Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)

 

Hanoi is the oldest capital city in Southeast Asia. Up to now, Hanoi has been one of the few cities in Asia left entirely void of the western-style boxy business architecture. We Hanoi people regard our capital city as heart of Vietnam. Hanoi has always been a symbol of culture and a source of pride throughout the history. We would love to show you city tour with famous landscape

Arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Time to relax after your journey.

Architectural tour of Hanoi, walking around the city center with your guide, examining the French colonial villas a, traditional communal architecture and local houses. Stop at St Joshep Cathedral for coffee break and then cruise ride around the Colonial Quarter in a cyclo, to discover the city's architectural mixture of French colonial style, social realism (mostly public buildings - designed or influenced by the USSR), pagodas and communal houses with many Chinese features, merchants' residences, `tube' dwellings, modern buildings and vernacular houses.

 

Welcome dinner at traditional colonial restaurant .

 

Overnight in Hanoi, at Moevenpick 5* (the hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Hanoi's business district, a 40-minute drive from Noi Bai International Airport and only 5 minutes from the city centre, specially tailored to meet the needs of discerning corporate travellers, colonial architectures)

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong bay - Superior Phoenix Cruiser (B,L,D).

Halong bay, the magnificent heritage with its 2000 islands rising from the emerald water of the Gulf of Tonkin. Ha Long is an excellent example of a Karst landscape created by a complex chain during millions of years of geological movement. Let us take you back in time on a fascinating relaxing journey along the Red River Delta to the World Heritage Site, the Halong Bay

Pick you up at your hotel and, on the way to Halong city, enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

 

Arrive in Halong and board Halong Phoenix Cruiser. Lunch is served with a welcome drink while the boat cruises the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape with Fighting cock, Dog Rock and Incense Burner. After visiting Amazing cave stop at a floating house and go kayaking to Luon cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay. Fresh fruit platter will be served followed by a dinner between 6h30 and 7h00 pm.

 

Overnight on board of Superior Phoenix Cruiser 3* (built in 2007, but based on an exotic oriental junk, offers the best of both worlds: luxurious, traditional styling paired with sophisticated modern facilities and comforts! The boat boasts romantic wooden fixtures, a multitude of windows to make the most of theazing views).

Optional: Emeraude Classic (First Class quality traditional cruise boat, modern replica of the paddle steamers that once cruised the Bay during the Colonial period)

Day 3: Superior Phoenix Cruiser - Halong - Hanoi (B,L)

Sunrise breakfast and cruise around the clear & emerald water to another part of Halong Bay with a close up view of stunning limestone peaks…

 

Stopping at Gia Luan Dock for picking up-dropping off passengers and keeping on another side toward Halong harbor. Lunch on board and enjoy the rest of the boat trip. Arriving at Halong dock have short break before en route to Hanoi. Trip ends around 4h30 pm.

 

In the evening, you will have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an interesting, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture).

 

Overnight stay in Hanoi, at Moevenpick 5* (the hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Hanoi's business district, a 40-minute drive from Noi Bai International Airport and only 5 minutes from the city centre, specially tailored to meet the needs of discerning corporate travellers, colonial architectures).

Day 4: Hanoi - Hue (B)

Hue's Traditional Songs are combinations of vocal and instrumental music based on two major themes expressing various typical forms of emotion. The northern theme can be found both in cheerful and solemn songs. The southern theme is more sentimental, and appears in songs of bitterness, sadness, and in plaintive melodies

 

Morning free time for shopping in the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi. Pick up to the airport for a noon flight to Hue.

 

Arrival in Hue airport, pick up and check-in. Visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and Dong Ba market.

 

In the evening, pick up to board a boat on the Perfume River for a one-hour performance of traditional Hue music.

