Vietnam 12 days tour north to south
From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City plus Mekong Delta, this tour includes all the highlights of Vietnam have on offer. In Hanoi capital, take in some historic sights, and experience a cyclo ride around the Old Quarter. Stay overnight on boat in Ha Long Bay, go fishing & swimming in the emerald water and marvel at the natural beauty of the bay. From the atmospheric imperial capital of Hue and the charms of Hoi An to the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, you can feel the diverse cultures & the energy of modern Vietnam. Continue exploring the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl with chances to taste the rural riverine life before take a surprising ending at the Cu Chi tunnels, the gigantic subterranean network used by the Vietcong during the wartime. The Pride of Vietnam is less about the sights and more about the experience.
HIGHLIGHTS
- A cyclo ride around the Hanoi’s Old Quarter
- Vietnam’s best UNESCO-heritage sites including Halong Bay, Hue Imperial City and Hoi An’s ancient town
- A relaxing overnight on traditional junk
- A deep exploration of the Mekong Delta dubbed as Vietnam’s rice bowl
- The famous tunnel network of Cu Chi in Vietnam War
TRIP SUMMARY
DAY 1 HANOI ARRIVAL
DAY 2 FULLDAY CITY TOUR IN HANOI (B/L)
DAY 3 FULL DAY TRANG AN (B/L)
DAY 4 HANOI – HALONG OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B/L/D)
DAY 5 HALONG – HANOI – TAKE FLIGHT TO DA NANG THEN TRANSFER TO HOI AN (B/BR)
DAY 6 FULLDAY FISHING VILLAGE & HOIAN HISTORIC TOUR (B/L)
DAY 7 HOIAN – HUE – HALF DAY PERFUSE RIVER TOUR (B/L)
DAY 8 HUE CITATEL – PHUOC TICH VILLAGE (B/L)
DAY 9 HUE – HO CHI MINH BY FLIGHT – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B/L)
DAY 10 FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA – BEN TRE (B/L)
DAY 11 HALF DAY CU CHI TUNNEL (B/L)
DAY 12 HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B)
Tour Itinerary
DAY 1 HANOI ARRIVAL
Arrival Hanoi airport, warm welcomed by our representative person then transfer to hotel for check in (NO EARLY CHECK IN) 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.
Overnight hotel in Hanoi
DAY 2 FULLDAY CITY TOUR IN HANOI (B/L)
Start off with an hour Cyclo ride around the French Quarter in the heart of Hanoi, to immerse yourself in an old atmosphere of an area that perfectly captures the timelessness and nostalgia of Vietnam. Mainly formed and developed during the French colonial era in the 20th century, the structure of French Old Quarter is planned on chess board model, so it is difficult to be broken. Buildings and architectures are designed by French architects according to colonial style in accordance with Vietnam climate. This is a great introduction of the thousand-year-old city which helps you delve into a bygone time of Vietnam, from the grand structures dominate the tree-lined boulevard to the modest buildings hidden behind small alleys, from the newly renovated to those near collapse. Many decades after the French left, these architectures have been remained and become important heritages in the distinctly atmosphere and charm of the capital.
Afterward, pay your respect to the nation’s founder at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for the Vietnamese. Explore the nearby simple cottage on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during his humble beginnings as a revolutionary. Next, move to the Ho Chi Minh Museum featuring an extraordinary tribute to his life. Gain insight into the prewar history of the country at the Governor’s Residence, also known as the Presidential Palace, an excellent example of Hanoi’s classical French architectural heritage, and Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the opulent structure for symbolic reasons, opting to build a traditional Vietnamese stilt house on the grounds instead. Stop by the iconic One Pillar Pagoda - a unique Vietnamese architecture reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond and hear the legend of its construction. Then transfer back to your hotel for leisure. Afternoon, continue with the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius.
Afternoon, our guide & driver will pick you up then transfer to Chợ Hôm market, mainly known as a fabric market, where you can buy wholesale fabric by the meter to make your own dresses and other things. Chợ Hôm market is full of produce, meats, seafood, and traditional Vietnamese foods. Enjoy the market like a local and see how Hanoians buy foods in a local market.
After finishing the city tour, the group proceed to visit a unique café hidden away in a small alley at the heart of the Old Quarter. With about 95% furniture and decorations made from recycled materials, the café’s owner wants to contribute a part in protecting the environment, raising the community awareness, as well as spreading the message of nature protection to everyone, especially the young. Using the principle of “reduce – reuse – recycle”, all the scraps were cleaned, cut, grafted, and painted to make tables, chairs, decorative lights, and drinking cups.
