OVERVIEW:
Destination: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI – HO CHI MINH CITY – BEN TRE – CAN THO – MY THO – HO CHI MINH CITY – DA NANG – HOI AN – TRA QUE – HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE – HANOI – HA LONG BAY – NINH BINH – HANOI
Duration: 14 days 13 nights


This two-week tour will take you from South to North via Central Vietnam for an unforgettable journey. You will start with a visit of Ho Chi Minh City, explore the vast system of tunnels in Cu Chi, go to Ben Tre, a place specializing in everything about coconuts, and finish the Southern chapter of this trip with an adventure in the Mekong Delta. Next on the program is the Central region of the country: a beautiful break in the timeless town of Hoi An followed by the royal city of Hue. Then, you will fly to the North and land in Hanoi. Enjoy a full visit of this millennial city, before heading for two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ha Long Bay, for a cruise through immense karst islets floating on emerald waters and a night onboard a magnificent junk boat, and finally the Ninh Binh region and more precisely the caves of Trang An and the “Ha Long Bay on Land”.


HIGHLIGHTS:

  • A beautiful journey to visit a wide variety of regions across Vietnam
  • In the South, visit Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi and the beautiful Mekong Delta
  • In the Center, have a wonderful time in Hoi An and in Hue
  • In the North, see the Red River Delta’s highlights: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh

QUICK LOOK ON THE ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (-)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L, D)
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B, L, D)
Day 4: Can Tho – Cai Rang – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hoi An (B)
Day 6: Hoi An – Tra Que Vegetable Village – Hoi An (B, L)
Day 7: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue (B, L)
Day 8: Hue – City Tour (B, L)
Day 9: Hue – Hanoi (B)
Day 10: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L, D)
Day 11: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Day 12: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L, D)
Day 13: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 14: Hanoi - Departure (B)


TOUR IDENTIFICATION CODEVDIS05

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (-)

Upon your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, our driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel for check-in.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L, D)

This morning, we will discover some of the major landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City: Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will drive for 60km until reaching the site of Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast underground system was created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in their battle against the French. Afterwards, the tunnel complex kept being built and extended over 25 years. Indeed, it played a big role during Vietnam War and acted like a real underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage units, field hospitals, weapons factories, and command centers. At its peak, it housed around 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years, with some getting married and giving birth to children inside the tunnels.

Later, we will drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and have dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Can Tho (B, L, D)

After breakfast, transfer to Ben Tre. On arrival, we will embark and cruise on the Mekong River. We will stop to visit a brick factory and a coconut processing workshop. Then, enjoy a wonderful bike ride through a peaceful village, lush fruit gardens, and rice fields. Visit local family-owned workshops making mats, rice paper, and coconut candies. Afterwards, we will take a rowing boat towards a palm creek.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will travel from Ben Tre to Can Tho. Check-in at the hotel upon arrival.

Free time in the evening.

Day 4: Can Tho – Cai Rang – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Today, we will hop on a rowing boat and cruise along the narrow and charming branches of the Mekong River. Visit the Cai Rang floating market – one of the liveliest of the Delta. Immortalize the scenery with your camera while observing the daily life of the locals who live along the Mekong canals. Visit some fruit gardens and enjoy delicious tropical fruits. Then, on Au Island, located in the middle of Hau River, you will go on a rowing boat through a forest of mango trees and have lunch.

After that, we will go back to Ho Chi Minh City, with stops at My Tho Market and Mekong Rest Stop in My Tho.

Check-in at the hotel when you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinner on your own and free for the evening.

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hoi An (B)

After breakfast you will have free time before being taken to the airport for your flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to Hoi An, where you will check-in at your hotel.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 6: Hoi An – Tra Que Vegetable Village – Hoi An (B, L)

After breakfast, our tour guide will take you for a short bike ride to visit Tra Que village. There, you will experience the daily life of local people and learn more about their work on vegetable fields. After a relaxing foot massage and a remarkable cooking class, you will have lunch with a local family.

In the afternoon, we will head back to Hoi An for a walking tour to visit the ancient city, including major landmarks like the Japanese bridge and Tan Ky House among others.

