A Glance of Vietnam 11 Days / 10 Nights

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by the guide of TrekkingSapa.com and transferred to Hanoi City, the capital city of Vietnam, is an elegant city located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Restored Sword Lake at its heart. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there.

Much of the city was transformed by the French when it became a French protectorate in the 1880s and there are wide boulevards and large colonial buildings which are now home to government departments and foreign embassies. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Hanoi, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. Transfer to hotel in the city center to refresh. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi City.

After breakfast at your hotel,our driver and tour guide will come to pick you up at about 8h00am for city tour.You will visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), – the final resting place of the beloved national hero, Uncle Ho – and President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house where he lived off and on from 1958 to 1969.

9.30: You’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which is actually a group of structures that collectively make up a pagoda built over the water in the middle of a square lake.

After that, you’ll have a chance to explore the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the shore of west lake. From there, it’s onto the Temple of literature, which was Viet nam’s first university and is dedicated to Confucius.

12.30: You have lunch at the restaurant in the Old Quarter. Afterwards, you’ll visit Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart and soul of Hanoi.

Option 1:Tuesday,Thursday,Saturday,Sunday You’ ll stop in at MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY.This superb museum showcases the depth of Vietnamese cultural diversity with an astounding collection of 15,000 artifacts gathered from throughout Vietnam. Maps, displays and dioramas are labelled in Vietnamese, French and English.

Displays portray a typical village market, the making of comical hats and a Tay shamanic ceremony; videos show the real thing. You can also check out a traditional Black Thai house reconstructed in the museum. There’s also a centre for research and conservation where scientists from all over the world study traditional Vietnamese cultures

Option 2:Monday,Wednesday,Friday Depart for Bat Trang ceramic village which is about 20 km away from Ha Noi, this is pottery village with a half- milleary historic development.. 15.30 – 16.00: We will come back your hotel.Free day for shopping or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi

Following with breakfast at your Hotel or private address in Hanoi Old Quarter , TrekkingSapa.com will come to pick you up around 0800 AM with our shuttle bus to start the 3 hour-and-a-half drive to Halong Bay through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta. 10.00 Stopover on the way for refreshments 12.00-12.30 Arrive at Tuan Chau Wharf – Break and photo opportunities

12.30 Transfer by tender to the boat – enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions. 13.00-13.30 Check in and begin cruise. Enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Lunch is served while the cruising through the bay 15.00 Visit exciting Ba Hang fishing village, the village is free from busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen. Enjoy kayaking, swimming, relaxing on the cruise (if the weather permits).

16.00 Return to the boat and join cooking class by Glory Cruise’s Chef. 19.00 Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Dinner 21.00 Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar. Watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films. Relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Cruise’s music. Playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.

21.00 – 23.00 Happy Hour! Buy two drinks – get one free (wine by the bottle excluded) 23.00 End of Program for Day One.

06.30: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room. 07.00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes).

08.15 Transfer by tender to the Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat. Proper shoes are highly recommended 09.00 Back to the cruise by tender, then check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay

09.45 Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) or A la carte Menu while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. 11.45 Transfer by tender to the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew 12.00-12.30 Return from Halong to Hanoi by shuttle bus. 14.00 Stop over in Dong Trieu town to visit a ceramics workshop 16.00–17.00:Arrive in Hanoi and then go to the airport to catch flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer upon arrival to Hue. Stay overnight at hotel.

Hue served as Vietnam’s capital under the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the walls of the Citadel and the Imperial City. Both were heavily damaged during the Tet Offensive of 1968 when the Hue served as Vietnam’s capital under the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the walls of the Citadel and the Imperial City.

Touring the ancient Imperial Citadel and visit Thien Mu, a beautiful pagoda located right on the bank of Perfume River. Then we will drive through countryside and visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Royal tombs. Back to Hotel and the rest of time at your own leisure. Overnight in Hue.

This morning we drive to Hoi An, we will cross Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the China Sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, stunning long sandy beaches (former US R&R), and the Marble Mountains en route to charming Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early Western traders,

Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. At leisure for the rest of time. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

08:00: local guide will see you at your hotel with your bicycle. you will cycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many other gardening activities.

After all these activities, you will take a short rest and enjoy foot bath before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘tam huu’ spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of people in Vietnam middle region. You can join the cooking with the chef on these meals.

After your morning excurtions and your lunch, you will take a Vietnamese traditional post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Around 14.00: bid farewell to your host family before riding back to Hoi An. We enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky House and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge constructed in 1593…Continue walking through the small alleys to soak up the atmosphere of a bygone age or back to your hotel for your beach relaxation.

Free at leisure until transferring to Danang airport to take flight to Ho Chi Minh City, which is formerly known as Ho Chi Minh city, Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling metropolis that is home to over 5 million people and a fast-paced city full of contrasts as street vendors selling fruit and vegetables can be seen next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. Ho Chi Minh city’s history is only 300 years old.

In 1859 the city was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin China. From 1956 until its dramatic demise in April 1975 it was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business and entrepreneurs. And yet the city still retains its connections to the past, particularly in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh city’s Chinatown. Here dozens of elegant temples and pagodas can be seen. The French also left their mark with some fine colonial-era buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Morning, you will be picked up for driving to the remarkable Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the war “Viet Cong” guerillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels, using them to hide during bombing raids and stage surprise attacks. Transfer to Ho Chi Minh for lunch. After that we enjoy a city tour that includes War Remnants Museum, take a walking tour to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post office, Opera house and downtown Ho Chi Minh city.

The War Remnants Museum was originally opened in September 1975, it displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War. In the courtyard we will find some larger exhibits including a F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. The Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace was the sight of South Vietnam’s surrender in April 1975. Notre Dame Cathedral, General Post Office and the Opera House are beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period. We have last time for visit Ben Thank Market. Back to hotel and relax.

Breakfast at your hotel. The guide pick you up and transfer you to Ben Tre.  Arrive at Ham Luong dock, you will take a boat and then cruise along Ham Luong River, a tributary to the Mekong River. The cool breeze from the river and lush tropical islands along its banks will immediately get you excited to explore all the great things ahead.

Arrive and visit various local workplaces to find many wonderful examples of how local people use ageless techniques to create their crafts, including activated charcoal, dried coconut, handy coconut husk brooms, and many family businesses using coir, or coconut fiber, to create amazing art. Cruise around the village roads by “Xe Lôi”, the local vehicle, which is a kind of motorized rickshaw. Kayak through the natural canals to get a unique experience of the peaceful beauty of the Mekong River as well as the rural life there. Having lunch at a local host house. After lunch, you will have some time for relaxing before take a car back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight.

Finish unforgettable Vietnam Tour with TrekkingSapa.com. Good bye & see you in the next time! TrekkingSapa.com can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.