DAY 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival (Meals:No)
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: Full Day City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels (Meals:B)
Today, meet your guide and transfer about 75 km North-west of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Discover the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and the Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.
Afternoon, city tour with a visit to 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. Continue on to the Old Saigon Post Office, former US Embassy and Cholon, the China town 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 City - Mekong Delta (My Tho) (Meals:B)
Morning, you will be picked up and travel past miles of flat rice fields, along a bustling road to the Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta and Vietnam's largest rice bowl.
On arrival in My Tho City, board a motorboat and navigate through intricate canals while observing the local daily life up close as well as the landscape of waterways and lush islands. Land on Thoi Son Island where you can listen to Southern traditional music performed by native artists. Next, you will change to a paddle boat to cruise through the narrow canals and visit households with traditional occupations of home-based coconut candy and rice-wine making. Continue travel by motorized boat to another island to visit a bee farm and taste tea with fresh honey from the beehives and enjoy fresh fruits. On the return to My Tho, stop to visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, a prominent local Buddhist structure built in 1850 with a unique architectural mixture of Vietnamese, Roman, Chinese and Cambodian styles characterized by a highly ornate façade. You might enjoy a lovely lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant. At the end of the tour, you will find the way back to Ho Chi Minh.
DAY 4: Ho Chi Minh - Da Nang - Hoi An Half Day City Tour ( Meals:B)
Morning, transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for flight to Da Nang. Flight time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Arrival Da Nang airport, you are transferred to Hoi An ancient town by private car & guide. The transfer distance from Da Nang to Hoi An is approximately 30 minutes
Afternoon, your private guide will take you to visit the town. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Your sightseeing will include the iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge with a small temple attached to one side as a prominent example of Japanese architecture, the Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house built in 1858 showcasing antique ceramic artifacts, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, the Ong Temple built in 1653 by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu, an ancient Chinese general whose character stands for loyalty, bravery and justice and the local market vibrant with colors and activities.
DAY 5: Hoi An Half Day Cooking Class (Meals:B,L)
Today, meet your guide at hotel and transfer out to a local market where another guide from the local cooking school will take you on a half day cooking class. Walk through the market where you learn about all the fresh ingredients that will be used in Vietnamese recipes. After the market tour, ride a boat along the Hoi An river for about 25 minutes, watch local fishermen casting nets as part of their daily routine on way to the cooking school. Arrive at a small township and walk to the cooking school. The lesson starts in an open-air pavilion by the river under the instruction of an experienced chef. Observe, practice, cook traditional Vietnamese dishes. Finally, enjoy the lunch that you have prepared.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch after cooking
DAY 6: Hoi An – Hue River Cruise ( Meals:B)
Morning, transfer from Hoi An to Hue with a private car and guide. The transfer is approximately 2.5 hours
Hue city is the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s beauty is characterized by a natural scenic landscape and an extensive variety of historical relics. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner.
Arrival Hue, begin with a biking tour along the Perfume River. You will have chance to see how the local people live in Vy Da village and enjoy the Hue tea or coffee while learning more about ancient architecture. Continue to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style. Next, visit Tu Duc Tomb, one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s finest architectural works nested in a pine forest where the 4th emperor of the Nguyen family was laid to rest. Last, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city’s traditional commercial center
DAY 7: Hue Citadel Tour - Hanoi ( Meals:B)
Meet our guide at your hotel for a city tour of Hue – the former imperial capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, making it become the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s beauty is characterized by a natural scenic landscape and an extensive variety of historical relics. Start off with Hue Citadel, known as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Then continue to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Vietnam’s second-to-last king, and the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a blend of Western and Eastern architecture on a steep hill. Next, visit Tu Duc Tomb, one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s finest architectural works nested in a pine forest where the 4th emperor of the Nguyen family was laid to rest. End of the day by wandering around Dong Ba market, the city’s traditional commercial center.
You are free until transfer to Hue airport for flight to Hanoi Capital. Flight time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Arrival Hanoi airport, meet your guide & driver then transfer to the city. The transfer distance is approximately 45 minutes. Check in & free at leisure
Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.
DAY 8: Hanoi Full Day City Tour - French Quarter Walking ( 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, 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. Next, 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. We finish tour with stop to enjoy a nice cup of coffee (egg coffee).
DAY 9: Hanoi - Halong Bay Over Night On Boat ( Meals:B,L,D)
Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer to Ha Long 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 Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view.
Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk when your journey across Ha Long Bay starts. Ha Long 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 10: Halong - Hanoi - Yangon ( Meals:B)
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.
Free at leisure until meet our guide then transfer to airport for flight to Yangon. Flight time is approximately 2 hours.
Arrival Yangon airport, you are transferred to hotel in the city by private car & guide. The transfer from airport to hotel is approximately 50 minutes.
DAY 11 : Yangon Full Day City Tour ( Meals:B)
This full day tour today we will show you the different faces of Yangon. We start from the bottom of the hill and passing the workshops, small downtown area including several markets, colonial buildings and monasteries, which will be useful or even essential to understand more of the country during the rest of your journey. Visit the 2,600 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese can be seen from almost anywhere in Yangon. Witness the colors transform on the 100-meter pagoda which is literally covered with over 60 tons of gold leaf. So what’s behind the golden façade of the Shwedagon Pagoda? You will learn about the full history of the pagoda, the daily life of all people living in its immediate surroundings and a deeper insight in the Buddhist religion and how the spiritual belief is mixed with the belief in nats – the Myanmar spirits.
