Vietnam Highlights

  • Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
  • Day 2: Hanoi
  • Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
  • Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Da Nang – Hoi An
  • Day 5: My Son & Hoi An
  • Day 6: Hoi An – Hue
  • Day 7: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City
  • Day 8: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City
  • Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City
  • Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City Departure
  • DAY 1Hanoi ArrivalWelcome to Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting citiesOvernight in Hanoi
  • DAY 2Hanoi city’s highlightsStart the day with a tour of The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar PagodaVisit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam built in 11th centuryNext is a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, which gives an excellent overview of the country’s ethnic groups, their customs and ways of lifeHead to the center of Hanoi and explore the lively Old Quarter of HanoiIn the Old Quarter, learn about the “36 Streets”— a place you must see to experience—and how each street carried the name of the item produced and sold thereClose your day by attending a Water Puppet ShowOvernight in Hanoi
  • DAY 3Ha Long BayBreakfast at hotel before heading out to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteOvernight in the bay among thousands of limestone islands
  • DAY 4Ha Long Bay – Da Nang – Hoi AnStart the day with calming Tai Chi, often accompanied by an amazing sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of the bay’s landscapeThe cruise passes beautiful spots such as Trong, Trinh Nu and the Me Cung Caves, and you will have a chance to explore Surprise CaveReturn to Hanoi and transfer to Hoi An via the Danang airportOvernight in Hoi An.
  • DAY 5My Son & Hoi AnMorning visit to My Son, one of the most important examples of Hindu influence in Southeast Asia. Although largely in a state of ruin today, My Son is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat of Cambodia or Ayutthaya of ThailandReturn to Hoi An in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day walking the ancient streets lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. Hoi An’s unique fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture is well displayed here, in what is arguably Vietnam’s most tourist-friendly town
  • DAY 6Hoi An – HueDepart Hoi An for Hue in the morningEn-route, stop at Cham Museum – houses a collection of stone scultures from the Hindu-practing Cham CivilizationCapture beautiful shots of Lang Co Lagoon and view of Da Nang from the top of Hai Van PassContinue to Tu Duc Tomb. Tu Duc began planning his tomb long before his death in 1883. The major portions of the tomb complex were completed from 1864-67, along with future temple buildings that served as a palatial retreat for Tu Duc and his many wives during his lifetimeOvernight in Hue
  • DAY 7Hue – Ho Chi Minh CityTake a tour of the Hue Imperial Citadel, recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. Explore the Imperial Citadel, closely modeled along the lines of the Forbidden City in BeijingIn the afternoon, head out to Thien Mu Pagoda, a nicely located pagoda overlooking the Perfume River and the beautiful landscape beyond. If you are lucky, you could observe the Pagoda’s praying ceremony and experience local religious lifeTake an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City and overnight there
  • DAY 8Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh CityDepart Ho Chi Minh City and head out to Cu Chi Tunnels. After an introductory video, viewing various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters, you will spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels to see how the Viet Cong survived in this underground networkIn the afternoon, head back to Ho Chi Minh City and check out the Reunification Palace, the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Other sites include, the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883, with materials imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks. Next to the cathedral stands the Saigon Post Office, a classic French colonial structure, is still a functioning post office today and features huge ceilings, a giant portrait of Uncle Ho, and many beautiful details. Continue along the former Rue Catinat to the Hotel Continental – famous from the ‘Quiet American’ novel and film – and on to the Caravelle Hotel, home to many foreign reporters and secret agents during the Vietnam WarAfter dark, head out for a street food adventure from the back of a vintage Vespa scooterOvernight in Ho Chi Minh City
  • DAY 9Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh CityTransfer to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Set out on a boat trip on channels winding through coconut forestWalka on village path and visit a farmer’s house and ride bicycles through village roads past rice fields, coconut groves and local housesVisit a tapioca cake workshop and a local Cao Dai temple before heading back to Ho Chi Minh CityOvernight in Ho Chi Minh City
  • DAY 10Ho Chi Minh City DepartureThe morning is free at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City for some last minute shoppingThen off to your next adventure

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