THE RIVER – THE BEACH AND THE BAY IN 10 DAYS

Day 1: Arrival – Ha Noi – Overnight in Ha Noi 

Our driver will meet you in Hanoi and transfer you to your hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Ha Noi City Tour – Overnight in Ha Noi (B,L)

0800h: Guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart to visit:

Ho Chi Minh Complex: Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh museum.

Next stop is a visit to the Temple of Literature

1200h: A delicious set menu lunch will be provided for you in a local restaurant.

1300h: Your tour recommences with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which is widely acknowledged as the best in Vietnam and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples.

Then it is on to the Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake

The Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, is a bustling area of narrow streets home to literally thousands of small businesses and street vendors, selling a wide variety of goods. Originally each of the 36 streets names’ were related to the products being sold there. Hence you can walk from Fish Street to Tin Street to Bamboo Street and you will enjoy exploring the area while riding in a traditional cyclo.

Overnight at Hotel in Ha Noi

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ha Long Bay -Overnight on Cruise (B/ L/D)

0745h-0830h – Your transport will pick you up at your hotel and you will depart for Ha Long Bay. You will stop for a short break at the Humanity center situated approximately half way on to the bay and enjoy local specialties.

1200h – Arrive Ha Long Bay and transfer by tender to your luxury Junk where the captain will welcome you on board the boat.

A delicious lunch will be served for you as the boat passes through many of the thousands of islands and islets within Ha Long Bay.

1530h   – You will have the opportunity to explore what is commonly thought to be the biggest and most amazing cave in Halong Bay, the Surprise Cave.

1700h – Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and observe the daily life of the local community there. Then back and relax before dinner.

1930h – Enjoy a dinner of local or western food and spend a romantic night on board the Junk.

Day  4: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Fly to Da Nang – Hoi An – Overnight in Hoi An (B/L)

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, you will have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Cruise back to the jetty while brunch is served while you are cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations.

Cruise check-out and  transfer you to the airport in Hanoi to board a flight to Da Nang at 17.00h

1830h – On arrival to Da Nang airport, a driver will meet you and transfer you to Hoi An in a private air conditioned vehicle.

Check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 5: My Son – Hoi An City – Overnight in Hoi An (B/L)

0830h – Start from your hotel and travel 50km from Hoi An to My Son holy land in a private air conditioned vehicle with your English speaking guide. My Son was a major religious site for the people of the ancient Champa Kingdom which flourished between the 4th and 13th centuries The Champa people ruled Central Vietnam until it was finally annexed by the Vietnamese in the 19th Century.

The Champa King lived in the political capital of Tra Kieu (whose commercial capital was the port of Hoi An) and so the My Son complex became the most important temples of the Champa Kingdom. Bricks were used to build the temples without the aid of mortar and sculptures of gods, priests, animals, and scenes of mythical battles adorned the walls. The temples were places of worship to the Hindu God Vishnu.

My Son was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

After exploring the ruins and history of My Son and viewing a short traditional Champa Peoples music concert, you will start your journey back to Hoi An arriving at approximately 1230h.

The afternoon is yours to relax or try on the new clothes you have had made.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 : Hoi An – Free Day – Overnight in Hoi An (B)

Enjoy some time out to relax on the beach or continue shopping in the fascinating streets of the Old Town.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 7: Hoi An – Da Nang- Fly Ho Chi Minh City – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh (B)

Free time until our driver meets you to transfer you to Da Nang airport to board your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in HCMC

Day 8: Mekong Delta Day Tour – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh (B /L)

0700h – The day begins with pick-up at your hotel for the Mekong detail tour .

During the ride, you will see many interesting sights that your personal tour guide will be able to explain. Once you arrive in the Mekong Delta you will begin your excursion, visiting a local riverside market, an authentic village with colonial architecture, a local pagoda, various workshops, and narrow lush jungle canals.

1800h – Returning to your hotel in HCMC for overnight

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Day 9: Cu Chi Tunnel – Ho Chi Minh City – Overnight in Ho Chi Minh  (B/L)

0800h – After breakfast your English guide will meet you at the hotel and drive with you explore the Cu Chi Tunnels which is an incredible underground network of tunnels approximately 200 km in length. The tunnels were constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence and contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war.

1300h – After lunches your guide will arrive at your hotel and you will begin your tour of Ho Chi Minh City visiting the attractions in District 1 such as:

The Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office and the War Remnant Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is for sale

1700h – Return to your hotel to your hotel or continue exploring the area around district 1.

Stay overnight at the hotel in HCMC

Day 10 – Ho Chi Minh -Departure (B)

Free time until your private car and driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.