Vietnam Vibrant 12 Days 11 Nights

A full day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake. After lunch in town continue to visit the Museum of Ethnology for your  better understanding of Vietnamese nation  and end the afternoon with a visit to the Lake of the Restored Sword and a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter then enjoy the famous water puppet  show. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi

Leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the traditional sailing junks. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the largest fishing village in Halong bay by tender in about 30 minutes then back to the mother boat to reach Titop island where you can either enjoy kayaking or swimming on Titop beach. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk.

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose! After another wonderful brunch on board disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer to Hanoi, stop for lunch in Hai Duong, en-route back to Hanoi, stop to visit Dau pagoda which is one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam, located in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province. Overnight in Hanoi

Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Hanoi airport to take a short flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. On arrival at Hue, met by our local guide then transferred to hotel for check in. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 then to visit Dong Ba historic market. Dinner with Hue cuisine and Hue royal court music. Overnight in Hue

After brekfast, enjoy a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Free at leisure for the rest of day to enjoy hotel facilities or relax by the hotel’s pool. Overnight in Hue

Leave Hue for Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. The scenic route passes through the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. On arrival at Danang, visit Cham museum – a collection of Cham sculptures then visit Marble mountain – a cluster of 5 marbles & limestone hills, famous for stone sculpture making & stone cutting crafts then charming Eastern sea of Vietnam before being transferred to Hoian. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the local colourful market. Lunch at a local restaurant and free for the rest of day. Overnight in Hoian

fter breakfast, free at leisure till being transfered to Danang airport for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. On arrival, met by our local guide then transferred to your hotel for check-in, free for the rest of day. Enjoy a dinner cruise along Saigon river and overnight in HCMC

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 08:00 in the morning for the drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other everyday activities. On arrival start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine how a guerrilla lived and fought in such difficult, dark and narrow environment. Back to HCMC for lunch Enjoy city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City after lunch, still called Saigon by many locals, visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace, from there on you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Opera House and City Hall. After thess historical visits, enjoy funny shopping at Ben Thanh market if time permits and overnight in HCMC

After breakfast, depart to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta. Board the junk boat and start the tour with the visit of the colourful Cai Be floating market. Follow with a visit of some local home factories that produce rice paste, rice pop corn and coconut candies. Cruise then to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through large networks of meandering rivers, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Lunch at a fruit orchard then cruise back to Cai Be pier where our vehicle is ready to transfer you back to Hcmc. Arirval at late afternoon. Overnight in HCMC

Free at leisure for shopping or visiting until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for onward flight.