VATHCM13 - 13 Day Ho Chi Minh – Hoi An – Hue – Ha Noi – Ha Long

Travel to Vietnam and trace its mystical eastern coastline, traversing the country from south to north and discovering the many attractions that lie along the way. From the modern chaos of Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to old-world Hanoi, you’ll experience tumultuous history, colonial charm, vibrant colors, delicious food and inspiring scenery on this Vietnam vacation

Summary Of Itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
Day 2: Full Day Mekong Delta Boat Trip Tour
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day. Taking Flight To Da Nang – Hoi An
Day 4: Tra Que Village & Making Lantern Tour
Day 5: My Son Sanctuary Half Day Tour
Day 6: Leaving Hoi An To Hue Imperial City
Day 7: Hue City Tour.
Day 8: Paradise Caves 1 Day Tour
Day 9: Depart To Ha Noi Capital
Day 10: Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave
Day 11: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay
Day 12: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi
Day 13: Ha Noi Departure

• Day 1 Ho Chi Minh Arrival (No Meals)

  On arrival Ho Chi Minh City, we will see at the airport and transfer to center for check in hotel. You are free time for leisure.
  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

• Day 2 Full Day Mekong Delta Boat Trip (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 freetime for biking, walking.

  3:00pm Back to Saigon. On the way, we will stop at vinh Trang Pagoda.

  5:00pm get back to your hotel.

  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

• Day 3 Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels (Meal: B)

  8:30am 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!

  2:30pm Bus back to Ho Chi Minh city.

  Take a rest for a while. Then taking flight from Ho Chi Minh city to Da Nang. We will see at the airport and transfer to Hoi An Ancient town for check in hotel. You are free time for leisure.

  Overnight in Hoi An.

• Day 4 Tra Que Villagen & Making Lantern Tour (Meal: B, L)

  Departure : 8:00am & 1:30pm

  Time duration: 4 hours

  The tour will begin at your hotel. Our tour guide will great 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 farmer with many interesting 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

  Overnight in Hoi An.

• Day 5 My Son Deluxe Tour (Meal: B, L)

  7:30am – 8:30am: Bus and tour guide pick you up at your hotel (in Hoi An ancient town area)
  8:30am: Leaving Hoi An for My Son Holyland
  9:30am: Arriving My Son – the Holyland surrounded by the marvelous mountains, 48km west of Hoi An. My Son was chosen as a religious center, built in the late 4th century under the Cham’s King Bhadravaman. It is a huge religious complex with over 70 towers and temples of different architectures. Wander through the elaborate carvings and sculptures of the Cham people, tourists are welcomed at the Old Tower of the Cham.

  Spend 2 hours to enjoy and discover the beauty of Acient buidings at of the Champa Kingdom with our tour guide
  12:00pm: Leaving My Son for Cau Lau boat station and taking a boat trip on Thu Bon river. You could visit the living of the local people and feeling the fresh air . You will have lunch on the boat before stopping for visiting at Kim Bong Carpentry Village – The traditional work village .
  2:30pm: The boat trip will finish at Bach Dang Boat station.
  In afternoon, free go shopping in Hoi An Town. Then free & easy.
  Overnight in Hoi An.

• Day 6 Hoi An Ancient Town – Hue Imperial City (Meal: B)

  Taking private car to Hue Imperial city (no tour guide). Upon arrival in Danang, visit the Cham Museum, which features a fine collection of open air sandstone carvings. Stop at My Khe Beach, made famous in the American TV series of the same name. It stretches for many miles north and south of the Marble Mountains. The Marble Mountains surrounding the area are five stone hillocks – once islands made of marble – and each is said to represent one of the five elements of the universe. There are many natural caves in which Buddhist sanctuaries have been built over the centuries. Transfer to Hue Imperial city.
  Check in hotel & overnight in Hue

• Day 7 Hue City Tour (Meal: B, L)

  A day in Hue is designed to show you this unexpected side of Hue, once former capital of Vietnam (1802 – 1945) under the reign of the 13 Nguyen Kings.

  Let us take you further in depth to the exotic culture, history and architectural works of a high cultural, historic value and the wall city that represents the outstanding demonstration of the power of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including a complex of monuments, tombs and pagodas that attract tourists coming from all over the world.

