DAY 1 : SAIGON ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
You will meet your guide on arrival, transfer and check-in to your hotel. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Saigon, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. NOTE : kindly note that should you arrive early, an early check-in is not included and subject to hotel’s availability. Your guide will brief an orientation of the city along the way. Once checked in we leave you at your leisure.
Enjoy free time for the remainder of the first day. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in southern Vietnam is a sprawling metropolis of ten million people. Formally renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam-American war, locals still refer to Saigon. With thousands of motorbikes zipping past luxury cars, French colonial buildings dwarfed by modern skyscrapers and traditionally dressed school girls riding bicycles past trendy city workers, Saigon is an exciting city of contrasts.
DAY 2 : SAIGON (B/L/-)
Tour Saigon with your guide and learn about the historic landmarks of this historic city. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick building with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris, then head across the square to the Central Post Office designed by the French architect Gustav Eiffel. Next stop is the former Presidential Palace, headquarters to the Saigon Government during the Vietnam-American war. You may also like to visit the War Remnants Museum for a vivid insight into the Vietnam-American war from a Vietnamese perspective. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to continue your exploration of Saigon.
DAY 3 : SAIGON / CU CHI / SAIGON (B/L/-)
The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of interconnected tunnels near Saigon that are part of a much larger network lying below much of the country. A guided visit to these tunnels provides a better understanding of their history, the hardship of life underground and the resilience of the Vietnamese during combat. You're invited to enter a section of the tunnels to witness the secrets of the tunnels firsthand. Your guide will also show you various mantraps employed from this period, the remains of an American tank and numerous B52 bomb craters. There is also the opportunity to fire an M60, M16 or AK47 rifle at the range next to the tunnel complex. In the afternoon, return to Saigon and enjoy free time to continue your exploration of the city.
DAY 4 : SAIGON / MEKONG DELTA / SAIGON (B/L/-)
Skyscrapers are replaced by rice paddies and fruit farms as you travel by road into the Mekong Delta, the rice bowl of Vietnam. Witness daily life in the stilt houses and fish farms that you pass as your driver navigates the maze of canals in the traditional wooden motorboat. Experience the vibrant energy of the floating markets where vendors trade their produce between the floating boats in a uniquely Mekong Delta fashion. Sample freshly picked exotic fruits from a small island orchard as the farmer before lunch served in a traditional Mandarin house where four generations of one family live. Walk back or be rowed in a sampan to your motorboat to return to the pier before travelling by road back to Saigon.
DAY 5 : SAIGON / NHA TRANG (B/L/-)
Depart Saigon for the beaches of Nha Trang. Meet your guide in the airport on arrival. During the drive to Nha Trang your guide will provide an introduction to the area, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the first day.
Nha Trang is located in central Vietnam and overlooks 7 kilometres of sandy beaches. The clear blue seas dotted with offshore islands provide the opportunity for diving and snorkelling, while the town itself offers interesting sightseeing, with a massive white Buddha statue and a cluster of Cham towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries. Popular with visitors are the mineral mud baths warmed by natural hot springs.
DAY 6 : NHA TRANG (B/L/-)
Spend your time in Nha Trang with a balance of activities and free time to relax on the beach or by your hotel pool. For those that require additional action and a surge of adrenalin, activities like jet skiing and parasailing are available on the beach.
Today’s highlight is a cruise to tropical Mun Island, a protected marine area in the bay of Nha Trang. The island is also known as Ebony Island due to the black rock cliffs in the south eastern part. Every year swallows flock to the area to build their nests in the black stone caves found in the cliffs. Relax on the island or snorkel and explore the coral reef where you will be able to see some of the 350 species of sea life biodiversity that Vietnam has to offer. Cruise to an island restaurant for lunch passing fishing villages along the way, before returning to Nha Trang for an afternoon of free time.
DAY 7 : NHA TRANG (B/L/-)
Mid morning enjoy a meandering bike ride along the coast to Thap Ba Hot Springs. Treat your skin to a therapeutic mud bath followed by a swim in the mineral rich hot thermal springs. On your ride back to town, visit the Cham Po Nagar Temples built between the 7th and 12th centuries, before returning to your hotel.
Later in the afternoon accompany your local chef to the colourful central market and help select the fresh vegetables, spices and other ingredients for your shared group cooking class. Arriving at the award winning Lantern Restaurant, roll up your sleeves and learn how to prepare typical Vietnamese dishes including fresh spring rolls and fish or meat cooked in clay pots. Complete the session by dining on your finished dishes.
DAY 8 : NHA TRANG / DANANG / HOI AN (B/L/-)
Fly to Hoi An where you will meet your new guide on arrival at the airport. First stop is the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five limestone and marble peaks that rise dramatically from the surrounding flat land. The local Vietnamese believe that the five peaks represent the five elements of fire, water, earth, wood and metal. Previously celebrated in the religion of the Cham people, the mountains were later used by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam-American war to monitor the US air base at Danang.
Continue on to the beautiful old merchant town of Hoi An. Built on the site of an ancient Cham village, Hoi An was a prosperous port from the 16th to 19th centuries trading with merchants from China, Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who came to buy silk, spices and porcelain. Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Quarter is beautifully preserved with ornate pagodas, antique trading houses and old tile-roofed shops. It is a rich architectural fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European styles. Many of the historic buildings lining the canals and pedestrian streets have been converted into art galleries, boutique restaurants, bars and cafes. Hoi An is surrounded by attractive countryside with traditional farming and fishing, and by sandy beaches with modern seaside resorts.
