Introduction to Vietnam

Tour Information

This 10 night tour takes in the cities of Hanoi and Saigon as well as optional trips to Halong Bay and the Mekong Delta. Staying in 4* hotels it includes breakfast and internal flights.

Tour Summary:
3nts Hanoi, 1nt Hue, 2nt Hoi An, 4nts Saigon

Day 1

Departure flight from UK to Hanoi, Vietnam (overnight)

Day 2

Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival at the airport, meet with your English-speaking guide and then be transferred 45min to town.
Overnight at Sunway hotel

Day 3

Hanoi or optional Hanoi city tour (All the museums are closed on Monday and Friday)
***During October to December every year, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed for re-embalmment the body and it can only be visited from outside (inaccessible inside)
After breakfast, free at leisure or you can opt for city tour

Optional city tour
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing of this charming capital with a visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument made of marble and granite & then a visit to his nearby former residence. Post mausoleum tour of the One Pillar Pagoda and surrounding park, then visit the Temple of Literature, with its ancient Vietnam architecture, dedicated to Confucius which broke the Buddhist monopoly in education; the temple was then regarded as the site of the first university of Vietnam. Afternoon, visit the beautiful Ethnology Museum to discover the many ethnic groups that comprise the people of Vietnam. Return to town and enjoy a 45min cyclo ride through the Old Quarter of “36 streets and 36 wares” to witness the vibrant life along the street sides, the trip ends by a visit the Lake of the Restored Sword. This evening attend a traditional water puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form especially designed for depicting scenes from rural life and many episodes of national history
Overnight at Sunway hotel (B)

Day 4

Hanoi or optional Halong day trip
After breakfast, free at leisure or you can opt for Halong day trip (cost for optional excursions to be advised)

Optional Halong Bay – Day trip
After breakfast, drive 160 km to Halong, a World Heritage recognized in 1995, with a coffee break en route at the Sao Do handicraft village. Arrive by noontime at the dock, we board our private junk to begin a 4-hour cruise out of the Bay among 3,000 limestone islands to explore the amazingly several beautiful islets, caves and grottos. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch served on board. Back to the dock late in the afternoon and drive back to Hanoi. Upon arrival transfer to hotel and the remainder of the day is free at leisure
Overnight at Sunway hotel (B, L)

Day 5

Hanoi – Hue
After breakfast, transferring to Hanoi airport for the flight to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty of emperors from 1802 till 1945, Hue city. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for checking in. After check-in, take a dragon boat ride upstream Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s most preserved religious monument the former imperial city of Hue offering an insightful look into its regal past with a visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue (Forbidden Purple City) from where the Nguyen Emperors once ruled Vietnam. Balance of the day is free at leisure
Overnight at Pilgrimage Village (B)

Day 6

Hue - Danang – Hoi An
After breakfast, drive to visit the most elaborate mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and opportunity for photo shooting. Afterward, depart Hue for Hoi An via Danang, enjoy 2-hour scenic drive via Hai Van Pass where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed at the summit. Upon arrival in Danang, we stop for a visit at the Cham Museum, the best collection of the Cham ruins dating from 2nd to 15th century, the objects on display represent the art of architecture and sculpture of the Hindu influenced ancient civilization of Champa. Continue our drive to visit China Beach. Afterward, continue driving to Hoi An for the night
Overnight at Hoi An Trails Resort (B)

Day 7

Hoi An
This morning, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center and take in the former merchants’ house, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. Balance of the afternoon day is free at leisure on your own to explore this ancient town. The bazaar here offers the best tailor made clothes and shoes with can be made within a day. Balance of the day is free at leisure for your own exploration
Overnight at Hoi An Trails Resort (B)

Day 8

Danang – Saigon
After breakfast, free at leisure. 12.00PM check-out of the hotel and transfer to the Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel for check-in
Overnight at Duxton hotel (B)

Day 9

Saigon or optional Saigon city tour
After breakfast, free at leisure or you can opt for City tour

Optional City tour – Day trip
After breakfast, commencing our city tour today to visit Saigon’s historic landmarks including the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and the former Presidential Palace, the former US Embassy (outside visit). If time permits, continue to visit the Ben Thanh central market and the Chinese district of Cholon to enjoy the bustling wholesale quarter of Saigon and the Thien Hau temple.
Overnight at Duxton hotel (B)

Day 10

Saigon or optional Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast free at leisure or you can opt for Cu Chi Tunnels day trip

Optional Cu Chi Tunnels – Day trip
After breakfast, enjoy a morning drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Cu Chi district. Upon arrival in Cu Chi district, we have a couple of stops for photo opportunities and a visit to a rice paper making factory. Then we will start to experience ourselves the underground village of Cu Chi guerrilla fighters, the remains of a real bloody battle field which is simply a network of tunnels built during the long years of wars. After the visit, back to Saigon and transfer to your hotel
Overnight at Duxton hotel (B)

Day 11

Saigon or optional My Tho – Mekong Delta
After breakfast, free at leisure or you can opt for Mytho/Mekong Delta

Optional My Tho/Mekong Delta – Day trip
Today is a full-day excursion to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. Leave your hotel for 2-hour drive from Saigon to Tien Giang. Upon arriving in My Tho, board our private motorized boat for a river cruise on the upper part of the Mekong River to visit the fish market, onto the Unicorn island, fruit garden to taste diverse types of fruit, tea mixed with bee honey, followed by a hand rowing sampan ride through the winding and tiny canals offering a close-up view of daily river life. Lunch is on the Turtle Island with a wide variety of Mekong Delta specialties. Drive back to Saigon and transfer to your hotel
Overnight at Duxton hotel (B, L)

Day 12

Saigon - London
After breakfast, free at leisure.12.00P.M check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for onward flight home

Day 13

Arrive back into the UK

*Optional excursions in Hanoi and Saigon are not included in the price.