Itinerary in Brief:Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2; Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
Day 3: Hanoi - Mai chau home stay ( B, L ,D )
Day 4: Mai chau - Ninh Binh ( B, L,D )
Day 5: Ninh Binh - Hanoi ( B, L )
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong bay on board ( B, L,D )
Day 7: Halong – Hanoi - Hue flight ( B )
Day 8: Hue city tour ( B, L )
Day 9: Hue – Danang – Hoian ( B, L )
Day 10: Hoian ancient town ( B )
Day 11: Hoian – Danang – Ho chi minh ( B, L)
Day 12: Ho chi minh Tay ninh – Cu chi Tunnel ( B, L )
Day 13: Ho chi minh – Caibe floating market – Vinh long – Ho chi minh ( B, L )
Day 14: Ho chi minh departure ( B )
Itinerary in Details:Day 1: Hanoi arrival Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel by Asia View Travel guides with signboard, check in, relax. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: 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 impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, Quan Thanh Temple, West lake, the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. 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 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Home stay ( B, L,D )Breakfast at hotel, depart Hanoi at 08 00 am for a 2 hours heading south-west to Hoa Binh town where we stop for refreshments and coffee. Leaving Hoa Binh, we drive towards Mai Chau valley, about another two hours away to White Thai village of Poomcong. Enjoy the stunning views while lunching on tasty local dishes cooked by the White Thai girls of the village. Afternoon we walk to the surrounding village. Our hosts for this evening will be the White Thai minority people. In sampling these peoples hospitality, we find out a little more of their lives and cultures with a cultural exchange following the evening meal. Tonight’s accommodation will probably be a little more rustic than you would be used to.
Day 4: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh ( B, L,D )Following breakfast we embark on a lovely walk to Lac village and Van village. As we walk we will encounter the local villagers going about their daily business tilling the fields, logging or herding the buffalo. We enjoy lunch in Mai Chau before driving downhill to Ninh Binh ( 120km )
Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh.
Day 5: Ninh Binh - Hanoi ( B, L )Breakfast at hotel, Visit Hoa Lu Temple, the ancient citadel of Vietnam in 10th century. Enjoy a trek to the King Dinhs Tomb on a terraced hillside and gaze down at the ancient capital in the beautiful Truong Yen Valley below. Take a board sampans at Tam Coc to ferry down the Boi river. The boat goes through 3 cavernous limestone tunnels, offering a cool break from the sunshine and astounding views of the cave structures. Transfer back to hanoi.
Day 6 : Hanoi – Halong bay on board ( B, L,D )Breakfast at hotel, 8:30 AM start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on Junk.
Day 7: Halong – Hanoi - Hue flight ( B )Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey directly to the airport for flight to Hue. Pick up at Hue airport, transfer to hotel, check in , relax. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Day 8: Hue city tour ( B, L )After breakfast at hotel, we then set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In the surrounding countryside there is the picturesque Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. 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.We includes this in a guided cruise on the Perfume River. Transfer back to Hue center, do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba market to enjoy the speciality of Hue city
Day 9: Hue – Danang – Hoian ( B, L )Breakfast at hotel, this morning we visit elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. Drive back Hue center for lunch. After lunch, say good bye Hue, drive South to Hoian which was originally a Cham seaport. Along the way though we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views north over Lang Co beach and south over Danang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da nang, where we will stop at the Cham Museum, the famed China Beach, and the Marble Mountains. Arriving in Hoi An, check in, relax at hotel.
Day 10: Hoian Ancient Town ( B )The ancient architecture of Hoian 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! 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!
Day 11: Hoian – Danang- Ho chi minh ( B, L)Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for the flight to Saigon. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to city center, check in, relax. Afternoon we discover dynamic city with the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 12: Ho chi minh – Cu chi – Tayninh ( B, L )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. After Cuchi Tunnels tour, drive to Long Hoa and visit Cao Dai Cathedral. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Day 13: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market ( B, L )Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Cai Be, stop for photos at Tan An town over the flat rice fields. Arrive to Cai Be, start the motorized boat to visit the Cai Be floating market, see how river life goes on, experience how people exchanging goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. Visitors then roam into the small villages to visit the orchard, fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through small canals to enjoy the charm of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit some hand made family business products such as the coconut candy mill, the crispy rice popcorn. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village the green pearl of Vinh Long town where you can indulge yourself into the nature . Have lunch with fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Take a nice walk through the bonsai garden. Meet the car/van in Vinh Long. Back to HCMC
Day 14: Ho chi minh 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
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Location
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Standard
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Superior
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First class
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Deluxe
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Hanoi
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Hanoi Paradise 3 *
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La Dolce Vita 3*
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Hanoi Flower garden 4*
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Moevenpick 5*
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Maichau
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Home stay
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Ninh Binh
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Thuy Anh 2*
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Thuy Anh 2 *
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Legend 4 *
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Legend 4 *
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Hue
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Hue Holiday 2*
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Asia hotel 3*
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Huong Giang 4*
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Imperial 5*
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Hoian
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Vinh hung II 2*
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Van loi 3 *
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Hoian Beach resort 4*
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Palm Garden Resort 5 *
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Saigon
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Le Duy 3*
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Tan My Dinh 3*
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Norfolk 4*
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Majestic 5*
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Halong Boat
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Bai tho
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Bai tho
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Emotion
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Victory Star
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Tour includes:• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 2 days 1 night cruise on Halong Bay ( private cabin - sharing boat )
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Domestic airfare & airport taxes: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho chi minh
• 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
• 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 Halong 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