 

Overnight in Hue, at Saigon Morin hotel 4* (built in 1901 by French, one of the oldest hotels in Vietnam. Survived through many wars, this is more than a Hotel, it's a part of the History of Hue city in the last 100 years. Now lovingly restored to its century-old glory, Saigon Morin is once ready to live up to it's reputation as the choice of celebrities, intrepid adventures and businessmen)


Optional: La residence Hotel & Spa 4*(deluxe boutique hotel, on the bank of the Perfume River)

Day 5 Hue - Danang - Hoi An (B,L)

The garden houses are a unique feature of Hue. The houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in attractive formal gardens. Some have connections with the old Royal Imperial Court. Hue traditional architecture has long had close associations with the natural environment. The garden houses reflect this association. Each is highly individual - house and garden, people and scenery, plants, clouds and water co-exist and blend with each other in a harmonious context. The narrow streets and abundant flora give the garden house area a country village feeling

 

Morning cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, and then by road to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and Emperor Khai Dinh. The two mausoleums span the long reign of the Nguyen King's imperial dynasty...the contrast is stark. Lunch will be at another garden house where the owner will prepare typical Hue food.

After lunch you will be driven you to Danang, crossing the high mountain pass of Hai Van. The views from the top are excellent: Lang Co beach and village, the lagoon far below with Danang spread out. Visit Cham museum before heading to Hoi An.

 

Overnight in Hoi An, at Palm Garden Beach Resort 4* (interesting new villa and bungalow style resort on a 5ha site on the northern section of Cua Dai Beach, Deluxe Ocean View).

Optional: Vinh Hung resort 4*(traditional style on the bank of the Thu Bon River, 500m north of the town, traditional village market every afternoon in the garden).

Day 6: Hoi An - My Son sanctuary - Cooking class (B)

Travel about 50km from Hoi An to My Son sanctuary, which comprises many Champa temples in a valley roughly two kilometers wide, surrounded by two mountain ranges. It was the site of religious ceremony of kings of the Champa dynasty, and was also a burial place of Champa royals and national heroes. The My Son temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes of Hinduism in South East Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. Though the complex has been destroyed over time, many majestic ancient ruins of temples are viewable in the area.

Leaving this site go back about 30 km to embark in a Boat Restaurant. Welcome drink and sail along the major branch of the lower section of the Thu Bon river. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along both banks of the river and the many boats bobbing on the waters. Cooking Class with professional chefs on the Vinh Hung Blue River Boat Restaurant. During the class you will enjoy the challenge of producing Vietnamese foods and receive a recipe containing all the information needed to reproduce an authentic taste, once back home.

Overnight at Palm Garden Beach Resort 4* (interesting new villa and bungalow style resort on a 5ha site on the northern section of Cua Dai Beach, Deluxe Ocean View)

Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh city (B)

After breakfast, free time until been taken to Danang airport for the afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Meet the guide on arrival you and tranfer to your hotel. After checking in you'll be free, perhaps for a preliminary wander around Ho Chi Minh City's busy streets and shops.

 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City, at Grand Saigon Hotel 4* (retaining the French colonial style, an ideal place for businessmen and travellers. This property hosts luxurious guestrooms and suites that are gracefully furnished and come with an array of modern amenities to make your stay a truly memorable one).

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong day trip (B,L)

Exotic life in Mekong Delta can not be seen in any where else all over the world. The rich culture and amazing beautiful fruit orchards offer tourists a relaxing trip. It will value your stay in Vietnam with unforgettable memories, unique experience and chance of communicating with such friendly and hospitable locals

Start the tour early at 7h30 and go ahead to Tien Giang. Boat trip around four beautiful Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix on Tien River. Through Xep canel to visit Mekong traditional houses at Quoi An village (make all from coconut tree). See coconut collection set and how the locals make handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell, enjoy seasonal fruits and listening to traditional music.

Take the horse-cart on village path and stop at Ben Truc orchard, taste honey with tea or wine. See bees-breeding in wooden boxes at local farms, take rowing-boat on water palm creek, lunch on islets at the local house. Experience the friendliness and hospitability of the host. Boat to visit a coconut candy workshop, taste candy (special products of Bentre province).

 

Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, end of the tour at about 5:00 pm.

Overnight at Grand Saigon Hotel 4* (retaining the French colonial style, an ideal place for businessmen, travellers. This property hosts luxurious guestrooms and suites that are gracefully furnished and come with an array of modern amenities to make your stay a truly memorable one).

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh departure

This fantastic holiday comes to an end. After breakfast you will be taken to the airport for your flight.