Best of Vietnam - 08 Days

Saigon, Mekong, Hue, Hoi An, Ha Noi, Ha Long Bay

• Private tour with English/Italien speaking guide • Date of Departure is at your wish • Starting from HCMC & end in Ha Noi

 

Travel the length of Vietnam on this weeklong tour, stopping in HCMC (in the south), Hanoi (in the north), and the beaches and small towns of the central coast in between. Begin in dynamic HCMC, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum . Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and accessories desigined by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Try the south's strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi (baguette sandwich). Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an unusual, eclectic religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Daism, a unique fusion of world religions, in Tay Ninh . Alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta.

Next, fly to atmospheric Hoi An , a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and rivert town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. Nearby, see ancient sculptures in the Cham Museum, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. Opt to stay at a luxury beach resort in nearby Danang, or a boutique riverside hotel in the heart of Hoi An.

Wrap up in Hanoi , Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance at the Thanh Long Water Puppet Theater. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature.

Also spend a day cruising Halong Bay , where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape.

 

Day 1: Arrival HCMC

Warmly welcome on arrival HCMC airport. Transfer to hote. At leisure. Afternoon private city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon . It is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. Don't miss the bustling Ben Thanh Market, The War Remnants Museum, The Reunification Palace. Overnight in HCMC.

 

Day 2: Mekong Delta Excursion (B/L)

Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where you will board a private boat to go through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard. Some stops en route to see farmers working on paddy fields. View the stilt houses and the fruit plantation along the river bank. Visit the fishing village, floating fish farm and market on islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix Islands.

Take row-boat winding along narrow water palm creek. Then take the bicycle (12km) or horse cart through coconut garden, experience local people’s daily activities along the village paths. On the way, stop to visit the local people house to see how they pack banana and coconut-leaves cakes, enjoy seasonal fruits, a local coconut candy workshop; taste candy (local special product).

Walk on Monkey Bridge to see the local people making rice paper cake, rice wine. Have lunch with local cuisine and then move to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.

 

Day 3: Floating Market - HCMC (B/L)

Take a boat trip (4 hours) to see Cai Rang/Phong Dien floating market in the Western of Vietnam. On the way you’ll visit a rice noodle factory and learn how to make rice noodle. Then take a slow boat trip along the small beautiful canals. Overnight in HCMC.

 

Day 4: HCMC - Danang - Hoian (B/-/L)

Transfer to airport for flight to Danang on Vietnam Airlines. Upon arrival at Danang you will be greeted by our guide who will begin by escorting you on a tour of Danang City, including the Cham Museum where you can find out more about this ancient but advanced civilization.

After leaving Danang we will make our way the short distance to the Marble Mountains, where there will be the opportunity to climb to the top and admire the temples that have a commanding view over the surrounding district. We will continue to the delightful town of Hoi An, approximately 30km away. Once in Hoi An we will check into our hotel and have some free leisure time. Overnight in Hoi An.

 

Day 5: Hoi An (B/L/)

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics.

Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. We enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

 

Day 6 – 31 Dec: Ha Noi haft day tour (B)

Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. Check in your hotel. This afternoon we enjoy a half day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The complex also comprises with One Pillar Pagoda whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam’s first university. If time permit we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale! O/N in Hanoi.

 

Day 7 – 01 Dec: Ha Long Natural World Heritage on Calypso Cruise (B/L/D)

Private car pick up from your hotel and drive to Ha Long City at 8:30 AM for 3 ½ hour drive to Halong. Arrive in Halong board Calypso Cruiser. Lunch is served with a welcome drink while the boat is cruising the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape with Fighting cock, Dog Rock and Incense Burner . After visiting Amazing Cave we 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. Overnight on board. (Kayaking: 1,5hrs)

 

Day 8: Ha Long-Ha Noi (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. such as Drum cave , Man's head Islet….Heading to Van Gia fishing village, you will have the opportunity to understand more about the fishermen's daily life. Having lunch on board with a variety of local foods, enjoying the rest of the boat trip before back to Halong dock. Have a short break before en route to Hanoi . Trip ends around 4h30 pm. Transfer to airport for your flight if you are flying out of Ha Noi

 

Cities	Hotel Name	Room Type
Superior Category
Hanoi	Hanoi Imperial hotel	Superior
	Medalion Hanoi hotel	Superior
Ha Long	Orient Cruise	Superior
Hoian	Ancient House Resort	Deluxe Gardenview
Ho Chi Minh	Oscar Saigon hotel	Oscar Cosy
	Palace Saigon hotel	Signature Superior
Can Tho	Golf Can Tho	Superior
Deluxe Class Category
Hanoi	Intercontinental Hotel Hanoi	Deluxe Pool view
Ha Long	Calypso Cruise	Deluxe
Hoian	Life resort	Deluxe Ocean View
Ho Chi Minh	Caravell	Deluxe
Can Tho	Victoria Can Tho Resort	Deluxe Pool View

Tour price includes:

• Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services. • All private transfer and transportation • Accommodation shared in Double room with daily breakfast • Experienced English or French speaking guide. • All In-tour flights as per itinerary. • Private boat trip as per tour. • Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast ; L: Lunch ; D: Dinner) • All sightseeing tickets. • Seasonal fruits, tissues and water on coach. • Complimentary Vietnam visa on arrival pre-approved letter. • Services charges and government tax. • Exclusive and personalized single agent/single customer service. • No extra charge after confirmation • 24/7 hotline support guaranteed

Tour price excludes:

• International flights & departures taxes • Beverage • Travel insurance • Personal expenses, tips and gratuities • Vietnam visa stamp fee (US$ 25 & 02 passport photos per person) • Other servives not mentioned above.

Group size	Valid from now until 30 Sep 2011 Price per person in USD in party of
	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14	Sgl Sup
Superior	1,930	1,200	1,060	990	930	880	230
Deluxe	2,810	1,700	1,560	1,500	1,440	1,350	580