Day 1: Hanoi
HANOI
Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam!
Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hanoi center for check in. It’s your own time to rest after your long flight. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: No
Please note!
Hotel check-in time is around 14.00
Depend on your arrival time, the program will be adjusted accordingly.
Optional tour:
1 DAY EXCURSION TO TRANG AN HOA LU (-/Lunch/-) (applied for customers arriving in Hanoi by early morning flight)
Pick up in the morning, after 2 hours and a half by road, we arrive in Ninh Binh province.
We start a boat trip in Trang An, where spectacular limestone rock formations stand out from the green rice paddies. After having lunch in a local restaurant, we will travel by road to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam until the year 1010, when it was transferred to Thang Long-Hanoi. Transfer back to Hanoi later on.
Meals: Lunch at local restaurant.
Day 2: Hanoi
HANOI – CITY TOUR (Breakfast)
Visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex , which includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside) and the house on stilts of President Ho Chi Minh .
Visit of the One Pillar Pagoda , which is actually a set of structures that form a pagoda built on the water in the middle of a square lake.
From there, visit the Temple of Literature , which was the first university in Vietnam and is dedicated to Confucius.
Next, we will go to Hoan Kiem Lake , the soul of the city, where we will contemplate the surrounding landscape, including the area of the old neighborhoods and the statue of King Ly Thai To. Let’s take a cyclo ride with your guide through the streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter and mingle with the Hanoians in their lively daily life. Continue to the Tran Quoc Pagoda , located on a small peninsula of Ho Tay (West Lake), in Hanoi, known as the Lotus Flower, it always surprises its visitors with its poetic beauty and historical values. It is the oldest in Hanoi, with more than 1,500 years of existence. Today, the pagoda is a place where visitors seek inner peace, immersing themselves in the harmony of natural beauty and ancient architecture. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Optional tour:
HANOI – WATER PUPPET SHOW
This evening, enjoy the water puppet show, with beautifully costumed puppets, atmospheric music, plus sound effects and fireworks, a water puppet show in Hanoi is not to be missed.
Meals: No
Day 3: Ha Long Bay
HANOI – HALONG BAY/LAN HA BAY (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
At 08:00 AM, departure by shared cruise bus from Hanoi for just over 3 hours to Halong/Lan Ha Bay , the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a World Natural Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in 1994. The highway runs through the delta of the Red River, with green rice fields and villages, where peasants work hard on their farms, plowing the land with buffalo or cultivating crops. Upon arrival in Halong/Lan Ha, we will take a cruise ship to discover the amazing beauty of this “descendant of the dragon” bay, made up of thousands of limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a fresh seafood lunch on board, we can visit the caves , stopping at beaches for swimming, passing through floating villages and approaching islets to enjoy their beauty at close range. Return to the cruise for dinner. Later, enjoy the activities offered on board or just relax at your leisure. Accommodation on board.
Note: the program may vary slightly depending on the cruise you choose. There is no Italian speaking guide on the cruise, only private cruise guide, who speaks English
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner on board.
Day 4: Hue
HALONG BAY/LAN HA – HANOI – FLIGHT TO HUE (Breakfast, Brunch)
Next, visit by boat to the Cave , with a landscape and calm emerald water. Return to the Halong/Lan Ha pier passing through the densest area, with a multitude of islands. Arrive at Halong/Lan Ha Pier around 11:00. Transfer back to Hanoi by shared cruise bus. Later, transfer to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. Flight to Hue .
Upon arrival at the airport, welcome by the local driver and guide, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation
Meals: Light breakfast and brunch on board.
Day 5: Hue
HUE – CITY TOUR (Breakfast)
This morning, we will take a boat ride on Perfume river to Thien Mu Pagoda also known as Heavenly Lady. It is one of the most famous images of Vietnam and is one of the hallmarks of the former imperial city of Hué.
Our next stop will be the Imperial Citadel , declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993, which houses the mythical "Forbidden Purple City" inside. The city was protected by a huge wall next to a moat whose length reaches 10 km with walls 2 meters thick, and it was from where the Nguyen dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. We will also visit the Flag Tower and the emblematic Ngo Mon Gate, which is the entrance to several beautiful courtyards and ponds. There we will discover the Dien Tho Palace , where the queen mother lived. And finally, we will visit the Thai Hoa Palace , the Hall of the Mandarins and the Nine Dynastic Urns , and other important monuments and temples of the place. Our last stop will be the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque architectural works of the palaces and royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Optional tour:
HUE – ROYAL DINNER AT ROYAL PARK RESTAURANT (Dinner)
Imagine you are a Royalty – King, and queen beside you accompanied by Mandarins ... sitting with other dignitaries in the Royal styled decorated dining room and all dressed as ancient Hue Royals. This evening, you will be surprised with authentic delicious Hue’s Royal Cuisines while Hue Imperial Court Style Music & Dance performers entertain you.
Meals: Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6: Hoi An
HUE - HOI AN – CITY TOUR (Breakfast)
Check out at noon. We will depart from Hue to Hoian by the Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”) and enjoy the beauty of Lang Co Beach before reaching Hoian. In the afternoon, we will visit the Old quarter of Hoi An: we will walk through the Japanese Bridge with a tiled roof, we will visit the silent Chinese Assembly Halls, the houses of the merchants , Pagodas , and we will stroll through the market located on the banks of the Thu Bon river , where you can encounter the same sensations as the artists, who see the roofs of Hoi An as an ancient magical world of oriental inspiration.
Transfer to the hotel and free time to enjoy the pools/beaches…
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Optional tour:
HOI AN – HOI AN MEMORIES SHOW
In the evening, pick up for dinner and the Hoi An memories Show. Its scale is comparable to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. At over 25,000 square meters, the stage itself is more like a Hollywood set. With a cast of 500 actors and dancers, it uses beautiful imagery and as a viewer you are invited on a journey through 400 years of the city's growth.
