Itinerary

1. Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi

   • Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, where you'll be welcomed by one of the representatives and transferred to your hotel in downtown.

   • Enjoy the remainder of the day, which will be your own.

2. Day 2: A Day in Hanoi - Vietnam's Capital

   • Commence this city tour of Hanoi which takes in essential sites from your hotel lobby at 08.30 a.m. 

   • Visit in the morning the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum; The Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070.

   • Eat lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant.

   • Continue visiting the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country, containing an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples.

   • Enjoy a cyclo ride for 1 hour touring through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter - a must for any visitor to Hanoi!

   • Finish the day with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.

3. Day 3: Off to Bai Tu Long Bay (Join with other travelers on the cruise)

   • Get picked up at 08.00 AM at your hotel and start the scenic 3.5-hour drive to Bai Tu Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world's largest marine limestone 'karst' landscape.

   • Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta countryside and have a short break en route.

   • Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk with cruise briefing, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands.

   • Visit less-visited ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits.

   • Return to the junk refreshed and relax on deck with a drink to watch the sunset.

   • Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.

4. Day 4: Continue Cruising - Hanoi - Flight to Danang, Transfer to Hoi An

   • Enjoy an early morning swim (if weather permits) followed by breakfast.

   • Visit a fishing village by a rustic rowing boat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and pearl farms before cruising back to the main harbour for the 4-hour drive straight to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for a late afternoon flight to Danang.

   • Arrive in Danang, where you are met and transferred to your selected hotel in Hoi An.

5. Day 5: Hoi An - Guided Walking Tour ½ Day – Free Afternoon (Optional Street Food Tour)

   • Meet your guide at 9:00 AM sharp in your hotel lobby to give you a proper show-around of the old town.

   • Start a walking tour with the lion's share of places of interest: the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the museum and the colourful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you'll meander through tiny streets studded by houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures.

   • Wrap up such gallivanting, and then your time will be your own to wander around or get amongst some retail therapy. This afternoon is your own.

6. Day 6: Hoi An – Transfer to Hue – Visit Imperial Citadel & Royal Tombs

   • Drive in the morning north to the Royal City of Hue with an en-route stop to visit either the Cham Museum in the city centre or the famous Marble Mountain, which stands for the five essential elements that establish nature.

   • Continue the route to Hue for a guided city tour, firstly with the ancient walled Citadel, including the former Imperial Palace.

   • Visit the Dong Ba market to learn about the local produce and specialities of Hue. You might get some great deals done at the local Dong Ba Market.

   • Have lunch in a local restaurant.

   • See the majestic Royal Tomb of King Ming Mang or King Khai Dinh in the afternoon.

   • Return to your hotel just before sunset.

7. Day 7: Hue – Free Morning – Afternoon Flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon)

   • Eat breakfast, and then your time will be yours!

   • Drive in the afternoon to Phu Bai Airport in Hue for an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

   • Arrive in Ho Chi Minh, where you will be met by another local expert guide who will take you to your chosen hotel.

8. Day 8: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels and City Tour

   • Drive after breakfast to Cu Chi Tunnels, where you will visit the amazing network of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in wartime. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon.

   • Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide.

   • Return after lunch to Ho Chi Minh City for a guided city tour, starting with the War Remnants Museum - a real eye-opening part of Vietnam's proud history; followed by the Reunification Palace; the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace; the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, as you get your camera working overtime peeking into the past of Vietnam's biggest, most energetically progressive city.

   • Return to your hotel at around 18.00.

   • Spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

9. Day 9: Explore the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

   • Head south in the morning to Ben Tre province, famous for its coconut production and quiet, peaceful waterways.

   • Take a 'xe loi' ride upon arrival through a local village to enjoy the green fields and gardens.

   • Embark on a boat trip through small canals while enjoying a welcome cocktail and tropical fruits.

   • Visit a brickwork where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods.

   • Continue with a sampan ride through narrow canals and enjoy the peacefulness of the region with a stop en route to visit a local family that lives on fishing, shrimp and fruit orchards to learn about her daily life.

   • Enjoy fresh fruits and tea before heading to visit a rice noodles factory which produces Hu Tieu noodles, one of the most popular breakfast dishes in the region.

   • Switch to a bicycle and ride on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house where they live on their traditional family business, sampan boat building.

   • Continue cycling trip to visit a former Vietcong soldier who is now living on making rice paper - the most famous speciality of the village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made.

   • Return to the village road to carry on the bike ride to a local restaurant by the riverside.

   • Time for you to relax and enjoy a 5-course lunch of local specialities.

   • Relax and stroll around the garden after lunch, and then visit the nearby house of another family who is a famous sticky rice maker in the village. You can also feed his stock of catfish and walk through his fruit garden.

   • Take the boat back to Ben Tre City, where your private car will be ready to take you back to Ho Chi Minh City.

10. Day 10: Returning Home

    • Get time on your own until being picked up for a transfer to Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport in good time for your departure flight.