DAY 1 : WELCOME TO HANOI!
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, the post-colonial capital city of Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, numerous lakes, pagodas and temples. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2 : HANOI – HALONG BAY OVERNIGHT CRUISE (B/L/D)
This morning, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay (the World Natural Heritage site) via the Red River Delta. After 3.5 hours driving, arrival at Halong Pier, you check in the junk cruise while lunch is served. You will cruise passing through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons teeth. After lunch, you take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon, you visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you do kayaking or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant. You will stay overnight onboard.
DAY 3 : HALONG BAY CRUISE – HANOI (B/L)
This early morning, after waken up by the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day, you will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto. You will have one more time take a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Check out the junk and get on car to return to Hanoi. Visit the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, You will stay overnight in Hanoi after water puppet show performance and 1 hour cyclo ride around the Hanoi Old Quarter. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 4 : HANOI CITY HIGHLIGHTS – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L)
After breakfast, our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel to start the trip. This half day tour takes you around Hanoi s most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilt House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby. The Temple of Literature, and one of the city’s museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum. Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport for Ho Chi Minh City departure. Arrive Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Pick up from airport then transfer to hotel for check in. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 5 : CU CHI TUNNELS – HO CHI MINH CITY HIGHLIGHTS (B/L)
After breakfast, transfer to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels – 70km from city center, it takes around 1hour 15mins. The secret underground system that stretched for over 200 kilometres during the war. Upon on arrival, we will watch a short documentary film about this tunnels tell you how about the histories and how fierce the war happened. Then the tour will help you to learn the pivotal part they played in the war such as trap doors, and climb inside to see where the Viet Cong built storage facilities, weapons factories, kitchens… Visitors can try to fire off an AK47 or M16 or machine guns at the nearby shooting range (Payment by yourself). Lunch is arranged at the local restaurant. Return to Ho Chi Minh City.
This afternoon, tour in the city starting first with the The War Remnants Museum has a wealth of images from the wars, the most moving being a gallery entitled Requiem which is dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts. The Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. Close to the Palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883, and the stones used to create it were exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam s largest post office. The final stop will be the bustling Ben Thanh Market – a fantastic place for you to buy variety of goods and souvenirs. Return to hotel for free. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 6 : HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA – CAI BE FLOATING VILLAGES (B/L)
After breakfast, depart for Cai Be, stopping to take photos in Tan An town overlooking the picturesque flat rice fields. On arrival in Cai Be, take a motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Then wander into the small villages to visit the orchard and fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through a series of small canals to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village, the green pearl of Vinh Long town, where you can immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy a lunch of fresh river food served in the heart of the garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Take a delightful walk through the bonsai garden. Meet the driver again in Vinh Long. Return to HCMC. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 7: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy your free time to explore this city until transfer to airport for flight home with sweet memories.