Dinner on your own and free time in the evening.

Day 7: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue (B, L)

Have a good breakfast and enjoy free time in the morning to discover Hoi An on your own.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. On the way, we will stop to visit Marble Mountains, Cham Museum in Da Nang, and take a break at the top of Hai Van pass to observe the splendid panorama. After taking a few pictures at the beautiful Lang Co beach, we will reach Hue.

Check-in at the hotel and free time in the evening.

Day 8: Hue – City Tour (B, L)

The day will be dedicated to an exciting full-day visit of Hue.

After breakfast, we will go to Perfume River tourist port, where we will cruise along the peaceful river and its stunning scenery. After, a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda and The Citadel.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit the tombs of Emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. After going back to the city, we will visit Duc Son pagoda, which is also an orphanage home to hundreds of children who are cared for by the monks.

Dinner on your own and free time in the evening.

Day 9: Hue – Hanoi (B)

After breakfast, free time until being driven to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. You will be picked up upon arrival and taken to the hotel for check-in. 

In the afternoon, we will discover Hanoi’s Old Quarter including the Cathedral, Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple, Dong Xuan Market, O Quan Truong gate, Long Bien Bridge, and Hanoi’s ancient water tower.

Then, you will enjoy an Egg Coffee.

Back to the hotel and free time in the evening.

(Note: visit of Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

Day 10: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L, D)

Enjoy a nice breakfast before continuing to discover the millennium city of Hanoi.

You will visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to the Vietnam Military History Museum and West Lake.

Finally, we will rejoice in seeing a very nice water puppet show.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

(Note: visit of Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – if not on the previous day).

Day 11: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)

Today, we will drive for 3h30 to reach Ha Long City.

At Ha Long tourist port, we will board onto a junk and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the thousands of islands and islets that form this incredible World Natural Heritage site. We will have the opportunity to swim in the bay, explore caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, or take kayaks and discover the hidden treasures of Ha Long Bay.

Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 12: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L, D)

Wake up early to enjoy breakfast while seeing the sunrise. The boat will continue the cruise in Ha Long Bay and we will stop to visit Thien Cung cave. Then, back to the boat to enjoy the cruise while admiring the beauty of Ha Long – if time permits, we will stop for swimming.

Lunch on board while sailing.

After lunch, back to the bus to drive through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Hai Phong, then Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and finally Ninh Binh. While on our way, we will make a few stops: visit Tran Temple in Nam Dinh to learn about the most successful dynasty in the history of Vietnam, visit traditional villages specializing in making lacquers and wood carving.

In Ninh Binh, we will check-in at the hotel located in the middle of a rural area. You will have free time to enjoy the peaceful countryside.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B, L)

Today, we will visit Ninh Binh, surrounded by many limestone mountains emerging from rice fields. Ninh Binh is known as “Ha Long Bay on land”.

We will visit the Trang An grottoes, newly recognized as World Natural Heritage site by the UNESCO. There, we will board bamboo row boats and cruise along the stream through 9 grottoes including Ba Giot, Dia Linh, Toi (“Dark Cave”), Sang (“Bright Cave”), Ao Trai, and Seo.  We will also visit the valleys of Tran Temple, May, Khong, and Nau Ruou.

Later, we will go to Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest in Vietnam.

Finally, we will return to Hanoi and check-in at your hotel. Free time in the evening.

(Note: visit of Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – if not previously during the trip).

Day 14: Hanoi - Departure (B)

Free time until the bus picks you up and takes you to the airport for your departure flight.

Please contact us for more information about this tour or to customize this itinerary.

Included:

  • All transportation
  • Accommodation (twin room or double room) 
  • All entrance fees
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B for breakfast, L for lunch, D for dinner) 
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Boat to visit the Mekong delta
  • Boat to visit Hue
  • Private room on the boat in Ha Long Bay
  • Cooking class
  • One small bottle of water on the bus everyday
  • Service fees
Excluded:

  • Personal expenses
  • Insurance
  • Drinks
  • Flight tickets
  • Visa to Vietnam if needed



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