minh  city tour 
With your guide, explore the city's top attractions: War Remnants Museum, with photos and artefacts from the past, Reunification Palace, the former residence of the Indochina Governor-General and later of the President of the Republic of Southern, Notre Dame Cathedral, a red-brick structure with twin spires modelled after the original in Paris, Central Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel before he built the Eiffel Tower. Unwind in a coffee shop that was once used as a safe haven and weapon chamber by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The colourful Chinatown is an essential part of any journey to Saigon to appreciate the local houses,pagodas, and temples of Chinese architecture. Take in the ethereal architecture of ancient temples, and admire the huge burning incense coils while your guide explains how Chinese immigrants brought their culture, religion, and philosophy to Vietnam. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh. B/-/-

Day 9. Ho Chi Minh - Mekong delta 
This morning, take a scenic drive to My Tho, Vietnam's "Agriculture Capital”, passing through lush rice paddies and fruit farms. At the waterfront pier, embark on a relaxing motor boat tour while admiring the sights of the Delta, including the region's iconic stilt houses and thriving fisheries. Trade boat for bicycle and enjoy a relaxing ride over easy, level terrain as you travel through narrow village lanes lined with fruit orchards and customary cottages observing the rural life that remains in many ways similar to how it was lived far back in history. Children along the route keep greeting you with "Xin Chao" (hello). Visit a family-run business where they make coconut candies by hand and taste local tea with honey, and sample fruits while having a chat with local people to get a glimpse of the lifestyle and traditional customs in Mekong Delta. Wrap up your excursion with a memorable sampan cruise along the narrow canals past lush orchards and sleepy villages. Taste some local delicacies before returning to Ho Chi Minh City in mid-afternoon. Stay overnight in Hoi Chi Minh. B/L/-
*In case you don’t want to ride a bike, it can be done by foot (500-700 meters) or by horse cart. 

Day 10.Ho Chi Minh - departure
You will be free today until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure flight. B/-/-

Visa requirements: Citizens of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom do not need a Vietnamese visa for a stay shorter than 15 days, and can enter Vietnam with passports with at least six months validity remaining beyond the date of their arrival. All other nationalities need a Vietnamese visa to enter the country, and need to apply for one prior to their departure for Vietnam.

Best time to travel:
North: Hanoi and North Vietnam has a distinct winter and summer season. The cool but mostly dry winter lasts from November to April

South: With temperatures remaining constant year round the climate of the south is split into two simple seasons, wet and dry. The dry season begins in November and ends in April/early May