VATHCM06 - 8 Day Hochiminh – Hoian – Hanoi - Halong

Summary of Itinerary
DAY 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival
DAY 2: Cu chi tunnels & Mekong Delta 1 day
DAY 3: Taking flight from Hochiminh to Da Nang then Moving to Hoi An
DAY 4: Tra Que village & Making lantern – Flight to Hanoi
DAY 5: Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave
DAY 6: Ha Noi – Ha Long bay
DAY 7: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi
DAY 8: Hanoi departure

• Day 1 SAI GON (HO CHI MINH) ARRIVAL (Meals: No)

  Pick up at the airport and transfer to center, check in hotel. Free time for leisure.
  Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

• Day 2 CU CHI TUNNELS & MEKONG DELTA 1 DAY (Meals: B, L)

  This tour is perfect for those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam War or are looking for a day trip not too far away from Ho Chi Minh city. The tour takes you to two important tourist sites: Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta.

  Cu Chi Tunnels, known as the “iron triangle” during the Vietnam war, are a network of underground tunnels that were used as a military base for resistance to US forces during the Vietnam War. Cu Chi itself was once known as the “dead land” that was destroyed by millions of bombs. But today, the land is still alive and combines legendary historical structures with the unique culture of the Vietnamese.

  Mekong delta is known as “the rice bowl” of Vietnam, due to the seemingly endless fields of rice. In this water world, you will see houses and fish floating along the river. This is a fabulous destination for those who want to experience the humble beauty of the Mekong Delta, get closer to nature and meet the hospitable people of this region.

  7:30am: Our guide pick you up at your hotel to go to Cu Chi Tunnel for one and half hours by limousine van.

  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!

  Afternoon: We will depart from Cu Chi to My Tho city for two hours by car. On the way to My Tho, we stop at restaurant to have a lunch.

  Upon arrival to My Tho City, The boat take you to small canal, where is the place you totally escape from the busy town. The boat cruise in the coconut trees canal takes you to a coconut island in Ben Tre. We disembark and have a walk around the village. Stop at a local family to enjoy tropical fruit, taste honey tea, honey wine and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performance by the villagers.

  Continue walking on the village’s road to coconut candy shop, learn how to make candy, show some handicraft made by coconut tree. Take a walk through village with two sides there are so many kind of fruits, flowers, trees, local houses, children in Mekong delta, take your time to have nice photos and enjoy nature scenery.

  16.30-17.00 go back Ho Chi Minh City.

  18.00 -18.30 Tour ends at your hotel

  Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

• Day 3 TAKING FIGHT TO DA NANG, THEN MOVING TO HOI AN (Meal: B)

  Our car pick you up at your hotel to Tan Son Nhat airport
  Taking flight to Da Nang
  Arrival Da Nang, will be picked up by our driver to your hotel in Hoi An
  Stay overnight at your hotel in Hoi An

• Day 4 TRA QUE VILLAGE & MAKING LANTERN (Meals: B, L)

  The tour will begin at your hotel or tour office.Our tour guide will greet you and provide your bicycle for your trip.
  Your day will start at Tra Que vegetable village. You can relax and enjoy the peaceful countryside then stroll along the vegetable villages. As a special treat, you will be involved with digging, sowing, planting, harvesting the vegetables with hundreds of years rudimentary tools of the farmers. You will enjoy the E Water, a speciality of Tra Que vegetable village, you can feel the strong medicinal flavour from many kinds of vegetables. You could will be a fammer with many interseting activities.
  Finish your time in Tra Que vegetable village, you will ride your bicycle leisurely passing the rice fields, villages, to come to the art of making lanterns.
  – You will visit craftsmen with skillful hands, showing you how to create the brightly colored lanterns. Expertly guided you could make yourself a lantern as a gift to your family.
  Finish your learning, the tour guide will take you back to your hotel, finish your trip.

  You have free time until our driver will pick you up and transfer you to airport. You will take flight to Hanoi.

  Arrival Noi Bai airport, will be picked up by our driver to your hotel in center of Ha Noi.

  Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

• Day 5 HOA LU - TRANG AN - MUA CAVE ( B, D)

  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 Ha Noi.

• Day 6 HA LONG BAY – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE (Meals: B, L, D)

  (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 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…

• Day 7 HALONG BAY – HANOI (Meals: B, L)

  (Tai Chi – Breakfast – Luon Cave – Cooking Demonstration – Lunch – Farewell at your hotel)
  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.
  Transfer to minibus or private and return to Hanoi.
  Arrival back at your hotel approximately 16:30 – 17:00.
  Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

• Day 8 HANOI DEPARTURE (Meals: B)

  You will have breakfast at hotel. Relax time in Ha Noi until transfer to the airport for the flight back home. See you again!