Vietnam - The Heritage Way

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   Ho Chi Minh City Arrival – Half day City Tour (D)
   Upon your arrival to Ho Chi Minh City (also called as Saigon by many people) – the most dynamic city of Vietnam, welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check in and relax.  Afternoon, start the sightseeing to visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation and the locals' perspective of the Vietnam War. The exhibits, such as weapons, documents, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of the City. Dinner on the cruise on Saigon River, enjoy traditional folk music on board. Overnight in HCMC.   
2. Day 02

   Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)
   After breakfast, we depart for Ben Tre, about 2 hours driving from Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, embark on the boat for the first glance of life on Ben Tre’s maze of waterways. Stop at traditional brick kiln to see how the local people produce bricks in the traditional way. Weave through the spectacular water coconut small canals to immerse yourself in a magic view of water coconut trees. Visit coconut workshop, where the locals process coconut into many different forms and coconut candy workshop to have a look how the local making candy by hand, try some sweets, enjoy some fruits and listen to traditional folk music as well. Go on by boat and step ashore and take a short walk to a quiet village and learn how to make a traditional sleeping mat with a local family business. Stop for lunch at local restaurant. Relax and keep going by rowing boat on shady palm tree canal. Stop at Chet Say pier and the car will transfer us back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in HCMC.  
3. Day 03

   Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Flight to Danang – Hoian (B/L)
   Have breakfast and check out. This morning drive to visit Cu Chi tunnels - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return to HCMC by after lunch. Then drive to the airport to board a flight to Danang. Upon arrival, picked up and transferred to Hoian Ancient Town to check in hotel. Overnight in Hoian.  
4. Day 04

   Hoian – Fishing experience – Cooking Class – Old Town (B/L)
   After breakfast, 08:00Am picked up at your hotel then go to the market with the chef. You will be introduced the necessary ingredients for cooking class.  Our guides will introduce to you the necessary ingredients for cooking classes. After buying the materials to prepare for lunch, move to Cam Thanh village by boat. You have a chance to contemplate the countryside beauty along the banks. Let's explore Cam Thanh coconut village. Rowing basket boat through these small and beautiful channels then experience the round net (traditional net) with the fisherman to catch the fish and the shrimp … After that, cook your lunch with the guidance of chef for 4 dishes. Enjoy your lunch prepared by you. Afternoon, drive back to the town, continue exploring the Old Town. Afternoon, you take interesting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Evening, amaze the town lighten up with thousands of colorful lanterns and night market by the River. Overnight in Hoian.
5. Day 05

   Hoian – My Son Sanctuary – Lantern Making (B/L)
   Morning drive to visit My Son Sanctuary where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once brightly developed in the area of present Central Vietnam dated from VII century to XIV century. This is a cluster of partially ruin Hindu temples that have been abandoned for a long time located in a lush valey surrounded by the mountains. Thanks to the beauty and secrets of building the Cham Towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam. Transferred by boat back to the town, enjoy the tranquil scenery along the river. Stop to visit Kim Bong carpentry village. Have late lunch at the local restaurant. Afternoon, participate in the lantern making class at a local family workshop.  With the guidance of the instructor, you can make your own complete lantern from crafting a bamboo frame to create your lantern, choosing between a range of different colored silks and designs. You of course will bring home your own product as a souvenir which can be folded up neatly in your suitcase. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoian.  
6. Day 06

   Hoian – Bana Hill – Danang – Beach Relax (B)
   Have breakfast at hotel.  Morning transfer to Ba Na Hills for discovering this beautiful attraction in Da Nang city. You will take a cable car to the summit of mountain (at 1487m of sea level). Start visiting Ba Na Hill with many different attractions: Funicular, Debay ancient wine cellar & Le Jardin D’Amour, Linh Ung pagoda, Thich Ca Buddist statue, etc.  This afternoon you continue to join activities and games in Fantasy Park. Later walk to the summit of the mountain at the height 1487m – the highest one of Ba Na Mountain, visit Bell Tower, Nghinh Phong tower and Golden Bridge, to take beautiful photos of the mountain and Da Nang city. Late afternoon, taking the cable car back to foothill.  Transfer to hotel in Danang. Your own time at leisure. Overnight in Danang. Please note: Wax Museum, cotton animal game and carnival skill at Fantasy Park is not included in my quotation, joining them will be at your own account.
7. Day 07

