Taste of Vietnam

Hanoi arrival & sightseeing (D)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, welcomed by your guide and driver then transfer to hotel for check-in (check-in time at hotel: 14h00).

In the afternoon, free time at your leisure. On your own you could go exploring the Hoan Kiem Lake (the Restored Sword Lake) and strolling around the Old Quarter for the first discovery of Hanoi. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals included: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

The room is available from 14.00

Arrival flight: to be advised

Hanoi sightseeing (B,L)

Breakfast at your hotel

At 08:30AM meet with your guide and driver and we will begin the guided tours of the capital with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex which dominates Ba Dinh Square (from outside) and his stilt house to better understand a great man whose life was very modest.

The One Pillar Pagoda is famous for its original construction born from a legend dating from the 11th century.

Then visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. This complex was the first Vietnamese University.

Tran Quoc Pagoda: located on the shores of West Lake, it was built in the 5th century during the reign of King Ly Nam De. It is the oldest pagoda in HANOI.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, the largest museum and also the most comprehensive of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.

Your guide will then take you to the fame Train Street where sipping coffee while watching trains pass just inches away is a unique experience you’ll never forget. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Notes:

- The Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday and every afternoon.
- Every year, the monument will be closed between mid-September and mid-December for regular restoration and preservation of the presidential remains,  (exact dates to be checked each year)
- To be allowed to enter the mausoleum, you must cover your legs, stand in pairs in silence without crossing your arms, or putting hands in pockets

Hanoi - Ninh Binh (B,L)

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

In the morning, you will travel to Halong Bay (3,5 hours). Upon arrival, transfer by tender to cruise – enjoy a welcome drink and cruise briefing, check into cabins and begin your 24 hours cruise. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on cruise

Distance: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - 3,5 hours

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flying to Hue (B,L)

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Then practice Tai Chi on the sundeck for those who want while the cruise sails around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning.

At pier the driver awaits to take you to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. Arrival at Hue airport, welcome by the driver then transfer to hotel for check in.

Rest of the day is free time at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, brunch

Distance: 170 kilometers – 2h 30min to 2h45min

Suggested flight: HAN - HUI in the afternoon

Hue sightseeing (B,L,D)

Breakfast at hotel.

Meet your team of guide and driver at 08:30AM and start your day of visits and discovery of the ancient capital of the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Declared a historic heritage by UNESCO since 1993, Hue offers its visitor a perfect picture of the harmony between numerous historical sites still well preserved in the middle of the charm of the nature.

We will visit the Imperial Citadel, an architecture in the Vauban style, built based on the model of the Chinese imperial palaces between 1805 and 1832. Visit sumptuous monuments of the complex including: Palace of Supreme Harmony, the East and West pavilions, the Reading Pavilion, the Royal Theater, etc…

In the afternoon we'll go visiting tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Located in the middle of a pine forest, the tomb of Tu Duc, also called the Khiem Lang (this word designates the modest), is undoubtedly the most famous and most beautiful among the royal tombs in Hue. Its eternal resting place has poetic beauty and perfect harmony with nature. The layout of its 50 architectural constructions no longer follows traditional patterns, notably symmetry – a pattern is widely used in constructions from the dynasties of Vietnam. Then visits the traditional village of making incense sticks and conical hats.

Back to the city we make a quick visit to Tu Hieu pagoda known as the Root Temple and is one of the greatest temples, a cultural and historical site of Hue. People come here not just to admire the natural scenery and ancient atmospheric monuments that perfectly blend with each other but also to remind themselves of the most important responsibility in one’s life: love and take care of parents and family.

Night in Hue.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An (B,L)

Breakfast at hotel.

At 09:00 AM your guide and driver will come pick you up then we take the road for Da Nang, via the famous Cloud Pass. We will enjoy a beautiful view of dozens of kilometers of beaches on the Lang Co peninsula.

In Da Nang, we will pass by the Dragon Bridge, the new city’s emblem and make a visit to Linh Ung Pagoda in Son Tra Peninsula where there is Lady Buddha statue. The statue stands back against the mountain and faces the Ocean. One hand of her teaching, one holding a jar of holy water, with gentle eyes looking all over Da Nang city.

Photo stop at Dragon Bridge, city’s new emblem. 

Let's continue to Hoi An, which was also called Hai Fo or Fai Fo, and which was among the most active commercial ports in all of Asia, between the 17th and 18th centuries: Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Indonesians, then the French and Dutch rubbed shoulders there. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, this charming city fascinates us not only by the authenticity of the architecture, the romantic landscapes of the river and the beach, but above all by the spooky light of the lanterns after sunset. 

In Hoi An, we will discover the Hoi An ancient city with its monuments: Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, the fish market, Japanese bridge and a traditional Vietnamese house.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Distance: Hoi An – Hue 150km – 3 hours

Hoi An - Da Nang - Flying to Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

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

8h00: Your guide and driver pick you up at the hotel, then depart for Cai Be. Upon arrival, you will take a boat going along the river to visit and enjoy the specialties of local traditional craft villages: rice paper kilns, candy kilns, green rice kilns, or longan drying kilns.

Go along the village road (about 5 minutes) to the honey tea drinking spot, taking advantage of the many fruit gardens where people have developed beekeeping. You will be introduced to how to raise bees for honey and enjoy honey tea.

Afterward the boat goes upstream across the windy Tien River and arrive at Tan Phong Islet with many delicious fruit gardens. Rowing boat takes visitors to the small canal and walking in the fruit garden and enjoy fruit.

It’s time for lunch at the garden house.

In the afternoon, we will head back to Ho Chi Minh city. 

Free time rest of the day. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing - Departure (B,L)

Breakfast at hotel.

Meet with your guide and driver. You will then visit Notre Dame Cathedral, discover the magnificent neo-Romanesque architecture. Opposite is the Central Post Office, one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and learn about this significant landmark. Next you will visit the Reunification Palace, one of the most important buildings in the city, former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975, the final day of the war against the United States.

Continue the visit to Opera House and City Hall, both were built during the colonial time (take picture outside).

Afternoon continue your visit to War Remnants Museum where there is a vast display of machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam War. In courtyard massive military vehicles are for exhibition as well as tiger cages for the visitor to get a feel on how it was to be a prisoner during wartime. In the museum building itself, each floor will represent a separate theme from the war and the war crimes committed. 

Next you will go to Chinatown, Thien Hau pagoda, which is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. Explore the highlights of this fascinating area, beginning with intricate friezes, carved tableau and impressive incense coils make for some great photos.

End of the day, the team will take you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight back home.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

The room is disposal until noontime only

Departure flight: To be advised