DAY 9 : HOI AN (B/L/-)
Experience the charm of Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Wander along the narrow lanes and gain an insight into Hoi An’s illustrious past as you explore this heritage listed town. Take in the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture. See the 400 year old Japanese Bridge, a unique covered structure built by the Japanese, and the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to the side. Visit the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its outstanding wood carvings and explore the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk which can be turned into fashionable garments within one or two days. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the day. There is plenty to see and do in Hoi An, but many visitors find themselves relaxing by the beach, browsing the markets and boutique shops, or visiting one of the many tailors in town.
DAY 10 : HOI AN (B/-/-)
Enjoy free time today to relax or further explore Hoi An.
DAY 11 : HOI AN (B/L/-)
After breakfast join your guide for a cycling tour around Hoi An. Set off along the Thu Bon River where you will be able to photograph the fishing boats and the small riverside houses. Continue cycling through Thuan Tinh Ecological Village where you will see betel nuts growing, family shrines and the villagers going about their daily lives. Pedal along quiet inland trails, past palm trees, fishing farms and rice paddies to Cua Dai Beach and Cam An fishing village with its picturesque ocean views, kumquat gardens and corn fields. As you head back to Hoi An there is the opportunity to stop at Tra Que village where the farmers cultivate herbs and vegetables. Learn about the traditional farming methods and maybe help out with watering the plants or even fertilising the land. Enjoy free time for your afternoon in Hoi An.
DAY 12 : HOI AN / HUE (B/L/-)
This morning accompany your guide to the 500 year old village of Phuoc Tich near Hue. Here there are a number of impressive garden houses, each house being connected to the history of a traditional Hue family and containing ceramic antiques and heirlooms dating back many centuries. Explore the village and visit a typical Hue style traditional wooden house with its spacious garden influenced by Feng-shui. Chat with the family to gain an insight into and understanding of what life was like back in the heyday of the village. Phuoc Tich was also renowned as a famous pottery village and there are still some families who undertake this craft today. This afternoon you are driven to the ancient royal capital of Hue where you will spend the next two nights.
DAY 13 : HUE (B/L/-)
Hue served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th century. Despite heavy bombing during the Vietnam-American war, many historic monuments from this period remain, and even though Imperial rule ended more than six decades ago, Hue still bears the marks of its royal past. The city retains its royal charm with its emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel. A short cyclo ride takes you to the towering main gate of the UNESCO World Heritage Imperial Citadel. As you explore the grounds your guide will talk through the history of Hue, and you will be able to wander amongst the beautiful and ornate red lacquered pavilions of the Citadel, gaining an insight into the luxurious and secretive world of the court. Next stop is Thien Mu pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument, which stands on the riverbank with its impressive seven storey tower. The afternoon includes visits to Khai Dinh and Tu Duc Royal Tombs, and there is also the opportunity to visit an incense stick making house.
DAY 14 : HUE / HANOI (B/L/-)
Visit Ming Mang Royal Tomb near Hue before transferring to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Minh Mang was the second Nguyen Emperor whose interest in architecture brought major new construction to the Imperial City of Hue. His tomb is set in a large garden on the west bank of the Perfume River, with lakes and pavilions built in the old Chinese traditional style.
You will meet your guide on arrival in Hanoi. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Hanoi, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the first day. Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined, with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe elderly people practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.
DAY 15 : HANOI (B/L/-)
Accompanied by your guide, the day starts with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” resides. See the lotus shaped One Pillar Pagoda which rests on a single stone pillar emerging from the water, and then explore the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, to gain an overview of Hanoi culture and ancient Vietnamese architecture.
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology offering a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups. Enjoy a walking tour through the bustling Old Quarter before ending the day with a show at the water puppet theatre – a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history.
DAY 16 : HANOI / HOA LU / TAM COC / HANOI (B/L/-)
Situated in Ninh Binh province is the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. This was the first centralised feudal state in Vietnam at the end of the 10th century. The temples of King Dinh and King Le still stand to this day amongst the rice paddies, and offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s ancient past. Continue with your guide to Van Long Nature Reserve, known as Halong Bay on land, the largest wetland reserve of northern Vietnam and an area of astounding natural beauty. Marvel at ancient pagodas clinging to the rock formations as you meander by boat along the river, passing under rocky outcrops and through limestone caves. Look out for the rare Delacour’s Langur and Bonelli’s eagle which breeds in this region. Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
DAY 17 : HANOI / HALONG BAY (B/L/D)
Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay and board your deluxe junk for your overnight cruise. Marvel at the dramatic vista and relax onboard, as you sail amongst the thousands of limestone islands that rise from the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and the numerous caves and grottoes have created an enchanting, timeless world. Set sail through Bai Tu Long Bay whilst a seafood lunch is served, then sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery as you cruise past various islands en route to Cua Van fishing village. Explore the floating village by bamboo rowing boat. Visit Tien Ong Cave before returning to the junk for sunset cocktails and canapés, followed by dinner served on the deck or in the restaurant.
DAY 18 : HALONG BAY / HANOI DEPARTURE (B/L/D)
Why not begin the day with a Tai Chi class on the top deck? Or just admire the beautiful scenery as the sun rises over the azure waters. Choose between an excursion to a secluded island with a sandy beach for a morning swim, or join the chef for a cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. Enjoy a buffet brunch as your junk cruises Halong Bay, passing islets and caves as you make your way back to the dock. You have the option to visit a pottery workshop on the trip back to Hanoi before you your departure transfer and onwards flight.