Welcome to Vietnam!

After arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city center. Hotel check-in is available from 2pm. The rest of the day is free for relax or for discovering city by yourself. Overnight at a hotel.

After breakfast, we will start by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, constructed between 1877 and 1880 by the French. Taking a few steps from the Cathedral, we will head to the Central Post Office. We will admire its interior with the arched roof and curved windows, reminiscent of early European railway stations. We will then continue to visit the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace. After a refreshing lunch, we will head to the Cu Chi Tunnel system built from 1946 to 1968 by local people and soldiers using a variety of simple tools. During the American bombings and attacks, they were turned into underground tunnels which could house up to 10,000 people, with trapdoors, living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, armoury, hospitals, and command centres. We will enter some parts of the underground tunnel to understand the tunnel system better. Return to Saigon. Overnight at a hotel.

After a yummy breakfast, we will leave the hotel at 8am and make our way to Ben Tre Province in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier (90km from Saigon), we get on a boat and cruise along the Ben Tre River. The boat will stop at a traditional brick factory for you to explore its imposing ovens.

We will have a short break at a coconut candies workshop, where you will observe how coconut flesh is used and processed. A short tuk-tuk ride on the winding small road of the countryside will take you into the green villages and we will stop at a family braiding mats. The local restaurant will prepare typical dishes of the Mekong delta for your lunch. Following this, we will board a rowing boat to join the maze of canals and return to the landing stage. We will then transfer to Can Tho province. Overnight at the hotel or homestay in Can Tho.

In the morning, we will take an early boat trip to the well-known Cai Rang floating market. The largest in the region, Cai Rang has a variety of boats stuffed with fruit and vegetables which are freshly gathered every day. After exploring the busy market, you will take a walk in Mr. Tu Dung’s orchard to taste fresh local tropical fruits. We will then visit a workshop where you will see how the local (canna indica) vermicelli is made. Continuing, we will visit Binh Thuy’s old house, the site of the 1992 film adaptation of Marguerite Duras’ novel l’Amant. Transfer to Saigon airport for your flight to Danang. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An where you will check in and rest.

After a delicious breakfast, our guide and driver will take you to the fishing village of Cam Thanh to explore the daily life of the local fishermen. We will get on a boat to cruise downstream on Cua Dai River and drop in on a local fisherman to see how he catches fish by net. Then, we will try paddling in a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat to traverse a tranquil waterway bordered by coconut-palms. Back on the boat, we will enjoy a typical fisherman’s lunch. In the morning, we will take a half-day walking tour of Hoi An ancient town. In this UNESCO-classified world heritage site, we will visit Chua Ong Pagoda (dedicated to “Quan Thanh De Quan” – an ancient Chinese general), the 200-years-old Tan Ky house (with Japanese and Chinese influenced architecture), and the Japanese Covered Bridge (built by the Japanese then living in Hoi An to connect their quarter to that of the Chinese). Overnight at the hotel.

Free time for relax in beach.

You will have the morning free on the beach.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Hue – the last imperial capital of Vietnam. We will have some stopovers to visit the Marble Mountains and Cham Museum in Da Nang city. We will then follow the road crossing the scenic Hai Van Pass (21 km long) enjoying an impressive landscape of verdant mountains and clear blue skies.

We will arrive in Hue, where you will stay overnight at a local hotel.

We will transfer to the city center to discover the Complex of the Imperial City, which includes the Meridian Gate, Palace of Supreme Harmony, Royal Theatre, Khon Thai Palace, and The Mieu Palace. Then, we will drive to visit the mausoleum of Tu Duc, the 4th Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. The Tomb comprises 50 monuments arranged asymmetrically and has successfully maintained a perfect harmony between buildings and nature. After a refreshing lunch, we will transfer to Dam Chuon lagoon, making stops to visit a communal house and a small residential house where Ho Chi Minh spent his childhood in Duong No village. Once we arrive at Dam Chuon lagoon, we will board a sampan and learn about the life of fishermen while watching the sunset on the horizon. We will stop at a small floating restaurant to eat freshly caught seafood. We will return to the city center and you will have free time to explore the peaceful streets of Hue. You will stay overnight at a local hotel.

After a delicious breakfast, the tour guide will pick you up at the airport. Flight to Hanoi. Arrival and check in at your hotel. In the afternoon, you will then visit the Temple of Literature, constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which was also used as the first Royal National University of Vietnam. There are 82 stone steles, carried by tortoises, engraved with names, birthdates, and birthplaces of honored doctorates from 1442 to 1779. We will then discover the Old Quarter. It’s time to get lost in the labyrinth of lanes, in which each narrow street once specialized in a specific type of manufacturing or trade. There is no better way of exploring this commercial quarter than on foot to capture all aspects of local daily life: crafts, Buddhism, temples, gastronomy, local markets, traditional tube-houses (a Vietnamese particularity) and medicines. The tour will end with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching a traditional water puppet show.

