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Day 1: Saigon arrival |
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On arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafe. (If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life. Overnight in Saigon. |
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Day 2: Saigon - Nha Trang (B) |
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In the morning transfer to airport for flight to Nha Trang. Afternoon take a private city tour to visit Long Son Pagoda (with a giant Buddhist statue on the hilltop) Bao Dai Villa (vacation home of the last emperor of Vietnam) Oceanographic Institute (a remarkable tank with many colorful live sea specimens). Cham Tower (Ponagar Temple) built in 8th century. Chong Promontory (Two big rocks called husband & wife rock) Mud bath center. Overnight in Nha Trang. |
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Day 3: Nha Trang (B) |
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Free day of leisure at the resort. Overnight in Nha Trang. |
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Day 4: Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An (B/L) |
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Today we take flight to Danang. On arrival pick up and transfer to Hoi An. Afternoon take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 - year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Overnight in Hoi An. |
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Day 5: Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi (B/L) |
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Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. This afternoon city tour, we take a 20 minute-drive from your hotel to the very impressive Museum of Ethnology, among the finest of Vietnam's museums. You will see many exhibits, photographs and actual houses inhabited by some of the 54 ethnic people in Vietnam. It will offer a truly colorful introduction to these ethnic tribes. From here, we enjoy one hour cyclo tour of Hanoi's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. This is great fun! Lastly, in the late afternoon, you will be enchanted by the legends and stories told at the Thang Long Water Puppet show that no one should miss while visiting Hanoi. Evening water puppet performance. Overnight in Hanoi. |
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Day 6: Hanoi - Halong - Hanoi (B/L) |
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Situated in the Tonkin Golf, Halong bay is one of the world's natural wonders - a bay with more than 3, 000 islands, which time, wind and waves have sculpted into fantastic shapes. The best way to appreciate this magical scene is from a boat, cruising between these karst cliffs, which loom like fairy-tale castles, complete with rocky spires and hidden caves. The bay is dotted with tiny islands, pristine sandbanks on the turquoise water providing an excellent backdrop for swimming or just lazing about on the junk boat. In the morning we drive to Halong City, approximately 3, 5 hours away. Once at Halong City you will board our boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As we cruise our boat staff will serve you a sumptuous local seafood lunch on boat. After 4 hour navigation we sail back to harbor and drive back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. |
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Day 7: Hanoi (B) |
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This morning city tour, we drive to Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay there respects to the man they simply call Uncle Ho as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of must-see places in the complex is One Pillar pagoda dating back 11th century. The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucious. Free in the afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi. |
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Day 8: Departure (B) |
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There are no activities planned for today. You may enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight. |
