VATHN12- 12 Day Hanoi – Hoian – Saigon

Hoi An, once a major Southeast Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries, is basically a living museum that houses old-town architecture. Some notable heritage buildings include Chinese temples, a Japanese-designed bridge, pagodas, wooden shop-houses, French-colonial houses, and old canals. Although large-scale trading had long moved.

Time: 12 days – 11 nights

Transportation: Car – Shuttle Bus –Cruise – Flight

Summary Of Itinerary
Day 1: Ha Noi Arrival (No meals)
Day 2: Ha Noi – Ha Long (B,L,D)
Day 3: Ha Long – Ha Noi (B,L)
Day 4: Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave (B,L)
Day 5: Ha Noi – Da Nang – Hoi An (B)
Day 6: My Son Hollyland – Traditional Village (B,L)
Day 7: Hoi An – Free Day (B)
Day 8: Hoi An Cooking Class (B,L)
Day 9: Hoi An – Da Nang – Sai Gon (B)
Day 10: Mekong Delta (My Tho – Ben Tre) (B,L)
Day 11: Cu Chi Tunnel 1/2 Day (B)
Day 12: Sai Gon Departure (B)

• Day 1 HANOI ARRIVAL (NO MEALS)

  On arrival Ha Noi capital, we will see at the airport have private transfer to center for check in hotel. You have free time for leisure.

  Overnight in Ha Noi.

• Day 2 HANOI – HALONG BAY (MEAL: B,D,L)

  (Your hotel – Tuan Chau marina – Halong bay – Lunch– Surprising Cave – Titop Island – Sunset party – Dinner – Onboard night activities)

  07.45 – 08.15 approx

  – Our guide will meet you at your hotel. The shuttle bus or private car pick up
  – Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta
  – Get your camera ready to take photos.

  Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.

  12 – 12.30 approx

  – Arriving Tuan Chau marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing.

  – Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind

  – Set sail as lunch is served

  – Join us for a typical local lunch in the dining room or at the outdoor dining area.

  Afternoon
  – Arrive at Surprising Cave (Hang Sửng Sốt), explore the cave and find out how the cave was named a Surprising.

  – Heading to Titop island area. Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by beautiful islets. Visit Titop island for swimming and snorkeling or do the short trek to the top of island to have the overview of Halong bay from here

  – Heading back toward the sleeping area

  Early evening

  – Summit on the sundeck watching the sunset, enjoy Sunset party. It’s ideal time to make acquaintance with new friends, sharing your traveling experience or simply watching the sunset

  – An authentic Vietnamese menu is served

  – After dinner, reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at our bar, or take for you one of our onboard activities: book reading, games, movies, and squid fishing…

  Accommodation and overnight on boat.

• Day 3 HALONG BAY – HANOI (MEAL: B,L)

  (Tai Chi – Breakfast – Luon Cave – Cooking Demonstration – Lunch – Farewell)

  06:30: For the early risers join us for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body, joining Tai Chi session to full charge your energy for the day.
  07:00 – 08:00: Local breakfast is served
  08:00
  – Mingling yourself in the stunning views of the Bay and it’s dramatic limestone islets as we sail through the calm emerald waters heading to Luon Cave (Hang Luồn)

  – Take your option either exploring the cave yourself on kayak or comfortably on bamboo boat rowed by the locals.

  09:00: Check out the cabins, at your leisure while our cruise taking you pass by other beautiful highlights in the bay.

  10:00: You will join with our short class of Cooking demonstration, how to make spring rolls before an early lunch is served.

  12:00: Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew say farewell.

  Overnight in Hanoi

• Day 4 HOA LU - TRANG AN - MUA CAVE FULL DAY (MEAL: B, L)

  07:45-08:15: Our tour guide and driver will pick up at your hotel in Hanoi city to depart for Ninh Binh province (120 Kms). Start Hoa Lu/ Trang An full day tour.
  Hoa Lu: Visit Hoa Lu – the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties.
  13:00 Depart to visit Trang An tourist attraction, take a boat trip to visit cave complex: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, see the scenery of mountain and rivers Halong Bay on the land of Ninh Binh.
  15:30 Visit Mua Cave – the highlight attraction in Ninh binh, challenge yourself for 500 step up Cave mountain where you will have great panorama view of Tam Coc and rice field.
  18:00 Leave Ninh binh for Hanoi – 20:30: Tour Trang An full day Tour ends.

