FT3: Wonderful Vietnam Tour 11 days 10 nighs

Itinerary in brief:

Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival
Day 2: Ho chi minh city – Cu chi tunnel (B, L)
Day 3: Ho chi minh – Mekong river cruise (B, L, D)
Day 4: Mekong – Ho chi Minh – Danang – Hoian (B)
Day 5: Hoian  Myson sanctuary (B, L)
Day 6: Hoian free (B)
Day 7: Hoian – Hue (B, L)
Day 8: Hue – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 9: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
Day 10: Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 11: Hanoi departure (B) 

Itinerary in Details:

Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, welcome and transfer to hotel by Asia View Travel guides with signboard, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh

Day 2: Ho chi minh city – Cu chi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, we then  take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, visit to Reunification Palace, then visit War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral. General Post Office. Afternoon, drive to visit the Cuchi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon  all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s, let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several  stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible. But even so, the planning and construction was incredible. People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets and dumping the dirt into bomb craters. They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke. There were also hidden  trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back.  And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors.

Day 3: Ho chi minh – Mekong river cruise on Le Cochinchine boat (B, L, D)
Pick up at your hotel in Saigon 08:00 am and transfer to Cai Be. 11:30 -12:00 boarding LE COCHINCHINE boat. Enjoy welcome drink. Transfer to a local boat for an extensive visit of Cai Be: the floating market, the mazes of waterway, local pop-rice and sweets production. Visit of colonial buildings, old houses, delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and  rice paper manufacturers. Le Cochinchine continues its cruise to Coc hien. Lunch served on board. Embark on a pleasant walk or cycle on the footpath's of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the local people's activities. Visit a cottage industry, a local farm and sample seasonal fruits. Leisurely cruise on the Mekong River while taking in the beautiful scenery. Enjoy an aperitif over the sunset. Overnight on le Cochinchine boat.

Day 4: Mekong – Ho chi  minh – Hoi an (B)
Rising up to the sound of River and Mekong Delta coming to life for another lovely day we enjoy the sunset. After breakfast, we cruise along the canals and visit a village on the bank of Co Chien or, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life of the local inhabitants, and their hospitality. Leisurely cruise up the Hau river while enjoying the beautiful scenery Arriving Can tho, we explore the Cai Rang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats ladden fruits barging and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. Boat through the palm-shaded creek to see local houses and green orchards, ship building yards, local markets in full swing. Disembark and drive back to Saigon airport for the flight to Danang. Arrive in Danang, pick up and transfer to Hoi an. Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.

Day 5:  Hoi an – My son sanctuary  (B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel departure for My Son, one of the most important Cham site in the country and it’s set amongst lovely hills. My Son is another of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Hoi An. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An. Hoi An is a lovely riverside township with narrow streets and old buildings. It’s also a great place for ethnic crafts. UNESCO has listed Hoi An as a World Heritage Site in Dec 1999. Driver back to Hoi an. This afternoon, you have plenty of time to discover what  Hoi An has to offer. The ancient architecture of Hoia n is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit these on our morning walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here. Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.

Day 6: Hoi an free (B)
Today there is plenty of time to discover by yourself. You can spend your time  walking around exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied  by the same family for fifteen genera ions. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! You might like to take a boat ride with one of the local women across the Thu Bon River. Perhaps you would like to hire a bicycle and head off on a scenic ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km away. There's even the chance to improve your culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing is for sure - there is no shortage of things to do in this town! Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.

Day 7: Hoian – Hue (B, L)
We embark on Northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang as we are climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the picturesque fishing villages of Lang Co. A visit to beautiful Cham museum in Danang where display Cham’s finest sculpture  in the world. The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the South China Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Hai van pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views. The journey takes about 4 hours. Afternoon we visit the Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple city, the Emperor's private residence. Both were almost totally destroyed during the Tet offensive of 1968. We visit vibrant Dong Ba riverside market. Overnight at hotel  in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – Hanoi (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel. We embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to Phu Bai airport for flight to Hanoi. The guide in Hanoi will pick you up, transfer to city center, check in, relax. . Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
This morning we start city tour  with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam,.Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit  the the impressive Ethnology Museumthe, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple, Quan Thanh Temple, West lake. Enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel and depart for Halong bay from your hotel. Halong is located in Quang Ninh province, 170km north-east of Hanoi. (Listed by UNESCO as natural heritage site in 1994, Halong bay has been a famous tourist destination in Vietnam). We will take some stop-overs on the way for photo or refreshment. Boarding upon arrival. Lunch will be served on board with welcome drink. Cruising around the Bay with famous sites such as : Fighting cock's islet, Stone dog or Joss stick bowl islet. Visit Thien Cung cave- the Cave of the heavenly palace. Round walking to visit beautiful stalactites which have been formed millions of years ago. Back to the Junk boat and keep cruising to view fabulous scenery of Ha long bay. After a 4 hour boat trip. We will take a coach trip back to Hanoi. We will be back in Hanoi around 19:30. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Day 11: Hanoi departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time until  transfer to  the airport for your  departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.

Thank you for traveling with Asia View Travel.

Accommodation Options

Tour includes:
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 2 days 1 night cruise on Le cochinchine boat ( private cabin - sharing boat )
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English or French  speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary  at local restaurant with local foods (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Domestic airfare & airport taxes: Ho chi minh - Da nang, Hue – Hanoi
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges

Tour excludes:
• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 15 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Kayak in Ha long Bay
• Surcharge on Christmas, New Year and our Lunar New Year
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities