From charming Hanoi with its fading colonial architecture and national monuments, to the spellbinding scenery of Halong Bay and Phong Nha cave in Quang Binh province. From amazing scenery of Hue & charming of Hoi An ancient town to the steamy city of Saigon on the edge of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam is as colorful as it is diverse. Experience the very best of vibrant Vietnam, in 12 captivating days with Asianway Travel!
>>> Outlined itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour, drive to Halong bay (B/L)
Day 3: Half day Halong Bay Cruise , Hanoi water puppet show ( B/L)
Day 4: Flight to Hue, drive to Quang Binh – home of Phong Nha Caves (B/L)
Day 5: Full day explore the complex of Phong Nha caves (B/L)
Day 6: Full day visit Hue ancient capital (B/L)
Day 7: Transfer to visit Danang beach city & Hoian ancient town (B/L)
Day 8: Half day My Son Heritage, Half Day Saigon City Tour (B/L)
Day 9: Full day visit Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh & explore Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)
Day 10: Transfer to Vinh Long & Can Tho, discover the Mekong Delta (B/L)
Day 11: Cai Rang floating market, drive back Saigon (B/L)
Day 12: Depart Saigon (B)
Detail Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Hanoi, the country's capital has just celebrated its 1000 year anniversary. The city owns a long history, cultural richness and hospitality, which can be seen plenty charming facade, temples, pagodas and street insights. Hanoi is without doubt, one of Asia's most beautiful cities.
Upon your arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, we will meet you with the Welcoming Board and then escort you to your hotel. We leave the rest of the day to you to relax from a long flight.
Evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with traditional Vietnamese music will give you a first taste of Vietnamese cuisine and their culture. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with traditional Vietnamese music will give you a first taste of Vietnamese cuisine and their culture. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour, drive to Halong bay (B/L)
In the morning, we start our day tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum. The mausoleum is the last resting place of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s great revolutionist. It is a symbol of gratitude and respect of Vietnamese people for president Ho Chi Minh. The Ho Chi Minh Museum is the preserver of everything memorable related to Ho Chi Minh. The Museum consists of five extensive floors and was inaugurated on 2nd September, 1990, celebrating the 100th birthday occasion of the beloved President. Closed by, the famous One Pillar Pagoda which is built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25 m in diameter. It is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond. After that, continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Vietnamese name is Quoc Tu Giam) – The Vietnam’s first University, which was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.
In the afternoon, take a coach trip to Halong. Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’, and legend claims the islands of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon from the mountains. As it charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys and crevasses. When it finally plunged into the sea, the area filled with water, leaving only the pinnacles visible. Check in hotel. Stay overnight in Halong.
Day 3: Half day Halong Bay Cruise , Hanoi water puppet show ( B/L)
We will board our private junk and begin the cruise in the Halong bay. On this tour, witness the tranquil beauty and breathtaking scenery from the decks of a traditional junk, complete with bat-winged sails. Gliding through the gin-clear waters of the bay, absorb one of the most magnificent natural splendors of the Far East. See tiny islands dotted with rock arches, sheer cliffs, innumerable white sand beaches and peaceful coves. Like sculpted cartoon characters, these limestone islands have fanciful names: Incense Burner, Stone Dog and Fighting Chickens (the symbol of Halong Bay). Stopping for the most beautiful cave named Sung Sot (Amazing cave). Climbing steep stairs to explore huge chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites of all kinds. Continue to enjoy this relaxing cruise through the fairyland-like landscape. Then we head back to Ha Long harbor and our waiting vehicle will transfer us back to Hanoi.
On arrival, visit Ngoc Son Temple which is located at the northern end of Sword Lake. Enjoy a water puppet show. Water puppetry - " puppets that dance on water"- is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. Check in hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: Flight to Hue, drive to Quang Binh – home of Phong Nha Caves (B/L)
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Hue, an Unesco World Heritage site. Upon arrival, we take a coach trip to Dong Hoi, the capital city of Quang Binh province in the north central coast of Vietnam. It is the closest city to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage Site, which located 50 km north of the city. On the way, stop by to visit the historic Hien Luong Bridge over the Ben Hai River, which served as a border (the 17th parallel) between North and South Viet Nam between 1954 and 1975. Hien Luong Bridge (also known as the "Peace Bridge"), is a beam bridge built from steel by the French in 1950. After the partition, the northern portion of the bridge was painted red and the southern portion yellow. The bridge was damaged by American bombardment during the Vietnam War in 1967. After the Paris Peace Accords, a modern bridge was built next to the old bridge. Check in hotel. Stay overnight in Dong Hoi city.
Day 5: Full day explore the complex of Phong Nha caves (B/L)
In the morning, transfer straight to Son River where we take a boat trip to the park and famed caves at Phong Nha – Ke Bang, one of the newest UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. Upon arrival, explore the two famous caves Phong Nha cave includes 14 chambers, connected by an underwater river that runs for 1.5 kilometer. The Outer Cave and some of the Inner Caves have roofs that tower between 25 and 40 meters above the water level. Continue to Tien Son cave which was discovered by a local inhabitant by accident in 1935. The entry mouth of Tien Son is 1 km from Phong Nha cave, at an altitude of 200 meter. This cave is 980 meter in length and like Phong Nha cave, this cave features spectacular stalactites and stalagmites shaped like several fairy-tales.
Afternoon we drive back to Hue. Check in hotel. Stay overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Full day visit Hue ancient capital (B/L)
This morning, transfer to visit the Imperial Citadel which has three perimeters of rampart, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh (Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). Continue to Thien Mu pagoda, an ancient pagoda in Hue city, can’t be missed. Its pagoda has seven stores and is the tallest one in Vietnam. The temple is often the subject of folk rhymes about Hue, such is its iconic status and association with the city.
Afternoon, we visit to the two tombs of the Kings of Nguyen Dynasty. King Tu Duc's tomb and King Khai Dinh’s tomb, each tomb has a specific style and architecture, continue to visit Dong Ba market before come back hotel for relax. Stay overnight in Hue.
Day 7: Transfer to visit Danang beach city & Hoian ancient town (B/L)
In the morning, start our trip to Hoi An Ancient Town, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. On the way, stop by Danang beach city for a city tour visiting Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. Arrive in Hoi An, spending the afternoon for a walking tour around this enchanting port town of Hoi an, follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the Tan Ky old house, the local market … Around the town you can see numerous art galleries and tailor shops. You are also free to get some made-to-order clothes if you like. Stay overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: Half day My Son Heritage, Half Day Saigon City Tour (B/L)
Take a coach trip to My Son holly land, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu Temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa .The temples are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva, known under various local names, the most important of which is "Bhadresvara". From the 4th to the 14th century AD, the valley at My Son was a site of religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes.
Afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to Saigon. Ho Chi Minh (other name: Saigon) is Vietnam's largest and most populated city. On arrival, visit Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace, built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Hochiminh City. Next stop is the City Hall, Ho Chi Minh Monument and Central Post Office which was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century. Right nearby, you can see Notre Dame Cathedral, a magnificent building located in the heart of the city and was established by French colonists. Stay overnight in Saigon.
Day 9: Full day visit Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh & explore Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)
Drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province in the west of Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the Cao Dai Great Temple which was begun in 1933 in a unique architectural style that reflects its blended traditions. The three principal colors of Cao Dai are yellow (for Buddhism), blue (for Taoism), and red (for Christianity), and these appear in worshippers' robes as well as the temple.
In the afternoon, continue our trip to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth. Drive back Saigon for stay overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to Vinh Long & Can Tho, discover the Mekong Delta (B/L)
Travel to Vinh Long, a province located in the Mekong River Delta of southern Vietnam. Upon arrival, take a boat trip to explore the colorful Cai Be floating market, where you can observe all of busy trading activities of local traders with several kinds of agricultural product from one boat to another. You then continue the cruise to a local factory to visit and learn how pop rice, pop corn, rice paper and coconut candies are made. You also have an opportunity to taste these products served with hot green tea. Returning to the boat for an excursion to Dong Hoa Hiep Island and discover the beautiful and peaceful scenery together with the typical life of the region along the Mekong River.
After lunch in local restaurant, enjoy a stroll along the narrow canals before driving to Can Tho. Can Tho is the fifth largest city in Vietnam, and the largest city in the Mekong Delta. It is noted for its floating market, rice paper-making village and picturesque rural canals. In the evening, you can wander around the night market in down town Can Tho. Stay overnight in Can Tho.
Day 11: Cai Rang floating market, drive back Saigon (B/L)
Early morning, take a boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market which is one of the three biggest in the Mekong Delta. The shops and stalls at the market are boat of different sizes. Cai Rang Floating Market is open all day but it is busiest from sunrise to about 9am. Along the boat trip, you will also enjoy watching bustling activities along the Can Tho riverbank before back to the shore to visit to Binh Thuy Ancient House, it is a rare and perfect example of the character of the Mekong Delta. It is special thanks not only to an ancient house whose design is a combination of Vietnam and France with interesting involved stories but also a garden with various flowers and fruits, including a wide range of orchids and a record cactus. One more special thing of the house that has so far attracted a lot of local and foreign visitors, it is an exciting address for film directors. The famous French movie L’amant directed by J.J Annaud is an example.
Drive back Saigon in the afternoon and check in hotel for the rest. Stay overnight in Saigon.
Day 12: Depart Saigon (B)
Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer to the airport for flight back home.
It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for travelling with us and warmly welcome you to come again. Services end.
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