This great cultural extravaganza pulls you in and takes you on a journey. The show moves through the ages portraying the construction of Hoi An, royal marriage alliances, the introduction of lanterns, and foreign trade and influence.
Meals: No
Day 7: Hoi An
HOI AN AT LEISURE (Breakfast)
Breakfast. Free time to discover the hidden corners with its famous street food (on guests’s own arrangement)
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Optional tour:
HOI AN – BANA HILLS – GOLDEN BRIDGE (Lunch)
Highlights: Impressive Cable Car, French Colonial Style Complex, Golden Bridge
At 8:00 AM: We will start from your hotel to have a full day visit to Ba Na hill complex. Located 1,478m above sea level and 25km west of Da Nang, Ba Na Mountain has a cool climate throughout the year, making it an ideal tourist resort since the time of the French settlers. Upon arrival, we take the impressive world cable car in 20 minutes to reach the top of Ba Na mountain and observe the beautiful scenery. Arriving at the station, we will visit the pagoda with the giant statue of Buddha, the green gardens with multiple types of flora and flowers interspersed with buildings of French architecture and wine cellars. We leisurely walk across the Golden Bridge which is on the list of the 10 most amazing bridges in the world. We immerse ourselves in the stunning views of the national park, waterfall, ocean and city at a remote distance that can hardly be found in other regions.
At the end of the day, transfer back to your hotel.
Meals: Lunch at a local restaurant.
Optional tour:
HOI AN – EXCURSION TO MY SON SANCTUARY IN THE MORNING
On this tour we will explore the vestiges of the ancient Champa dynasty, delving into its most important legacy: the My Son Sanctuary. Discover these mysterious temples hidden in the forest.
Departure to the ruins of the ancient My Son Sanctuary, in southern Vietnam. During the one-hour journey we will cross two mountain ranges until reaching the valley that houses this archaeological site built between the fourth and fourteenth centuries.
During the Champa reign, the My Son Sanctuary came to house more than 70 temples and a large cemetery. Nowadays, we will find several religious buildings fused with the forest. We will follow in the footsteps of the mysterious Champa dynasty as we walk through what was the nerve center and main reflection of this society with Indian roots.
The only accurate information that has transpired about the Champa reign comes from its constructions and sculptures. We will immerse ourselves in the ruins of this Hindu complex and discover why the My Son Sanctuary has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
At noon, transfer back to Hoi An.
Meals: No
Optional tour:
HOI AN – AFTERNOON BASKET BOAT TRIP
1 hour ride on the "Thung Chai" basket boat. The basket boat is made of bamboo in the shape of baskets. If you are looking for a chane to experience Vietnamese culture, take part in a basket boat tour would be one of your best Vietnamese experience.
Enjoy the beauty of the Bay Mau coconut forest.
Sails through the coconut palm forest of Bay Mau.
Watch the performance spin of the basket boat.
See how to cast the fishing net.
Enjoy catching crabs
Sing in the river
Meals: No
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City
HOI AN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH (Breakfast)
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh.
Welcome at Tan Son Nhat airport. We start the city tour at the Reunification Palace . This large building is today a museum and Reception Hall for official visits. Near the Palace are the Central Post Office and the colonial-style Notre Dame Cathedral (outside), the latter being built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the main attractions of the city. Right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City is Ben Thanh Market . More than a place to shop, the market is also an architectural landmark, a center of local Vietnamese life and commerce, and a meeting point all in one.
Overnight in Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Note: Notre Dame Cathedral is under renovation until 2023.
Optional tour :
HO CHI MINH – DINNER IN INDOCHINA JUNK BOAT IN SAIGON RIVER (Dinner)
Tranfering to the Indochina Junk’s wharf at approximately 18.00 for a romantic buffet dinner on board. The boat will slowly float along Saigon River while we enjoy a cool evening on the flow, looking over the city with its dazzling lights in a tranquil, totally relaxing ambience.
Meals: Sai Gon river boat dinner
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
HO CHI MINH AT LEISURE (Breakfast)
Free time to discover the city or go shopping on your own arrangement.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel.
Optional tour :
HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH (Lunch)
Pick up at the hotel and transfer to My Tho , the birthplace of the coconut and home to small family factories of local products, such as coconut candies, rice paper, etc. Upon arrival, board the boat to cruise down the mighty Mekong River , watching the routine of the locals on both sides of the river. We will stop at one of the four islands in the area to visit it. Feast on freshly picked tropical fruit from the heart of the plantation, accompanied by traditional Vietnamese folk music . Afterwards, we will embark again on small rowing boats led by locals through the narrow canals with aquatic coconut trees to visit the factories in the area . There you will be able to taste the honey tea and observe the production process of coconut candies and also taste them, as well as stroll through the garden where the locals feed the bees. Next, we'll get on the boat to visit this vast area. In the afternoon, return to Saigon with a short stop to visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda , famous in the area and with a mixture of Chinese, Cambodian and French architectural styles. Meals: Lunch at a local restaurant.
Day 10:
DEPARTURE FROM SAIGON (Breakfast)
Free time until transfer to the airport to take the return flight. End of our services!
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel.
Optional tour: DAY 10: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI - HO CHI MINH (Lunch)
Departure to Cu Chi Tunnels . This network of tunnels dates from the time of the French occupation when farmers and peasants With their own hands and rudimentary tools, they dug more than 250 kilometers of holes in the jungle to protect themselves from the enemy. Later, during the Vietnam War, they continued to expand the network of tunnels and underground galleries until they reached the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Ho Chi Minh.
Meals: Lunch at a local restaurant.