Today, you will discover daily life in the local area, ancient pagodas and authentic villages in the suburban of Hanoi. We will travel to the Thay pagoda, which was built in the 11th century during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong. The pagoda’s abbot monk was Tu Dao Hanh who was well-known for his humility and generosity towards the poor. He was the inventor of the water puppet, which recorded the lives of the rural population.

Then we will visit a craft family making bamboo baskets and dragonflies, butterflies. The family members will show you how to make your own bamboo souvenirs to bring back home.

Afterwards, we will visit the Duong Lam village, a well-known village in Vietnam for its 300-year-old houses, grand communal halls, and pagodas. Two of Vietnam’s kings Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung were from the Duong Lam area. You will enjoy a local delicious lunch with a family of the village. In the afternoon, you will take a bicycle excursion to discover the village’s highlights: old houses, the communal house of Mong Phu, the Mia Pagoda built in iron wood (iroko wood) and the temple of King Ngo Quyen. You will return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, depart for Mai Chau via the winding and steep passes at Thung Khe, Thung Nhuoi. The landscape slowly changes from the hustle and bustle of the capital, becoming more and more rural, countryside as far as the eye can see, green expanses of rice paddies, all around hills and houses built of bamboo canes and dirt roads. Arrive and check in at your hotel. Pass through the villages of Mai Hich, Lac, Pom Coong, Na Tang, on a bicycle or walking tour. The route passes pristine landscapes of rice paddies and the extraordinary surrounding mountains, and you will meet local inhabitants with the opportunity to visit their homes. Our guide explains the local cultural identity, the unique characteristics of the life of the Thai, Dao or H’Mong ethnic group.

Dinner at the hotel, enjoy a popular music show in the evening. Wine tasting made from fermented rice with typical straws (the ‘Can’). Overnight in a hotel or in a homestay in Mai Chau.

In the morning, we will drive to Pu Luong. The road leading to Pu Luong Nature Reserve takes you to breathtaking mountain passes and offers fascinating bird’s- eye views of the whole valley. We will reach Pu Luong right in time for a delicious lunch. You will have free time to rest after the long drive or you can choose to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating views and tranquil setting. In the afternoon, we will transfer 12km from the Retreat to the starting place of our walking journey. After crossing the suspension bridge over the Cham River, we will follow the stream and walk across rice fields, from village to village hunting beautiful water wheels. You can approach the wheels to investigate how water is conducted from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts by simple devices of all sizes. On arriving in Chieng Lau village, we will take a rest and enjoy the peaceful streamside scenery. We will then walk to the main road and take the car back to your hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

In the morning, we will drive 140km to Tam Coc also known as “Dry Halong Bay”. We will have the chance to pass by some of the most picturesque scenery in Vietnam. You will visit two ancient temples dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang – the founder of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and Le Dai Hanh – the founder of Early Le Dynasty (980 – 1009).

In the afternoon, you will board a rowing boat for a peaceful navigation along Ngo Dong River and Tam Coc meaning “three caves”. During the boat trip, you will cruise among limestone mountains reflected in the emerald water, between rice fields and through three beautiful limestone caves beautifully decorated with stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes and shapes. We will spend the rest of the day riding a bicycle and getting lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages. We will visit Bich Dong pagoda, which hides among the trees on a lush hillside. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the harbour of Ha Long Bay, whose name means ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’, already recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Accommodation in the furnished cabin with a splendid view of the bay, welcome drink and an information briefing during your stay on board. An exquisite lunch is served with fresh seafood. Free time to relax before the afternoon’s interesting activities.

Start with an exploration of Luon Cave which is considered as one of the most ideal places in Halong for kayaking or rowing boat. After that, you can visit Titov Island, where you can go swimming or hike to the top for another stunning, panoramic view of the Bay. Enjoy your special dinner in restaurants with the best view of Halong bay.

Free time to challenge yourself in the night squid fishing or enjoy the tranquility of the night on your boat.

Wake up early to witness an enchanting sunrise. For those interested, a short Tai Chi lesson on the terrace will refresh your mind and body. In the morning, you can also enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while admiring the extraordinary landscape.

Your next excursion is a visit to the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, where you can take in the panoramic views across Halong Bay. You can also participate in a cooking class. The chef will show you the tricks of cooking our country’s typical dishes and then enjoy them with brunch.

Disembark from the ship around noon and meet our guide for the transfer to Noi Bai airport. Flight back to your country. End of services.

Thank you for travelling with Asia Viva Travel.