OVERVIEW:
Destination:
Duration:

Join a small group and go for a real adventure throughout Vietnam. In the North: visit the amazing city of Hanoi, cruise in the exclusive Bai Tu Long Bay on a magnificent junk boat and live a completely immersive experience during a homestay in Ninh Binh. In Central Vietnam, you will marvel explore the imperial city of Hue and enjoy the charming atmosphere of Hoi An. And in the South, you will travel to the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh, the historic place of Cu Chi tunnels and the picturesque Mekong Delta.


HIGHLIGHTS:
Highlights of the tour (summary):
  • Discover the captivating city of Hanoi
  • Admire the wonders of Ha Long Bay during an unforgettable cruise on a beautiful junk boat
  • Escape to Ninh Binh, home of amazing natural sites (Tam Coc – Hoa Lu, Trang An caves)
  • Plunge into Vietnam’s rich history in the ancient capital Hue
  • Marvel at the beauty of Hoi An and its timeless charm
  • Get amazed by the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh & live the experience in Cu Chi
  • Explore the fascinating Mekong Delta 

The “Amazing Vietnam” set departure tour is flexibly designed and allows any traveler to join either for a full-tour or only to visit one/two regions. You will visit a lot of places in every region, in a limited time and without sacrificing the value of the tour!

1 departure per week starting from Hanoi (every Saturday). Learn more about this package here. (link)

Detailed itinerary (B-L-D standing for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Long – Bai Tu Long Bay (L + D) <Saturday>
We will start our 10-day tour today! Our bus will pick you up at your hotel around 8:00 am and we will drive to Ha Long city. Upon arriving at the tourist port, we will embark on a junk boat and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the thousands islands and islets of Bai Tu Long bay – following an off-the-beaten tracks itinerary. We peacefully explore this splendid landscape that is classified as a World Heritage Site. We will hop on a small sampan and go to visit Vung Vieng fishing village. After that, our vessel will sail towards Cong Do, where we will have the opportunity to relax by swimming in the bay or to take kayaks (additional fee to pay) and explore the hidden treasures of Bai Tu Long bay. Diner and overnight on the boat in a peaceful and quiet anchorage area.

Day 2: Bai Tu Long Bay – Thien Canh Son cave – Ha Long – Ninh Binh (B + L + D)
Wake up early around 7:00 am to have breakfast onboard while enjoying the view of the sunrise. Our boat will navigate towards Thien Canh Son and Hong Co Island. Explore the incredible Thien Canh Son cave. Later, go back onboard to check-out of your cabin. Then, enjoy a delicious lunch while continuing to cruise before heading back to the port, where our bus is waiting for us. Disembark around 11:15 am. We hop on our bus and drive through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Haiphong, then continuing to Thai Binh and Nam Dinh. Later on, we’ll have more stops along the way to visit traditional villages specializing in lacquer and wood carving. We will finally reach Ninh Binh where you will check-in at your homestay. We will go for a bicycle ride through local villages and rice fields. It will be a unique opportunity to discover the authentic rural lifestyle and rejoice in the countryside. You will try to master the local fishing technique and get to interact with the welcoming and hospitable farmers. Diner and overnight at homestay.

Day 3: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B + L)
Today, we will visit Ninh Binh and more precisely Tam Coc-Hoa Lu, the site of many limestone mountains raising from rice fields and known as “Ha Long Bay on land”. We will go into the Trang An grottoes, a newly-recognized World Natural Heritage site. We will get on bamboo row boats and cruise along the stream through 9 grottoes (including Ba Giot, Dia Linh, Toi or “Dark Cave”, Sang or “Bright Cave”, Ao Trai, Seo caves) and multiple valleys (Tran Temple valley, May, Khong and Nau Ruou valleys). After that, we will visit two temples dedicated to Dinh and Le dynasties. Later, we will leave Ninh Binh and head back directly to Hanoi. You will have the evening to spend at your own will. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Hanoi (visit of the city) - Hue (B, L)
After breakfast at your hotel, we will start our visit of the millennium city of Hanoi. With its mix of Western & Vietnamese architecture, charming narrow alleys, large lakes and green streets, Hanoi is one of the most beautiful city in Vietnam. We will kick off our visit at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, followed by the One-Pillar Pagoda. We will then go to the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), the site of the first national university in Vietnam’s History. After having a lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll head to Westlake (Ho Tay) and visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi. After that, we will learn more about Vietnam’s ethnic minorities at the Ethnological Museum. Then, we will go around Hoan Kiem Lake (Ho Guom), visit the Old Quarter and end the day with a magical moment at the renowned Water Puppet Show Theatre. Later on the evening, we will drive you to the airport where you will take your 70min-long flight for your next stop: Hue (option: instead, you can opt for a night train from Hanoi to Hue). At your arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel where you will stay overnight.

Day 5: Hue – visit of the city (B + L)
08:00am: Our guide and our driver will come to pick you up at your hotel. Cruise on the Perfume River to go to the octagonal pagoda Thien Mu. Wander in Thuy Bieu village and visit two sites that are mostly unknown until now: the Tiger Arena, where Emperors organized fights between tigers and elephants, and 100 meters away, the charming little temple of Voi Re, which is dedicated to the only 2 elephants that were defeated during those battles.
Then, around 10:30am, we'll visit the Minh Mang mausoleum.
Lunch at the restaurant.

