Discovery Vietnam on Splendor

Hanoi arrival & sightseeing (D)

Arrival at Hanoi airport, warmly welcomed by our guide and transfer to Hanoi center. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has retained the old world charm of the French colonial era. The face of Hanoi hasn't changed much through decennium. This is probably the most charming city of Vietnam with its authenticity, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, and pruned gardens.
Transfer to the hotel, we begin the tour of the capital by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, which dominates the Ba Dinh Square, and his house on stilts to understand a great man whose life has been very modest life. The One Pillar Pagoda is famous for its original construction related to an interesting legend from the 11th century.
Then visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. As you visit the first university, we understand more feudal education in Vietnam. And one hour of cyclo ride in the Old Quarter with its narrow shopping streets allows us to discover the main interests of the Vietnamese capital. 

Welcome dinner at the local restaurant.

Meals included: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

The room is available from 14.00

Arrival flight: To be advised

Hanoi - Museum of Ethnology - Mai Chau (B,L,D)

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh (Halong on land) - Trang An (B,L,D)

We take the mountain road and part of the Ho Chi Minh trail, beautiful landscapes: rice paddies, vegetable fields, and sugar cane are a romantic picture of the 150km long nature.
After about 3,5 hours of driving, we go to Ninh Binh to enjoy lunch of local specialties in a restaurant.

Afternoon, we take a sampan ride to visit the carved by erosion, Trang An grottoes which are also called the "Halong bay on land" with many limestone peaks covered with lush vegetation.
Visiting Bich Dong Pagoda (Jade Cave and 3 temples of the 17th century), we have a panoramic view of this magical region. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Distance: 200km - 3 hours

Ninh Binh - Halong Bay (B,L,D)

Depart to Halong Bay, we cross the Red River Delta - a beautiful traditional Vietnamese countryside with villages, markets, rice paddies, all complemented by the daily lives of peasants. Arrival in Ha Long around noon, boarding a boat for 24 hours cruising.
Lunch on the boat seafood sprinkled with white wine. An extraordinary landscape, "one of the wonders of the world", nearly three miles of limestone islands and fantastic shapes: turtle, sailing sampan, etc ... scattered in the emerald water with a surface of 1,500km².
Visit the Suprise cave, we are projected in a mysterious atmosphere by thousands stalagmites and stalactites, ascension the top of the Titov island or swim at the beach if time permits. Admiring the sunset on the sundeck of the Junk. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Halong Bay - Hanoi (B,L,D)

Hanoi - Hue (B,L,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Hue. Arrival in Hue, home of the guide and the driver and begin the discovery of the ancient capital of the Nguyen dynasty 1802-1945. Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1993, Hue offers its visitors a perfect picture of harmony between many historical sites still well preserved in the milieu of the charm of nature. We begin the city tour by boat to Thien Mu Pagoda, located along the Perfume River.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel with architecture Vauban style, built in the style of the Chinese imperial palace between 1805 and 1832. At the end of the day, the walk to Dong Ba market where we will find the best conical hats in Vietnam.
Royal Dinner: we are in the costumes of emperors, queens, princes, and princesses, imperial taste the dishes accompanied by traditional music. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Suggested flight: HAN - HUI in the morning

Hue - Hai Van Pass - Hoi An (B,L)

The morning we visit a village of making conical hats and incense and the tomb of Tu Duc Emperor amidst frangipani and pine trees, this isn't a simple tomb advantage is mentioned the idea of eternal life than death.  

Lunch at a local restaurant before driving to Danang via the famous road to the Hai Van Pass, we will have a beautiful view over dozens of kilometers of beaches of the peninsula of Lang Co.
In Danang, we visit the Cham Museum (built-in 1916), the famous collection of the civilization of the Champa kingdom and the Marble mountain, next to the most beautiful beach of Vietnam.
Continue to Hoi An, or Faifo in the past, one of the busiest commercial ports from the 17th to the 18th centuries throughout Asia: Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Indonesian, French and Dutch all traded there. Classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999, this charming city fascinates not only by the authenticity of the architecture, the romantic scenery of the river and the beach but especially by the light of amazing lanterns after sunset.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Distance: 150km - 3 hours

Hoian visits - Beach extension (B)

Morning, we visit this beautiful ancient city: the old houses a traditional Vietnamese house, an Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, Japanese Bridge in the old neighborhood.
Free lunch in town and the afternoon is at your leisure to discover the beautiful city. Possible to rent bicycles for exploring the surrounding area and relax on the beach. 

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An (B,L)

Morning departs for My Son, 70km from Hoi An which was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO along Hoi An, all temples and shrines weren't only the religious capital but also the last houses of emperors of the Cham kingdom from the 5th to 13th centuries. They tell us the most glorious of this kingdom ruined through architectures and sculptures but also how to make bricks there is still a mystery.
Back to Hoi An for lunch. Afternoon free to explore at your leisure the beautiful city. Possible to rent bicycles for exploring the surrounding area and relax on the beach.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,)

Transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Meet on arrival by our guide then transfer to the city. Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon), the economic center of Vietnam, located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, is also the largest city, the population of more than 8 million.
Full day visit: Notre Dame Cathedral, red brick building in neo-Romanesque style, which was consecrated in 1880. Post office built by Gustave Eiffel, Opera House and City Hall with beautiful architecture

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (B,L,D)

Road to My Tho, a vast network of thousands of channels characterizes the life of the Mekong Delta, the largest rice granary of Vietnam. We are in the middle of the green fields and orchards, immense rice fields dotted with lotus ponds.
Boarding for a cruise on the Mekong River to Thoi Son islet or island of the Unicorn: the large tropical garden of 11km². Tropical fruit tasting and good fresh honey out of the hives in orchards.
Lunch on the island of specialties including the famous elephant ears fish. In the afternoon, boat trip on small channels, which grows on both sides, lush vegetation. We continue to drive to Can Tho, the region considered the most fertile of the delta. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho                                                

Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

Two beautiful floating markets Cai Rang and Phong Dien are the specific features of Mekong table, we take a cruise along canals to discover the life that animates the delta: the fishermen, boatmen carrying all kinds of food.
During the cruise, the crew will serve you a complimentary fresh coconut, hot green tea, and seasonal fruit. Following the cruise, we take a walk in the orchards and taste fresh fruit. Back to Ho Chi Minh City after lunch.  Overnight in Saigon.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

We start the day by going to Tay Ninh where there is the great Cao Dai Temple, an amazing religion, unique and pure in Vietnam with more than two millions followers, mostly in the South. We have the opportunity to attend the noon Mass on the altar and find all the great men of the world: Cakyamauni, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Laos Tseu even Joanne d' Arc, Victor Hugo, Lenin, etc ... the eye symbolizes divine philosophy "all religions are moving toward the same path".
After lunch, we continue to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Known by the name "Iron Triangle" and the "Free Fire Zone" these tunnels are controlled by the Viet Cong, allowed them to communicate with each other when they were confined from American or South Vietnamese areas. They also provided shelter to the population during air attacks. The Vietcong soldiers lived there in harsh conditions, they are also living witnesses of the patriotism of Vietnamese people. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Distance: 75 kilometers - 1hr 55 min

Note: Cu Chi Tunnels is not recommended for people with claustrophobia

Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

Free time for your shopping or at leisure before the transfer to airport for departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

The room is disposal until noontime only

Departure flight: To be advised