VIETNAM HERITAGE & BEACH HOLIDAY

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL- Overnight in Ha Noi

Arrival in Hanoi. We welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure time.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI – CITY TOUR (B/L)- Overnight in Ha Noi

0800h – Our tour 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: Originally built as a temple to Confucius.

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 NgocSonTemple and HoanKiemLake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the HoanKiemLake and was erected in 18th century. The temple is reached by crossing the HucBridge which literally means “Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams”. HoanKiemLake is a focal point of the city and the source of many legends including the legend of the returned sword which dates back to the 15th century and refers to a magical sword used to free Vietnam from Chinese rule.

1630h – Return to your hotel

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 3: HANOI – HA LONG BAY (B/L/D)- Overnight on Cruise

0800-0830h: After checking out, our guide will Pick you up at your hotel and you will travel to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Take a rest at Humanity center and enjoy local specialties after 2h. Arrival in Ha Long at 1145h. The captain and crew welcome you aboard. Savor a delicious lunch as the boat passes by many different Islands and Islets.

After the lunch, explore the biggest and the most amazing cave in Ha Long Bay – Surprise Cave. Then Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village to observe daily life. Then back to the boat for a Sunset Party and cruise to a calm area for swimming and overnight. Enjoy a delicious and romantic dinner.

In the evening, free time for entertainment with the funny plays such as squid fishing, karaoke program, star watching on the sundeck or spend a romantic night on board.

Overnight on boat in Halong bay.

DAY 4: HA LONG BAY – HANOI – HUE (B/L)- Overnight in Hue

Early morning, start your new day on Halong bay with doing morning exercises,Taichi or hunting photos. Breakfast with coffee or tea. After breakfast, our bus takes you to Cai Beo harbor, get on “Day Boat”, back boat. Then visit Ba Hang Fishing Village by tender to experience the lifestyle of local people. Back to boat restaurant to join cooking class and enjoy lunch.

Around 1145h, Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi and to the Noi Bai airport (in Hanoi) for your flight to Hue.

Arrival in Hue. Check-in room at hotel and stay overnight at hotel in Hue city.

DAY 5:  HUE – CITY TOUR – CAR TRANSFER TO HOI  AN (B/L)- Overnight in Hoi An

0800h – Your English speaking guide will meet you at the Hotel and take you on an interesting tour of the city and perfume river. You will visit the impressive complex of the Imperial Citadel. Built in the 19th Century and surrounded by high stone walls and moat, the Citadel was once the exclusive home of the Nguyen Imperial Family. It is similar to Chinas’ Forbidden City and is not to be missed. You will also take a cruise on the famous Perfume River and visit Minh Mang and Tu Duc tombs.

1500h– Pick up by private car and depart from Hue & transfer to Hoi An.

1830h – Arriving Hoi An and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 6: MY SON – HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN  (B/L)- Overnight in Hoi An

0800h –  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 .

Lunch in town .

After lunch Your English speaking guide will take you on a two hour walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Famous for its quant mixture of Chinese, Japanese and European architecture, the old town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. You will visit, the Japanese bridge built in the 16th century and famous for being the only covered bridge known to incorporate a Buddhist pagoda, the 200 year old Tan Ky house, museum of trade ceramics and several other historical sites.

Over night in Hoi An

Other option in Hoi An you can choose – Cooking Class – Farm tour – Bicycle or fishing tour

DAY 7: HOI AN – NHA TRANG (B)- Overnight in Nha Trang

Morning, your leisure time. Find a nice cafe for relaxation or go exploring the Old Town on foot/bicycle.

Afternoon, transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Nha Trang. Arrival in Nha Trang and check-in at your hotel. Leisure time for relaxation at the beach and stay overnight at hotel in Nha Trang.

DAY 8: NHA TRANG – RELAXATION AT BEACH (B)- Overnight in Nha trang

Your leisure time for relaxation at the beach and stay overnight at hotel in Nha Trang.

DAY 9: NHA TRANG – RELAXATION AT BEACH (B)- Overnight in Nha Trang

Your leisure time for relaxation at the beach and stay overnight at hotel in Nha Trang.

DAY 10: NHA TRANG — FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH- CU CHI TUNNEL (B)- Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Morning, time for last quick swim until we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, transfer to hotel. Check-in at hotel.

Afternoon, Visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Located 60km from Ho Chi Minh city. Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA (B/L)- Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Around 8.00am, Leave Ho Chi Minh for My Tho and Ben Tre, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank.

Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh, a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals. Have a short cycling tour (applied for private tour/if  time permitted) then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through fruit plantations and villages. Go back to Ho Chi Min.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH – CITY – DEPARTURE FLIGHT (B/L)

Morning, Ho Chi Minh city tour. We start the trip by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we transfer you to airport for your departure flight.

End of the trip.