DAY 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival (Meals:)
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to hotel for check in. The distance is approximately 30 minutes.
Your visa should be pre-arranged, or be sure that your visa-on-arrival letter is in your carry-on luggage. Please go to custom desk as your first point of entry into the country and present these documents for visa upon arrival.
Ho Chi Minh City formerly named Saigon is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam always bustled with activities of modern life. It is where businesses converge and shoppers indulge themselves into unlimited choices. However the city also carries with it a rich historical legacy in contrast with its dazzling glamor.
DAY 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels (Meals:B)
Today, start city tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, which features an extensive collection of exhibits including weaponry, photos and documentation on Vietnam’s wars with the French and Americans and the Reunification Palace, which was formerly the South Vietnam President’s residence and symbol of the Southern Administration’s reign until end of April 1975. Next, stop at the Notre Dame Cathedral, a neo-Romanesque cathedral constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. Afterwards, stroll around Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a neo-Roman cathedral built by the colonial French with materials entirely imported from Marseilles.
Afternoon, continue on to the Old Saigon Post Office, former US Embassy and Cholon, the Chinatown with its Quan Am Pagoda and the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. It was built in 1909 by the Cantonese community. It’s filled with smoky incense and fantastic carved figurines and still buzzing with worshipers, many lounging in the front gardens.
DAY 3: Ho Chi Minh - Full Day Mekong Delta (Vinh Long) (Meals: B)
Today, meet with your hotel to transfer about 136 km to Vinh Long, a riverside town in the vast Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta. Embark a boat cruise to lively Cai Be floating market where sellers and buyers bargain and exchange goods from their boats. Proceed through a fascinating maze of shady canals to Hoa Binh Phuoc Island. Beautiful landscape of zigzag canals, lush vegetation, peaceful villages and activities of rural life will make you a delightful sight. There on the island, visit some local farmers’ homes, interact with warm-hearted hosts and learn about their trades of bonsai gardening, tile and ceramic production and rice paper and coconut candy making. After tour, we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh
DAY 4: Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi - Half Day French Quarter Walking Tour (Meals:B)
Morning, meet your guide & driver at the hotel then transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi.
Flight time is approximately 2 hours.
Arrival Hanoi airport, transfer to hotel with a private vehicle and guide. The transfer distance is approximately 40 minutes. Check in for refresh before a tour.
Afternoon, you will take a tour explores the French Quarter through the ideas of its architects and the shape of its stones. It sets about unraveling all the threads of civilization, which have left their mark on the area, beginning with recent reminders of Soviet style. Only just around the corner discover a different world altogether as we visit the Buddhist pagoda of Quan Su, the center of Vietnamese Buddhism and Tran Hung Dao streets. We will learn about the French approach to justice and punishment and hear tales of daring Vietnamese resistance to the repressive regime. We finish tour with stop to enjoy a nice cup of coffee.
DAY 5: Hanoi Full Day City Tour (Meals:B)
The city tour begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November), the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office and a fine example of French architecture in Hanoi, and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.
Afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of choice namely the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Museum of Revolution, the Museum of Military History or the Museum of Ethnology. Next, head for Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Take a one-hour cycle tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish the tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
DAY 6: Hanoi - Halong Over Night On Boat (Meals:B,L,D)
Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Halong Bay, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. The transfer is approximately 3 hours. You will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields and you may stop on the way to admire the local scenery.
Arrive in Halong City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk when your journey across Halong Bay starts. Halong Bay meaning Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2.
After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbath on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with local people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. An optional kayaking trip is available weather permitting. Back onboard enjoy a lavish dinner and enjoy the bay view at sunset. Spend a night on board.
DAY 7: Halong - Hanoi - Luang Prabang (Meals:Brunch)
In the morning, refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Have tea and coffee onboard and continue exploring Ha Long Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Normally, check out at 09:30, have a buffet brunch while cruising back to shore. Disembark at 11:00 AM to transfer to Hanoi capital. Rest of day is at leisure
Free at leisure until meet our guide then transfer to airport for flight to Luang Prabang.
Arrival airport, please go to custom desk as your first point of entry to get visa-on-arrival into the country and pay stamping fees directly by cash to custom office there then guide will pick you up outside and transfer to the city for check in
DAY 8: Luang Prabang Full Day City Tour (Meals: B)
Morning, explore Luang Prabang including the former royal temples, Wat Visun where one can see the Biggest statue, Wat Xieng Thong the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with its mosaic decoration and the former royal carriage. Next, visit the Museum (former king’s palace).
Afternoon, continue a visit at Photisak silver shop, and Minority Art centre. You also learn how different type of minority groups in Laos, their ways of living, and their survival. End of tour, climb up Mt Phousi overlooking the city of Luang Prabang before passing by the night market. Back to your hotel
DAY 9: Luang Prabang - Khuang Si Waterfall & Ban Chan (Meals:B)
Morning, take a boat cruise on the Mekong River to visit the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. On the way, a stop will be made to visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Visit local villages of Laos ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. These villages have specialized in manufacturing and selling products made from silk and Saa paper for many years ago. You’ll see different kinds of Laos’ traditional crafts.
In the afternoon, go to see the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall, located 30km south of Luang Prabang. You can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools and hike around the falls if wanted. Return to Luang Prabang late afternoon.
DAY 10: Luang Prabang Departure ( Meals:B)
You are free at leisure until transfer to the airport for flight departure
