BEST OF VIETNAM 08 DAYS

You are welcomed by our guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat airport and then be transferred to the center of Ho Chi Minh city, formerly known as Saigon. Check in hotel. Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. Journey south to the Mekong delta, known as the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, and spend a full day exploring one of Vietnam’s most fertile regions and the main cultivation area of rice and tropical fruits. 
We transfer to My Tho city (02 hour). It‘s famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. On arrival, take a leisurely boat trip around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands (04 sacred animals of Buddhism). Enjoy a rowing boat ride in the shadows of the water-coconut palms along the tiny canals. Enjoy fresh coconut juice on boat. We will visit the picturesque orchards and sample the freshly picked fruit at the invitation of friendly local farmers. Spend some time in the villages to learn about the daily lives of the inhabitants, enjoying some kinds of tropical fruits while listening Southern traditional music.
We continue to “Coconuts homeland”, Ben Tre - Where you can learn how to make coconut candy. You can try some candies, visit the honey bee farm and try the honey, banana wine, ginger jams, soy beans… made by the villagers. Enjoy a horse-cart around the village to have a look at the orchards and visit local people’s house. Enjoy a relaxing cup of honey tea before returning to My Tho via a natural canal, cruising under the shadows of water coconut palms. You will have a chance to enjoy the famous dish “Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish” at local restaurant. Drive back to Saigon. 

Enjoy your special dinner on Bon Sai Cruise, cruise along Saigon river, enjoy your dishes and listening to traditional folk music, sing and dance. You will have relaxation-time to catch the over view of the city, people working at Saigon port. Along both sides of the river are mansions, life of the civilians…Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. We drive to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Saigon city. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command center, plus accommodation.

Upon arrival to the Cu Chi tunnels, watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels, you will even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. For those interested there's even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

The following program is a sightseeing of major sights in Ho Chi Minh city. First stop is Notre Dame Catholic cathedral and short visit to French built post office nearby and then we will visit the War Remnants museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam war. We continue to visit the Reunification palace. Discover the history and fascinating street life of Saigon on a walking tour along Dong Khoi street, known as Rue Catinat in French-colonial times.

Transfer to airport for your short flight to Da Nang (01 hour). You are welcome at the airport then be transferred to Hoian ancient town(35km). Free your time at leisure and overnight in Hoian.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a walking tour 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. 

The town is also famous for its shops in particular it’s large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here. You can enjoy browsing and shopping in one of the most colorful local marketplaces in all of Southeast Asia. Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoian town.

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport to take a flight to Hanoi. You are welcome at the airport then transfer to your hotel for check in with welcome drink.

After your 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 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). 

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. 

Start your evening with a traditional water puppet performance (Roi Nuoc). The stage is actually a large container of water where the characters (carved wooden puppets} “act” out the story. Most of the stories are whimsical and fun, and the puppeteers stand in waist deep water behind a screen controlling the puppets with rods that mostly are under the water. Overnight in Hanoi.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

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 03 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.