VNT 02: Essential Vietnam

Day 2: Full Day Tour to Ha Long (Breakfast, Lunch)

08:00am you will be picked up from your hotel lobby for 3.5 hour bus ride through the country side of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Water buffalos, paddy fields (rice transplanting time: February and June) and daily Vietnamese farmer life are on both sides of the way. Comfort break.
Arrive in Halong City around noon, we board a traditional wooden junk and start the cruising trip to the centre of the bay. Fresh seafood lunch (vegetable menu available) is served while the boat is gliding out. Get ready for exotic photos and absorbing the most magnificent natural splendors, limestone bedrocks and sheer cliffs of tiny islands highlighted with fanciful names: Fighting Cocks (symbol of Halong Bay), Duck (quick swim is an optional choice), Finger, Incense Burner, and Stone Dogs.

Visit the most beautiful cave in Ha Long bay “Amazing cave”. After that go to Titop Island for swimming and kayaking or climbing up the peak for a breath-taking panorama view of Bai Tu Long bay (Weather permitted).

Continue to enjoy this relaxing cruise on the way back to Ha Long harbor, our waiting vehicle transfer you back to Hanoi. Trip ends at your hotel around 19:30.
Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch on board.

Day 3: Full Day Hanoi City Tour - Flight to Hue by VN1545 20:10-21:20 (Breakfast, Lunch)

08:30am you will be picked up from your hotel lobby and depart for the city tour with visit to the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam's most iconic temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov) and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, his former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary.

Continue your visit to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh which is dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. Lunch will be had in one of the city's finest restaurants.

After lunch visit the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda (means “Stabilizing the Nation”) and Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam's past.

At the end of the afternoon visit Hanoi's Old Quarter also known as the '36 streets'. Take a walking tour around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.

18:00 You will be transferred to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue on VN1545 leaving at 20:10 (1.10 hour flight). Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Hue for check-in.
Stay overnight in Hue.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local restaurant.

Notes:
Rules regarding dress and behavior are strictly enforced by guards, legs must be covered (no shorts or miniskirts), long shirt/blouse (cover shoulders). Visitors must be silent, and walk in two lines. Hands must not be in pockets, nor arms crossed. Smoking, photography, and videotaping are also not permitted anywhere inside the mausoleum.

Day 4: Full Day Hue City Tour – Transfer to Hoi An (135km far from Hue) (Breakfast, Lunch)

08:00am Pick up at your hotel for a full day to discover Hue: visit Emperor Minh Mang's Mausoleum, Emperor Khai Dinh's Mausoleum, and Emperor Tu Duc’s Mausoleums. Stop on the way to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty and the seven – storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. Return by boat on the gentle Perfume River and do not miss the sunset on the river.
Transfer to Hoi An for 135km drive. Check in hotel on arrival. Free on your own.
Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Full Day Hoi An City Tour (Breakfast, Lunch)

08:30am You will be picked up from your hotel lobby for a walking tour around this enchanting port town and visit its numerous places of interest: 400 years old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temple, 200 years old Vietnamese former merchants' house, the local fish market … Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

After lunch in local restaurant, you will have a chance to ride a “Xich Lo or pedicab” through the opposite site of Hoi An River bank where you can take a panorama of Hoi An town. Keep on the “Xich Lo” through the tiny lanes of Hoi An countryside, passing the fields of corn, sweet potatoes, beautiful local fruit-garden ... Stop over the local fishing village, get on the boat for 2 hours streaming down to Cua Dai estuary to enjoy the sunset cruise on the river.

Return to your hotel where the full day trip ends.
Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Hoi An - Da Nang - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City & City Tour by VN1307 07:50-09:00 (Breakfast, Lunch)

06:00am You will be picked up from your hotel lobby and transferred to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City on VN1307 leaving at 07:50am (1.10 hour flight).

Upon arrival you will be picked up for a full day tour of vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, the buzzing southern city, formerly known as Saigon, is a tantalizing mix of old and new.

Your program includes the Reunification Hall, formerly known as the Presidential Palace it was towards this modern building that North Vietnamese tanks seized on the morning of April 30 1975, as Saigon fell. This fascinating building is filled with history still fresh in the minds of many. From there stroll (your vehicle will be available at all times) to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit continue to the War Remnants Museum where exhibition halls display imagery of both the French and 'American' wars and the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Finish the day with visit to Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered. Simply stroll through the market seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale.
Return to your hotel and free at leisure.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 7: Full Day Mekong Delta Tour (Breakfast, Lunch)

08:30am You will be picked up from your hotel lobby by our representative and depart from the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the area referred locally as "the rice bowl of Vietnam".

On arrival in Ben Tre Province head towards Tien Giang where you will board your local boat for a cruise among the aptly named Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En-route, visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut. Stop at Turtle Island where you will visit a tropical orchard to taste some exotic fruit.

After the boat trip, take a ride on a horse driven cart along country roads to a famed garden for a honey tasting session. Continue on a smaller rowing boat for a more adventurous cruise on the Xep Canal which is set amongst a forest of palm trees.

Embark once more by boat to Turtle Island where a selection of Mekong delicacies will be served for lunch.

In the afternoon return to Ben Tre for a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City where you will arrive late this afternoon.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel and Lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure till transfer to the airport for flight onward. Good bye & see you in the next time!

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