TRIP OVERVIEW
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+84 24 3927 6076Starts in/Finishes in: Hanoi/Vung Tau
Highlights:
- See the uniquely northern Vietnamese water puppet performance
- Sample delicious street foods prepared by the locals
- Spend a night cruising and kayaking Halong Bay aboard a traditional Junk
- Visit the sights of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An on foot
- Get closer to poorer communities in the outskirt of Hoi An and have both fun-filled and educational experiences
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels to discover the amazing network of underground tunnels built by the Viet Cong
- Sample colorful floating markets and cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables in Mekong Delta
TRIP IN DETAILS
When you arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi, you’ll be welcome by one of our representative and transferred to your hotel in the downtown. The remainder of the day will be your own.
Meals:
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle
This city tour of Hanoi takes in essential sites which will commence from your hotel lobby at 08.30 am. In the morning, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex including the Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum; The Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070.
After lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant, you’ll continue visiting the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country, containing an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples; a cyclo ride for 1 hour touring through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter – a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.
Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Monday and Fridays, as well as from 15th June to 15th August (approx.) for annual conservation.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle
After breakfast, a two hour road trip through picturesque countryside and agricultural land will take you to Hoa Lu. On arrival, your guide will lead you through this ancient complex which formed the capital city of Vietnam under both the Dinh and Le Dynasties between 968 and 1009 AD. King Dinh Tien Hoang chose this mountain location as the water systems fed from the mountains were perfect for both agriculture and defense. Enjoy the sight of palaces, pagodas, tombs and pavilions built by different dynasties and visit the Dinh and Le Temples, the two remaining architectures of Hoa Lu. From there, hop on your bike for a 10km gentle ride through some of the most stunning landscapes in the countryside. Bike on picturesque back roads, through rice fields and along streams before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant near Tam Coc. In the afternoon, take a three hour sampan ride along the waterways of Tam Coc. Known locally as the ‘Halong Bay of the land,’ this winding river way is dotted with gorgeous limestone karsts with endless photo opportunities. You will also visit Bich Dong Pagoda comprising three pagodas located at different levels on a green mountain and the setting of the French film ‘Indochine’.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat
After breakfast, continue your family holiday package to Vietnam with 2-day cruise in Halong Bay. You’ll leave for Halong Bay with a refreshment break en route. Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. Visit ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits. Return to the junk refreshed and invigorated and relax on deck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Overnight Cruises
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat
Enjoy an early morning swim (if weather permits) followed by breakfast. The tour then visit one of the famous caves in the middle of the bay before cruising back to the main harbor for a 3,5-4 hour drive back to Hanoi. At 18.00, you will be picked up by driver to Hanoi Train Station for an overnight train journey to Danang. Overnight on the train.
Meals:
Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation:
Overnight Train
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat, Overnight Train
At 10:31 a.m., your guide and driver will meet you at Danang station and transfer you to hotel. Afternoon, you’ll start a walking tour with numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, a museum and the colorful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you walk along tiny streets with houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures.
After your walking tour, your time will be at leisure to wander around or go shopping. Your lunch will be at a local restaurant. The remainder of the day will be your own.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle
A free day of leisure in Hoi An.
Note: There are various optional activities for your free time in Hoi An such as a half day tour by Vespa and enjoy street food; a half day getting closer to farming and fishing communities with lunch on the boat; a day trip to Cu Lao Cham Island for swimming and snorkeling. These are few options and can be arranged at extra cost.
Alternatives for Day 7 in Hoi An:
| Option 1: Vespa Street Foot Tour (Private Tour) You might consider to do a street food adventure by Vespa with your guide [at extra cost]. In the morning, your guide will be met at your hotel and start the street food adventure by riding your bicycle to Tan An Central Market. Visit the bustling food hall where you can see a huge array of home-cooked street foods. Stroll around the market, learn how local people purchase the essential ingredients for their daily meals and buy some for dishes which will be prepared afterward at a local home. Continue cycle to a local family where they make the famous White Rose dumpling and see how the dish, which is being sold in every restaurant and food stall in Hoi An, is made at home. Head to another local family making ‘Mi Quang’ noodle and learn the process in making the well-known noodle dish originating from the central region. Another short ride will take you to another local home in the peaceful and beautiful countryside. Refresh with a cool drink. You will then prepare the ingredients for your dishes and start the hands-on on food experience with the local family. Sample the foods prepared by the local family and your own-prepared foods. Bidding farewell to the host family and cycle back to your hotel. If you take this option, the remainder of the afternoon will be your own! |
| Option 2: Cu Lao Cham Island ½ Day (Join In) 8:00: local tour guide pick up you at the hotel’s lobby, you will be transferred to Cua Dai harbour to register with the Border Police before heading to the islands. when Arriving in the island, your guide will take you to the showroom where the history, map, objects are displayed. visiting Au Thuyen where the local boats are hidden in big storms, walking along the rice field to the over-100-years-old temple of Hai Tang.9:50 –11:00: back to the boat for snorkeling for half an hour at Xep beach. Here you can swim, see the forest of nice coral under the sea, then go to Chong beach for lunch and relax14:00: back to Cua Dai estuary where out vehicle will take you back to Hoi An |
| Option 3: Farming & Fishing Life (Join In) This trip provides you with a close-up and intimate exposure to both the local farming and fishing communities. Accompanied by your local tour guide, you commence the day with a scenic drive to Hoi An, then a gentle cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities – coming and visiting a beautiful organic vegetable village, watering and planting vegetable, hoeing a soil with local farmer, riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field; seeing ducks swimming along the rice farm or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless. You will also experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you en-route. Later you will board a boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while the waterways of coconut palm paradise. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities. |
Meals:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Free morning at leisure. Afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel in the city centre.
