8 Days - 7 nights of explore Vietnam

TRIP INFORMATION:
 

Depart from: Hanoi

Finish in: Saigon

Activities: Sightseeing, cruising, kayaking, swimming

Trip highlights: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Halong, Danang, Ba Na Hills, Hoian, Cu Chi Tunnels 

 

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL -O/N IN  Hanoi

 

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning & transfer to your hotel. Later finish hotel check in. Later have Hanoi Orientation Tour. Visit to West Lake to admire the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Next up is a short drive to visit the famed Temple of Literature. Wander around this incredible compound which was constructed in 1076. Become fascinated with the stories of the building and get a glimpse of the past when it served as a university and temple. 
 

Visit Ho Chi Minh complex and see the famous Mausoleum from a viewing point. (Note: it is closed Monday & Friday weekly). Then, take a short walk to Ho Chi Minh’s former house (closed on Monday Afternoon). Built on stilts, this was where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 to 1969 as he orchestrated the movement that eventually leads to Vietnam’s independence. Walk around the serene grounds while learning about Ho Chi Minh’s life and legacy.  There is an option to take a tour of the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Built in 1049, it’s one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. 
 

Continue embarking on a walking tour through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. This area of 36 narrow streets is a lively place to walk around while seeing and learning about Vietnam’s traditional ways of life. Continue through the busy Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Drop by a train street to see the daily life still remained from the past while catching some photo of a train passing by if you are there at the right moment or try on a 15 minute train ride from Gia Lam to Long Bien stations to recall the past facts of Hanoi. 

Alternatively enjoy street coffee that is a signature cultural activity of Hanoi, sitting at one of those street side cafes to enjoy a cup of milk coffee while watching the world go by has its charm, it doesn’t quite scratch our itches for some instagrammable pictures to share on social media. 

Finish the day at the water puppet theatre. Watch an entertaining live performance of this unique northern Vietnamese art form, a great way to end the tour of Hanoi Overnight stay in Hanoi.

 

DAY 2: HANOI-NINH BINH (HOA LU-TAM COC)-O/N IN  Hanoi

 

Breakfast is included at hotel.

Delve deeper into Vietnam's past with this picturesque Ninh Binh day tour. Explore the atmospheric ruins of Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, before taking a scenic sampan journey past 'Halong Bay on Land'. Admire stunning limestone karsts and enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside before returning to Hanoi.
 

Today’s tour will begin at 8:30. Escape from Hanoi this morning after breakfast, leaving the busy streets of the capital behind and entering the quieter countryside. After around 2.5 hours of driving, reach Hoa Lu. Join the guide for an in-depth exploration of the ruins of Vietnam’s first capital. Learn about the Dinh (968-980) and Le (980-1009) Dynasties and about the history of the site. See ancient tombs and the ruins of the once-imposing Citadel. If feeling fit, there is an option to climb into the limestone karst hills. The half-hour walk is rewarded with spectacular views over Hoa Lu and its surroundings. Return to the vehicle and drive to Tam Coc, crossing through local villages and stunning landscapes. Enjoy a lunch of Vietnamese dishes before continuing to the Tam Coc River. Board a private sampan for a journey through ‘Halong Bay on Land’. Admire the views of enormous limestone karsts jutting out of the green rice fields while the boat cruises along the calm waters. After the boat journey, drive back to Hanoi arriving late this afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

DAY 3: HANOI-HALONG BAY-O/N on Halong Cruise

 

Breakfast at hotel, check-out, ready for Halong bay overnight trip.

In the morning you will depart Hanoi at 08:30 for a 3.5 hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments. Upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a tender transfer to your junk and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. 

 

 

Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you’ll enjoy cocktails or a cooking class while watching the sunset and later unwind at a restaurant for a lavish dinner. Enjoy some evening activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment before an overnight stay on the junk.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Overnight on Cruise

*Distance Ha Noi – Ha Long: 180 kilometers/2.5 – 3 hours

 

DAY 4: HAIPHONG-DANANG - O/N in Da Nang

 

Breakfast at hotel.

