Vietnam Impression – 12 days – From A$1170

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL (-/-/D)

1. Greet at airport & transfer to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
2. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature – the first University in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside photo stop).
3. Evening: enjoy the Water Puppet Show, a unique traditional folk art of Vietnam.
4. Dinner at restaurant in the city. After dinner, transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI – HA LONG, CRUISE (B/L/D)

1. Drive through the beautiful countryside of the Red River Delta. On the way, stop for refreshment break at a craft center run to raise money for the handicapped people in the village of Sao Do.
2. Arrive Ha Long pier at noon time, embarkation and cabin installation. Welcome drink & fresh seafood lunch while the boat start a romantic promenade to cruise around the Ha Long Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations.
3. Passage into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth.
4. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quite beach or sunbathing on the sundeck (if weather permits)
5. Later afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fish-men who have been living in the bay for almost three generations.
6. Back on board, watching sunset and later unwind at restaurant for a lavish dinner.
7. Enjoying a romantic night at bar or doing squid fishing.
8. Retiring to the comfort of your cabin. Overnight on board.

DAY 3: HA LONG – HANOI (B/Brunch/D)

1. Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view sunrise over the bay.
2. After a light breakfast, we visit beautiful limestone grotto then back to the boat for a final glimpse of the Ha Long Bay during brunch is served.
3. Debarkation of the boat and return by car to Hanoi.
4. Arrive Hanoi around 16:30. Stop to take photos at Hoan Kiem Lake, the symbol of the historical capital city; Saint Joseph Cathedral, a typical French architectures remain. Enjoy free shopping in the Old Quarter.

DAY 4: HANOI – HUE (B/L/D)

1. Free at leisure till transfer to airport for flight to Hue.
2. Greet at Hue airport, transfer to city.
3. Lunch at restaurant in Hue.
4. PM: Take a leisure private boat cruise along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda beautifully nestled on the river bank. This is one of the best loved architectural pagodas in Vietnam considered by many as the unofficial symbol of Hue.
5. Dinner at restaurant the city. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

DAY 5: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN (B/L/D)

1. Built in a poetic background of greenery on the banks of the Perfume River, the garden city was recognized by UNESCO as the first World’s Culture Heritage of Vietnam. This morning, we visit the Imperial Citadel with Ngo Mon, Thai Hoa palace, imperial city and forbidden city.
2. Continue to visit the King Tu Duc mausoleum, which is a picturesque complex including his tomb and palace that emperor Tu Duc ordered the construction by himself when he was still alive.
3. Lunch at restaurant in Hue. After lunch, transfer along the scenic coast to Hoi An.Lunch at restaurant in Hue. After lunch, transfer along the scenic coast to Hoi An.
4. Dinner at one of many excellent restaurants in the town. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 6: HOI AN – MY SON (B/L/D)

1. 08:00 Transfer to visit My Son, 75km far from Hoi An. Being one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam, the complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century.
2. Return to Hoi An at noon time. Lunch at restaurant in Hoi An.
3. Afternoon: enjoy a walking tour through the Hoi An Old Quarter to visit the town’s landmarks of Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Temple and a typical old house.
4. Dinner at a nice restaurant in the town.
5. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN – DA NANG – NHA TRANG (B/-/D)

1. Transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Nha Trang.
2. Meet at Nha Trang airport and transfer to hotel.
3. PM: City tour of Nha Trang: Long Son pagoda, Hon Chong Promontory, Po Nagar Cham Tower.
4. Dinner at restaurant in the city. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 8: NHA TRANG (B/L/D)

1. Pick up at hotel, transfer for boat trip on Nha Trang Bay, visit the Mun Island where is a best Island to see lives colorful coral and fish. Enjoy sea / sun bathing. (Snorkeling, glass bottom rowing boat are available at your own expense). Rowing basket boat to visit a fishing village on the bay.
2. Lunch at restaurant on Con Se Tre island.
3. After lunch, return to the pier.
4. PM: Free at leisure for your own discovery / activities
5. Dinner at local restaurant. After dinner, return to hotel for overnight.

DAY 9: NHA TRANG – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/-/D)

1. Transfer to airport for morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Greet at airport in HCMC, transfer to hotel.
2. In the afternoon, continue the city tour with: Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: the best examples of classical French colonial architecture; Lively China Town including the colorful whole sales Binh Tay market to absorb its sights and sounds.
3. Welcome dinner cruise on Sai Gon river. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Hcmc).

DAY 10: HCMC – CU CHI (B/L/D)

1. 08:00 Transfer 75 km northward to Cu Chi Tunnel – one of the few remaining monuments to the fierce Vietnam War.
2. Arrive Cu Chi after nearly 2 hours driving, visit the tunnel system. We can even crawl a part of the tunnel to experience the real life of the Vietnamese guerrillas, who used to use and live inside this system during the wartime. Try your hand at shooting an AK47 (Russian machine gun) or an M16 (U.S made).
3. 11:30 Return to HCMC for lunch.
4. 14:30 Visit the War Remnants museum to know more about the last Vietnam War. Enjoy free shopping at Ben Thanh market, one of the best places to pick up a “conical hat” or “ao dai”. The market and surrounding streets makes up the city’ liveliest areas.
5. Dinner at restaurant in the city, Overnight at hotel.

DAY 11: HCMC – MY THO (B/L/D)

1. From the hustle city, we head to the south to My Tho, approx 70km from HCMC, a busy hub the Mekong delta with paddy fields, thick orchards and canals.
2. Upon arriving, we will take a small boat to go between canals into gardens and rural houses, where a lot of families produce coconut candy, feed the bee for honey, or plant juicy fruit. Stop at some families and their small factories, you will see their daily activities with the explanation of a local guide.
3. Lunch at a nice garden restaurant with the delta’s special food like deep-fried fish, bloating fried sticky rice
4. After lunch, visit the famous Vinh Trang pagoda, one of the biggest pagoda in the region. The beautiful structure features a mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese and Angkor (Cambodian) architectural styles.
5. Return to HCMC. Dinner at restaurant then transfer to hotel for overnight.

DAY 12: HCMC – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

•  Free for the last shopping in the nearby areas till transfer to Apt for departure flight.

PRICES

If the listed hotel is fully booked, alternative accommodation will be offered.