Meals:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Plane
An 1,5 hour drive will take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels where you will visit the amazing network of underground tunnels was used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide. After lunch [at your own cost], return to Ho Chi Minh City.
Embark on a guided city tour starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opener to a part of Vietnam’s proud history, followed by the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam.
After lunch, you will continue by heading to Chinatown with walking tour through back streets of China town near Cho Lon to view the local daily life. Stop off for a visit of Thien Hau temple, which was built in the early 19th Century dedicated to Thien Hau, the goddess of seafarers. We delve deeper into Chinatown visiting the amazing Cholon and Binh Tay Market (or Ben Thanh market) for an insight into where locals shop. Then you’ll be back to hotel at around 17:00.
Alternative for the evening in Ho Chi Minh City: Food Tour by Vespa Scooter
At 18:00, you’ll be picked up at hotel for Vespa tour [join-in]. Your first stop is to Café zoom to “watch the world goes by” (quoted by The Lonely Planet) and enjoy cocktail and appetizer (inclusive) before adventuring into favorite local eating spot. You’ll experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Then the tour will continue to a hidden Vietnamese-style coffee shop to have a taste of Vietnamese music (live) as a local. After this the tour will bring you to a Mall (Diamond Plaza or Birdie Buddies Kids Club at Crescent Mall) to enjoy some games before returning to your hotel. Your overnight stay will be in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle
This morning you will leave Ho Chi Minh City for Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Long market in town where you will walk through the market to see local produce are on sales including, seafood, tropical fruits, vegetable. Embark on a private boat for cruising to visit brick-kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Visit a nursery garden and meet with a famous farmer or his son who is very successful in Vietnam agriculture. He will invite you to sample seasonable fruits from his garden & homemade local vodka. Then take a rowing sampan along small creeks before cruising to your homestay on An Binh Island for a traditional music show. Next up is cycling along village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways of picking up fruits in Mekong Delta. Return to your homestay where you can join hand and help the host to prepare and cook some dishes for dinner. Enjoy diner and taster a cup of local rice vodka if you want to.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Homestay
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat
This morning your boat will take you to Cai Be colorful floating market where you will cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. An optional stop can be made at local workshops to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn …Visit other handicraft villages before returning by road to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. The remainder of the day will be your own.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Hotel
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat
This morning, a 2,5 hour drive will take you to Ho Tram Resort & Spa in Vung Tau. The remainder of the day will be your own!
Located along the coastal road of Ba Ria, Vung Tau Province, Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa is the ideal get-away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. A mere two-hour leisurely drive from Saigon, Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa showcases authentic Vietnamese architecture, set against a backdrop of blue seas, clear skies and rich garden landscapes. Using only the highest quality of indigenous materials, the Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa allows the guests to experience the local culture and enjoy international standards of services.
Meals:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Resort
Transportation:
Private vehicle
The day will be your own to spend as your wish!
Meals:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Resort
Transportation:
Your time will be your own until being picked up to Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your departure flight. Farewell from Vietnam!
Meals:
Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transportation:
Private vehicle
PRICE GUIDE & NOTES
From: US$ per person for a private tour of minimum 4 guests traveling together
Valid till October 31, 2024
Meals:
13 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 2 Dinners, 1 Brunch 
Transportation:
Private vehicle, Boat, Overnight Train, Plane
Accommodation:
13 NightsWHAT'S INCLUDED
- All pick-ups and transfers by private vehicles with experienced drivers and shared shuttle bus for round trip transfers between Hanoi & Halong Bay.
- Accommodation in chosen hotels – Twin/Double share (your family will stay in two rooms) & home stay in the Mekong Delta
- 1 night on a traditional wooden junk on Halong Bay.
- One-way train ticket Hanoi – Danang (private soft 4 berth cabin with airconditioned on SE1 train)
- Domestic flight tickets Danang – Ho Chi Minh City (economy class by Vietnam Airlines, inclusive of domestic airport taxes)
- Experienced English speaking local guides (we often use 3 local guides for Vietnam, one covers the north and centre Vietnam and another guide will cover southern Vietnam)
- Private boat cruise in the Mekong Delta
- Meals as indicated in the programme
- All entrance fee as mentioned in the programme
- 1 hour cyclo ride & First class water puppet tickets
- All VAT and other government taxes
HOTEL LIST
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
- Entry visa to Vietnam
- International flights and airport taxes
- Travel Insurances
- Drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not mentioned on the program
- Bank transfer fees
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