Vietnam – The essential Way

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   Arrival in Hanoi – City Tour (D)
   Welcome to Hanoi – The Capital City of Vietnam! Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transferred to downtown to check in the hotel. Have a short break to freshen up before gearing up the exploration. Late afternoon, have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will go through the fascinating network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as ‘The 36 Streets’ – each street being named after the merchandise traditionally sold there, ranging from fabrics to crafts and from medicines to tombstones. Drop by at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake.  Welcome dinner will be followed at the fine dining restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.
2. Day 02

   Hanoi – Tam Coc – Bich Dong – 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. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century.  The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”.  Lunch at local restaurant. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued by visiting Bich Dong Pagoda situated on a mountainside consisting of 3 separated pagoda located from low to high. When you reach the top of the stairs, you’ll be welcomed with a stunning view out of the valley of the distant mountain peaks and vast rice fields. Afternoon drive back Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
3. Day 03

   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. 
4. Day 04

   Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi – City Tour – Night train to Hue (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.  Upon arrival, 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.  Continue visiting Ba Dinh Square where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. We first visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from outside) 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. Check in a day-use hotel to take a shower and have a short break. After that picked up and transferred to Hanoi Railway Station to embark on a night train to Hue. Overnight on the 4-berth compartment with AC. 
5. Day 05

   Hue City Tour (L/D)
   Upon arrival in Hue, welcomed by the local tour guide and start the city tour. 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.  Transfer to have lunch at the local restaurant then check in hotel after that. After noon, 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. Visit Dong Ba Market where is considered as a paradise for snapshots of daily activities as well as for shopping with everything from souvenir items to Hue’s specilities. End of the day with a Royal Dinner served by the typical dishes of Hue. Overnight in Hue.
6. Day 06

   Cycling tour to Thuy Bieu Village – Tay Ho Conical hat making Village (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 visiting Tay Ho village where has long been known as the home of poetic conical hat, a familiar symbol when it comes to Hue. Conical hat making in the village has been passed down from generation to generation because everybody, young or old, can take part in the process. During the visit, you will meet and chat with some skillful artisans in the village to understand about the meaning of Conical Hat – the symbol of Hue culture. Also watching the procedure of making a Conical hat combined of 15 meticulous steps performed by traditional Hue women. Drive back to your hotel in the late afternoon. Your time at leisure. Overnight in Hue.
7. Day 07

   Hue – Hoian – Hai Van Pass – Hoian Ancient Town (B/L)
   Breakfast at hotel. Check out and transfer to Hoian through Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”), enjoy viewing the beauty of Lang Co Beach en route. On the way, stop to visit Ngu Hanh Son or Marble Mountain. Upon arrival, have lunch at the local restaurant by the river. Proceed to check in hotel. 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.
8. Day 08

   Hoian – Fishing experience – Cooking Class – Lantern Making (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, 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.
9. Day 09

   Hoian at leisure – Optional tour to Bana Hill – Evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City (B)
   Have breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure until check out. Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, picked up and transferred to check in hotel. Time at your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Optional tour to Ba Na Hill (quoted separately) 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 the airport to board the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. 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.  
10. Day 10

    Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Cruise Dinner on Saigon River (B/L)
    Morning, 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. Afternoon, 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 downtown. Overnight in HCMC.
11. Day 11

    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.  
12. Day 12

    Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)
    Breakfast at your hotel. Time at leisure until check out and transfer to the airport boarding the home or make extension to other place. Tour ends. Please note: The standard check out time is 12:00pm. No late check out included.

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