  Let us show you just simple daily lives of local people at market and on the river…
  We highly recommend you to the best tour to see other side of Hue, Vietnam Tour highlights

  Morning (8:15am – 12:30pm)

  1. Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people
  2. Boat trip to Thien Mu pagoda – The oldest pagoda in Hue City
  3. Imperial Citadel of Royal Dynasty of Nguyen Family (1802 – 1945)
  4. Royal Antiques Museum – A collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty

  Lunch at local restaurant (Huế specialities, Western and Asian food)

  Afternoon (12:30pm – 4:30pm)

  5. Incense stick village
  6. Khai Dinh King’s Tomb – a blend of Western and Eastern architecture.
  7. Minh Mang King’s Tomb, one is impressed by the majesty and symmetry of the architectural constructions.
  8. On the way back to your hotel, we drop in handicraft village in Hue city – Conical hat village

  4:00pm – 4:30pm: your day trip is finished.

  Overnight in Hue

• Day 8 Paradise Cave Tour (Meal: B, L)

  6:30am: Car and tour guide will meet you at hotel and depart to Quang Binh. On the way, we stop for seeing La Vang Church where Virgin Maria appeared in 1798. We continue to go sightseeing Hien Luong Bridge, and Ben Hai River (Parallel 17 division from south to north of the country during 20 years from 1954 to 1973).
  11:30am: We will have lunch at Phong Nha Restaurant.
  12:15pm: We will continue to make a trip to Paradise Cave to explore the charm of Asia’s longest dry and beautiful than the Phong Nha Cave which is recognizing as Natural Wonders of the World with the beautiful of nature given chemical. From the historic Ho Chi Minh Road (former Ho Chi Minh Trail), you will pass on a path through crass forest for about four kilometers, then you climb 519 rocky steps, and you’re in… Heaven, it’s truly a Paradise.
  7:30pm: Tour will back to Hue and we will finish Paradise Cave tour.
  Overnight in Hue.

• Day 9 Depart To Ha Noi Capital (Meal: B)

  Check out hotel in Hue. Car will transfer you to the airport, then taking flight to Ha Noi capital.
  Arrive Ha Noi capital, we will see at the airport and transfer to center for check in hotel. You are free time for leisure.
  Overnight in Hanoi.

• Day 10 Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave Full Day Tour (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 11 Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (Meal: B, L, D)

  8:00 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.

  You will have a chance to take photos. Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.

  12 – 12.30 noon approx

  Arriving Tuan Chau Marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Meet the captain, crew and join us for welcome cocktail as we tell you about life onboard.

  Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind

  Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.

  Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or on the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the Bay, its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.

  Afternoon

  While we make our way to the amazing Van Gia fishing village, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by or take an afternoon nap in your cabin. Middle afternoon arrive at Van Gia floating fishing village.

  Drop anchor.

  Our guide will give you some information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.

  Disembark and you can choose which options when you visit the village by Kayak or local bamboo boat to visit the village. They will be your guides through their fishing village where you can meet the locals, see at first-hand what life is like living on the water, we are proud of our working partnership with, and support of this community.

  Our cruise will take you to the Soi Sim natural beach for swimming and snorkeling, you can enjoy our interesting games such as football, basketball. On the way cruising, you will enjoy with us the sunset party with fruits and wine as our complimentary

  Back on board the cruise, we head towards the sleeping area.

  Early evening

  Take an opportunity to refresh and then join friends for a pre-dinner drink in the bar.

  Dinner is served in the restaurant or outdoor dining area if the weather is permitted, which is a gastronomic delight. After dinner, unwind in the bar where there is a selection of books, magazines and board games or watch a movie on our plasma TV; join some of our team to go cuttle fishing at night.

  Accommodation and overnight on boat.

• Day 12 Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi (Meal: B, L)

  06:30 am

  For the early risers join us for a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.

  Breakfast, coffee, tea served.

  After breakfast, we sail through the waters and pass by a number of caves and we drop anchor at Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.

  Disembark and visit Surprise Cave located on Bo Hon Island. It is one of the widest grottoes in Ha Long Bay with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites

  09:30 am

  We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store. You will join with our short class of Cooking demonstration, how to make spring rolls before an early lunch is served.

  12 noon

  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.

  Spend overnight in HaNoi

• Day 13 Ha Noi Departure (Meal: B)

  Having breakfast at hotel. Free time for leisure until the car come and transfer to airport.
  Take a flight home. See you again.