Vietnam Adventure

12 days Hanoi to Saigon
Trip Code: HS-VFA

Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Learn why people burn incense before Buddha statues and just why motorbikes rule the roads in Vietnam!

Visit a place where quiet rural towns stand in contrast to the fast pace of the cities. Savor scenic, historical, cultural and culinary delights whilst at the same time having a lot of fun, as you travel the length of the country from vibrant Hanoi down to chaotic Ho Chi Minh City.


Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities

Day 2: Hanoi (B)
Today you visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum. The Mausoleum houses the remains of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of the unified Vietnam (the mausoleum and museum is closed October-November), pass by Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple for your luck pray. On the afternoon, spend 2 hour with the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Late afternoon or early evening we take a Cyclo ride through the Old Quarter and onwards to a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
A 3-4 hour drive from Hanoi brings us to Halong Bay. Thousands of islands rise dramatically from the waters of Halong Bay and, to further their beauty, intricate caves have been hollowed out through these limestone karsts formations. Aboard a sailing junk visit some of these islands and caves, perhaps taking a pre-dinner swim, before spending a peaceful night beneath the stars.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hue (B,L)
In the morning continue the cruise to Man's Head Island and Tortoise Island and visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat. After an early lunch on board, we head back to Hanoi with time for shopping or further sightseeing until the overnight train to Hue (approx 13hrs).

Day 5: Hue (B)
We arrive into Hue mid morning and will transfer to our hotel. It's then time to explore Hue, once the imperial capital. We can visit Thien Mu Pagoda and one of the Nguyen emperor’s tombs whilst soaking up the scenery of the countryside.

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (B)
We'll take a morning tour around the Citadel which also contains the Forbidden Purple City, modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. Badly destroyed during the Tet Offensive in 1968, significant restoration work has since occurred. Late morning or early afternoon we'll drive over the Hai Van Pass and in to Hoi An arriving late afternoon (approx 4hrs).

Day 7: Hoi An (B)
The picturesque port town of Hoi An, once known as Fabio, was an important trading town with strong south Chinese influence and connections. We suggest you take a walking tour of this living museum which includes the Museum of History and Culture, the Tan Ky house, the Japanese bridge, the Fujian Assembly Hall and lunch at a riverside restaurant to sample some of the local delicacies.

Day 8: Hoi An – Da Nang (B)
We leave Hoi An and drive to Danang (45 min) for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh Just north of Hoi An is Danang, a major US military base during the war and site of an excellent museum documenting Cham art and history.

Day 9: Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
A short flight takes us to Ho Chi Minh City, the sprawling metropolis that once was the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center.We take a short Cyclo tour passing some of the cities main sights stopping for some rational Vietnamese food. You can also visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Continue if you wish with a visit to Reunification Palace, the residence of the presidents of South Vietnam before 1975. Or better still leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head to the Saigon Water Park.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta (B,L,D)
Drive south of Saigon and the change of pace down in the Mekong Delta. Thousands of small islands and inlets are formed down here as the mighty Mekong river splinters up before reaching the South China Sea.A boat trip through floating markets and small villages shows a different side of Vietnamese life. Be amazed at how the locals rely on the Mekong for everything! We will spend the night in a small village down in the delta with a great chance to interact with the locals.

Day 11: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Return in the afternoon to Ho Chi Minh City for some last minute shopping before we have our last night dinner together.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh departure (B)
After breakfast, the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time.


Tour price:
3* star: 869$ Per Person (Min. 2 persons)
4* star: 1,129$ Per Person (Min. 2 persons)
5* star: 1,349$ Per Person (Min. 2 persons)

What's Included
Cyclo tour through Old Quarter, Water puppets in Hanoi, Halong Bay boat trip, Citadel tour in Hue, Ho Chi Minh market lunch, Saigon Cyclo tour, Mekong Delta boat trip, arrival transfer

Group Size
Max 15, Avg 10

Group Leader
Local guides

Accommodation
Hotels (8 nights), Homestay (1 night), sleeper train (1 night), overnight Junk boat (1 night)

My Own Room
Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops, with the following exceptions: Night 3, Halong Bay boat; Night 4, Sleeper train; Night 10, Homestay

Transport
Train, local bus, air conditioned bus, plane, cyclo, boat

Meals Included
11 Breakfasts, 03 Lunches, 02 Dinner

Meal Budget
Allow USD160 for meals not included.