  Overnight in Hanoi.

• Day 5 HANOI – FLIGHT TO DANANG THEN CAR TO HOIAN (MEAL:B)

  After breakfast and freetime to visit Ha Noi city, take the flight to Da Nang.
  On arrival, transfer to Hoi An Town

  Afternoon: You are free to discover the ancient town: Japanese Bridge, lantern road, traditional tailor shop, enjoy the specialities. Besides, you can view sunset at Cua Dai beach.
  Spend overnight in Hoi An.

• Day 6 MY SON LUXURY TOUR (MEAL: B,L)

  8.00 – 8.30: our guide pick you up at your hotel and depart to My Son holy land – the world cultural heritage.

  10.00: Arrive at My Son and we’ll have 2 hours to discover the site by walking throughout the landscape, learning histories with our local English speaking guide, enjoying the Champa’s traditional performances.

  11.30: Get back to mini van and move to a local house to learn how to make rice paper, you will enjoy your own hand-making product later on!

  12.00: Back to  the van and have lunch at another local house. relax with cold herbal tea,  nice foods and fresh air.

  13.30:  take a boat trip to Hoi An with nice and cool breeze on boarding, beautiful river scenery on the biggest river in the Central of Vietnam named as Thu Bon River.

  14.30: arrive at Hoi An, we will drop you at your hotel. Tour ends!

• Day 7 HOI AN FREE DAY (MEAL:B)

  Free day in Hoi An. You can go by bus / car to Da Nang city (30 minutes drive) to discover Han river, Bana hill, Son Tra islet, Marble mountain…
  Overnight in Hoi An.

• Day 8 HOI AN COOKING CLASS (MEAL: B,L)

  We start the day (8.15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café

  (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Tel: 3863210) – our meeting point.

  Visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

  We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
  On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.

  Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our 20 metre swimming pool – towels and showers provided.

• Day 9 HOI AN – DANANG THEN FLIGHT TO SAIGON (MEAL: B)

  After breakfast, you are free until airport transfer. You take a flight to Sai Gon. On arrival Ho Chi Minh City, we will see at the airport and transfer to center for checking in hotel. You are free time for leisure. Spend overnight in Sai Gon.4:

• Day 10 1 DAY MEKONG DELTA ( MY THO – BEN TRE) (MEAL: B,L)

  8.00am depart to My Tho city, 1.5 hours drive.

  • A smooth pass the rice fields to the beautiful rural. Start boat on the Tien River to islet. View the Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. Walk into the village, visit fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit while folk music is performed by the local people.
  • The cruise will lead to Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, visit coconut candy workshop, bee house, enjoy honey tea and take a picture with snake.
  • The amazing rowing boat trip on the small canal – fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut’s tree.
  • Having lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, we will free time for biking, walking.
  • 3.00 Back Saigon. On the way, we will stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda.

  5pm get back to Saigon.

  Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

• Day 11 HALF DAY CU CHI TUNNEL (MEAL: B)

  08:30 We depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels for 60km from Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi is now considered a heroic district for its role in the anti – American war in Vietnam. It is legendary for its tunnels system of over 220 km and is a popular spot for both Vietnamese and foreigner.
  The peacefully rural rice paddy scenery contains ducks and water buffalos swimming in the rivers along the side of road. You will find it hard to imagine the destructions, damage and defoliation all over the area, caused by bombing and mines, when Cu Chi was “A Free Target Zone “. The remnants you will see that Cu Chi still has her evidence to prove the fierce battleground that took place there. Ever wonder what it feels like to fire an AK-47? Visit Cu chi tunnels, you have a chance to find out!

  14:30 The bus back HCM.

  Spend overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

• Day 12 SAIGON DEPARTURE (MEAL: B)

  After having breakfast at hotel, you have relaxing time in Ho Chi Minh city until transfer to the airport for the flight back home. See you again!