The journey will take you to famous landscapes in Vietnam and discover the World Heritage site, Hoi An ancient city, My Son Sanctuary of Champa Kingdom, Ha Long Bay
On arrival you are met by our guide then she/he takes you to hotel for check in. It is much depending on your arrival time and if the time is permitted, you will take an orientation tour of Ho Chi Minh City (or so called Saigon) and also visit some highlight buildings such as: Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, City Hall and Opera House, or just relax at your hotel.
Ho Chi Minh city - Opera House
We just take a short flight from Ho Chi Minh city to Danang, then proceed Hoi An. Hoi An, a lovely old seaport city located on the bank of Thu Bon River, is not only famous for its architecture, temples, pagodas, old trading houses, tailor shops, but also the hospitality and friendly people.
We just spend our day to stroll along the streets, talking to local people, visiting some local attraction sites; Thien Hau Temple, Japanese Bridge, and Tan Ky House.
Late in the afternoon, we take an hour boat ride on Thu Bon River, and this is a time for us just enjoying the scenery.
Hoi An - Japanese Bridge(Source: collection)
Morning, we take a half day trip to a World Cultural Heritage site, My Son Sanctuary of Champa Kingdom, which was very powerful and prosperous Kingdom in Southeast Asia from 4th century to 11th century.
We drive 2 hours through rural areas, rivers, paddy fields, mountains to visit this fantastic monument of the Cham people. Enjoy Champa Traditional Dance show.
After visiting this site, we drive to Danang City for our lunch, and then visit Cham Museum which all artifacts were collected in My Son area.
We drive to the Marble Mountains to visit Huyen Khong Cave, which was used as the hospital during the American and Vietnam War. Continuing our way up the steps to Thien Phuoc Pagoda for a panoramic ocean view. Finishing our day at the stone carving village.
We drive back to our hotel and enjoy our free time.
My Son Sanctuary of Champa Kingdom
Today, we will enjoy the most beautiful distance in Central part of Vietnam from Hoi An to Hue. Hue City, a lovely and romantic city located on the bank of Huong (perfume) River, is the old capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This city is famous for its Citadel, Imperial City, Forbidden City, and the Royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal regime of Vietnam.
After checking in our hotel, we start our excursion by taking a boat trip to Thien Mu pagoda which was built in 17th century on the top of the hill overlooking Huong River and Truong Son Mountain range.
Then we visit the Imperial and Forbidden City, most of the royal buildings were destroyed during the turmoil of the war but there is still the sense of grace and majestic of the rulers. Entertaining Vietnamese royal court music show that is considered World Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
We drive to the royal tombs of Nguyen Dynasty and visit King Tu Duc’s tomb and King Khai Dinh’s tomb.
Nguyen Dynasty (Source: Collected)
Morning, we take a short flight to Hanoi Capital, a raddle of Vietnamese culture. This thousand – year - old city is definitely a great place for us to stroll around 36 old commercial streets that are named based on the products that are sold such as: Hang Bac, Hang Giay, Hang Dieu, Hang Đao... On our arrival, we will take an hour cyclo ride (pedicab) to the old quarter of Hanoi. We finish our ride at Thang Long theatre. We walk around Hoan Kiem, then visit Ngoc Son temple.
Check in the hotel, we enjoy our free time.
In the evening, we will entertain the water puppet show, a unique Northern Vietnamese art performance.
Hanoi - Hoan Kiem Lake
Today, we visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s house on stilt where he lived and worked from 1958 -1969, his fishing pond and his garden.
We visit One Pillar Pagoda built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Continuing our excursion, we visit Van Mieu, the temple of literature dedicated to Confucius and his four best disciples built in 1076. This is also the first university in Vietnam to educate Vietnamese bureaucrats, nobles, royalty, and other members of the elites from 1076 to 1779. The interesting thing is the collection of steles of doctorates whose name, birthplace, year of the examination, and the rank of diploma, were engraved onto the marble stone stele placing on the top of the turtle. There are 1307 graduated doctor names on 82 steles in this place.
After visiting this wonderful place, we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
Later in the day we visit to Thang Long Imperial Citadel which was built in 11th century be the Ly Dynasty, making the independence of Dai Viet. The Central Sector of Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the most important and the best-preserved of this heritage site. We will finish our day with a visiting the Army Museum nearby this ancient imperial City. This is very interesting site to visit as its exhibit collection focusing on 2 wars, the French – Vietnam War in 1930s-1940s and American-Vietnam War in 1960s-1970s. Especially the Dien Bien Phu battle field model is very lively, informative and useful section to see.
Return our hotel and then free at leisure.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel
An exciting new day waiting us to discover, we depart for Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
There are a lot of photo opportunities on our way to Ha Long as we drive through the rural area, street markets, paddy fields, vegetable farms, poultry farms, and lotus farms. We take a rest stop at Hong Ngoc shop after a 2- hour drive for a coffee break, and then continue to Ha Long Bay.
At midday, we board the junk for an overnight cruise. Have a welcome drink on board, then enjoy a pleasant cruise. Seafood lunch is served on board while the junk is slowly going among the islands and islets.
There are some activities for us to join in this afternoon such as: visiting the cave, swimming at Ti Top beach, climbing up the top of Ti Top Island for panoramic view of the bay, kayaking, and joining squids finishing at night. The junk is anchored in a quiet bay for overnight. Dinner and overnight on board.
Ha Long Bay
Morning just join the Tai Chi Class on sundeck for half an hour and then we will have breakfast. We visit to Sung Sot cave, fantastic stalactites, and stalagmites on different sides with beautiful natural color. Enjoy a pleasant cruise back to the pier for disembarkation.
Drive to Ninh Binh for overnight.
Sung Sot cave
Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex consists of as inscribed Hoa Lu, Tam Coc- Binh Dong and Bai Dinh Temple. This site consists of Dinh and Le Temples dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh Emperors. Continue our day with a boat ride to Tam Coc, a picturesque scenery which is known as Ha Long on land. The Tam Coc (“three caves”) portion is a three-hour excursion by small boat along the Ngo Dong River beginning at the village of Van Lam and proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst towers. The route includes floating through three natural caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba), the largest of which is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water.
Bich Dong is our next visiting place, it is a pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain dating to 1428, comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order. Finish our day with a visit to Bai Dinh Temple, a complex of Buddhist temples on Bai Dinh Mountain in. The compound consists of the original old temple and a newly created larger temple. It is considered the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam and has become a popular site for Buddhist pilgrimages from across Vietnam.
Return Ha Noi and then free at leisure.
Trang An - Ninh Binh
There is no activity until your departure.
Tour inclusion:
All accommodation basing on double/twin room with daily breakfast
Private transportation as specified in itinerary
English speaking guide for day tour
All entrance fee for sightseeing
All boat trips as specified in itinerary
Meals as specified in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Drinking water on coach
Tour exclusion:
International air ticket to/from Vietnam
Visa fee to Vietnam
Domestic air tickets
Personal expenses
Things are not indicated in itinerary