VIETNAM VACATION 14 DAYS

Breakfast at your hotel. We begin our day by first visiting Chinatown (Cho Lon district) and the Thien Hau Pagoda, followed by visits to the former Presidential Palace, the War Remnants Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Have your lunch at Hoa Tuc restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. Upon arrival, we have an opportunity to watch a brief introductory documentary. This black and white film tells of the American War (as named by the Vietnamese) from a different perspective; which is always interesting. Following this film, we will take a walk through the compound to experience what life was like for the 10,000 Viet Cong who took part in the 1968 Tet Offensive. You may even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels yourself. We return to Saigon in the late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at your hotel. We depart Saigon to Vinh Long, located in the heart of the Mekong Delta. A three-hour journey through the lush fields and farms will take us to the southernmost region of Vietnam. Upon arrival, we embark on a boat trip to visit local cottage industries such as the production of floor tiles, pottery, soya bean and tofu. We will also visit one of many local orchards where we can enjoy some of the exotic fruit and have a taste of Mekong cuisine.

We arrive at our homestay in the late afternoon, where we can check into our bedding and explore the island to get a feeling of the area. Tonight we enjoy a delicious dinner prepared and served by our host family. Overnight in our Mekong home stay.

Breakfast at your hotel. Bidding a fare-well to the local the host family, we continue our boat trip to visit the Cai Be Floating Market. This is a local retail market where you can witness hundreds of boats loaded with fruit, vegetables and other produce for trade. Afterwards, we visit a family business where they make popular sweets such as coconut candy, pop rice cakes and rice paper. We return to the dock and drive back to Saigon, stopping en route to have lunch at a local restaurant.

The rest of the day is free at leisure. This evening we board an overnight bunk bed train to Nha Trang. This journey will take approximately six hours. Overnight on board an A/C train.

Upon early arrival in Nha Trang, You are welcome at the station and transfer to your hotel .

Have breakfast and free your time at leisure.

We can relax and stroll along the beach of this seaside city. There is an option go to the Thap Ba hot springs to enjoy a soak in the therapeutic mud and a relaxing massage. Overnight in Nha Trang.

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

After breakfast we are transferred to the docks to board our boat for a day of relaxation. We visit a local fishing village to experience the daily life and routine of the local fishermen and their families. After that we cruise to Tam Island where we’ll have a great chance to snorkel and swim in the clear blue waters. Have your seafood lunch on boat.

We return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Breakfast at hotel. You are pick up and transfer to the airport to take a short domestic flight to Da Nang (01 hour). You are welcome at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

Enjoy a walking around the historic town soaking up the atmosphere, exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for fifteen generations. One of the most spectacular Assembly Halls is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built in 1690. The pagoda inside contains intricate statues and artwork, in part dedicated to Thien Hau Than Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishermen.

Walking tour of the ancient town center takes us to the sites of former merchants’ homes, the 400-year old Japanese Covered bridge - The symbol of Hoian. The Japanese Covered bridge was the first bridge in Hoian and was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoian to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

We will enjoy Amazing Sunset Cocktail cruise on Thu Bon river. Admire a glorious sunset while enjoying cocktails with family and friends. A perfect way to start the evening. The sun is low in the sky and the wind is gentle. Excellent calm water cruising. A complimentary cocktail is served upon boarding, having some snack and setting the scene for the unforgettable evening ahead. On board, we also served food with set menus and A la carte menu, so you can order your dinner.

Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoian town.

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

Breakfast at hotel. It’s free time to either relax back at the hotel pool or get some clothes made. Hoi An is known for its beautiful cloths and colourful silks, and there are loads of tailors ready to whip up some made-to-order threads in record breaking time. One tip is to bring some clothes you like from home with you - the tailors can make almost exact copies of the patterns! They also have designs in their shops to choose from.

As the sun sets, we head out on bikes with a local guide into the surrounding countryside for a look at the gorgeous scenery. Cruise past rice fields and traditional homes before riding riverside back into town. Enjoy a Vietnamese cooking class tonight at Red Bridge and taste why this food has such a good reputation. Cook up 4 traditional dishes - you’ll even get to enjoy eating them afterward.