Return to the hotel for relax
DAY 12: Yangon - Bagan ( Meals:B)
Free at leisure until transfer to airport for domestic flight to Bagan city. Flight time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Arrival airport, you are transferred to Bagan ancient town by private car & guide. Check in & free at leisure
DAY 13: Bagan Full Day City Tour ( Meals:B)
Bagan is really quiet, it’s a beautiful area, and the temples here are often completely deserted. Your experienced guide through Bagan will show you the best-known temples of the area. Minnanthu is probably the most favorite temple area amongst frequent Bagan visitors but whenever you see a temple you like, just ask your guide to stop to have a look at it – simply pick your own favourite temple. Start the day climbing a pagoda to get a first impressive view over the whole area. From here you continue to move to the other amazing temples that have been here for hundreds of years. Places like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu will certainly impress you.
Return to hotel afterwards your guide pick you up again at around 16.00 pm to continue the tour by horse cart to Pyathagyi pagoda for sunset.
DAY 14: Bagan – Mandalay - The Glass Palace - The Royal History Of Mandalay ( Meals:B)
Morning, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. Flight time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle. The distance is almost 1 hour driving.
Arrival, check in your booked hotel for refresh before discovering city.
Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar Kingdom before the annexation of British in 1885, the period of kingdom was very short, but the name Mandalay becomes well known by “Rudyard Kipling”. King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat were the last royalties of Burma until being sent to exile. Today we visit the rebuilt palace designed by king Mindon. The royal palace wall surrounded by the moat is one of the great things to visit and it has been re-created after 1945, by 2nd War World. We enter the palace main gate and from here we continue to visit the most beautiful part which is the wood-carved Shwenandaw monastery just outside the palace in which king Mindon lived and died. King Thibaw later used this building for meditation. We continue to the lesser-known Setkyathiha pagoda with a bronze Buddha statue, brought to Mandalay by king Thibaw just before the beginning of the war. The royal family collected many religious artefacts and we witness the process of making gold leaves, woodcarvings and silver or gold threaded kalagas (tapestry).
We have a visit to a viewpoint near the Ayeyarwaddy River for a cold Mandalay beer during sunset. Continue to the busy Yadanar night market to have some traditional snacks and a walk around before heading to one of the most famous beer stations and BBQ restaurants in Mandalay. Your guide will order the food and be sure you’re satisfied. We continue before 8:30 PM to the excellent Mandalay marionettes theater for a show performed by a mix of traditional musicians, puppeteers and dancers.
DAY 15: Mandalay - Cruise Visit Ava, Sagaing & Amarapura (Full Day) ( Meals:B)
Today, from the jetty in Mandalay we relax on a leisurely boat cruise for about 2 hours downstream to Sagaing passing the temple dotted hills where we stop and visit the Setkyar Thida nunnery. Afterward, we continue by boat to Ava, horse carts are ready to take us around this magnificent site past ancient temple ruins that used to be majestic buildings. Lunch will be taken in Ava before we go to Amarapura by car. The old capital of Amarapura is a very quiet village nowadays where you only hear the sound of the weaving machines. Visit one of the small weaving factories and walk slowly over U-Bein Bridge. It’s an ideal excursion if you don’t take the boat from Mandalay to Bagan since the most interesting part of the long boat ride is covered in this shorter cruise
DAY 16: Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake ( Meals:B)
Morning, transfer to Mandalay airport for domestic flight to Heho. Flight time is approximately 1hour. Meet your driver for an airport transfer to Inle Lake for the tour
Described in many books that the Shan has the most interesting and rich culture. Begin with a visit of the Buddha Museum, housed in the former Haw (palace) of the last Shan prince of Nyaung Shwe; Mr. Sao Shwe Thaike. You might enjoy a Shan lunch here before our tour to the local market, traditional Shan cotton and Shan traditional dresses make this a very colorful sight. A visit to the ancient teak wooden Shwe Yan Pyay monastery with oval windows certainly gives you the opportunity to take great pictures. You are being peddled around small canals and pass floating gardens in a small wooden boat to see more of the local Shan life from the water. End the tour with a visit and some wine tasting of the excellent wines at the Red Mountain Winery.
DAY 17: Inle Lake - Ruins Of Indein & Floating Gardens - Yangon ( Meals:B)
Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages that certainly is worth a visit. Surrounding and on the lake itself the Intha people have been living for many centuries in villages built entirely on stilts. Embark on a private motorboat around the lake to discover its natural beauty, visit the floating gardens, see some of the famous leg rowers, and have a cup of tea at a local family’s house. On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule. You will be taken to visit one of these colorful markets frequented by Shan and PaO people. You certainly also visit a local cheroot factory (where the Burmese cigars are made), Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Intha Heritage house - where the Burmese cats are bred, a weaving factory and floating tomato gardens if wanted.
Transfer to airport, continue take flight back to Yangon. Arrival airport, you are welcomed by our guide & driver then transfer to the city
DAY 18: Yangon Departure ( Meals:)
Free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight departure