This evening, you’ll experience one of Vietnam’s unique traditional arts at a Water Puppet show. This style of theatre (known as "Roi Nuoc" in Vietnamese) originates from rural festivals in Vietnam and features artists standing waist-deep in water to manipulate puppets, making them move, talk, laugh and even dance on water’s surface. The plays act out typical Vietnamese stories, depicting farmers working in the paddy fields, water buffalo bathing, courtship scenes and martial arts displays, all to the delight of the audience.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Hanoi
DAY 3 FULL DAY TRANG AN (B/L)
At 8.30 Am, We pick you up at your hotel and depart to Ninh Binh province. When arrive, we take a boat trip discovering Trang An grottoes, which have forested limestone mounts contrasting in emerald water, caves, lowland and rivers. You have lunch at a local restaurant and take a rest before visiting Mua Cave.
After that, we keep moving to visit Mua cave. Mua Cave has its meaning as “dancing cave” because this site was previously considered as the place where Tran king used to come to enjoy dancing & singing shows performed in this cave. Mua cave is constructed following the model of “miniature Great Wall” in China with nearly 500 steps up to mountains to conquer. It is a hard trek up with many of its uneven limestone steps ( expecially at the top point) but worth your conquering efforts for an impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc, Trang An, Ninh Binh city as well as a wonderful panoramic view of rice fields and limestone mountains when you reach the top point of Ngoa Long mountain. Have a great moment to view sunset. Return and get on our car to transfer back Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Hanoi
DAY 4 HANOI – HALONG OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B/L/D)
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
DAY 5 HALONG – HANOI – TAKE FLIGHT TO DA NANG THEN TRANSFER TO HOI AN (B/BR)
After rising to the sound of the ocean coming to life, you’ll enjoy breakfast, take a Tai Chi class and watch the sunrise over the bay (if you choose to get up that early!) You will visit a beautiful limestone grotto, then head back to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Disembarking at the Cruise Café Lounge, you’ll rejoin your private car for transfer back to the airport for a one-hour flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival at Da Nang, our guide will pick up at the airprort then transfer 45 minutes to Hoi An town . You will check in hotel and free at leisure.
Brunch Included
Overnight hotel in Hoi An
DAY 6 FULLDAY FISHING VILLAGE & HOIAN HISTORIC TOUR (B/L)
Moring you will have breakfast at hotel then take full day city tour
Half day Cam Thanh village tour
It is located about 5km from the southeast of the Hoi An Old Town, Quang Nam, Viet Nam. The existence of the craft of making coconut paintings and the water coconut forest ecosystem Cam Thanh has created a cultural space to attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit, sightseeing or study.
Activities you will do at Cam Thanh Village
You will have chance to explore the water coconut forest ecosystem and learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community. You will learn some techniques fishing tradition and how to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats while exploring the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of apart war. Take rowing the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats through these small and beautiful channels, come to inside of the water coco palm forest, see these coconut tree growing and get
End of day, the must – see site is the famous baguette – Banh Mi Phuong for a trial. This is also where the Australian Prime Minister & the celebrity chef Luke Nguyen visited when he attended the Apec meeting in 2017.
Half day Hoi An walking tour
Take walking tour around Hoi An town to visit Hoi An 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. You will also visit the 200-year-old Tan Ky House typifying an ancient Chinese merchant residence, 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.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Hoi An
DAY 7 HOIAN – HUE – HALF DAY PERFUSE RIVER TOUR (B/L)
Moring you will have breakfast at hotel then transfer to Hue, on the way you will stop to visit French Bunker.A concrete bunker sits at the Hai Van Pass near Da Nang, Vietnam. The French military built the structure during their losing struggle against Viet Minh guerrillas from 1945 to 1954, and U.S. troops occupied the same position and others nearby during the Vietnam War a decade later.
Early afternoon, you will arrive Hue then check in hotel. Late afternoon, take a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River to enjoy the open view of the river and beautiful landscape along the banks. On the way, drop a visit to Thien Mu pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery overlooking the river from a vantage point with its origin dating back to 1601. Then transfer by car to Minh Mang Tomb, where the 2nd Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty was buried. Last, stop for shopping at Dong Ba market, which is the city's traditional commercial center
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Hue
DAY 8 HUE CITATEL – PHUOC TICH VILLAGE (B/L)
You will take a half day tour of Hue City, 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.
Next, move on 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
Balance your day with the afternoon tour which is spent discovering the vicinity of Hue. Start with a 40 minute drive out of the city centre and into the scenic countryside where Phuoc Tich Village is found. This commune is famous for pottery and now attracting the visitors with 27 ‘Nha Ruong’ - Hue’s traditional houses - and unique gardens. To delve deeply into the local community, you’ll take a walk through the peaceful streets, admiring the historical sites nestled within the scenery, and pay a visit to one of the traditional homes, portery factory and the special Cay Thi temple which is about 700 years old. The temple retains harmonizing aspects of Vietnamese and Cham architecture, with Linga and Yoni relics.