Breakfast at hotel. We will leave Hoian to Hue imperial city. On the way, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham museum - One of the largest collections of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world. The museum is officially known as the Museum of Champa Sculpture. We continue to visit a nearby stone-cutting craft village.

We travel through the “Pass of the Ocean Clouds”, on to the former imperial city of Hue. Keep your camera handy for the incredible coastal views and rolling green hills along the way.

Afternoon: We will visit the Hue Citadel Complex including Royal Citadeland Forbidden Citadel - UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set up by Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945, is now one amongst the relics of the Hue ancient capital.

The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba market - fantastic to wander boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old-world around. It sells all manner of items and is a lively place to spend a couple charm, Dong Ba is also famous for the best conical hats in Vietnam.

Tonight you will have a chance to enjoy “Royal dinner” at Royal Park restaurant. Enjoy a delicious food while listening to melodious music and having a feeling of being the King and Queen. All wear traditional royal clothes. All the served food is royal including dishes reminding dragon, phoenix, or peacock...Overnight in Hue.

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

Breakfast at hotel. This morning an excursion boat trip along the romantic Perfume river carries us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, where Hue’s best known religious sites are located. We will visit Thien Mu pagoda - one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We continue to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - One of the most beautifully designed complexes among the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. Embedded in a lush pine forest, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who had the longest reign of all emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Have your lunch at Tinh Gia Vien restaurant.

Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Hanoi (1,5 hour). You are welcome at the airport then transfer to your hotel. Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

Breakfast at hotel. Full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh complex (Closed on Mondays and Fridays mornings and whole September and October for annual repairs). Visit One Pillar pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Our next stop will be the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070. The temple is dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).

After lunch at Cha ca street with “Cha Ca La Vong”, a favorite dish of Hanoian - Listed in 1000 places to visit before you die, we continue to visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - The museum has successfully recreated the daily life together with the religious rituals and the symbolic festivals of each ethnic group in Vietnam. Visitors have the opportunity to admire costumes, embroidery as well as outside stilt houses and habitats from the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

We will have a short walking to visit the oldest bridge of Hanoi “Long Bien bridge” to take photos and see the local life of Hanoi people before enjoying a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets.” This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. We will travel around the famous Hoan Kiem lake (Lake of the Restored Sword.) - The heart of Hanoi capital.

Evening we enjoy the famous water puppet theatre. This is a fantastic art form originated in northern Vietnam, and Hanoi is the best place to see it. Water puppetry is performed in a chest-deep pool of water, with the water’s surface as a stage. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Breakfast at hotel. We depart for Ha Long city (170 km), approximately three hours away to visit Halong bay (a World Natural Heritage site and a New World’s wonder). Halong bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen. You have chance of observing scenic country side of Vietnam dominated by enormous lush rice field.

Upon arrival. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. Enjoy a refreshing “Welcome cocktail” upon check-in on the sun deck. Enjoy your lunch as the vessel sails to Halong Bay passing the Fighting cocks islet, the Elephant leg islet, the Castle islet, the Soi Sim Island. Arrive at Surprise grotto - one of the most famous grotto in the entire Halong, we will visit the cave by Tender. After taking a lot of photos and admire the beauty of the cave we will visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations then we return to the vessel for free time at your leisure. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cool beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (your account) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us. We retire to the junk and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck. Your delicious seafood dinner will be served at the restaurant. Stay overnight on cruise for a more in-depth experience.

(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).

We suggest 02 options for accommodation:

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

Set menu or Buffet Brunch served in the dining room. Check-out on board and disembarkation at boat port, Halong city.

On the way back to Hanoi, visit Tho Ha the famous village of terracotta products before 20th century. Discover village through narrow and zigzag alleys with the old houses had been constructed from broken part of terracotta from the past. Walking over village cemetery to the dike, where you can see the village from distance over the beautiful lake.

Free your time at leisure, walking or shopping around the old quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel. We can visit the Ho Chi Minh complex (Closed on Mondays and Fridays mornings and whole September and October for annual repairs).

Free time to relax or visit the exciting Dong Xuan covered market, the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. Here you can buy anything from ‘ghost money’ (usually fake $100 bills!) to replica Louis Vuitton bags. Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.