Essential Vietnam Highlights

11 Days | 6 Citys

Discover the diversity of Vietnam’s capital. Immerse yourself in the local culture of Hanoi with a rickshaw tour through the bustling Old Quarter. Afterwards, leave the city behind and explore the karst hills of Ha Long Bay. Learn more about the rich heritage of the former Nguyen Dynasty in Huế, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An, and experience the vibrant city of Saigon.

Itinerary

Day 1 > Hanoi Arrival

Arrive at Noibai International Airport, where you will be met by your English-speaking tour guide and accompanied to Hanoi. Check-in: from 2:00 PM Morning program (upon arrival in the morning). After enjoying “Pho,” a traditional Vietnamese soup, you’ll embark on your first exploration of Hanoi today. You’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s Stilt House, and the Temple of Literature, built in 1070. Lunch included. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Jade Mountain Temple on the Lake of the Returned Sword. A rickshaw ride through the Old Town and a stroll through the labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys will give you a glimpse into the everyday life of Hanoians. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 2 > Hanoi (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. The whole day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 3 > Halong Bay (F)

Breakfast at the hotel and bus ride to Halong. Today, during a boat trip through the bay, you can see the beautiful small islands and karst mountains for which Halong is so famous. Overnight stay on board a junk.

Day 4 > Halong - Hue (F)

Morning: Light breakfast on board (bread, butter or cake, tea, coffee, etc.). Today, you’ll take a short rowboat ride through a beautiful grotto and see some smaller islands and limestone cliffs. Brunch is included. Return to Halong port and bus ride to Hanoi airport. Flight to Hue. Overnight stay in Hue.

Day 5 > Hue City Tour (F)

Today you will visit the former imperial city of Hue, which became the country’s capital between 1802 and 1945 under the rule of the Nguyen Dynasty. Here you will visit the Citadel with the Imperial Palace and several other royal buildings. Afterwards you will visit the tomb of King Khai Dinh. This hilltop monument is a blend of Vietnamese and European elements. The massive structure is clad in blackened concrete on the exterior, creating a Gothic atmosphere, while the interior resembles an explosion of colorful mosaics. Khai Dinh was the penultimate emperor of Vietnam. He ruled the country from 1916 to 1925. The construction of his extravagant tomb took 11 years.

Day 6 > Hue City Tour (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. The day begins with a roughly four-hour bus ride via Danang to Hoi An. Along the way, you’ll see beautiful scenery, including Lang Co Beach and the Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass). Lunch included. After checking in at the hotel, the afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Hoian.

Day 7 > Hue City Tour (F)

Visit Hoi An, a flourishing trading town in Vietnam for centuries. Stroll through narrow streets to see the Tan Ky House, one of the most beautiful classical buildings in Hoi An, the Quang Dong Temple, the Japanese Bridge, and the Phuoc Kien Pagoda. You’ll then travel to the Tra Que vegetable village and meet the vegetable farmers in their fields. Learn more about their vegetable cultivation, as well as the origins and development of their village. Enjoy traditional Hoi An dishes made with fresh ingredients and vegetables from the Tra Que vegetable village. Return to Hoi An The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 8 > Hoian – Danang – Saigon (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Danang Airport. Morning flight from Danang to Saigon. The rest of the day is at your leisure in Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight stay in Saigon

Day 9 > Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the multi-story wartime tunnel system in Cui Chi (70 km from Saigon). Explore the Cu Chi tunnel system and follow in the footsteps of the former Vietnamese partisans. These tunnel systems, approximately 250 km long, were built during the two wars against France and the United States. These tunnels once housed storage facilities, small weapons factories, and medical facilities for the Cu Chi partisans. Some of the tunnels are now closed to tourists. Return to Saigon and city tour including a visit to the Palace of Unity, the historic post office, the city hall and the city theater (both only from the outside). Includes lunch and overnight stay in Saigon.

Day 10 > Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi (F)

Day 11 > Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you’ll first take a boat trip to discover the beautiful nature and peaceful life in the Mekong River Delta. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Cai Rang floating market. Floating markets are among the Mekong Delta’s most special highlights. They are usually wholesale markets where fruit, vegetables, and local produce are sold to wholesalers. The goods are delivered directly from the boats; vendors hang the available wares on a high pole in their boats, making it possible to see what’s on offer from afar. Return to Saigon and afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay in Saigon.

Day 12 > Ho Chi Minh – Return or onward travel (F)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and return or onward flight.

Hotel list

Location	Hotel	Ratings
Hanoi	Thien Thai Hotel	4⭐
Halong Bay	Victory Cruise	4⭐
Hue	Duy Tan Hotel	3⭐
Hoian	Belle Maison Hoian Hotel	3.5⭐
Saigon	Vien Dong Hotel Saigon	4⭐

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