Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh arrival – Welcome Dinner (D)
Welcome to Viet Nam. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City. At Tan Son Nhat Airport, driver will pick you up and transferred to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag or explore the city on your own.
In the evening, you will board a small vessel for a romantic dinner cruise, which highlights the beauty of Ho Chi Minh City at night with the finest ambiance.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Have breakfast at your hotel.
This morning, we visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that, we will visit the War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the second Indochina war. Before our lunch, we stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime. After that, we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Relax and overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 3: HCM – Mekong Delta – HCM – Fly to Da Nang – Hoi An (B, L)
The driver and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and start the trip to My Tho. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which dates back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising around four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands. Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking in the village paths to contemplate orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, and Vietnamese folk music performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Be rowed in a small sampan through the Thoi Son canal and treat yourself to the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business & bee-keeping farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop. Have lunch at the local restaurant. Break time.
The afternoon is time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meeting the local people to experience their daily life in the Mekong delta. Relaxing on hammocks to enjoy the cool breeze is for those do not want to join the cycling trip.
Transfer back to Saigon to catch the evening flight to Danang airport. Upon your arrival, our tour guide will pick you up and transferred to Hoian. Check in and overnight in Hoi An.
Day 4: Hoi An – Tra Que village – Basket ball boat trip (B,L)
Have breakfast at your hotel.
Tour guide will meet you at your hotel with your bicycle. You will cycle to a local farm in Tra Que Village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetable and many other gardening activities. After all these activities, you will take a short rest and enjoy foot bath before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including “Tam Huu” spring roll, “Banh Xeo” or local pancake of people in Vietnam middle region. You can join the cooking with the chef on these meals. After your morning excurtions and your lunch, you will take a Vietnamese traditional post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables.
Around 14:00, we depart to Cam Thanh village, meet local fishermen and experience the daily life and take a bamboo basket boat on the Cam Thanh water coconut forest, have a brief introduction to the history there . Join local fisherman on the river and enjoy hands-on experience of round net and cast net fishing.
Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat and join in a basket boat race. Explore the now peaceful coconut waterways of a past war. Go catch the crabs, coconut mussel. Make funny tools from coconut leaf.After that head to Hoian to visit Hoi An ancient town: Japanese bridge, old house, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, pagoda… Walking and shopping at Nguyen Hoang night market and visit lantern street, Hoai river.
Stay overnight in Hoian.
Day 5: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue (B)
Leave Hoian in the morning, we visit Marble mountain and Monkey Mountains then drive northward to Hue over the 500m high Hai Van pass. From top of the pass, on nice days, you can enjoy the whole vista of Danang, the Tien Sa seaport, Son Tra Peninsula, Cham island and long sandy beaches. A stop at scenic beach of Lang Co for a drink before proceeds to Hue.Upon Hue arrival, we depart for Dam Chuon Lagoon – part of the Tam Giang lagoon system. Measuring 24 kilometers in length and covering a total area of 52 square kilometers, Tam Giang Lagoon is a confluence of three rivers (O Lau river, Bo river and Perfum river) from Thua Thien Hue province.En route, we stop to visit Ru Cha Mangrove Forest – a very important Mangrove Forest area to protect Hue City from Sea Water then drive to Dam Chuon lagoon.
Day 6: Hue full-day city tour – Fly to Ha Noi (B,L)
Have breakfast at hotel, we take a boat trip to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River. After visiting the pagoda, keep your tour visit the most important sites in city – Hue Citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area. If you like you can visit Dong Ba Market – the largest commercial center in Hue to see the daily life of local people.
The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the place of supreme Harmoney, the Dynasty temple are and settlement area.
In the afternoon, we continue to visit: Minh Mang Tomb (1840 – 1843): Started by Minh Mang, but died during the construction and later finished by his son – King Thieu Tri (1840 – 1847). Tomb’s area is 15 hecta for King, Queen,… with 26 buildings for different funtions. This was also living area for his minor wives an cuncubines (who had no children for him) after his death.Khai Dinh Tomb (1920 – 1931): The only Royal Tomb with Blended Styles of Orient and European. Tomb’s Area is 48.5m X 117m, and this is only Tomb of the Nguyen Kings built with different style and tomb we know King was buried underneath of his tomb.
After visiting, you will be transferred to Hue airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon your arrival to Hanoi, our driver will pick up you and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi. Check in and free at leisure.
Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7: Ha Noi full-day tour (B,L)
Get pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage “stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.Follow it with a visit to one of the city’s museums (choose among the National history museum, Hoa Lo, Museum of Ethnology and Fine art museum) before having a break for lunch or some drink (by your own budget).
In the afternoon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.Continue to the Quan Thanh temple, one of the four most important temples in the city, dated back to the 11th century under Ly Thai To King, worshipping the Tran Vu gods, the principal deities in Taoism. Take a leisurely walk on a romantic road crossing the West Lake with beautiful city views. Stop at the Tran Quoc pagoda which dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture before heading to your hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 8: Ha Noi – Halong Bay cruise (B, L, D)
You will be picked up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter. Then we will head to Ha Long Bay. You may enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta along the way.
Upon arriving in our lobby in Tuan Chau Marina, you may take a short stretch while our staff arranges all registration with the local government.
The cruise captain and staff will welcome you onboard LE JOURNEY CRUISE after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, a short cruise briefing and safety instructions will be given.
LE JOURNEY CRUISE voyages to Ha Long Bay – one of the New Seven Nature Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board while the cruise passes via amazing limestone karst formations that rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner.
You will leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise/ Amazing Cave), one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay.
Returning to LE JOURNEY CRUISE, the trip will continue to TiTop Island. Here, you can watch the magnificent view over either the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald green and cool water.
After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining ‘Happy Hour’ or Cooking Class on the sundeck.
Sumptuous Dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff.
After dinner, various activities including karaoke, and squid fishing are organized. Or you can just laze around with exhilarating drinks from our bar. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)
Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy the meal with the magnificent view of the sunrise in Ha Long Bay.
The cruise gets closer to the center of the Natural Preservation Area. Join our guide on a short trip to Luon Cave. This magic work of nature shows you the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this time masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos with mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs.
LE JOURNEY Cruise welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out.
Whilst cruising back, delightful lunch will be served.
We return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark in Tuan Chau Marina. And leave for Ha Noi on our shuttle.
You will get back to your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter
Note: The schedule can be changed without prior notice depending on the weather and policies of Ha Long Bay board of management.
Day 10: Ha Noi – Departure (B)
Free and relax at your hotel until getting pick up by private driver for about 45 minutes to Ha Noi airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our country. Tour ENDs!
Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time. Thank you, Goodbye and Have a safe travel!
