DAY 1: Hanoi Arrival
The tour guide and driver will pick you up at Noi Bai international airport (Hanoi) and transfer to the city centre for hotel check-in.
Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 hrs but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge.
Free at leisure for the rest of the day. You may want to join our optional excursion around the city such as walking tour through Hanoi Old quarter.
Meals: NA
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Activities: Be picked up and transfer to hotel, free day at leisure to prepare for the trip
DAY 2: Hanoi full day City tour
8:00 - 8:30 Start your journey with a pickup from your hotel.
We start the trip at the Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and during the months of September and October), Ho Chi Minh Museum, his house-on-stilts, Presidential Palace and the unique One Pillar Pagoda. Then visit Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago.
We continue visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple then a walking tour into the hidden alleys of Hanoi Old Quarter. Ending trip with enjoying a leisurely one-hour cyclo touring the streets.
Optional: If you are not interested in Cylco you can change it to a Water Puppet Show.
Around 16:30, return to your hotel.
Alternative for visit on Monday and Friday and during September and October:
Explore the heart of Vietnamese nation at the amazing Ho Chi Minh presidential complex (OUT SIDE) and the profound and meaningful pagodas and temples, especially visiting unique and beautiful structures and religious cultural beauty of QuanThanh Temple. Continue to enjoy the solemn and wonderful landscape on the peaceful and historical values of Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Tucked away between Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the Red River is the Long Bien market. Vendors and middlemen begin gathering here around two in the morning to snap up the best of the day’s incoming food. This is the reason why the market has just been voted as one of the best 7 streets market in the world by the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. And it might be a place in the wish list of all travelers.
We continue visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple then a walking tour into the hidden alleys of Hanoi Old Quarter. Ending trip with enjoying a leisurely one-hour cyclo touring the streets.
Optional: If you are not interested in Cylco you can change it to a Water Puppet Show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Activities: Full day exploring Hanoi. This morning see the city’s highlights; this afternoon enjoy a cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture
DAY 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau
08:00: Depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau – an idyllic valley home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong and Thai.
Arrive in Mai Chau around noon and enjoy your lunch. Check in your room from 14h (If room is available, we can offer you early check in)
15:00: Biking tour with local guide to explore Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Na Thia, Chieng Sai, Cha Long, Tong Dau, Van villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. Total cycling time is around 2 – 2,5 hours on flat village paths. Back to Mai Chau Ecolodge for dinner. Enjoy a traditional dance show and taste Ruou Can, a local rice wine. Overnight at Mai Chau Ecolodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Mai Chau
Activities: Biking to explore Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. Enjoy a traditional dance show and taste Ruou Can.
DAY 4: Mai Chau - Hanoi
Breakfast at Ecolodge. Free exploring Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Na Thia, Nhot, Pom Coong, Lac and Chieng Chau villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. Total walking time is around 2.5 – 3 hours on flat village paths. Take it all in: the spectacular scenery of Mai Chau and the relaxed rhythm of local life. Have lunch at Ecolodge’ restaurant then transfer back to Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Activities: Free exploring Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages in the morning. Afternoon transfer to Hanoi.
DAY 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Breakfast at hotel. Be ready for pick-up at your hotel lobby at 8.00am. The bus driver will take you on a ride to Halong City (about 4 hours), we will have a stop at Hong Ngoc Humanitarian Center.
Upon arrival at the pier, embark on the boat and set sail on a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay, taking in the spectacular scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Lunch is served by the cabin crew.
In the afternoon you will start to discover Halong Bay. Depending on each cruise’s itinerary of the day, you may visit a beautiful cave, have some swimming at Titop Island or Soi Sim Island.
Kayaking is available at a surcharge.
Dinner on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on board
Activities: Experience overnight cruise on Halong Bay with visits on the bay
DAY 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Wake up the next morning at sunrise, you are invited to practice Tai Chi on the sun deck. Enjoy the feel of the early morning salt water scent and bask in the early sun rising from behind the mountains.
Arriving at the pier, you will be picked up for transfer back to Hanoi.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Activities: Enjoy more Halong Bay and then get back to Hanoi
DAY 7: Hanoi - flight to Da Nang - Hoi An
Breakfast at hotel.
Be ready for pick-up at your hotel lobby and transfer to Noi Bai international airport for a flight to Da Nang city.
From Da Nang airport, you will be transferred to Hoi An ancient town. Check-in and your guide will take you on a stroll through the ancient town.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
Activities: Get flight to Da Nang and transfer to visit Hoi An town
DAY 8: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hue
Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure in the morning. You may spend half day at leisure by the beach or joining our half day tour in Hoi An at optional.
In the afternoon, transfer to Hue by bus. Arrive in Hue will in late afternoon. After hotel check-in, have leisure time.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Activities: Enjoy the beach or Hoi An town, then transfer to Hue and visit the famous Hai Van pass on the way
DAY 9: Hue - Ho Chi Minh city
Breakfast at hotel.
Enjoy your wonderful day by taking a boat trip to visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worshiping in Vietnam now. Thien Mu Pagoda has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hue City now
Continue your journey to discover the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen’s Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 including Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City.
The afternoon continues with a visit to the elaborate tombs of emperors Minh Mang & Khai Dinh. This guided tour gives you a deep understanding about King’s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life.
In the late afternoon, you will take another domestic flight from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Activities: Visits to the most highlights of Hue and then take flight to Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 10: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City
Breakfast in hotel.
The tour guide and the bus driver will take you to Cu Chi Tunnels on a 55km drive.There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels.
In the afternoon, gain an insight into the city’s development through a walking tour to the most significant landmarks including the Opera House, Town Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Activities: Visit Cu Chi tunnels to know more about the historic place, then take a walk through landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City
The mighty Mekong empties to the Eastern Sea through nine estuaries with two biggest ones called as Tien River and Hau River that form the fertile land known as the Mekong River Delta. Visiting the region you will be amazed by the view of endless paddy fields, the waterway system and the lush green fruit orchards.
Your journey will take you to Ben Tre for a day exploring the Mekong Delta. Activities of the day include the visit to a brick kiln factory, a coconut processing workshop and a local mat-weaving house, take Xe Loi ride (a kind of modern motorized rickshaw) or cycling tour to explore around village under coconut row and tasting some fresh seasonal fruits. One of the highlights of the tour is a ride by small sampan boat through the small canals and side-arms of the “Mighty Mekong” to observe the daily life along the river banks.
Enjoy lunch with local delicacies before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.
You have all rest of the day explore the city by your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Activities: Visit Ben Tre - experience the water world of Mekong Delta, embark on a small sampan boat riding through the small canals to observe the daily life along the river banks
DAY 12: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure
Have leisure time before your departure. You are welcome to join our interesting optional excursions in and around Ho Chi Minh City, such as our Good Morning Saigon! tour (surcharge applies).
Luxury Outing hope to see you again in your next trip!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NA
Activities: Free at leisure until the pick up for departure flight (optional excursions available)
Important Notes:
- PROGRAMS & SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
- In case of unpredictable bad conditions of weather in Halong Bay, please kindly understand that the cancellation will be made ONLY by the Management Board of Halong Bay and normally the announcement will be informed in short notice.
- If you have any specific food requirement (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies, etc.) please inform us in advance, we will provide notices to our restaurants, tour guides and partners so they would be able to serve you the best.