   Danang at leisure – Afternoon drive to Hue (B/D)
   Breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure until check out and transfer to Hue through Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”), enjoy viewing the beauty of Lang Co Beach en route. Upon arrival, check in hotel. Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. We will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum. Go on to visit Thien Mu pagoda, the iconic of Hue city. Enjoy Royal Dinner served by the typical dishes of Hue. Overnight in Hue.  
8. Day 08

   Cycling tour to Thuy Bieu Village – King’s Mausoleum – Flight to Hanoi (B/L)
   Start cycling from your hotel to the first sightseeing of Tiger Arena (Ho Quyen), this was the arena where duels between elephants and tigers were arranged for the entertainment of the Emperor, the royal family and mandarins. Next visit to Long Chau Temple or Dien Voi Re – “The Palace of Crying Elephants”. Long Chau temple is a royal temple where the kings’ war elephants were buried and worshiped. Continue to cycle to Thuy Bieu village, visit the first local garden house and discover the aloes wood work by local people. Keep cycling along verdant paths to visit Nguyen Phuoc Toc worship palace, Luong Quan temple and see local people’s daily life. Visit ancient houses which are called “Nha Ruong” with the history of over 100 years. After that, time to relax your feet after a 3-hour ride. You will have 15 minutes of herbal foot bath. Enjoy the lunch prepared by local family in Thuy Bieu village. You can join with local and learn how to make sesame candy under the guidance of the household. Then you can enjoy what you have made. After lunch, leave Thuy Bieu village and come back to the city by boat. Continue the sightseeing to Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang located on the west bank of Perfume River. Minh Mang tomb was built from 1840 and completed in 1843 with the effort of ten thousand workers and artisians. The Tomb offers a balance of nature and structures that is unmatched among tombs in Hue. The solemn and quiet architecture set in a poetic landscape demonstrates both the Emperor's strictness and deep beliefs.  Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, picked up and transferred to check in hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.  
9. Day 09

   Hanoi City tour – Hanoi Food Tour (B/L)
   Today, In the morning, we will start our city tour from Ba Dinh Square where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. We first visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Closed on Monday and Friday) where is the last rest place of Ho Chi Minh President, we then visit One-Pillar pagoda nearby with unique architecture first built on 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong. Continue visiting Ho Chi Minh Resident including the wooden ethnic minority style house, which was built on stilts, is surrounded by lovely peaceful gardens and his fish pond. Go on to the Temple of Literature, the very first high school of Vietnam Scholars and a temple dedicated Confucius. Have lunch at KOTO Van Mieu restaurant where provides hospitality and life skills to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.  Afternoon, visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as Maison Centrale, well-known as one of the most inhuman prisons with terrified punishment. In this prison, you’ll see the horrified iron shackles and many artifacts and photographs of prisoners who are wearing leg chains. Prisoners often starved, tortured, are always beaten and isolated. Thereby, visitors can understand the spirit of the revolutionary soldiers and their sacrifice for their communist ideals.  Later of the day, start exploring Vietnamese cuisine through a street foodie tour. Strolling around the 36 ancient streets in the Old Quarter with your local guide, you will be introduced and savor the different tastes of the local foods such as authentic “PHO” or noodle soup, Papaya salad with peanut and dry beef, spring roll, paper roll with coconut and molasses, sweet soup, dry cake, sticky rice with ice cream and many more. Enjoy of your trip, sip a cup of hot coffee with flavor of egg or green been at a long history local café shop. Return to your hotel and stay overnight in Hanoi.  
10. Day 10

    Hanoi – Trang An – Hoa Lu – Hanoi (B/L)
    Have breakfast at hotel. A 90km driving south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. We first visit Trang An Scenic Landscape complex nearby which recently recognized as an UNESCO World natural heritage, get on a rowing boat (small sampan) traveling along the small river with scenic mountain and green fields landscape. Boat takes you to visit cave complex of Trang An: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, the scenery of mountain and rivers – Halong on land of Ninh Binh. Lunch at the local restaurant. Afternoon, drive back to Hanoi, stop to visit Hoa Lu, the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Overnight in Hanoi.
11. Day 11

    Hanoi – Halong – Overnight on Cruise (B/L/D)
    Breakfast at hotel. At 9am, head East for about 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.  Please note the program may be little varied upon the cruise you choose.   
12. Day 12

    Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi (B/Brunch)
    You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. Check in your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
13. Day 13

    Departure from Hanoi (B)
    Breakfast at hotel. Your time at leisure until check out. Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight home. Please note: Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-in is not included.

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