DAY 1: ARRIVAL – SAIGON (HOCHIMINH CITY)  (-/-/D)

Afternoon,  Fly to Saigon by ….

Arrival Saigon, enjoy a private transfer with guide to hotel for check in.

O/N at Novotel Saigon

DAY 2: SAIGON – CUCHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR  (B/L/-)

Morning, drive to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi was an important base during the American War, because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelters and weapon factories. Dug out of limestone, which is soft enough to dig through but structurally sound, this amazing network was never fully discovered.

After lunch, we continue to visit visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, a neo-Romanesque cathedral constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. There’s also the Chinatown of Hochiminh City, with the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. O/N at Novotel Saigo.

DAY 3: SAIGON – MYTHO (B/L/-)

Full day, enjoy your tour traveling South from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country, and the main producer of rice and tropical fruits. From My Tho, take a boat and travel to one of the islands located in the middle of the Mekong River. On the island, visit a fruit orchard and sample some of the local produce, before boarding a smaller sampan that winds along narrow canals. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local family’s house and enjoy their hospitality and share with them some tea or rice wine. After lunch in My Tho, return to Saigon and visit War Remnants Museum, which features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam’s wars with both the French and Americans. The tour continues to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975. Afterwards, stop at Ben Thanh market for shopping. O/N at Novotel Saigo

DAY 4: HO CHI MINH – HANOI – BAT TRANG VILLAGE (B/-/L)

Morning free leisure until transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi; check in hotel and free leisure.

Afternoon: Transfer to visit Bat Trang pottery village. On the way to Bat Trang village, you have a chance to see the property of the villages located along the two banks of the Red River Dykes and the lifestyles of dwellers. Two hours visiting Bat Trang village, then back to Hanoi. O/N at Mercure Hanoi

DAY 5: HANOI – HALONG  (B/L/D)

You will be picked up at 8am for your private transfer to Halong City. This takes roughly 3 hours. You may stop enroute to admire the local scenery. Arrive at the port around 11:30am and board the ship. Begin sailing and pass through a magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach, or sunbath on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with local people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board enjoy a lavish dinner. O/N Victory Cruise

DAY 6: HALONG – HANOI  (B/L/-)

Wake up to Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. Breakfast buffet will be served in the restaurant, then you will visit the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City around 11am and transfer back to Hanoi with your private vehicle, guide and driver. Free at leisure or shopping in Hanoi Old Quarter Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

O/N at Mercure Hanoi

DAY 7: HANOI – HOA LU ( TAM COC- BICH DONG) – HANOI  (B/L/-)

Morning: Proceed to Tam Coc to visit “Halong Bay on land” – the same limestone rocks as in Halong Bay but seen from a winding stream through paddy fields instead of the sea. Enjoy spectacular scenery during the boat trip to Tam Coc caves with visit of the Bich Dong Pagoda. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon : Visit Dinh and Le dynasty temples. Transfer back to Hanoi. O/N at Mercure Hanoi

DAY 8: HANOI CITY – DANANG –  HOI AN  (B/L/-)

Today, Hanoi city tour to visit Hochiminh Mausoleum and his former residence (Closed on Monday, Friday and the whole of Oct & Nov), One pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature – the first University in Vietnam, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or Vietnam History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and experience a one hour Cyclo tour.

Afternoon: Transfer to the airport for a fight to Danang Airport, famous for China Beach and the former R&R for US servicemen. We transfer to ancient town Hoi. Check in hotel and O/N in Hoi at a Beach Resort.

DAY 9:  HOI AN – MY SON – HOI AN (B/L/-)

Morning : Drive to My Son, the imperial city of the Champa empire of the 4th to 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious ruins comprising more than 70 architectural remains. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon: Visit Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, Hoi An was one of South East Asia’s major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. During a guided walking tour through the historic city center of Hoi an Town, we visit the Temple Kwan (or Phuc Kien Temple), Tan Ky Ancient House (or Phung Hung house), Japanese Bridge, and cultural show rooms: Quan Thang House, or Sa Huynh Museum, or Historic Museum). Free time for shopping. O/N in Hoi an Beach Resort.

DAY 10:  HOI AN – DANANG – HOI AN (B/L/-)

Morning:  we will embark on the boat to Thanh Ha pottery village where you can learn and enjoy the busy daily life of Thanh Ha people. Observe all the steps of making a pottery product: vase, pot, kettle, cooking pot, etc. Embark on the boat to visit Kim Bong carpentry village. Listen to the history of the village; visit the ship-building yards, and view handicrafts and sculptures. Then transfer to Danang visit Marble Carving village, famous China Beach and free leisure.  O/N in Hoi an Beach Resort.

DAY 11:  HOI AN – HUE (B/L/-)

We depart to Hue, the scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. Arrive in Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties. Take a lunch at a local restaurant. Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. Start the city tour to visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the next stop of the day. Sunset cruise on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue and Minh Mang tomb.  Overnight in Hue Morin Hotel

DAY 12:  HUE – HO CHI MINH  (B/L/-)

Drive to visit Tu Duc Tomb and Khai Dinh tomb. Stop at a local garden and visit the colorful local Dong Ba market. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh. Arrival Ho Chi Minh check in hotel and free leisure. O/N at Novotel Saigon

DAY 13:  HO CHI MINH AIRPORT – DEPARTURE  AT 19:40PM. (B)

Free leisure until guide and driver will pick up you at hotel transfer to airport for departure