10 Days Discover Vietnam

PROGRAM DETAIL

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL (D)

Ha Noi, Vietnam’s cultural heart that still bears traces of centuries of changes and known for its peaceful lakes, French styled buildings, old quarter streets, tree-lined boulevards, and brightly painted temples and pagodas.

Upon arrival, your tour guide waits outside the gate to bring you to your lovely hotel downtown. The remainder of the day will be all yours to stroll around the Old Quarter of Hanoi and its raucous streets full of traditional vendors and artisans. You will enjoy a welcome dinner at a nice local restaurant looking over the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI SIGHTSEEING (B/L)

After a truly scrumptious breakfast, you will get ready for a full day viewing Hanoi’s attractions.

In the morning:

07:30 – 08:30 Tour guide and shutter bus will pick up you at the hotel in Ha Noi old quarter and Hanoi Opera House then depart to Hanoi city tour full day.

09:00 Visiting first place named Tran Quoc pagoda on the West Lake the oldest pagoda in Vietnam.

09:30 Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One-Pillar Pagoda which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 – the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.

11:00 Visit the colorful features of the 54 ethnic groups of Viet Nam in the Ethnology Museum.

In the afternoon:

13:00 Bus takes you to a local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter, have a rest and enjoy the lunch.

14:00 Visit Temple of Literature, the most famous temple situated in Hanoi, also functioned as Vietnam’s first university. It was first constructed in 1070 under King Ly Nhan Tong and dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. A vast structure that has existed to present day.

15:30 Drive to legendary Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to Van Xuong saint and former general commander Tran Hung Dao for his struggle against Mongolians. You also see the beautiful Vietnamese and French architecture around the lake.

16:00 – 16:30: Arrive at the hotel in Ha Noi old quarter.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)

After having breakfast at hotel, you will be picked by our guide & driver at hotel then driven to Halong Bay – about 200km from the east of Hanoi. On the way, you will stop by several green paddies to see and photograph the Vietnamese farmers working on their fields.

At around 12:00, you will reach to Halong Bay recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1994. The islands in Ha Long Bay are mainly limestone and schist islands most lying in the two main areas: the southeastern part of Bai Tu Long Bay and southwestern part of Ha Long Bay. They are the result of many times of rising and lowering processes of the continent to form a karst. The process of nearly full erosion and weathering of the karst created the unique Ha Long Bay in the world. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as the World Heritage for the second time for its geographical and geomorphologic values.

On arrival at 12h30, you are welcomed on the traditional boat and have a welcome drink. Start the boat trip to visit Halong Bay with outstanding natural beauty of many Islands such as Con Cho Island, Dinh Huong Island, Canh Buom Island, Ga Choi Island and have fresh seafood lunch served on board. Overnight on junk

DAY 4:  HA LONG BAY – DA NANG (B/L)

See more islands & lagoons on the bay before coming back to the pier.

Our car / driver will be waiting for you, pick you up, and drive you straight to Noi Bai Airport for the flight to Da Nang city. Upon arriving at Da Nang airport, you will be transferred to hotel for check in and leisure. Dinner on your own expense. Overnight in Danang.

DAY 5: DANANG – BA NA HILL (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up and transfer Bana Hills Station.  You have a chance to ride on a modern system of cable cars helps you get a bird’s-eye view, very miraculous and attractive while enjoying a feeling of flying in the blue sky amidst the clouds and wind. You will visit some old French villas, as well as the suspension bridge, Chua & the Mountain Peak and enjoy many games and activities free there. We will then enjoy lunch whilst taking in the spectacular views.

In the afternoon, Visit Vong Nguyet villa where we will visit the wine cellar, Sakyamuni Buddha’s monument. The last interesting place is The Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills, it has a unique architectural feature — two giant, aged hands that appear to hold up the bridge. It sits 1,400 meters above sea level, an altitude which creates the illusion of a silk strip hiding in the clouds above Da Nang. Come back Danang. Overnight in Danang.

DAY 6: DANANG – HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (B)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Hoi An town which is 30 km from Danang city.

In the afternoon, it is light excursion to go around tiny town of Hoi An for city tour: 400 years old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temple, 200 years old Vietnamese former merchants’ house. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOIAN – TRA QUE VEGETABLE VILLAGE – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L)

Depart the hotel. Our guide first takes you to visit the suburb of Hoi An town for sightseeing.

followed by a bicycle ride to Tra Que village.

At “Tra Que Flavor”, you will be welcomed with a special local drink – “É” water or local tea.

Next get ready to dress in farming clothes, we then take a short walk with our host to learn about the history, culture and people of Tra Que and how they cultivate their land. Our last stop is to return back to the house to enjoy a relaxing foot herbal massage, where you will have a fresh local Vietnamese lunch.

Especial, you join with the chef to cook some local foods: pancake, spring roll. Then enjoy your lunch.

After short rest, we will transfer to Danang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, you are transfer to hotel for check in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 8: HO CHI MINH CITY – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you enjoy a half day city tour in Ho Chi Minh City, aka Saigon, which is characterized by a vast variety of sights and sounds, from ancient pagodas, mosques and cathedrals to the former Presidential Palace and the War Museum, from historic Dong Khoi Street to the bustling markets of Ben Thanh and Cholon (Chinatown).

Much of the city life takes place on the streets which are lined with stores, shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath selling everything from soup to sophisticated electronics. The French influence is evident in the excellent baguettes and coffee. Free at leisure or shopping in the afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 9: HO CHI MINH CITY – 2 OPTIONS: CU CHI TUNNEL OR MEKONG DELTA (B/L)

Option 1: Cu Chi tunnel half day tour

The tunnels are a great destination located 70 km from the Ho Chi Minh City Center to the Northwest.  Cu Chi was known as the “area of steel” in the war time, and the tunnel systems were over 200km, which was considered the unbreakable underground village in the Vietnam-American war. It is legendary for its network of tunnels, and is a popular destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors. 

Pick up at your hotel and depart to Cu Chi will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving.

Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Back to Saigon.  Option 1 is included dinner cruising on Saigon River.

Option 2: Mekong delta – Cai Be floating market.

Pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Depart for Cai Be by car/van via Trung Luong Express Highway.  On arrival in Cai Be, set off by motor boat to visit the Cai Be floating market and watch the locals trading fruit and many other commodities on board their vessels. Visit a small family business to see how coconut candy and crispy rice popcorn are made. Then wander into the small villages and visit the orchard and fruit plantation, accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music.

Keep cruising to experience the charms of the Upper Mekong Delta, where you can immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy your cooking experience and learn how to prepare special Vietnamese dishes. Food cooked by yourself, and fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Relax in the hammocks to get back your energy.

Cycle around the village path with fruit orchards and bonsai garden. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Take a boat ride back to Cai Be and meet your bus for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B)

Free at leisure till the transfer to airport for the returning flight after a trip full of unforgettable memory.