DAY 1: Hanoi – Arrival (Meals:No)
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and English speaking guide. The driving distance is approximately 45 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.
DAY 2: Hanoi – Full Day City Tour ( Meals:B)
Morning, start a city tour beginning with 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, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long with its ruins and reconstruction, a UNESCO-recognized World Cultural Heritage Site whose history dates back to 1010 and ranging over four dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen. Proceed to the city’s central area to visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple located on an islet in the lake. Hoan Kiem Lake is the center point of Hanoi and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species. Its name “Returned Sword” comes from a legend of a sacred sword being lent to an ancient Vietnamese King by a holy turtle from the lake and later returned to the turtle. Discover special Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry as well as Vietnamese folklore through a compelling puppet show at Thang Long Theatre.
DAY 3: Hanoi - Halong - Unesco World Heritage (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 hour drive away. On the way, 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. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings.
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 the welcome drink is served, start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. 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. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board.
DAY 4: Halong – Hanoi – Hue (Meals:Brunch)
Early risers can enjoy the splendid yet tranquil view of the bay at the crack of dawn. Breathe the sea’s fresh air, feel the morning breeze and hear the sounds of birds above. Have breakfast and cruise to visit Human head shaped island and Tortoise Island. Continue to cruise into Bai Tu Long Bay to discover the adjacent bay of “The Little Dragon Bowing to His Mother” as it is named. Check out and have lunch on board while heading to shore. Disembark and transfer back to Noi Bai International Airport for domestic flight to Hue. En route, stop to visit But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh province whose architecture and sculpture works are rated as the finest of Vietnam’s classical Buddhist art back in 17th Century.
Arrive in Hue after a 1 hour and 15 minutes flight, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel.
DAY 5: Hue – Citadel (Meals:B)
Morning, 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 which features 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. Move on to Khai Dinh Tomb, the burial site of Khai Dinh, Vietnam’s second-to-last king, which is the most elaborate compared to other kings’ tombs. The tomb shows a vivid European influence in architecture despite its Asian style. Take an hour cyclo tour around the peaceful city.
Afternoon, start sightseeing again with a boat cruise along the Perfume River for sightseeing and visiting two prominent historical landmarks namely Minh Mang Tomb, where Minh Mang, the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried, and Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist monastery still in use with its origin dating back to 1601. Dinner at a royal style restaurant.
DAY 6: Hue – Phong Nha (Meals:B)
Morning, transfer to Quang Binh province to visit its top natural icon, the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. The park, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, ranges over an 85,754 ha area of a limestone zone characterized by primitive tropical forests, rock formations and complex cave systems connected by long underground rivers all aged around 400 million years. While the karst mountains here are Asia’s oldest, the local caves hold the world records as the largest and the longest and being among the best to explore. Ride a boat along a meandering and mountain-flanked river to Phong Nha Cave, the park’s second largest cave system that was discovered in 2009 by the British Caving Association. Enter the cave through its half submerged entrance and start to discover what is said to be speleologists’ heaven on earth.
Late afternoon, go back to Hue and spend evening at leisure.
DAY 7: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An Ancient Town (Meals: B)
Morning, transfer South to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass). Enjoy a stunning headland-and-bay panoramic view from the pass, which for miles hugs the mountainside along the shoreline and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Stop en route in Da Nang City to visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, China Beach and Marble Mountains, whose peaks represent the five basic elements of the universe. Arrive in Hoi An, welcome by our guide and check in your hotel. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town, being a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site, exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.
Afternoon, take a town tour of Hoi An to see its beauty up close. Included for your sightseeing will be the town’s 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. Enjoy strolling the small streets of antique low tile-roofed houses, which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past.
DAY 8: Hoi An – My Son (Meals:B)
Morning, transfer about 40 km West of Hoi An to visit My Son Sanctuary, another UNESCO-recognized world heritage which was once a religious center of Cham people where royal ceremonies and burials were performed. The site now is a colony of partially ruined Hindu temples from the total of 70 constructed by Cham Kings between the 4th and the 14th Centuries in dedication to god Shiva. It is regarded one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is often compared with other temple heritages of Southeast Asia such as Angkor in Cambodia, Ayuthaya in Thailand or Borobudur in Java.
Afternoon, time at leisure for shopping in town
DAY 9: Da Nang – Departure ( Meal: B)
Leisure time until transfer to airport for departure.