Continue winding through the countryside towards to Pha Tam Giang, watching the daily life of the local people and the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient villages. On your way, stop at Quang Cong Village, known locally as the ‘City of Ghosts’, and behold the increasingly lavish and elaborate tombs that the villagers build for their ancestors. Once you arrive in Tam Giang Lagoon, take a boat trip on the lagoon. Float past local families living on the riverbank, stopping to meet some of them on your way. Finally, transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon and spend the evening at leisure
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Hue
DAY 9 HUE – HO CHI MINH BY FLIGHT – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B/L)
Moring, you will have breakfast at hotel then take flight to Ho Chin Minh then take a half day city tour to visit
The impact of the Vietnam War can be witnessed all over the country, and any war or history buff should make sure a visit to the War Remnants Museum is on their must-see list for Ho Chi Minh City. With your private driver and English speaking guide, delve into the images and sounds of Vietnam’s lengthy war history with the French and Americans. The museum features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons and photos of the Vietnamese side of the war, and includes a moving tribute to the journalists, civilians and soldiers lost during the war, as well as a critical look at biological warfare, weaponry, and worldwide movements for peace.
Continue to the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975 during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that the Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and led to the formal reunification of the two sides.
The afternoon continues with a drive passing by the former American Embassy and the site where the famous Buddhist Thich Quang Duc self- immolated in June11, 1963. After his funeral, where his remains were finally reduced to ashes, Quang Duc's heart, which had not burned, was retrieved, enshrined, and treated as a sacred relic. His self- immolation begins people’s up-rising movement largely, which lead to the fall of President Diem regime End with a visit to the iconic Ben Thanh Market, a centrally located covered market with ample opportunities to pick up souvenirs or relax with a cup of Vietnamese coffee.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Ho Chi Minh
DAY 10 FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA – BEN TRE (B/L)
After breakfast, 08.00 you are transferred for 2 hour to Ben Tre. On arrival in Hung vuong Pier. Boating on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river- is along mangrove tree from town to country. Witness lively activities in morning as fishing, coconut cargo boats carrying on river.... Stop at traditional brickwork to see how to make bricks by hand. Go on by boat to My Long village, walking to hamlet to see making rice paper and enjoy some rice cake. Turn on Cai Son canal winding through coconut jungle, visit coconut workshop, have a look stages of coconut processing from husk off, prize out to peel out by hand. Go on small waterway and stop at coconut candy mill, enjoy some fruits, honey tea and listen to local music as well.
Continue short walking to visit farmer house who making sleep mats.Cycle rural tracks or drive tuktuk through coconut grove, vegetable plains (cucumber, bitter melon...). Keep going by rowing boat on shady palm tree canal and stop for lunch at riverside restaurant. Boating back Hung Vuong pier by motorboat. In the late afternoon, you will come back city then check in hotel and free at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Overnight hotel in Ho Chi Minh
DAY 11 HALF DAY CU CHI TUNNEL (B/L)
Morning, you will have breakfast at hotel then take half day Cu Chi tunnel.
Transfer to Cu Chi, the northernmost suburban district of 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.
Activities in Cu Chi Tunnels, where you will
- Watch a documentary film that takes you to the past with an introduction of the Cu Chi Tunnels.
- Crawl short distances through the tunnels that were used by the guerrilla fighters during the Vietnam War. You may see a kitchen, living quarters, and a meeting room on the way. The tunnels have been enlarged so visitors can crawl through them, imagine what it must have been like before!
- Learn about how different types of booby trap - the symbol of guerrilla warfare - were created and set up.
- Visit the weapons room and learn how the ingenious Viet Cong soldiers made them.
- Get adventurous and go to the shooting range to fire a real AK-47. The cost for the bullets are not included in this price.
In the afternoon, come back Ho Chi Minh check in hotel and free at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight hotel in Ho Chi Minh
DAY 12 HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B)
Morning you will have breakfast at hotel then free at leisure until transfer to aiport for your departure flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Price list
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 JAN.2022-30 APR.2022)
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
INCLUSIVE
- Accommodation in with daily breakfast
- One night in private cabin on a junk in Ha Long Bay
- Lunch or dinner as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast/ L=Lunch/ D=Dinner)
- Experienced English-speaking guide on specific day as mentioned in the program (except notice “without guide”)
- Boat for sight seeing
- Services of a driver and private air-conditioned vehicle as itinerary mentioned
- Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
- Mineral water is available as complementary
Exclusions
EXCLUSIVE
- International, Domestic flight
- Surcharge for public holiday and Lunar New Year 2021 $ 2022
- Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary
- Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
- Tipping for guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurant staff, boat rider, etc.
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