Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (D)
Meet on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to hotel for check in. In the afternoon: City tour (if time permits): Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, Hoa Lo prison and Quan Thanh Temple. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L)
Morning: City tour: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and whole October-November) and Residence, One Pillar Pagoda, Army Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon: Drive to Halong, 180 km east of Hanoi. Overnight in Halong City.
Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
In the morning: Discover Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. A 5-hour cruise on a wooden boat through the picturesque bay of 3, 000 limestone islands dotted with caves and grottoes. Seafood lunch on board. In the afternoon: Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi – Bat Trang – Dong Ky – Dong Ho – Hanoi (B, L)
In the morning: Depart for Dong Ky village in Bac Ninh province. Visit the traditional carpentry village. Continue to visit Dong Ho village which is famous with the art of painting naïve pictures. Drive back to Gia Lam to visit Bat Trang pottery village. Lunch at local restaurant.
Evening: Transfer to Hanoi railway station to board night train Hanoi-Hue. Overnight on train.
Day 5: Hanoi – Hue (B, L)
09h30 Arrive at Hue railway station and drive to visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Tombs. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to hotel for check in. Afternoon boat trip on Perfume River, visit Thien Mu Pagoda and then drive to visit Imperial Citadel. Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (B, L)
Morning: Drive to Danang across the Hai Van Pass, passing through many pretty red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea. Visit Cham Museum.
Afternoon: Continue drive to visit Marble Mountain, China Beach then proceed to Hoi An and transfer to hotel. Discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Nha Trang (B)
Morning is free at leisure. Drive to Danang, lunch at local restaurant then transfer to the railway station for day train Danang-Nha Trang. Arrival, transfer to hotel for accommodation. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 8: Nha Trang (B, L)
Morning visit Long Son Pagoda and the Po Nagar Cham Tower, a sacred Hindu site dating back to the 2nd century AD. The town was built between the 7th and 12th centuries and is still used today as a place of pilgrimage for the Cham and Vietnamese Buddhists.
Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach.
Day 9: Nha Trang (B)
Free time for sunbathing
Day 10: Nha Trang - Mui Ne (B)
After breakfast, ready for the car transfer to Mui Ne, On arrival check in the hotel, free time
Day 11: Mui Ne (B)
Free time to join beach activities
Day 12: Mui Ne – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Morning: Ready for the Car transfer to Ho Chi Minh City
Afternoon: Drive to Cu Chi (75 km) visit an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war. Return to Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Morning: Coach trip to My Tho (2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City) and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda. My Tho is a prosperous town of 170, 000 inhabitants in the Mekong Delta. It is famous for its extensive orchards and immense rice fields. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River and visit an orchard on an island, with lunch en route. Continue with a visit to a snake farm and then drive back Ho Chi Minh City.
Alternative program: Pick up at hotel, drive to Cu Chi (75 km) and visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the American war. Proceed to Tay Ninh, center of the Cao Dai religion founded in 1926, a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)
Free until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.