Check out and have lunch. Later transfer to Haiphong to take a short flight to Danang. Arrive Danang Head into the tranquil countryside for an unforgettable Hoi An cycling tour. Discover unknown regions of Hoi An from ancient temples and water coconut forests to communal organic gardens- and help out with the labour! Paddle to lunch in a traditional basket boat before being rewarded with a delicious local feast. On arrival at a typical hamlet, cycling around the lush water-coconut forest, beyond tranquil ponds and green rice fields. Learn about the rural lifestyle here and help out the farmers with their work, depending on the season, while learning more about local organic farming techniques in this area. Leaving the farm behind, take a 20 minute ride in a traditional ‘basket boat’ along a small languid river takes guests to a special local restaurant situated in the middle of the rice paddy fields. Here enjoy a break in the shade and a delicious Vietnamese lunch. 

Afterwards be back to Hoi An Ancient town to see the lantern town and night market before heading back to Da Nanang.

 
DAY 5: BA NA HILLS-MARBLE MOUNTAIN-DRAGON BRIDGE -O/N in Da Nang

 

Spend the day on the beautiful mountainous theme park. Marvel at the exquisite architecture of the Linh Ung Pagoda, Golden Bridge.
Feeling refreshingly cool weather and gorgeous countryside views, and enjoy exciting games at Fantasy theme park on top of Ba Na hill.
 

Your experience today starts at 08:30 for 1 hour transfer from your hotel to Ba Na Hills. Start to spend a day to visit this mountainous theme park perched 1,500m high on a mountain, a hill resort inherited from the French. The site was first developed by the French in the 1920s, who escaped the summer heat for its cool, mountain air. This day trip will bring you to the scenic sights and destinations of the local, and give you a healthy dose of much needed mountain air. You’ll first head to the Ba Na Hills cable car station where you ascend one of the world’s longest and highest cable car rides, giving you panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. At the station, get to see the Linh Ung Pagoda, Loc Uyen Garden and Quan Am Pavilion. Next, your guide will bring you the Monkey garden and finally to God Mountain, the highest peak in central Vietnam. Stroll through the Golden Bridgeamid the foggy hills of the mountain, enjoy the gorgeous view of Da Nang city. After lunch, head into Fantasy Park for enjoy some games later. Later in the afternoon, take a visit to the marble mountain with Buddha’s lady. Back to hotel at about 18:00. 

DAY 6: DANANG-HO CHI MINH CITY-O/N in Ho Chi Minh

 

Breakfast and transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. After landing, transfer to your hotel for check in. Rest of the day free for leisure. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 7: FULL DAY CITY TOUR-CU CHI TUNNELS-O/N in Ho Chi Minh

 

Breakfast at hotel. Discover the best of Ho Chi Minh City and its surroundings. Drive through rural landscapes to the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about Vietnam’s wartime past and the ingenuity of its people. Then take a closer look at the city centre with visits to historic Reunification Hall and other iconic landmarks such as Sky deck of Saigon.

 

Today’s tour will begin at 08:00. After breakfast drive away from the city centre toward the Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to crawl inside to experience first-hand what life was like living underground. There are also several other informative displays and war relics around the area to explore.

After this morning’s Cu Chi Tunnels tour, return to the city centre in time for lunch. Then take a closer look at the city itself, starting at Reunification Hall. This fascinating building, once known as the Presidential Palace, is filled with history. Hear the story of how, on 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese tanks seized the building as Saigon fell. Continue to the Old Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral, two colonial-style monuments with interesting pasts. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

DAY 8: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE

 

Breakfast at hotel. 

Check out complete lunch and transfer to Airport for your onward flight. 

 

END TOUR

RATE IS PER PERSON BASED ON TWIN OR DOUBLE SHARED

(LOW SEASON FROM MAY TO SEP.2022) 

 

RATE IS PER PERSON BASED ON TWIN OR DOUBLE SHARED

(HIGHT SEASON FROM 1 JAN.2022-30 APR.2022)