1:00pm: visit to Tu Hieu Pagoda, one of the most ancient temples of Hue and a monument that was an integral part of this ancient capital. Visit of Khai Dinh Mausoleum - built in a style that mixes traditional Vietnamese architecture and western designs. The major feature of this mausoleum lies in the interior decoration of the Thien Dinh temple. Indeed, the painting of the roof shows 9 magnificient dragons in the sky and the walls are beautifully designed with crystal and porcelain patterns.

Finally, visit of the Citadel - the seat of the palace during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last Vietnamese Dynasty. You will visit the Noon Gate, the Thai Hoa Palace and the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Diner at your own leisure and night at the hotel.

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (B + L)

Today, we will drive to Hoi An. Shortly after leaving Hue, we will stop at the Thanh Toan Bridge, an ancient bridge which is covered by tiles, while also visiting the local market. After that, we will continue the road via the Hai Van Pass. We will take a moment at the top to take pictures of the magnificent view. We’ll have another stop at the Cham Museum in Da Nang, which houses the world’s finest and largest collection of Cham sculpture. You will have the opportunity to contemplate more than 300 sandstones pieces (including stunning altars, garudas, ganeshas and wonderful representations of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu) exhibited in a building that was erected in 1915 by the École Française d’Extrême-Orient. Check into your hotel upon arrival in Hoi An. During the afternoon, our schedule of this charming city will include visits to the Old House of Tan Ky, the Japanese Bridge and the Fujian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien). Back to your hotel and free evening for shopping and visiting on your own.

Day 7: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

This morning, you will be able to choose between two activities: either a trip to My Son, the place of Vietnam’s most important Cham remains, or participating to a cooking class with Hoi An locals. After that, you will have free time to relax in the ancient town of Hoi An until the transfer to Da Nang airport for your departure. After a 1-hour flight, you will land to Ho Chi Minh City where our bus driver will pick you up and bring you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the evening at your own leisure.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B + L)
We will drive to Hoc Mon District to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a 75-mile long (121km) complex of underground tunnels. Its construction started back in 1948, when its role was to assist Viet Minh in their battle against the French. Over the next 25 years, the tunnel system was still in construction and expanded widely and continuously. During the Vietnam War, the entire area of Cu Chi was designated as a free-fire zone and was heavily bombarded by the Americans. Cu Chi was operating like an underground city where living areas, kitchens, storage rooms, weapons factories, command centers and field hospitals were built and where more than 10,000 people literally lived for years. In 1988, two sections of tunnels (Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc) were opened to visitors. After a whole morning of visit at Cu Chi, we will go back to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch. The afternoon will be dedicated to the discovery of the city, with stops at the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market. Diner at your own leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta: Ben Tre, Can Tho (B + L + D)

Today’s trip will provide you with a look at the liveliness and amazing scenery of the Delta. During our drive, you will have the chance to glance at the green rice paddy fields stretching towards the horizon. After a 2h30 drive, we will finally reach Ben Tre, often referred to as the “country of coconut trees”. There, we will board a boat for an amazing cruise through authentic landscapes and discover the daily life of the inhabitants, their culture and their customs. We will visit a traditional brick workshop and a coconut candy factory. Our boat will sail towards the creeks of Cai Son and Nhon Thanh, where local families are specialized in the manufacture of mats. Then, we will take a tuk-tuk for a visit through rice fields and vegetable gardens. Lunch with the locals. During the afternoon, we will enjoy a relaxing cruise on small rowing boats. We will finally hit the road to go to Can Tho where you will have your dinner and where you will stay overnight.

Day 10: Mekong Delta: Can Tho, Sadec – Ho Chi Minh City (B + L)
We will get on a rowing boat and cruise along the picturesque tributaries, until reaching the Cai Rang floating market where heaps of rowing boats make it one of the most animated floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Here, you will get to know more about the activities and the daily life of the people living along the canals. After that, our driver will pick us up and drive to Sadec, a lovely countryside town made famous by French novelist Marguerite Duras through her book “The Lover”. After a lunch in a local old house, we will visit the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le (where Marguerite Duras used to live), the village of bonsais, the local market and the Kien An Cung pagoda. After that, we will head back to the bus where our driver awaits us. He will drive us back to Ho Chi Minh City. End of the tour.

  • The must-do’s in Vietnam from North to Center to South, in only 10 days!
  • The option for you to visit only what you want: one of the regions (North, Center or South), a combination of two regions or the full 10-day trip!
  • English-speaking guide, hotel accommodation and transport organized in every region!
  • Only places that you can visit all-year round! This set departure tour is available for all 12 months

Included:  

  • Transportation
  • English speaking guide
  • One night on a junk boat in Ha Long, more precisely in the untouched Bai Tu Long bay
  • Hotel accommodation (as chosen among the suggested ones in the list provided to you) + homestay during an immersive experience in Ninh Binh
  • Boat to visit the Mekong Delta
  • All entrances fees for places visited as mentioned in the itinerary
  • All meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B for breakfast, L for lunch, D for diner)

Excluded:  

  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • All kind of drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Visa stamp fees
  • International flight tickets